Just Playing Last Night...

I was trying something with tubular herringbone and came up with this! It would need to be supported by an inner bead as the work does collapse but I am amazed that this was the result of just playing with beads.

Tea-Light Holder

I saw a tea-light holder in The Beader's Bible, by Dorothy Wood. I liked the look of it, but the instructions seemed a little difficult at first glance (mainly because of the way they were set out). I thought that it wouldn't be too difficult to try one for myself, and that at least it would be my own design that way. I got started, initially with a herringbone stitch pattern, but then discovered that I couldn't work out a way to make a flat bottom in it.

Next, I came up with this design (above), using tubular peyote which transforms into herringbone to form the ruffle on the top. I was fairly pleased with it, but realised that I had a split where I had started a new thread. I wasn't as happy with the colour mix as I could have been, so I cut it up to re-use the beads for something else.

I decided that peyote was the way to go for the body of the piece as it was easier to work a bottom from that stitch. I thought that a softer ruffle might be nicer, so I incorporated ogalala lace stitch into the top. I haven't worked the bottom in yet but you can see the general idea from this picture.

Bracelet For Teacher

This is the bracelet I made for Max's Teacher for Christmas. I have wrapped it in the box it is resting on (also hand-made). It is made using tubular peyote stitch in size 9 beads. I absolutely love the colour scheme and hope she does too. I have been looking at her jewellery for weeks now and she does seem to like beaded things. I am just doing that 'what if she hates it' thing at the moment!

Twisted Tubular Herringbone With a Special Bead...

This chain was made from a pattern in Bead & Button. I didn't want to make the whole lariat, so I made a short necklace and used one of Hollingdale Design's beads - the ones I had made for me - as a toggle. I think the colours of the lampwork bead complement the seed beads perfectly. I decided that it would be a shame to hide such a beautiful bead at the back of the neck and so made the toggle into a feature. I will wear it as a pendant at the front.

The Thursday Night Project (13 November) - Crafter..oo Forum

Nothing seemed to go right last night. I started several things and ended up cutting them up to salvage the beads! In the end, I decided to go with a simple tubular herringbone choker/double-wrap bracelet. It is still not finished but I am working hard on it. I went for golds and bronzes as I normally steer clear of gold beads and I wanted to do something different.

I need to start making loads more as I am doing a school Christmas fair on 5th December! Aaaarrrgh!