Let the Beading Begin!

My paisley has gone through three incarnations since my last posting. I now have a version I really like. The first was way too "stiff." The second was a little more fluid, but still too stiff. This final version is much more relaxed. My original plan also included adding a cabochon to each piece. Unfortunately, the first weekend of the year found us putting down over $1,300 in car repairs, commuter bus pass, and textbooks, above our normal bills. So, obviously, new materials are not in the budget now. Fortunately, I have such a stash of just about everything, that I can make do with what I have. (I guess that's now a Resolution for 2010: Use up what I have!) I don't have a lot of cabochons, but I do have a few large beads. Several years ago, I bought some large Venetian beads in a few different colors, and I do have white. I also have some seed pearls, some natural and bleached mother-of-pearl beads in a couple of sizes, and a lot of seed beads. So, here is my paisley shape ready to bead, the white bead I will be using as my focal piece, and some of the other beads I may be using for January's "New Beginnings" piece. I'm so excited!