On to New Things

I've had to put the tutorial for Mirror Mirror on hold. Either the design will need to be simplified, or my illustrating skills will have to improve before I can finish it.

It's time to start Christmas ornaments. Those of you who know me know I make beaded ornaments for the younger ones of the three generations that come after me.  This year there are a total of 17.  I'll try to get the five youngest ones a brick stitch "toy" made, the next age group will get a beaded star I think and the oldest five will get my new Holly Wreath.

This is a 3-D design, quite sturdy and very "blingy".  After struggling with my last design for a whole frustrating month, I was delighted with the ease with which this one came together. Only took me a week and a half, most of which was spent on the tutorial.

The pattern has been uploaded to all three of my pattern shops. 

BeadPatternsBoutique

The Bead Coop

Craftsy

Monday Musings

This morning while surfing for inspiration and eye candy. I came across this beaded bead by Gwen Fisher.

I've been a fan of Gwen's for many years and envy her ability to use mathematics as a base for her many beaded beads. 

This tutorial isn't a free one, but it's worth the small price as it includes some variations to the basic bead.

On another note, I haven't given up on the Mirror Mirror tutorial. This time it isn't just ripping out what I've beaded, it's erasing two whole rounds of embellishments on the tutorial. Strange how I could draw two rounds without noticing the discrepancy. However on the third round I found that there was a gap between the start bead and the last one. 

Well, OK then. That had me scratching my head and thinking the sore shoulders and back from sitting too long at the computer were all in vain, but upon careful inspection I discovered I hadn't done a very good job of rendering a 3-D drawing of the bead. Perspective was a little off, so I'm starting over on the 12 or 16 illustrations.  I think the second time around will be easier. . .I hope.

The Shabanu's Jewel

I love the historical aspect of Helena Tang Lim's inspiration. This is just one of her gorgeous creations with historical inspiration. She researches ancient jewelry and ,using the general shape of it, makes beaded beauties like this.

More Uses for Beaded Ropes

In post in January 2013 I asked "What Else Can Your Do With a Beaded Rope" and I showed you some samples of chenille stitch and CRAW a pretty meager showing I must admit.  It's taken me two years to come up with other uses for beaded ropes.

I've told you about the tri-RAW rope I was making to encase an opal cab.  Well here it is. I've finally finished it.  I'm still working on the tutorial.  I thought it turned out rather well but was a little disappointed.  the picture on the right is blurred, but this is what it looked like before I closed it around the cab.  I liked that puffy little roll, but alas, when I was finished, it was no longer puffy.

I found this tree agate (or is it moss agate?) bead that I've had forever and decided I'd see if I could put a rope bezel around it.  As you can see both sides of the bead are very pretty, so I need it to be reversable.  In the picture to the right you can see that it isn't smooth, but has some dips and bumps in it..  The rope to the side of the bead is a chenille rope and I think I've come up with a way to close it around the bead without flattening the rope.  We'll see.  The fact that it is a bead means the bezel doesn't have to fit perfectly.  The rope can be attached through the hole in the bead, then bezeled (I think).  I'll keep you posted..

Slaying Dragons Inspiration Friday

Slaying Dragons by Jewelry Tales

I use various methods for inspiration. Sometimes it's a building with unique lines, sunsets (beautiful color combos), or any number of things can inspire a bead design. I often go searching for pictures of beaded jewelry for inspiration and often see them on my Facebook feed.

A few days ago, I came across this beautiful design by Cynthia NewComer Daniel of Jewelry Tales. This one's got everything - elegance, sparkle, sweeping curves, spikes, what else could you ask for? You can just use this for inspiration to create your own design, or if you work from patterns alone, you can buy the tutorial from Cynthia on her Etsy shop.

Have a great week end and I hope you have loads of time for pursuing your beading addiction.

Think COOL Make a Snowflake

Folks, it's HOT here on the high plains of Texas and I've been doing whatever I can to stay cool, including using the power of suggestion.

My last post I showed you an initial trial at my first beaded Christmas ornament of the year. Well it's been tweaked and refined and worked in a number of bead types. It's finished and the pattern is available, so get your bead stash out and keep cool making a snow flurry!
Twin Snowflake

Make it a Hand Made Christmas

'Tis the season.  It's time to start that mad rush of holiday shopping. . .unless you're one of the well organized who shop and craft all year to avoid the shopping crowds.

This year across America the theme seems to be "buy American", but I'd like to suggest having a handmade Christmas.  Of course if you're not a crafter, you can buy hand made from small, independent businesses who sell online or at craft shows.

Here are a few suggestions, mostly for the ladies, of bead patterns that make up quickly and would be great gifts for those special people on your gift list.

Debbie, of Debger Designs, has been on a roll with her tila bangle designs.  Her latest, Tiara, is a big hit with the beaders of the BeadPatternsBoutique forum.  Here's a picture of one beaded by Bethel Anthony.  Isn't it beautiful?
The pattern for Tiara is available at Bead Patterns Boutique.






Lori, At Out of the Flames, has gotten her website back up and running with a completely new look.  She shares a picture of her Snow Blossom Necklace.  She hasn't decided whether to make a pattern for it or not, but it's a real beauty.
Out Of The Flames: Snow Blossom Necklace

Marie Starr, of Starr Design Studio, and also the owner of Bead Patterns Boutique, is revamping some of her older designs and has posted her Southwest Diamond Bracelet pattern to the Boutique this week.

Tila beads and the new Preciosa Twin seed beads seem to be all the buzz.  Many of the designers at BeadPatternsBoutique are busy designing with them.  Like their fan page on FaceBook and keep up with the new designs being listed.

Beaded Snowflake Collection

I've wrapped four beaded snowflake patterns into one collection plus I've added a free mini snowflake surprise as a bonus.

The snowflakes are Bugle Snowflake, Lacy Snowflake, Triple Picot Spiked Snowflake and Herringbone Snowflake.

The pattern for the Triple Picot Spiked Snowflake is made with a single color, but I've added a graph showing the placement for a rainbow of pastel transparent colors to accent it.
You can find this collection at Bead Patterns Boutique or The Bead Coop.

If you bead any of these patterns, I'd love to see your work.  Send a picture to the contact e mail on the pattern and I will feature it on my FaceBook Fan page and on my personal FaceBook page.

Triple Picot Spiked Snowflake

I've finished another beaded snowflake ornament. I worked this one with a rainbow of accents and alabaster white beads, but it can be worked in any color you choose.

 The pattern for this Triple Picot Spiked Snowflake is worked in modified netting and the pattern is available at BeadPatternsBoutique. There is a picture of it in all white there too.

The pattern is fully illustrated step by step with text to explain the illustrations.

Now I'm working on compiling all four of my snowflake patterns into an e-book which will be available in another week if the weather stays cool enough I can stand to be at my computer.

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.

Simply Unique

  Curated By: TheBeadDoodler

ArtFire.com

Unique Gifts

Andrew Thornton Medical Fund

Fellow beader/blogger, Andrew Thornton, has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has had surgery. Andrew doesn't have any medical insurance, so several members of the Etsy Beadweavers Team have decided to donate the proceeds from sales of certain items in their shops to the Andrew Thornton Medical Fund. A treasurey will be made in November so all those items can be seen in one place. I'm donating the proceeds of my Autumn Fantasy bracelet and several more beadweavers have committed to this cause also.

Take a moment to get acquainted with Andrew. His blog is really quite interesting and informative.

Colors of Fall

I love autumn! Nature seems to explode in a riot of colors as berries, fruit, nuts and grain ripen and leaves erupt in a flash of changing colors just before trees and shrubs go to sleep for the winter.

Swarovski Crystals not only capture these colors of fall, but their sparkle resembles morning sunlight on nature's dew-kissed bounty.



ArtBeads.com's blogging for beads theme is Colors of Fall, and they graciously supplied me with these gorgeous fall colored Swarovski Crystals and the antique gold Bali style ring and toggle clasp.

I chose 4mm bicones in 5 colors.  Moca, hyacinth, fire opal, citrine, and olivine.  The moca wasn't available in the new 5328 Xillion cut, so I took a 5301 in the moca.  I found that is is just a little bit shorter than the Xillion cut.  It worked well with the other colors in the modified apache leaf pattern shown in the first picture, but not too well in the double flat spiral shown in the second picture.  I used just the last four colors in that one and closed it with a round floral copper box clasp.

This is the first time I've tried to design with colored Swarovski Crystals.  I usually use the crystal AB in more elegant and formal designs.  I find the brilliance and depth of color in these beads striking.  They made up into beautiful, sparkling, casual, fun bracelets.

I like the new Xillion cuts better every time I use them.  They don't have the sharp edges around the holes so you really don't have to buffer them with seed beads if you don't want to and their sparkle and shine is just amazing.

This blog post is my honest evaluation of the supplies I received from ArtBeads.com.  They do not pay me to blog about their store, but  occasionally supply the materials free of charge for evaluation.

Crystal AB Briolette Earrings

I'm in love with these crystal AB foil backed briolettes.  I made these earrings quite a while back, but I'm just now getting them up in my Etsy shop. 
I've made a double sided St. Petersburg chain and enclosed the briolette at the bottom of the cascade. 
The color play of these briolettes is fantastic. See my Etsy shop for pictures of them in different light and with different color background.
Now it's time to get started on Christmas ornaments. I've made two patterns so far this year, an angel and a snowflake. I have plans for a star, another angel and a drum. Better get busy. Christmas is just around the corner. Yes, I know Holloween and Thanksgiving come first, but I rarely manage to make holiday patterns for anything but Christmas.

Bollywood Splendor Earrings

I've finished my Etsy Beadweavers September Challenge "Bollywood Splendor". . .finally. It's been a long three weeks! I was initially going to make a necklace. I finally got all the components beaded and put together. Then I started on the strap and discovered that I didn't have enough gold beads to make it the way I wanted to. Nothing else that I had looked right, it was too late to order or borrow more beads as there was no time for shipping and no local sources. I almost cried.

Then I decided I had NOT done all that work for nothing, I would have an entry. I took the focal point apart and made a pair of earrings from it. I may not be very well organized, I may leap before I look, but I'm still resourceful!

Voting on the September challenge will start September 9th and run through the 15th. Don't forget to drop by the Etsy Beadweavers Team blog and pick your favorite!

Daisy Eyelet Pattern finished

I've finally finished the pattern for the Daisy Eyelet earrings and necklace. It's now available at Bead Patterns Boutique.  You can buy the earrings and necklace separate or  buy the set and save 15%.

Made with pearls and crystals as shown, this set is perfect for the bride or graduate or for prom or any other formal event..  It can also be made with fire polished rounds or other beads for a more casual look that will carry you from the office to that evening out.

Beaded Tapestry Competition

Read any good mystry novels lately? Did they conjure up images in your mind? Silly questions for beaders? Not really. Land of Odds, the creative folks who bring us the Ugly Necklace contest has announced a new competition.

THE ILLUSTRATIVE BEADER:
BEADED TAPESTRY COMPETITION The theme for this years beaded tapestry contest will be Mystery Book Covers. Deadline for entries is August 31, 2011 so you have plenty of time to get that tapestry made! There will be two prizes, One $1,000 and one $400 shopping spree, both at Land of Odds.

Check out Beaded Tapestry Competition web site for all the details and get started beading!

There's still time to enter the Ugly Necklace competition too! Deadline is March 15, 2010.

New Beaded Jewelry Item

I've just finished my newest creation, Labradorite Ripple. I was enchanted by the pattern Regal Reiteration in the December 2008 issue of Bead and Button and decided to adapt it a little to accommodate a large labradorite bead pendant I had.

Unfortunately a much better camera and light system, plus more photography know how is needed to catch the chatoyance of the Labradorite.

I found this description of Labradorite at Shamans Crystal.co.uk.
"The magicians stone, or the dark side of the moon. This crystal is for transformation of the self. It humbles the ego and reveals the hidden areas of negativity that we all engage in; power dramas and subtle power games that we play in relationships of any kind. It brings to light areas which have been hidden, allowing for more to be understood. Freezes your actions in Meditation; that is slows anger, ego projection and allows the user to see what is present, as is. Anti- Ego Consciousness, Anti-Arrogance, Anti Illusion, Installs humility, anti-haste. Encourages stability in the self, grounding and centering, places the consciousness closer to the true self expression. Good for people nearing the end of the Saturn or Plutonian return. Reveals hidden talents and abilities held within the shadow self for use now. Encourages knowledge and wisdom of the self; purely, and therefore is a means to growth of the personality. Why is it called the dark side of the moon? Because it reveals that which is present but can not be seen by the light of the conscious mind without reflection."

Red Bell Ornament

Hooray for me! I've finally gotten started on Christmas Ornaments. I've finished this Red "Pagoda Bell" ornament made with size 15 and size 8 seed beads and 3mm faceted rounds. It has a 6mm pearl for a clapper.

I'm working on another similar pattern that uses size 11 and size 8 seed beads. So far I've made three bells and each time I change a little something so the pattern isn't complete yet.

If you'd like to make a beaded bell for Christmas, you can obtain the pattern (instant download) from The Bead Coop by clicking on the title.

The pattern is also available in my Etsy shop (emailed to you when payment clears my account). Just click on my Mini Etsy Shop in the right hand column.

Happy Beading!