Free Jack 'o' Lantern Cuff Pattern

Here's a little treat for you (as opposed to a trick!) to go along with our October challenge - a fun Jack 'o' Lantern Peyote Cuff Pattern designed especially for OTTBS in this month's challenge colours! As well as a cuff, the pumpkin motifs would also work well on their own as earrings. While there is a bead legend and amounts needed on the pattern, I haven't included exact shades so that you may choose your own.

Pattern Finds - Dagger Fringed Peyote Cuff

I am just sneaking in quick before the moodboard winner is announced with our last autumnal pattern finds post. This lovely and highly textured piece from Rose at Random Creative on Etsy would be a perfect dagger bead stash buster!



Click on the picture to be taken to the listing.

Christmas is coming up on us quick, so next month we will be featuring items that would make perfect stocking fillers.

Happy beading!

Sarahx

September Moodboard - Weekly Update 4

Three gorgeous entries to share with you all this week!

Another submission from Catherine, a lovely freeform pendant which she made following a tutorial from Laura Zeiner...



Faye made this wonderful pendant with a fiery cabochon...



And Carol started making a pendant with Russian leaves but in the end made this gorgeous ring...



While September is almost over there's still time for you to join in with our moodboard, just read this post to find all the information you need!

Pattern Finds - Colorful Autumn Leaves Cuff

I am lucky enough to work in an office that is built in the former grounds of the stately home next door. Our purpose built 1960's square box is surrounded by masses of beautiful old trees of all types. At this time of year there is a profusion of beautiful autumn colour to look at through our windows, even the drizzly rain can't entirely spoil our view.
This beautiful cuff pattern by GGsDesigns on Etsy reminds of the beauty just outside my office window.



Click on the picture to be taken to the listing.

Happy Beading!

Sarahx

September Moodboard - Weekly Update 3

Isn't September speeding by?! But don't worry, there's still time to join in with our challenge. Speaking of which, we have another four gorgeous submissions to our moodboard to share with you today.

Catherine made a pendant with a Rivoli crystal, cylinder and seed beads...



Dee also made a pendant, this time with a fire agate cabochon and seed beads...



Jet hasn't decided what to make this into just yet but I think you'll agree that it's gorgeous...



And Janice made a lovely necklace with seed beads and leaves...



Thanks for joining in with us! If you've been inspired to create something for our September moodboard then please read the original post to find all the information you need!

Pattern Finds - Layered Leaf Earrings

This weeks Autumn pattern finds is this fabulous earring design by our lovely FB group member Jane of Jane Lock on Etsy. I love the idea of layering the leaves, I bet they swoosh beautifully when worn, and russian leaves is a wonderful stitch!



Click on the picture to be taken to the listing.

Happy Beading!

Sarahx

September Moodboard - Weekly Update 2

Three gorgeous submissions to share with you today...

Anna created this gorgeous bracelet using free-form two-drop peyote...



Janice made this lovely necklace and earrings set with semi-precious beads and glass leaves...



And Tracy used firepolished crystals, flowers, leaves and a brass ring to make this gorgeous cuff...



Thanks for joining in with us! If you've been inspired to create something for our September moodboard then please click here to find all the information you need!

Autumn Inspiration - Beads

Here at OTTBS we know that sometimes all you need to tackle that bead stash is a little inspiration. A new focal, a strand of beautiful roundelles or a fancy clasp can give us an idea to work with and before we know it the 3 tubes of seed beads stuck at the bottom of your bead box for the last year are transformed into a gorgeous piece of jewellery. So it's not about never buying beads again (if it was I would have to ban myself from the blog!) but making use of the beautiful beads we already have as well as all the new goodies that are always on offer. With that in mind, I have been browsing for some autumn beads to inspire new ideas to share with you.

Pics are clickable if you want further info on the items. Thank you to all the artists for their permission to use these beautiful images.

This stunning enameled clasp by Bead Swede Supplies on Etsy reminds me of pumpkins and would make a wonderful splash of colour at the front of a beaded necklace.


I love the richness of colour and the matte finish of these polymer clay disc beads by Alicias Beads on Etsy.


I am just itching to use these wonderful roundelles from Yashma Creations on Etsy in a beaded cuff with my favourite bronze seed beads!


These fabulous beads from Ray Skene at Celtic Glass would make a stunning piece.


As would this wonderful Autumn Flowers set by Debbie Dew.


Happy bead browsing!

Sarahx

Pattern Finds - Leaf of Olwen Tutorial

For our 1st pattern finds of September, we have these beautiful leaf earrings from FDEkszer Tutorials, which are a perfect quick project to use up a few Swarovski Crystals or pearls. Even though they are named after a goddess of Spring, they are just perfect for our Autumn theme!

Click on the picture to go to the listing,





Happy Autumnal Beading!

Sarahx

Giveaway Winner and Autumn on OTTBS

Well, first things first, I know you are all anxiously awaiting the results of the giveaway! Thank you to everyone who entered, we had 44 entries which I think is pretty fantastic! Using the trusty Random.Org the winner is ...............

Vicki of Vicki's Creative Corner! Congratulations Vicki! Let me know your postal address and I will send out the beads to you in the next few days.
Here is a link to Vicki's blog to check out, http://vickiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

I thought I would also let you know what we have planned for the next month here on OTTBS. We are trying something new and going to be having a monthly theme, for September it will be Autumn otherwise known as Fall to our friends across the pond! Liz kicked off our theme beautifully yesterday with her Autumn with a twist of pink Moodboard challenge and I hope it will inspire you to create something autumnal. We will be highlighting finished work as well as Etsy pattern finds. We will also be having one or two new features. Guest contributions would be very welcome if you have anything on the theme that you would like to contribute.

Happy beading,

Sarahx

September Moodboard

Welcome to the September Moodboard! While it's still sunny in some parts of the UK I'm sure we've all felt the cool touch of autumn creeping in. Leaves are starting to fall and we're beginning to harvest the lovely fruits and vegetables that we've been caring for throughout the spring and summer. Our moodboard for September reflects this with it's warm browns and oranges, deep mossy greens and golds and creams. But we're refusing to give up the summer that easily so we've added a twist to the traditional autumn colours...we'd like you to add a little pink to your creation!

Clockwise from top-left: Autumn Treasures Ripe, Summer's Bounty, Beau, Pink Leaves.

Submitting is easy! You can either email your photographs to me at thecrimsonmoon7@gmail.com or you can add them to our Flickr group pool. If you have a website, blog or an online shop that you'd like us to link to your name then please include it with your submission, either in your email or in the description of your Flickr photo.

What can you make? Anything as long as it involves beads! Any technique is accepted, from beadweaving and stringing to wire work and bead embroidery. Lampworkers and polymer clay artists are also welcome to submit pieces they've made.

We're happy for you to make something using a pattern from a book, magazine or tutorial but if you do please let us know the designer's name and where it was published, including a link if available, so that we can give full credit.

The deadline for entries is 6pm (UK time) on Friday September 30th and as usual a prize will be awarded at random to one of our lucky entrants. We welcome submissions from around the world so don't worry if you're not in the UK, you can still enter and be eligible for the prize!

The prize this month is a from Sarah and is a kit to make a pair of her gorgeous Chrysanthemum earrings in autumn colours! :)

We hope you enjoy this month's challenge and look forward to seeing your creations!