Micro Macrame Mandala Necklaces

Color me excited, people!  I can finally share!  I'm extra super excited about this one because this is the bead that gave me back my mojo.  I don't know if you've noticed, but I've been in a major slump lately.  And by "lately" I mean more than six months.  Other things have been going on in my life and just sort of took the joy out of me.  It's like I've been extra appreciative of time I can spend with my family and friends, but there's just been nothing left when it came time to create something.  I've been going through the motions and doing a bit of designing for the Beadsmith but the passion just hasn't been there. And then this happened!

Steven (Beadsmith Biggie) called and asked if I could design something using a new super secret bead.  I said "sure" because I never say no to Steven (he's a really nice guy who sends me beads!) and because I kept hoping to find that spark again.  The beads arrived and they were pink.  Uh huh.  Well, more coral which is better than baby pink but still close enough to pink in my book to scare the bejezus out of me.  And then it was Christmas.  And then my family all came down with Influenza A.  And then my grandmother (she's 92) fell and broke her hip.  

When I finally managed to sit down to make something I was only one week away from my deadline.  The super secret beads are called Paisley Duos and are a really pretty paisley shape with two holes.  There's another paisley shaped bead on the market but you can't just flip it over to make the paisley shape curve the other direction like you can with this new bead.  I have always been a fan of paisley...

I tried really hard to find a design to really showcase the beads and I really wanted to show them going both directions but the harder I tried to force it, the more I disliked the outcome.  And then it came to me!  I wanted to try working them into a round mandala-like design.  

Finally!  A piece that felt like it was from my heart.  I am just a tiny bit disappointed that it seems to show off the Gem Duos (the white diamond shaped beads) a bit more than the Paisley Duos but I'm calling it a win.

And what's more, I've been loving my micro macrame time again.  I've tried several variations on this mandala design and each has been beautiful and unique (including the one I've already shown you in this post).  I'll show you them in more detail in my next few posts, but here's a peek at my micro macrame mandala necklaces: 

Look out world!  

New Stuff!

Ta da!  I finally get to show off one of my new micro macrame bracelet designs using new beads from the Beadsmith!  You don't know how hard it is for me to keep my mouth shut when I'm excited about something.  I swear, it's physical pain.  I'm not much of a "hold it in" kind of person; I'm more of a "wear it on my face" and "shout it from the rooftops" kinda gal.  Anyway, the sadistic folks over at the Beadsmith sent me these Baroque Cabochons back in November (yes, that's November) and then wouldn't let me share until now (I'm typing that in my best whiny, self-pitying voice). 

The Baroque Cab beads have two holes running parallel through them which makes them perfect for a design like this because they don't flip over when the bracelet is worn.  Oh, and I learned something, too.  I thought cabochons (cabs) were undrilled (no holes) but they are polished instead of faceted.  These are definitely not faceted - the surface is roughly dimpled which makes the backlit coloring in these appear very different in different light or with different colors.  The three bracelets in the photo above are all done with the very same beads, but they pick up some color from the cord.

The knotted sections between the beads look like tatting but they're actually done with macrame - lark's head knots.  I like how the empty space in the macrame sections mirrors the shape of the beads.  Something about that is just very satisfying.

Anyhow...  I still have another design I can't show you yet because I used super secret beads, but at least I got to get this one out there!  Whew!  That's a load off!  

I'll be back in a few days to unveil the other piece (I hope).  See you soon!  

PS.  Is it bragging and unbecoming to share with you that the Beadsmith used my bracelet design and my photo in their release for the new bead?  It really made my day when I opened their email and found this:  

Hello, World! It's Me!

Hi, there!  My name is Sherri and I make micro macrame jewelry.  I've (apparently) been on hiatus (for who knows what reason) the last couple of months.  There's been all sorts of excitement around here with the holidays and family and Influenza A and a broken hip (stop that!  Not my hip!).  There hasn't been as much macrame around here as I'd like, but I'm hoping to change all that!

You might remember that I'm a member of the Beadsmith Inspiration Squad?  They send me fun new beads and I make fun new pieces to show them off.  It's a sweet gig, I'm not gonna lie.  The only trouble is when I make something I'm dying to show off and I can't because the beads are so new they're "super secret". *sigh*  It's killing me.  I swear, my insides are drying up just a little.  Steven says they will be unveiling all the new stuff at the bead shows coming up in a week or so and then I'll be able to share.  I'll be here tapping my foot and "waiting" impatiently.

Meanshile, I did make one new piece I can share!

I'm so excited about this one I could wet myself (don't laugh, it happens)!  I love all the pattern and the texture and the symmetry makes my OCD soul happy.  Those white beads are GemDuos and I think they add a lot of interest to this piece.  Well, those and the daggers.  And the tiny gemstone beads to keep everything from being too "perfect".  

That's it for now.  I promised myself I didn't have to do an earth-shattering, life-changing post.  Sometimes it's baby steps.  Just know that I am still here!