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.

PROJECT #20

      

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

PROJECT #13

This beading pattern is a bit more difficult but I do enjoy the finished look.

I will try to do this pattern again with a different combination of colors.
This is not a pattern to be worked while in a group of beaders...it really needs your full attention because of the constant color change.  But it is truly worth the effort.

PROJECT #6 COMPLETE

PROJECT #12

This was a very different beading project for me. I decided that I wanted to see what a quill cover would look like in a solid color pattern.
It turned out okay but I think I will do more to the multi-color patterns in the future.  It seems to give it more 'glam' than the solid color.
But you never know until you try...so don't be afraid to try something different.

PROJECT #11 COMPLETE

 

This was a fun and easy pattern to bead and I like it against the dark Turkey feathers plus the black feathers to add a bit of interest.

PROJECT # 4 COMPLETED

I enjoyed working on this feather project and I am real happy the way it turned out.

Of course both ends of this woven bead project were both interwoven with the white thread to hold all the beads together securely.

I have located a nice site on line to order more feathers from so I am going to try to expand my style of feather designs.  So stay tuned!!

A BEADED GIFT FOR A FRIEND

I plan to gift these feathers to a friend for her birthday but I did not have anything to wrap them in. And I do not want to drive into town to purchase a gift box.
I found a shipping box that a book had arrived in ...hmmm, how to wrap it.

I couldn't find a pretty way to wrap it so I came up with the idea of painting the box instead of wrapping it with paper.

I gave it two coats of paint then sat back and waited for it to dry.

I found a few different sizes of pine cones from my cone storage and painted them with a lacquer to help them be stronger as a decoration.

I dug into my feather storage and came up with a few pretty white plum feathers.

I used my glue gun to attach them to the top of the box lid.

I again used the glue gun to attach the pine cones in an attractive design on the lid top.

I found two pretty reddish brown feathers from my feather collection to add a bit of color to the piece.

After many different placing's I decided on the brown feathers rising up out of the arrangement.

I added a few layers of tissue paper inside the box and the feather gift nestles perfectly inside.

She is also a spiritual person so I think she will really appreciate this gift.