Beaded Garden: The Reveal {Bead, Book & Bounce}

For our newest feature - Bead, Book & Bounce - we chose some of the most popular beading books - and one by one - we're challenging our readers to dust off the books on their shelves. Over the last few months, everyone has been busy beading pieces inspired by the projects in Diane Fitzgerald's The Beaded Garden. 

The time has now come for us to share our projects inspired by the tutorials, techniques or inspirational pieces included in The Beaded Garden. You can share your own projects with us using the Mr Linky. 

• Please link directly to your The Beaded Garden blog post, so that we can find it easily. 
• Please leave a comment here when you link up your project. 
• Please try to visit the blogs of other participants when you can. We all love a bit of love!

Little Bead Boxes {Bead, Book & Bounce}

Continuing with our feature - Bead, Book & Bounce - I'm thrilled to let you all know that the next book on our list of 'must bead' is Little Bead Boxes by Julia S. Pretl. And the reason that I'm so thrilled? This book was the very first beading book on my wishlist but, because of my long-term fear of peyote stitch, it's sat on my shelf becoming dusty for much longer than any other beading book in my collection. Having overcome that long-term fear with the help of the wonderful ladies in the OTTBS Facebook Group, means that I'm now ready to tackle some more intricate projects. Thanks ladies! 

I'll be encouraging you to create something from Julia's amazing book; to share any projects you've made that have been inspired by Little Bead Boxes; and, perhaps, to share your thoughts on the book, patterns and what you may have learnt. (You can read a little bit more about how this works in our Introducing: Bead, Book & Bounce article.)

Inspirational Beading - Book Spotlight, Little Bead Boxes

Patterns In Other Places - 

Julia has created a  multitude of additional Bead Box Patterns, which complement the instructions in Little Bead Boxes. These patterns don't include instructions and it may be difficult to construct the boxes without having first purchased the book, but by all means purchase an extra pattern if you've already beaded your way through the book. Or if you're super, super confident!

And, If You're Interested - 

Visit Julia's website, Beading In My Basement, where you can see all of Julia's boxes, vessels, collars, bead-knitting, patterns and tutorials in one amazing collection.

Don't forget, we're still working on projects from The Beaded Garden by Diane Fitzgerald and we'll be sharing our completed projects at the beginning of October. 

The Beaded Garden {Bead, Book & Bounce}

Continuing our feature - Bead, Book & Bounce - I'm delighted to announce the next book on our virtual beading shelf, The Beaded Garden by Diane Fitzgerald. First published in 2005, The Beaded Garden contains a whopping forty-two patterns for beautiful flowers, flower parts and garden creatures, alongside a gallery full of ideas for combining elements into beaded bouquets and stunning jewellery pieces. 

We'll be encouraging you to share your own review of the book and, of course, anything you make inspired by Diane's amazing projects during our reveal feature in September. (You can read a little bit more about how this works in our Introducing Bead, Book & Bounce article, but we'll always be here to guide you along.) 

Heart Of Illinois Bead Society Book Review: The Beaded Garden

Beadwrangler Book Review: The Beaded Garden

Projects In Other Places - 

The instructions for the Brick Stitch Butterfly Necklace are available from Diane Fitzgerald Presents but, unfortunately, the majority of the projects within the book are not available elsewhere. 

And, If You're Interested - 

You can watch an Interview With Diane Fitzgerald or check out the How To Make A Floral Fusion Necklace video from Beads Direct, which features designs from The Beaded Garden.

Don't forget that you are still able to work on projects from our first book choice - Bead Romantique by Lisa Kan and that we'll be featuring designs inspired by the book in our first Bead, Book & Bounce Reveal during August. 

Happy Birthday to Us!!! Giveaway.

Wow, a whole year, I can't quite believe it! We have had some great posts and challenges and I'd like to thank Clair and Liz especially for introducing and continuing the fabulous moodboard challenges!

You have already seen the prizes in the sneaky peaks but here is a recap,

Marcia DeCosters Beaded Opulence


Sterling Silver Rose Garden Earrings



12mm swarovski rivoli

Miyuki delica beads and some gorgeous ceramic focal beads

A pair of vintaj brass charms

To be in with a chance to win this lovely pack of prizes, all you need to do is comment on this post before 7.00pm GMT next Wednesday 16th March 2011. I will randomly draw one winner at 8.00pm Wednesday 16th March and the winner will be announced here that evening.

We'd love it if you could share news of the giveaway with your readers on your own blogs, if you do please include a link in your comment on this post and you will be entered into a draw for a secret bonus prize! As above I will randomly draw one winner at 8.00pm on Wednesday 16th March and the winner will be announced here that evening.

As this is a birthday celebration, I think it is only fair that the giveaway is open to all team members of OTTBS as well as readers.

Happy Beading!

Sarahx

Book Review - Embellished Beadweaving by Laura McCabe

I am sure I am not the only one with a huge collection of beading books! I loved Laura McCabes first book and could not wait to get this one.

There are 6 chapters in the book which includes a brief history of beadwork, a guide to a basic beading kit and a chapter on basic stitches such as peyote & herringbone. Chapter 6 is where all the main action is with 18 original projects including earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets. All the projects are stunning, my personal favourites are the rosebud ring and the april showers necklace, both of which I plan to make in the future. The only downside to the projects for me is that size 15 beads are used extensively and believe it or not I have very few colours in 15's, so I will need to buy some. Oh what a shame ;-)


For the purpose of this review, I concentrated on the instructions in Chapter 4: A Comprehensive Guide To Embellishments. I made the pointed peyote petal and the basic peyote leaf (no pics of these sorry, I have mislaid them!), I did find the instructions a little confusing at one point in each of them, but a quick glance at the excellent diagrams soon put me right, I guess I learn better visually! I then made a bracelet base in right angle weave and used the basic beaded leaf technique as a fringe to finish it off. I like the way it turned out!

I'm not sure whether this book is suitable for complete beginners to seed beading, but it would certainly make a lovely addition to your beading library! Not only is there a great choice of beautiful projects, I found the section on embellishments inspiring and think it will add an extra dimension to simple beadwork like the bracelet above. There are also lots of gorgeous creations in the gallery by artists such as Cynthia Rutledge and Carol Wilcox Wells.

Happy Beading!

Sarahx

Main Goal for April Shadow Wave- Tackling that Book Stash

In an earlier post I mentioned that I have a lot of books that I have never made projects. I had a look through them and chose Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence, there were a few projects that I liked but this one, Shadow Wave was the most intriguing. I think this will be a bit of a challenge for me and I don't have a rivoli suitable so I will need to make a focal. I did consider buying a rivoli but that defeats the purpose of trying to use up my stash. I have banned myself from buying new beads unless I need them for a specific gift for someone else. I will still be buying finding though.

I am currently busy using up leftover beads from other projects to make beaded rings for my 2nd craft fair on saturday so I will be making this my main goal for April, although it may well take me a lot longer.

Mother's Day Gift!

Look what I got for Mother's Day this year, what a clever little boy I have got! I haven't had much chance to look through it but it definitely looks like it has so great ideas for using the stash.

I'll write a more in depth review when I have had a better look.

Great Book For Stashbusting Ideas.

Seed Bead Stitching by Beth Stone has some great projects that I think would work really well for using up leftover beads and those small amounts off accent beads that we buy even though we know they aren't quite enough for a project. Or is that just me?