More neon

A new bangle I just made mixing tubular peyote technique and simple stringing

I used both seed beads and big farfalle beads from the new Preciosa Ornela neon collection.
Don't you just love the decreasing effect from the thicker beaded rope to rhe size 11/0 beads?! I do.

I also had the smaller size of the farfalle beads, which I used to make these

They are thicker than usual and I love how the farfalle beads stick out from both sides.
Will make more experiments!

Gaea, again!

Some time ago I posted about another giveaway from the amazing Gaea Cannady.
What I haven't said (because I felt kind of guilty for being this fortunate) is that I was picked (again) and won the wonderful beads.

I am used to her beautiful and delicate pastel colors, so I wasn't prepared to these bold and vibrant tones.
Just beautiful.
How am I going to do these beauties justice???
Already have an idea for the heart pendant, and maybe some beaded beads to get the ceramic ones some company.

Summer gifts and packing

My bead mate Dorota, my favorite chocolate pusher (remember???) has just received a little thing I made for her

Sorry, I had to steal her pic!

I asked for her favorite color combo and it was perfect with the idea I had of making something for summer.

I'm happy to see once again outgoing mail is much faster than incoming.
 I've been waiting for a knitting needle for more than a week now, and it's from Germany. My shawl is stuck halfway and I was hoping to finish it while on train next week, so I hope my mail will come soon!

I am also starting to organize my beads in order to decide which ones I'll take with me this summer.
How do you choose?
Sometimes bringing W.I.P. projects doesn't work and you start regretting not bringing more beads with you.

Last summer I didn't bring much 'cause I wasn't planning on staying more than 2 weeks, and they became 2 months. This summer I already know it will be 2 months and a half and I don't know which beads I can do without. And threads, and jump rings and stuff.
Hard decisions on my way...

Spikey punk bracelet

These amazing orange Delica beads have an AB finish the pic doesn't catch

and I think they make the perfect contrast with the matte color of the spikes.

I just love the punk feeling it gives, mixed with this neon touch.

Kriszten bracelet

Even in the middle of a neon-colors-frenzy I can never forget my first love: red.

A beautiful bracelet designed by Eva Kovacs, who as usual shares amazing free pattern on her website

Takes less than an hour to make it and just the right amount of super duo beads - don't you just hate it when your beads are finished and your project isn't?!! 

This is not the case: I used less than 10gr of super duo.

And I just LOVE the picasso finish. 

I am going to try some other pattern really soon.

Voting for June 2013 EBW challenge

The poll will be up in a few hours on the Etsy Beadweavers Team Blog, but you can start looking at these beauties to choose your favorite:

You have time untile the 15th of June to vote and spread the word!

Features and sold item

Please visit Nina Design blog to read about their experience as judge for the Bead Soup Blog Party and to see their choices.
It's so nice to be there!
Just got back home from a milanese happy-hour with my friends and found this beautiful surprise, plus another one in the form of a sold pair of earrings

and a couple of surprises to talk about in the next months...
Good night now!

Gaea Ceramic Bead Giveaway

Another amazing giveaway spotted today: Gaea Ceramic Bead and Art Studio Blog: New @ Lima Beads Giveaway!!!

Don't miss it!

June Bride EBW challenge

This month theme for the Etsy Beadweavers challenge is "June Bride":
"June has traditionally been the most popular month for weddings for centuries around the world. That is where the term "June bride" comes from. Historically, there are several reasons for that. The month of June derives its name from Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage. In ancient times it was thought that couples who married in June would be blessed with prosperity and happiness. There were also many logistical reasons for brides to consider June weddings. Brides married in June were likely to give birth to a first child in spring (also thought to bring good luck) and recover in time for the fall harvest. During medieval times a person's annual bath usually fell in May or June, meaning that June brides still smelled relatively fresh. 

In modern times those things are not so important, but weddings still take place in June more than any other month. It’s the month that summer begins (northern hemisphere), the flowers are all in bloom and the weather is warm without being too hot. So for this month’s challenge, channel your inner bride to create the perfect wedding accessory for a June Bride. Perhaps a decorative barrette for her hair, a cuff to set off her new wedding ring, a beaded sash for her dress or the quintessential necklace full of luster and sparkle. There’s nothing as stunning as a Bride decked out in white, but also think about the red silks of a Chinese Bride, the Henna Mehndi of the Indian Bride, or the bright colors of the Moroccan Bride. "

I couldn't resist the temptation to use my white Swarovski stash, even though I would usually go with something colored. I think I made something unusual though since I decided to go with a relaxed style

I just made a bunch of donuts and knotted them together with waxed cotton thread, like in my Cherry blossom necklace.

I imagined a beach wedding with a barefoot bride or a country style ceremony

(even though this pic looks like a Renaissance painting)

Maybe it's just I don't like stiff, traditional weddings and love those relaxed ceremonies where everybody feels comfortable and actually has fun! I'm not really a wedding girl, if you hadn't got it, but I certainly appreciate the beauty and fascination of a bride as anybody else.

As usual you can vote for your favorite entry fron the 9th to 15th of June on our team blog. 

Don't miss it!

Beaded Wood Spool tutorial

I am sad to say I am one of those persons who starts something, then forget about it for months.
Sometimes I get to finish things though.
Today I decided to draw schemes for my new tutorial to make beaded beads out of wood spools

These spools are tiny, only 9/10mmx13mm, but I'm already working on the bigger ones to make another tut.
I think these are cuter and easier to use on bracelets and necklaces.

Hope you'll enjoy it!

Night: owned!

It's the first time I partecipate to some kind of marathon, and let me say how amazing it has been as experience and how well it was organized.

Source: Nike Running Italia

So exciting, we were 4000 women in neon orange, running together through the gorgeous scenario Nike had prepared for us, so suggestive, full of colors, music and people rooting for us!
I had never liked Milan so much!
We ran through one of the most beautiful parks, then between the most state of the art skyscrapers, passed through the Arco della Pace and got a chance to enter inside the Arena Civica.

My running mate!

A lot of people were cheering us up, kids high fiving us, guys clapping hands and taking pics.
We didn't think we were going to finish it running, but we did and in less time than our expectations.
Thanks to my friend who ran with me and gave me the strength to run the last 1,5 km!!!