RAW Peanuts

You know how a certain bead, or group of beads, catches your eye but you don't quite know what to do with them? That happened to me with some 2x4 mm peanut beads. I bought them because I liked the shape. They had been sitting in my bead box collecting dust for a year. The other day I dug them out and sat down to see what I could make. Here is the result:



Don't ask me why I decided on right angle weave, it's not one of my favorite stitches. It's difficult for me to handle and I don't think it looks uniform with seed beads. However, I have changed my mind about right angle weave after trying it with peanuts. It's thick, solid, flexible, easy to hold while stitching, works up very fast and I love the texture - all of which prompted me to make another bracelet...

Bead Quilts Update

Click here to view the completed 2010 Breast Cancer awareness beaded quilts (Beth and Stephany's squares are on quilt #3.)

Kudos to Jeanette Shanigan for a wonderful job, all of the quilts are beautiful!

Bead Quilt Squares

Beth and Stephany completed their squares for the 2010 Breast Cancer awareness beaded quilt. The turtles made it safely to Alaska before the deadline.

(Click photo to enlarge.)

Weekend Project - Bright Retro

This 3-drop peyote bracelet pattern is bright, cheerful and works up fast. Use as is or choose your favorite colors and add a wild button for the clasp.


Happy beading!

Beading Contests 2010

There aren't as many beading contests as previous years, hopefully, there will be more later. In the meantime, here are a list of the current contests. Dig out your beads and creativity - these are ending soon!

   Bead & Button - Bead Dreams
      Deadline for submissions is 05 April 2010

   Fire Mountain Gems - Jewelry-Making Contest
      Opened 12 January 2010, closes 09 March 2010

   Land of Odds - The Ugly Necklace Contest
      Opened 15 September 2009, closes 15 March 2010

   Rings & Things - Your Designs Rock
      Opened 01 January 2010, closes 28 February 2010

Write-on, Wipe-off

Do you write on your printed patterns while stitching? I do and I also check off the rows so I don't lose my place. Consider investing in a package of heavyweight clear plastic sheet protectors and a couple of Dry-Erase markers (extra fine point). You can write on the plastic and wipe it off when you are finished.

In addition to saving money on paper and printer ink, the sheet protectors are great for storing your patterns in a 3-ring binder.

Turtle pattern!