Summer House Necklace

I received some delicious beads made by Szilvia Vihriala and had to have a play with them as soon as possible. I love her beads because they evoke a feeling of rustic innocence. Next time I buy a house I want it to look like one of these beads. Everything about her art is just happy!

Ingredients:

• Szilvia Vihriala house bead
• Premium Czech glass beads
• Brass stars, bird and lobster clasp
• Thai Karen spacers and heart charm
• Turquoise, charoite and garnet spacers
• Czech glass seed beads
• Sterling silver chain
• Handmade silver headpin

Twee Adventures in Polymer Clay

I've been reading a blog called Art Bead Scene for a little while and was inspired by their current monthly challenge to try and make some art beads with polymer clay. Monet's meadow is so beautiful and together with the fact that spring has finally turned up in the UK I felt that I just had to have a crack.

Ingredients:

• Polymer clay pendant beads
• Turquoise
• Magenta quartz
• Chrysoprase
• Thai Karen printed spacer
• Sterling silver and non-tarnish silver

This is my first real try with polymer clay and I'm pretty happy with the results. Also learned that you should tie up your hair when using varnish. Rookie mistake!

Next step: purchase a proper roller and a pasta machine. This be fun :)

The new bead shop is still a work in progress and now that the sun has popped out (briefly) I'm taking snaps of yummy gemstone beads.