Memorial Beads: Mabel Lou

I wrote about my beloved Mabel Lou's funeral over on Creekhiker but thought I would do a post here just sharing the beads. We had a hiking funeral for her with all her favorite people and most of her favorite canine friends.

 

Mabel Lou

I made Memorial Beads for everyone in attendance at the funeral, an extra to send my mom and a few extras "just in case" as I had put off making them until the last possible day! I used temperamental Clio and a variety of under glasses to try and make pink beads... and this is what I got:

 

At first I was really upset that they didn't come out all pink like I wanted, but after just sitting with them for a while, I started to see our sky and river and the amazing sunsets we have. 

 

 The creek / wilderness where Mabel and I hiked every single day.

And I guess, they look the way Mabel Lou wanted them to look. All the friends got to pick theirs. 

I was so distraught, I forgot to take pics of the clean beads! So these were all taken as they were being worn. 

		From L-R, Top-Bottom: Atilla's Dad, Hank n Sue's Mom, Chloe's Dad, The Rottrover, Bart's Mom.

And these are the ones I ended up with:

 I chose this heart for me because of the little hole where Mabel's ashes came through.

The funny thing about these beads...they pick up what ever color I wear. The Rottrover Mom has told me the same. She's worn hers  with teal, purple, ivory and pink... and her bead works with all. I've worn mine with denim, aqua, olive, brown, pink, orange and black... and they just seem to be versatile enough work with whatever I put on! Besides the fact my Baby Lou is with me...they are some of my all time faves!

Another view, reversed,  against the sky:

Rio Ribbed Rounds Necklace

I haven't done an Inside My Jewelry Box post in some time. I really should do more of these as my collection is extensive!

Back in the spring when I was making so many Rio Ribbed Rounds, I knew immediately I had to have some jewelry made from them! I whipped this cathedral length necklace up in an evening using scraps of two of my favorite kinds of chain.

 I just adore heart links:

and cable chain.

Each bead is separated by three inches of chain. I used a variety of vibrant Swarovski crystals to keep the party feel going.

I love the feel of the swinging long chain but, you know I have my klutzy days! I can just picture myself getting it caught on a swinging door or the arbor in my backyard! For those times, I shorten it with a pearl shortener.

I've found this piece to be so versatile in my wardrobe! It's a great design for any combination of beads or stones that work together!

Rio Ribbed Rounds are still being made to order.

My Beads of Courage Necklace

Earlier this year, a member of the Beads of Courage Team asked me to make her name in glass. She said it didn't seem right that we use so many glass beads in the Beads of Courage projects but that the name beads were not glass. I made her name and my brain started stewing.... Why don't I make one for me to wear at our local Beads of Courage events???

And just like the cobbler's children with no shoes, the beadmaker is the last to get some beads! I originally started with an "L"... those of you who know me will understand. I do EVERYTHING bass ackwards! I read the last page of any book first; learned to crochet by making a king sized blanket instead of something small. Heck, I even started fusing when I really wanted a torch!

I knew I wanted something colorful and fun as kids are often at these events and purple is my favorite color...so I made a matching "O" but then I realized I should make beads I LOVE.

Most of those are multilayered and colorful...hard to do in a precise press. But, I'm fairly happy with the results... except I hate the matchy matchy O and L! One of those will eventually GO!

The H was done in Kim Neely's Ether style. The first L is in the Rio Party Beads colors I've been toying with and the Y is in another silvered glass style.

The Beads of Courage disk, the NASA shuttle bead and Courage bead were all given to us by the Beads of Courage team for various events we've participated in.

Whadayathink?

Just For Me

It's rare that I sit down at the torch and make something just for me. I often end up with beads that are not my best - something that is off center or even has a crack (eek!). I make myself a necklace or bracelet and still get lots of compliments...it pays to be a walking billboard for your business!

But I've always wanted a bobbin bead. And knowing "my customer" so well, I knew it had to be purple. Gaffer's new Purple Rose and Royal purple seemed a perfect fit. Still those are pricy glasses so I used a much cheaper COE 96 for the core since bobbins use a fair amount of glass. I used another Gaffer glass - Chalcedony - in frit form for accents.

Once I had my bobbin, I knew I wanted it to sit on a necklace so I could see the metal so I went back to the torch and made a matching big hole bead. By threading the BHB onto the ribbon first and threading the bobbin over both ribbon ends, the bobbin sits flat on the necklace.

I've always like wearing unusual sized beads this way... this is an old silvered ivory necklace of mine:

Do you have an unusual way of wearing big hole beads??

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I'm participating in a Blog hop:

Inside My Jewelry Box: Sparkle

This is one of my most favorite pieces. It was the piece I entered into the recent Fire Diva's Bead Black Tie Bead Challenge.

I just love how this piece sparkles and shines and no, the photo doesn't do it justice. Truth be told, it was a bead I didn't feel comfortable selling as I noticed a hairline crack deep within this hollow upon cleaning. Which means I toss it or keep it for myself. Most all my jewelry is made from mistake beads...

So, knowing full well that crack could eventually break, I did a simple design with universal wraps of sterling wire and filled the hollow with tons of gorgeous Swarovski crystals and cubic zironias. This piece rattles and it shines... it's such an eye catcher.

And while most cameras never seem to capture blue accurately... this one is no exception.... it's in  my favorite denim / steel blue colors. A great way to dress up while dressing down!

Even with that crack... I've worn this piece for years, frequently banging it on table and desk tops. It's still glowing strong!

Old Finding for a New Look

Unless you are into wearing pearls - and I'm NOT - you may not be aware of what a pearl shortener is. It's a great little finding, usually sterling, that can turn a long strand of pearls into a shorter necklace.

My Whole Lotta Love Big Hole Bead Pair strung on a cathedral length silver beaded necklace

Since I'm always looking for a new way to wear a fantastic big hole glass bead, the pearl shortener allows me more options and styles! Remember all those natural stone twisted necklaces from the 70s??? I still have mine!  And I frequently pick up a long cathedral length seed bead or silver bead necklace.

Close up of the Pearl Shortner

To wear, simply thread a big hole glass bead over the folded end of your necklace.... center the bead and take the two ends and clasp it in the pearl shortener. Viola! A new necklace every time you change your bead!

The whole view... I would wear the shortener in the back....

Inside My Jewlery Box - Another Hollow

This is actually the very first hollow bead I ever made.  It was a bit off center so I kept it for me. It's purple but covered in places with palladium leafing and the center of the sunflower has the most amazing goldstone.

 It's sparkly and beautiful and I've sold five or six of these just by wearing this one.  It is true... we are the best advertisement of our own work.

After this one, I became obsessed with making hollows and hollow shapes. I love making a hollow heart, drilling one end slightly bigger and filling it with Swarovski crystals and cubic zirconia for extra sparkle and then wiring the whole thing shut! The one below is just waiting in the glass bead shop for someone to come along and add a nice chain...

Inside My Jewelry Box - Diva Brooch

Still doing taxes...but nearing the end! Whoo Hoo!

I love brooches and it's really a shame I don't wear them much any more. In my days as a Hollywood producer, I kept a litany of nice suit jackets in my coat closet to grab on my way out the door. Long hours...it gets cold at night. Plus, they made me look more "suitable" in meetings.

Every coat had it's own little brooch. An antique Swarovski number rescued from my mother's jewelry box, a dangly metal number that was oh-so-eye-catching. Sadly, I never wear jackets anymore, even when I can be bothered to get out of my pjs! But this piece really caught my eye!

Even though I dabble in fusing... my fusing never had vision! But artist Florence Niven of Niven Glass Originals certainly does. I purchased this treasure from her a few years back. People often stop and ask me where I found it. Her work is available on Etsy.

Inside My Jewelry Box - Fairy Pendant

I love either really complicated jewelry - pieces that can be worn more than one way - or really simple "slide it on a chain and GO" kind of jewelry. The bulk of my own jewelry is the latter.

And since I'm still mired in work for my least favorite Uncle... I thought I would show off a piece from my jewelry box.

This is a fairy bead from Small Wonders. She's a traffic stopper when I wear her!

Just wanted to remind you - the Fire Divas Sale goes on!!! And my fans have a special discount code all their own for greater discounts! Whoo Hooo!