Welcome to The Beaded Heart Blog

Welcome to The Beaded Heart Blog
Two-Tone Crystal and Bugle Bead Bracelet,design by S.Eddy

Monday, November 15, 2010

magnetic pins

Welcome to the week of November 15th. I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. That means that the craft fair for which I'm supposed to be making things to sell is only a few weeks away. YIKES!

This weekend I did make more petals and leaves for my poinsettia pins. They are fun but time-consuming. I don't know how many I'll be able to put together by the time of the craft fair. I was successful at finding a source for magnets to use on the backs instead of pins. They are 1 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide and very strong. Best of all, they were much cheaper than I thought they'd be...came to about a quarter a piece. I ordered 100! I'll be able to make pins of various types for ages! I glued one to the back of the first pin I made with E-6000. It seems to be holding fine. I wore the pin to work one day last week and showed it around the building (I work in a 7 story building). Everyone seemed interested in the design and when I showed them it was a magnetic pin EVERYBODY thought that was a fabulous idea.

I've been trying to figure out how to make a beaded holly leaf. I think a pin with holly and mistletoe would be a good seller.

When I needed a break from poinsettia leaves, I worked up a lush embellished bracelet similar to the one at the website noted at Fire Mountain Gems (http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/jewelry_design_gallery.asp?docid=7448&doccat=projects). I did a blue palette and merely used a vial of "bead soup" beads that I bought from a vendor at a show. The mix in the vial gave much dimension and texture to the bracelet. I made the bracelet to fit a 7 inch wrist and it will be included in the items for the craft fair. It only took me a few hours to put together. I used a button and loop closure. It was nice to finish the bracelet in one day.

Happy beading,
TBH

Monday, November 1, 2010

holiday designs

So, yesterday while I watched the Patriots trounce the Vikings, I worked on my poinsettia "pin" design. I created 3 large and 3 medium leaves using brick stitch and a 11 matte red bead. Three large green leaves followed. I stitched the center of each of the large red leaves of the flower together with the center of a green leaf in between. I created a peyote base and sewed the flower to the center of the base. Next I laid the 3 medium red leaves on top at slightly different angles and stitched them into place, followed by some bright clear with yellow lining beads in the center. The result actually looks like a poinsettia! The base I had created was wider than the flower, plus the flower needed a little something extra to set it off, so I created evergreen branches using green 11s and the fringe stitch. At the end of each fringe I made a golden picot using rocailles. The gold beads were the perfect touch to bring a sense of festivity to the piece. I stitched one of these fringe branches on either side of the main flower. The piece is really lovely, if I say so myself. I have some pink sparkly beads and think I'll make another "pin" using them instead of the red matte and I also have some sparkly red beads. I hope to be able to make 3 or 4 of each: matte red, sparkly red, and sparkly pink as I think they will be very popular.

I also created another Russian spiral necklace. This time I used a size 8 peach bead with size 11 clear lavender lined beads. The two colors don't seem to be compatible at first, but once you get the twist of the stitch going, they are lovely together...very soft. The necklace could be worn with a multitude of colors. On Saturday I had stopped at a nearby family-owned fabric store and shopped for buttons. I found many more than I had expected and ended up spending nearly $40 on buttons. I used one of these and a loop closure on the peach/lavender Russian spiral. The buttons all are 5/8 inch or less and have an antiqued or frosted glass (roses) look to them. They should keep me in button/loop closure mode for quite some time.

Happy November!
TBH