"Autumn Dreams"

"Autumn Dreams"

Designer: Leslie Frazier

Beaded by Sharon Erwine, 2010

Item 1641

"Sea Star Bead"

"Sea Star Bead"

Item 1640

Designer: Bead Infinitum http://www.beadinfinitum.com/Kits/index.html#Sea_Star

This pattern worked great!

Beaded by Sharon Erwine, 2010

I changed the pattern just a little: I added 5 points to the star tips (after step 12 of the pattern). I decided to try crystal bicones instead of rounds, so I used 8 lb test Fireline to prevent breaking the line. This worked great except the bead holes were so full by the end that it was a little hard adding the last 10 beads of the pattern. Then I wanted to carry out the theme of 5 points for the neck chain, so I did my own variation of right angle weave, using 5 beads instead of 4 for each unit (look close). I hope you like it!

"Lizards and Snakes"

"Lizards and Snakes"

Item 1638

Designer: Barb Klann

Beaded by Sharon Erwine, 2010

"Crystal Blue Persuasion"

"Crystal Blue Persuasion"

Item 1637

Designer: Barb Klann

Beaded by Sharon Erwine, 2010

Lotus beaded bead set

http://www.beadinfinitum.com/Kits/index.html#Lotus

"Lotus beaded bead set"

Item 1639

Designer: Bead Infinitum (with adaptations)

Beadwork by: Sharon Erwine 2010

I'm pleased to show my first creation as a member of the "Bead Infinitum" design team. I used the pattern "Lotus beaded bead", but I took some liberties with it. The pattern is great, but bead selection for teardrop/briolette beads left me frustrated. What's a girl to do?

I came up with 2 solutions: 1) use seed beads to turn the vertically drilled bead into a useable hortizontal "drill" bead (see the illustration for 2 possibilities), and 2) make use of my own beaded leaves as "teardrops" (see free Russian Leaf tutorial on my website).

I loved the result! The only problem now is the color doesn't photograph well (too yellow), and we couldn't seem to fix it. So, please imagine the correct color which is lime green and avocado green with black.

Here's the promised illustration:

And here is a link to my website for the free pattern:

www.sharonerwine.com

click on patterns, then free patterns, then Russian leaf

beAd infinitum design team

Hooray, I've been selected as a member of beAd infinitum's first design team. I'm so excited! Thanks, Gwen and Florence!

http://www.beadinfinitum.com/

"The Knothole" (Birch tree)

Picture 4: The knothole has been oiled lightly with Danish oil, resulting in some darkening of the wood.

Picture 3: The beading of the bracelet has been completed.

Picture 2: The dark lines have been beaded.

Picture 1: The knothole has been beaded under tight tension. The wood was curved and I was not sure the beading would hold it in place, but it worked. I probably should have finished the wood before beading it.

This knothole was given to be by my friend R. Dee, who found it on Labor Day at Mackinaw City, Michigan. We were visiting the site of a boat building and there were wood shavings all around, but none so pretty as this knothole with its own natural colors, including red and green. The wife of the boat builder gave us permission to take the knothole. When I said it would make a pretty piece of jewelry, R. Dee insisted on giving it to me. So here it is. I had fun seeing if I could make this bracelet and I hope you enjoy the pictures. And I hope R. Dee will enjoy her bracelet, though she doesn't yet know that it is my gift to her.