Happy Holidays!

I hope everybody is having happy holidays with beloved friends or family - or both!

I am FINALLY enjoy some amazing snow!!! It is a paradise in here!

Gingerbread Star!

Seems like a long, long time has passed....wait...it's already 5 months since my last post!!!

Haven't been beading lately, but experimenting with patterns. And with my life.

Since I got a job in a big store in September, and I also continued with the German school, it's been impossible for me to do anything else. But I found some volunteers that tested my latest pattern and...

Without further ado...

What do you think?

The actual beadwork and the pic are from April Barnes, a customer that turned this last month into a helper and adviser, and I have to say it is good to be a little pushed from someone who likes your work.

Gingerbread cookies are really popular in Austria, their name is Lebkuchen and taste amazingly. You can't see all the details here, but a pattern will be soon released... just in time for Christmas!

EBW July Challenge: The Most Colorful Animals

Yes, I am alive! And, hear hear, I am finally partecipating to the monthly EBW challenge!
This month the theme is The Most Colorful Animals, and my mind couldn't stop thinking about this creature:

Source: Pinterest

I discovered the Mantis Shrimp thanks to The Oatmeal, and I suggest you all jump to his amazing website and read this infographic he created.
Stunning, isn't it?!
This little, amazing creature can break glass. Can you imagine that?!
So playing with CRAW I attempted to make a tiny Mantis Shrimp

and I came up with a wrap bracelet

I love how the tummy came out, even though this part is a work of fantasy

I promise better pics in the morning, in the meanwhile it's already dark in here and I had to rush to post this last minute creation.
Don't forget to jump on out team blog http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.co.at/ to vote for your favourite colored animal from the 5th July until the 16th!!!

Batik Dangles on Jewelry Affaire

------------Still hopping for the Bead Soup? HERE is my reveal!------------

I have been published on Jewelry Affaire for the second time, and also this time I have to wait further before my lovely BF brings me my copy of the magazine.
Here is a super cra**y-but-lovely-pic made with his cell:

Simple earrings chosen by the editor herself.
Can't wait to read the entire magazine, it is so luscious and interesting and hope to be part of it again!

8th Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal

Welcome everybody to the 8th  Bead SoupBlog Party Reveal!!!

An amazing event created by Lori Anderson with about 500 partecipants every year!

Let me start by saying how life is a never ending learning experience, and the Bead Soup Blog Party is one of the most exciting occasions to learn: not only you meet a new fellow beader, but you get to know new materials, new countries, costumes and tastes - yeah tastes, because there’s often a lot of chocolate involved!

Last year I was blessed with an incredible partner, Dorota, who spoiled me rotten with a huge amount of goodies.
To honor her generosity I decided that this should also become a way of learning new techniques, so I tried myself at bead embroidery, a bit of chain maille, knotting and new shapes in general. I was very proud of the result, which you can see here. It was a celebration of spring and happiness and colors while I was actually spending a lot of time at home, looking for a job.

This year my situation is completely different, as I moved to Austria 3 months ago and I am going to school (again) to learn the language, I am proving myself at living in a foreign country with a really different mentality – and did I mention German is not exactly the easiest language…but I am loving every second of it.

And again I was lucky to be paired up with a really interesting woman, Rosantia, who chose the most beautiful variety of beads and materials for me.

If you would like to know her better, jump to my post about her and visit her blog, because I am sure she will have prepared something amazing for the reveal!

I MUST APOLOGIZE AS I AM STILL BEADING FOR THE SOUP, SO I WILL PUBLISH FURTHER WORKS DURING THE WEEK. What can I say, my Muse likes the last minute inspiration!

With no further ado, here is my main piece, which is so close to my heart

I used the focal and the toggle clasp from the soup, with the matching ceramic beads, and added some beadweaved elements – I just love this shade of light aqua turquoise with orange and blue.
I felt so alike to the little birdie, I guessed he was looking for a place to call home just like me.

The second piece, quite simple, was made using the crazy washi paper beads that Rosantia made herself for me. They are so luscious and beautiful, but I decided to use them in pairs instead of all together

Something about this pendant I won last year looked like the perfect match. Wood, gold and aqua green.

I had a lot of fun playing with the 12 mm beads Rosantia sent me. They are the perfect size for a variety of designs that can really make a difference out of a simple stringed necklace. So again, I played with both beadweaved elements and simple beads.

I love this green chrysocolla, a gorgeous, rich color. Patterns here are from Kerrie Slade (flower pendant) and Eveline (3er Kringel).

For these yellow quartz beads I used Carol Ohl’s tutorial Earthly Hues and just continued with other beads in my stash. 

Did I ever mention how much I love grellow??? :D I guess I did.

Finally a sneek peak of another piece I am working on...

More washi paper beads, a czech button from my previous partner Dorota, some beaded beads and gorgeous ceramic beads. Still have to figure it out!

Take a look at what my partner Rosantia created, here you'll find her blog which is so full of inspirational handmade creations!

I hope you enjoyed this hop, which continues here:

http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2014/05/welcome-to-8th-bead-soup-blog-party.html

or, for a fast look, on our BSBP Pinterest board here:

http://www.pinterest.com/limamike/8th-bead-soup-blog-party/ 

So many eye candy goodies are waiting for you on all these blogs, please take the time to jump over and scroll over and you won't be disappointed!

An unusual challenge

May challenge theme from the Esty Beadweavers Team is: How Unusual!

"Let's use the most unusual items this month! Besides your normal beading items (seed beads, crystals, gemstones, etc.), your entry for Maymust have at least one unconventional item. Look around you - on the street, in nature, in your kid's room (dolls, dice, playing cards, etc.) or in a man's world (screws, tools, bolts, bullets, animal eyes or teeth, etc.), or anything else you have not thought so far could be part of your beaded projects. Just think Out of the Beading Box and be innovative!"

You can visit the team blog and vote for your favorite piece until the 16th, please try to take the time to singularly visit each entry and I promise you will be amazed by the details and the unusuality!!!

What makes you happy?

Five days ago I started a project called 100 happy days.
It's about sharing happy moments for 100 days in a row...it's interesting how statistics say the 71% of partecipants failed to finish it, mainly for lack of time.
I am using Instagram since I don't want to clutter Facebook and I like this to be separated. I never used Instagram before anyway, so new medium for a new project!

Running again!!!

It might seem stupid. My roommate told me she doesn't understand it, she is always happy. Actually she is a happy and positive person 24/7...for me, things are different.
I find it easy to be in a good mood here, where I am living as a student again, making new friendship, learning something new every day in a wonderful city...but sometimes it is good to actually realize that you are happy. To feel it in your bones, to enjoy that feeling fully.

Pure bliss

I am finally able to communicate a little in this new language and that's the most exciting experience ever. New friendships from all over the world. It is so amazing how many more things you can learn from people...how much your mind opens to different cultures and habits. It is fascinating.

I am happy.

The 8th Bead Soup knocked on my door

A little bit later than it should have been, my amazing Bead Soup partner Rosantia and I finally sent each other our soups.
Mine arrived this morning in only a couple of days!

I think images will speak louder than words here. Better to just look at the beads, or I will write an endless list of adjectives that wouldn't convey how I feel anyway.

My super sweet partner Rosantia is at her first Party, yet she can put up a terrific soup like this:

What we have here is an arrangement of cool ceramic beads, that I love so much, so SO much. The shade of green is perfect and also look at those complementing lampwork beads.

Two words: POLKA DOTS. Love them.

Then yellow quartz  and green chrysocolla12 mm beads.

Something funny: I love to find healing properties of crystals online. It said chrysocolla crystal has "an energy that helps to calm the nervous person who has difficulty in keeping silent"...seriously??! That's perfect for me!

Some beautiful copper chains and bead caps, as well as coordinated cords that I so much needed, having left my stash in Milan.

Then look at those crazy beads. Covered in washi paper, handmade by her, just gorgeous. Can you feel my Japan-radar activating?!

A beautiful Greek casting antiqued copper toggle clasp, with a cool patina treatment, the right compromise between the copper elements and the aqua-green beads, right?!
Then let's have some drum roll before I introduce the gorgeous focal I received.
Here it is

A ceramic birdie from Shaterra. Need I say more?!
I am so overwhelmed right now that I can only keep looking at this soup and hope to make some order in my mind to decide what to use first.

A huge thank you to Rosantia and hope your soup comes fast!

In the meanwhile head to the BSBP board to see what everybody else has received from their partners!

Are you blue?

This is not definitely the time to be blue with this amazing spring weather, but what we mean here is, of course, the colour blue.
Yes, march challenge arrived and the Etsy Beadweavers members did their best to honor the theme

Looks like blue is everybody's favorite! 46 entries which will put you in a very difficult situation when the time to choose will come!
Head to our team blog to vote for your favorite blue creation, you have time until the 16th!

8th Bead Soup Party Partner

Hello everybody!
I am finally writing again about beads, and bead parties.
That time of the year has come and I have a new partner for the amazing Bead Soup Blog Party, which reached the 8th edition and has as usual hundreds of partecipants.

Without further ado let me introduce my Bulgarian Partner, Rosantia Petkova.
She is a 360° crafter and likes to experiment with every kind of material and shape. And I am not talking only about beads.

Let me show you some of her works:

Textile necklace, how clever is that?!!

Crocheted earrings

Gorgeous color choices here!

It is always inspiring to have partners who like to play with new materials and love challenges, I am so curious of how things will develop!

We are both still "stirring" our soups and adding the final touches, so stay tuned for more news about the soup!

In the meanwhile jump to the official Bead Soup blog to see who the other partecipants are and what they're up to!

Beads for baby

Beads are so contagious, they can also affect babies. Or their mothers...
Today I helped my cousin making beaded pacifier-holders with wooden beads.

They might not be size 15/0 Delicas, but it was so funny anyway. I guess I was missing all this kind of crafty things!
The messy table...

...and the lovely result!

Warmth

This month has been so cold and full of weather alerts all around the world, so the Etsy Beadweavers Team decided to warm you up with its latest challenge:

"As the wind blows the snow around outside, and ice covers the world, humans retreat into warm places by their fires, under blankets made of wool, while animals outside use fallen leaves as blankets. Some hibernate in groups, their breathing slowing down huddled together in a furry pile, and as for us humans, we grab a cup of tea or hot chocolate with marshmallows, put on wool socks or sheepskin slippers, comfy sweaters and blankets, and enjoy the feeling of warmth, coziness, that is the sweetest when you know there is bone chilling cold outside.
Think flames, ember and ashes, think wool, fleece and fur, warm things for the tummy and warm things for the soul.
Think of whatever it is that makes you feel warm on a long February night, and turn it into a cozy warm beaded piece."

As usual there is time until the 16th to vote for your favorite on our team's blog!

The 8th Bead Soup Blog Party is coming...

Seems like yesterday, but a whole year has already passed...and the Bead Soup Blog Party is coming back!

Next sunday will be the only day for sign ups, so be sure to head to Lori's BSBP blog!

This year we're also going to have only one reveal date, so plenty of time to create and visit every blog.

• Why should you partecipate?

Because it is a unique occasion to meet new people, with a different culture and habits and also beading techniques. You exchange ideas and preferences and sometimes friendship.

You get to swap beads and you might receive something that you would never be able to find in your own country, or even handmade by your partner!

• Why should you do your best to visit every blog?

Visiting blogs is an amazing source of inspiration.

You see what other people came up with their soup and most times the reaction is: "I would have never thought about doing so!" Or, you just get an idea of how YOU would have done that.

You see people experiencing things for the first time (new materials, new techniques, new colors!) and that makes you realize you also can do that. It gives you the confidence you were missing.

So if you are still not convinced on partecipating, check the past editions on Lori's blog or on last year's Pinterest board!

New tattoo!

Only a couple of friends know about this little tattooI just had yesterday.
It all happened in 2 days, but I've been having this idea in my mind for about 5 years.
Last time I was taking Japanese classes in Milan, (before moving to Padua and then back to Milan...) I discovered the haikus of Issa. I kind of fell in love with them.

A haiku is a sort of short poetry of 3 verses, usually has seasonal and nature references in it.
I find this "condensed" poetic art extremely beautiful. Little, significant moments frozen in only a few words.

I fell in love with this one, which is some kind of proverb, and on my birthday I finally found a drawing I loved to put together.
So here it is.
Meet my new friend.

The snail is about 5 cm so all those details you see, are the tiniest thing ever.
This little creature is on my left shoulder, and I hope I won't wait this long to give her company on the other side.

I really needed something to keep reminding myself that this long climbing will actually bring me somewhere beautiful and that both journey and arrival can be amazing, if I keep believing it.

Inspirational bracelet tutorial

I am often asked how I started beading.
As most people, my first approch to beads was a handmade loom, made by my mom with a shoe box.
When I grew a little older, I learnt with a 70's book how to do flat and round peyote stitch.

For about 15 years and more I haven't been doing anything else. I wasn't aware of the huge beading community existing online. I guess faster internet and websites like Flickr and Pinterest have made it all so much easier.

I have lernt so many techniques and stitches, but in the end I always come back to peyote stitch for one reason or another: I need to make a beaded toggle, or some tubular beaded beads to cover something, or I just need to relax and "switch off" my brain doing something simple.

Lately I have been making these cute bracelets

they are so versatile and easy but give great satisfaction.
So I made a tutorial.
Because many people ask me how I started to understand if they are still on time to start, so I just want to tell you: sure! There is always plenty of time to start!

People who don't know about beadweaving also don't know that some of the most talented beadweavers are not exactly young girls (they surely are at heart) and just started a few years ago.
Excellence is a habit!

You can find my tutorial here.