Brick Stitch Bumble Bee!!

SO I got a request on one of my videos a while ago, asking for a tutorial for a brick stitch bumble bee! I just knew that I could refuse because as horrible and as scary as wasps are, bumble bees are adorable! They're so fluffy and cute, and they don't want to hurt you at all.

With that being said, I knew that I had to make these bees to be small. Honestly, they're probably smaller than an actual bumble bee, because they are surprisingly large!!

Image source

After a bit of trial and error, I worked out how to make these little guys, with two options of adding a jump ring. The first method just uses an extra bead at the top of the wing, whereas the second option creates a little loop out of beads. I think I prefer the loop, especially now I have found my clear seed beads! (Better late than never, I guess?)

Option 1

Option 2

Which method to you prefer? Let me know!

Peyote Chevron Flag Pendant

So in today's tutorial, I'm going to share with you how to make this cute chevron flag pendant, using the bead weaving technique of peyote! They're so cute and easy to make, so you can make them in a variety of colours and designs, not just chevrons!

It can be a little confusing when starting odd-count peyote. I know it sure took me a few attempts to get it right, but I know that you'll be fine, as long as you just follow along with the tutorial!!

Link to the tutorial is here

Brick Stitch Peppermint Pattern

When I was approached by Sarah from SoCraftastic to collab again, I couldn't refuse! I also had a request to make a video on this pendant, so I though I would combine the two. These were one of the first things that I made when I learnt how to do brick stitch, so they truly are perfect for beginners :D

Here is the pattern, so you can follow along with the pattern as you follow the tutorial!

10K Subscriber Giveaway!!

I cannot believe I have over 10K subscribers on YouTube! I wanted to give something back to you, so here it is!

Here's a photo of the prizes that I have for you :D It's perfect for those wanting to get into bead weaving as it's full of beady delights.

Many thanks to The Bead Shop Nottingham for generously donating some prizes towards this giveaway!

• The ONLY requirement to enter is that you are subscribed to my channel. The other things are just delightful extras that will earn you extra entries.

• If you are under 18, please make sure you have your parents' permission as I will need your address to send you the prizes.

• This giveaway IS INTERNATIONAL! If you have an address, I will send you your prize :)

Well what are you waiting for?? Get entering!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Brick Stitch Dolphin Pattern

I was asked way back in January to make a dolphin charm using brick stitch bead weaving techniques. I  made the charm way back then and even posted a photo in Instagram, promising to make a tutorial "soon". Clearly to me, "soon", means 10 months later (or 44 weeks, according to Instagram.)

I know, I know... I'm clearly the worst kind of person. It's not my fault. I receive quite a few video requests, and I like to keep everyone happy. Also I don't want to just be a bead weaving channel, so I try to mix it up where I can. That is just an excuse... I just forgot to make the tutorial :D But hey, I'm only human

Enough waffling around... Here is the pattern:

As always, I used size 11 delica beads by the Japanese brand Miyuki. I also used beading thread by the company Nymo and a size 10 beading needle.

All items were purchased from http;//mailorder-beads.co.uk who were generous enough to give me a 10% discount code on full-items on orders over £5! It's valid until 31st Dec 2015 and the company do ship internationally! Just type TCOC10 in the promo code box at the checkout :D

Cute Ursula Beading Pattern

I like Disney villains. They're always scary, but mysterious. I often wonder what made them evil and why they dislike the "good guys" of the film. When it was suggested by CraftGyver that our collaboration video should be The Little Mermaid, I knew who I had to make!!

One of my Instagram followers was kind enough to tell me about a computer program on which you can design patterns. It's free to use and, even better, you can save the patterns!!

Here is my pattern for a cute Ursula beaded charm using square stitch.

If you're new to square stitch, I recommend checking out my Square Stitch Basics tutorial! It explains everything you need to know to make this adorable sea witch.

Who's your favourite character from The Little Mermaid?

How I Got into Bead Weaving

When many people think about "bead weaving", it conjures up images of intricate, but sometimes, garish pieces, usually done by middle-aged women. There is nothing wrong with this image, but my friends at the place where I work were amazed when I, as a 24 year-old with blue hair, discovered a love for brick stitch!

I work at a bead shop and hadn't done much jewellery making before I got the job. (I know... I don't know why they hired me either!) After hearing about bead weaving and the stigma attached, I didn't attempt it at all. It seemed unnecessarily complicated and fiddly, then I was browsing a magazine for ideas for another project, and came across a gorgeous bunting necklace that was made using brick stitch! I love bunting... There's something about it that's just so cute and makes me think of tea. Yum!

Now my first attempt was awful. At the time, I thought it was really good, but looking back, no. It was awful. I even made a pair of brick stitch triangle earrings that were for a magazine project (and were featured in the magazine!) and I'm so ashamed of them now! From that moment on, I developed a delica-addiction. It's not healthy the number of tubes of beads I now have! They are useful to have though.

Look at those terribly wobbly triangles!!

It took me a while before I started to create my own patterns. I used to copy other people's and give them to my friends and family members. I didn't realise how easy it is to  make your own pattern! With the help of Bead Tools, it's so easy! I tend to make them with a reference picture open next to the pattern page. It does take a lot of trial and error though, and I'm often not in a patient mood!

This panda is made using a pattern I made myself.

I heard about square stitch thanks to Pixelosis. She creates amazing pixelated pieces of jewellery using this technique. I knew that I wanted to give it a try! I'm still extremely new to this stitch and have only recently mastered the art of increasing! I really want to make tutorials on this stitch, but it takes a very long time to make charms with it. Definitely one for people with patience. With square stitch, it's possible to make things using Perler/Hama bead patterns, and there's lots of them all over the internet!

I need to master Peyote, then I will have three different stitches under my belt! There are so many bead weaving stitches out there! I'm excited to see what things I can create with them.

My favourite stitch is definitely brick stitch. Do you have a favourite? If so, which is it?

Where I Find Patterns: Bead Loom

When I first started make bead loom bracelets, I used other people's patterns because I wanted to be sure that the pattern would work and look good! As my confidence grew, I wanted to experiment a little more with making my own patterns, which I did using BeadTool.

BeadTool allows users to easily create patterns for any beading, be it brick stitch, peyote, square stitch or beading on a loom. You can select the stitch that you want to use, which will change the grid, and select the colours you want to use from the full selection of Miyuki Delica palette listed on the program. Simply select the colour that you require, and draw in the squares! Easy! BeadTools offers a free download of this program so you can try it out, test it and see if it's something you want to buy. It's only £30, which for a beading program, isn't too bad at all! The downside is that with the free trial, you are unable to save your patterns you've created and you also can't screen capture them. I guess it makes sense though.

Another alternative is to use friendship bracelet patterns. My websites of choice for these are http://friendship-bracelets.net and http://braceletbook.com. If you click through to the "alpha" patterns, you will see a grid design, identical to a bead loom pattern! There are hundreds of premade patterns to suit every occasion, but also on both of these websites, you have the opportunity to create your own patterns and submit them to the site, so other people can use them! I have done this for a couple of patterns, such as this one:

 

And this one:

You can then read these patterns just like you would a regular bead loom pattern, where each square is a bead.

Here are a couple of examples:

Source

Source 

 



 

So that is where I find my bead loom patterns! Where are your favourite places to find bead loom patterns?

New Bracelets!

I treated myself on Saturday. I bought myself a bead loom from where I work and have had a lot of fun making bracelets on it! I'm getting quite speedy at it now :)

Don't mind my very-fetching pyjama trousers!

This is my first attempt. I made it while watching Eurovision (which was wonderful, as always) and it looks so 80's! I do love it though. Sewing all the ends in took me such a long time though, and I didn't even do it that neatly :/ Then I wrongly tried to add the ribbon end on, to attach my clasp on, and broke a couple of the beads... oops! I managed to salvage the rest and just sewed the clasps on, but I now know for next time!

I watched a very useful video where crochet cotton was used instead of thread for the warp of the loom. Then the ends of the bracelet could be braided and tied on the wrist that way, instead of bothering with a clasp. Because I have become obsessed with making doilies, I had treated myself to some crochet cotton and decided to give it a shot.

I love the finish of these bracelets. They're a lot more laid back, and I can charge less for them because I don't need to spend so long sewing in the ends of the bracelet!

I'm using a thinner crochet cotton with this bracelet.

And now for some better photos:

Have you ever tried using a bead loom? If so, what's your favourite warp thread to use?

Making My Own Brick Stitch Pattern

This isn't the first attempt at making my own pattern as my carrot and bunny necklace were also a "The Corner of Craft" original, but this was the first time making a pattern with this much detail!

I don't know what made me decide to make a sugar skull pendant, but something did, so I had to make it! I looked around online for a brick stitch pattern of a sugar skull, and I was left sorely disappointed. There simply weren't any around! I could only find peyote, and I'm not going there again! (I've still now finished the peyote bracelet that I started to make myself!)

After much trial and error on BeadTools, I eventually got the shape of the skull to be as close to perfect as I could manage it and the detail to match other pictures of sugar skulls I had seen. As I haven't yet bought BeadTools, I am unable to save my pattern so had to quickly make it up so I didn't lose it! Here is the finished result and I hope that you like it! This little guy is listed in my Etsy shop! http://thecornerofcraft.etsy.com

Have any of you made your own beading patterns before? If so, what's your favourite program to use?

My Crafting Inspiration: Bead Crumbs

Time for another crafting inspiration methinks! When I first started beadweaving at the beginning of the year, I decided very early on that I didn't want to make the kind of things that everyone else seemed to be making! I was much more interested in making charms and pendants instead of whole beaded pieces of jewellery. After a bit of Etsy browsing to see what was out there, I found Bead Crumbs, aka Jayne. She is an incredible beader, based in Hawaii (SO jealous!) and she makes amazing pendants and charms of all sorts. Her patterns are inspiring and her passion for beading is slightly addictive! She's also extremely approachable, and was able to recommend a beading computer program for me to use and such.

After looking at her amazing work on Etsy, it truly inspired me to work on my own beading techniques and skills that I had newly acquired. I shall share some pictures with you now of her amazing work! All photos are taken from Jayne's blog.

How cute is this gorgeous lamb??

This hibiscus flower is so summery!

This is my favourite charm that Bead Crumbs makes!

PB&J!

Bead Crumbs on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BeadCrumbs
Bead Crumbs on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeadCrumbs
Bead Crumbs' Blog: http://handmadecuties.blogspot.co.uk/
Bead Crumbs on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeadCrumbs

Easter Delights!

I've not been very well this past week, due to a cold I caught! I guess that's the risk that comes with working with the public... Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I made a cute rabbit and didn't know what to do with him. I asked the boyfriend and he told me to make it into a pendant with carrot earrings! I thought the idea was cute, but I took what he said and ran with it, and this adorable necklace was born!

**EDIT!! Bunny necklace is now available on my Etsy shop!**

Let me know what you think!

I'M IN A MAGAZINE!

Well I'm not personally, but some earrings that I've made have been featured! Beads & Beyond have a monthly theme and bead shops across the UK can submit items that their employees have made. The bead shop that I work in regularly do this. This is the first one that I have contributed to because before this, I didn't feel confident enough in the jewellery that I could make.

While I'm not particularly proud of the earrings I made for the magazine, and looking at the pictures I can see how much my brick stitch technique has improved, I am proud that they've been featured in a magazine!

Getting Brave with Brick Stitch

As you may have read in a previous post, I've just started to bead weave. I'm nowhere near spectacular enough to make all kinds of extravagant pieces, but I have learnt how to do different things!

 My latest endeavour with brick stitch, which is all I can manage at the moment regarding bead weaving, is making cute candy/sweet pendants or charms!! Check out the array that I have created:

And then I started to make bow necklaces too :D

This is actually a violet colour but my camera hates purple...

These items are now available in my Etsy shop!! Link here.

Let me know what you think of the new photographing technique btw! Thought I'd try something different :)