Dragonfly - Highlights of 2007 continued -

This morning I sat down to read an article in the latest Bulletin Magazine about Amber, but got way laid reading, about Dragonflies and felt I needed to record something about what I'd read. You may recall last year my post about the pic I took of a Blue and Yellow Dragonfly which inspired a piece of Jewellery I made and named "Dragonfly Summer" I really do love the look of dragonflies and I guess now that means I've joined the ranks of "Odonatists" meaning lovers of the Dragonfly or Damselfly.
I was fascinated to find out also that the Odonata insect order of these flies are some of the oldest critters on Earth and that Dragonflies are viewed with affection in Japanese and certain Native American traditions where they are revered as symbols of strength, happiness or pure water.

Well yes, I can see why they would be a symbol of happiness. Looking at some of the stunning colours of these creatures would brighten anyone's day. Take for example the "Red Barron" or " Urothemis Aliena" who would have thought that dragonflies came dressed in Red. I love Red, its one of my fav colours. The article went on to say, "other cultures see them as sinister". eg. in Europe, dragonflies were called "horse stingers" and "devils darning needles" stemming from a myth that if you fell asleep by a stream in summer, they'd use their long thin bodies to sew your eyelids shut....lol..now that is indeed would be a very funny sight.

Apparently there are 88 species of the Dragonfly found in South East Queensland and they are most active on hot, sunny days. I've noticed one or two occasionally in my garden, but they are usually tiny and not very colourful. I guess that's why this big colourful creature really made me sit up and take notice that particular day on Stradbroke Island. I now want to find out what species it is and a little more about its habitat.
Specific data in this post has been provided by Ric Nattrass a wildlife ranger whilst the article was written by Katherine Fleming of Bulletin Magazine.

I've emailed Ric personally to enlist his assistance with identification.

Ed: Ric tells me my Dragonfly is a "Blue Skimmer" or "Orthetrum caledonicum"
Thanks Ric!!

Highlights of 2007 continued....

Here's another wire piece I put together last year. The only tools I used to make this one were a pair of wire cutters. The Swarovski crystals caught my eye one day whilst out bead shopping, at the time had no idea what I was going to do with them, but I think they were put to good use with the making of this wire necklace.
The wire that holds the necklaces in place is just one long piece that I wire wrapped with fine wire and then hooked onto the necklace. Actually the whole thing was a bit of an experiment, but I like how it turned out and so did a customer who snapped it up at one of my jewellery shows. I also made matching earrings for her.

My Fun Froggy Pendant Project

Pick yourself up a copy of the latest(Dec 07) Australian Beading Magazine and have a go at my fun Froggy Pendant project. You'll be twisting wire in no time and probably get as addicted as I am. You can adapt this technique to any type of large focal bead. This is another of Sabine E Wilkins Beads... Have fun!!

Customer Commission

I just finished this piece which a customer commissioned a little while back.
Her brief was for something pink, but when she looked over my Swarovski stash, it was decided that pink, white and crystal were to be the embellishments.
The fine wire wrapping took me approximately 4 hours, but that was ok, as I occupied myself by listening to the American Music Awards on Fox 8 at the same time.
I really don't mind wrapping wire, its actually rather therapeutic!

My Challenge Winner

You may have notice a little blue and white challenge winner badge over to the right of my blog. Recently I decided to try my hand once again at another challenge on the Australian Beading Forum. The theme was "Masquerade". Great theme. Of course lots of ideas later and a bit of doodling on paper, this mask which I named "Venetia" is what I came up with.

It now also features on my new business cards. I plan to frame the piece in a 3D photo frame too, so I can hang it with my certificates etc from previous competitions.

Medieval Queen

I made the base of this piece a while back, then left it sitting in a box, forgetting all about it whilst I got on with other things.
One of the reasons I put it aside was because my original idea for embellishing it didn't really workout, so I figured inspiration would hit sooner or later.

My idea for a recent Wire work/Chain Maille Beading forum "Medieval" challenge was for a gold headdress littered with gems, Pearls, Rubies, Emeralds and Diamionds, as was popular with Kings and Queens of the day, but in my case I used Swarovski crystals and pearls.

Decided to add the basic chain maille in order to fit the period, not that I've actually been able to find any headpieces of the day with CM dangling in this manner, so it's just my take on a theme. Its worn with the chain down over the forehead sort of like a circlet.

More Beach and Sea

Been a few days since I posted here.

Yesterday I went off to the Craft and Stitches "Bead Fair" at the Brisbane Convention centre. Had a great day, fossicking amongst the beads and chatting to people.

Also checked out the Top 25 entries in the 2007 Swarovski Creative Beading Awards of Excellence. Baffling thing was that none of the entries had been tagged with the designers names or locations. Go figure!

Some brilliant work on display. Pity, the best pieces didn't even place in the Top 5. Don't get me wrong, am more than thrilled with my 12th placing out of 300 entries.

Aren't designs supposed to be original? Are the judges living under a Rock? Give up yet? YES.

As for the photography, it doesn't even rate a mention. Heck I can do better than that and I did. Talk about disappointing. My advice, find a photographer who is experienced at shooting Jewellery and give those truly talented Australian designers the recognition they so deserve.

Whilst I was at the Fair I picked up a few bits and bobs to finish off a couple of projects I had on the go. I finished both these today. I must say that was a marathon effort.

Two more pieces ready for my upcoming Jewellery Party....Phew!!

Think I've got RSI

More from me. Been just a tad busy the last couple of days, churning out more new glitzy jewellery pieces.

I positively adore the Art Glass beads in the pic above. The colours are really gorgeous and very Summery, whilst the beads themselves are smooth and silky to the touch.

Blue, Brown and a touch of Lemon. Each one has been individually wired with a Sterling Silver Spacer then joined with Sterling Silver Jump Rings. The pattern on each alternate bead reminded me somewhat of the spirals found inside cone shells.

There will be matching earrings and as I have enough beads there may even be a matching bracelet still to come. I've got more of these beads on order, different shapes and colours, so am awaiting their arrival in order to come up with a couple more interesting designs. I have one in my head and it involves a large Hilltribe Silver fish.

Seems I've gone a bit Lemon mad the last couple of weeks as it's not a colour I use very often. These cute little crystal and enamel flowers caught my eye on a website the other day, so I bought a few to see what they were like. They were a good match for some Carnelian I had. but then I didn't have a suitable clasp.

Decided to use the last two to make my own clasp and with the addition of some of my favourite silver Artistic Wire am very happy with the end result. This set includes a little pair of matching faceted Carnelian Barrel bead and Swarovski Bi-cone earrings. Hooks are 925 silver.

The next set has some stunning sea green/blue tones and is a real sparkler.

What was that saying back in the days of old?

" Blue and Green should never be seen"

Can't imagine why, those are my two most fav colours when teamed together.

Comes with a matching set of earrings, Hooks are 925 sterling silver as is the square Box Clasp on the necklace. Measures 45cm approx.

Design Award - 2007 Sydney Beading Extravaganza Comp

Finally the wait is over for one competition.

The winners of 2007 Sydney Bead and Gem Show Extravaganza Juried Competition were announced today and I got a phone call around lunch time.

My entry a free form Bridal Tiara embellished with Swarovski Crystals and Pearls was placed Third in the Finished Jewellery category.

When you're on a Roll..... keep rolling!

More from me today, I've been really productive the last few days and still have heaps to do.

This set was an absolute pain in the you know what, to put together, and no, it wasn't the fancy wired feature or even the hand beaten clasp that I had to make because its almost impossible to buy decent sized copper clasps... it was the simple act of stringing.

First I missed beads and it didn't hang properly, then I accidentally caught the copper crimp cover in the wire when I closed it, not good because this would eventually cause the wire to break and yep beads would be all over the floor. I then had another go at restringing the whole thing and didn't pull the wire up tight to the crimp...... Enough I said, what now!! Thank goodness that's over.

While I was at it, I made a little pair of matching earrings, the hooks are fine quality Anodized Bronze Niobium with a 2mm Copper bead and are totally safe for sensitive ears (hypoallergenic) and the colour is permanent. I've made earrings for myself with these hooks and I can vouch for that. The set contains Black and Copper glass, tiny Czech Copper glass Rondelles, real Copper beads and Copper Artistic Wire.

"Venetia" - Masquerade Ball Beading Challenge

I've been busy working on a piece for a beading challenge on an Australian Beaders forum that I belong to. I finally finished it last night. I used all the pink toned Swarovski crystals (Light and Dark Rose, Rosewater Opal, Pink Alabaster, and Fuchsia, along with some baby pink Swarovski pearls) that I had in my collection. Non tarnish Silver Artistic Wire was used to make the form and for the fine wire wrapping. I found some stunningly beautiful organza ribbon in baby pink and Fuchsia, in my local embroidery shop to add a bit of fullness and Sterling Silver enamel spray paint I bought at Bunnings to coate the dowel to which I attached the Mask.

Edited: 19th Nov, 07 - Won this Challenge, how exciting is that!!

Dragonfly Summer

You may recall a while back I posted a pic in this blog of a blue winged dragonfly, a pic I snapped over on Stradbroke Island last year. I was inspired to create a piece of wire wrapped jewellery, so here is a pic of the finished necklace and earrings.

The necklace contains Banded Black Onyx, Butter Jade (so beautiful) and who said yellow wasn't a nice colour, certainly not I...lol, Crystal Mutlifaceted Blue Opal Chalcedony, Silver Artistic Wire and Sterling Silver, oh and a sprinkle of Sapphire 5000 Swarovski crystals to capture a little glint.

Here's the pic I was talking about if you missed it.
Isn't that the most amazing Dragonfly and how lucky was I to capture it so close. Pity though I'd left my Macro Lens at home.

Beading Project

Just been informed that my Wired Frog Pendant project is to appear in the December 07 (Vol- 1 No. 4)issue of Australian Beading Magazine. Keep an eye out for it. Yes more of Sabine's really cool froggies.

On the subject of Frogs

Know anyone who has an obsession with Frogs? Well me for one. A lovely lampworker friend of mine by the name of Sabine E Wilkins of Sydney, Australia, made these froggie beads for me.

A whirl or two of wire, a couple of glitzening Swarovski Bicones and ta da....this is what I came up with.

The Green one is mine, the Teal and Blue one was grabbed by my friend Simone who is a musical theatre director and loves unusal jewellery.

Check out more of Sabine's Lampwork at http://www.freewebs.com/sabinewilkins/

Sydney Bead and Gem Show & My Logo

Thought I'd pop a pic in here of my entry from the 2006 Sydney Bead and Gem Show. I named it "Forest Frenzy" mainly because it was a frenzied effort to get it finished and photographed before the competition closing date. It made the finals, but wasn't placed.

Still a thrill for some-one who had only been beading for about 6 months and was totally self taught.

I also devised my logo from part of this necklace and did a bit of editing with Microsoft Digital Image Suite to make the edges look torn. You can see the logo to the right of the page.

Most people who know me are aware I love frogs too. So this piece came as no surprise. The frog is Pewter and is recycled from a keyring.

This pic also appeared the Gallery of one of my favourite wire working magazines in the USA. Step by Step Wire Jewellery - Summer 07 Vol 3 No. 3. I've kept the piece as a memento of my very first beading competition.

Hyper-ventilating now - I made the next round

and here's the e-mail I received advising I made Top 25

Congratulations Bernadine !!!

Your piece "Copper for Cleopatra" has been selected as one of the top 25 entries for the Swarovksi Creative Beading Awards 2007, presented by Crystal Park. The standard this year has shown us all how the beading community has progressed so much in the last 12 months. You should feel very proud of your achievement in reaching such a high standard.

Your piece will now be on display throughout 2008 at all major city Bead Fairs (associated with the Quilt and Craft Fairs). In the next day or so Deborah Gibbons from Creative Beading will contact you via email to ask you some questions. This will form part of our story to be published in issue 3-2, which will go on sale mid November 2007. We will send you a copy of the magazine and your certificate prior to the magazine going on sale. However, it is imperative that we receive your reply by 8th September to meet our deadlines.

Once again, I thank you for participation and congratulate you on your efforts in helping make this, Australasia's premier beading design award.

Yours in Beading
Simon
Publisher - Creative Beading

Whoo Hooooooo - Competition Update

As you may or may not be aware one of my free form wire Tiara's "Copper for Cleopatra" was nominated as a finalist in the 2007 Swarovski Creative Beading Awards here in Australia. This year there were 300 entries and I made the top 40.

I then got notified by the organisers of the 2007 Sydney Bead and Gem Show Beading Extravaganza Competition that the same Tiara made the finals of the finished jewellery category. Exciting... heck yes! but a real dilemma, well sort of. I'd already sent the Tiara for judging and it was unlikely that I'd have it back in time to send it off to be judged for the Bead and Gem show... I was mad at myself for being so silly. Fancy entering the same piece in two comps with judging so close. What on earth was I thinking??

A couple of days later, God must have been smiling down on me for a change. I was sharing my pain with friends on the Aus Beading Forum, when the lovely Anne, told me that the closing dates for the Bead and Gem show competition had been extended.. I think my heart may have just temporarily stopped beating, before I was outta my chair and on the phone to the organisers in Sydney.

"Yes its true," they said. "We were a little late in getting things organised, so the closing date has been extended". I mentioned my little problem and was told, "Yes by all means enter another piece, your work is beautiful."
To cut to the chase, I've been advised that my second piece "Argrya's Crown" has been accepted as a finalist.

Today I received an email from the Swarovski Comp organisers asking me to complete a questionnaire as they're running a feature on the finalists in the Creative Beading Magazine (usually this will appear around December or January next year). Could this mean that I made the next round of the competition? Deep breath, Bernadine....

Stay tuned for the next installment.

Spiral Pendants

These pendants were made for a couple of different customers of mine.

The first one was constructed using Artistic wire whilst the second larger piece was put together with Argentum and Gold Filled wire.

Both contain faceted Amethyst nuggets and were created using my own original design.