Try Some Two-Drop Peyote Stitch
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.
Also new this week:
- Make the bracelet step-by-step
- Two-drop peyote diagram tutorial
- How to read a two-drop peyote pattern chart
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
Craftsy, 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
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
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.
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
A New Pledge Drive for the Bead-It-Up
As you may recall from my previous post, Ilene Baranowitz (beader and inventor of Faux Dichro) has created a new tool that makes bead stringing and jewelry design easier. Ilene has found a manufacturer and hammered out the details of production, but she needs to invest $6,000 for an initial run.
In an effort to raise the money, she proposed the tool to Kickstarter and it was accepted as a project. The first round of pledge funding on Kickstarter was limited to 30 days, and it closed because the goal wasn't met in time. Now the Bead-It-Up Beading Station (formerly called the Bead-It-Up Loom) has a new project on Kickstarter and is accepting new pledges.
Stop by the pledge page to learn more about the Beading Station and consider becoming a backer. In the right column on that page you'll also see the list of rewards available to backers if the project reaches its funding goal within 60 days.
Good luck, Bead-It-Up! Hope to see you in production soon!
Image courtesy of Ilene Baranowitz
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Beady Happenings 5/6/12
- The monthly online magazine Soda Lime Times is giving away a free download of its Greatest Hits...so far issue. Get it on CraftGossip. (Even if you don't make glass beads, you'll drool over the gorgeous photos.)
- AllFreeBeadedJewelry.com is giving away a French Knitter bead jewelry maker. I haven't tried this little device yet, but it looks interesting. It enables you to make beaded knitted ropes without knitting in the traditional sense. Entries for the giveaway close on May 7, so now's your last chance to enter.
- Bead-patterns.com is accepting entries until May 31 for its "Spring & Summer Inspired" beading contest. People's Choice and Category winners will be judged during the first two weeks of June. Winners will receive bragging rights and valuable gift certificates. (Find more ongoing contests in my Beading Design Contest directory.)
- Nina Designs invites you to pin images of their flower designs on Pinterest -- for a chance to win $160 worth of beautiful Nina Designs components!
- Beading Babes is a fun, low pressure challenge group organized by Karyn of Releases by Rufydoof, and to join all you need to do is participate. This month's challenge is to take a stab at the beautiful Echos of Nefertiti necklace pattern from Bead&Button magazine. Read more about Beading Babes here.
- Comment on Beadaholique's blog, Strung Out, before Wednesday afternoon for a chance to win a full $200 worth of high-quality Nunn designs components.
- Also at Beadaholique, enter the May Flowers design contest for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate.
Graphic by PixelEmbargo, via Crestock
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Two New Book Reviews
This week I managed to finish reviewing two new books that I think you may find interesting.
The first is very different from the types of reviews you're used to around here, because it's actually a work of fiction. But it's special fiction . . . because its heroine is a beader! She even works at a bead store, sells at art fairs, and submits her designs to beading magazines. Is that cool? I certainly thought so, and I just had to accept the publisher's offer of an advance copy.
Next up is a sneak peek at a book that's still on pre-order, and that lots of beaders have been anticipating. It's full of chunky, rustic, casual jewelry projects with lots of ribbon, fiber, and cord, mixed and matched with all kinds of eclectic beads and components.
This book is scheduled for release next month. In the meantime, check out these free "Boho style" tutorials here on About:
- Leather Cord and Czech Bead Wrap Bracelet
- Wood Chain and Purple Hemp Necklace
- Fiber Bead and Copper Earrings
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Ask the Color Queens Spring 2012
Here's a great opportunity to grab a free PDF magazine by our two favorite beading color experts, Margie Deeb and Beverly Ash Gilbert.
The Spring 2012 edition of the Ask the Color Queens Color Journal includes 15 pages of advice, diagrams, and gorgeous photos designed to help you create amazing color palettes for your beadwork.
The format revolves around a series of color questions that Margie and Beverly have received from readers. But they don't just offer up quick answers. Each question receives a full explanation of the concept being discussed, along with illustrated examples.
(The question I can relate to the most in this issue is one by Susan, who finds herself using the same colors over and over again and wants to break out of her comfort zone.)
This issue also includes an interview with Jamie Cloud Eakin, who you may remember as the author of Dimensional Bead Embroidery.
Rumor has it that this is the final issue of the Color Journal that will be available for free, so be sure to download your copy and think about whether it's something you'd like to order in the future.
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The Beading Daily Color Challenge Palettes Have Arrived
As promised, Jennifer posted the color palettes for her new Picture Perfect Beading Challenge today over on Beading Daily. Each one includes eight hues pulled from an inspirational photograph submitted by a reader.
www.beadingdaily.com
Jen also explains how she came to derive palettes from photos. It's something I've never tried before, and I'm really amazed at how well it works.
To participate in the challenge, make something with beads -- jewelry or otherwise -- that uses at least one of the palettes. Then take a photo and get ready to share it on Beading Daily between May 15 and May 31. I look forward to seeing everyone's designs!
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Beady Happenings 4/29/12
- The U.K. magazine Make Jewellery is accepting votes in 15 categories for its annual awards event. Stop by to select your choice of best supplier, new product, beading book and more.
- On Tuesday (May 1) Jennifer will post three color palettes inspired by reader photos on the Beading Daily blog -- and challenge you to create something with beads using one of those palettes. You have until the end of May to enter, and a photo of your work might just make its way into Jennifer's blog. Learn more.
- Stacy over at Bead & Button has another great update on the Bead-It-Forward quilts.
- Splendor in the Glass is having a Spring Sale on unique vintage components.
- Michelle Mach is launching a giveaway of the book Polymer Clay Beads by Grant Diffendaffer on Tuesday (May 1). Watch for the blog post on Tuesday and leave a comment for a chance to win.
Got a beady tip to share for next week's Beady Happenings? Let me know!
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Graphic by PixelEmbargo, via Crestock