Fresh & Zingy

 

More colour inspiration!

 

Green and blue are some of my favourite colours to use together, I find them so fresh and inviting.

Not just colours for spring, they bring zing to even the dullest of days!

 

Trudi x

 

Colour Trends For Spring 2013

 

 

Help to set the trend this spring by selecting beads in the

gorgeous colours that are tipped to be firm favourites!

 

 

These mini polkas pick out the blues from the chart.

 

While these mix up the cool blue and green with a warmer coral.

 

What mix of colours would you choose?

 

 

Scrap Metal by Lesley McMurray

Scrap Metal by Lesley McMurray, originally uploaded by Glittering Prize - Trudi.

Another beautiful necklace to drool over, you really can't beat handmade!

Lesley has used my bead and teamed it with silks by Diane (www.sowzeredesigns.com) and sterling silver findings and my favourite Swarovski crystal.

Trudi

Gift Of A Blue Heart

I really love making gifts, and Christmas is a great time for this, if not very busy!!

Part of the challenge is to make something that will suit the intended from length, style and colour.

One of the gifts I made this year was this necklace

It started out with the blue heart, cobalt blue isn't normally a colour I go for, but I really like it in this heart. I wanted a longer length necklace so I used some hand-dyed silks from Diane (aren't they just gorgeous!) and to give it some weight and because I thought it looked un-finished, I added a long purple Swarovski crystal.

Just hope she likes it!

Trudi x

Inkspired Challenge

One of the challenges in one of my forum groups last month was to design a piece that was based on a tattoo theme! Good challenge!!

So I came up with the hearts and flowers theme, ideally I would have included a dagger but these are quite tricky to come by, so I used a haging crystal drop instead as the piece looked unfinished without it.

The colours aren't normally ones I'd use together, I was taking myself out of my comfort zone, but looking at it now I'm really pleased with it.

Recycled Sapphire Fizz

Sapphire Fizz, originally uploaded by Glittering Prize - Trudi.

I've wanted to have a go at melting down a glass bottle and making something with it! So when a Bombay Sapphire bottle was donated to me I couldn't wait - the blue in this glass is just gorgeous!

The bottle was thoroughly washed - and then smashed!! Good to go!

I had read that you need to pick up the glass with tongs to prevent flash back, so I gingerly picked up a large piece and warmed in the back of the flame ..... it soon became apparent that this was not going to work .... the glass was cracking before I could melt it!

So I put plan B into action - I warmed up a lump in the kiln first to help prevent the shocking! And yes it worked!!

This glass is quite stiff so it took me a while, but before too long I had a section melted and pulled into a rod and went into action making these beads which were rolled in fizz frit.

I still have quite a stash of the glass left, wonder what I'll make next!

Big Hole Beads Bracelet - Mine!

BHB Bracelet - Mine!, originally uploaded by Glittering Prize - Trudi.

Well I bought my bracelet a little while ago, and I've been collecting and making beads since - I finally now got the "look" as I want it and feel comfortable with!

All the lampies are mine (apart from the blue and ivory - which I got in the swap last year - thanks Ingrid!).

Now I need to make mpre beads in other colour combos .. must crack on!

Caribbean

Caribbean, originally uploaded by Glittering Prize - Trudi.

I was so thrilled when Nia bought some of my beads, even more thrilled when I saw this beautiful bracelet that she made with them. I think that the beads sit perfectly with the silver squares and give it that "I want to touch" it appeal!

You can see Nia's work at www.gemwaithnia.co.uk