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.

Sunday 27 February 2011

Ultrasuede or Lacey's Stiff Stuff?

I am busy planning my collar, and after my blue shell cabachon cuff I am having a rethink about which materials to use.
I usually embroider on ultrasuede; it feels great to the touch whilst working, comes in many colours, is flexible and as with my cuff, it can be left unbeaded as part of the design. I started using it as an economical option - I bought a pack of about 100 off-cuts from the US, which are perfect for pendants and smaller cuffs. Now I'm moving onto larger beaded cuffs and collars larger sized pieces are needed.
During the beading of my cuff, it became easier to stitch the more surface I beaded, and the stiffer it became. I also doubt that the beadwork would have needed as much manipulation to attach it to the cuff blank if the beading foundation had been stiffer. It will be interesting to see how the shrinkage compares between the two foundations and a nice option to be able to draw on a design to bead on.

So despite resisting to start with I'm going to order some Lacey's in the largest size and go from there.

Saturday 26 February 2011

Galleries have now been updated!

I have had a chance to put up the completed projects from the last few months - please view them in the bead embroidery, beadwork and wirework galleries.

Friday 18 February 2011

More finished pieces coming shortly!

I have some more photos of projects to upload,  so please check back over the next couple of days for new  more finished beadwork, bead embroidery and wirework projects, some of which are the missing ones of gifts that have kindly been retaken for me.

In the meantime, here is my progress so far with the cabachon bracelet - fully assembled and with just the pearl and charlotte embellishments to go!