I have been working on learning new beading stitches since I joined the Bead Dreamz group. For March I'm working on Herringbone Stitch. This green herringbone color sampler is my first attempt at herringbone. The pattern is from the book Mastering Beadwork by Carol Huber Cypher.

The pattern has a very distinctive weave which makes it easily recognizable. The beads are grouped in twos and set next to one another at an angle that looks like the cloth herringbone weave. DAH!!!! you may say, but if you look at the above section, the placement of color

changes the look.

I'm working on another bracelet that is herringbone, but it looks like seed stitch. The size of the bead as well as the color placement really changes the look of this one.

It is very easy with herringbone to leave openings in the weave, so it is great for using a button and buttonhole for the closure on a piece. The button here is a vintage button from my collection. I looked through the jars and tin for just the right size and color.........

This next bracelet is also a new technique to me Brick Stitch. It is made with 11/0 delica beads and crystal bicones. I started at one end with two declia beads and increased and decreased each diamond shape to the length needed. Then I added the arches of delicas and bicones. This first picture is a truer rendition of the colors than the second one......matt gold and raspberry.

The button on this one is actually a crystal bead that I purchased on the 60% off wall at Hobby Lobby. The pattern for this bracelet is by Anna Nehs and is from an old Bead & Button Magazine

I am ready for spring.....the weather has been changing so much that I have gotten a very sore throat and feel awful today. I hope it gets better, I haven't had strep throat for years, but I'm afraid this one could move to that very easily. If I don't feel better I may stay in all weekend and hope it is better before I need to go back to work on Monday.

I'm beginning to feel tired again so maybe it is time for a little nap before I start supper.

New Things

The temperatures have been very mild for the past few days and all of the snow is gone!!!! The wind that went through yesterday didn't do any damage in the woods. We do have some small branches down in the yard that will need to be cleaned up before the first lawn mowing, but that is still down the road a few weeks so we aren't too worried about it for now.


As you will see I've been busy playing with my beads, in my spare time. I am only working four day a week now, this is fine with me. I have enough stuff to keep me busy those four days and that make the hours go by quickly.

This first bracelet is called Romance, it is a Julie Ann Smith design. I really like her designs and her site is very user friendly. She also takes Paypal my preferred way to pay on line.


The beads are tiny peyote stitched tubes, capped with a flat spacer bead, and there are red crystals and seed beads in between.

This next pendent is a pattern from a blog, the triangle and the tubes are hollow. I followed a graph to make this pendent, the directions were in French. I made one mistake and didn't realize it until it was too late to correct, so I just worked with it.

The next bracelet is another of Julie Ann Smith's called Red & Black, it is odd count peyote stitch. I have found that I really like working in odd count, even though it is a little more difficult because of the way you add the left side bead and step up to the next row.

I really like how this one turned out............it is just so ME!!! The button shows up darker in the photo, but it is an antique glass on a silver base and it is really the same bright red as the delica beads.

This bracelet is another flat spiral, I picked up the beads (lapis) at Hobby Lobby for half price.

These are the last of my beaded beads for the exchange later this month.

I have two more Julie Ann Smith peyote bracelet patterns. I ordered the beads for the next one, New England Garden, and they arrived yesterday so I will probably get to work on it later tonight.

Have a Happy Valentines Day..........

Hugs and Kisses to all...........