Work in Progress Wednesday - New Kit & New Photos

Quinacridone Summer, my newest freeform peyote kit

There's a one-woman celebration going on at my house!  Why?

Because I've finally finished putting together all the pieces and parts for my latest freeform peyote kit.  Available now on Etsy.  Woo Hoo!

This time it's a beaded bead, entitled Quinacridone Summer,  drawing its palette from the warm, rich colors of JJ Jacobs' abstract acrylic painting, Gypsy Wind.  

I finished the bead early this month, but just finished up the project notes on Tuesday.

As I began work on my Etsy listing, it occurred to me, wouldn't it be nice if I could show a sample of what the bead could look like made into a simple pendant?  Brakes on, full stop.  After a brief debate, I dusted off my rusty wireworking skills and made some head pins.

They had to be extra long to fit the bead and give me room to work.  With a pretty end at the bottom.  Something decorative.

One thing I've learned about myself is that the first or second of anything I make tends to be a bit rough.  This includes skills I haven't used in a while.  So I cut enough wire for two dozen headpins, pulled out my pliers, hammer and bit of railroad tie and went to work. 

Together at last!  My full-color tutorial and my new beaded bead pendant

Head pins complete, it took me three tries to turn one into a reasonable looking pendant (you can see a closer shot in my Etsy listing).  And by then I was on a roll. 

 If it was a good idea to create a bale for this beaded bead, then wouldn't it be a great one to make bales for my Corset Bead kits, too?  I bet you can guess how I spent the rest of Tuesday and then Wednesday morning. 

That done, it was finally time to set up my little photography studio.  I think the photos turned out really great, so I have to share. 

New bale for my Turquoise Antiquity beaded bead

I'll be making up kits for this one next week

My favorite photo - festive Holiday beads

I am simply pleased as punch with how they all turned out!  A fun, silly fact, bottle in the last two photos was a bottle of milk that came with my slice of chocolate birthday cake.  :-)  

So, now my all my bead kits will come with decorative headpins and an little accent bead kit for bale making.  I'm not generally including my earwires (shown in the last photo - used as an ornament hook) with any of the kits.  But as a special for my blog readers, if you convo me with your purchase, I'll include earwires too.  Just let me know you want them. 

101 Facebook Fan Winners

Thank you everyone who entered my 101 Facebook Fans drawing either here or over on Facebook itself! 

There were a number of different places where you could have entered - including several different threads on Facebook, although you did actually have to comment to enter.  So I printed them all out. taking screenshots of the comment threads from Facebook, because I couldn't figure out an easier way to do it. 

Then I sat down and numbered the entries - adding extra entries for those of you who had taken to post on your own blogs and Facebook pages.  Thanks for that!  In the end, I had 48 entries.  I gave 49 & 50 to Lyn Owen over at Silvermoonlyn as a thank you for all of the traffic she sent my way and to bring my drawing to a nice round number.

First up were the earrings, freeform peyote and right angle weave from my Earth & Sky colorway.   

freeform beaded earrings, Earth & Sky color way

 I used Random.org for the number generator, and Narelle Donald; number 22 was you. 


Then it was time to draw for one of the two kit packages. The winner will get to choose from Package A: a combo pack with kits for my Lacework Bracelets and Corset & Stays beaded bead.  Or package B: containing my book Freeform Peyote Beading and a special kit in the color way from my Autumn Rain bracelet (which incidentally has been the profile pic for Skunk Hill Studio's FB page from day1)

Package A: cover pages for the two tutorials

Package B: Freeform Peyote Beading special kit

Turns out, Lyn didn't need the extra two entries for sending people my way.  Her number came up for her blog comment. 

So now it looks like I'll be shipping two packages round to the other side of the globe.  Narelle and Lyn/Lynette, please email me with your contact information so I can get these out to you.  Lynette, I'll need to verify which kit package you want. 

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this giveaway a huge success!  This was a full order of magnitude larger than the last drawing I did back in the fall.

101 Face Book Fans Milestone Celebration and Giveaway

Last week, I hit one of my milestones of a hundred and one fans for my Skunk Hill Studio Facebook page.  To celebrate, I thought I'd host a giveaway.  No puppies, I promise!  None of those in residence here, without or without their spots.  What I do have a is ton of beads (sort of spot-like), so I thought I'd give some of them away in two separate prizes.

In the first prize, the beads are cleverly disguised as a pair of earrings.  I've selected this pair at left.  They're a pair of openwork freeform beading using right angle weave and peyote stitch with Vintaj antique brass ear wires and a $45.00 value.  If you've followed my blog for a while, you might remember them from my January earring challenge.

I personally think they're a lovely pair, and was tempted to keep them for myself.  But, since I believe in the freedom of choice, I'll make you an additional offer.  You're welcome to look through my Etsy store - if you see another pair you prefer, favorite it on Etsy and let me know.  If you win the earrings, then the one you marked is yours. If you favorite more than one, make sure you let me know which is your top choice!

Freeform Peyote Beading kit - includes beads & book

The second prize is designed for my do-it-yourselfer friends, and also comes with a choice.  The winner may choose either:

Kit Package A: including both my Lacework Bracelets and my Corset Beads kits mentioned in my last blog post. The prize will include both tutorials and all beads necessary to make a single-color lacework bracelet and two corset beaded beads. 

or

Kit Package B: my book, Freeform Peyote Beading and all of the beads necessary to make a bracelet similar to my Autumn Rain.  During my original bead selection for the piece, I divided all of my beads into four portions.  One of each was used to make the bracelet, while I held the remain three of each in reserve.  Earlier this year, I combined the three remaining kits into two, to make the bead packets a little more robust.  So this is a very limited edition kit.  Both kits prizes have a $45.00 value.

If you have a preference as to which prize you win - earrings, kits or either - let me know.   I'd really like the kits to go to someone who will use them.  :)

Now that you know the prizes, here are the rules for entry:

1. Since I'm celebrating my Facebook Fans, you need to be one to win.  If you're not already a fan, it's not too late become one.  :)  Update:  I'm already seeing a potential problem - if your Facebook profile name and Google profile name differ, please make sure there's an easy way for me to connect the two! 
2. You can gain chances to win by any of the following (up to, I think four, chances):  Comment here on my blog and/or on my Facebook page.  Tell me what you'd like best or what you'd like to see more of.  Post about this on your blog or Facebook, and let me know that you've done so. 

I'll do the drawing a week and a half from today, on Wednesday, June 27th.

And thank you all!

New Tutorial and a Vote

Concrete and resin cab ready for beading

Just finished up the last of three tutorials on my concrete and resin cabochons over on my website over at Skunk Hill Studio.  This one's on resin - specifically using epoxy resin as a topcoat.  I love the sense of physical depth and the vibrancy of colors that result. 

I'd given myself  an August 31st deadline.  Finished editing it yesterday.  Sigh!






 So, moving right along.  I'm now thinking of my next tutorial.  Should I cover:

Option 1: Dyed Papers

Folding and dyeing tissues papers for use in scrapbooking, paper collages, or as unique wrapping paper?

Or

Option 2: Loop and toggle clasp with right angle weave

Instructions for a loop and toggle clasp using right angle weave.  I work most of the stitching flat, then lace it over the forms to make everything much simpler.


If you have a preference, leave a comment and let me know.  My goal is to have the new instructions posted by October 1st.  We'll see how that goes.