Grape Vine.

I can't remember where, or which bead artist I saw doing these first, but I knew I wanted to make one instantly! (I'll have to post her name when I find it) Well, while on vacation at my dad's place last week, I got a chance to sit, relax, and do a little beading, and this is the bracelet I came up with. Now, this is my own rendition, seeing as i didn't have any patterns to go on, just an image in my mind's eye. I quite like it. I think there's room for improvement, but this one's mine.

Perhaps one of the most fun parts of making this piece, were to see my cousins' faces while I was making it. Three piles of beads: size 8/0 for the core, 11/0 for the vine tendrils and grape stems, and Tiny Tims for the grapes, accompanied by some pressed glass grape leaves. Having them hover over me as I was working, ooing and aaaing, and their wonderment at the 'amount of work you put into that...' But seeing their faces when they saw the finished piece was priceless. They saw the beads in piles, and couldn't even fathom what I'd make with them. They were amazed that I was able to make grape clusters with drop shaped beads. Frankly, so was I... ;)

Sorry it's been so long, I'm on a month-long vacation, and enjoying every single moment of 'getting away from it all' up in Northern Québec. Nice!

Jewels