What I had hoped to show you was a new version of the peacock choker/lariat that we revisited in our last Time Capsule. I really thought that I was in the mood to make something ‘big’, something that would take a fair amount of work. I may have been wrong.
First, I went over all of my beads, looking for the perfect palette. I wanted to do something simple - not too many colors or changes in the pattern - so I needed colors that are in good supply. I also needed to find beads in three sizes that are similar in color for the middle rows of the St. Petersburg chain. This wasn’t as easy as it sounds, but I ended up with a pleasing combination of transparent sapphire 8/o rounds, sapphire lined sapphire triangles, and transparent aqua 11/o rounds.
For the main beadwork, I decided to go ahead and use up all of my silver-lined crystal seed beads. I’ve had several packets set aside from my regular stash, because for awhile I thought I was going to use them to make birthstone pendants with Swarovski crystals. I got tired of the idea ages ago, and now it’s time to move these metallic beads out of my stash for good.
You might also recall that I was thrilled to be rid of the last of my silver-lined topaz beads when I finished my latest multistrand necklace. But alas, I found about 12 grams of them in the secret stash right along with the crystals. So I added these to the palette for accents, and got to work.
Everything was going well. The colors and pattern looked fantastic together - ethereal and delicate. Unfortunately, when I started to connect the first two chains together, I somehow managed to get one upside down, and I didn’t even notice until it was to late to do anything about it. I blame the paleness of the beads, but I honestly don’t know how this could have happened.
The change in the stitch actually looks alright, and is totally salvageable, but I was so annoyed by the whole thing that I lost a lot of motivation. Then I realized that I was going to be about half a packet of silver-lined beads short, and I decided to put this necklace on the back-burner until I decide if I want to purchase any more metallic beads. I consulted my list of to-do projects and didn’t like the look of any of them. Instead, I’m going to make something just for fun! I’m on strike from obligatory beading - hurrah!
I’ll keep you posted on what comes of this little meltdown. In the meantime, what’s your most memorable beading mishap?
Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
Subscribe to Inspirational Beading
Get inspired on Facebook and Google+
My most memorable beading mishap was after I had almost finished a complicated bracelet, and finishing off the thread, I used my thread burner, and managed to burn thru the wrong thread, and had the whole piece fall apart in my hands.
ReplyDeleteHi:
ReplyDeleteMy most memorable mishap was to make the 'green rosette'.
There was plenty of them all around in Blogger-it must have been very 'fashionable' to make them.That was my first one and I wanted to be 'better,than the best'.I had made it-very complicated and very green one,hanged it up on the 'special' rope',then,even published in blog post and afterwards...I looked at it critically and said to myself:-'IT LOOKS UGLY,SHOULD FIND THE PLACE ON AN X-MAS TREE!!'On having spoiled it entirely,I felt relief and used the beads and crystals to another project.The parts of the chain I have had unspoiled,until now.
Warm Greetings-Halinka-
I once beaded an entire peyote cuff with delica seed beads with a plan to try a new embellishment technique. After I broke about four base beads while attempting the embellishment, I had to scrap the whole thing and start over. It took me about 4 months to feel like revisiting the project, but I did eventually get it done.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh... I have been revisiting old sites and posts, and coming upon the pic at the top of this post... The mound of beaded chain all mixed in with thread going in circles and surely in knots... it looks so familiar to me, the kind of thing that I toss onto yet another "portable beading surface" (I've gotten to the point where I will use a piece of heavy cardboard lined with a cut up piece of fleece blanket) and stack up and cannot look at. Occasionally, looking through a couple of disasters, I will go one step further, and throw things in a shoebox. That is where they really die, because once in a while I will open up that box and cut things up to make good use of good materials! I hope you eventually salvaged yours, one way or another.
ReplyDeleteUFOs...they're just a natural part of beading! I did use up this mess, and made the Somewhat Ugly Necklace.
Deletehaha That is the BEST NAME EVER! I am envious. Over the years I've become fairly adept at coming up with book titles; have not considered putting my creative energy into naming patterns or pieces of jewelry... until now! I am inspired.
ReplyDeletePS I did not intend that to be a ref to your blog title...it just worked out nicely! ;)