Let The Good Times Roll!

I start off the month of June with such excitement and wanted to share my happiness with you all. :)

As you may recall awhile back I mentioned that I was entering a Spring/Summer Competition in a Facebook beading group I belong to.  At first I was excited because I so desperately wanted to make something colorful but more along the "fun" side, and yet still can be worn in an elegant setting.  But I also wanted to make something floral, as that was my original thought.  So, to start things off, I began to make this.

Garden Lariat Designed by KraftyKatLady (Lynda Theriault)

I wanted to do a lariat style necklace.  And with so many different variations out there, I really didn't want to go by anyone's design (which to me is still difficult).  Of course we can't use other people's designs or patterns when entering one of these competitions.  There (for me) lies the challenge!
Being on a tight budget, I had to work with what I had available.  In this lariat, I used over 550 4mm Czech Fire-Polished Glass beads in a transparent green AB color, approximately 30 - 40 grams of Miyuki 11/0 seed beads in Transparent Emerald AB (GORGEOUS beads btw!), a glass focal bead and Czech Flower cups.  And just because I wake up most mornings looking out and seeing dew on the flowers & grass, I added a few Czech glass drops to the fringe as random dew (or rain) drops.  It measures a little over 34".
Now why didn't I enter this?  I got as far as completing the rope, and put the project off for about a month, trying to decide how I wanted the focal.  Then I also got to thinking that there will most likely be a lot of floral entries and as I don't have a lot of experience with beading flowers (yet), I figured with this one, I didn't have much of a chance at winning.  Beautiful, but not really original enough.
So then I thought about how many entries there might be in the category of Let The Good Times Roll (sorry, I can't remember the french phrase of the category).  With a little over a month to go, I really wanted to give this category a shot and see what I could come up with.

I already had a bezelled Swarovski Rivoli...

Bezelled 14mm Swarovski Rivoli
in Light Vitrail

I then played around with different rope styles that I knew to see what I thought would look best, not to mention also look different.  So what about CRAW (Cubic Right Angle Weave)?  I had been thinking RAW (Right Angle Weave) and a pattern similar to a hugs & kisses style embellishment, but I didn't want that exact look.  I figured that a basic RAW necklace might not be suitable enough and then chose to go with the CRAW.  At a length of approximately 26", I began playing with different ways of embellishing the rope.  I didn't want to hide the purple completely, but yet I also didn't want it to overpower and take away from the Rivoli.  I was satisfied with the look of V's instead of X's when it came to embellishing the rope.
Ok, embellishment is done.  Now what do I do?  Again I was stumped as to how I could add the Rivoli.  Another project set aside for the time being.

I find that if I dwell on a piece I'm working on, no matter how simple or basic it may be, I become frustrated and then don't want to finish the work.  I put things aside and evenually ideas will come to me.
Again I didn't want to give a look that may already be out there, even though this one probably is too, but I didn't see any.
After awhile, I took the Rivoli and the necklace and took my time looking at the structure of both and could I add the Rivoli to the necklace without adding more beads?  Of course I could!!  The size 8/0's I used on the focal are the same ones I made the rope with, which made them a perfect fit to join onto the necklace.
Carefully figuring out the placement, as I didn't want to hide any of the embellishing, I began stitching it into place.

The end result...

MardiGras Fun Necklace
Designed by KraftyKatLady(Lynda Theriault)

After completing this piece, I went back to the lariat and added the glass focal bead & fringe.  It's time to get this finished and then decide which to enter.  I had a few days left to make the decision.

At the last minute I chose my MardiGras Fun Necklace.  The colors may not be original, but I think the design & layout are.

The Results are in!!!

I found out last night that I won 2nd place in the competition!  Needless to say I was thrilled, not to mention shocked!  There really were some amazing and original pieces entered.  I was worried that mine might still be too "plain" & basic.  I guess it wasn't. :)
I'm not sure what I won, but who cares?  Winning just gave me even more encouragement to broaden my horizons and start working outside of my comfort zone.  It gave me confidence knowing that I too, can make some beautiful jewelry that I will have for the rest of my life to enjoy.

I hope you all enjoy these necklaces as much as I do.  Now to expand my wardrobe so that I have something to go with them. ;)

To see these, and my other work, visit my Facebook Page and feel free to like & share. :)

Special thanks to the Facebook beading group, Beadwork Mentoring, my good friends & family for all the support and encouragement you have given me.  Without you all, I would have given up a long time ago.  <3 br="">