Sweet Saturday - What An Awesome Thank You!

I visited good friend and glass extraordinaire Louise Ingram from Fireseed yesterday, to pick up the beads I traded for the amigurumi dolls I made for her and her cat and wow am I impressed! The pink beads I asked her to make waaaay back in February and I have a design just waiting for them - aren't they fantastic?
She had mentioned that she had included a few surprises and when I got home, I found these stunning red beads too - don't they just look like candy? Maybe rubies? I can't decide - but either way they are so gorgeous, I made a bracelet from them right away, see below for more pictures :)Then, I peeked into the bag again and out came these beads! Wow, I can't wait to make things with them, they are so different and beautiful :)
Last but not least (not by a long shot!), I found that she had included her famous animal beads! The naughty-but-nice Louise had included a Bunkee Bead (her delightful Monkees dressed as bunnies!), a black cat bead, and a sweet little black dog bead that I swear she must have used a picture of my dog to make, the resemblance is staggering (she got the smile down perfectly, lol).
I have to say I feel very spoiled and I will have to do a few more monkey dolls to feel I have repaid her for her amazing generosity!
Here is a photo of the bracelet I made with the red-candy beads - I made links from individual rings that I had linked by hand to make a chain mail knot, then I attached each link to a bead. I made a square clasp to match the square beads - too cool, huh? I know Louise definitely brings out the best in my work - her beads are so beautiful they always inspire a piece that is (in my humble opinion) as much art as functioning jewelry. Thank you Louise!

Sweet Saturday - Beads That Make You Go Awwww!

~Bunkee~

~Easter Monkee~

I have posted about my good friend Louise, from Fireseed, here before, but she keeps inventing new and exciting (and CUTE!) beads so I suppose I will keep having to feature her until she stops :)
Her newest beads are an addition to her line of famous Monkee Beads, sold on her Etsy Store and her ArtFire Store; the newest additions are Easter Monkees and, most ingenious, Bunkees - Monkees dressed and Easter Bunnies! I saw them and almost fell off my chair...I don't know how she does it, but her work keeps getting better and better and I wish her many monkees new and happy homes :)
All of her work is digitally annealed so that they are very durable, and all are hand cleaned for a professional, smooth finish. These beads have a hole running horizontally through the back of their head, so it will be easy to string on a simple cord, or incorporated into a more elaborate project.
I have worked with her beads on many occasions and I have always been amazed at the quality and attention to detail in each bead, no matter how small. Each of her stores are different, so I do hope you'll visit Louise in each of her different shops and see all of the beautiful goodies she has to offer.