I'm not one who can sit idle for long. I've always got a project. If you ask me what I'm doing, I always have an answer. It's hardly ever, "Nothing." I'm not sure what took me so long to come with the idea for my "Bead Box", but the idea has stuck. It's just a plastic, divided organizer in which I place the components for several designs. When I travel or am just away from home for several hours, I have it with me so I can create. This is the sixth incarnation of this box. Let me share what I've packed into it, and when it's all done, I'll show you what came out of it.
The first and largest compartment holds this big, rectangular chandelier crystal and an array of clear, white, and silver beads that will be used to make a chain to create a long necklace.
I took a little time while packing this bead box to alter some tin: dimples were added a couple of blue and white discs. Blue and white beads will also be added to hang from the discs to make a pair of earrings.
First off, yes, I arranged these pieces to look like a face. It tickled me. The stacks of tin discs (some domed) and the chain will be combined into earrings.
More tin!! I dimpled these discs as well, then sanded and hammered them flat. They resemble moon craters. There's not much color in the tin, so I picked out bright orange glass beads and large turquoise chips to go with some wood and copper bits. They're also destined to be earrings.
I've been hanging onto this adorable octopus pendant for too long. It's time for him to meet his destiny. I decided to choose waterlike beads to compliment him. So, his chain will be made from blue and white beads. I also threw in a few brass beads to compliment his own coloring.
These two pieces of tin were combined some time ago, but it's taken me ages to decide what to do with it. To make it the star of a necklace, I picked out small brass beads and Czech glass beads with a peach tone that will make up a simple chain.
Here's another pendant that I've hung onto for forever! (Do you see a theme?) I decided to add a pop to it with an array of brightly-colored beads for its chain.
Textured tin, alcohol inks, tube rivets, and an old belt were used (a while back) to make this pendant. It's been lingering in my stash with so many of the other pieces that made up this box. A Tim Holtz charm was altered with Vintaj Patinas to match and pair with the pendant. A few beads in corresponding colors will be added to some silver chain to finish the necklace.
When Jade Scott was still making these fabulous resin pieces, I was only able to snatch up a few. It's been hard to figure out how best to showcase them. For this little mushroom, I'm pairing it with a vintage button to make up the whole focal. Then, vintage red glass bead caps, white flower beads, and copper beads will be worked into a chain somehow. We'll see how it comes together.
After that brain teaser, I'll need something simple. The assembled key and rhinestone element will be paired with a chain of clear crystals for a beauty of a necklace.
This small riveted tin pendant is paired with an array of colorful beads and brass beads. And, for the life of me, I can't remember if it's supposed to be a necklace or bracelet. I guess I'll figure that out when I get to it. HA!
This button selection had been in my last bead box, but I didn't realize what they were for. Oops! Instead, I'm going to work them into a necklace with that gold pendant and faceted gold beads.
Earrings. This selection of handmade, lampworked beads and silver-tone elements will definitely become earrings.
A friend gifted me with that rhinestone piece AGES ago. I've been puzzling over what to do with it ever since. I think I finally have an idea. It will be combined with beading wire, blue and clear beads, and silver spacers to create a unique necklace.
Here are some simple elements to make a simple bracelet. I hope it comes together as easily as I have envisioned.
While I was pulling out the cultured sea glass beads for the previous project, I grabbed these two lighter-shade beads that are hopefully going to make some super fun earrings with those bright beads and cute bead caps.
And, here's the bead box in its entirety.
I sort most of the pieces into plastic baggies before I put them in the box to try and make sure all the pieces stay together and don't wander into other compartments and confuse me.
If you're interested in seeing my previous bead boxes, here are the links to those entries.
What do you think? Are these too...all over the place?
Do you do something similar to keep you busy?
