Hexagon Angle Weave Tutorial

I've completed a step by step tutorial for hexagon angle weave.  It's one of the bead stitches that I had so much trouble learning that I almost gave up. I'm glad I didn't.  It forms such a nice supple fabric it's very comfortable to wear.  I finished it and got it published to Squidoo yesterday, but it took a while for it to go live.

I've also put a link to Gwen Fisher's animated video so you can see the instructions in two different modes.

Hexagon Angle Weave Confusion Bracelet

I've finally completed my "Confusion" bracelet and pattern.

Learning hexagon angle weave was a great challenge, but once I got it into my head, I wondered why I had so much trouble with it. It does take multiple steps to complete a design, but it follows a completely logical thread path. Maybe that was my problem, I'm not a logical thinker.

Anyway It's done and I'm very pleased with how my design turned out. I haven't decided on a clasp yet, but I wanted to share my victory with my readers.

You can find the pattern in my BeadPatternsBoutique shop:
or at TheBeadCoop
or in my ArtFire Studio




I haven't decided what's next.  I've been looking through Gwen Fisher's tutorials. She has some interesting stitches as well as fantastic beaded beads.  The fact that they are all based on mathematics fascinates me, maybe because my brain usually shuts off when I hear "math", but these designs and stitches are so beautiful I'm drawn to them.

New Features at Bead Patterns Boutique

Have you been to Bead Patterns Boutique lately? Site owner, Marie Starr of Starr Design Studio, has been working overtime revamping the site,  adding new features and making navigation easier.

The site is now like a cyber mini-mall.  Each designer has a catalog. You can click on Shop Directory at the top of the page and see all the designers names, click on that designer to see all their patterns, or you can click on Catalog and shop all the patterns in the whole boutique.  Shop different designers and pay out with one payment to the boutique as you always have.

If you're not already a member of the BeadPatternsBoutique Forum, be sure to sign up.  Our forum is a very friendly place with beaders from beginners to advanced, and all the designers are participating members too.  It's almost like a great big beading party with everyone gathered around the same table.  Ask beading questions, discover new designs and stitches, contribute your own special knowledge to the group and have fun.


We offer special sales to forum members on a regular basis and have fun playing Beady Bling Bingo.  We'll have a new game starting soon, but you have to be a forum member to receive the notice of the beginning of the game and instructions on how to receive your Bingo card, so go sign up now and be prepared for lots of beady fun.

New Features at Bead Patterns Boutique

Have you been to Bead Patterns Boutique lately? Site owner, Marie Starr of Starr Design Studio, has been working overtime revamping the site,  adding new features and making navigation easier.

 

The site is now like a cyber mini-mall.  Each designer has a catalog. You can click on Shop Directory at the top of the page and see all the designers names, click on that designer to see all their patterns, or you can click on Catalog and shop all the patterns in the whole boutique.  Shop different designers and pay out with one payment to the boutique as you always have.  

If you're not already a member of the BeadPatternsBoutique Forum, be sure to sign up.  Our forum is a very friendly place with beaders from beginners to advanced, and all the designers are participating members too.  It's almost like a great big beading party with everyone gathered around the same table.  Ask beading questions, discover new designs and stitches, contribute your own special knowledge to the group and have fun.

We offer special sales to forum members on a regular basis and have fun playing Beady Bling Bingo.  We'll have a new game starting soon, but you have to be a forum member to receive the notice of the beginning of the game and instructions on how to receive your Bingo card, so go sign up now and be prepared for lots of beady fun.

SuJens BLOG: Finished pieces "Ready To Wear"

SuJens BLOG: Finished pieces "Ready To Wear"

This new Etsy shop belongs to one of my beading buddies, Susan Jensen.  She's also a member of the designers team at Bead Patterns Boutique

Stop by and check out her amazing beadwork..

Artfire Beadweaver's Guild: Celtic Challenge

This is the first ArtFire BeadWeavers Guild Challenge I've entered, and I'm really excited about it. We didn't have very many entries this time, but there are some very talented beadweavers represented.

Please cast your vote between now and March 21st.


Just go to ArtFire Beadweavers Guild and click on your favorite!

Celtic Cross Pendant Finished!

I did it!  I finished the Celtic Cross pendant.  Thanks  to the encouragement from my facebook and blogger followers.  You made me believe it could. :)  Stephanie, I modeled this one after the picture from St. Andrews Cathedral.  I know Celtic Crosses sometimes have arms of equal length, but I liked this style better. 

The pendant has been entered into the challenge and uploaded to my ArtFire Studio.

Celtic Cross Project

OK, I'm not usually a quitter but I know when I'm whupped. Here are all the components of my Celtic Cross Project laid out as they should be joined. I've worked the cross four times and each design gets worse. This is the final one and it not only is warped, it won't attach to the halo without buckling. Into the UFO or salvage bin it goes.

The ArtFire BeadWeavers Guild Challenge is Celtic Symbols. I wanted to make the Celtic Cross because it speaks to me. In the Western world the Cross is primarily thought of as a Christian symbol, but the Celtic Cross predates Christianity. The four arms of the cross represent the four directions or the four elements, and the circle or halo represents the universal energy (Chi) that connects everything. That's just a very basic explanation of the symbolism of the Celtic Cross. This view doesn't necessarily contradict or interfere with the Christian Symbol, just adds some depth of history to it.

Perhaps at a later date a more workable cross design will emerge and I will be able to finish this cross.

On another note:

There is less then one week left before Artbeads picks the winner of the Artbeads Road to Tucson Sweepstakes! This fun prize package includes round trip airfare for two to Tucson, Arizona to attend the Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, 3 nights hotel accommodations and classes with renowned beading instructors. I don't want you to miss out on the chance to win this incredible beaders dream vacation so get on over there and sign up!  Entries will be accepted until March 16, 2011 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.


In other exciting news, Artbeads just launched a 20% Off Luck of the Irish Sale. As you probably can guess, these 20% off sales are super popular and people are always asking us when the next one is.  This storewide sale includes everything from gold-filled beads and sparkling Swarovski crystals to stringing materials and basic supplies. You can save 20% on your order of $60 or more. To take advantage of this sale, just enter the coupon code: ZZ-IRISH20 at checkout. But, don't delay because this sale ends on Monday, March 14, 2011.


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Sassy Sunflower Bracelet

Ideas are still pouring through my mind like a rushing river.  Unfortunately there isn't a pool to collect them in.  A few have managed to wash ashore long enough for me to capture them.  This Sassy Sunflower bracelet is one of them.

I've tried to push myself out of my comfort zone when it comes to working with colors.  Yellow is a color that I usually have a hard time combining with other colors, but I think this one turned out pretty sweet.

You can find the pattern for this bright perky bracelet at BeadPatternsBoutique and at The Bead Coop.

The bracelet is available in my ArtFire Studio.

I'm still working on my Celtic Cross pendant for the ArtFire Beadweaver's Guild Challenge.  I only have four more days to complete it.  If another idea doesn't present itself with too much force, I'll make it.

My daughter's visit from Turkey didn't help.  She brought me beads, beads, beads and more beads.  The seed beads are a little irregular but the colors are so beautiful I just have to find a way to use them.  She also brought me some more traditional Middle Eastern beads and I have some half formed plans in my mind for them.