Darbie's Place!

Beaded Crochet Necklace

2021-12-06T09:06:00.001+01:00

Beautiful day to you!

Beads can be used to do ANYTHING. Just know your beads and work well with the various tools available to you.

Behold a beaded crochet necklace. Awesome piece for you.

Beautiful Shells!

2021-05-13T10:59:00.004+01:00

I was at a beach recently. . .

As expected it was a fun filled day. I picked so many beautiful sea shells and some "stones". Unfortunately, I am not in a position to classify these stones. But I dare to say they are beautiful and will make beautiful pendants.

Back to the beautiful sea shells. Some had very odd shapes, that made them stand out from the others. I also picked some abalone shells.

With so many shells at my disposal, I had to commence some art creations. I started with these pendants.

The image on the left was wire wrapped to create the pendant on the right. My daughter tagged it her "lucky charm.

For the image above, I added a little pearl bead to the empty shell and this beautiful shell pendant was created. It can be worn either with the pearl showing or without. Either way, it is beautiful!

Ruffles!

2013-08-27T15:07:00.000+01:00

As a beader, I am constantly looking for new projects to try my hands on! :)

You see, I have this habit of buying ALL and ANY book or magazine on beading and crafts. So occasionally, I peruse these materials and try my hands on some of the projects. Most of the time, the designers publish the tutorials, which makes learning the art very easy (if you understand the basics).

I have some copies of BEADWORK Magazine. It is customary for this magazine to publish some beading projects. I ALWAYS attempt these published projects (and sometimes I add my touch) Sometime ago, I attempted making my own version of Shelley Nybakke's GOLDEN-EDGED RUFFLES which was published in the December 2007/January 2008 edition of the Beadwork Magazine.

Here are some of the necklaces I've made following the instruction as published by Shelley Nybakke.

I say a BIG THANK YOU to Shelley Nybakke for making this tutorial available.

Thanks for viewing!

Golden Cellini

2013-08-27T12:05:00.002+01:00

Cellini Spirals. Always beautiful to behold. I recently made this Golden Cellini necklace. Like all other projects, I'd say it turned out right. :)

The earrings however were like little cup cakes!

Hello!

2013-08-21T16:14:00.001+01:00

WoW! It's being ages!

I miss this place. I think I should revamp this blog and inject some life into it again! Let me clear the cobwebs and clean up the page . . .

Meanwhile here is something for you!

Experiments!

2011-09-27T16:26:00.001+01:00

Recently, a friend of mine asked me to make a necklace for her. The colour code was blue.

She wanted the necklace to be ready on time. Now that was a problem for me because, I am a weekend beader. Yes, I use most of my weekends to bead! Well, I was determined to deliver on time! So, I set out to work . . .

This was the first thing I made. The plan was to make enough to go round a neck. Somehow, I was not satisfied.

Then I made these pendants. I considered it "wrong" for the occasion.

Finally, I made this mini encapsuled necklace with the matching earrings!

My First Cellini!

2011-09-26T11:05:00.000+01:00

This is my first Cellini Bracelet!

I wish I could write a story about this bracelet. I intend to do a matching necklace and maybe one small earring :)

Happy Beading!

Black and White!

2011-09-09T10:20:00.006+01:00

My professional career enjoins that I dress in dark/sober coloured clothes (mostly black). As a result, most of my suits and other office wears are BLACK!

I wanted to have a piece of jewelry that I could wear with 'almost' any attire. This prompted me to make a black and white beaded bracelet. After I made the first one, I wore it for a few days and thereafter, it changed ownership!

I had to replace it ASAP. So, I made this one for myself!

Nested!

2011-09-08T15:31:00.000+01:00

Hello!

This is the first of my "re-post". Yes, I had posted this picture on the previous blog.

During the last elections in Nigeria (April 2011) there was a very long break which coincided with the Easter holiday. I spent that weekend doing what I love doing - creating some crafts and jewelries. One of such was this set I made. I was so excited at the final result...

I called it "Nested". This is because each one is made like a nest with eggs in it!

A Little Introduction!

2011-09-06T21:13:00.000+01:00

This blog was "created" strictly to showcase my beadworks and other crafts!

I am an avid beader. I enjoy making things with beads. As a result of my love for beaded crafts and all forms of beadwork I joined several sites and of course I learnt a lot! That is one big advantage of the Internet! :)

When I first opened this blog, my intention was to do so under a different 'web' identity. Alas! I could not continue with the dual personality. As a result, I closed the blog (temporarily). Now, after serious consideration, I have decided to reopen the blog...

I will use this blog to display some of my beaded projects!

Welcome to my beading room!

Spiral Button Ring

2011-08-11T12:00:00.002+01:00

This post (and some others) had been published before in my first blog. But when I changed my url I noticed that the Linkwithin keeps redirecting to the old post. In order to rectify this, I decided to "re-post" the affected posts. This is the first.

The picture below is one of my first Ring projects. After making this ring, I displayed it by wearing it to work. My colleagues admired it and asked me to make some for them! :)

3-in-3 Chain Maille Bracelet

2011-06-06T13:40:00.001+01:00

One of the major reasons for starting this blog is to showcase my creative side. I decided to map out a blog schedule for myself. As much as possible, I'll ensure I do a post at least once a week! It could be more (God help me). The post might not necessarily be jewelry or craft related, but I'll put up a post weekly.

Today, I want to share my very first Chain maille bracelet! I call it "3-in-3 Chain Maille Bracelet".

I intend to embellish this bracelet later on. When I do, I'll post the new look.

Book Review: A Love Rekindled (By Myne Whitman)

2011-06-02T16:22:00.001+01:00

I got a complimentary soft copy of Myne Whitman’s latest book - “A Love Rekindled” by a random selection when I participated in the Lost and Found Blogfest.

I did not set out to read the book immediately. I took my time. When I started reading, I did not want to stop! This novel, was well scripted and I must add, it reminded me of the good old Mills and Boon series!

A Love Rekindled is a story all about LOVE! The love exhibited between Efe and Kevwe is one that was meant to be. I say this because, not all “first loves” can stand the test of time! True Love conquers ALL!

There are so many things that caught my attention in the book. The first is the descriptive manner in which the Author wrote. As I read, I was able to imagine and fix in places and faces. Another thing I like was how the Author analysed business in Nigeria. Nigeria is indeed a land with many opportunities. The fact that Kevwe (a guy born with a golden spoon) decided to start up his own business at an early age is very encouraging.

O! And Efe! I liked the way the Author portrayed Efe's character. This reminded me of my University days! Efe was able to stand her ground and I liked the fact that Kevwe "respected" her person.

I liked the way the Author addressed the issue of tribalism. As a Nigerian, I appreciate where the Author is coming from. The tribe of an individual is a very important factor when considering a life partner for most people. I have always said people should follow their heart and marry for love. Marriage should never be based on tribal sentiments.

I really loved the role Stanley Adetiba played in reconciling the love birds (Efe and Kevwe). This is an excerpt from the book:

Stanley leaned against his seat with an immense sigh, and rubbed his eyes for a long minute. When he spoke, his voice was low. “Don’t make the mistake many of us make. When you love someone, let them know. I’ve made the same mistake a few times myself, but after the last time, I decided not to repeat it. That is why I’m here.

Efe was surprised at his words. She’d thought Stanley would walk away, maybe rail in anger a little. But here he was, dispensing relationship advice to her.

He must have caught the expression on her face because he stopped a little laughed. “Don’t be surprised, Efe. A lot happened while we were apart, and since you left the States.” He laughed again. “Long story, but I now accept that if you love someone, you’ll want them to be happy even if they are not with you.”

“Thank you so much, Stanley.” She stretched out her arms and hugged him. Tears clouded her eyes, but she smiled. “I’m sorry if I caused you any pain.”

“Don’t worry about me.” He laughed again and pushed away from the embrace. “Now call your guy and let him know how you feel. I’m going to the restrooms.”

Efe reached for her BlackBerry and discovered it wasn’t in the usual pouch. She scrambled through her purse and the small carrier she’d be taking on the plane. The phone was nowhere to be found. It would be lying on her bed where she’d dropped it after talking to Stanley earlier. As she repeated the search, her thoughts ran into each other. What to do? She could use Stanley’s phone when he returned. But she didn’t know Kevwe’s number off by heart.

She wiped her open palms over her tears and tried to concentrate. What alternative plan could she make? It was certain Kevwe would call while she was away. She hoped he went to the office too. Her colleagues would certainly not give him her contacts since this was a confidential trip, but they would share her whereabouts if she told them. Yes, she would call them. She berated herself again for forgetting the phone and cursed her stubbornness. There had been lots of opportunities to patch things up with Kevwe this weekend, but she’d allowed bitterness cloud her heart.

“Have you called him?”

Efe raised streaming eyes and blurted her fix.

“Call your office with my phone,” he said without hesitation and handed it to her.

Efe looked down at it and swallowed a scream. There was no network. She’d planned to call her office and leave Nneka’s number and instructions to give it to Kevwe if he called. As her mind emptied and then filled with more thoughts, their flight was called. She hissed and stamped her foot on the plush carpeted floor of the lounge.

“We’ll keep trying,” Stanley reassured.

Taking up her luggage, she followed him towards the boarding area calling herself a fool. Inside, she just wanted to curl up and die.

Stanley’s words made so much sense. There was no need to hold his father’s actions against Kevwe, or allow the past overshadow the future. It gave her a measure of peace knowing Kevwe had always been true, and that neither his father nor her ethnicity would be a barrier to their new-found love.

If Kevwe could meet her halfway, it was possible to purge the past away. Not that all of the past had been bad, there had been some spectacular moments too.

I could go on with my likes, but I have to stop now.

In summary, this is a great story. It is a great book. I would like to buy the hard copy for my library!

10 over 10!

Well done Myne!

Wired Bangle

2011-05-16T16:40:00.001+01:00

I have decided to make this work... and work it must! LOL!

As always, my weekend was a very crafty one... Weekends are the only time I have to craft full time.

So far, I have been getting some words of encouragement from my friends and family members! I really appreciate this. Thanks guys.

Here some pictures of what I worked on this past weekend.

So, what do you guys think? :)

Nested!

2011-04-27T11:38:00.001+01:00

I am so excited!

I have been trying my hands on so many projects. It was a VERY long weekend thanks to the Easter break and the on-going elections here in Nigeria. As a result, I spent this weekend doing what I love doing - creating some crafts and jewelries.

I will display each project one after the other.

Here are some pictures of the Jewelry set I made. I titled it "Nested". This is because each one is made like a nest. The finished work looks beautiful! Yeah!

What do you think?

Lost and Found Blogfest!

2011-03-29T16:43:00.001+01:00

I have been doing some blog hopping and I visited MYNE WHITMAN'S blog. She is a Nigerian born writer based in the United States of America.

Recently, as a way of launching her latest book - "A Love Rekindled", she is organising a Blogfest whereby readers are expected to write a post on something which was once lost, but now found! I decided to participate, even though I might not win. :)

One of the major reasons I started this blog is to exhibit my beading skills. As far back as I can remember I've been creative. While I was in Secondary school, I strung beads to make necklaces, bracelets etc. for myself and my friends. My Mother and friends actually encouraged me but I did not encourage myself. :(

I stopped beading and everything about beads. I faced my career/profession. Worked towards building a solid home. That was when I lost my enthusiasm about beading!

Now, years after, I found my enthusiasm for beading and creativity! I have decided to hold on and never to let go again!

For me, this is my lost and found story!