Basics

I love working new, elaborate patterns.
I love creating new designs.
But sometimes it's just nice to go back to a familiar, favourite stitch.
We ended up spending the night and part of today at my in-laws due to a power outage, so I just grabbed a few beads in the semi-darkness at home.
Twisted herringbone is just so soothing to me!

Twisted Silver

LOVE how this turned out. It's a very addictive stitch and there will be more to come!

Tangerine

Getting my shop back in order has been fabulous. Oh how I've missed it!
I also did not realize how many pieces I had not photographed and added. Oh my!
Here is the latest, Tangerine, added today. I just love this color combination!

New Season

Well, it's yet another season of our lives!
Not long after I wrote the last post, let's say I get really tired. Really, really tired. I then lived in a tired  haze for quite some time made up of work, sinus headaches, soaking my feet and collapsing onto the couch.
We are having a little baby girl in November :).
So, needless to say my focus and what energy I had during the first trimester were not about beads. And then as my energy returned it was about getting through each work day and putting my legs up and resting when I got home.
I am now starting my third week home and not working as my legs would not handle eight hour shifts on them at a go. I am spending a lot of time organizing and cleaning, getting the baby's room ready and nesting.
But it also mean I have time and energy to bead! Yay!
My poor Etsy shop has been sorely neglected. I'm debating about finding a new street team on Etsy or waiting until after little girl shows herself and seeing how her days go first.
Either way, it's also a new season for my beading.
As yes, I have maternity leave and a bit of money with that, but not as much, I'm hoping to get back to selling a little more often and putting more efforts into that online I seem to have sold more in person over the last few years, but I have the time to try to advertise and such more now.
 It will also be a new season in that, since I'm not working right now not all the profits will go to missions. I will still have times where this is true though.
I have some pieces to photograph and listings to update, but mostly I'm excited to play with my beads again :)

I'm also excited to have time to look at other beady buddies blogs and get back into the beading community online :).

See you all soon!

Ruffles and Fringe

Yes, these two things can really take on a life of their own. I've seen other say this in the past, but now I know that it's true.
Case in point:
I started this for The Girly Girl longer ago than I want to admit. Partly because I had custom orders and an open house-partly because it just got pushed aside and forgotten.
I had been reading in the marvelous book by Carol Huber Cyphers about adding an addition row when doing the Oglala technique and decided that The Girly would love this. It looks fabulous, but is amazingly time consuming. I also made it pretty long so she can get it on and off without help if she wants to (oh, and she will), but still used this lovely button as an easy closure as well. It's multi-coloured partially because the plane trip on the way to see The Girly and the rest of the family created some bead soup for me (ahem, never again) and partly because then she can wear it with all kinds of things (she likes to match). Can't wait for her to get this. Poor girl, I've kept her waiting far too long. Sorry darlin!




























Case in point two:
I have a friend who placed a custom order with me. She picked the beads and only wanted it to have more flowers than my normal bracelets. This one of a kind piece is what it evolved into. Yes, I got carried away! It was quite the adventure, let's just say that ;).

All Ablaze

I do so wish purple and red photoed easier!
I will probably try to get a few more pictures of this, but none will be able to correctly capture the colour scheme, as with all beadweaving, it's better in person!
Available here.

floral cuffs

Well, I DO have a slew of new pieces...
However, they need to be photographed and listed as of yet as I have been busy unpacking and with various other things in my busy life that have gotten in my way these last few weeks (how rude!)

In the mean time, I've decided to spotlight some of my floral cuffs :)
Enjoy:

Freedom and Berries

Snow Queen

When I hear the phrase "Snow Queen" the first thing to come to mind is the picture of an evil witch who held a mythical country under her spell for hundreds of years of winter, always winter but never Christmas!

This months etsy challenge is titled "Snow Queen", and the entries are amazing!
Be sure to stop by and vote for your favourite piece from the 9th through the 15th of the month!!

Spring Break!!

It's that time again!!
The Esty Bead weavers February Challenge has begun!
Come and vote for your favourite piece!
http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com
You won't be disappointed if you come and take a peak!!

Dive In!!

"Below Sea Level"

Today I am featuring myfairladyvt4-http://myfairladyvt4.etsy.com
http://myfairladyvt4.blogspot.com/.

What she has to say about herself:
I love to bead. Seed bead weaving by hand and gemstones are my favorite.
I am a Wife and Mom. Currently I am a stay at home Mom, which I love. I have 2 great kids, a boy age 12 and a daughter age 10. They are both Basketball stars at the moment. We also have 2 cats and a toy poodle.

The amazing piece above was created for the Etsy Bead Weavers Monthly Challenge "Spring Break." (Be sure to come and vote for your favourite piece begining February the seventh!! http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com)

Like what you see??
Take a look at the rest of her beautiful shop!!

"Break Forth"

Isn't that an amazing name for this piece???
My featured artist today is onathousandhills
http://onathousandhills.etsy.com
http://onathousandhills.blogspot.com

What she has to say about herself:
My name is Cheryl, and I love the outdoors! I also love playing with my beads and seeing what I can come up with to make.

I can't remember how old I was when I first did any crafts, but I know it was pretty young. I went to a vocational high school and took 4 years of Clothing Shop there. I have always done a bit of different crafting hobbies, but found beads in a serious way about 5 years ago. My daughter was given a bead kit for recuperating after surgery, but wasn't very interested in it. I took it over and took off with my beading. I've had to put them on the back burner at times, when homeschooling and work got in the way. Now I am dedicating more time to be able to learn and grow in this art form. Yes, it IS an art form.


God's creation is one of my favorite themes for my work, and I think everyone would have to agree how wonderful nature is.

The stunning piece above is her entry in the Etsy Bead Weavers Monthly challenge "Spring Break."
Be sure to come and see all the entries and vote for your favourite beginning February the 7th!!! (http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/)
And be sure to head over to drool over the rest of onathousandhills shop!!!!

Hungry For Spring???

Today I am featuring cigarboxbeads
(http://cigarboxbeads.etsy.com
http://cigarboxbeads.blogspot.com )

What she has to say about herself:
I'm a retired Home Ec teacher, loved what I did, love what I'm doing now.

Beadweaving is my joy, along with knitting, crocheting, sewing AND being with our twin grand daughters. Not at the same time though, they love to 'help'! We do have 'crafting time' every day that I watch them, so I hope I'm instilling the love of creating in them.

PS- I just opened another etsy shop---suchandsort-go there to read where THAT name came from!

The piece above, beautifully named Cottage Garden Bracelet, is her entry in the Etsy Bead Weavers Monthly Challenge ("Spring Break").
Be sure to hop over and vote for your favourite piece - http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/-Begining February the seventh!!

AND be sure to go and drool over the rest of Marilyn's work in her shop!!!!!!!