Inchies 7-12

The second half of my dozen inchies. Still trying to decide what to do with them. :)

Inchies 1-6

Six of my bead embroidered inchies. Still trying to decide what to do with them. ;)

Inchies Done

I finished the last of my 12 inchies for the 2008-2009 BJP. :) Here are the last 2:
Now to decide how to finish them. I have had several suggestions. They are too big for a charm bracelet, and I don't know if I have the patience to make necklaces for all of them if they are going to be pendants. I might go with my original idea to make beaded cubes out of them. Just have to decide what method I'll use to stitch them together.

Inchies!

I've been working on these Inchies the last few days. They are for the 2008-2009 Bead Journal Project. The cuff bracelets were just too big and I only finished 2... so I changed my size and started over. I really like these and will probably turn them into pendants. The other idea I had was to make them into cubes. I'll decide when I get the last 2 done.

Work in Progress

This is just a few of the projects I am working on now. The top two are obviously bead embroidery projects, both necklaces. The one on the right is called "Northern Lights" and will have a herringbone spiral strap. The one in the middle is twisted herringbone and will have some crystal accents added. The bottom one is a spiral herringbone with triangle beads. There are also some 14/o beads to make the twist work a little better.

Not pictured are other projects I am working on: a spiral rope necklace with a cellini spiral pendant, a herringbone necklace made with white-gold delicas, my BJP bracelet for December, my BJP bracelets for January through August (most are not started at all, but I do have the cabs chosen for some and the cuff blanks purchased), some earrings for my MIL (probably will be a Christmas present), and a couple of purses (one in RAW and one in bead embroidery).

Whew! Lots of stuff. I think I'm gonna go bead. :)

December Color Scheme

Here's a look at what will be my December cuff bracelet. :)

Chimera's Tear - BJP Complete

My November BJP cuff bracelet is done. It's for sale on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26673612

I have no idea what the stones are... I've been told maybe labrodorite, green opal, and/or tourmaline. Any other suggestions??? :)

Chimera's Tear

My new bead embroidered cuff bracelet is almost done! I just have to wait for the glue to dry, trim the ultrasuede, and stitch the edges together. Yay!

In case you just can't wait, here's a teaser of the finished cuff:

November BJP Start

Progress so far on November (!) BJP bracelet. The only thing actually attached to the interfacing is the teardrop cab, but the rest will be attached soon enough! :)

The Many Colors of Herringbone

I am working on four herringbone ropes right now. All are tubular. Two are spiral and two are straight, but one of the straight ones is going to end up as a flat reversable bracelet. The rest are necklaces. Almost all of the colors I'm using are variations of purples and greens. I love herringbone and I just have a bunch of ideas right now, I guess.

I am also working on a new bead embroidery cuff. This one will have a cuff blank inside it... I prefer using blanks because I don't have to worry about clasps or sizing. It will be for sale on my Etsy site soon, I hope. As usual, I am using greens and browns. The next one will have to be something wild like orange or pink, because I really need to offer my customers some variety.

Forest Path Cuff - October BJP

Finally finished my October BJP. Boy, am I behind! I really didn't like this one and am so glad it's done so I can start November. The cab is poly clay made by my friend Harry Solly.

Framed Again

I picked up my framed piece today and am much happier with it. The reverse mat eliminated that annoying white line between the beadwork and the mat and the sharpies touched up all of the places that the white interfacing might have shown through due to the piece not being exactly square. The museum glass I decided to buy makes it very difficult to tell that there is even glass over the beadwork.  

Now, I am waiting to hear from Bead & Button about whether or not I got into Bead Dreams this year. I wonder how they will be contacting people?

Framed

Well, I went to pick up my piece at the framer and took this photo. Then I decided I wasn't happy. The mat was cut in the traditional way, leaving a white line all the way around the piece between the beadwork and the mat. This really wasn't what I wanted. So the framer cut a new mat with a reverse bevel. I went in this morning armed with my Sharpie markers to see the new mat. I ended up going around the whole piece with my markers, coloring the white interfacing next to the outer edges of beads. This way, since the piece isn't exactly square, the small places that don't have beads will not be obvious. 

The owner of the shop decided that, since there was still the possibility that I wouldn't be happy after the mat was put in place, he wanted me to position it myself. So he put on the glue and I put the mat where I wanted it. I was finally happy with what it looked like... and I get to pick it up tomorrow morning!

On a side note, I started working on my 2nd piece for the 2008-2009 BJP, using the same green beads I used on Elemental Earth. They were already out and I was feeling like I wanted to use them some more, so there you go.

Elemental Series Complete!!

I finally finished my Elemental Bead Embroidery Series today. :) I am very excited and will be submitting my Bead Dreams application tonight (or tomorrow at the latest, since that's the deadline)!  I really like how Earth turned out. It is so hard to get a good photo of this piece!!!

Elemental Earth - Half Done

Well, I wanted to have the whole thing finished by now... between choral rehearsals / concerts, tax season, and life, I just didn't get there. I get to pick green beads tomorrow, though, for the leaf, and hopefully get it all done by next weekend so that I can enter Bead Dreams.

Yesterday's Progress

Preparing tax returns is unfortunately taking much of my free time right now. I'm working on this whenever I can, though, and still plan on having it finished by the middle of March so that it can be framed and photographed by the Bead Dreams application deadline.

Elemental Earth's Colorful Start

I am entering the home stretch for my Bead Dreams entry. I have a whole slew of brown and creme beads, pearls, glass, and stones sitting in front of me just begging to be picked for Elemental Earth. =D

Elemental Water - Complete

Elemental Water is finally done! All I have left is Elemental Earth and the whole series will be done and ready for Bead Dreams!

Getting Ahead of Myself

It's kind of silly for me to be thinking about this right now, since I'm trying to finish my Elemental Bead Embroidery series for Bead Dreams. But I'm wondering about something... I've had people asking me if I sell patterns for the pieces I've made, particularly my Embroidered Butterfly. And I was wondering how I should sell it. 

Should I sell it as a pattern only, with no text instructions? 

Should I include some sort of instructions, maybe kind of basic?  If this is your choice, what kind of instructions do you think I should include? 

Should I do one or the other with beads included for a kit?  I've made a poll in the sidebar to the right and would appreciate any input you all have.

I might also sell patterns for some of the bead embroidered cuff bracelets I've made (or will make as I finish out the 2008-2009 Bead Journal Project).

After you vote (or even if you don't), please leave me your comments.  Thanks!

Edited to add:  How much do you think I should be charging for something like this? And if there are instructions, how detailed should they be?

Water done! On to the leaf...

Just finished the water.  I love the way this turned out!  It's my favorite so far.