Shhhh Surprise for my Mom

My Mom's birthday is in September, but I started her birthday gift very early, because I knew this one would take a long time and with having a baby... time is a gift.

My parents will be going to China in the next year.  The necklace below is Cubic Right Angle Weave (CRAW) - both the necklace and pendant.

The pendant is the Chinese symbol for Longevity.  In China, the butterfly is the symbol of Love.  The "caged" beads on the necklace represent the Chinese lanterns.

Usually when I make a necklace that is this difficult of a pattern, I only attempt it once.  But I like it so much, I might make one for me as well :)

Cannot do simple

After our baby was born, my husband wanted me to make jewelry.  But I couldn't seem to find the time.   Everything revolved around the baby being fed and taken care of.  When a new little human being needs your attention every 2 hours, finding time to make jewelry just isn't in the cards.

But eventually, there's a semi-routine.  Or at least small snaps of time where I can do something other than cleaning the house and laundry :)  My husband suggested that I do a simple beading design.

I thought about it, but I can't do simple.  That's boring.  I started making jewelry 13 years ago.  Every blue moon I do a simple necklace just for the heck of it, but that's rare.

That said... I found the time to do some new projects using spike beads - FUN!  Complicated but it made me happy to do :)

Valentine Day Mardi Gras and Something White

I enjoyed working with the super duo beads on this design.  It's simple, but sometimes that just works :)

This next design was the first time doing Soutache, using ribbon with bead embroidery.  It's not as easy as it looks, but I like adding the extra texture.  Then again, I started off with this design and should have picked something a little easier.  I call this one my Mardi Gras necklace, because of the colors:

Now, this next Soutache I did after the above one.  Much easier and definitely more for the beginners.  Finished the below necklace just in time for Valentine's Day.  I call this one - Queen of Hearts

Princess Necklace

My husband calls this a princess necklace.  I love the crystal drops.  This is the first design that I've done using the super duo beads.  It was interesting...

Vertical Weave

This is the necklace that I had on for our 4  year anniversary.  It's a weave done in vertical fashion.  Though it doesn't look like it, there are 5 different types/sizes crystals.