"Emeralds Forever"

"Emeralds Forever"

Designer of beaded bead: "Double Rose Window" by BeadInfinitum (Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour".

Once I saw these emerald cathedral beads, I wanted to make an antique looking necklace. I ran into a big problem - the green emerald color was so dark that my first attempt using all black just lost the green color. The owner of my local bead store suggested I use some crystals in the center, which worked well to bring the green color out. I had to omit the lace overlay embellishment, though, because it darkened the green.

Next, I wanted to make a larger bead unit, so I made three beaded beads, then carefully stitched them together at the centers to align the cathedral beads. The whole necklace was still difficult to photograph to catch the greens, but when worn, the necklace sparkles the subtle greens of emeralds.

Beaded by: Sharon Erwine 2011

Item 1649

"A Little Black Dress and ..."

"A Little Black Dress and . . .

Designer of beaded bead: "Double Rose Window" by BeadInfinitum (Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour" - variation: I used 8 mm beads instead of 6mm beads, resulting in a larger, flatter beaded bead

When I made "Sweet Charity" I thought the bead looked like a flower, my special interest. So I made another and combined my idea to add a beaded bead to a simple strand of pearls. So here it is, and I hope you like it.

Beaded by: Sharon Erwine 2011

Item 1648

"Sweet Charity"

Side 1 - embellished

Side 2 - not embellished

"Sweet Charity"

Design of beaded bead: Bead Infinitum's "Double Rose Window". I varied the design by using 8mm Chinese Charoite beads instead of 6mm beads , and by using some 2mm sugalite beads for embellishment in place of seed beads.

Beaded by Sharon Erwine 2011

Item 1647

Have you heard of "The Best Little Bead Box" and "Beads of Courage"? Beads of Courage is a charity to benefit children who have cancer, and The Best Little Bead Box is a related means for beaders to help Beads of Courage. I recently participated in The Best Little Bead Box and obtained these Chinese Charoite and Sugalite beads as a result of my participation. I am choosing to return this completed beaded bead to The Best Little Bead Box to be included in their Ebay charity "lots" at the end of Round 2.

To read more about this worthwhile cause, please see my entries , as follows:

http://thebestlittlebeadbox.blogspot.com/

March 15, 2011 My adventures in Fort Worth with the Beads of Courage tiger

March 15, 2011 The beads I added to the boxes

March 15, 2011 The beautiful things I selected from the boxes

"I Love Jade"

"I Love Jade"

The 2 large beaded beads are from the "Time Machine" pattern, designed by Bead Infinitum (Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour).

My inspiration for the colors was the package of jade coin beads that I used in this project. They were such pretty shades of lavenders and olives. I used three shades of jade rounds (8mm new jade, 6mm lemon olive, 4 mm olive), then picked some pretty green and lavender seed beads and fringe beads for the embellishments. Since I wanted the jade rounds to show through, I stopped after round 2 of the embellishments. If you want, there is yet another round of embellishment to make these beads even fancier.

The center bead was my own invention. It turned out to be a poor idea, since the drilled hole runs between the two Time Machine beads, rather than a hole as in a donut bead. The bead edging wants to slide slightly off the edge.

After stringing the necklace, I thought the plain jade rounds at the sides looked a little plain compared to their fancy focals, so I added a little embellishment using 3 fringe beads in each space where I wanted them. After the picture was taken, I removed the fringe beads from the back 5" on each side because they were uncomfortable on the neck.

"Time Machine" beaded bead designed by: Bead Infinitum (Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour)

Beaded by: Sharon Erwine 2011

Item 1646

Peppermint Dreams / Valentine (Ionic Polyhedra Pentacluster)

Peppermint Dreams / Valentine (Ionic Polyhedra Pentacluster)

This is a 10 sided beaded bead from the same pattern as the cube ring. I left off the drop beads at the corners to allow the eye to probe into the shape, and made an additional embellishment strip to form a bail. Then I completed the necklace with a twisted herringbone rope and a "Spinning Top" bead for the clasp. (Free pattern Spinning Top on Bead Infinitum) I think I will make two more Spinning Tops for earrings.

Both beads designed by: Bead Infinitum (Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour)

Beaded by: Sharon Erwine, 2010

Item 1644

Cube Ring (Ionic Polyhedra Cube Beaded Bead)

Cube Ring (Ionic Polyhedra Cube Beaded Bead)

This was my 1st try bead from the new Ionic Polyhedra pattern that teaches multiple mathematical shapes. Because this is the simplest shape, I recommend that you start with this one, then you can move on to the more complicated shapes. But what to do with this little cube? I know, make a knockout ring!

Designed by: Bead Infinitum (Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour)

Beaded by: Sharon Erwine, 2010

Item 1643

US Navy Bookmark

US Navy Bookmark

Designed by my son, LT. Thomas Ames - summer, 2010

Beaded by Sharon Erwine, 2010 and sent to Tom in Iraq

Item 1642 Pattern will be available on my website in May, 2011