Variations

I used the same 8 circumference chart to make a necklace. Then I wrote another chart for a 5 bead circumference to make a key ring:

Here they are together:

It's interesting that although the thread doesn't show, it does make a difference to the appearance. I used white thread for the bracelet and necklace and black thread for the key ring.

Little Bags

I've made some more little bags to put necklaces in. Lesson one: I was much too stingy when cutting the fabric around the beaded motif. I don't know why, I have plenty of fabric! That's the problem with a production line way of working, a mistake can be repeated. Luckily it wasn't so bad that the motifs had to be abandoned. On the next batch I'll be more generous.

Light and Dark

It's interesting how different a pattern can look using different coloured beads. 

Packaging

I recently received a gift of earrings that came in the sweetest little basket:

It got me thinking about packaging, or presentation. Perhaps I need to come up with interesting packaging for my beadwork. I don't want something as time consuming as the little basket. But something better than plastic or paper bag.

Since I've been doing cross stitch lately, I thought of doing a cross stitch motif. Then I remembered seeing 'beaded cross stitch' on The Beading Gem's Journal.  I searched for beaded cross stitch on Pinterest and found a video to watch. I didn't save the link because it was not a good

video. Honestly, to burble on for 15 minutes and then upload it without editing does not give a good impression. But it did, eventually, tell me what I wanted to know. So I gave it a go:

I sewed a muslin bag and attached the motif to the bag. My proportions need working on, but it gives the idea:

Could this work? Feedback welcome.

Back to Beads

I put away my embroidery thread and evenweave fabric and retrieved my beads and crochet hook. I couldn't find a pattern for what I was imagining, so I thought I'd write one myself. I printed out some graph paper, which works well, so that's one thing learnt. I started with a design of 6 beads in circumference, drew it on the graph paper and worked out the threading pattern. I crocheted almost two repeats before abandoning it.  There was a mistake in my threading pattern and I didn't like the design, it's too muddled and bitty. Back to the drawing board. I increased the circumference to 8 beads and simplified the pattern a bit. Aha, I like this version a lot better:

I'm now working it in a different colour scheme, which I think I like better. It's a simple pattern, generic even, but I'm happy to have created it from scratch.

18 Roses

I've finished the third frieze for curtains. So they're ready and waiting until I can buy fabric for the curtains themselves. Lockdown has been extended again, so I'm not sure when that will be.

More Roses

I'm working on the third frieze for curtains. Onward, onward...