New Website and Blog Live!

For the past month, I have been working on a new website. It's taken longer than I wanted, but it is finally live! Click on one of the links below to be taken to that section of the shop:

Take a look at the site and let me know if you see anything that needs corrected. One of the coolest new features is that all of my patterns are now downloadable. No more waiting for emails... once the payment is processed, you will be able to start beading! The site also has an automatic currency calculator so you can make purchases in GB Pounds, Euros, Australian Dollars, or Canadian Dollars.

Along with the shop, I've also moved my blog. This post will probably be one of my last here on Blogspot. I plan to move all of my existing posts over to the new blog, as well. So, head over to http://beadingbutterfly.com/blog and become a follower to keep up with new pieces, classes, and tutorials. The blog has a translation feature on every page. :)

Kassie

Vertigo Earrings Class

I worked up a new sample for the class I'll be teaching at Off The Beaded Path next month. The class is Saturday, September 25, from 10-noon. Kelly's classes fill up fast, so keep your eye on her website for registration information.

Happy beading!

Lunar Eclipse

I finished a new necklace this week. The main component is the gorgeous stone donut hanging from a butterfly bail.

The rope is a filled net with twisted herringbone on the ends:

The bail is removable, so I can wear the rope alone:

The round jet crystals sparkle lots more than you can see in this photo:

I hope to have the tutorial for this necklace available soon. My To-Do List keeps getting longer and longer, but the kids go back to school the day after tomorrow, so hopefully, I'll have more time to check things off! :)

New Teaching Gig

This past weekend, I went to Forest City, NC to meet Kelly, from Off The Beaded Path. She and I talked (and drooled over beads) for a couple of hours and she asked me to teach two classes at her shop over the next couple of months.

On September 25, I will be teaching Vertigo Earrings, a quick project with maximum bling!

On October 23, I will be teaching Nuthin' but Net, a netted rope bracelet, using crystals and seed beads to make an easy and beautiful bracelet. This is the class sample, called Buried Treasure:

Here is another variation, using a single color of 4mm round crystals and dark silver seed beads. The ends are finished with twisted herringbone, which is not part of this intro class, but may be included in an advanced class as an alternative way to finish a necklace.

Here are some variations, using different sizes, shapes, and materials:

This is the advanced class variation photo (the outer necklace is made with my Diamondback pattern, which will be available soon):

Happy beading!

Christmas in July

OK, I realize it's no longer July. But Christmas in August just didn't sound as good. ;)

I mentioned on Facebook a little while ago that I was having trouble keeping a secret. Well, this weekend, I was at a friend's house in Tennessee for a small retreat and the cat got out of the bag. So, I am announcing to the world that the December 2010/January 2011 Beadwork will feature a design by me!

Interweave's description of the December issue is "Classics Revisited. A nod to classic costume jewelry designs with a modern twist. Jewelry that would make Miriam Haskell proud." The color palettes include gold and blue, so what better piece to be featured than my Coronet Bracelet and Earrings in Blue Zircon:

The texture in these pieces is just yummy!

Variations are endless:

Since designing Coronet, I have taken the original idea and expanded on it several times, creating Shooting Stars, Teardrop Crown (a collaboration with my friend Mary Jo), Curves & Cages Necklace, Beaded Bead Caps (on Principessa as well as in Faerietale Earrings). I have other new ideas in the works as well!

Faerietale Earrings Tutorial

I finished the second colorway and the pattern for my Faerietale Earrings. Both pairs of earrings (or custom colors) are available in my ArtFire shop and the pattern is available both there and in my Etsy shop.

Faerietale Earrings (Raspberry Sorbet version)

Here is my latest project: Faerietale Earrings. This pair is called Raspberry Sorbet. I'm working on the tutorial now. It's another variation of my latest favorite technique, my triangle netting, so it shouldn't take long to write the tutorial up. :)

I actually have another pair made, in gold and purple velvet, but haven't named them or taken photos yet. I'll do that later today, when I get back from the gem show in Franklin. I'm hoping to find more of these great curved square donuts so that I can have kits available once I get the tutorial for this necklace finished:

As always, happy beading!

FREE Twisted Herringbone Bangle Tutorial

Finally finished! The FREE tutorial for a seamless twisted herringbone bangle is finally posted on my website here. As a thank you to me, please post a link to my website on your blog, Facebook page, Twitter account, etc.

Happy beading!

Birthday Giveaway

My birthday is in two days, and to celebrate, I'm giving YOU a free gift! I will be giving away tutorials for my Herringbone Twist Bangle, which features an invisible join instead of a ladder stitch start. Stay tuned for more information and to find out how to get your own copy! :)

Curves & Cages Necklace Tutorial Available

I spent two days straight (about 24 hours total of work) writing the tutorial for my latest necklace series (Tropical Sunset, Blue Lagoon, Sedona, and Jungle Fever). I finally finished it and it is now available on my website and in my Etsy shop. Happy beading!

Picture heavy (click any pic for larger view)

I can't believe it's been so long since I have posted here! So sorry!

I went to a week long bead retreat in Robbinsville NC last month. 24 women, 6 classes, and lots of UFOs (unfinished objects). No Internet access and barely any cell service. Heaven!

I taught two classes, my Shooting Stars Bracelet and my Butterfly Bail. Aryd'ell has posted about the bails she made and here is a photo of the bail Mary Jo made:

I did lots of trading that week. Here are a pair of earrings I made for somebody as a trade for some matte khaki drop beads that I used in my Daydream Garden Bracelet (see later this post):

While we were there, we went to a bead store and saw a bracelet that was made using a Carole Ohl pattern. I didn't want to use seed beads for my base, so I modified it using bugle beads. I ended up making four bracelets, but only ended up coming home with one of them because other people at the retreat traded me for the other three:

Susan taught a tubular netting technique and Sherry made this drool-worthy bangle with red coral crystals and matte gold seed beads:

Ellen went home with these Blue Jean Queen Coronet Earrings:

The base of this bracelet is the African Circle (or Pondo) Stitch, which Carol taught us. I thought it needed embellishing, so I added the drops and the rondelles. I call it Daydream Garden:

There was a pattern in the last issue of Beadwork called Tuscan Tiles Bracelet. It's absolutely gorgeous and I would love to make one... however, it is made with 21 separate components that then all have to be stitched together and tails woven off, etc. I not only didn't have the patience to make 21 individual components, I also didn't have enough materials. So, my earring version came to be:

I love how dimensional these earrings are:

I had used Hana Ami weave before (triangle flowers, I think is the translation) to make a heart. This is the flat version that Carol taught (although hers was straight on the sides, not like mine is):

I realize now that I should have sewn through all of the inner copper Delica circles to close them up. I might go back and do that, which will reinforce the kind of floppy sides. Then again, I might also just tear it apart for the crystals. I mean, where am I gonna wear such a thing??

Detail:

I had somebody ask me if Coronet could be made with ovals instead of bicone or round crystals, so I gave it a go. The answer is YES! Here is the Fall variation:

We did a secret swap. Everyone who wanted to participate made or bought something and brought it to the retreat, already wrapped. As we put our gifts in, we gave them numbers. When we all had our pieces submitted, we drew numbers. I made this netted bangle with matte khaki 8/o and drop beads along with matte green 8/o beads and bronze seeds:

It was too funny when I walked up to Sherry (who had drawn my gift) to tell her something about it and she started laughing... because I had drawn HER gift:

All in all, a wondrous time was had by all and I brought home lots and lots of goodies! Now, back to beading!!

New Photos

Purple Coronet Earrings (for sale here):

I also made a ring to match my Coronet set:

... and finished the two new colorways for my Shooting Star Bracelet:

I've submitted both of these designs to beading magazines, so keep your fingers crossed for me!

Shooting Star Bracelet Pattern now available

I just finished the pattern for this bracelet:

While I was writing it, I also made the bracelet in two more colorways:

I just realized I forgot to include the links. :) The pattern is available on my website here: http://beadingbutterfly.com/ShootingStarBraceletPattern.aspx or in my ArtFire shop here: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1323074

Coronet Bracelet and Earrings

Well, another tax day has come and gone and I feel as if I've barely survived. As reward for my hard work this tax season, I took the entire day off today. Little if anything useful being done, with the exception of taking photographs of this beautiful bracelet and earring set I made a couple of weeks ago:

I got an email from Artbeads' Blogging for Beaders team last month, asking me if I would create something for Spring. I picked out some gorgeous blue zircon Swarovski crystals and a gold filigree clasp, knowing I wanted to pair them with the translucent amber fringe drop beads I had bought recently.

I still have 2 of the 2-hole Xilion settings left, so I think I'll make another pair of earrings without the crystal dangles at the bottom for a different look.

I spent that afternoon of beading at a friend's house while she quilted and my kids watched movies and played games. I can't begin to tell you how therapeutic beading is for me. I can forget the world exists and hours go by unnoticed by me. If it were not for the hungry kids, I think I could just bead forever and not stop until my fingers bleed.

I love how a few inexpensive beads and findings along with 4-5 hours of beading combine to make something that looks like a million dollars. The original diamond shaped design, the one I used in my Coronet Rings, uses bicone crystals in the center instead of Xilion settings I used in this set. Either one works wonderfully, but the Xilion settings sparkle like crazy.

Check out the texture the 3.4mm Miyuki fringe drop beads gives to this bracelet:

Here's a shot of the back side:

The bracelet is made with the same technique, so it sits great on the wrist:

All in all, I'm not sure I captured "Spring" very well, but I sure did capture "Bling"!

Hopefully, I'll have a pattern available for this design soon. Stay tuned!

*Please note: I have received the above items free of charge from Artbeads. This is my honest review of the product and I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.