Happy New Year

Hello, dear readers.

I am not sure anyone will read this post as I haven't posted anything for a long time.

In fact, I am not even sure people are still reading blogs. Everyone seems to be obsessed with Facebook and Instagram.

Anyhow, I want to let you know what I have been beading.

Christmas Wreath Pendant Necklace

I made this Christmas Wreath Pendant Necklace for myself. It is beautiful and dainty, and it has a 3D thing to it. I have bought the kit from the Crystals and Ice on-line bead shop in the UK.

I don't know about you, but I spent loads of time watching YouTube videos on beading last year. You subscribe to a beading channel and then you feel that you need to watch to each and every single video the beader releases. If you subscribe to many channels, you spend all of your free time doing that and not any beading. 

There are several beaders out there whom I admire a lot. One of them is Brazilian beader Núncia Maia. When I saw one necklace she had designed, I knew I had to try it as I like its modern look including the use of pearls and cotton waxed cord. You can watch the Youtube video here.

Simple Necklace, a design by Núncia Maia

Simple Necklace in dark blue

The light brown I made for myself. The dark blue was a Christmas gift.

Also from a YouTube channel, this time from an Italian beader, I have tried a discrete and delicate beaded ring made with seed beads and crystals. This young lady from Italy is Maria Teresa (surname?) and uses the name Mary Creazioni. 

Delicati Ring, a design by Mary Creazioni

My version uses 15/0 seed beads unlike the original version

The materials I have used are Toho seed beads in three sizes (11/0, 8/0 and 15/0) and crystal rondelles in 4x3mm that are so popular nowadays. Unlike the original version, I have put 15/0 seed beads instead of 11/0 when filling the spaces. You can watch the video here.

Last, two Christmas gifts. One is a double wrap leather bracelet in Chan Luu style with Preciosa Czech glass beads and a beautiful Tierracast button. I have strung it with Fireline. 

double wrap leather bracelet in topaz 

the bracelet when worn

The other Christmas gift is a necklace with a tassel, so trendy nowadays.

Actually, I had to make two necklaces to gift, one is grey and the other is turquoise.

My shop on Etsy is currently closed as I rethink it.

Have a beautiful year!

~~~
Neste post, falo das minhas últimas criações dos últimos meses. Um colar com um kit da loja inglesa Crystals and Ice, colares com design de Núbia Maia (canal no YouTube), um anel de missangas e cristais criado por Mary Creazioni (canal no YouTube), uma pulseira de cabedal de duas voltas ao estilo Chan Luu e, por último, colares compridos com borlas.

Bom Ano!

Quadrados / Squares

Hoje trago-vos um colar no qual a corrente feita com peças quadradas é a protagonista.
Today I would like to show you a necklace I've made in which the square links are the main feature.

Tenham uma óptima semana!
Have a great week!

Participação no Desafio de Fevereiro / Participation in February Challenge

Mais uma vez participei no desafio mensal do grupo Operation Tackle That Bead Stash. Desta feita, era obrigatória a utilização de contas em azul e castanho, dois tons que, na minha opinião, vão muito bem juntos.

Elaborei um colar de três fiadas com contas azuis turquesa e discos de madeira castanhos, numa técnica que queria experimentar há muito tempo: as contas ao invés de serem enfiadas, são presas no fio por meio de nós.

Podem ver as outras participações deste desafio aqui.

 

This month I took again the challenge of Operation Tackle That Bead Stash group to make a piece using certain colours, namely, brown and blue, that in my opinion really go together.

I have made a three strand necklace with turquoise blue beads and wooden brown disc, using a technique I intended to experiment for some time: the beads are not strung but rather tied with knots.

You can see all other participations here.

Colar Peacock / Peacock Necklace

Elaborado para o desafio de Janeiro do grupo Operation Tackle That Bead Stash. Era necessário utilizar contas nas cores roxo, azul, verde e dourado. Utilizei a técnica do crochet de missangas e inspirei-me no modelo Posh Necklace da loja norte-americana FusionBeads. Eis a minha participação com muitas fotos.

Handmade necklace for the January Challenge of Operation Tackle That Bead Stash. The challenge was to make a piece of jewellery that included beads in purple, blue, green and gold. I used the bead crochet technique and I took inspiration in the Posh Necklace from U.S. FusionBeads bead shop.

Sorteio de Ano Novo / New Year Giveaway

O SORTEIO ESTÁ ENCERRADO / THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Caros amigos, para celebrar a entrada no Novo Ano, queria oferecer um dos pendentes que fiz recentemente para o Desafio de Dezembro do Operation Tackle That Bead Stash.  É um pequeno pendente brilhante, em forma de estrela, banhado a prata que envolve contas em preto e prata. Acompanha-o um curto fio de cabedal preto e uma extensão que permite aumentar o comprimento do colar.

O vencedor será escolhido aleatoriamente no site Random.org. Para entrar no sorteio, basta deixar um comentário aqui com o nome e o email para que o feliz contemplado possa ser contactado. Mas para aumentar as hipóteses de ganhar, pode ainda:

• Ser seguidor deste blogue ou registar-se para receber um email na caixa de correio sempre que houver uma publicação no blogue;
• Partilhar este sorteio no seu Facebook;
• Subscrever o meu Facebook que é http://www.facebook.com/acbeads0
• Seguir-me no Pinterest http://pinterest.com/acbeads

Para cada uma destas formas de divulgação, deixar mais um comentário com indicação da nova participação.

Este sorteio é internacional e serão pagos os portes de envio. Termina no dia 6 de Janeiro às 18 horas de Portugal Continental e o vencedor será anunciado nesse dia.

Tenham um excelente 2013!

---
Dear friends, for celebrating our coming into the New Year, I would like to give away a pendant I have made recently for the December Challenge of Operation Tackle That Bead Stash.

It is a small silver-plated pendant that captures different beads in silver and black. It hangs from a short leather cord with an extension chain for increasing its length.

The giveaway winner would be randomly chosen by Random.org. For entering this giveway, you only have to leave a comment here with your name and email so that I can contact the happy winner. But in order to increase your chance of winning, you can also:

• Follow this blog or register on the blog to receive an email each time that there is a new post on my blog; 
• Share this giveaway on your Facebook;
• Subscribe to my Facebook which is http://www.facebook.com/acbeads0
• Follow me on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/acbeads

For each of these, please leave an additional comment.

This giveaway is open to international readers and the shipping fees will be paid on my account. It ends on the 6th January at 6 pm GMT and the winner will be announced later that day.

Have an excellent 2013!