Free Tutorial - Elise Earrings

These earrings were inspired by a pair worn by Angelina Jolie's character in the film The Tourist. They are a simple right angle weave stitch using just a few seed beads and accent beads and are simple enough for a beginner to tackle!



Materials
16 6mm or 8mm accent beads such as bicone crystals or semi precious rounds
Size 11 seed beads
1 pair of earwires
Wildfire or Fireline beading thread



Step 1. Thread your needle with 1.5 yards of thread. Pick up 1 accent bead, 3 size 11's, 1 accent bead, 1 size 11, 1 accent bead, 3 size 11's, 1 accent bead and 1 size 11, leaving an 8 inch tail. Go back through all beads again and tie a knot.





Step 2. Go through the first accent bead and the 1st set of 3 size 11's added in step 1. Pick up 13 size 11's & go back through the set of 3 size 11's added in step 1 and the next 8 size 11's.



Step 3. Pick up 1 accent bead, 1 size 11, 1 accent bead, 3 size 11's, 1 accent bead, 1 size 11 and 1 accent bead. Go back through the last 3 size 11's added in step 2.





Step 4. Go back through all beads added in step 3, tying knots as you go and trim tail. Weave in 1st tail end.

Step 5. Open the loop of an earwire and attach at the top of the earring over a set of 3 size 11's. Close loop



Repeat steps 1-5 for a second earring.

Make The Most Of Your Leftover Beads

In my other life as a paper crafter, I'm dedicated to using up all of my creative leftovers - using the teeniest, tiniest scraps of paper so that there isn't any waste. But, in my life as a beader, I have to admit that I'm not so fantastic at using up the beads that are left at the end of a project! 

So, in preparation for this month's leftovers feature, I went in search of some tips, techniques and tutorials for making the most of your leftover beads and I thought I'd share. 

Create A Bead Mix - There are many, many projects that call for the use of a bead mix, so rummage through your bead-stash and dig out all of those tubes with teeny, tiny amounts of beads left in them. Our very own Liz Reed wrote an amazing article on Making A Bead Mix which will help you to make a start.

Peppermint Beaded Bead By Liz Reed

Create A Bead Soup - Take the idea of a bead mix just a little bit further by including larger beads such as cube beads, bicones, drop beads, pearls and druks. If you're new to creating, or using, bead soup I'd recommend a visit to Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party where inspiration will abound!

Use Other Materials - Dedicated bead-weavers can overlook the potential of combining their beautiful beads with other materials such as cord, ribbon, buttons and chain - but this is the perfect way to stretch your beads and create some beautiful texture.

Urban Bauble Necklace By Sarah Tucker

Substitute Beads - Don't discount a pretty pattern just because you don't have the exact beads it calls for - you may have the perfect substitute amongst your leftover beads. Check out Beading Daily's article on Bead Substitutions In Seed Bead Patterns and extend the life of those leftovers.

Join The Earring Along - Regular visitors to our Facebook Group, will know that several of us are creating a pair of earrings each week (though some of us are still catching up!) in an effort to try new stitches and techniques. But, let's face it, we all earrings are also the perfect way to use up those leftovers! Either use your leftovers straight away to make earrings that match your latest bracelet or necklace, or dig around in your stash to come up with some potential pairings.

Pretty In Pink By Clair Rigby

Tutorials - If you still need a little bit of inspiration, then check out some of these simple, but sweet tutorials. 

Beaded Square Stitch Heart 

Bead Dangle Hoop Earrings

Crystal Hairpins

Nest Ornament

Wired Circle Hoops

Pearl Cocktail Ring

Simple Wire Wrapped Ring

Hearts Ring

And before I head off, just a little reminder to share photographs of your leftovers, new bead mixes and finished creations with us by posting them to our Flickr Pool or our Facebook Group. We'd love to see them!

Bead Romantique {Bead, Book & Bounce}

The waiting is finally over and I'm delighted to announce that we'll be starting our new feature - Bead Book & Bounce - with one of the most beautiful beading books on my shelf, Bead Romantique by Lisa Kan. There are seventeen delicious projects to choose from including necklaces, earrings and bracelets made with a combination of seed beads, chain and sparkles. There truly is something for everyone in this amazing book, so embrace your romantic side. 

We'll be encouraging you to share your own review of the book and, of course, anything you make inspired by Lisa Kan's beautiful projects during our reveal feature in August. (You can read a little bit more about how this works in our Introducing - Bead Book & Bounce article, but we'll always be here to guide you along.)

"Inspired by art history, artist Lisa Kan offers a truly unique jewelry collection with a romantic yet modern sensibility. Bead Romantique: Elegant Beadweaving Designs features seventeen step-by-step designs inspired by the Gothic, Renaissance, Victorian, and Art Nouveau eras reinterpreted in her distinctive contemporary style. Emphasizing a mix of vintage findings, beads, lampwork, buttons, and modern components, Lisa's jewelry brings a feminine mystique and sophistication to beadwork design." - Interweave Press

Fit To Print Book Review: Bead Romantique

Jewelry Artist Book Review: Bead Romantique

Bella Online Book Review: Bead Romantique

Projects In Other Places - 

Deco Collar was featured in Beadwork, February/March 2008 which is still available as a digital download and the V Scallop Necklace was featured as a free project on Beading Daily in March 2008. Although the download is no longer available, it's possible that some of you may have a copy downloaded or hidden away in your e-mail folders, as it was also available to subscribers of Beading Daily's regular e-mail newsletter. Get searching! 

And, If You're Interested - 

You can read an Interview With Lisa Kan; check out a full list of the Bead Romantique Project Seed Bead Colours; or visit Lisa Kan Designs to see some more of Lisa's beautiful work.

We really hope that you'll enjoy this new feature, but we know that there may be a few questions. Please feel free to ask them here in the comments or over in the Facebook Group, so that we can put together a little Q&A. 

Introducing - Bead, Book & Bounce

I can’t speak for everyone else, but I own a beautiful collection of books that have been given to me by friends and family - who seemed to believe that I had mastered each and every beading stitch and had the confidence to tackle some complex projects. So far, I haven't made a single project! 

It’s all looked a little bit over-facing, but I think it’s about time that I challenged myself and I’d very much like you to all to join me in dusting off your beading books with our new feature - Bead, Book & Bounce.

We’ve chosen some of the most popular beading books and each month, we’d like you to join us in choosing a project from that book - perhaps one that you’ve always had your eye on - to make along with us for the next two months.

We’ve tried hard to choose books with a variety of projects - so that no matter what your interests, skill level or budget – there should be something for you.

How It Will Work

Start Date – On the 7^th of each month, we’ll reveal the name of the beading book that we’ll be working from over the next two months. We’ll link to existing book reviews and projects that have been made from, or inspired by, the book. You’ll then have two months to blow the cobwebs off your own copy, sort through your beadstash and work on a project from the current book.

Projects – You can choose any project from within the current book and you’re welcome to make that project ‘as is’ or make your own adjustments - whether that be to colour, beads or the basic pattern. We do not want to limit you, we want to encourage you!

Reveal Date – On the reveal date – the 6^th of each month - we’ll post a list of participants on the main OTTBS Blog. We’ll then encourage you to ‘bounce’ across to everyone’s individual blog to read their personal reviews of the book and see some photographs of their finished project. That way, everyone gets to show off their amazing work!

Anyone who doesn’t have their own blog, can upload photographs to folders on the Facebook Group or to our FlickrPool - so they won’t miss out on having their work ‘oohed and ahhed’ over by other participants.

Note: Once underway, there will always be two beading books in progression. So, you could find yourselves working on two projects at once - but only if you want to. There’s no pressure. We just want to keep things interesting.

Pattern Finds - Pearl and Metal Ring by Darlovely

I think we have probably already established the fact that I love rings! They are such a great way to use up your leftovers, a little goes a long way in a ring and this pattern is no exception! Isn't it pretty? I think it would make a great little gift. As always you can click on the picture to go straight to the listing.

The June Challenge - Weekly Update 1

Just a few days into our challenge and we already have some gorgeous entries to share with you! If you want to join in with us and be in with a chance to win a fabulous collection of Swarovski crystals from RB Beads then please see the June challenge post for details.

Tracy




Amanda




Carol




Catherine

Leftovers Pattern Review - Kaleidoscope Quilt Cuff

This is the bracelet that inspired the theme of Leftovers for this month. The pattern is Kaleidoscope Quilt Cuff by Carole Ohl, Beadwork magazine issue Feb/Mar 10.

The components are each easy & very quick to make using peyote and herringbone, they take only 3 Swarovski Crystals each and look great in any mix of colours. This cuff is a great way to use up your odds & ends of crystals and delicas. The instructions are really easy to follow and the most difficult part of construction is choosing in which order to place the components, I spent ages arranging them in different orders to see how best I liked them! I think I would like to make a Kaleidscope Quilt necklace at some point.