My Beadwork Blog and Gallery

Beading is a bit of an obsession. My beadwork blog is home to my thoughts on pieces I am working on, techniques I am learning, and my beading inspirations. I live in Bournemouth, Dorset and am mum to two gorgeous young children. I volunteer at both school and toddler group, and work part-time in online ad production. I try to fit in as much beading here and there as I can, for both relaxation, and to stretch and expand my creative side. I've learnt a variety of textile crafts over the years, but have always loved jewellery-making. I enjoy wirework, but beadweaving and bead embroidery have proved to be my favourite mediums, and it is these types of beadwork that I always seem to come back to. I love the colour and feel of beads, planning new projects, learning new techniques and of course, bead shopping! I read a wide variety of beading magazines and books, and apart from the occasional workshop, am primarily self-taught.

Monday, 24 January 2011

Bead Embroidered Cabochon Bracelet

At the moment I am completely obsessed with bead embroidery and cabochons.
I got the Laura McCabe's Embellished Beadweaving book for my birthday in November, and it's been  a great inspiration. You can find it here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laura-McCabes-Embellished-Beadweaving-Master/dp/1600595146/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295618789&sr=8-1

I've seen her handiwork at an exhibition at Stitch n Craft, and it is absolutely exquisite - you forget the real size of the actual pieces as you get used to seeing close up photography in print. I booked a place on her Travellers' Tales workshop there but due to date changes had to cancel, so her books will give me a chance to practise her techniques more before I try to book again.

Although I am more likely to substitute beads in designs for similar ones that I either prefer or are already in my stash, I did have fun sourcing size 15 Czech Charlottes. I can't believe how much smaller these are than size 15 seed beads!

So far I've bead embroidered cabochon elements and embellished them with size 15 seed beads and size 13 charlottes (a good crystal substitute).



I've then cut them out and backed them, and am now on the peyote stitched rings for the rest of the strap and the toggle. The plain ring below I had to redo as I did too many rows of delicas.

One more ring, toggle bar and then assembling and embellishing and I'm done.
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