"Talk about wearability... we imagined donning this when we got the call from The Commissioner that a beading super-hero was needed! Leslie's cape design looks as though it would have incredible movement and drape. We loved the delicate, open nature of the netting and the overall feminine shape of the beaded fabric. The Muse is cleverly incorporated as an expertly beaded closure. Kudos Leslie, on creating our first cape entry! "

The Muse immediately made me think of the sea, and my mind flew from that to mermaids and creating something for the Neptune’s Daughter’s Mardi Gras Ball. (That society has mermaids as their emblem.) Using single drop and two-drop peyote and netting, I created my piece with both beauty and fun in mind. Unlike a shawl, this cape stays on! The small crystals create shimmer and sparkle without weight. The Muse is the focal point of the front and serves as a toggle. I used everything in the kit except the ribbon and the cubes.

As soon as I opened my little box and saw the Muse, I knew I had to do something that was delicate and incorporated the gorgeous scrolls in the Muse. It also reminded me alot of the scrollwork in Moroccan artwork. The main pieces were done in net stitch and then joined together. I tried to use as much of the kit as possible, including the silk – adding only the metallic blue Swarovski’s and a Sterling hook clasp. This is the first time I've done a design like this and I absolutely loved making it – thank you Scarlett.

Maryanne's Website

I extracted specific elements from the Muse, namely: SHAPE - creating three more circular units. MATERIAL - through the addition of more shell and natural ingredients(shell 'bones', citrine chip beads and blue suede cord) plus, additional materials such as metal (silver and champagne coloured wire, the textured finish of which contrasts, in order to emphasise the smooth surface and patterned symmetry of the Muse). COLOUR - repetition of soft blues and creamy tones. From this inspiration, the rest of the design evolved naturally and I added the decorative fastener detail to create a harmonious relationship between all elements.

Scarlett's Muse

The Muse told me much about the symbiotic relationship between the Orazioni Orchid and Orazioni beetle in nature, one relying on the other to exist. Beetle and Orchid are two separate pins or can be worn together. The orchid pin is made with wirework-sculpted flower and leaves, Ndebele stitched calyx (from Carol Cypher tutorial) and PMC stem from a mold I created of a palm tree stick (a new technique I explored for this challenge). Bead embroidery makes up the beetle shell, peyote and brick stitch work up a pocket for the beetle body with clove scented stuffing.

Amanda's Jewellery

Peace, Love and Flower Power! The Muse and the ribbon instantly sent me back to the 60's! This fun piece features the Muse as the bezeled base for the Peace Sign. Ribbon woven around a strand of beads and crystals forms the necklace. And, yes, two bead jar tops cut, sanded and glued together with dragonflies floating inside dangling from embellished chain closure captures the spirit of the Age of Aquarius. Additional components from my stash included aqua pearls, tanzanite crystal bicones and violet seed beads incorporated to pull the color of the ribbon into the piece.

link to Leslie K Creations jewelry site

Moved by the vista from my family home in the coastal town of Wicklow,Ireland, the Celtic design and stormy hues of this pendant evoke the alluring majesty of the Irish Sea. The muse features as the focal point, framed by a sterling silver wire-wrapped circlet adorned with a refined selection of pearls, beads and swarowski crystals. A simple - yet beautiful - sterling chain highlights the elaborate styling of this ocean-inspired piece.

Hannah lives in Taos, northern New Mexico, nestled between Taos Mountain and the Rio Grande gorge. The sun shines throughout the year, even in the winter, presenting breathtaking views from all corners of her home and studio. The spring changes Taos from pearl white and desert sand tones to eighteen shades of green under a crisp azure ski until the autumn Aspen trees turn gold on the Sandia de Cristo mountains. Evenings bring oranges and purples to the skies and inspire Hannah to dream and create.

My inspiration: 1. My grand daughter's love for the Ocean. 2.The Muse and the color palette in the kit, and 3. Our family visits to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The Technics used were Peyote and Square stitch. Spiral and Russian Spiral, fringe, fringe, and more fringe! The South Bay Bead Arts Guild (of which I am a member) were very supportive. I got comments like, "It looks like exploring the Ocean' "A mermaid would just love to wear this" " It looks like a sea horse habitat"

Ribbon woven through a latticework of right angle weave adorned with flowers and fastened with a pearly button, this dramatic choker is made using a variety of techniques: right angle weave, peyote stitch, bead embroidery, weaving and fringing techniques.

Francie Broadie - Custom Jewelry

This is a tribute to my parents who both died. They were my inspiration. My mother loved flowers and my father always called me his little sunshine. They were my inspiration. I really wanted to use everything that was included in the kit. It was a challange for me to do so. A combintation of peyote, herringbone, raw and stringing was use in order to create my entree for the contest. I had a fun time making it.

My inspiration for this piece was the Morai sisters of Fate in Greek mythology, who watch over and determine life's destiny. The thread of life coils around the spindles of time as it is measured by their ever watchful eye, guiding it forth towards its fated end. This piece is the embodiment of the potential, infinity and fate of life. The muse element played the central part of this piece, with its swirling infinite pattern. I used it as a bead embroidery component around which I created a Herringbone variation necklace encompassing sparkly Swarovski rivoli crystals to fully compliment this amazing pendant. Using the various pearls and crystals included in the kit for further embellishment, this necklace was a true joy and exciting adventure to create.

a collection of my current work