Anniversary soutache set

Some time ago my friend's husband asked me to make something special for his wife, for their wedding anniversary. It was up to me what to make though... and it didn't make it easier at all. I couldn't figure out what the best present would be and so I was wondering about it for almost a month. Luckily, just a few days before their anniversary I suddenly realized that I have heard Aga once mentioning some soutache jewelry that she found beautiful. My experience with soutache however is only slightly bigger than none, but I decided to give it a try.

After one long day, I came up with a set like this:

 

The set was made with black and metallic gold soutache cords, metal beads and beautiful Swarovski coated rivolis. The pendant is 6 cm (2,36") long and the earrings measure 2,5 x 3,5 cm (1 x 1.37").

Happy anniversary, Agnieszka & Paweł! :)

Back to beadweaving...

But only here, for the blog purposes. Just because there's a beaded pendant, made last month I think, that was waiting to be shown... In fact it was (and still is) waiting for a tutorial to be written... but it's far too hot here to work. So the tutorial will be prepared in the future, while the pendant can be shown even today. And since there's been nothing happening here recently (I'm so lazy, I know), I might as well do that. :)

The pendant is made with spikes, fire polished beads and Toho seed beads. It measures roughly 5 x 3,5 cm (1,96 x 1,37") without the bail.

Don't know about you, but to me it looks like a strange, multi-legged bug. ;D

I'm happy that so many of you want to participate in my blog candy. Well, there is already more than fifty people who joined the fun, so there will be more prizes for you to win. And there's still one week left, so if you haven't joined yet, better do that when you still have a chance. :)

And as it's finally not that hot here anymore, I'm going out to catch some fresh air. Have fun whatever you do and I'll see you later. :)

Copper and caffè latte

So here we have the third soutache pendant... It's actually a miracle that I have managed to finish it, since Leon, while running on the sofa, constantly kept stealing the cords. I've spent most of the time on fighting to get them back, so sewing the pendant has taken even more effort than last time. Good thing that neither Leon nor Strider were interested in the finished piece. They were too busy with biting the blanket. ;P

But enough about the rats, time to show the pendant, so here it is:

 

 

That will be a very short entry, looks like I have to go. Now. :/

 

Oh, but I'm happy to see that so many of you is interested in winning the tutorials! Anyway, I'll see you soon again. :)

 

 

 



Taming wild cords - part 2

Okay, after making the first soutache piece, I coudn't really stop too soon.That resulted in another pendant made with this technique. This time it took only something like 8 hours... and I didn't get enough sleep again last night. Looks like it's not really a technique for me. It is just too time-consuming, and my impatience simply doesn't allow me to stop in the middle of work and return to it the next day. So, either I will give up sewing, or I won't be sleeping at nights. Ah, sleep is a waste of time anyway. ;)

As it is only the second attempt at soutache, I didn't expect it to be perfect - and it certainly isn't  - still it looks a bit better for real than in the pictures. It is truly eye-catching though - and it will remain my new favourite pendant, at least until I make a new one. So, that means a couple of more days, I think. ;)

The pendant measures 6,5 x 5,5 cm (2,55 x 2,16") without the bail. Somehow it turned out to be the same size as the first one. That's the only thing they have in common though, as you can see from the pictures below. ;)

 

 

Also, it's nice to see new followers! I hope you are enjoying your time here. ;)

 

I'll see you again soon. :)

 

 

 



Soutache? Actually, why not? ;)

Well, looks like I'm back. After a couple of wasted weeks it was about time to stop wallowing in self-pity. If I am to die, heck, I will, but since it's not happening right now, there are other, better things to do. Almost too many things though, considering this little time I have left. And as if I haven't had enough ideas for bead weaving, I just had to try one more thing. Again, never say never... instead, from now on, I will keep saying: "later". ;)

Last time you could see my first attempt at bead embroidery, now it's time to see the result of the first ever battle with soutache cords. Oh well, after five long hours (the first 30 minutes was more like "hmm... now what should I do with these sneaky cords trying to escape from my fingers?") I think the beasts have been eventually tamed, as they happened to turn into a pendant. Good tiny cords, they should have been given a reward for that. ;) No reward though for keeping me up until 2 a.m. when I was supposed to go to work five hours later. ;P

Anyway, here's the pendant. I was stupid enough to choose the most contrasting colours that ever existed, so it's almost too easy to spot all the flaws in the finished piece. But as for the first one, it could have been worse. ;)

The pendant measures 6,5 x 5,5 cm (2,55 x 2,16") without the bail.

And one more thing before I say good bye for today. I just want to say thanks. Thank you for being with me when I needed you. Thank you for everything you have said to cheer me up. Thank you for the e-mails you have written and spending your time on talking to me. Thank you for still visiting the blog, even if it was dead for a moment.
I won't say your name here though - you should know that it is *you* I'm thanking right now. :)