July/August 2022 Challenge - Seeing Spots

[DawninCal]

There is something fun and cheerful about spots and dots; they make me smile when I see them. They can be found in so many places - on rocks, flowers, bugs, on four legged critters, birds and fish and even some humans have dots in the form of freckles. Your July/August challenge is to incorporate spots/dots into a jewelry design. You may use any materials or techniques you wish, but you must use spots/dots.



Please post your completed challenge piece in this thread by August 15, 2022. As always, we play kind of loose with deadlines so no worries if you are a few days late. Looking forward to seeing what your creative minds come up with!



Dawn

[caeterle]

I have run out of beads in the middle of my project. I thought I still had a tube, but instead of a 426 the second tube is a 425. Can't help it now, I will have to make the bead order tomorrow that I have been talking about for months and chances are I'll be going overboard after holding it for so long!

[caeterle]

I still haven't finished my bead order. It's a good thing that in this case the shopping cart never goes empty.
I'm having such a hard time because I'm sure I'm going to forget something.

And just this moment I remembered one of those somethings.

[DawninCal]

That is so frustrating, Cat. I hope you are at least having fun looking at all the pretty beads!



Dawn

[caeterle]

I know it sounds silly, but bead orders just make me nervous. I finally sent it off and wait for the first thing that I forgot to order come to mine.

It has been shipped and should arrive on Monday. I will finish the challenge piece first and then work on a piece for the recent Dawn project.

[DawninCal]

No, that doesn't sound silly. Every time I place an order I wonder if I'm going to get the size, color, quality that I'm expecting. I've ended up with some real stinkers in the past that really put me off online ordering. One time I ordered silver fill jump rings and as soon as I opened one with my pliers all of the silver flaked off!

Of course, I'm like that about most kinds of online ordering. I've been burned too many times by things that weren't as described. It may take a bit more time and effort, but I find that it actually saves time to go to a store so I can look at and touch whatever it is I'm thinking about buying. Rarely am I unhappy with something I bought in person, but I can't say the same about online purchases.

Whoa, I went off on quite a tangent, didn't I?



Dawn

[caeterle]

We don't have any bead stores in my town, just a shop with gardening stuff on one and crafting stuff on the other floor. It's what we call a "pharmacy" here meaning prices are ridiculously high and choices are not great. It's only a place where to have a look if you need something desperately, usually without any luck. There is a craft store in the town where I work, they have more stock, but not for Miyuki. Then there was a bead store there where we went once (it closed down soon after), but they mostly had all kinds of bigger beads and Czech seed beads, not Miyuki, either.

So online it has to be.

[DawninCal]

Good luck with your order, Cat!



Dawn

[caeterle]

Just another really boring order. White, red, black, backing, some brown, a few firepolished crystals. I'm sad that they doubled the price for the surprise lots, for that money it's too risky that I get bead shapes I wouldn't use otherwise. On sale, it was a challenge, regular price, no thanks.
Also the black Ultrasuede is on backorder, so I won't get it before mid-August, I'm glad I still have a bit.

At least I could work on my challenge piece some more today and I have the beads for accessories for my doll project.

[caeterle]

Done, done, done!

Bead embroidered ladybug earrings with sequin spots.
I have been thinking of also making melon earrings in this manner, but not at the moment.

[DawninCal]

Oh, Cat. They are adorable! Such cuties, who doesn't love ladybugs?

You did a great job with our 'spots' theme!

And, I would love to see watermelons done in this style - *hint*



Dawn

[caeterle]

Thank you, Dawn!
It's only bead embroidery takes that long for earrings, I can hardly ever get a fair price, so I think I'll sit the melons out for now.

[DawninCal]

I get it, Cat. The market won't bear what I should charge for some of my pendants due to the time it takes to produce them. Luckily, I enjoy the work and can afford to take the losses.



Dawn

[caeterle]

I still think most of my items are underpriced. I have to feel like making something, though, to be willing to accept that they might sit for a long time. Melons would be too much like the ladybugs for them to be so much fun that I'd be willing to do that

[DawninCal]

I think both of us underprice our items, Cat. Always have.

Ladies, my apologies for not posting my piece yet. I have out of town company who will be here until Monday. On Monday, I am going to drive them back to Old Town (100 miles) and then I am going to stay in Old Town for a couple of days because I have a hair appt on the 24th. On the 25th, I will drive back to New Town to celebrate our anniversary with hubby.

Some time after that, I hope to complete my challenge entry.



Dawn