Random thoughts: On the beading front:

Random thoughts: On the beading front:: "Today I spent all day in a WONDERFUL class at Crystal Bead Bazaar.
The teacher was Sherry Serafini and she taught a bead embroidered broach.
Every one was different and here's mine.

I've finished the initial beading. Now I need to decide which way is up. :-)
I have decided it will be a pendant, not a broach. So I'll be making a strap to hang it on after I figure out which direction is up. I'm also likely to put more fringe on it as well as hanging off the bottom.

The big cab is a paua shell, the small ones are turquoise. There are also two silver pearls.

This was SO much fun to do and the class was a great experience!"

This is gorgeous, I've always loved paua shell.
Anyone want to suggest which way is up?!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

VioletBeadBlog: Unshelling the hermit in me

VioletBeadBlog: Unshelling the hermit in me: "It�s amazing how good I feel when I have been beading. I am energized for everything. It both enhances and interrupts my sleep! It�s just an all around good feeling to be creative again. "

It's amazing what being creative can do for you.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Beaderheads??

: "Bob and Gail Anderson are 'beaderheads.'
Beaderheads are die-hard bead addicts who like to seek out bead shops.
For bead addicts, it's not just looking or browsing. These people view trays or strings of blue lace agate, Dalmatian jasper, crazy lace quartz, blue tiger eye or African jade as priceless.
Bob and Gail Anderson are part of the local beader community. They would rather run their fingers through strands of beads than win the lottery.
Well maybe not, but it's close.
Beaderheads covet unique beads "

What a great story!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Fascinating artwork

Sonji Says...: Bundle Sunday in Front of the Fan: "So, I sat in front of a fan today and made bundles, read the paper, did some beading. It was too hot to even fuse some ideas together."

These are gorgeous!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Getting organised...

jamelah.net:blog: "I spent five hours on Saturday cleaning off my beading table and organizing things into labeled bins. Did I really need to spend five hours doing this? Well, no, but if I'm going to organize something, I'm going to do it right. While I am glad that everything is in its place and all is right with the world, I really wish that beading didn't involve so many tiny individual pieces. Is there such a thing as a hobby that doesn't need supplies?"

Any suggestions?
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Look out future spouse....

Gene�eolian: A Day in the Life.....: "And now I'm on this beading kick again - but just not any beads - Swaroski Crystal AB beads. Even better if they are VINTAGE. Man, I am expensive (warning to future spouse). I've even created a spreadsheet to track all the different ones I can find....the differenct cuts/shapes were referred to as Articles. Vintage will be 39, 3700, 346, 340, etc, while the newer ones are 5100, 5000, 5004, 5003, 5040, 5200, 5300, 5301 etc."

Now that's an expensive beading addiction!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

My Perdy Necklace

procrsti-knitter: My Perdy Necklace: "Roxana and I went to a local bead fair last week, and I spent too much, suprise suprise. BUT I DID finally make something out of them! Every time I have tried beading I have liked the outcome, but I just don't do it much. I feel like it is kind of a 'cop out' craft 'cause it's so easy. I know I shouldn't think this way, but I do.

I would like to do it more, and get into the crazy stuff like chain maille (sp?) and longer term stuff like that. Still, I am proud of this necklace. But I'm just a freak and I'm afraid it looks too cheap or too home made or too costume jewelryish. Oh well, we're our own worst critics.

Here's a close up!"


What a great effort, I love the colour.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Talking Woman Beads: Stuff and Nonsense

Talking Woman Beads: Stuff and Nonsense: " I also finished that ruby red net today. That thing just didn't want to get done. I started it on friday, and it took me 3 days to finish it. I'm not sure, but I think IT didn't want to be made. Never had so much trouble with them before....just this one. Ah well, all is good now, and I'll add it here too. "


Some really great pieces.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

henryherald.com

henryherald.com: "Locust Grove woman is big on beads
By Aisha I. Jefferson
Locust Grove resident Helene McDonald has a fascination with beads.
Even when she is not using the beads to make bracelet or necklace creations, the 61-year-old Norfolk Southern Railroad retiree said she buys beads sometimes just for the heck of it.
'They are all unique and different,' McDonald said. 'There's just millions and millions of beads - there's an unlimited amount of beads.'"


Another beading addict! Great story.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Summer shoes

Bradenton Herald | 07/21/2005 | Summer shoes: "Beaded BOHO
Why this shoe kicks it up a notch: It's pink, one of the year's hottest hues; decorated with sequins and beads, it has an ethnic look.
Wear with: Jeans, solid-color gypsy skirts, cropped pants.
What this shoe says about you: Your taste leans toward bohemian; you appreciate ethnic-looking clothes and accessories; you're laid-back and don't worry about arch supports.
Celebrity sole sisters: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, actresses and media moguls."


Can't say I've ever noticed any media moguls wearing beaded sandals, but anyway....
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Free Beading Lessons by E-Mail

Free Beading Lessons by E-Mail: "Free Beading Lessons by E-Mail
Learn that beading stitch you've always wanted to know. These Free Beading Lessons by E-Mail are delivered right to your in-box and are absolutely free, leaving you all that money to buy more beads! "

Could be worth checking out!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Matching bracelet & Anklet

Knitting Maniac: New Project! and totally complete WIP Collage ;-): "I dipped my fingies back into the world of beading yesterday. I made a ton of kewl stitch markes :) I love using them for the fair isle! and complicated lace is nice with them too. I also made a bracelet and matching anklet that I just LOVE! I used an old hematite bracelet that I haven't worn for ages ... 20 gauge wire (my first experience using it and bending and twirling it around itself). Anyways, I think it turned out just awesome! "

I love hematite, so this matching set really takes my fancy!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)
PS Of course I can never remember whether it's hematite or haematite...

Beaded Impressions Sponsors Beadwork Tip Site at LifeTips.com

Beaded Impressions Sponsors Beadwork Tip Site at LifeTips.com: "Leading online bead and jewelry supply retailer Beaded Impressions� (http://www.abeadstore.com) has signed on to sponsor a Beadwork Tip Site published at LifeTips.com (http://www.lifetips.com), one of the largest online publishers of free tips and advice.
The new Beadwork Tip Site (http://Beadwork.lifetips.com) answers readers' questions about beading and jewelry supplies. The site provides in-depth advice on selecting different semi-precious beads, findings and supplies. Readers can also subscribe to receive a free weekly beadwork tips newsletter."

Cool!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Beads...

M's Page: Beads...: "Ever since I was little I have loved beading. While on the hunt for Cavier Beads for my bridesmaids dresses I can across a great site called Bead Needs. It's got some lovely beads. I'm still looking for cavier bead though! if anyone can point me in the right direction I'd greatly appreciate it!"

A great resource!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Beaded stitch holders

freddyknits - knitting, yarn, books, kids, and random musings: Non-verbal communication: "I've gone a bit crazy making these stitch holders. My friend Sue from my old yarn store job just opened a bead store with her daughter - Stony Creek Bead and Gallery in Ypsilanti (no website yet that I can find). If you are into beading and live in SE Michigan, you should go. Hell, even if you aren't into beading and live in Ohio or the UP or the midwest, for that matter, you should go, but beware - the allure of the small lovely bits of shimmery beauty will suck you in and you will never be the same."

Now that's the truth!
Hmmm.... stitch holders, now there's an idea!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Pretty beaded presents...

Loopy: A Hogwarts Honey with Ladder Yarn & Beads: "I did enjoy prowling around among the tables. I couldn't resist buying some cute beaded gifts for my girls.

Caitlyn got a tiny beaded butterfly (see below) but she's also coveting Ginny's present.

For Ginny, I picked up a similar tiny sparkly something. (Ginny, do *not* click on the green box below.) "


These are both gorgeous. Looks like a great place to visit if you're in Memphis when it's on!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Talking Woman Beads: Net Necklaces

Talking Woman Beads: Net Necklaces: "Net Necklaces

It came to me a bit ago, I haven't posted pics of 2 new necklaces, LOL!! So here they are. The teal and turq net, is very simple looking, but elegant in it's own right. The Brown and Jasper is, if I may say so myself, stunning. My scanner doen not do it justice at all. The gold flecks in the Jasper, match the gold in the lineing of the brown, which is a sparkly bead too. "


These are great designs.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Beaded bookmarks

Knits For Sanity: Beading: "Bookmark #1: This is one of my favorites. It's the first one I made. It's getting easier to design bookmarks the bigger my bead stash gets. I have a lot more choices than I had before."

Beaded bookmarks? I never thought of that, but these look terrific.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Blood Orange bracelet

Shooting Star Beads: Blood Orange bracelet: "Today I was working on a large 'Blood Orange' bracelet for a customer. Blood Orange is a combination of ruby red and orange fruit."

this bracelet is stunning - it's a shame I can't copy the photo as well, I recommend you take a look.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Spiral beading begins...

carolsblog: PO'd...or maybe not.: "I have been beading. The weather cooled and greyed, so I felt able to hunch under my good light indoors and start a blue herringbone spiral, probably aimed at being a necklace for my mother. The 'probably' being because she has requested that she be able to take it on and off over her head without undoing a clasp, a reasonable request given her age and small amount of arthritis, clasps are very fiddly. And I am not as yet experienced enough to know how many beads I need for a project unless it is a 'recipe'. Silly picture - one session's progress marked: "

It will be interesting to watch this project progress.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)