Make a Statement . . . Bracelet - Coming Soon

I'm pretty excited about this bracelet!  It's a very wide version of the Marquis Buckle Bracelet (Here's the original version:  http://terahsclassiccreations.blogspot.com/2012/04/heres-lookin-at-you.html).  It's actually a whole other pattern for the band that I was trying out.  I designed it and decided to double the width of the band just for fun!

It took quite a while from design stages to actual finished product.  But I just finished it today, and couldn't wait to tell you about it!  The color is a vibrant turquoise/teal color.  The band has matte, shiny, and ceylon finishes in a swirly pattern.  I don't know why, I just love little swirls - they're so free, but classy at the same time.

I paired it with my newly-designed Marquis Buckle that I actually created while writing my tutorial for the Marquis Buckle Bracelet.  (If your interested in that, here it is:



http://www.etsy.com/listing/104092298/pdf-pattern-beadwoven-marquis-buckle)

I will hopefully have the pattern up for this bracelet in a while.  In the meantime, I'm sending it off to a professional photographer.  (Yay!  This is a first.  I'm sending a few other new pieces off along with this one.  I can't wait to see how they turn out!)  For now, you'll have to settle for my pictures of it.  :-)  So. . this will be coming soon to a TerahClassyCreations near you!

Oh yeah!  and I included some pictures of it in-progress on my new "About" page in my shop!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/TerahClassyCreations/about/

Enjoy!  And as always, have fun!

Terah
Terahs Classic Creations, a.k.a
TerahClassyCreations.Etsy.com

Nautical

What would you think of if someone told you to make something with a Nautical theme?  That's just what Etsy Beadweaavers did.  I made something a little more abstract, representing the bubbles in the ocean, using grey and blue seed beads, swarovski crystals, and a metal focal piece with inlaid crystals. 

But if you'd like to see what everyone else came up with, feel free to visit: http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/. Take a look!  You can vote for your favorite through May 15, 2011. 

So take a look at all the wonderful pieces everyone made - a feast for the eyes!

Sincerely,

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com

Brought Back by Diamond Buckles!

Sometimes life gets in the way.  I've been very busy learning a new language.  It's exciting, and I'm looking forward to becoming more fluent.  It may just open up many more opportunities - a whole other world of people to talk to.  Anyway, I've been pouring myself into that and haven't had much time to create lately.  Here in California it already feels like spring and I found myself sitting at my keyboard justing playing and enjoying the bright, cheerful sunlight streaming through the window.  Ahhh, so nice.  Well, with all my blabber aside, I haven't been completely bereft of creating lately.  I just haven't had many chances to share them with you.  Here are some examples:

This bracelet is actually thanks to a customer who specifically asked for this diamond shaped design!  I'm so grateful for inspiring people like her!  It really keeps me going!  The earrings (bottom picture) were actually a product of making the diamond buckle just a little too small at first.  So instead of scrapping the work, I decided to create some bold, geometric earrings!  Thanks again for the wonderful ideas!  I am working on another design right now that uses a different shaped buckle. . . . So stay tuned for that one!  :-D

Thanks again for the wonderful inspiration and input from everyone!

Sincerely,

Terah

(If you'd like to see more, visit my shop at http://www.terahclassycreations.etsy.com/.)

Introducing the Beach Bracelet!!!

Finished!!! 

 A couple of weeks ago, I gave you a sneak peek into my creative process in the post, A Bracelet In Design Stages.  Well, things went pretty well.  Along the way I toyed with the idea of using actual shells for the button loop closure, but that didn't quite work out.  But I think the end result is even better.  I went to my local bead shop and found this BEAUTIFUL Swarovski crystal button in a soft golden color.




  It was absolutely perfect!!!  The swish of the wave of bubbly beads around the crystal button acts as the closure, but also mimics the movement of a curling wave in the ocean!!!

(Technical info:  Because of the difference in size from the blue beads to the sand-colored beads, I had to work some blue rows in two-drop herringbone while the "sand" stayed one-drop herringbone.  Happily, It made a nice curve that fits the natural shape of the wrist/arm.)

 Also, I am absolutely enthralled with the satin-silk finish in Delicas.  They truly make any piece extra special, and I am in love.  In this piece they are reminiscent of the shimmering of the sands and the dance of  light on the ocean.

 I almost feel like I can hear the rushing of the surf against my heels, the cry of the seagulls and smell the fresh sea air!!!  Ahhhh!!!

This bracelet will be available in my shop very soon!!!

I'm In Beadwork Magazine!!!!

EEEeeeek!!!  That's about what I did today when I went to my mailbox!!  You see, I received my issue of the October/November 2011 issue of Beadwork today!

I usually like getting it, but this time I was especially excited because my version of the Brilliant Buckle Bracelet was featured in their W.O.R.D. (What Our Readers Did) section.  I was so excited, I just had to share!!  If you're wondering what I'm talking about, here's the link to the original post about this bracelet when I first made it!  (And this is the VERY picture that appears in their magazine!! :->)

http://terahsclassiccreations.blogspot.com/2011/02/buckle-bracelet.html

So go out and look in the October/November issue of Beadwork, on page 10 & you'll see what I mean!!  You can say you saw it here first!!  :-)

Now it's time for me to do the dance of joy!!!

'Lions and Tigers' Beadwoven Tile Bracelet

A while ago I posted 10 Ways To Break A Creative Slump.  Since then I realized there's another great way to get inspired. . . . 

Join some sort of a group that is into creative challenges!  For example, I'm part of a group called Etsy Beadweavers.  To be part of this group we have to enter one of their 12 creative challenges per year.  I hadn't been able to enter it yet, because of my own time constraints.  But the challenge for September is "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!  - a throw-back to The Wizard of Oz!  This really got the ideas flowing!  Just the name is very indicative of the piece I chose to make.

I'm calling it "'Lions and Tigers' Beadwoven Tile Bracelet."  

 Can you see why I called it that?

Any guesses?

.

I decided to make a "fabric" square (or tile) of beaded tiger stripes, and then chose a swirly gold pattern to represent the lion.  Ironically the tile containing the swirls also could represent the "twister" that picked Dorothy up and took her to the land of Oz!  I love that it has a double-meaning!  The gold frames on each of the beaded tiles and the gold-tone metal connectors represent the yellow-brick road.  (Incidentally, the bracelet itself could represent the road, since it looks like a path of stepping stones leading you somewhere!)

If you look closely you will notice the faceted red crystals that connect the "tiles" of beaded fabric mimic the  color of Dorothy's ruby slippers.  Finally, I chose to use two tiny, box clasps in the shape of bows to finish it, just like the bows on her iconic, sparkly ruby slippers.

So this will be my first submission to an Etsy Beadweaver's Challenge!!!  This will be fun!!  So don't forget to take a look at the Etsy Beadweavers blog!  It shows all the entries, and from September 9 -15, you can put your two cents in, and let them know which piece is your favorite!!

Name Quest Winner!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered their name suggestions either through this blog, through my facebook page or directly to me via e-mail.  Many of them included elements that I would have never conceived of if left to myself.  That's the beauty of this contest!  It expands all of our horizons.  All of the names were so great that I had a REALLY hard time deciding on the winning name.  But the decision had to be made . . .

So, without further adieu . . .(let the drumroll begin) . . . The new name of this bracelet is . . .  Crimson's Crystal !!!.  Congratulations Amanda!  She will be receiving her choice of 25% off anything in my shop or the free PDF version of the band pattern for her personal use.  Be sure to look for it at my etsy shop soon!

Name Quest - One Week To Go!

Okay. . I've finished the bracelet.  Here it is!!  I love the Satin Silk Delicas -  I used them in the buckle portion exclusively and more sparingly in the band.  They shimmer so beautifully!  This one is like the Swirly Buckle Bracelet but in a little different color scheme.

It is more evocative of evening-wear -  more shimmery and decadent while the band is more subdued.  It finishes with a copper swirl that fits around a red, faceted crystal.

Maybe the above description will help get everyones imaginations going.  Because remember, the "Name Quest" still goes on . . . for one more week!  Your last chance to comment and enter the contest is Sunday, May 29, 2011 (by 11:59 p.m. PST). 

So brainstorm and let me know your name - amazing, funny, descriptive, catchy, etcetera, etcetera. . . . I'm open to suggestions! Thank you so much to those who have already commented and entered this contest! So far the suggestions I have are: Jungle Buckle or Safari Swirl.

The winner gets their choice of a 25% DISCOUNT off my etsy shop OR a FREE peyote pattern (designed by me) for the band portion of this bracelet (in PDF format). 

I will announce the winner on Monday, May 30th.  So keep up the great work!  You can comment directly on this blog, e-mail me through the blog, or comment on my Facebook page!

Swirly Buckle Bracelet

 Here's the latest - the Swirly Buckle Bracelet!!!  This is kind of a fun and funky version of the original Buckle Bracelet!  The pattern on it reminds me of the illustrations of swirling windstorms in ancient drawings.  I designed this "swirly" pattern especially for this bracelet.

The swirly design is mimicked in it's clasp (shown above - made with non-tarnish square wire).

This design works pretty much like a belt (but for your wrist)  The smaller end is threaded through the opposite side, through the buckle, and the metal clasp hooks onto the 

Swarovki crystal at this end of the bracelet.

Which ends up looking like this!!!

To get a better perspective, here is the entire bracelet laying out flat.  I used various textures and finishes of Delicas in this creation - silver-lined, matte metallic, to opaque.  So even though there are two variations of greyish-silver in the background, it's still loaded with visual interest and impact.  So what does everyone think?  I'm already working on another slight color-variation to this pattern.  But what do you want to see next?  Blues?  Earth tones?  Just metallics?  Yellow/black?  Let me know - I'm all ears!

SOLD

Buckle Bracelet

Enter the amazing Buckle Bracelet!!!  I just tried this project from the newest Beadwork magazine!!  This is just such a bold design.  It's so versatile - casual or dressy!!!  (I changed it a little - used larger beads for the cuff.)

This fired the imagination.  I think I'm going to try different variations using the buckle idea & see where it takes me.  Maybe different sizes and shapes for the buckle - a different type of cuff.  Still in the idea process - we'll see where it takes me!!  I'm open for ideas & suggestion. I will keep you posted!

Don't forget to let me know what you think!!  You can comment here directly on my blog, e-mail me through the blog, etc.

Celtic Reflections

Talk about adventures in beading! This design was the real epiphany! I wondered if some traditional knitting cable-patterns could also be translated to beadwork with the new herringbone-cable technique. Excitedly, I tried it out, and voila!!.. This bracelet emerged! The waving edges are just a product of the technique. The same amount of beads are used throughout the width of the piece. I used cubes (1.5mm) for the background, matte triangle beads for the edges and size 8 two-cuts (I believe) for the rope pattern, and size 8 delicas for the end sections. I later added the berry-colored button pearls for a finishing touch. **AVAILABLE**

Harvest Cuff

This cuff has a swarovski crystal, button-loop closure. It measures 6.5" long by 1" wide. The colorplay and the differences in the finishes of the beads, i.e., matte opaque verses shiny & transparent are what gives this bracelet its life. SOLD

Duplicity

I call this Duplicity because it is reversible. I was trying this easy bead-knitting technique I learned from one of my favorite beading magazines. The gold lame cording used to knit this bracelet shows through and adds to it's sparkle. The triangle beads used on the one side make it more fun and casual, while the hex beads on the other side are a little more serious. It's very versatile, and because of this, is one of my favorites!