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.

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! :)

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.

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.

Making waves... or what I did on my kids' snow days!

Well, here's what my Elemental Water panel looks like now.  I am gonna make my end-of-February deadline for sure on this panel... if I can keep this level of energy on it, I'm sure to be done in time to enter Bead Dreams.

Round and round

Steady progress on my Elemental Water panel.  My goal is to get this one done by the end of February and the final panel, Elemental Earth, done by the end of March.  Then framing and submission to Bead Dreams by the deadline on April 9.  I did about half of the circles today, so there is hope for me getting it done in time.

Bravery (or progress towards impossible goals)

Well, I decided that I want to enter my Elemental Bead Embroidery Panel Series into the Bead Dreams competition this year. I'm not sure if it's even possible, since I have almost half of it to go and the entry deadline is the beginning of April... and I'm an accountant. Not really the best time for me to plan to spend hours and hours working on this. But if I'm going to enter, this is the year to do it, so I'm going to try my hardest to get it done by then.

Wish me luck!!

Not slacking, just busy

As usual, my photography leaves much to be desired.  I used my camera phone to take this pic and it's horrible.  This is why I scan my pieces!

I haven't had much time to work on this project recently.  I am a member of the Asheville Choral Society and we had two performances of our annual Christmas concert this past weekend.  The last month has been filled with music and not much else.  Trying to catch up on sleep and figure out my marketing for next year have also been high on my list of time stealers lately.  I'll be carving out beading time on my Christmas break, though, so hopefully, the next update will have many more beads on it!

September 2008 BJP Cuff Bracelet Complete

Here's my completed cuff bracelet for September 2008 Bead Journal Project.  The cab is polymer clay and was made by a friend of mine, Sharon "Harry" Solly.  The bracelet's backing is a creamy colored ultrasuede. It's actually a little longer than it should be - I'll make the rest about 3/4" shorter.  This one will be a Christmas or birthday present for a good friend of mine.

September 2008 BJP Cuff Bracelet - Almost Done

Here's what my bracelet looks like now.  It'll be backed with ultrasuede once the beading is finished.  Then I'll get back to my Elemental Water panel.