Hey there! I haven't been able to make a post in awhile because my husband and I are in the looooong process of moving 8,000 miles from the tiny Pacific island of Guam to Connecticut. We only have five days left here and everything appears to be pretty much done, so now I can get back to beading and developing this blog! Unfortunately, I didn't realize the movers packed my camera charger until it was too late, so I can only take pictures with my cell phone which aren't the best quality.
Later today I plan on taking some pictures of my current project - bead embroidery. I have never done embroidery before so I'm definitely still in the learning stages, but it is coming along slowly but surely!
xRita
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Flower Fringe Bracelet
Good morning world! I just wanted to show you what I had been working on and provide a quick set of instructions for making something similar. When it is finished it will have about 6,000 beads, 70 feet of string, and many hours of work in it.
The base of this bracelet is square stitch; 69 rows with eight size 11 seed beads in each row.
After making the base, I added a button to the middle of the second row.
Then, starting at the third row, go through the first bead and thread 3 dark green, two medium green, and two light green size 11 seed beads, one size 8 (flower color of your choice), and one size 15 either matching the color of your flower or white, gold, yellow, or silver. Skip the last bead added (the size 15) and thread back down through the beads and then through the next base bead. Keep repeating until the end of the row (you should have seven flowers) and then thread through the first bead of the fourth row in the base. Repeat until entire bracelet is covered! Then you can add edging to the sides of the base to make it look neater. I haven't gotten to that point yet. Also, you'll need to add a loop clasp made out of seed beads on the end opposite the button.
I will revise this post when I have more completed!
*I cannot take credit for this pattern* The idea is from Beadwork magazine Collector's Edition 41 Favorite Jewelry Designs (January 2010). It is called Monet's Garden bracelet by Kathleen Lynam. Her version is a bit different; I tweaked her pattern to fit the supplies I had. She uses rows of six size 8 seed beads for the base.
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| This is what I've got done so far. |
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| Showing how the "flowers" fall. |
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| The underside. |
After making the base, I added a button to the middle of the second row.
Then, starting at the third row, go through the first bead and thread 3 dark green, two medium green, and two light green size 11 seed beads, one size 8 (flower color of your choice), and one size 15 either matching the color of your flower or white, gold, yellow, or silver. Skip the last bead added (the size 15) and thread back down through the beads and then through the next base bead. Keep repeating until the end of the row (you should have seven flowers) and then thread through the first bead of the fourth row in the base. Repeat until entire bracelet is covered! Then you can add edging to the sides of the base to make it look neater. I haven't gotten to that point yet. Also, you'll need to add a loop clasp made out of seed beads on the end opposite the button.
I will revise this post when I have more completed!
*I cannot take credit for this pattern* The idea is from Beadwork magazine Collector's Edition 41 Favorite Jewelry Designs (January 2010). It is called Monet's Garden bracelet by Kathleen Lynam. Her version is a bit different; I tweaked her pattern to fit the supplies I had. She uses rows of six size 8 seed beads for the base.
Wire Wrapped Cluster Ring
This was my first attempt at a wire wrapped cluster ring! It was fast and easy to make. I used glass beads and galvanized steel wire. Next time I'll use silver wire. I always like to attempt first time projects with low grade materials until I have the technique down.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Rings Rings Rings!
I am obsessed with rings!
Clockwise from top left: Blue and grey peyote band (first peyote I ever stitched!), Rag rug peyote band, wire and glass bead cluster ring, crown ring, wire wrapped pearl ring, lace ring
About Me
My name is Rita, or as I call myself Rita the Beader (haha). I'm a newlywed twenty-something year old currently residing on the lovely Pacific island of Guam. I am from northwestern New Jersey (and no, it's not like Jersey Shore). I've been on Guam for five months for a getaway of sorts from my life in NJ. I met my husband here at a little Japanese restaurant. We were engaged within four weeks; I like to call it love at second sight. He is in the Navy and is being transferred to Connecticut in just two weeks, so we'll be leaving Guam behind!
I've always been a creative person. From drawing to designing my room as a teenager to knitting and making friendship bracelets for my friends, art has been my thing for as long as I can remember. All the women in my family do some type of art/craft. Both my grandmothers sew, my mom sews and makes jewelry and gourding, my Aunt Janice is an expert crocheter (she can look at an item and write up the instructions for making it and did so for a magazine), my Aunt Dolores has done everything from jewelry making to gourding and is currently an awesome knitter, and my Aunt Mary knit and crocheted and made wood art. I guess it runs in the family!!
I've always been a creative person. From drawing to designing my room as a teenager to knitting and making friendship bracelets for my friends, art has been my thing for as long as I can remember. All the women in my family do some type of art/craft. Both my grandmothers sew, my mom sews and makes jewelry and gourding, my Aunt Janice is an expert crocheter (she can look at an item and write up the instructions for making it and did so for a magazine), my Aunt Dolores has done everything from jewelry making to gourding and is currently an awesome knitter, and my Aunt Mary knit and crocheted and made wood art. I guess it runs in the family!!
Me and the hubby.
xRita
Welcome to I Dream of Beading
Welcome to I Dream of Beading! (A take on "I Dream of Genie". I know, a little corny...but hey, it's catchy and I do literally dream of beading.) My name is Rita and I currently make jewelry as a hobby, but hope to turn it into a business in the future. I've been making jewelry for many years, but never looked past stringing and other simple techniques until recently. I discovered the world of peyote, brick stitch, herringbone, square stitch, etc and haven't stopped beading since! I've also started working with wire and fabric. I am self taught through magazines and the internet. Right now I consider myself a sort of Jill of all trades. I can't box myself into one single category of style. My pieces are varied, although I do find myself gravitating towards "in your face" designs. I love spikes, vibrant colors, lots of sparkle, and dimension. One of my favorite things to do is look for random items around the house to create jewelry out of. I'm open to any technique and try to think outside of the box. Rings, beaded balls/beads, and pendants are my favorite items to create.
In my next post I'll tell you a little about myself personally and what influences me.
xRita
In my next post I'll tell you a little about myself personally and what influences me.
xRita
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