Free Tutorial - Something out of Nothing Lariat

Earlier this week Clair from Obstinate Pursuit posted some lovely cards made from little bits and pieces and it reminded me of how much I enjoy making something out of practically nothing. I rummaged through my bead stash and came up with a length of brass chain, some jump rings and 10 purple dagger beads, not a lot really. I had a play about and came up with this simple lariat.



You will need approximately 1 metre of decorative chain, 10 jump rings to match and 10 dagger beads.


Using 2 pairs of pliers open a jump ring sideways and add a dagger bead.

Attach to the bottom link of one side of the chain.

Repeat up the chain, alternating the sides that you attach the jump rings to.

Repeat for the other end of the chain, tie an overhand knot and you are done!

Don't forget to add a photo to our Flickr pool if you make this project (link up on the right).

Happy beading!

Sarahx

Bead Busting Monthly

Sorry that this might be reaching you a little late in the day. Don't you just hate it when you have an autopost all set to go and forget to hit the publish button?

Anyway, this is the month that Operation Tackle That Beadstash is returning to it's roots. We're once again becoming goal orientated! Now, don't turn off your computer thinking that we'll be setting you stash busting targets and pencilling in some progress reviews. That's just not we're all about, but we do want to start whittling down our own burgeoning bead stashes - and we'd love it if you joined us.

On the first Tuesday of each month, we'll post one 'link it all up here' blogpost, where you can link to your own month's personal bead busting goals; link to work in progress shots; or link to those satisfyingly completed projects. Anything works - including your projects for the moodboards - as long as you're tackling that bead stash!

Odds & Ends - Waiting For The Right Project

You'll be able to see the contributing team's own goals and progress, but everyone will also be able to drop by and offer you some support and encouragement. Besides, who really needs an excuse to visit more beading blogs?

Just a little bit of ettiquette -

* Please link directly to each individual blogpost - not to your main home page.
* Please link to Operation Tackle That Beadstash in your post.
* Please visit and comment on other people's posts.

If you need an example of what to write about, you can see my own post by clicking on my name in the linky below. It should take you directly to the right blogpost!

Want to play along? Just use the Mr. Linky below to leave your name and a link to your post. We'll be along to say hello!

May Moodboard

Welcome to the May Moodboard! We're going all green this month with a mosaic of images that was put together by Clair. You can use any shade or shades of green, from deepest forest to palest mint and of course there's an abundance of shapes, textures and materials to be inspired by.

Top row: green, Ghost Song, my lips are sealed
Middle row: Lime green wall, Pannonian sea, Green on Green
Bottom row: Crests Of Waves, Green Eyes, Green door against green grass

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.

As you may have noticed, we provide a link back to your website, blog or online shop so if you have one that you'd like us to add then please include it with your submission.

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 so that we can give full credit.

The deadline for entries is 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday May 31st and as usual a prize will be awarded at random to one of our lucky entrants! It's my turn to offer the prize for May and again I'm offering a kit to make one of my Fairground Attraction pendants, including instructions, beads, thonging and findings in the winner's choice of colours...



So come one, get your greens out, enjoy the challenge and don't forget...tackle that bead stash!

April Moodboard - And the winner is...

Good morning beaders! Thanks to everyone who joined in with our April moodboard challenge, I always enjoy seeing everyone's gorgeous creations and this month's collection of beady goodness is no exception! Before I announce the winner lets have another look at the mosaic I posted for your inspiration...



And here's what was made by our lovely readers and blog team...

Clockwise from top-left: Peppermint Dream Ornament, I have a bag that's cool, Diamond Wall Pattern, Swap packages.

Eva

Carol



Lesley




Sarah



Mandy




Catherine



Me



Clair (who almost finished her lovely project!)



Dee

This month I'm using Random.org to randomize the list of names and the beader who's name is at the top is...

...Catherine!

Congratulations Catherine, Sarah will be in touch with you about your prize shortly :)

Thanks again to everyone who joined in and thanks also to everyone who takes the time to visit and follow our blog. Don't forget to check back tomorrow when I'll be posting a brand new moodboard for May!

Free Pattern - Diamond Lines Peyote Bracelet

You may recognise this pattern as I designed for my entry in this month's Moodboard Challenge. I thought that you may enjoy it too. It is odd count peyote, although you could use even count, leaving off the last bead in each row and brick stitch them on at the end. Happy beading!

Sarahx

Wednesday Review - Beading Supply Sites

Sorry i am a little late in getting this review out to you, but i was having a very big dilemma about what/who to review. I have a mountain of books and magazines, but i thought to myself to do something different so here we go....

This weeks Review will be on Beading Supplies and where to get them from ;o) We all love to buy beads and I thought it would be nice to share sites i have collected over the years.

I will start with...
Crystals & Ice  www.crystals-and-ice.co.uk
Jenny & James have a wide variety of supplies at good prices. They are fast at posting out your items too (which we all know is very important lol) I always buy my findings here, their headpins / eyepins and ball spacers are a must for any project where you don't want the plating to tarnish quickly. I am very sensitive to most plated metals, but the quality of these ones are brill, even I can wear the ear wires.
So why not check them out and see if you find them as good as I do ;o)

The Second Shop on my list is...
Jencel  www.jencel.co.uk
Celia is such a lovely lady, and she also has very good prices on her supplies. I buy a lot of my 3mm & 4mm Faceted Czech Glass Beads from her, and thread and I just love her 'Silvered Glass' Ovals! Celia's website is full of eye candy and it is very hard to stop clicking the 'buy' button! Fast postage with her too, normally within a couple of days (if the postal service is working properly) lol. Keep up the great work Celia!!

The Third Shop is...
Debbie at Beadservice www.beadservice.co.uk
Debbie also has an array of goodies from beads to findings. Debbie does lovely mixes of seed beads too in various sizes at very good prices.

The Fourth Shop is....
Lynn Firth at Stitch and Craft www.stitchncraft.co.uk
Cor could I do some serious credit card damage if i lived near her shop! I spend enough when their stall is at the bead fairs I attend! The hardest part is choosing colours! If you need seed beads and thread you need to buy it all with them. They sell all sorts from beading thread to seed beads to needles to ummm everything!!! Mmmm..... Heaven lol.

The Fifth Shop is...
Caron at www.noseksjustgems.com
The one stop shop if you need Swarovski Crystals at a good price! I buy in bulk from her, and also again very good at fast delivery. Caron has a lovely selection of tiara blanks too ;o)

The Sixth Shop is....
thesouthamptonbeadshop.co.uk
I found out about this company when i went to the chepstow bead fair earlier this year. I like the range of seedbeads they supply, and they also have a lot of tantalising treats in their webshop.

Oh well, i think that is enough eye candy for you to be going on with. There are far too many fablous items in each of these shops for me to put here, so just go have a browse for yourselves and I wish your bank balance luck ;o)

I hope you have enjoyed this review, and I have not bored you to tears. Don't worry Sarah will be back next week with a sensible one hehehe.

Happy Buying & Beading Blog Followers. Ciao for now.

Carol XXX

April Moodboard

Another submission to our black, white and red challenge to share with you this week, a beautiful red and black cuff from Catherine...


Thanks for joining in with us Catherine!

If you'd like to play along with us this month and be in with a chance to win one of these gorgeous Spring Blossom kits from Sarah, please see the original post here.