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Two-Drop Peyote Stitch Cuff

Two-drop peyote stitch bracelet pattern

Make this summery bracelet using easy two-drop peyote stitch and cylinder beads.

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Beadwork Spotlight10

Try Some Two-Drop Peyote Stitch

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Two-drop peyote stitch's long name makes it sound much more complicated than it really is. In fact, this stitch is great for beginners, especially in its "even-count" form.

So to celebrate the continued popularity of bracelets this season, I've colored up a new two-drop peyote cuff pattern for you to try. To make a bracelet, weave beads to your desired length and then add beaded loops for attaching a ready-made clasp, or stitch your own peyote double toggle.

Summer Trimmings Peyote Cuff Bracelet

Also new this week:

Once you master two-drop peyote, you can look for more interesting patterns online. Here are a few of my favorites currently listed on Etsy:

Are you beading up a cuff bracelet this season -- two-drop peyote or otherwise? If so, get ready to snap a photo and submit it to a new reader gallery I'll be putting together next week!

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A New Place to Buy and Sell Beading Patterns

Monday May 14, 2012

CraftsyCraftsy, the online craft course site, has added a platform for buying and selling beading patterns and tutorials. Currently in beta, the new pattern marketplace allows anyone to post PDF patterns for sale. There currently is no fee to list and Craftsy does not take a commission; sellers do, however, need a business (or similar) level PayPal account.

If you're a beader looking for patterns, you can browse the marketplace for both paid and free patterns. When you purchase a pattern (or grab a free one), it's saved in your personal pattern library on Craftsy, where you can download it anytime. You can even share a photo of your finished project on the pattern download page.

By the way: Pattern sellers, called Designers on Craftsy, also have their own stores on the site. For an example, see JayceePatterns.

Overall I think the pattern marketplace looks promising. It gives us a new place to shop that's dedicated to projects, and is less costly for sellers that listing on Etsy. However, (as far as I can tell) it's not juried, which means that lower quality patterns could find their way into the marketplace. Be sure to carefully inspect a pattern's photos and description before making a purchase.

If you've purchased any patterns on Craftsy, or if you're a Craftsy Designer, I'd love to hear about your experience in a comment.

New Monthly Design Contest From Artbeads

Friday May 11, 2012

Artbeads.com has begun a new series of design contests. To become their next Jewelry Design Star, just upload a photo of your best original jewelry design, and explain its inspiration, here .

The deadline to enter the current round is May 23, and entries will go to public vote online on May 24. The winner will be deemed the latest Jewelry Design Star on June 7, and their design will be featured on the Jewelry Design Star web page and possibly in Artbeads.com promotions.

The winner of the first round was a gorgeous bead embroidery piece by Irina Wilson. Click here to see the entries thus far for the current round.

If you enter, please come back and comment below so we can vote for your design!

Correction: Beadwork Magazine Beaded Bead Contest

Thursday May 10, 2012

I have an update this week to correct my description of the Beaded Bead Contest, and I can't believe you guys let me get away with this one for so long! To enter, your design needs to include at least five beaded beads: at minimum, one each of all five beads that appear in Beadwork throughout the year.

Here's a recap:

Beadwork magazine is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a beading contest. This year, every issue will include step-by-step instructions for a different style of beaded bead. To enter the contest, you need to submit a photo of a project that you designed using at least one of each of the five beads.

Beading Daily members will vote online for their favorite, and the winning entry will receive bragging rights and be featured in the February/March 2013 issue.

Beadwork Magazine

The current issue's tutorial is Melinda Barta's design "Seeing Stars." It uses peyote stitch and netting to cover a 12mm by 9mm rondelle or a round 10mm pearl bead.

Check the upcoming issues of Beadwork magazine for more beaded beads, and start thinking about what you might do for your entry. The deadline to enter will be October 26, 2012. Watch your About.com Beadwork Newsletter for a reminder.

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Photo of Beadwork magazine by Chris Franchetti Michaels

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