I want to win NEDbeads awesome giveaway!!

Nancy at NEDbeads is having a giveaway...

not just any ordinary giveaway...

but a giveaway where you can win one of her gorgeous cuffs!

Check out this beauty!

Nancy is the wonderful designer who also donated one of her patterns for the latest Beading Babes project.

If you haven't checked out her amazing work from my previous post mentioning Nancy then what are you waiting for?

You can find her gorgeous creations as well as some fantastic tutorials such as her gorgeous Labyrinth bracelet in her Etsy store, NEDbeads.

Be sure to tell her that Karyn sent you!

♥

Dimensional Bead Embroidery - A book review...

I was so excited to see Jamie Cloud Eakin was releasing another book that I  pre-ordered a copy way back in May and it finally arrived this week!

I have to admit that her first book, Beading with Cabochons, is one of my all time favourite beading books and one that I have spent many hours drooling over not to mention using as a reference.

But back to Dimensional Bead Embroidery...

You might be wondering if this is a re-hash of her first book.

Well, simply said by Jamie herself...

"Let me just say NO!! The edges, bezels, attachments, etc are new ones! These are new techniques and tools for your beading enjoyment and design possibilities"

Well put!

Jamie says "Even if you can barely sew on a button, you can do this"!

You can read more of what Jamie has to say about her new book on the Lark Crafts site.

Jamie addresses three areas in this book:

1. Expanding on surface stitches

2. How to incorporate other items instead of just using cabochons

3. Expanding on other areas which made Beading with Cabochons so popular.

~~~

At the beginning of the book we are provided with an introduction into Materials and Tools which covers things such as beads, needles, thread, backing materials, stabilisers, glue... the list is endless.

She then covers basic techniques. 

If you have her first book and have been a bead embroiderer for a while then you may think that none of this will be new to you but again Jamie doesn't fail to please and includes some great instructions and photos on preparing a cuff as well as ways to ensure the components of your piece are centred. 

The section on Surface Stitches is quite detailed and covers pretty much every stitch including one-bead stitch, stacks stitch, backstitch, picot stitch, loop stitch and lazy stitch just to name a few.

The book also contains a project section where she spoils us with 9 projects complete with photos, diagrams and fantastic step by step instructions.

The  projects include:

Classic Chic Earrings

Cosmic Party Bracelet (cuff style)

Celebrate Spring Necklace

Woodlands Secret Purse

Traditions in Lavender Brooch

Autumn Elegance Post Earrings

Midnight Waterfall Necklace

Sunset on the Beach Bracelet

Ceremonial Dance Necklace

The last project mentioned, Ceremonial Dance Necklace is the piece that appears on the cover.

O    M    G    ! 

These projects are more than just gluing down one cab and beading around it... they are amazingly beautiful pieces that at first glance might appear a little intimidating but when you read through the instructions you realise that they are definitely works of art that you can create.

As a teaser Celebrate Spring Necklace, Classic Chic Earrings and Sunset on the Beach Bracelet also appear on the cover.

But I think my favourite section of the book is Edge Treatment Stitches.

I really feel how you edge a piece can really take it from wow to incredibly amazing so I always love discovering new techniques when it comes to edging.

I especially love her Lace Ruffle Edge and actually had to take a second look because at first it looks like the edge has been crocheted with fine cotton rather than size 15/0 seed beads.
Amazing!

At the end of the book we are rewarded with a 12 page Gallery section jam packed full of bead embroidered eye candy by other amazing designers.

 Spoilt!

Thank you Jamie for another beautiful book.

I strongly recommend you get your hands on a copy.
Like any of the books produced by Lark Crafts it will be another treasured addition to your collection and definitely one book of mine that will be drooled over may times.

Perhaps they should start printing the books with plastic pages rather than paper!!

♥

My first bead embroidered cuff

This is my very first bead embroidered cuff, which you may have already seen in a few of my recent My Creative Space posts...
...but this time...finally finished!

Please click on images for more detailed view of the beadwork

I have used an Eagle Eye Agate cabochon as the centre piece and then some gorgeous 

Desert Picture Jasper tear drop and oval cabs adorned with a mixture of seed beads, cube beads, delicas, Czech glass beads and wooden beads.

I wore it on the weekend and it was so comfy to wear... the deer leather I backed it with is super soft.

I can't wait to make another cuff and as mentioned in a previous post, I've already purchased the cabs!

If you love bead embroidery haven't already treated yourself to a copy of Sherry Serafini's new book "Sensational Bead Embroidery" then I suggest you do so.
This book is full of bead embroidered eye candy and definitely an inspiration.
Thanks Sherry!
I hope I have done your book justice...

♥ 

My Creative Space

I've wanted to create a bead embroidered cuff for as long as... well as long as I've been beading!

I have always been inspired by the exquisite cuffs designed by the likes of Sherry Serafini and Heidi Kummli and since becoming the proud owner of Sherry's latest book, Sensational Bead Embroidery (and yes.. it IS sensational) I have been even more inspired to get cuffing!!

I've decided earthy tones are in order so I couldn't go past this gorgeous 40mm x 30mm Eagle Eye Agate cabochon as my focal piece surrounded by Desert Picture Jasper tear drops which I have had in my stash for a year or so now but have not wanted to use because I l♥ve them so much
(click on the photo if you want to see these gorgeous stones up close...sooo pretty)!

I can't wait to get stitching.

The tigers eye beaded cabochon in the background is in the process of transforming itself into a ring!

Watch this space!

♥

My Creative Space

My beading has been slow going over the past few weeks. Between feeling like I don't have enough time in the day, trying to get other things done and feeling too tired I haven't done as much beading as I would like.

Here is a piece I have been working on intermittently over the past few weeks.

The gorgeous ceramic flower heart pendant is from  Beth at Carpe Beadem. 

I was lucky enough to win the pendant through a blog giveaway. 

The necklace is a simple spiral weave rope.

I have since redone the peyote toggle ring and am now working on the toggle bar.

I have a few pieces I need to get done over the next few weeks including my Artbeads Design Partner winter themed piece as well as a challenge piece for the Australian Beading Forum I am a member of... but I am really itching to get started on making a cuff with one of the gorgeous Golem Studio pendants I recently bought.

Has anyone found a way to add a few more hours to the day yet?

♥

A fortunate mistake!

I finished this cuff a few weeks ago. It is stitched in brick stitch using seed beads in all shapes and sizes.

Now I have to admit that this cuff was supposed to be the same width all the way around. As I kept stitching I realised that I had accidently increased my stitches a wee bit too much. I was pretty annoyed at myself but as I'd already stitched quite a few rows I decided to keep on going and try and fix the mistake.

Soooo... this is the final result! I am pretty happy with how the piece turned out and have to say it looks pretty good on my wrist! What do you think?