Herringbone Snowflake Christmas Ornament

It's such a beautiful day outside. There is a mild breeze and it would be a perfect day to work in the yard. Instead I'm busy uploading beadwork patterns. I just can't help myself. This lacy herringbone snowflake flitted into my mind like a lovely butterfly and just settled in until I finished working it, making the pattern and wouldn't leave until I'd shared it with my pattern customers.
I've worked it in a size 11 frosty alabaster white with crystal AB Swarovski bicones, a rainbow green with peridot Swarovski bicones and size 8 blue lined crystal with Celsetial Crystal bicones. The blue size 8 is edged with a matt rainbow blue which is darker than the main body of the snowflake because I ran out of the blue lined crystal. I'm thinking of using a darker bead for the main body and fading it out to lighter on the next snowflake.

Many customers just can't work with the size 15 and size 11 seed beads that I usually use to create my designs, and many of them just don't look that pretty done in larger beads, so I thought I'd see how these looked. I think they turned out very pretty in all sizes and colors.

This design presents many different variations in my mind and that's what I want to get across to beaders who work only from patterns. You can adapt patterns simply by using different size, shape, or color.

The pattern for this Herringbone Snowflake is available at The Bead Coop and at BeadPatternsBoutique

Holiday Mood

Our Christmas in July sale at Bead Patterns Boutique was a great success.  Now I'm in a holiday mood and ready to get started on this year's Christmas ornament patterns.  I already have two angels and a drum designed to be brick stitched.  I also have a herringbone star pattern nearly finished and am working on a herringbone snow flake.

I was going to upload a picture of the brick stitch patterns, but Blog Spot has eliminated the option to upload from the hard drive, so I have to go get an account with Picasa or some other photo storage site.  I'll try to get that done soon, but as bad as I hate setting up accounts in public sites I'm not going to promise how soon.

Well, OK. I came back 2 hours later and was able to upload from my hard drive! Cool. I didn't get the bottom of the drum into the picture. Sorry about that. I'll post a picture of each as soon as I get them beaded.

For Beaded Ornament Covers, see Karen DeSousa's "Accent on: Beaded Ornament Covers".

Christmas In July Sale!

I just wanted to share this with all my readers. It's the July newsletter from Bead Patterns Boutique.

Santa Clause has come to Bead Patterns Boutique and he has left presents.

Well, actually, it is our designers who have left the presents in our "On Sale Now" category and it's all just for you!

We are celebrating Christmas in July by offering huge discounts on select patterns at www.BeadPatternsBoutique.com

You'll find huge discounts up to 50% on wonderful patterns by various designers. There is something for everyone at the Boutique. Shop now, save now! Get a head start on the holidays!

The specials will only be available from July 23-25, 2010. Don't wait, or you'll be too late!

Merry Christmas in July! In the hands of a crafter, tis always the season.

Click here to shop now:

Hugs to all!
Marie Starr
The BPB Design Team

3-D Triangle Toggle Ring/Pendant

I've finished the 3-D Triangle Toggle Ring/Pendant I've been working on.
It features a small 5 petal flower at the corners on one side and the other side has a herringbone miter at the corners.

This toggle ring can be worked with all delicas or with seed bead accents. The pattern includes a toggle which I did not take a picture of.

You can find the pattern at BeadPatternsBoutique

Art Beads Sale

Just a note to let you know that Art Beads.com will be launching their biggest sale of the year on Thursday, July 22. Get on over there and see what they've got. They have an amazing selection of beads and supplies and this year they're having their 10th anniversary sale all year long. Sales change on Thursdays, and this coming week will be the biggest and most fantastic.

If you'd like to know of all the sales and specials in advance, sign up for their newsletter at http://artbeads.ed4.net/profile/signup.cfm.

Happy beading!

Red Hat Earrings

My bead fairy, Bobbye, has finished the red hat earrings so I got to put the pattern up on BeadPatternsBoutique today. I'll get it up on The Bead Coop tomorrow I hope. I've been working out in the yard and the combination of wind and pollen has got my eyes feeling like they have been sand blasted.

I have another toggle ring pattern nearly finished and a simple Right Angle Weave necklace pattern in the works.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that three of my patterns on BPB had made it into the top 10 this morning.  This afternoon one of them had been edged out by Beth Rudy's lovely Hummingbird lighter cover.  Get on over to Bead Patterns Boutique and The Bead Coop and take a look at all the new patterns.  All the designers have been very busy lately!

FanFare Bracelet

I've finally finished the Fanfare bracelet. It took me a little longer than I had anticipated. I think it turned out lovely. The beautiful blue of those beads just makes me think of summer skies in the high altitude of New Mexico. Hmmm. Better not dwell on that too long. I'll get homesick.

I've posted the pattern on BeadPatternsBoutique
and The Bead Coop and hope to have the finished bracelet in my Etsy shop later today.

I haven't accomplished much lately in the way of beading. We've had an unusual amount of rain lately. It's been too wet to mow so the yard really needs some work. I've gotten out and pulled weeds (nice wet soil lets go of them easily), but that hasn't helped much.

I've been updating and working on my Etsy shop. I still have much to do, but the Etsy Beadweavers Team has really helped me take a look at it from a different viewpoint, so hopefully it will be much improved when I finish.

Etsy Beadweavers July Challenge

The entries to the Etsy Beadweavers July Challenge have been posted. Stop by and cast your vote today. Lots of lovely, luscious, beaded jewelry. We have such creative members.