A Beaded Romance {Bead & Book Challenge}

I had to take an unintentional break from the Bead & Book Challenge when I cut my thumb. It made it difficult and more than a little sore to craft, but it made it almost impossible to bead! Thankfully, it's all healed and I'm able to work with my beloved beads once more! (And, thankfully, I was able to teach last week without too much trouble!)

I've selected The Crystal Flower Necklace from Kelly Wiese's 'A Beaded Romance' for this month's challenge - and a challenge it will be! 

This beauty has been on my 'to-make' list since the book arrived (um, in 2016) but I've never liked making beaded ropes and this one is made with Size 15s. Meh. I've worked about an inch of the rope so far and am already losing the will to continue. This central rivoli is lovely though, eh? 

I found the netted bezel a little bit loose, so removed one of the seed beads from each section of the final round. I also added a seed bead between each of the Swarovski Crystal Bicones, because nature (and I) abhor a vacuum! 

Hopefully, I'll be back with the finished necklace by the end of the month, but currently the Size 15s are mocking me! 

Beaded Opulence: Gabriella {The Bead & Book Challenge}

Choosing the first project to work on for the The Bead & Book Challenge was massively difficult. I have some lovely books to choose from (each with many, many, lovely projects contained within their covers.) Eventually, I settled on The Gabriella Necklace from Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence.

I've had the book in my collection now for a while but, because of the complexity of the tutorials (which I wasn't confident enough to attempt when I first started beading) and the expense of the materials required for many of the bracelets and necklaces (it is, after all, opulent) I haven't tried any of the tutorials before now. Exactly why I wanted to start this challenge.

In between managing the house move, I'm making slow progress on the necklace focal and, although I'm so busy, I'm being encouraged along by the lovely ladies who have joined the challenge on Instagram and Facebook. It's already a fantastic, friendly little community and I know that I'll be finished by the end of the month! 

Bead & Book Challenge {A New Beading Challenge for 2017}

Chatting to some of my lovely tutorial testers last week, I mentioned that I was resisting the lure of new beading books until I could solemnly swear that I had made at least two items based on the techniques or tutorials in each book - and the lovely @beadyJo told me that I had inadvertently chosen my own beading challenge for 2017. Luckily she and a few others (well, fifty or so!) have been willing to join me!

If the idea of  dusting off those lovely beading books and MAKING something appeals, then follow these very simple steps - 

* Each month choose one beading book.

* Choose at least one item from that book to make during the month.

* Stay focused by telling everyone what you'll be making.

* Share your progress and, most importantly, that finished item.

* Share a little bit feedback about the book. (So that we can add it to our wishlist, of course!)

We have a Bead & Book Challenge Facebook Group or use #beadandbookchallenge when sharing online elsewhere.