Golden Dreams - Learning Right Angle Weave

Golden Dreams

One of the first stitches I learned in beading was Right Angle Weave. I had a very limited supply of beads and needed a stitch that gave me versatility in making my creations.

Being a brand new beaded, I had never heard of delica beads or japanese seed beads. I stitched this bracelet using Mill Hill seed beads left over from a cross stitch project. It was originally started as gift for my mother. She loves it.

Green Dreams

My family all lives a ways away. I don't get to see them very often, and my mom was going to visit my sister last summer, I made this one to give to her.

Black Beauty

I have found as I bead more and more that when I find something I like, I try to make different variations of that design.

Black & White

I wear a lot of black and wanted something casual. This is what I came up with. It is a very comfortable bracelet, and very casual.

On Fire

Gordon Lightfoot was playing in Lethbridge last fall and I needed a bracelet to go with the shirt I wanted to wear, I love the colors in it, and it matched perfectly.

Diamond Blocks

Slowly adding to my beading collection, I tried to start thinking outside of the box.

Spots

I love the color of turquoise, this is one of my favorite necklaces in the summer.

Red, White & Black X's & O's

Very sharp set when put together, the plain circle is an anklet, made with stretchy cord.

Crystal Bracelet #3

This is one of the first bracelets I made. The tutorial I followed was posted by BeeJang, and it is called Crystal Bracelet #3 (Link goes to her free tutorial).

All of the bracelets on this page were made by using variations of this pattern. I just changed the amount of beads, and where they were placed in the rows.

Moss

After getting some more beads, I wanted to try the pattern again, this time in beads I really liked. I love wearing this one with my khaki outfits.

Right Angle Weave - aka RAW is a very versatile stitch. Some find it hard, some find it easy. I found it took a minute or two to get used to. But, once I got the hang of it, beading with right angle weave was easier than I though it would be.

My Very First Steps in Learning to Bead

A couple of years ago I bought a simple little box of plastic beads with an instruction book. I was researching different hobbies, trying to find one that interested me enough to replace some bad habits I had cultivated over the years.

The box sat on a shelf for about a year before I actually opened it, to find out what it was all about. To my surprise, I was hooked from project one.

This bracelet is called Victorian Lace. (I used my scanner to take pictures of all the bracelets on this page)

One of the problems with this bracelet is the cheap materials that were used to make it. It didn't lay flat, and the beads didn't seem to be very nice at all. But, it did give me an idea of what bead embroidery was all about.

One of the comments in the book said to use different beads, to vary the pattern, to make a completely different bracelet. So here is try number two at a Victorian Lace Bracelet.

As you can see, completely different beads, completely different bracelet, same pattern.

This piqued my interest even more.

My next step was to comb the internet looking for beaded items that interested me enough to try.

One of the ones that I just loved is called Crystal Bracelet #3. BeeJang, who writes on LiveJournal, posted the tutorial, which turned out to be very easy to follow. I live in a small town, where there is not a bead to be found, so I had to use the materials I had available from my first beading box.

This bracelet was also done with plastic beads, so it didn't lay flat, and I wasn't happy with the quality, but I loved the design. It is made by using cross threads and I actually used a 7 foot strand for one of my first bracelets. I figured if that didn't make me want to stop, I was on the right path.

Next I was in the market for beads. Not having any real clue to what is all needed in beading, I just started buying beads and findings that caught my eye, and are easy on my pocketbook. Amazon seemed a great place to start, I found a lovely box of glass bi-cones.

This made me want to try the next project that caught my eye, and I was overjoyed at finally having some better quality beads to work with.

This bracelet is a Crystal Bracelet #19, again by BeeJang. (As stated above, her tutorials are easy to follow, and she has some beautiful patterns and they're free)

One thing I really like about this bracelet is the pattern that shows on the back. It really adds to the stability of the bracelet as well as the quality of the bracelet. I used the cross weave to do this, but have done another bracelet with an added row, with just one needle.

So now you know how I got started in this hobby, and that I haven't been in it very long. Check back again to see what else I've done. I have a bit to catch up on, and I apologize for things not being in order.

I wanted to start a hobby that was fulfilling and rewarding. I have always wanted to have a website. I wanted to rid myself of unhealthy bad habits and this is the start of my journey.

Cultivative Cactus - Memories of the Muttart Museum

Prairie Crocus

One of the first spring flowers, the Prairie Crocus is a thing of beauty.

Sunflowers

From My Sunflower Garden

Bumps In The Road - Learning Peyote Stitch

Purple, Orange & Green "Bumps in the Road"

I started beading in January of 2014. Peyote stitch was one of the stitches I am learning.

This bracelet is a unique design, using three different sizes of beads. The beaded toggle clasp makes it a very casual bracelet, without added embellishment.

Aqua & Green & Gold "Bumps in the Road"

My sister has been beading for a number of years and after recovering from a broken wrist, realized she was unable to continue with the bead weaving. She is now bead stringing.

Because bead stringing doesn't use a lot of seed beads, she sent me a mess of ones she had on hand. I now have many seed beads of many colors. She also sent me a couple of magazines.

Cobalt Blue & Silver "Bumps in the Road"

As I was looking through the November/December 2007 edition of Step by Step Beads, and found this pattern by Beverly Herman, called "Bumps in the Road". This turned out to be a great pattern to use some of those seed beads my sister added to my stash, as well as learn peyote stitch.

Cream & Brown "Bumps in the Road"

As the pattern immediately appealed to me, and I was eager to get started. The pattern uses size 10, size 8 and size 6 beads.

Metallic Purple & Iridescent "Bumps in the Road"

I had never stitched peyote anything. I started by making a swatch to get the general feel of it and within the hour, dove right in to attempt making the bracelet.

Green & Gold "Bumps in the Road"

Adding beads, while keeping even tension on the thread, takes a bit of getting used to. 

Brown & Gold "Bumps in the Road"

In this particular bracelet, the tighter the weave, makes a 'bumpier' bracelet. Being a beginner beader, I don't know how many tries it took until I could get the bumps uniform and my tension right..

I am totally self taught, and I didn't realise how much tension is really required while beading some projects.

Gold & Purple "Bumps in the Road"

The combinations that can be used making this bracelet are endless.

Light Blue & Silver "Bumps in the Road"

Peyote Stitch is very versatile. So many things can be made with this stitch, from lighter covers to bracelets to amulet bags. A must have stitch for every beginner beader.