Monday, January 29, 2018

A more challenging bead embroidery pendant tutorial

 

Once you've tried a few easier pendants, I challenge you to try one that is a bit trickier!  This ammonite cabochon is much thicker than the usual cab that you might buy for a pendant.  Check out the tutorial to see how to deal with this challenge!  The tutorial is in two parts.




2018 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.

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Valentine's Day is coming!





Don't wait till the last possible minute before you make, find, or buy something special for Valentine's Day...whether it's for yourself or for the one you love!

Monday, January 22, 2018

Recycle your mistakes into bead embroidery! A tutorial

 

For far too long, I let some polymer clay pieces that I made as experiments just sit around gathering dust.  Finally, it occurred to me that they would look good as the focals of a bead embroidery pendant.  And why not?  Turquoise is always a good color, no matter what the current season dictates!  This winter, it goes with Shaded Spruce.  In the spring, it will be a good match for Arcadia!


 


Copyright 2018 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.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Ametrine + vintage button necklace - for sale

Ametrine nuggets, vintage buttons, pearls and faceted glass 
$60
Twists of seed bead strands, accented by crystals and pearls, swing their way between beautiful pearly vintage buttons in graduated sizes. The large ametrine nuggets are a slightly softer shade than they appear in the photo. The total length can be easily adjusted from 18 to 21 inches.

Hit the button above, or leave me a comment if you are interested!

I never took any step-out photos of this one while I was making it, but there is a simple tutorial at this link if you'd like to try your hand!






Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Vintage jewelry that I love!



Are you as crazy about vintage jewelry as I am?  I could look at it, drool over it, wear it, and lust for it every day!  I also find it really helpful in inspiring my own designs.  Visit my Vintage jewelry inspirations board and see what might inspire your next collection. 

Monday, January 15, 2018

An easy glass donut bead embroidery pendant tutorial!

 


A simple piece like this is really quick to work up with minimal colors and techniques, so it's a great way to introduce yourself to bead embroidery.  It will go with practically anything you wear if you pick an appropriate neutral and metallic for your wardrobe.  The two-part tutorial is at the link!




Copyright 2018 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.

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Attic Treasure - for sale

Attic Treasure
Vintage resin "MOP" bracelet links,
glass beads, and sterling clasp
$45
The next piece looking for a good home is Attic Treasure, shown above.  I wrote and shared a tutorial for a similar piece that I wear all the time back in 2008!

Attic Treasure is a beautiful shimmering double-strand of luster glass beads, resin "mother-of-pearl," and silver. Salvaged from a broken vintage bracelet, the MOP-look links create a curve which causes the necklace to lie perfectly around your neck. This is a design that can never be duplicated! The total length is 19 inches, close to choker length.

Hit the button above, or leave me a comment if you are interested.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Steampunk accessories collection!

Lots of new additions to my Steampunk accessories board! Visit and pin your favorites :-)

Monday, January 08, 2018

Learn bead embroidery with easy pendant projects!

 


If you've been wanting to try bead embroidery, but the thought of making a bit 40 hour piece is just too daunting, why not try one of these smaller pendant projects instead?  They come together relatively quickly, and the basic techniques used will boost your confidence to maybe one day try a bigger piece!





Copyright 2018 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.

Thursday, January 04, 2018

A new year, a beautiful new color...Ultra Violet!

Just when you got tired of Greenery, the 2017 color of the year, Pantone has called for a color that will really punch up your blood pressure and make you happy to design, paint, dress, and decorate again! Visit my board on Pinterest, devoted to this gorgeous color.



Wednesday, January 03, 2018

The Lady of Shalott

 

I dug out this bead embroidery necklace that I made several years ago.  I've always loved the colors, but this particular season it is a perfect match for the beautiful Shaded Spruce color that is showing up everywhere!  I need to wear this more.

If you'd like to make a similar necklace, you are welcome to visit the links below, which will step-by-step you through it. 

Part one - design
Part two - adding focals
Part three - filling in 
Part four - finishing 

If bead embroidery is new to you, I would suggest that you help yourself to my free e-book chapter, which is chapter one of Every Bead Has a Story.  It covers all the basics you'll need to get started, which I might not cover in as much depth in the individual tutorials.  



Copyright 2018 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.
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