A Time to Save! A Time To Bead!

It's that time at Bead Patterns Boutique again. A time to save, a time to bead!

With this code: SeedBead4 You can save 20% off any purchase at the Boutique for the next 3 days. (This discount is effective February 16, 17, 18 only)

New fully tested patterns are being loaded up every day. If you haven't seen the Boutique lately, you haven't seen the Boutique! Eye candy galore is ready and waiting for you. Take a trip through the Boutique and view all the wonderful pieces that the Team has created for you to enjoy. Grab a cold drink, get comfortable and let the adventure begin! Click here: http://www.beadpatternsboutique.com

Don't forget to sign in before you shop! When you are signed in, you will be immediately redirected upon payment to retrieve your downloads. No waiting for a receipt or having to sign back in! Let's not forget one of the best perks of all as a site member. All registered members that sign in before they shop receive 2% virtual cash back that can be used on any future purchase through the Boutique. No gimmicks, no games, no waiting periods, it's yours to use when you want to use it. Best of all, it never expires! You can even use it in conjunction with sale prices and with coupons.

So if you're not a member, sign up now! Click here: http://www.beadpatternsboutique.com/signupform.php

If you're not sure how to shop or download patterns, stop by our "How To Shop" page for detailed information on exactly how to use the Boutique to make your shopping experience a wonderful one! Click here: http://www.beadpatternsboutique.com/faqs.htm

Blessings,

Beth

Why I don't have a "Bead Fairy"

It is not like I have not thought about it!  In fact, sometimes I think it would be great to have an extra pair of hands to stitch up some of the ideas that my muse is sending me.  But, I just know it would not work for me.

My muse likes to create as it goes.  Sometimes it send me a great idea, all ready to go.  And other times, I get the idea in bits and pieces.  Things happen one step at a time.  Just like my February ornament.

My muse sent me the idea for the band.  And I knew I would be adding fringe, but I did not know what it would be like.  I knew I wanted the fringe to echo the design of the band, but I was not sure how until I started.

I designed the band to honor the Iroquois Flag.  And I chose to stitch in 11/0 miyuki seed beads.  After the band was stitched, I ordered the flower beads that I would need to create the "trees" and the squares in the fringe. 

I already had the white bugle beads in my stash.  So, I set about to make the fringe.  Here are my first two rows.  Notice, I started with the "tree" row and started adding from there.

This is what the fringe looked like after about 2/3 had been done.

I have to admit, I didn't like it!  So, I tore it apart and .....

This is what it looks like now.

To date, the fringe is done, but that is as far as I have gotten.  Now I need to add the top. 

So, how can I send this off to someone else, when I am not even sure where I am going.

It will be a few more days till I have this pattern ready.  But I thought I would give you a sneak peak.

Blessings,

Beth

What's Going On?

I have been quite on my blog for a bit.  But I have not been quite in my creativity.

This is what my beading table looks like right now.  There are two ornaments in the works, lots of beads, silver and crystals.  Some ribbons and a set of drill bits.

Be prepared.  There are a lot of things coming.

Blessings,
Beth

Do What You Want to Do!

I went to a lecture at my Quilt Guild last night.  The Guest Speaker was Cathy Wiggins.  She is a well-known teacher in the quilting world.  The Guild had been looking forward to this lecture for a long time.

To tell the truth, I was not overly excited.  Cathy was giving two lectures.  One was during the day and titled "How to Structure a Successful Workshop or Lecture".  I really was not interested in this one, as I have already been teaching for a long time.  So I passed on spending the time and cost to attend.

The evening lecture was titled "Finding Your Inspiration -- Unlocking Your Creativity".  As this lecture was being given during our regular monthly business meeting, and I am the refreshement coordinator for the Guild, I headed out to spend the evening with my fellow quilters.

At the beginning of the lecture, Cathy gave us a quiz.  She asked 10 questions that we had to rank our answers from 1-5.  The higher your score, the less she figured she could teach you.  I scored pretty high.

Please know, I am not bragging here.  I guess, as a teacher / artist, it was bound to be that way.  But, I am always determined to take away one thing from every speaker.  So I got out my notebook and set that goal.

Cathy had a lot of ideas about unleashing creativity.  She spoke about recognizing inspiration and keeping track of what inspires you.  Check!!!  I have books full of stuff I have photographed or cut out of magazines.

She also spoke about having a "Clean, Well organized workspace".  I would say my space is well organized for me.  But I do have some clutter going on.  As I am plagued with frequent bouts of OSP (Oh, Shiney!! Pretty) I do have a lot of things going at once.  To the casual observer, it might seem unorganized, but I know where everything is.

This is my what my beading worktable looks like as I write this. 

Cathy suggested that we not keep magazines, but cut out the things that "speak to us" and save just those.  That will get rid of clutter and open up space. 

Heaven knows, I have plenty of magazines and books.

This is the majority of my fabric stash.  It also houses some beading and display items.

And here is the bulk of my beading magazine collection.  I have recently started to go to digital issues on these.   I have to admit, I like the digital because it stores easier, and I can take more with me at one time.

And this is the bulk of my quilting and sewing books and magazines.

Now, I am sure that a lot of my fellow attendees went home last night and dreamed about going through things and cleaning out!  I have to admit, I did think about it too!  Afterall, who would not like to have more space.

But, here is the ONE BIG THING that I took from the lecutre.  Cathy asked us if we work on projects just because "everyone is doing it" or do we do "what we want to do".

I have to say, I am going to do WHAT I WANT TO DO!  I am not going to clean/sort any of this right now.  Right now, I WANT TO BEAD & SEW!

Cleaning can wait for another day!!

Blessings,

Beth



Brain Storm

I have been spending a lot of time at my beading loom lately. 

Small Awareness Ribbon Collar  (top collar is peyote, bottom is loom)

As I said in my last post, I have been working on a collection of Awareness Ribbon Pet Collars.

  I want to be sure beaders who enjoy working in different techniques can enjoy the patterns.

Medium size 4-color Diamonds Collar (Top is peyote, Bottom is Loom)

Medium Awareness Ribbon Collars (top is peyote, bottom is loom)

So, I have been doing the pattern in small, medium & large sizes,

 and in Peyote/Brick stitch & LOOM stitch!

A fellow Loom Lover asked me recently how she could keep her loom work straight when she started. 

 Well, today, I had a brain storm! 

I had a few extra magnet strips laying on my beading table.

I decided to try putting one on the top of the threads and one under them.  And this is what happened.

It is doing a fantastic job keeping the beadwork straight as I work.

Feel free to adopt this idea to use in your own beadwork.  It sure is making my loom work even more fun!

Blessings,
Beth