Red Polka Heaven

A while ago, I bought this stunning set of beads from Trudi at Glittering Prize , aren't they lovely?

It is more unusual to get red lampwork beads than other colours. The glass is coloured with metal oxides. Red comes from gold oxide so is expensive and rarer than say copper oxide whoch makes the blues and greens. When I saw this set of beads I fell in love with them.

With the set, I made a bracelet and a pair of earrings and I still have some black spacer beads left for another project.

What do you think of this stunning handmade karen hilltribe heart toggle? Stunning isn't it? I just had to use it with these red beads. I have echoed the red and black of the lampwork with faceted chunky Czech red rondelles and onyx rondelles. A few round hammered hilltribe silver beads and in my mind you have one stunning bracelet.

For the earrings I used the main polka dot lampwork beads and the black spacers along with my favourite at the moment the karen hilltribe daisy spacer. I love that flash of silver between the beads, it is so subtle and yet eye catching.

I hope to get the beauties listed in the Beady Pool Folksy shop later this evening, in the meantime I am going to think of a name for them! Hope you like them x

Nasturtium

The other day I shared a picture of some gorgeous polka dot beads that I had bought from Caroline Cash.
With the orangey/red beads in the set I have made Nasturtium, neckalce and matching earrings.

I have matched the beads with some spacers (small lampwork beads in a plain colour) I had in my stash from Alison Davies, karen hilltribe entwined spacers and orange Swarovski crystals. In the centre is a lovely chunky hilltribe flower bead. I have then attached these to fine Sterling Silver chain. The whole necklace is finished with a Silver s-clasp and a handwired lampwork spacer charm.

Close up of the flower bead and the spotty beads.

Oh and the earrings - can you spot the hilltribe daisy spacers in between the polka dot bead and the spacer? I love the effect this gives to earrings which is probably why I reproduce this design in various guises.

Orange is not a colour I would normally use, but I am really pleased with the end result. Nice and sunshiny. Roll on the summer.

I am hoping to get these listed in my Folksy shop later this week - keep an eye open for them.

Belated Folksy Friday

These gorgeous red polka hearts have just been sold from my Beady Pool shop on Folksy. So, to celebrate here are some more red polka dot finds from the talented Folksy Folk.

A lovely puffball bracelet from Laura Lou, perfect to compliment the current nautical trend.

Or how about a polka dot hair clip from Once upon my dream?

I know a few girls who would just love this cupcake bunting from Nickynackynoo

And finally how cute are these? Utterly adorable baby booties from Betty P

Right I'm off back to the baking...it's wet and grey today so we are making sausage rolls, fairy cakes and saffron buns - nom nom

Edit - Saffron buns are more brown than golden as I was busy writing this! Let's hope they taste ok.