Little Netted Snowflake

Yesterday in the latest issue of the Rypan Designs newsletter I offered free access to my snowflake pattern for a limited time. Here is a chance for my followers and readers to have the same access. Access to the pattern will be ending on Tuesday December 10 @ 9:00 pm EST.

Here is picture of the six pack of snowflakes that I gave to Maria last Christmas.

Enjoy the pattern. If you have any problems please let me know - jlwoolverton@yahoo.ca.


Happy Beading!

Snowflakes on the line

Winter has arrived here in Weston. We have had snow since December 26.

Of course I have been creating a blizzard of my own with my little netted snowflakes. I have made almost 5 dozen of them over the last couple of months. They were a hit at the craft sale in November and I taught the design at bead society Techniques night earlier in December.

Giving them as a gift is always great. I gave 6 to my friend and beading mentor Maria for Christmas. I came up with a way to present them in a unique way. Maria was so surprise by my presentation that she photographed it.

Hope that everyone has a beadiful and creative new year!

Holiday Bling Blog Hop #2 - Reveal Day

Wow it is all ready the middle of December and time for the big reveal of my second round of the Holiday Bling Blog Hop. 

For this round I was match with a fellow Ontarian, Sandra McGriff.  Sandra and I decided to surprise each other. 

In preparation for a craft sale I had been making my little netted snowflakes, so I decided that I would send a small flurry of snowflakes to Sandra. 

 I sent her a dozen of these sparkly flakes. The challenge was securing them to a piece of cardboard to keep them flat during shipping. 

Here is what I received from Sandra.

Festive mailing envelope

Penquin card and shiny gift box

Necklace and earrings

Detail of Owl focal accented with pearls, quartz chips and small gold beads

Tree ornament made with buttons accented with gold

Tree ornament made with buttons accented with red

Here is a list of the amazing creative people who are part of the blog hop. Hop over to each to see the creativity that was shared.

Shirley Moore	http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud	http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Catherine King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Dyanne Cantrell	http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Sonya Stille	http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Elaine Ray	http://elaineray.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett	http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton	http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Debbie Rasmussen	http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano	http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Ginger Bishop	http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Miranda Ackerley	http://mirandack.com/category/thoughts
Sandra McGriff	http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca
Tammie Everly	http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca
Melinda Abrahamson	http://www.firstreetcrafts.com
Rita/ Toltec Jewels	http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Chandra Merod	http://www.junipergoods.blogspot.com
Mary Govaars	http://www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com
Kelley Fogel	http://www.mylifeonebeadatatime.blogspot.com
Tiffany Goff Smith	http://www.southerngalsdesign.blogspot.com
Heather Rats Otto	http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Anitra Gordy Boyers	www.leelucreations.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo	http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shelley Graham Turner	www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Toronto Public Library - United Way Craft Sale

Tomorrow, Nov 16,  marks my second craft sale. Last year I did the small craft sale at the Toronto Public Library United Way Talent Show. This year the Craft Sale is its own event as part of the fund raising Library staff do for the United Way. Along with a collection of creative library staffers we will be selling our creations at the North York Central Library from 12 - 7 pm.

I will have a small Christmas tree full of my little netted snowflakes.

Here is a selection of some of the necklaces that will be for sale. 

I will have earrings and pendants as well.

Follow this link to see some of the offerings of my co-workers.

I hope that those of you in the area will stop by and see the amazing creativity of library staffers and make a start at your holiday shopping.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Red, Gold and Orange Snow??

No, it is not snowing colourful snow it Toronto. But over the last week my friend Anna and I have made snow ornaments in red, gold and orange.

Anna wanted to make these colourful snowflakes for her daughter in-law and a friend. I was recruited to help get them done asap.

We used the pre-made snowflake forms and added various beads to each arm to create one-of-a-kind snowflakes. As in nature no two snowflakes are alike.

My first was this all red flake.

Anna made these four orange and gold snowflakes.

I made these six red and gold flakes.

 

We tried to use only bead that either of us had in our stash of beads. I was surprised at how many different orange beads I had. Many of the red beads were extras from the 2007 Toronto Bead Society bag of bead challenge.

This are quick and easy to make, but as with all stringing projects it is the layout of the beads that takes the longest. It is also a challenge to finish the ends. You can glue a bead on the end, but we decided to fold over the end. It is not easy to do but it give you a small loop to use for hang the snowflakes.

Beadwork - Favs of 2009

It is the end of the year and the end of the decade. Here are a few of my favourite pieces this year.

My own design, little snowflake

Finally finished, Phantasea Necklace

Quick and funky, Coral Chilies Necklace

Bronze Age Bracelet

Bronze Age Necklace

Maria's Chicklet Bracelet

As seen in the Toronto Bead Society Calendar, Sea Anoeme Boxes 1, 2, 3.

Lauren's Purple Tempest Box

Mackenzie's Metal Forest Star

Inspired by Elly Peters lampwork beads, Ellyloo Box.

Beadwork - Little Snowflake

Winter is on the way and here is my first snowflake. I designed this snowflake using circular netting. It combines matte white and silver lined seed beads with Swarovski crystals.

I am currently writing up the instructions as I have volunteered to teach this small project at the December techniques night meeting of the Toronto Bead Society.

I photographed the steps as I made up another sample this morning. I plan to include the photos to illustrate each step.

I may try a different placement of the colours and use crystal AB Swarovskis instead of the chalk white AB.

Beadwork - Snowflakes and a Box

Yes, I have started another box. This time I have gone with a different shape. This square box has a different sequence for increasing on the bottom. The bottom of the box actually concaves in.

I will have to wait until after the Toronto Bead Society Bead Fair to finish as I have run out of one of the colours of beads. I will look for them at the show.

I had two new snowflakes kits from Rypan Designs to make up for display at the upcoming Bead Fair.

These snowflakes are made with beautiful twist bugles, seed beads and Swarovski crystals. They are stitched using Soft Touch beading wire which is fine enough to thread on a needle and tie knots. The larger one uses 30mm bugles and the small uses 20mm bugles.