"THE TEASE" Part One

I have been playing with an idea.....

I have found a design in a magazine ( that I subscribe to ) that I would put up in parts, show how the bead weaving process can work.

I often get asked "how did you do that?" so.... I thought I would pick out something that has been created by another designer and post each stage to show how it all works. I will take a picture of each part, & post it when each part is finished, yeah mean aren't I.

Why didn't I use one my designs? you ask, well...

I'm a spur of the moment kinda gal and the thought of having to stop! argh! at each stage was far too confounding!!! (one day lol). I also thought it far far easier to show another designers work, who has laboured for hours to publish their work and then give them the very well deserved praise for their effort.

I will link to several sites that have really good and easy to read instructions that one could follow.

SO>>> without further ado here we go....

PART ONE

This is the First Part:- the piece you see is part of the main unit of the necklace, this piece has been made using the stitch called "Chevron Chain" using size 15 & size 11 miyuki seed beads in Hermatite & Silver, it also has been finsihed off with 2 silver glass pearls, a light gold czech round bead and a large black czech glass bead.

Here's the link to great instruction's of how to do the "Chevron Chain".

http://www.guidetobeadwork.com/book/chevron/CC0.html

So give it try and see how you go. if you have any questions just send me a note.

Busy Time Ahead

Hi all, Leeanne here,

Over the next few weeks I will be busy taking photos of my my beadwoven jewellery to put up for sale, some of which many of you have never seen.

I have been writting up some easy to use and read beading tips and information, also some really interesting info about the use of colours and why we choose the colors we do for ourselves and some very cool history bits and bobs too.

So it's a bit busy but be patient and check back from time to time to see what's happening.

Also if you have some beadwoven jewellery and or accessories you would like to be shown, send me a quick email and I will get back to you with more information.

So all in all that's me for now and I will happy to see you again.

Changes at Beadweaver

I am currently making some changes to my website. I always had it in mind to sell my beads on TradeMe as well as at Beadweaver but I have decided to stick to TradeMe for the bead selling and use Beadweaver as a place to showcase New Zealand beadweavers.

We are few and far between. I am going to enjoy scouting out all the others. Most people think we are nuts because they can't perceive of where we get the patience or the eyesight to do all that fiddly stuff. It gets in your blood once you start,in a very meditative, very creative, sort of way. Either that or one pulls ones hair out and tosses the beads to the winds.

There have been a few ladies on the trademe message boards having a go at the tiny bead industry, with mixed reviews I might add. I can't wait to see if any become converted and I can add their beauty to my site.

This picture is one of the amazing robes made by Sharmani Wirasekara. She is a huge inspiration to me and I have been in the process for many months, growing to years, making my own robes. I completed one recently and will post some pitures when I can get a decent shot.

I spent this morning in the most tedious of tasks, undoing hundreds of rows on my current robe. It is extremely frustrating but I know it will be worth it. It just wasn't looking right and I realized at some point that I had spent hours using the wrong finish beads, so undone she comes....the joys of being a beginner and self taught into the bargin.

Never mind...patience, patience, patience.

The Beadweaver Tips For The Day

Here are my 'first thing in the morning' tips for ensuring you actually get some magic creation happening in your beading world today...

1. Right NOW, determine what slot of time you are going to get some of that bead project done today....I find if I discipline myself to do at least a little beading every day there is a continuous sense of creating and my brain is free of the 'I really must get around to...'

2. Tidy your workspace...another brain declutterer. Every time you bead then do a quick reshuffle of your space. Throw out all the nymo threads lying around, restack your beads, make your space into a fresh place to step into next time.

3. Look for at least one lead of inspiration for future beading projects today....it could be anything but when you find it then note it, in a book set aside for that purpose. I find my 'ideas' file in the the brain can only hold so much and spits out inspiration once reaching capacity

4. Connect with other beaders ....If you have a network then talk to at least one other beader today. If you don't have a network then find one...like here, with me...chat, comment and support each others process of creating.

5 Suss out your next buy...even if your not buying today, keep abreast of what's out there in the bead department. I like to go online and check out what people are making or what suppliers are bringing new to online. Magazine adverts are great for finding new supplies or other creatives who fashion their own focal beads.

Its Time To Start!

I decided its about time to get this blog up and honking. Its been sitting, waiting for me to get my act together on the shop side of things for months now. I am slowly filling the shop stock but no reason not to be chatting anyway.

I come across some great people in the beading world. Beadweaving can be such a solitary game but when you meet the people you discover a real kinsmanship.

I am particularly passionate about tiny beads...the type that most people think you are nuts to work with because they feel like they have to squint to see them. EVERYONE says 'you must be so patient!'. I am pretty patient but then again tiny beadweaving has grand rewards.

Its rhythmic and there is a real meditative quality.

I love that place of quietude while I pass from bead to weave to bead to weave.

I also love the creation of something from a blank space, row upon row it slowly buids up. There is real satisfaction in it.

The first piece I ever made was a butterfly from Sheilah Cleary's book on beading. I don't even know where it is now but it was a big turning point. I was in Australia on holiday and walked into a bookstore and saw the book and just went 'that's what I am going to do', and I have never looked back...short and simple. A whole new direction of interest and pleasure...funny how things can just start out that way.