Beaded Bead Release Tonight

Waxed Linen Cord Blog Hop Post

Bead Soup Blog Hop Post

I wasn't sure if I was going to do it, I ummm-ed and aaaah-ed.....but then I decided that I would dip my toe into the water and give it a shot. 

What am I talking about? Selling my handwoven beaded beads!

I am unlikely to offer these up terribly often, but I am really enjoying making them right now, and as there was such enthusiasm for them on Facebook, I decided to offer some up to you lovely people. They will be available in various sets, pairs and some even singly over at The Curious Bead Shop tonight, and there are small, medium and large rounds, decorated rounds, and even a sneaky experimental rondelle that snuck into the listings. 

Here's a preview of some of what you can expect.....

Hope to see you over there tonight!

New design!

Hi there! Just a quick post to tell you about a new design of mine, now listed in my Folksy and Etsy shops. Hope you like them! Blue Moon, Purple Passion, Shimmering Mint, Hot Hyacinth and Pool of Gold.

Edinburgh Beaders

Hello again! So little time, so many blog entries - I don't know what's going on! I have decided to do an entry enthusing about some of my friends' beady goodness. Top picture is the VERY talented Emma Baird's wonderful lampwork beads. Emma (based at The Little Bead Shop in Edinburgh) came 2nd in the British Bead Awards - 2 Edinburgh winners, yay! - with her lovely piece, Shield of Light - but also had these beads short-listed and displayed at the Big Bead Show last month. I think they are absolutely breath-taking and can't believe they didn't come top of the show! I want them for my very own...


Next up is ANOTHER Edinburgh beader - Jane Lock - based at the other Edinburgh bead shop over on the other side of town. It's very near my Mum's house so I popped in when I was back home-home at the weekend and she showed me not only her gorgeous Laura McCabe Geo Floral Beaded Bead but this STUNNING bracelet of hers which is her own original design. It looks pretty cool in this picture I've pinched from her blog but honestly, you have to see the thing in real life! It's awesome! I've never seen anything quite like it - gorgeous!

Use the Muse!

Here is a sneak preview of my entry into Use the Muse III - an American beading contest run by talented bead artist Scarlett Lanson. All entrants purchase a kit which contains various elements but most importantly, a Muse which must be kept secret until the 'big reveal'. I emailed my entry - Autumn Jewels - this afternoon and am really pleased with my finished piece! It's quite a simple necklace but very often (and especially in beadwork) I think that simple works best. We are sometimes in danger of over egg-ing the pudding when working with beads and we can easily forget that less is often more. Hopefully in a few weeks I will have the complete piece to be able to show you...the Muse is beautiful and I can't wait to see all the other entries!! It's lovely to see what people create with the same ingredients.