AUGUST 2015 MEETING

August Program
Spiral Bracelet (right)
Variation (left)

Our Next Meeting:
Saturday, August 15, 2015
10:00 am to 12:30 pm
St. Martin's Episcopal Church
717 Sage Road - Blast Kitchen Meeting Room

Program:
Flat Spiral Bracelet with Tish Reed
Kits - $10.00
 
Materials Needed:
- 28 to 30 6mm crystal bicones or similar
- 56 to 60 4mm crystal bicones or similar
- Approx. 5 grams of size 10 or 11 seed beads
- Beading needle and thread
- Clasp

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Beaded Napkin Rings

Imagine throwing a dinner party for your friends... the lighting is perfect, the food is delicious and the place settings... well, your place settings are going to need these beautiful napkin rings created by Dans le Lakehouse.

Beaded Napkin Rings
Photo and Project by Dans le Lakehouse

A little wireworking skills, wire and beads are all you  need to make this lovely addition to any gathering. But, wait - there's more! It can double as a cuff bracelet! So, wouldn't it make a great favor for a bridesmaid lunch, baby shower or bridal shower?

I've said it many times - I love projects like this because what beader doesn't have leftover beads from previous projects? Mine usually end up in a bead soup, but I think I'm going to start gathering them up for this project.

Mosey on over HERE to find out how to make them.

Now go bead something.

Embellished Ladder Stitch Bracelet

The Ladder Stitch is one of the very first bead techniques I learned when I first started beading. To this day - along with the spiral stitch - it's one of my very favorite bead techniques I know.

If you don't know the Ladder Stitch, this Embellished Ladder Stitch Bracelet is the perfect project for you to create while learning this very versatile stitch. Even if you already know it, this bracelet is good practice and will work up very quickly.

Embellished Ladder Stitch Bracelet
Project and Photo by Bead and Button

Not only is the Ladder Stitch easy to learn and quick to work up, the variations are endless - simply by changing the number, type or color beads you use.

Click HERE for a video tutorial of this really lovely and versatile bracelet.

Now go bead something.

Top 10 Tips for Beginning Jewelry Makers

Here's some handy dandy little tips beaders/jewelry makers should consider when they finally begin to think about getting serious about their work.

Photo by craftsy.com

From taking classes to mastering skills, the list really does cover a good amount of topics (tips) that every jewelry maker/beader should think about.

My favorite? Have a dedicated and organized workspace. This doesn't mean that you absolutely must have an entire room to work in. But, I think everyone deserves their own private workspace even if it's just a corner in your bedroom or an unused closet.

Click HERE to see the entire list.

Now go bead something.

Love Your Hands!

Whether you are a beader, painter, woodworker or artist in general, our hands are probably the most important tool we use. And, if you are like me, you can get so engrossed in a project that you easily lose track of time and forget to take a break.

But, it's time we learn to appreciate and love our hands by giving them a break. Here is a chart created by We are Knitters of easy to do exercises to help our hands relax and get them ready for another round of beading.

Graphic by We Are Knitters

Sure, this was created by a knitter, but it is useful for all of us - especially beaders.

You wouldn't leave a paint brush in thinner, you wouldn't leave a tube of paint open and you certainly wouldn't leave your beloved Swarovski crystals are strewn about - so, treat your hands (and your body) to an occasional break with some nice stretching exercises and they will help you continue your next beading masterpiece in a less painful manner.

Thanks to We are Knitters for the hand exercise tips!

Now go bead something - but, take a break - will ya?

Plant Stand Pendant Display

As you probably already know, Houston Bead Society has an upcoming bead show set for October 23 through 25, 2015 - check it out by clicking HERE.

So, when I saw this Pendant Display made out of a plant stand, I thought I'd share it here.

Plant Stand Pendant Display
Photo and Project by Mary Lyda

Mary says she was trying to come up with some DIY displays when she found this plant stand in her bathroom. The stand is actually a faux metal plastic stand in a gold color with black accents, but she cut pieces of burgundy fabric to help showcase her pieces. I think it looks great. 

So, if you are doing some shows this coming Fall, you might want to find a plant stand (try thrift stores) and make your own display. Even if you're not, I think this would look really pretty sitting on a bedside table or dresser.

So click HERE to find how how Mary Lyda made it.

Now go bead something.

Beaded Flower Pendant

Beads by Becs has this adorable beaded flower tutorial on her blog using seed beads and an 8mm chaton. Check it out:

Beaded Flower
Project and Photo by Beads by Becs

Beads by Becs uses the herringbone stitch to bezel around the 8mm chaton then embellishes it with seed beads. And, this sweet little beaded flower (she uses an 8mm chaton afterall) can be used on its one or as a component to another piece. There are endless possibilities for this project simply by changing the color or color combinations that you use. And, it's so easy to do, you can do this with your favorite kiddo.

Click HERE to get all the how tos.

Happy Summer Y'all!

Now go bead something.