Master the Art of Bead-weaving With Our New Free eBook

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT

There's no doubt that if you're reading this, you're someone who knows that there's a special kind of magic in bead-weaving. I don't know how else to explain the feeling I get after sitting down with just a pile of beads, a needle, and some thread one minute, and then walking away a couple of hours later with a new piece of handmade beaded jewelry.

Part of the beauty of bead-weaving is that there are so many different beading stitches to be used, nothing is impossible. Whether you love to do peyote stitch, right-angle weave, brick stitch, herringbone stitch, or even if you use a loom to do your bead-weaving, chances are that you can find just the right combination of beading techniques to create whatever your heart desires.

If you love bead-weaving, we've put together a collection of five favorite bead-weaving projects and four of Beadwork magazine's Master Class columns from some of our favorite bead artists!

Get warmed up by making some of these great bead-weaving projects:

Robin Cowart's Tangled Vines is an easy bead-weaving project that uses three different sizes of seed beads to create a beautiful beaded rope that mimics the look of spiral rope.
Learn how to make sophisticated peyote-stitched bezels for gemstone beads when you make Urban Chic by Barbara Richard.
Fool for Stripes by Marlene Blessing is a great statement necklace made with a simple herringbone stitch tube.
Beaded ropes never go out of style! Try Double Twist by Sheilah Cleary to see how you can use two highly contrasting colors of seed beads in a double spiral rope.
Sally Morgan's Cubed Diamonds bead-weaving project is a fabulous way to learn how create geometric shapes with brick stitch.

Next, find out what it takes to become a bead-weaving master when you read and learn from some of the best of the Beadwork magazine master classes:

Marcia DeCoster talks about how working with small beaded components can improve your skills at bead-weaving and beaded jewelry design.
Carol Cypher offers advice on how to develop your bead-weaving fluency across many different beading stitches.
Dustin Wedekind shares his insights on challenging yourself to make better bead-weaving.
Phyllis Dintenfass shows us how geometry isn't as scary as you remember from grammar school, and proves that geometry and bead-weaving can be used to make some pretty amazing beaded jewelry!

Are you ready to learn new bead-weaving skills and expand your knowledge of beading techniques? Let these wonderful bead artists help you continue on your journey with your seed beads with this collection of seed bead patterns in all your favorite bead-weaving stitches! Download your copy of Beading Daily's Free Guide to Beadweaving: Patterns and Instructions to Learn How to Bead Weave today!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Do You Love Bead Embroidery? Here Are Five Free Patterns for Bead Embroidery!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT

If you've ever seen the awesome and inspiring bead embroidery of artists like Sherry Serafini, you might have been inspired to try your hand at this particular beading technique. Unlike other types of off-loom beadweaving, bead embroidery is the stitching of seed beads to a fabric or felt-like backing. While the basic stitches used in bead embroidery are relatively simple, the results can be spectacular. Bead embroidery allows you to "paint" with your beads on a fabric "canvas" for a look that you just can't get with other beadweaving techniques. You can also easily incorporate found objects, gemstone and handmade cabochons, and other unique jewelry-making components into your bead-embroidery projects.

While bead embroidery can be used to make spectacular beaded jewelry, it can also be used to add a decorative touch to all sorts of things such as purses and handbags, clothing, and even shoes! Bead embroidery is instantly recognizable in Native American beadwork, and some of the most breathtaking fashions seen on the runway in the twenty-first century have also been decorated with beaded embroidery.

Because bead embroidery is such a versatile beading technique, we chose five of our favorite bead-embroidery patterns that cover a wide range of styles and techniques. To start, make the Kachina Goddess Pin by Jody Johnston-Duran and learn how to incorporate cabochons and bugle beads into your bead-embroidery projects. Dustin Wedekind's beautiful Illuminated Letters will help you master beaded backstitch while you create a personal bead-embroidered pin inspired by the richly illustrated manuscripts from the Renaissance. You can also use beaded embroidery to embellish a keepsake pouch by creating Marlene Blessing's Captive Heart Pouch. Judy Brownell's Star-Studded Bracelet shows that sometimes less can be more in bead embroidery - especially when it involves some sparkling crystal sew-on beads. Finally, practice all your new bead-embroidery skills when you create Kelli Burns's Day in the Sun bead-embroidered cuff with its vibrant garden of Lucite flowers and brightly colored seed beads.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and download your copy of Bead Embroidery Patterns: 5 Free Beaded Patterns for Beading Embroidery now! You'll find instructions for all five bead embroidery projects, plus tips and basic techniques for making beautiful bead embroidery projects.

Bead embroidery is a wonderfully versatile beading technique. Whether you like your bead-embroidery patterns to be fun and fast or more complex and textured, bead embroidery is the perfect way to blend seed beads and other jewelry-making components into gorgeous and unique beaded jewelry and accessories. Enjoy these free beading patterns for bead embroidery and see where they lead you on your personal beading journey!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Daily Blogs : Gemstones, Beadweaving

Master the Art of Bead-weaving With Our New Free eBook

Do You Love Bead Embroidery? Here Are Five Free Patterns for Bead Embroidery!