Winter Light - Finished Object

Winter Light is finished! Probably not my best ever technical beading but I am very pleased to have finished my first bead embroidered cuff. I struggled a bit with the free form style while I was making it, I prefer a bit more order I think, but I do find the finished object quite attractive. I have already worn it, so that is a good sign!








Happy Beading!

Sarahx

Winter Light - Progress 2

Here is Winter Light at about the half way stage. This kind of random beading is very out of my comfort zone! I am just going with the flow and letting the beads tell me what to do. It is quite an enjoyable process although I am finding it difficult to know whether or not I actually like the result. Hopefully when the cuff is put together and edged, I will like it more.



Happy beading!

Sarahx

Winter Light - Stash Search

I really enjoyed the process of making Earth Song, both the new approach that I tried and blogging the progress, so I thought I would try it again. This time the theme that came to me as I searched through my stash was Winter Light.

Here are the results of my stash search, not quite as much as for Earth Song, but still plenty to inspire me, I think.


A close up of a few possible focal beads, including the gorgeous blue round from Lush Lampwork.


I was lucky enough to win this gorgeous sparkly selection of beads from Spellbound Beads for being featured in Bead Magazines Readers Challenge in the Winter Sparkle issue.


And finally, I am hoping to use these lovely pearls.


I tidied up my bead box while searching and discovered 2 packs of needles that I didn't know I had. I am usually desperate for needles, so it will be a nice change to not be down to my last one & hoping that I don't snap it before I get a new delivery.

Happy beading!

Sarahx

A Bit of Stashbusting.

Those of you who also follow Operation Tackle That Bead Stash will already know about our stashbusting beadalong. A few of us from the OTTBS Facebook group have set goals to finish a project by Christmas and just by chance, we have all chosen Laura McCabe projects.

I have had Laura's Embellished Beadweaving for a while but have not made anything yet, so I have chosen her April Showers Necklace. I am not a big fan of working with size 15's but so far it is going okay. Here is a photo of my progress so far.



I am using fewer colours than Laura suggests, I am kind of making up that part as I go along, next up I need to make the Pagoda embellishments before Friday so that I can update my progress over on OTTBS.

Happy Beading!
Sarahx

Bubble Flower Earrings

Last weekend I made it my mission to bust my stash of Miyuki drop beads. These are one of my favourite types of beads, but I rarely use them for anything other than spiral ropes bracelets. I decided that it was time to rectify that and came up with this pretty textured flower earring design. They are so tactile. The tutorial is fairly easy t o follow, though I probably wouldn't recommend for an absolute beginner to beadwork as the work is pretty dense toward the end so someone new to beading may have difficulty with weaving in the ends.



Happy Beading!

Sarahx

Everybody's Starry Eyed

Or eared and wristed in this case. I have been have lots of fun with this little design that I first made as a gift for my manager in work. I have lots more ideas and the pattern may be available soon.






Happy beading!

Sarahx

My Summer of Rings - Stags Head

I have decided to focus on making and blogging about rings for the summer. I love rings, they are fun and fairly quick to make, you can go as over the top as you want with them and I do wear them quite a lot. I am aiming to make at least two rings a week while trying some new techniques and pushing my skills set.

I am not going to worry too much about wearability, instead I'm just going to have fun!

Everywhere I look lately I seem to see the Stags Head, on cushions, in cross stitch etc, so why not in beads?



I drafted the silhouette for square stitch, it was good practise for increasing and decreasing, the ring band is in 2 drop peyote.

Happy Beading!

Sarahx

Chrysanthemum Tutorial

I finally sat down to write another tutorial and this time it was for the Chrysanthemum Earrings. It is available on both my Etsy & Folksy stores, links below.

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77071704/pdf-tutorial-chrysanthemum-earrings
Folksy: http://www.folksy.com/items/1951161-PDF-Tutorial-Chrysanthemum-Earrings-?shop=yes

Happy Beading!

Sarahx

Quick Project Idea - Teal Blossom Headband

I am growing out my hair at the moment and have been looking for ideas on how to dress it up a bit, particularly headbands. I wanted something right now though, so have been ransacking my craft supplies to come up with something that I could make myself. I found a length of black grosgrain ribbon and wondered how I could dress that up a little bit.

I eventually remembered that I had a spare teal blossom motif left over from when I was making up the kits and thought that would look pretty, so I gathered up some supplies. I used approx 42 inches of ribbon, a blossom motif, some size 11 seed beads and nymo beading thread.

I wanted my motif to be asymmetrical, so I measured 16 inches from one end of the ribbon and stitched on the motif using doubled nymo. I then back stitched on some seed beads for add emphasis.

And that was it, done! Easy peasy, now all I need to do is make sure I get my roots done before I take another close up of the barnet!

Happy Beading!

Sarahx

Beading Kits for the Spring Blossom Pendant!

I am very excited to announce that I now have kits available for 2 different colourways of the Spring Blossom Pendant! I have been dreaming of selling my patterns and kits for years and it so exciting to finally have started down that path! http://www.folksy.com/items/1627265-Beading-Kit-Spring-Blossom-Pendant-Pink-and-Green-Colourway?shop=yes http://www.folksy.com/items/1627381-Beading-Kit-Spring-Blossom-Pendant-Teal-and-Turquoise-Colourway?shop=yes

Please take a look and let me know what you think.

Happy beading!

Sarahx

Challenges aplenty.

I was listening to episode 1 of the Bead Circle podcast earlier today and Mandi was interviewing Nancy Zellers. One of the things they discussed was participating in beading challenges/competitions in order to grow as a beader. As a member of Operation Tackle That Bead Stash, I participate in a monthly colour challenge and I know how fun it can be to work with a palette that you may not choose yourself, I thought that I may spread my wings a bit in the next few months and try a few other challenges and as if by magic, 2 came up in my blog feed today, so I thought I would post about them and have a little look around the web for any others I could find.

Ottbs April Moodboard Colour Challenge http://tacklethatbeadstash.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-moodboard.html

Art Bead Scene's April Monthly Challenge http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-monthly-challenge.html

Andrew Thornton's Weekly Word http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/2011/04/weekly-word-reflect.html

Bead Maven's Bead Soup Mixer http://beadmavens.blogspot.com/2011/04/bead-mavens-bead-soup-mixer.html

Margie & Me Colour Challenge http://labellajoya.blogspot.com/2011/04/margie-and-me-hollywood-glamour-and.html

I think that is probably enough to choose from right now! I am particularly drawn to Andrew's weekly word challenge as I find it harder to bead to a theme than colours, so I think that will challenge me more, I'm not promising anything mind as I am not even halfway through my OTTBS April challenge yet!

Happy beading!

Sarahx

New Beading Podcast

I knit as well as bead and I'm totally addicted to knitting podcasts. They are just the trick to get me through a mountain of ironing or to drown out the sounds of a busy office when I am trying to concentrate on some analysis work. I have always been a bit puzzled to why they haven't taken off quite so much in the beading world, I have even contemplated doing one myself but a) I don't have the time and b) I have a strong welsh accent and talk at the rate of knots so I may be unintelligible to anybody who lives more than 10 miles away from me! So I was really excited today when The Lone Beader tweeted about the Bead Circle podcast! It is pretty new, only on episode 2 which I have just listened to. I enjoyed it and hope there will be many more! Go check it out, http://beadcircle.com/

My First Pattern for Sale!

I am very excited to announce that after many years of wanting to design patterns for sale, I have just listed my 1st one on Etsy!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70723662/pdf-beading-tutorial-spring-blossom I am sure it won't be my last! It was a lot of fun to design and write the pattern, although the technical issues drove me nuts!

Happy beading!

Sarahx

Sweet Spring.

This months moodboard challenge on Operation Tackle that Bead Stash is lovely soft pink, cream and green, perfect for spring. With the weather gloriously sunny & crisp here in South Wales, it wasn't to hard to be inspired!

I always seem to have a lime green fetish at this time of year, so I dug out these matte ab 11's and used a cream opaque to soften the look. I love netted bracelet bases, they are so versatile and supple. With this one I added a picot fringe which ruffles the edges of the bracelet very prettily and made a little pink flower with some swarovski crystals.

In keeping with the start of a new season, I have started a new craft! I have become obsessed with embroidery after finding the Feeling Stitchy blog on Friday. I will blog about my progress later this week.

Happy beading!

Sarahx

A Teeny Tiny Chair!

I've been beading for quite a while and have often fancied trying sculptural 3d work, but always shied away from it as I was a bit intimidated! I mentioned wanting to try it on Facebook a couple of days ago and got egged on by my crafty friends! I thought it was best to start with something small and relatively simple. So here is my teeny, tiny chair made from Miyuki 11 seed beads and cylinder beads, using peyote and herringbone stitch.

Handmade Valentines - Free Brick Stitch Heart Pattern.

I'm not a terribly romantic person generally, hubby and I don't go a bundle on Valentine's Day, we usually just buy each other our favourite bar of chocolate (Bounty for him, Cadbury's Caramel for me) and cook a meal together. However, I have been influenced by the many heart projects that I have found on the internet recently, so this week's blog theme is Handmade Valentines.

To start us off, here is a free pattern for a brick stitch heart that I posted on Operation Tackle That Bead Stash yesterday. The heart is designed with delica's in mind but you can substitute Japanese 11's if you prefer. You can use it as a pendant, brooch or make a few and link them into a bracelet or a necklace.

Hope you like it!

Sarahx

Thinking Ahead to Christmas.

I am currently in full on making mode as I have a jewellery party this Friday, a sale in my work's coffee shop and two craft fairs before Christmas. I have quite a lot of stock already but it's always nice to have new stuff.

I made this bracelet using some of the lovely chunky, black and silver beads that I bought at the fair last week. I think it's perfect for the party season.


I had a few beads left over, so I made this trapeze style chain necklace.



While I was working, my 6 year old son asked if he could do some wirework! So I cut up some lengths of copper wire, handed him a pair of round nose pliers and he dug through his bead box (yes, he has his own) and he decided to make some Christmas decorations for the tree. I think he did a pretty good job as I did not tell him what to do (other than not to poke himself in the eye with the wire) but left him alone to freestyle.

Sarahx