Finished Bracelets & Beaded Box

Hi, I hope you are avoiding the weather, wherever you are. I'm sweltering through a heat wave while the other side of the world is frozen. I've been trying to bead but with my Viking heritage (I have red hair..) I don't do so well in this heat, 39c everyday & without air con. And last night I broke my fan.

 At least I can show you what I've

Couplet in Thyme

finished off in this past month. First up, is the bracelet Couplet, from Kassie Shaw's book Beautiful Beadweaving: Beyond the Basics that I reviewed last time. I think it came out really well, even though I was worried the colours were too similar. I used celsian amethyst for the lentils & lustred amethyst for the middle beads.

Superduo Herringbone Knit Bracelet

This next one was a fun bracelet to make, even though it took me 3 days to figure out! I used a YouTube video, Superduo Herringbone Knit Rope, available here. I used 2 tone super duo's, in bronze & teal with bright metallic purple highlights (15). Knowing where to put the needle among all those holes is tricky at first but it works up quickly once you get going. It uses a lot of beads though, a necklace would be great but not on my current limited budget. Anyone want one who will pay in advance, give me a shout!

Last but not least is my tiny beaded box, from Julia Pretl's book, found here. Last time I showed my box in progress, I accidentally called her Suzanne Pretl. oops sorry! Her middle name is Suzanne at least.. Anyway my box took a really long time to complete & I haven't even started on the lid. I didn't finish the top properly-there is supposed to be a hem-but I think it looks ok. 

 It is self supporting & I could keep a really special ring in it or stud earrings, or just leave it empty until those things are gifted to me. You can't really see the star pattern on the bottom & my colours didn't come out great in the pictures. It's turquoise, cream, metallic pink & opal pinky purple. I finished the feet with chinese crystals, re-purposed from a target bracelet. I really want to make the squid box, available from Julia Pretl's website. 
That is all from me today, I hope you enjoyed the jewellery. I will be back soon with a load of flower photos, my dahlia is delightful & the pansies are perfect, well when the spider mites aren't making a mockery of my hard work they are. And I just thought I had better mention, no-one has or will paid me for my opinions. I receive nothing for my endorsements, they are my own true opinion without any bias. Okay, Cheers! Stay cool! Both literally & figuratively!

Beadweaving beyond the basics by Kassie Shaw book review & 2 bracelets.

Palisades beaded by me from Kassie Shaw's book.

Hello friends & strangers, today I wanted to tell you about one of my favourite beading books, Beadweaving beyond the basics, by Kassie Shaw. You can find a copy here It has lots of variations on right angle weave (RAW) plus other classic such as St Petersburg & Peyote, but the focus is really on RAW. The projects are achievable without taking months or a steep learning curve, but a lot do require 2 hole beads. Not all though, & some can be made with very few materials, such as the shoulder duster & wheely earrings.

My favourite project when i first read the book was the Palisades bracelet, pictured above with my version. Mine is the turquoise one. They require tiny bugles which lucky for me I found at the annual rock swap, 5 tubes of seed beads for $10, which is an amazing bargain in Australia.

Instead of swarovski crystals I used firepolished beads in 2 colours. It's actually my favourite bracelet at the moment.

 This bracelet on the right is another one I want to make, it's called couplet & features 2 hole lentils. I had to order some in, I highly recommend the bead shop I used, I found them on etsy. 

Here are the lentils I plan on making the bracelet out of, now I just have to choose the other colours. I'm thinking silver & soft blue. Sorry the picture is sideways, part of the reason this blog is so neglected is I find photo editing & photography in general a bit of a chore. Sure, I love taking pics but it's so much more pressure when they need to be good. 

I highly recommend Kassie's book, if you've seen her patterns in Beadwork you know they are fresh & modern, her book is even better. It may not be suitable for a super beginner but one with patience could probably manage it. 

I almost forgot to mention, I opened my etsy shop BecMadeCanberra to quite a lukewarm reception. It's here if you'd like to look. I know I know, I need to advertise, promote, & try to kick this black funk that has enveloped my beading recently. I made that turquoise bracelet a while ago. I really don't need to be so honest! I can't help it though, maybe the real reason I neglect this blog is I don't know what I want it to be, what tone I should take. Life is hard, & continues to be hard but at least there is beading, & flowers & cats & maybe hope. Oh enough of my maudlin old self, go buy Kassie's book or get it from the library if you're poor like me. & I'm up to episode 62 of The History of Rome Podcast so I know something about Rome now.