Tribal Cat Bracelet

Triskell

A triskell to grace your wrist.  

This peyote pattern also has some Celtic knot work bracketing the central motif.

Thor's Hammer Bracelet

Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor is featured on this bracelet.  

As Above So Below

This bracelet has the Tree of Life mirrored above and below a spiral.  It is meant to be worked in peyote stitch.

I love Chickens

Part of being out in the country side, is the fun of keeping chickens.  I live on a farm, so we don't have to worry about city restrictions on how many or whether or not I have any Roo's.  We have 26 chickens right now - a mix of both hens and roos - who give us lots of eggs and lots of laughs.  Even if I never got anything from these "working pets," I would still enjoy them for their entertainment value.

Busy Bee Bracelet

I'm hoping this year our four bee hives will winter through better than last year.  Last year we lost all four hives and had to start over.  It was pretty disappointing.   But in the mean time, while we wait for temps to average over 50, here's a busy bee working away to make your wrist look gorgeous.

2 New Cute Bracelet Patterns

I have to confess that I love cutesy!  So here are two cutesy bracelets to play with.  

The first pattern, Owls, would look really nice done in brighter colors, although I really like the softer blues for this piece.

This second bracelet, Frogs, was designed with the frogs to the left on purpose.  If you prefer a more central design, just add/subtract the plain blue accordingly.  These guys would be adorable in pinks as well, if you wanted "girlie" frogs.

Late Easter Bunnies Bracelet

I had planned on having these sugary sweet marshmallowy treats ready for Easter publication, but sometimes I just procrastinate.  A lot!

I figured better late than never, so I hope you enjoy this bracelet.  (The small bunnies worked in free form,  would make cute earrings!)

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend, no matter what you celebrate!

Cardinal Bracelet

I love Spring!!

All of the different greens are popping out in the woods, the dogwoods are gorgeous, My tulips and jonquils are blooming....  Well you get the picture!

But best of all are the birds!  All of the birds are coming back, singing and warbling for a girl friend. ("Pick me! Pick me!, Pick me, me, me! says the chick-a-dee.)

Of course the Cardinal has been a stead fast friend through the winter months flashing his bright red wings, even in the snow.  He's a great reminder that Winter isn't forever, and that Spring always comes back around.

skull card holder worked up by Candys

photo by Candys

Here's a card holder by Candys. The pics show both the front and back view.  This pattern is from a skull bracelet I designed a bit ago.  I really like the way Candys adapted this as a card holder.

Even though it was meant to be a bracelet, it definitely works well folded in half, and would make a cool amulet as well.

Photo by Candys

Bold Black and Red Bracelet

A quick and quirky bracelet that isn't shy!

Here is something bold and abstract to wear through the winter holidays.  This piece would work with just a plain closure, but would really pop with something bold and shiny.  This could be the project you have been looking for, to use with that special button.

Bead Tool

I realized it has been a while since I have mentioned the bead pattern editing software I use.

I definitely want to get the word out there to people about Christopher's Bead Tool.  It has to be my favorite pattern designing software. (And I have tried others!)

Bead Tool was designed with beaders in mind, not computer programmers.  It's very intuitive and easy to use.  I especially like that I can over lay the transparent bead graph over one of my pictures, and "trace" over the images.

For more about this technique, check out my posts!
colouring book technique, post 1
colouring book technique, post 2

I also can't just have a text only post, especially since I just got my new dish today! (Whoo-hoo! - a day late, but worth the wait! Mega bytes here we come!)

I hope you enjoy this blue geometric floral design.  It would make a great winter bracelet design, with it's icy white and chilly blue colour scheme.

Andi's work

Just wanted to share some work by Andi that really rocks.

 This photo, taken by Andi, shows her beautifully worked version of the Three Frogs Bracelet pattern.

I always love it when readers share their work based on my patterns.  It's so much fun to see how talented everyone is!

I just wish I could read Hungarian - Andi has a really nice blog, Sipi, with gorgeous photography and bead work. I especially love her bracelet patterns.  She gave me props for the pattern in her latest post.

Angel ornament and bracelet

Since it's not too early to get started on ornaments and gifts for Christmas, here is an angel ornament to work in free form brick stitch.

I would recommend stiffening this piece and attaching a piece of mono filament to each wing tip.  Knot the two pieces of filament to a hook to hang it by.  Trim the ends and cover them with a tiny red ribbon bow.

There are lots of ways to stiffen a piece of beadwork. Since I have heard both pros and cons for each of them I will give you a list to read up on them and decide what is best for you.

Future® floor finish (wax) method
Restitch the piece until it is stiffened (This is not always an option on brick or peyote pieces.).

Fingernail polish

AIleene's Stiffener products.

Apply the work to a piece of fabric with plastic, wire, or pellon sandwiched inside.

Personally, I usually try to work a bit snugger on work I know needs to be firm, and use as large a weight of Fireline as I can to give the worked piece body and firmness.  Often this is enough.
Here is the same design  in a chart for a bracelet.  It would make a nice piece to wear around the holidays.  There is space underneath the angel to add the year.

Wadjet Bracelet

This is Wadjet.

"She was said to be the patron and protector of Lower Egypt and upon unification with Upper Egypt, the joint protector and patron of all of Egypt with the "goddess" of Upper Egypt. The image of Wadjet with the sun disk is called the uraeus, and it was the emblem on the crown of the rulers of Lower Egypt." (Wikipedia)

Scarab Beetle Bracelet

Here is a scarab beetle with outstretched wings.  To make the bracelet longer or shorter just add to the length in black.  I think black matte Delicas, with the beetle in done in a iridescent or metallic finish would be very striking.

Continuing with the Egyptian Theme...

Proclaim your love of beads with this bracelet!

"Beads" is spelled phonetically in hieroglyphics on this bracelet.

I hope to do an entire alphabet in Hieroglyphs soon, so different things can be spelled out and personalized.

Ronit's beautiful version of the clown fish bracelet pattern

Once again Ronit Florence has taken a pattern and made it into more than just a basic bracelet.  She definitely knows how to tweak a design to get the most from it. Most readers will recognize the Clown Fish Bracelet I posted in July.

Bead work and photo by Ronit

 Here's what she had to share about the beautiful set she made:

    " As usual, your clown fish pattern wrecked havoc with my todo list - I just had to drop everything and bead it up :) I saw real clown fish in their "natural" habitat in a museum recently and learned about the symbiotic relationship they have with sea anemones, so I added the anemones to the pattern - that happened to have made beading a bit more interesting  because it meant that there wasn't a large area of solid color to bead up :)

     Of course, I had to make a set, so I rearranged the fish slightly so the pendant didn't turn out too wide and I made matching earrings. I used clear beads with AB finish (Delica #51) to do the bubbles and, while in retrospect I think it would have been better to use white, it allowed me to use the clear "water" drops or bubbles in the fringe and strap. For the strap I used this free pattern: http://storage.canalblog.com/26/09/392679/26506221.jpg from this site: http://centperles.canalblog.com/archives/schemas_a_a_d_/index.html

     Hope you like it and thanks again for all your wonderful and very inspiring patterns!!!

Hugs, Ronit"

Bead work and photo by Ronit

Truly gorgeous!! I am always amazed at how awesome (and fast! - she had this done early last week!) Ronit's work is.

"Life is change" in kanji, bracelet

Click on the image to view a larger image.

Sea Turtle bracelet