Beads! Beads! Beautiful Beads!

Here is a sneak peak at my latest work in progress.


I love the mix of colors in this!

Finished product should be ready for pictures in a week or two. It's always exciting to have a project this close to completion!

ABC 8

ABC 8 = Arkansas Bead Cave, 8th year!

The Annual Arkansas Bead Cave will be taking place this year the first weekend in October. I can hardly wait! I learned so much last year, and this year they have asked me to teach a class on French Beaded Flowers.

I am planning to teach the flower pictured above. It's my own creation, and while it isn't the prettiest flower, it should lend itself to being easily taught and easily learned. I'm hoping that my students will be able to take what they have learned and use it to make more aesthetically pleasing flowers.

The center of the flower is not my creation. It is actually a vintage earring that belonged to my Grandmother.
Here are other flowers made using the same pattern, but these have traditional beaded flower centers.

I'm hoping my students will get creative with these little flowers, using buttons or earrings or other items for their centers.

And I can't wait to see more people get hooked on making beautiful flowers out of little, tiny beads!

I need some company in this crazy hobby I have!

A Victorian Wedding Bouquet

Here is my passion . . . French Beaded Flowers.

If you've never heard of French Beaded Flowers, you are not alone. This is an art form that dates back to the 1500s, and consists of stringing tiny glass beads onto wire, and then shaping the wire into petals, leaves, and flowers.

I've been learning how to do this for the last 6 years (I'm a slow learner when it comes to anything artistic or creative!)

The picture is of my Lily Bridal Bouquet.

Here is a top view:




It's so much fun to have a passion for a certain craft or art form!

In all the years that I prided myself for being a left-brained logical Spock, I never realized how much I was missing!

Now I know . . . .

Beaded Doily

My most recent summer triumph --- A beaded doily!
I've been working on this on and off since last February, and finally finished it last week. The pattern came from the February issue of Bead & Button Magazine.
I love the feel of it. It has weight and substance and beauty. I am always amazed to find that I can create something beautiful! What a gift from God!