Soutache Workshop

On 3rd September, I took a virtual workshop in Soutache Embroidery by The Bead Shop Nottingham.

It was my first time doing soutache embroidery and it was great fun. 

The instructor was the lovely Steph who demonstrated everything and we embroidered along with her. We were able to make a great part of this gorgeous pendant. 

We have used three colours of soutache braid and three sizes of beads. Everything is joined by Nymo thread (I had to colour mine later with a marker as I did not have the adequate colour, it was almost white) and a 12 beading needle. 

One has the option to take the workshop with or without the materials. I really had to choose the non-material option as there was not enough time for the materials to reach me in time – now it takes four weeks since there is a border and orders have to go through customs.

I have bought several times from this great bead shop (I just wish there was something like this in Portugal – sigh) but this is the first time I do a project from the shop. 

My first purchase were the small silver plated bookmarks above back in 2012 about which I blogged here.

Have you ever tried soutache embroidery? 

I have really learned a lot from the workshop, I now feel confident to try new projects. 

Links

The Bead Shop Nottingham

Soutache Embroidery Virtual Workshop

YouTube channel (more than 100 videos)

instagram 

facebook

Back To Beading/Regressei às criações

Hello, dear readers. 

I am back to beading and blogging too. Some blogs that I used to follow have not been updated for some time too. Is everybody only on Facebok and Instagram? Do people still write on blogs? What programme or application do you use to read blogs?

Are there are blog hops in the coming months? I would like to participate but I do not know about any this year or even next year. 

I am sure though that I want to join Bead It Forward though next year. For those who do not know, Bead It Forward is an annual event in which beaders contribute with small squares stitched in peyote that will be put together in quilts which are later auctioned being its revenue directed to breast cancer research. 

The following creations include pendants handmade by Majoyoal, artistic name for Mari Carmen Rodriguez, who currently has a Etsy shop. I bought them on DaWanda, a platform which is going to close soon.

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Voltei aos trabalhos com contas e missangas depois de uma longa interrupção. Certos blogues que eu acompanhava não estão a ser atualizados. Está toda a gente apenas no Facebook e no Instagram? Vai haver blog hops nos próximos tempos? Para quem não conhece a expressão, blog hops são «encontros» de blogues nos quais os blogueiros combinam um dia para publicar um post dedicado a um tema.

Sei que quero participar no Bead It Forward de 2019. Este é um evento anual em que se participa enviando quadrados feitos em peiote que serão mais tarde costurados para fazer quilts (são algo parecido com colchas de retalhos). Esses quilts irão a leilão e a receita daí proveniente irá reverter para a investigação do cancro da mama.

BEAD IT FORWARD
Página no Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeaditForward/
Blogue: http://beaditforward.blogspot.com/

As fotos são de colares que fiz com pendentes artesanais em cerâmica por Majoyoal (Mari Carmen Rodriguez).
Respetiva loja na plataforma ETSY (mercado norte-americano de produtos artesanais mas com vendedores de todo o mundo):
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Majoyoal

Autumn Colours

Hello, dear readers! Today I would like to share a necklace in Autumn colours that I've just made using the gorgeous ceramic pendant from the talented Spanish artist Majoyoal (Mari Carmen Rodriguez Martinez).

Besides the artisan ceramic pendant, I have used Czech faceted glass beads, Indian glass beads and Chinese crystal beads. The clasp is plain but easy to use.

I have had this pendant for about two years but only now I have had the inspiration to create something interesting with it.

I am entering this creation featuring Majoyoal pendant in the October Challenge of ArtBeadScene which has the Dragonfly Lamp by Émile Gallé as inspiration piece.

"Dragonfly Lamp"

By Émile Gallé, late 1800's- early 1900's

French Art Nouveau, Cameo Art Glass

Enjoy the day!

Azul / Blue

Fiz várias peças em azul, completamente por acaso. Umas para oferecer, outras não. Eu gosto muito de azul. Por que será que para tantas pessoas esta é a sua cor preferida?

I've made several pieces, all in blue, totally by chance. Some are gifts. I love blue. I wonder why there are so many people that have blue as their favourite colour.

Com esta pulseira participo no concurso de Verão de Diana Costa, uma designer de Barcelona.

This bracelet is my participation at the Summer contest hosted by Diana Costa, a designer from Barcelona.

Brincos em forma de triângulo.
Triangle earrings.

A última peça é de um livro. 

The last piece is from a book.

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!

Trança / Braid

Olá, queridos leitores! Sejam bem-vindos os novos membros!
Hi, dear readers! Welcome to new members!

Tenho reparado que os entrançados estão na moda e como eu gostava de fazer um colar de missangas completamente entraçado como os que visto por aí, aventurei-me e ficou assim.
I've been noticing a fashion trend: braided necklaces using seed beads. I took my chance in making one and this is how it came out.

É muito fácil. São 9 fios que se criam separadamente, 3 de cada cor, e depois faz-se uma trança juntando-os. Deixo-vos o meu álbum no Pinterest só para os trabalhos de missangas (já 360 pins!). Para aceder é só clicar na imagem abaixo.

It is very easy. You make nine strands of seed beads: three in pink, three in fuchsia, and three in purple. Then you braid with the different colours. You can find lots of inspiration and instructions in my board for seed beads only. I have more than 360 pins! Just click on the image below to take you to that board.

Boas criações!
Happy creating!

Mais vale tarde... / Better late...

Olá a todos! Sejam bem-vindos os novos membros! Hoje quero mostrar-vos uns colares simples que estavam para fotografar quando houvesse tempo e luz natural.

Hi all and welcome to new members! Today I have to show you some simple necklaces that waited to be photograped until I had the time and there was good and natural light.

Colares em acrílico, vidro e metal. Todos os pendentes são de metal.

Necklaces made with acrylic, glass and metal beads. All pendants are made of metal.

Amanhã adiciono-os à minha Loja.
Tomorrow, I'll add them to my Shop.

Boa semana!
Have a great week!

Berry Necklace

Viva! Como estão? Apresento-vos um colar em crochet com bagas, perdão, contas de jarina. É mais uma obra para o desafio da loja Fusion Beads.

Hi! How are you? Today I bring you a necklace I've made with some berries, sorry, tagua beads. It's another piece of work for Fusion Beads 30 days challenge.

Amanhã tenho para mostrar os meus trabalhos com o fio que recebi da Dazzle-it. Não deixem de ver!

Tomorrow I'll show you what I've done with the cord I got from Dazzle-it. Stay tuned!

Colar de Fatias de Jarina / Tagua Slice Necklace

Olá queridas leitoras! Terminei há pouco este colar. São fatias de jarina castanha, contas redondas cinzento-azuladas também de jarina - tudo isto recebido da Ecuadorian Hands, e fio de linho encerado. O colar é simples e gosto da combinação castanho-cinzento.

Hi dear readers! I've just finished this necklace. I've used brown tagua slices, blueish grey tagua round beads  - both from Ecuadorian Hands - and some Irish waxed linen cord.  It is a simple necklace and I like combining brown and grey.

 

No Pinterest, estou a reunir modelos de acessórios que se podem fazer com jarina e que vou publicar aqui, no próximo post.
I've been pinning on Pinterest some designs using tagua beads. I'll put the board here on my next post.

Conjunto de Sementes de Jarina / Tagua Nut Set

Olá caras leitoras e sejam bem-vindos os novos membros do blogue! Eis o segundo conjunto feito a partir das engraçadas contas de jarina recebidas da Ecuadorian Hands. Se ainda não sabiam disto, o post sobre o sorteio está aqui. Para o conjunto de hoje, tomei como base as contas abaixo.

Hello dear readers and be welcome, new members!  This is the second jewellery set I've just made with the fun tagua beads I won from Ecuadorian Hands. You can read my post about it, here. For today's set I've used these yellow round 7mm beads.

Adicionei contas de coco e de madeira e consegui um conjunto de acessórios com um look natural e tropical.
I added some coconut and wooden beads and the result were accessories with a natural and tropical look.


COLAR / NECKLACE
Colar comprido em fio de algodão e contas naturais. Não foi utilizado qualquer metal.
Long necklace made with cotton cord and natural beads. It is metal free.

Uma conta que funciona como fecho e que possibilita que se ajuste o comprimento do colar. 

Lenght is adjustable by pulling the threads that go through the closing bead. 

PULSEIRA / BRACELET
Pulseira com fecho ajustável.
Bracelet with adjustable knot.

Com um vídeo que encontrei na internet, aprendi a fazer um fecho, que além de apertar a pulseira ajusta-a ao tamanho do nosso pulso.
I've found this video on the internet where I learned how to make an adjustable ending for the bracelet.
Vídeo: How to tie a sliding knot bracelet (Como fazer uma pulseira com nó ajustável)


BRINCOS // EARRINGS
Brincos mini-borla.
Small tassel earrings.

Estou a planear criar um colar com as fatias de jarina que recebi. O modelo já está pensado, falta pôr mãos-à-obra. Talvez durante este fim de semana. Está a decorrer um outro sorteio da Ecuadorian Hands, desta feita no blogue Beading Gem de Pearl Blay. Muito obrigada pelos vossos comentários que me alegram o dia.

Now I'm planning my next necklace but with some tagua slices. I've already decided about the design, all I have to do is start making it. Maybe this week-end. There is another giveaway from Ecuadorian Hands, this time at Beading Gem's Beading Journal. Thank you very much for your comments which brighten my day.

Colar de Missangas / Seed Bead Necklace

Hoje trago-vos um colar de missangas que fiz, inspirando-me no último. Das seis cores que utilizei naquele, exclui o amarelo. Espero que gostem.

Today I would like to show a new seed bead necklace I've made. I took inspiration in the last one but I didn't use any yellow so there are only five colours. I hope you like it.

Colar / Necklace

A minha última participação no desafio de Julho de Operation Tackle That Bead Stash - adoro este nome - consistiu num colar com o tradicional Coração de Viana que decorei com as cores da bandeira de Portugal. A corrente que suspende o pendente foi feita com mais de 200 argolinhas de 6 mílimetros utilizando uma das técnicas da cota-de-malha (chain maille).

My participation in July challenge of Operation Tackle That Bead Stash - I love this name - was a necklace using Portuguese traditional Viana Heart charm that I decorated with the colours of the Portuguese flag - red and green. And they say that red and green can never be seen, I'm not so sure of that. For the chain, more than 200 jump rings size 6mm were weaved in flower chain maille. 

Esta última foto é uma brincadeira - podemos ver os contornos de Portugal continental no mapa.

In the last photo you can see Portugal's borders as if it were on a map.

My Country, of Thee I Bead - REVEAL

Welcome to the Reveal Day of My Country, of Thee I Bead Challenge, hosted by the amazing Nan Smith. Thank you, Nan for setting up this beading challenge!

My Country, of Thee I Bead CHALLENGE

First, a bit about myself. My name is Ana Cravidao and I come from Portugal. For those who don't know where Portugal is, I almost can't see it on the map above, it's a rectangle shaped country, located in the Iberian Peninsule, in western Europe. I live in Setubal, but I was born in Lisbon (the capital). I'm new to blogging (not one year yet) but I've been designing jewellery for five years. Despite my pseudonym, ACBEADS, I don't make beads but one day I'm  going to take that road too.

When I signed up for this challenge, I had no idea of what I wanted to make. So I started to look for inspiration. According to the rules, the piece should be based on something that is distinctive to one's country, for instance, the flag, the emblem, the anthem or anything that one feels is representative. I didn't know what an emblem was, so I looked up in the Wikipedia, and to my surprise, the emblem to Portugal was the Rooster of Barcelos. For me it was an traditional object made of clay with a ancient legend associated - a legend about the miraculous intervention of a dead rooster when an innocent man is wrongly sentenced to death.

Galo de Barcelos / Rooster of Barcelos
(Click here to go to Wikipedia's article to read about the legend )

Now, while I'm writing this, after some research, I'm not so sure about it being the emblem of Portugal, but it definetly is a symbol of my old and beautiful country. And it is a colourful and fun rooster.

The symbols of Portugal are the flag (the most important), the Portuguese shield, the cross of the Order of Christ, among others. If you're curious you can read more in this article from the Wikipedia.

Flag of Portugal/ Bandeira de Portugal

Inspired by the colours of the flag, I started to imagine a piece of jewellery. But how to design with red and green without making it look like a Christmas decoration? That is a challenge! The gorgeous filigrees of Portuguese traditional jewellery were also an inspiration. 

Pendente Coração de Viana (Viana Heart Pendant) - photo taken from Alma e Coração (Portuguese online Jewellery Shop)

For my piece, I've put an intricate brass heart pendant hanging from a chain I made using 7mm and 4mm brass jump rings and Swarovski red and green crystals. It is a short necklace and I like the way it looks when worn. 

I hope you like my post and my necklace. Don't forget to check out all the beautiful creations made by the other participants. Below you can find the full list for the blog hop.

Nan Smith (Canada)              http://wirednan.blogspot.ca  <----- THE HOSTESS

Dini Bruinsma (The Netherlands)   http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Weiss (USA)          http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/

Ana Cravidao (Portugal)         http://acbeads.blogspot.com  < ----- YOU'RE HERE

Liz E (Pitcairn/USA)                http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Vera (Germany/USA)               http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/

Andra Marasteanu (Romenia)    http://bijouxdemonange.blogspot.com

Delilah (Romenia)                    http://mssdelilah.wordpress.com/

Jessica Murrey (USA)                http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Fannuchi (USA)          http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Rebecca (France/USA)             http://www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com

LiliKrist (Indonesia)                http://www.pcbylik.blogspot.com

NK Valentine Studio (Canada)   http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com/

Karin (Canada)                       http://www.maverickbeads.blogspot.ca/

Diah Anggreni (Indonesia)      http://www.pernik-manik.blogspot.pt/

Karen (Australia)                   http://www.overthemoon-design.com/

Cath Thomas (The Netherlands/Switzerland)    http://samohtac.blogspot.com/

Asri Wahyuningsih (Indonesia/USA)     http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com

Crysalis Jewelry Design (Denmark/Canada) 

Jasvanti Patel (Brazil/USA)     http://www.jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Lola (Serbia/Canada)             http://beadlolabead.blogspot.com

Becky Peterson (Sweden/USA)

Paula Hisel (USA)                   http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/

Inge Von Ross (Germany)        http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/

Laurie Vyselaar (USA)             http://lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com/

Toltec Jewels (Mexico/USA)      http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Anindita Basu (India/USA)       http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

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Para os meus leitores em português, vou fazer um pequeno resumo. Este post surge na sequência de um desafio lançado pela canadiana Nan Smith do blogue Wired Nan, que consistia em elaborar uma peça de bijutaria inspirada em algo representativo do país onde nascemos ou do país de onde provêm os nossos pais ou antepassados. 

Como base de inspiração escolhi as cores da bandeira de Portugal (vermelho e verde) bem como o Pendente Coração de Viana da joalharia tradicional portuguesa.  

O resultado foi um colar curto, com um pendente coração de bronze, suspenso numa corrente feita por mim com argolas de 7 e 4 mm e cristais Swarovski em verde e vermelho. Espero que gostem e não deixem de visitar os outros participantes que constam da lista acima. Divirtam-se.