Monday, October 31, 2016

Bead embroidered leopard skin jasper pendant


Here's another stone that I've had hanging around for a long time, not because I don't like it, but because it's so...busy!  I finally decided enough is enough.  Time to tackle the leopard skin jasper cabochon.  Since you are unlikely to be able to find a stone exactly like this one, I've included some currently available suggestions at this post: Bead embroidered pendant update

The simplest plan was to choose colors that come directly from the stone, and not too many at that.  I chose four, but added a second finish to one of them (matte and rainbow).  Even that seemed like a lot, but I believe that the stone can handle them all.

This is an extremely straightforward stitching project, so I will only be outlining it here.  If you need some instructions for back stitch, edging brick stitch, stack stitch, and/or would like additional information on choosing fabrics, threads, etc, please download a free copy of the first chapter of my e-book, Every Bead Has a Story Chapter two has instructions for stitching a peyote stitch bezel, and Chapter three teaches the square stitch bail.

1. I used some double-sided tape (or you can use glue) to lightly adhere my cabochon to a piece of foundation fabric.

2. Add a back stitched row of size 11/0 seed beads around the base of the stone, making sure you end with an even number.

3. Working off the back stitched row, add rows of peyote stitch with 11s until you reach the very top of the stone.  At that point, switch to a smaller size of beads (size 15/0 is what I use), and add one or two rows to cinch in the top over the edge of the stone.  With a stone as flat in profile as this one, it only took one row of 11s and one row of 15s.  This is unusual!

4. Add more rows of back stitched beads outside the foundation row of size 11/0 beads.  I only added one row for this piece.  Then cut away the foundation fabric to within 1/8 inch of the outer row, being careful not to clip any threads.

5. Lightly tape or glue the top to a piece of backing fabric in order to cover all the stitching.  Apply edging brick stitch through the two pieces of fabric all the way around, and then add short stacks of smaller (size 15/0) seed beads to each edging bead.

6. Add a square stitch bail to the back of your pendant.  I usually add 11 rows of size 11/0 seed beads.


This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique


Copyright 2016 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

Friday, October 28, 2016

heART beats from other blogs!



Happy Birthday TappingflamingoBling
TappingflamingoBling is a year old! Terry Jeanette, aka, Tappingflamingo is celebrating and sharing some things she has learned this past year about Etsy

Coloring Book Review
Looking for a fun family activity for the Thanksgiving Holiday? Or do you just like all things Thanksgiving and Fall related? Read Connie's review of the Bountiful Wonders coloring book - it may be just what you are looking for!

Decoupage vs. Collage: Why & When it Matters
Decoupage and collage are very similar art forms that share techniques and media. The distinction is purely academic as long as you know what media to use.




Thursday, October 27, 2016

Yay for Carol!


Carol Howard won a copy of the book Learn to Use Two-Hole Beads!  Congratulations!!

Monday, October 24, 2016

Bead embroidered ammonite pendant - part two


Last week, we left off with a bead embroidered ammonite pendant halfway finished!  This week, I want to show you how I edged and finished this particular piece.  It is different from the usual pendant, because the ammonite fossil is nestled down into a thick piece of wool felt.



5.  Here what I've done is to cut a piece of foundation fabric larger than the size of the felt.  I added one row of size 11/0 seed beads in back stitch around the whole piece, stitching through both the felt and the new foundation fabric (the dark fabric above).  It was a pain in the neck to do because of how thick the felt was, but it's only one row!

The next outline row was added in brick stitch, still with size 11/0 beads, anchoring the threads in between the beads in the previous back stitched row.  Follow that with a brick stitched row of size 8/0 seed beads, again anchoring around the threads of the previous row.

Clip the foundation fabric just a tiny bit beyond the outer edge of the last row of brick stitch.




6. Here's another shot just so you can see how the felt is sandwiched between the brick stitched seed beads on top and the foundation fabric underneath.



 

7. To do the edging, cut a piece of backing fabric exactly even with the top foundation fabric and stick them together with a piece of double-sided tape or a dab of glue.  Using size 8/0 seed beads, add edging brick stitch all around the edges, stitching through both pieces of fabric, and -- this is important! -- catching the threads running between the last row of brick stitch added in step 5.

I used size 11/0 seed beads to add a short stack stitch to each edging bead.




8. Add a square stitch bail to the back of your pendant, and you're all set to go!  I usually add 9 rows of size 11/0 seed beads.




This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique

Copyright 2016 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

Friday, October 21, 2016

heART beats from other blogs!



Halloween Crafts and More!
Kick start your holiday crafting with a Fall Craft Fest - either virtual or real. Here are some Halloween and holiday craft ideas to get you started.

Stitching Injuries and the Tiny SAL
Connie's been on the "disabled list" due to a finger injury. Find out her sure-fire cure and get the latest info on the free Tiny SAL.



Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Book review and giveaway: Learn to Use Two-Hole Beads


There's a lot to like in this new offering by Kalmbach.  Teresa Morse has written a new book called Learn to Use Two-Hole Beads, which has not only a really good basics section, but also some great projects to work through your new skills.  Just so you know upfront...the book concentrates on Super Duos and Twins, not on every shape of two-hole bead that there is.  Of these, Super Duos are preferred for their more regular quality.  

In the very beginning of the book is a preview of all the projects, twenty two in all, which is great for finding your next project quickly.  The basics section follows, and is essential, especially the techniques which show you how to organize the beads for a project, how to add and end threads, how to step up through two-hole beads, make beaded findings, and design with color.  

The project are divided by method of construction, design features, and materials.  The simplest are individual beaded motifs that are stitched separately and then joined into beautiful jewelry, moving through more complex designs until you are adding layers and texture!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! 

Would you like a great book full of new projects?  Here's what you need to do...please read this carefully. Leave me a comment here and include your email address. If I don't see your email address, I will not contact you. No contact, no win, and I simply have to go on to the next person. You are welcome to spell it out if you'd prefer, for example, beadingarts at gmail dot com. If you tweet or post on Facebook or other social spots about the contest, you can leave a second comment and be entered twice! Deadline: October 26, 2016


Monday, October 17, 2016

Bead embroidered ammonite pendant - part one

Ancient Waves
I've been a huge fan of ammonites (an extinct class of marine mollusc) practically forever. I have a small stash of cut and polished ammonite slabs that have made their way into many of my pieces over the years.  Most of those pieces are pretty elaborate, so I thought it might be nice to have a smaller pendant to wear for casual occasions.   


I'm going outline the basic steps for this pendant, but you will find much more detailed step-by-step instructions for putting together a bead embroidered piece, including back stitch, edging brick stitch, and stack stitch can be found in the free first chapter of Every Bead Has a Story.  Chapter two has instructions for stitching a peyote stitch bezel, and Chapter three teaches the square stitch bail.



1. The back of most ammonites is irregular, rough, and thick.  I took a piece of extra-thick wool felt and cut a small hole that would accommodate the parts of the back that stick out the most.




2. A little bit of brown acrylic paint will make it less likely that the backing will show through the beading, plus it helps a bit to stick down the fuzzies from the wool!




3. I stitched around the outline of the ammonite with size 11/0 seed beads, making sure to have an even number.  From that base, I stitched a peyote stitch bezel, ending with a final row of size 15/0 seed beads to cinch it in over the top of the fossil.  You can barely see it, but on the left corner, I stitched a herringbone corner instead so that it would wrap nicely around that sharp turn.  The instructions are at the link.



 

4. To give it a little added security, I stitched across the piece twice, intersecting in the middle.  I'm pretty sure the bezel would have held the fossil in on its own, but I am happy to make sure!  Plus, I think the extra Czech bead embellishment looks pretty.  You can see that I've also clipped the thick felt (carefully!) around the outline, leaving enough room for one more row of seed beads.

Next week I'll show you how to finish off this pendant.  It's a little trickier than usual because of that thick felt!

This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique
Copyright 2016 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

Friday, October 14, 2016

heART beats from other blogs!



New Etsy Pattern and SAL Info
Check out the latest chart Connie's added to her Etsy shop. And don't forget about the free Tiny SAL.

Rainbow Card with Selective Stamping
Just because your stamp pads come in single colors, doesn’t mean you have to ink your stamps that way! With selective stamping, you can choose parts of your stamp to cover up when you ink or you can use markers for a multi-colored stamp effect like Eileen did on this rainbow card.



Monday, October 10, 2016

A couple more bead embroidery pendants...tutorials to follow!


Every day that the temperature gets lower, I get closer to stitching larger bead embroidery projects!  This was one of the hottest and most miserable summers that I can ever remember, and so far, I've only done a few smaller pendants.  Here are the next two, and I hope that shortly I will have some tutorials for you.  In the meantime, please take a look at all the bead embroidery tutorials at the link!





Friday, October 07, 2016

heART beats from other blogs!



Halloween Electric Card
Press the cat's tail of the Halloween electric card to make the pumpkins & black cat's eyes light. How to make using the Dazzly Circuit Marker & die cuts.

An Oldie but Goodie
Connie's current WIP is a blast from her About.com Cross Stitch past. Check it out and get your own copy of the free patterns.




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