Deb Roberti's Cupola Bracelet

Check out this Cupola Bracelet designed by Deb Roberti:

Cupola Bracelet
Photo and Picture by
Deb Roberti
Available at Red Panda Beads

Not only is the design kinda heavenly, but those color combos - swoon!! Deb Roberti is a very prolific designer and beader and I often go to her projects when I need something different, but still easily doable.

So, when I saw this Cupola Bracelet design, I just knew I had to share it with you all.

Click HERE to get the PDF pattern. Don't freak out, because you will be directed to Red Panda Beads to "order" the project instructions and it will ask for your shipping information (but, no credit card info); however, the pattern is a free download - so no worries.

But, check it out, it will be so worth it!

Now go bead something.

Carving Tagua Nuts - The Easy Way

Ahh... the sweet, innocent and misunderstood tagua nut. So, brown and so (in my opinion) plain.

Tagua Nut Beads

But, that was then... this is now!

Carved Tagua Nuts
Photo and Product by Matt Grimes

Wow - cannot even seem to express how awesome I think these are.

But, guess what? Why buy carved tagua nuts (as awesome as Matt's work is), when you can carve your own original designs? 

How to Carve a Tagua Nut
Project and Photo by
Fire Mountain Gems

Fire Mountain Gems shows you how easy it really is to carve your own tagua nut using the very basic and simplest of tools. And, with all the different dyed colors they come in now, there is no reason for the tagua nut to be plain anymore.

Click HERE to find out how easy it really is.

Now go bead something.

APRIL 2015 MEETING

NEW MEETING LOCATION:
St. Martin's Episcopal Church
Blast Kitchen and Community Room
717 Sage Road
Houston, TX 77056

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Driving South on 610 (towards the Galleria), take the Woodway/Memorial exit and make a right on Woodway (away from Memorial Park). Go straight on Woodway for about 1/2 mile and make a left on Sage. St. Martin's Episcopal Church is located on the corner of Woodway and Sage. Turn left into the church's 3rd driveway (just past the Riverway street sign on your left).

The Blast Kitchen and Community Room is located in the last entrance to the building (past the portico) before you exit the parking area. Look for a small sign that reads "Community Center Room.

PARKING:
Park anywhere; but, the most convenient place to park is near the middle to the end of the building.

APRIL PROGRAM:
Color Selection
June Huber

Color selection can be a challenge in any art or craft, but especially in beading. This month, June will present a portion of her Master Class from last year's Bead & Button Show. We will talk about how to get the right amount of contrast, how colors affect perception of shapes and how colors interact with each other. No supplies needed - except paper and pencil to take notes. June will bring lots of examples and some hands-on activities for participants to try out. Feel free to bring any of your beading where the colors are giving you some trouble and June will try to help.

Beaded Tennis Bracelet

Although my wrist is small, I really love the look of big chunky bracelets - and a whole lot of them at once. But, when I saw this sweet little bracelet by Sandra Halpenny, I just knew I had to share it with you.

                          Beaded Tennis Bracelet
             Photo and Project by Sandra Halpenny

This bracelet is only one row wide and works up really fast thanks to Sandra's good written and illustrated instructions. And, of course, those sparkling crystals just add so much to the charm of this little bracelet.

Click HERE to find out how to make some.

Now go bead something.

Beaded Flower Earrings
Photo and Project by The Learning Center

In honor of Spring 2015, I am posting this sweet little pair of Beaded Flower Earrings I found at the Panda Hall's Learning Center.

The earrings are made with a very simple stitch that I think anyone can do.

These earrings have two basic flower components to them, but I would add a third because I really like long earrings that almost reach the shoulder. If you like smaller, more delicate earrings, then you could easily stop just at one flower.

Either way - the choice is yours once you start making them.

Click HERE to find out how to make 'em.

Now go bead something.

Danish Love Knot

I love tutorials that teach you technique because then you can use it in several projects - like this Danish Love Knot by blueforestjewelry.



Basic Danish Love Knot
Photo and Project by blueforestjewelry

Once you learn the basic design, you can make a variety of projects with it. Like this pair of Danish Love Knot Earrings:

Danish Love Knot Earrings
Photo and Project by blueforestjewelry

Or even this Danish Love Knot Bracelet:



Danish Love Knot Earrings
Photo and Project by blueforestjewelry

The tutorial knot (get it?) only teaches you the basic Danish Love Knot, but you create it directly from the spool of wire - so no waste!

Click HERE to find out how to make one.

Now go bead something.

Easy Peasy Beaded Mirror

Beaded Mirror
Photo and Project by Delineate Your Dwelling.com

Sometimes a girl (or a guy) just needs a beaded mirror and here's one that's super easy to make. Hot glue, beads, a round mirror (try another geometric shape instead) and some cardboard are all you need - though I would probably use some thin plywood if this was going in a bathroom or other humid environment. Did you know any big box home improvement store will usually cut the plywood for you for free!? And, remember you could always recycle a mirror too.

Click HERE to find out how to make one.

Now go bead something.