More of this Feature • Deb's Bracelet Pattern • Heirloom Beaded Ornament Patterns - Review

Related Resources • Download Acrobat • Deb's Heirloom Ornaments Page • Bead-Patterns.com • Black Giraffe Graph Paper  • Beadscape Design Software

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Deb Moffett-Hall was a quilt designer for 12 years with several books and over a hundred magazine articles when Jeri Bellini-Smith (owner of My Fathers Beads, Coopersburg PA) displayed Miyuki Delica beaded items at a quilt guild meeting 3 yrs ago. 

"I was amazed by the quality of the beads and the colors! So many gorgeous colors and finishes - I had no idea that seed beads like these were available." Deb explained, "I went to her shop the very next day and picked up a copy of The Beader's Companion (Interweave Press Inc.) and all the bead related magazines I could find, not to mention nearly $100 worth of beads, needles, and thread. - I was hooked! Anyone want a sewing machine and a few tons of fabric?"

One of the magazines compared the computer design programs available at the time and Deb decided she wanted Beadscape (MAC only format from Gigagraphica Inc.) but she didn't have a MAC computer so she bid on and won an older model on EBAY just to run the program.

"The PC and the MAC sit side by side - with two monitors, two towers and two keyboards my work area looks like command central, at least they agree to share the same printer. I sketch my designs on graph paper first and then take the sketch to the computer to map out the chart. Jennie Might (Black Giraffe.com) offers great graph paper free on her web pages, it is very accurate and easy to use.

I am new to Rita Sova's Bead-Patterns.com site and have found Rita and all the talented designers very friendly and supportive of one another. It's a terrific way to offer new projects to a large audience - talk about immediate gratification! Folks can search through thousands of designs and purchase and print the patterns they like right away on their own printer." 

In addition to the items available at Bead-Patterns.com Deb's Heirloom Beaded Ornament pattern line is available wholesale to shops from Helby Imports Inc. or if your local shop does not carry them yet - retail from her web site.