Part 2
...a little bit delayed, but finally here!
For this part of the reveal, I have a bunch of pieces that are all a variation on a theme. Indeed, they're all practically the same--just in different colorways.
But! I'm getting ahead of myself. First, let me show you the beads that I wanted to use:
Those are all strands and strands and strands of 3mm Czech glass fire-polished beads. I get a monthly subscription box that usually includes them, and I just haven't found the right use for them.
That is, until now.
You see, at the end of last year, I learned a new seed bead stitch: the Russian Spiral. I've been wanting to learn it for years, and last Fall--around the time of my surgery--it finally just clicked.
Now, you know what beads work wonderfully in a Russian Spiral design?
You guessed it: 3mm Czech glass fire-polished beads.
I have been having so much fun with this stitch. I have been going through and using up all of those beads that I have been keeping/hoarding, and finally having a use for them. I'm ecstatic.
But enough talk. Here are the 7 necklaces I made for this challenge--and, trust me, this is not the limit of what all I've made with this stitch. I'm currently addicted--and I have a lot of beads to use up!
Necklace 1
(And, just as a disclaimer: the discerning among you will notice that none of these necklaces actually have clasps. I'm going to go through and add them at some point, but in my push to get these all done in February, I did forgot to add them. Oops!)
Necklace 2
Necklace 3
Necklace 4
Necklace 5
Necklace 6
Necklace 7
Now, this last necklace deserve just a little more of a write-up, because it truly captures the essence of this challenge. I had four half-strands of pink beads that I had used in a different necklace. What I had left was not quite enough to make a Russian Spiral necklace.
So, look carefully at those piles: the top and bottom piles each contain two shades of beads instead of one. I combined them together based on finish, with the two shades of opal pink in one pile and clear pink in the other. I then supplemented some matching coppery pink beads (middle pile) that I had left from yet another design.
This necklace is the epitome of taking beads that I already owned, and making something lovely.
I'm thrilled with how it turned out!
So, there you go. Welcome to my newest beading obsession. It's fun to do, and a wonderful way to use up beads that I previously didn't know how to use.
And, just to show off, here they are, all together:
It's so neat how the same stitch can yield such different looks--all depending on the colors and seed beads you choose! (Oh, and I suppose I should mention that I used either Miyuki or Toho 11/0s, depending on the metallic finish I was using. The light bronze and bright silver are Miyukis, while the rest are Tohos.)
I'm sure you'll see more of this design from me in the future. I just thought that it deserved its own post, since it really did capture what this challenge was all about.
Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I made! I'm already poking at ideas for my March challenge... I realize that it's already 7 days into the month, and I haven't decided yet. Hah! I'll let you know what I finally decide on soon.
Until then, have a beautiful day, everyone!
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P.S. Part 1 can be found here!
