Beaded bracelets times two

Pattern source Fusion Beads

Today's post is brought to you by the word BEADS! 
I made the bracelet above for my good friend Nancy at pugmomquilts. 

She loves leopard print, pink and purple, shiny sparkly, and treats made by friends. She is a giver, she makes many quilted items to give to others. Now it's her turn to receive...
I started with these:

Here's a secret... I saw a finished purple bracelet made from crystals, and liked the components but not the design so I bought it for the beads and cut it apart! I buy loose beads, why not something finished that can go back to being loose beads?? It was brand new, nothing wrong with seeing potential in something.

I used those purple crystals on the outside edge.
The  bracelet was done, bead by tiny bead with peyote stitch

I learned how to do two-drop peyote stitch and reading a chart backwards while s l o w l y making this. I used matte finish pink, irridescent purple seed beads that are like a dupioni silk, blue/purple depending on the angle.Bright metallic gold added sparkle. I tried many different fringe options til I settled on this drop crystal, purple crystals and gold sort of picot design.
Just like with quilting, sometimes you try and discard designs or beads til you find just the right one. The clasp is just the perfect touch I think.
Of course I HAD to try it on...

Ooops, shouldn't have done that... now I want to keep it! Thing is, I never would have thought of making it if it weren't for Nancy. I had fun, learned a lot, played with pretty sparkly things, and am happy to send it off to her for her birthday. Let's all celebrate the fact that such a good woman was born while we were here on earth.

Then, my good friend Cindy, my beading and quilting partner, a woman with talent and great kindness tempted me to add to her bead order at Fire Mountain Gems.
Twist my arm
Well, it's always more fun to shop with a friend, even on-line, so when the order came in I was surprised to get this...

Cindy went to the Hampton Quilt show and said this bag sang to her... "take me to LeeAnna!" so she did.
Perfect colors, turquoise and fuchia and gold and dogs. I was so excited then she said, it's got stuff in it...

 Huh:?? What's this!?!
The beads I ordered ...

plus, this!! A bracelet made for me! Out of shiny silver and bronze and black crystals...

 and the cutest clasp. Cindy takes great care with details, and she put little seed beads inside the links to the clasp

 and the company sent a little Barbie-sized carrier of bead soup that she passed on to me. Oh my stars! I am a 4 year old in a grown woman! These are so much more sparkly than anything I own! 

And who doesn't love a little plastic container?? Of any size? 

What is it about plastic boxes that makes us all think organization is within reach??
So I had to put on my new bracelet right away and admire my too fat wrist now embellished with a little bit of love...

One more bead related item... for my friend Cynthia W. who gives me  absolutely  terrific scraps, a little thank you gift.

She works large, and I work smaller and she gives me glorious Enormous scraps. In fact we met at a workshop when I was hovering over her table admiring her fabric choices. When I saw her trash pile I asked if I could take them. They were so big to me! She said, wait and I have more for you.

As it turns out she and I became great friends She is a rare gift to me. Smart, well read, human rights activist who stands up for her beliefs. She loves travel and history and art and we never run out of things to talk about.
So I took a fat quarter and folded it into a square, brought the four corners up together

around this little string of beads

sort of flatten the bundle and fold the top down, tie a nice ribbon and you have a gift wrap a quilter would enjoy. Nancy's gift will be wrapped in funny fabric too.

Just writing this post reminded me how important my women friends are to me. Each person brings a connection no one else can. Each friendship is so very important to me. It's not something we regularly talk about but I am sentimental.

Eliza and I often note that we are very sensitive which some people see as a weakness but we realize makes us even stronger in a way.

After all, the important thing in the world is what we love and what makes us vibrate with love.

It  is circular to me...
Loving and being aware of loving. Receiving love and being aware that we are loved.

It is so important.