Treasures by Louise

Yes, I am a Bead Hoarder! Thanking Lori Anderson for this wonderful challenge: It has gotten me started on creating again, and using what's on hand is a great way to stretch one's design ideas. (So are almost 170 other beaders, LOL. I want to visit all the hoppers and will, but it is taking a while!) First is a necklace from a set of assorted beads already pre-coordinated by Bead Landing. To see the stash I blogged about, click: Here  (Purchased on clearance.) I added the copper beads and the central howlite disc from my stash. Easy peasy, just need to decide the arrangement and add the spacers. Blue - Copper "Color Splash" Necklace - beads from Michaels I created this first attempt at 'bead weaving' ( I think it is actually netting, if you are getting specific ), while I was on vacation with my family in June. I dug out the bead stringing thread, needles and little and big crystals from way back in the drawer to take a small project for working on

I have been sorting through my hoard for the Lori Anderson's Bead Hoarders blog hop , and it appears my storage strategy is sorely lacking. I have three under-bed storage boxes, and inside there are loose strands, as well as some nicely sorted beads in divided storage containers. Storage bin and random beads Some beads were stored in empty prescription bottles that my dear mother gave me. Well, I thought it was a poor solution since the bottles are amber and you can't easily see what you have. I have also learned these bottles are fairly breakable when you quickly stack lots of bins on top of them. :( Don't try this at home! I now have one six-drawer storage unit with plastic drawers from Office Depot. I am transferring beads, and will probably need at least one more. These can be labeled with categories, such as: seed beads, wire, stringing materials, wood beads, glass, and miscellaneous. I'm sure there are more categories that will come to mind. Making

One of the fun things about swaps, is you get to see and work with beads that are unusual. The black glass disc beads with the silver carving here have a design that looks like a spider, but not enough that you could only use them seasonally for Halloween. I have been busy designing, with the spider beads that my partner Crystal sent me in our swap! Here is the first necklace. The amethyst seed beads and amethyst bicone crystals are from my stash. Necklace: Silver and Amethyst tones I had fun making this piece using a lark's head knot with seed beads strung on beading wire. I like the black, silver and purple colors. It's a bit different than colors I usually choose. I am very pleasantly surprised with the combination. Silver and Amethyst Surprise

Here are the beads I recieved for my first bead swap: I love the silver and black glass donut and all the supporting beads. The carved glass beads with the silver spider-like design are both beautiful and challenging! The black glass carved rectangles  with gold will be set aside for another project.  Also included were silver spacers, black glass beads, and extra large silver seed beads!  I decided to add a pale amethyst crystal and pale amethyst seed beads as an accent color. These will be fun to create with, and also cause me to work outside my comfort zone. There are lots of possible alternate colors I could have added - Leave me a comment and let me know what you would use with this set of swap beads!?