Pattern Finds - Elegance Earrings by Jaycee Patterns

Some of us in the OTTBS Facebook Group Have taken up a challenge to make one pair of earrings a week for 2012 organised by Clair from the Obstinate Pursuit blog. 52 designs is a lot to come up with, so I thought I would start sharing some earring patterns here. This beautiful earring pattern by Jaycee Patterns on Etsy would be perfect for a special occasion!


(as always click on the pic to go to the listing)

Happy beading!

Sarahx

The January Challenge - Weekly Update 1

Week 1 and we've already had a fantastic response to our challenge. It's great to see so many of you embracing the squares! Here are the submissions we've received so far...

Janice



Helen



Maureen



Danielle




Annita




Gaynor



Stephanie



Cathy



Shirley



And Lynsey

If you'd like to join in with our January challenge and be in with the chance to win a fabulous bead collection from this month's sponsor, Yashma Creations, please see the original challenge post for details.

2012 Finish or Frog Along - January

I have lots of old UFOs (unfinished objects) lurking in boxes around the house that I really need to do something about! Knowing that I would not be on my own, I put a call out to our Facebook Group (Link top right) and asked if anybody wanted to join in with a 2012 Finish or Frog Along. The idea is that we pick one UFO a month and decide whether to finish it or frog it, I am hoping that I will either end up with 12 pieces of jewellery or a nice pile of pretty beads to make into something else! Luckily a few people were up for the challenge and here are the UFOs chosen to be either finished or frogged this month.

Rebecca is going to finish this gorgeous rope,"Here is my UFO! It's going to be a CRAW rope, with a pretzel shaped knot attached to the bezel. No idea what the stone is, but it's pretty... it looks like icing! The rope needs to be a lot longer, and I'd like to embellish around the cab a bit more... but I'll just see how it turns out!!"



Dee has chosen this stunning Jean Powers kit to finish,"Sadly my Jean Power bangle kit didn't get finished so here is the current state of play, which I hope to improve by the end of the month and get it finished."



In fact Dee has already made some progress!



This unfinished necklace from Catherine made me swoon, I can't wait to see it finished! Catherine says, "This is my version of Jill Devon's Moonshadow necklace in greens and golds, with some of my precious stash rivolis (it takes several different size ones, but different colours work well in pairs). I completed this part in August but still haven't got the rope done so I hope I can complete this in a reasonable time and even wear it this Spring/Summer.



My chosen UFO is this little piece of right angle weave. RAW is not my favourite stitch as it takes me too long, which is why I haven't finished this, even though I do really like the way it looks. I doubt I will finish it as a bracelet, but maybe use it as a focal in a necklace.



If you have a UFO that you would like to finish this month, please join in! Check back later this month to see how we get on.

Happy finishing!

Sarahx

Pattern Finds - Geometry Squared Bracelet by Kathryn Bowman

With our January Challenge having the special twist of square, i thought now was the perfect time to feature this fabulous and unusual bracelet pattern from Kathryn Bowman aka 1beadweaver on Etsy. Using cube beads and square stitch to create components including, you guessed it, squares, this pattern ticks all the boxes!


(as always click on the pic to go to the listing)

Happy beading!

Sarahx

The January Challenge

Welcome to our very first challenge of 2012! We are starting a brand new year with a little shake up of the challenge format which we hope you will all enjoy. Don't worry, the challenge is exactly the same - create something using beads in the colour scheme we've chosen - but we have also added a twist. And as you can see we're also going with a single image for your inspiration.

January's challenge is to create something in black and white...

Black and White.

Now here's the twist...we'd like you to incorporate squares into your entry. This twist is entirely optional but if you choose to use the twist as well as the colour scheme then you will receive two entries into the draw! A few ideas for this month...you could use cubes in your entry, use a square or cubed shaped pendant, beadweave a square shape, use square chain or findings etc. But remember you also have to use the black and white colour scheme. No other colours please!

How do I enter?
There are two ways...
1. Email your photographs to me at thecrimsonmoon7@gmail.com
2. Or add them to our Flickr group pool.

Choose whichever way is easiest for you, you don't have to do both. If you add to the Flickr pool please make sure to mention that it's for the January Challenge so we know that it's your challenge entry. We're happy for you to post your photos on our Facebook group as well but please make sure that you've also submitted as above. Entries that have not been emailed or added to the Flickr pool will not be accepted.

What can I 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 beads they've made.

Does it have to be my own design?
No. 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.

What about findings?
Findings (clasps, earwires etc) are exempt from the colour challenge so you can use silver, gold or any other colour findings that fit in with your project. The same goes for things like spacer beads. As long as the main part of your design is in the colours for this month then that's fine.

When is the deadline for entries?
The deadline is 6pm (UK time) on Tuesday 31st of January.

Can I enter more than once?
You can make as many pieces as you like using the chosen colourway. All entries will be shown here on the blog but you will only be entered into the draw once (or twice if you've used the twist!).

I'm not in the UK, can I still join in?
Yes of course! 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 an amazing collection of Czech glass beads and charms from one of our sponsors, Yashma Creations!


The winner will be drawn by me (Liz) after 6pm on Tuesday 31st January, using the random list generator at www.random.org and announced later on the same evening.

Good luck everyone and happy beading!

This year's moodboards 4

More beautiful entries we've had for our moodboards this year...

Callatya



Lesley



Carol

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all our readers! We hope you have a wonderful, peaceful and beady holiday season! With the big day nearly upon us here in the UK, I wanted to share with you these 3 beautiful ornaments that Gemma from our Facebook group beaded, aren't they gorgeous?





Happy beading!

Sarahx