A Happy Mistake

I will tell you all of a happy mistake I made not long ago. On my travels through the internet I came across a book called 'The Beaders Bible' . Now I did not realise there is two Beaders Bibles.

Anyway I duly sent away for 'The Beaders Bible' from my old favorite Amazon.co.uk. I did not check that it was the right book. However when it came (Amazon has never let me down) It certainly was The Beaders Bible this book was by Claire Crouchley. The book has a fund of designs in Square Stitch. This stitch can be used on a loom as well as square stitch. This was great because I had not long before purchased a wire loom. the other stitch is Peyote Stitch or Brick Stitch.

Well if you have read my previous posts you will know I had no great liking for the pesky peyote.. I did try some of the simpler patterns in all the different stitches. I got caught up in some of them .

The stitches in the book are very well explained and the pictures make you want to try all of them.

I was trawling through the internet on Saturday and guess what I found another Beaders Bible.I now realise this was the book I had wanted in the first place. This book is by Dorothy Wood and is a Comprehensive Guide to Beading Techniques. It sounds good dont you think. When I recieve it from the trusty Amazon I will let you know how I get on with it.

Birthday instead of Beading

It was the princess's birthday she is 8 years old. Mind you it must be true what they say that time goes quicker as you get older. I really dont know how she got to be 8. I feel it was just yesterday we were at the hospital to see our beautiful new grand-daughter.
She is quite the little lady now. She decided she wanted a pool party this year. I must say it all went well on the day. A friend of ours lent us a karaoke machine . What a wonderful invention because while some kids did not want to be swimming all day there was this machine to take there attention.

I feel so tired today I just want to get on with my beading. This week has been hectic with me trying to remember everything for the party. Between food, cakes, pop, balloons and all the rest of the things that make up a kids party nowadays.

Now I am back to my usual weekend things like tidying and sorting out my beading table.

Beading Books

At the beginning of this month I turned 70 and on my birthday I decided to buy myself Diane Fitzgerald's book 'Shaped Beadwork'. One of the things that decided me to buy this book was the fact I could not get the hang of the Peyote Stitch and on looking at many web sites and beading blogs this book came up time after time when I found articles on the pesky Peyote.
I have loved working through the book. Her instructions and descriptions of the wonderful items she has made and shows in the book are amazing..
However there was another book I was very interested in and that was Horace R. Goodhue's 'Indian Bead-weaving Patterns' . I have always have been interested in the beadwork of the American Indians. Again while surfing the net I kept coming across this book. However there were as many against as there was for.. some people thought the drawings left a lot to be desired.. and on the other hand there were people that thought his explanations and stories on the subject of the American Indian beading refreshing. I am one of those people. Since receiving the book from Amazon.co.uk (wonderful web site, wonderful service) on Monday I have read it from front to back and loved every word and diagram.
As you can imagine I am working my way through this book too. Wish me luck..

Roadworks in Costa del Silencio

I came to Costa Del Silencio in 1999. From then until last year the roads and paths around the town were deplorable. To think that I pushed my grandkids buggy up and down those potholed pavements and cobbled kerbs!

We were happy when work started to improve the situation but heavens what a mess they are making! And it is all taking soooo long.

The powers that be have now dug up a stretch of road from Coral Mar all the way to Calle de Te. Up till now they have not thought to cover it over with the tar macadam that constitutes what we could call a road. At the moment it is just dust blowing all over the place and bone-shattering pot holes. God only knows what it is doing to the car...

There have been a few posts on the subject on Tenerife Tattle if you want to know more about the CDS roadworks - just search for Costa Del Silencio and you'll get them in a list.

It is so obvious that the mayor of this small town is a man. No woman would let this mess go on month after month. It is a standing joke that just as it all looks to be finished they'll realise that they forgot to lay the underground pipes for water, electric and sewage. It is a kind of madness and all I can say in their defense is 'TIT' (this is Tenerife) in other words what do we expect.

Here is my first finished project from THE BOOK.As I said Yesterday I run out of beads but managed to make a ribbon of the diagonal chain. I had to change the colors round on one of the bits because I saw I was running out of the pewter color fast. I feel really good about the ' The open Shapes Bracelet'.
I sat up till all hours trying to finish all the bits but I had to give in bed was calling. I got up and finished it this morning. I had to add the chain because of the lack of beads. I dont think it looks too bad.
More good news the kids are home so I will have then here tomorrow and they can play in the pool with all the other children.

Happily Beading in Tenerife

I have had some fun today I have been beading away getting through this book. I love it..as I told you before it is the kind of book you have to work through from front to back if you know what I mean. I usually flick through the pages to see what takes my fancy. Not this book I tried that and realised I needed to really take my time and follow the instructions.
Well I am getting on not too bad ..I am on to the second chapter 'Open Shapes' . I got myself into a few twists and knots but now I have cracked it. At the back of the book I found a pattern for a 'Diagonal stripe chain' How do people think these things up. It is so simple but looks so lush.
Ah but there is still a problem I have run out of beads. This the curse of Tenerife. Sure I can get lots of beads but not the ones I want.. I am sure I could get some but not in the colors I want or not in the amounts I want. Well never say die I will just get on and finish what I have done . It will be a bracelet. I will try and post it tomorrow.

Not Beading just thinking

We have got a big hole in our lives at the moment.. the children are away in Los Cristianos for the most of this week.. they are visiting relations that came over for a holiday from Paris.
I am usually complaining about having to be jumping up and down to their beck and call. Really I dont know what is wrong with me 'I DO MISS THEM' there I said it.
I have decided I will try not to complain about them at all next week..

Beading with 'Shaped Beadwork'

I am sure you can imagine the excitement here when I opened the package yesterday. This is a lovely book. A joy to read and to follow the illustrations. I have pottered through all the basics in chapter one. Well I have never been able to get the hang of peyote stitch but Diane Fitzgerald's book has shown me I can do this stitch. Maybe I am not proficient just yet but I am getting there.
In the recent past I tried the chevron stitch then I found out it was one of Diane's. She has a knack of breaking down the instructions to make things simple. Thank you Diane

The photos in the book of her work leave me gasping for air. I have always liked the thought of being able to make simple 3D jewelery but, come on, in peyote stitch.. no way, well here I am attempting to do just that. I dont sell the things I make I just love the challenge.
I will keep you posted how I get on with THE BOOK

At last I have got the BOOK

I received a book I had sent away for this morning. What a book! The title is Shaped Beadwork by Diane Fitzgerald. The book is all about peyote stitch. I never did get the art of this stitch . The illustrations are lovely and the photos of her work WELL Now! will I ever be able to make items like these?..
The book is like a continuous lesson it takes you from the simplest to what, to me, looks a lot more difficult. I have already started the triangle. I am going to try and make it 3D however we shall see.
As you can see I whipped up two sides of my tri-angle I will show you the finished article.Of course I have delved right in.

A Spiral Bracelet.

I was looking for something to take my interest and found a 'different' Spiral on the Beading Daily web site. This spiral bracelet was made by Janel Gradowski is called Holiday Swirl and I feel well named.
It is a lovely swirly bracelet and I just had to attempt it. I like things that set me a bit of a challenge or 'using the old noddle'.
It was my birthday on the 3rd when I found the post by Michelle Mach, what a gift, on reading down I found the bit about spirals this was written by Jean Campbell. The blogs by Jean always have something of interest in them and I find all her instructions very easy to follow.
Now I love the spiral stitch, any spiral, I dont mind. I love finding new ones to try. My next challenge is going to be a bracelet in the Cellini Spiral.

Beading Table Clear!!

I feel as if I have spent all day trying to sort out the mess. Well I have done it. I can see the little table once more.The only thing is I dont want to make a mess of my wee table. That means no beading lol. How could I make such a mess.
I am going to try and not mess it up again. I have to remember 'you cant make omeletes without breaking eggs' Well I think I must have made a lot of them to make such a mess.

Tidying up the Beading Mess

Yes I am still trying to make sense of my very small work table. I just dont know how I manage to make such a mess. Every time I try to make some order of the mess I find something else to do. Always beading.
Since the last time I said I was going to tidy it all up I have made two necklaces , two bracelets and I am now in the middle of two other bracelets..

Just how can I keep focused on the job in hand. I want to try so many different stitches and colors.
My brain is tumbling over and over. The ideas just flow in and get all mixed up.
I think it is an age thing. Senior moments and all that. Still I enjoy the beading but not the trying to make sense and order of the mess. Wish me luck back to the wee table.