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!!!

New necklace with Gaea beads

I finally used some of the beads I won on the Gaea giveaway.
Remember that?
I was so unsure on how to use them but I finally came up with something pretty different:

There are beaded beads made with both seed beads and Superduo beads, glass beads, Pandora beads and resin chain.

It's so comfortable and light! And I so love this color combo.
Still have to decide whether to sell it or keep it!

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...

Spoiling Mom

I'm packing my things to catch a train back to Milan tonight. Same old story.
I took some time to make something for mom though.
I made a cute little bracelet for her and put it in a small Easter paper egg...no pics of it yet.

Then I made this bracelet to match her necklace:

I don't usually like sets, especially this bold, but I have to admit they look stunning together.
I had also bought her a kit at Creattiva fair, composed of handmade greek ceramic beads, silver components and acai seeds, knotted on a turquoise waxed cord.

I waited to make it because I wasn't sure she was going to like it. But she does.
I didn't bring my cameras here so I took this pics with my cell phone, sorry for the quality.
See you back in Milan!

Turquoise waves

I just completed something I shouldn't have started in the first place, having so many things to finish before Easter vacations...but I saw a Naoko Sugita necklace and thought it was the perfect technique to use these amazing African turquoise beads I had just bought.

I try to avoid simple stringing, I love to find new ways to use round, big beads involving small seed beads, without embezelling them completely.
Now off to my Bead soup pieces!!!

Embroidery frenzy

Since I can't show my soup progress, here's something else I did last night just to make practice with bead embroidery

Not perfect but still it is a big step for me - and the back is clean too! Just not in the right color...should buy more ultrasuede in the future.
I have already glued several stones on the bead backing and hope to actually finish everything on time. Too many projects, so little time...

This time I didn't throw it.

Remember my beautiful-broken-at-the-last-minute-necklace?
Here is the matching bracelet:

I still need a picture of the necklace, but this Christmas I saw it worn a lot of times and felt really proud of it.
This goes in the mail today and hopefully it'll be opened for Valentine's day.

More beaded beads

To be fair, I also made beaded beads with super duos.

The bigger bead is from Pinterest, and I can't find who to give credit for it

I just saw it and it was pretty easy to understand it. So I made it. Another necklace, once I find a pattern for a medium size bead.

Silver hoops

Tonight I made these simple silver and turquoise hoops

They're for a 12 year old beautiful girl, hope she'll like them.

Paika fever

I don't know why I waited so long to make these earrings

but it's ok because, once you make one, you're doomed.
You won't make anything else, not until you try all the possible color combos

(and could the grellow version be missing??! Of course not).
I bought this tutorial from the talented Mu during sales and I'm so happy I did.

More earrings please!

I've been working on a Christmas order today and finished these beautiful earrings, pattern by the great Csilla Csirmaz

I also dedicated one pair to my grellow compulsion and made these:

even though I cheated and added some lilac beads.
I'm also making some triangular peyote earrings for another customer and just translated my new pattern for Santa Super Star in English and sold my first copy.

Busy day!

New stars

Some new arrivals in my shop:

Grey starfishes

Bronze ones

and light blue

Summer is coming....

Finally on sale

I made this necklace almost 2 years ago and just put it aside



I didn' know how to string it properly and which length I prefear.
Today I was working on something different and realized what I had to do...so I grabbed it, left the other necklace in a corner of the table (sorry necklace, I'll be back at you in a moment) and finally used my pliers and jump rings.



I'm happy with this new length and really pleased that I managed to finish it, finally!
I'm listing it right now on etsy and then I'll finish my bag too- leaving tomorrow, heading home!