In less than an hour......

I can create something out of a handfull of pieces of glass or metal. I really like making jewelry - nearly as much as I like cooking or photography. Usually an idea will strike me while I'm doing something else. Often it'll be because I remembered a specific bead I'd gotten and suddenly I knew exactly what to do with it. Other times a specific bead NEEDS to be made into something but initially I'm not sure what to make with it.

 But it nearly always starts simple..... with a single bead, like this one:

Sometimes, beads have a name - often referring to the pattern - this one was called "Pastoral." Other beads are noted by type - kinds of glass, shell, metals etc. These are all different glass beads:

Usually when the beading urge strikes, like it did this evening (while dinner was baking), I hurriedly spread out all my supplies on the kitchen table.....

I absolutely LOVE this bag - I got it for Mother's Day almost 2 years ago and it's PERFECT. It has all these plastic cases with dividers, zippered pockets to hold all my tools and even a place for the bead board.

I knew I wanted to make something with the Pastoral beads but I wasn't sure.... so I pulled out some black beads of different sizes & shapes & started playing around. But, before I show you what the outcome of tonight's fabrication is, I wanted to share some of the other pieces I've made:

Sometimes the pieces are simple, repetitive patterns.

Sometimes the beads themselves are enough - and nothing elaborate is needed to make them look gorgeous

 

Sometimes I find BIG beads and just HAVE to make them into something.....

 

 This bracelet has only four of the big beads.... it's heavy.... and after you've worn it for a while the stones are warm to the touch.....

Sometimes, there's a little more detail. This one almost floats. Each piece of abalone is secured on the "invisible" cord with a tiny electric blue bead

Sometimes, it's a focal bead that starts it all - like this one 

And speaking of "focal" beads... I saw these three and HAD to have them.... I had no idea what I was going to do with them, but I knew it had to be something BIG:

Ok, so back to the single bead that got me all sorts of inspired tonight. I twiddled my thumbs... I twirled my pony tail.... I washed the smudges and grease splatters off of my glasses (a hazard of cooking so much).... I checked the timer and saw I had just 40 minutes till dinner was done cooking....

So I whipped out this set.....

I read today on Pioneer Woman's blog that the airline had lost her luggage (including her jewelry!)..... This set reminds me of her love story - "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" - the shiny black glass and Pastoral beads... Hmm.... maybe, if I can bear to part with it I might send it to her.... what do you think?