Free Pattern & End of Year Sale

End of year 2012, I can't believe how fast time flies! So many things on my to-do list remained undone...One of them is this Bollywood Belly Dance peyote bracelet pattern I created and wanted to bead (and challenge) myself. I guess that this too will have to wait...

Before 2013 starts, I want to thank all my customers and readers for making the past year a great one, so I am posting the free pattern as a Thank You gift from me to you! I hope you like it!


Also, for today,  December 31 only, I am having a 50% sale off all my beading tutorials and patterns, for both Personal and Commercial use, in my Etsy and Artfire shops. Use coupon code: 50end2012 on checkout.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year 2013!!!

May all your wished come true in the coming year!

New "Amulet" Necklace & Giving Thanks Sale

This is a new bead embroidered amulet-like necklace I created. It looks like amulet bag, but actually it has one layer only. I used non-uniform seed beads in antique silver and bronze in order to give it an antique look, and some metallic bugles and drops,  fire polished and pearl beads for a contemporary hint...  While working on this necklace, I was finally convinced that my next addition to my beading tools will be a Bead Spinner, because stringing of the same beads again and again can be very boring and tiring... ;)

Last week I received my contributor's copy of Mabeline Gidez new book "I Can - Right Angle Weave" published by Lark Crafts books. My Bollywood Glamour necklace is featured in the gallery section of this wonderful book, which includes Mabeline's beautiful projects in RAW stitch, showing the wonderful possibilities this stitch has to offer. I think it's a great book for everyone who wishes to learn RAW stitch in all its variations and levels.  

Thanksgiving is not a Jewish holiday, but I like the universal idea behind it, of being thankful for all the blessings and good things in life. So I figured it would be a good reason to have a sale... I am having a Thanksgiving sale - 25% off on all items - beading tutorials & patterns and jewelry -  in my Artfire shop. The sale ends on Sunday, November 25 at midnight IST.

Tendril Necklace

It's been quite a while since I last blogged... This is my newly finished project - Tendril Necklace, which is beadwoven with seed beads, fire polished beads and druk beads. I enjoyed designing this project, mainly because my muse cooperated excellently all way long  and offered me ideas for another two versions for the necklace... I love how soft the necklace turned out and how beautifully it sits around the neckline. A tutorial is already available in my Artfire and Etsy shops, in case you want to try it for yourself...

The winner of the Battle of the Beadsmith 2012 was announced today, and it is Alla Maslennikova from Russia. Congrats to Alla on winning the first BOTB! And thanks to Steven Weiss for arranging such  a great happening for the beading community! 
I was one of the judges in this years competition (I plan to participate as a contestant next year, and I hope my muse won't get intimidated by all those gorgeous works presented this year!... ), and I have to say that from the very first rounds, it was really, really hard to pick one work to move forward to the next round. But in the final round was almost impossible for me to decide who is the winner - Alla with her absolutely gorgeous Baroque necklace, or Ann Braginsky from Israel, with her stunning, artful and interesting New Age Valkyrie neck piece. I love both of the pieces and even though I had to pick just one (I voted for Ann's work), still - both Alla's and Ann's works are winners in my eyes! The two works are so different from each other, but each one is amazingly and beautifully designed and beaded!

Baroque by Alla Maslennikova, Russia

New Age Valkyrie by Ann Braginski, Israel

50% Tutorials Sale, a New Free Pattern & Publication

I'm having a 50% sale on all beading tutorials and patterns, no minimum order required! The sale is valid on Personal Use Only editions; package deal tutorials are not included in the sale. Use coupon code  50AUG2012  (copy&paste) when you checkout, either through my Artfire or my Etsy shop. Sale ends in two days (Aug 18), so hurry up and buy my tutorials at this big discount!

UPDATE: I am extending the sale in one day, so it will end on Sunday, Aug. 19 at midnight.


And there's a free pattern, too!...

I saw this beautiful table runner online and was inspired by it to design African Motifs peyote bracelet, and I am giving it away as a free pattern here on my blog. I don't know if I ever told you, but I like designing peyote patterns more than I like working by ones...so I create one every now and then, when  my Muse calls for it...

I hope you like the bracelet pattern! You can use size 11/0 Delica or Rocaille beads to make it and, of course, you can replace the colors suggested with ones to your liking.

The above image is from: 

http://homeinteriordesignthemes.com

African Motifs Bracelet

a Free Peyote Pattern 

Also, I was pleased to receive a contributor copy of Kalmbach Publishing book Creative Beading Vol.7, where two of my designs - Cube Delight Bracelet and Star Pendant - are appearing in. 

Lacy Clover Ribbon Jewelry Set

This is my newest project - Lacy Clover Ribbon - a design of a bracelet, 2 options for a necklace and matching earrings. I love the delicate clover shape that the drop beads create, and the whole design reminds me of lace ribbons. The jewelry are made with Twin beads (or Superduo beads), fire polished beads (or Swarovski crystal rounds, as in the silver set) and with Japanese drop and seed beads. A tutorial for this beading project is available in my shops.

I love working with those two-hole beads, but once again I experienced the downside of them - if you miss catching a bead with a blocked hole - you're in trouble! Luckily, in this project, it was easy to unpick the work instead of having to break the blocked bead, as I was forced to do in my previous Twin beads project. I wanted to start beading the design idea right away and I didn't want to select from a pile of beads before starting to bead, so the solution I found was to get myself used to stinging the needle in both holes of the bead to check if they're open before stringing it, and this somewhat-strange method seemed to have saved me a lot of time and and frustration... Try it! :)

Also, I am happy to tell that my Layered Loops Bracelet is included (and appears on the cover!)in the recently published Stitch Workshop: Herringbone Stitch by Kalmbach Publishing (click on the link to go to Amazon and preview the book). This reminds me that it has been quite a while since I beaded something in herringbone stitch... maybe it's time again... I love this stitch!