I MAY TRY THIS LOOM PROJECT NEXT. I JUST LOVE THE COLORED PATTERNS

BRACELET IN PINK BEAUTY ON THE LOOM

PRETTY IN PINKS LOOM BRACELET

 

 

 

BRACELET BEADING ON A LOOM

LOOM BEADING AGAIN

I have pulled out one of my looms and have been trying out some of my odds and ends beads to find some fun use of those beads in a bracelet.

I apologize for this terrible photo. I just had bad luck with my camera today.

I will be visiting our very large bead store..  Shipwreck Beads in Lacey Washington some time this week to pick out a few bracelets closures.

I am learning to just have fun and it is amazing that these projects can start out as one style and then I change them mid way.  I certainly do not mind pulling my beads back off the loom so I can go in a completely different direction with my bracelets.

Be brave, if your project starts to disappoint you then by all means try something else.  Be courageous and brave...and have fun with your loom projects!!  If the bracelet doesn't please you then how about making it a beautiful bookmark?!

AN INTERESTING LOOM PATTERN.

 

This is a pattern I transferred several years ago. It is done in several section then sewn together. I think it would be a fun project. Hopefully I will begin this one about the end of March. That is my plan.

 

 

 

 

Okay. my pity party is over and I am back to my favorite looming blog.  I will get busy on some project real soon and get photos posted too.

Thank you Solorn for your words of wisdom!!

I am trying to get back to my loom beading as soon as I can. I miss the calmness and the rejuvenating it gives me as my soul begins to feel refreshed as soon as I put on the first row of beads.

Hope to see you all soon!!!

HAPPY NEW YEARS FELLOW BLOGGERS!

MY LATEST LOOMBEADING PROJECT

This is my latest loom project. Sometimes I just have to stop what ever I am crafting and do a loom project.

This started out as a bookmark but as it took form I really liked it and decided that it would fit well on my wrist as a pretty bracelet.

Several small bowls held many of the different colored beads I used in this project.

I am pleased with this  finished project and I look forward to making it into a bracelet by adding a closure to fit the style.

The joy of loom beading is your beading can take on a life of it's own and turn out to be a completely different type of item than when you started. That is the fun of loom beading!

Test patterns and playing with color combos

 I have been playing around with different colors to use in my Butterfly loom pattern.

That is why you see different background colors in this project.
I am not happy with any of these colors so I did disassemble this project before going much further.

You will never know what colors will look good together in a loom pattern until you take a chance and start beading them together. You may be surprised what color combinations please you.

STOCKED UP

I am just about finished with my organization projects.

 Many of these were loose beads and I have been working each evening to restring them.  This was they are much easier to use.

 

And it is much easier to figure out which beads are compatible with each other for pretty bracelets and necklaces..
And it is so much easier to keep track of just how many beads I actually have for my projects.

Another lucky find

I am lucky enough to be married to a Machinist and he is closing out his shop that he has had for over 40 years.

The first thing I did was to ask if I could be have the cabinets that held washers, nuts, bolts and many other small items.  I knew I could never afford to buy units as these and I was thrilled when he said I could have all I wanted.

Above are a few of the sets that I grabbed up for all my bead projects.

There are many different sized drawers with larger areas to hold my larger collection of beads.

Many different types of beads fit real well in these drawers.

I love how easy it is for me to see all my beads.

And all my restringing projects are very easy to get to .

I have decided that for now I will store all my beads by color.  I am spending to much time just trying to decide what to work on so it may not be so overwhelming when I limit the color selection first.

I will let you know how that works for me!

My latest news

It is sad for me to report that all the completed beaded feathers project you see on this blog were all stolen during a yard sale I held.  I really didn't cry because of the loss of money, I was sad because they were taken with no respect to them or to me.

I have often thought I may see one hanging from someone's rear view mirror or on some child's bicycle handle bars.  But I decided it is better not to dwell on them and just hope this person uses them with respect. Yes, I am still sad.

I can't believe it!!!!  I have set aside a few hours every evening and during that time I will do some beading on  a loom project.

I started a project yesterday but tore it all out this evening.  I just wasn't happy with it.   But I have started the beading pattern again and will try to get a photo up as soon as the beading is far enough alone to make sense.

I can't even explain how good it feels to hold that thread in my fingers and place beads on the loom and watch a beautiful pattern appear.

It is sooo good to be back working on my Indian Beading Loom.

I have just completed transferring pattern # 17 so that project is complete.  Now I must venture on to another project and unfortunately that does not include and LOOM BEADING. That breaks my heart but I must get all the other project complete and off the list.  Then I will be able to spend my days looming the whole day long if I choose....and I just may!
So hang in there...I will be back with my beading as soon as possible.

A CHANGE IS COMING AT LAST FOR ME

I am getting my life more organized so I see BEAD WORK in my near future again.

I have reorganized my craft room and I did a wonderful job of sorting through my book stash and I am donating many of them.

I sat down one day and made a list of what crafts thrill me the most. You see, I have so many different types of crafts stored away that it has cause me to feel very frustrated. 


When I enter my craft room I want to start crafting but there is so many projects that I have saved that I am overwhelmed and by the time I leave the craft room I have not done any projects.

So I took some time and made a list of just what types of projects really excite me.  This is the list I came up with...
1. Loom Beading.
2. Embroidery Work
2. Cross Stitch

These is the top 3 of my crafting project I wish to continue.
Among my other collections of crafts I have a large assortment of Pine cones and sea shells.

I will spent the time between now and Christmas of 2012 constructing the pine cone project and also the sea shell projects.  And of course I will spend my evenings doing my hand stitching and beading on one of my many looms.

I have a wonderful feeling of freedom and control. I no longer feel overwhelmed when I enter my craft room but see the few wonderfully fun projects I want to work on.  Each completed project will be wrapped and stored away in boxes in preparation for the Christmas sale late next fall.

I also have many beads...glass, plastic and wooden beads that I will not be using on my loom work so I have been trying to decide just what I want to do with these.  I am listing some sports stuff on Ebay soon and I may post a few there to see if they would sell. Some of the beads are vintage so maybe someone would like them as much as I do.

I will post photos as I complete a project.

A PRETTY PATTERN

BEADING VARIATIONS

I had beaded this blue themed bookmark sometime ago and have taken the same pattern and changed things just a bit.

This is the result of changing colors and adding a few different bead colors here and  there.  I also added a few extra rows to change the look.

So I am having fun trying different patterns and of course the choice of bead colors are endless and only limited to my budget.

Fortunatley I live close to ShipWreck Beads!!

A TEST PROJECT

I am trying beading different types of BOOKMARKS and this is my first attempt.
The difficult part will be finding the perfect pattern then finding the best bead color combination.
I already have an idea how to cover and enclose the back side and add a tassel to make it complete.

I have a new camera and picture program and so far I am not happy with the results. A few pictures I uploaded today are yet to be discovered any where in the program.

Be patient with me as I practice, practice, practice with this craft...and hope for better pictures soon!

It is so wonderful, fulfilling, relaxing, and enjoyable to be back to beading once again. I have missed it.

I FINALLY WENT TO THE GREATEST STORE ON EARTH!

While we were doing our Costco shopping in Olympia a few days ago, my husband asked me if I wanted to go by Shipwreck Beads in Lacy, Washington on the way back home.  Believe me, I couldn't get the response out fast enough.

I have been waiting for the right time to visit this enormous Bead store and that day felt like the time to make this adventurous trip.

It took us some time to find this hidden away jewel but we arrived in plenty of time to do LOT'S of shopping.  And shopping I did!

According to the pamphlet they handed out at checkout, this is a family owned and operated business since it was founded in 1969.  Shipwreck Beads first location was in a tiny ship on Olympia's Mud Bay.

At 80,000 square feet, they carry over 8.3 BILLION beads in stock with new items arriving every day.

It is the largest selection of beads available the world over.

And as you can imagine, they also offer a new deli so you can keep on shopping!!

The store is enormous but they make it real easy to find what you are looking for.  They had many colors of my size 11 loom beads but I was disappointed in their lack of selection of beading looms for sale.

There was only one style but fortunately it was the type I was looking for. And at a very good price.

This is a Continuous Bead loom meaning that you can bead an item that is actually longer than the loom itself. Very handy to have when beading hatbands and such.

Since I don't have to pay any shipping the price of these beads were very reasonable.  In Montana I bought these beads at a Crafts store but had pay more to cover their costs and shipping.  But now I can buy them myself right from her source.  And there are many, many color choices to choose from.

And I was excited to find that they sell white size 11 beads in large quantities that saves me even more money.

I am always in need of white beads.

And I was very happy to find these beautiful tubular Turquoise beads at unbelievable prices.  They will work very well added to my beaded feathers.

So I am sooo ready to get back to my beading projects.  It has been a long time since I sat at my loom and now is the time to return to it. 

Of course I will post photos when I am back in the swing of things here.

I MISS MY BEADING

I have missed my Bead Loom projects but we have just moved 2 states away from where we have been living and we are deep into remodeling a very old 1920's home.  As soon as my craft room is repainted and set up I will be back to beading as fast as I can!  I can't believe how much I have missed feeling those little beads between my fingers and watching the patterns take form.  It is my passion and I MUST get back to it soon!!!

PROJECT #20

      

PROJECT #19

PROJECT #18

I CAN'T BELEIVE MY LUCKY FIND!!

We stopped at the High School Rummage sale today and we found this amazing Luxo Magnifier Lamp...

Just what I have been needing as my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be.  And I was worried that I have just found my life's passion and I am having a difficult time seeing what I need to see.

The viewer area measures about nine inches across and has a wonderful circle fluorescent light bulb that lights up the item I am working on.

But the best part of all is that we paid only $4.00 !!!!  What a very lucky find.

My wonderful husband has the ability to make the table holder that will hold the magnifier securely to my work table.

So I am excited that I can now not worry about the size of the beading project or the difficulty of the pattern...I will be able to see the project so clearly.  Oh, I am soooo happy!!

PROJECT #17

 

 

 

PROJECT #16

 

PROJECT #15

PROJECT #14