This book is full of beautiful Christmas ornaments for keep you beading Christmas after Christmas!

Choose your decorating style from 71 elegant, fun & funky, snow & ice, or new traditions designs, and create dozens of sparkling Yuletide ornaments to fit the theme of your tree. Make stars, icicles, snowflakes, and whimsical characters.

Big Book of Beaded Ornaments

Big book of beaded ornaments

Beading is as popular as ever, and Christmas is one of the key crafting occasions.

Whether it’s a tealight holder, a pom-pom light garland, a Christmas stocking, gift bags, or a Christmas jewelry set, readers will embrace the decorating and gift ideas found in Simply Sparkling Christmas Beading. Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions cover a huge range of techniques, including bead loom weaving, bead stitches, bead embroidery, and wiring, for projects that truly shine.
With a selection of last-minute variation projects ideal for when time is short, even the most harried Christmas shopper will find something to craft in this accessible and friendly guide.
Love this for Christmas beading ideas. Have a look here:

Simply Sparkling Christmas Beading: Over 35 Beautiful Beaded Decorations and Gifts

Beautiful Beaded Decorations and Gifts

The Beadery Christmas Ornament Kit

Make your own Christmas ornaments this year with this colored ornament kit. Includes materials to make 100 ornaments
20 christmas trees,
20 candy canes,
20 bulbs,
20 Christmas wreath
and 20 snowflakes

The Beadery Christmas Ornament Kit

Christmas bead kit

Here is a great idea for backpack danglers made from all those left over beads you have.
Click the link below to get the full patterns.

Beading goes over big on backpacks

By Jennifer Forker , For The Associated PressSunday, August 10, 2008

When a friend’s 5-year-old daughter entered my house recently and saw the many styles and colors of beads laid out for making backpack danglers for the new school year, her eyes lit up. “This will be fun,” she said.So, too, the 9-year-old neighbor girl, who saw this same display of beads and couldn’t wait to dig into them: “This is a cool project,” she said.It’s no secret that kids love beads – the big, round ones, the little ones, the sparkly ones, the wooden ones.Beading has flourished into a lucrative slice of the crafting industry, with independent bead shops in even the smallest towns and traveling bead fairs heading up and back along our interstate highways.

According to the Big Bead Book, an online directory, there are more than 2,200 retail bead shops in the United States.Robert Brown started selling beads at his store, D&I Beads, in Peoria, Ariz., 15 years ago, and online in 2001. Now one of the giants in the industry, Brown said his family-owned business has sales that are “in the millions” every year.”Beading is a really good craft,” Brown said. “It’s probably the No. 1 craft right now, because (people) can not only make jewelry, they can make craft objects with them.”Beads sell.And getting little girls to do beadwork? That’s an easy sell, too. Boys like to do beadwork, too, and there are plenty of beads they might enjoy, such as the wooden skull and crossbones I found at a Michaels craft store.If the summertime blues have hit your household, invest in a few colorful beads for your younger set.
Below are several ideas for making backpack danglers, adapted from Family Fun magazine.
Assorted backpack danglers
Supplies you’ll need:Assorted lettered and/or colored beadsButtons with large threading loops in backLarge safety pins (2-inch-long pins are sold at craft stores)
Small key rings or lanyard hooksBeading cord and/or hemp thread
Elastic cord
Scissors
Optional supplies for Idea No. 5:Shrinkable plastic (such as Shrinky Dinks)Colored markers or colored pencilsRubber stampsHole punchCookie sheetFoil, brown paper grocery bag or parchment paper

SunJournal.com – Beading goes over big on backpacks

Tags: freebeading patterns, beading patterns, bead patterns

These are some lovely bead braclets from Shirley who usually does scrap booking. Perhaps she should do more beading by the quality of these.

I have been having a little play with some beads and have whipped up a number of cute little bracelets that I thought I would share with you . . .

Reflections: Handcrafted Beaded Bracelets

Tags: freebeading patterns, bead patterns, beading, beads

Do you love to make Christmas Crafts. Well I have some great ideas and free instructions for you at Christmas Craft Ideas.

At last … a complete bead guide that answers all your questions about beads, beading and beadwork!

If that interests you hurry over to…

The Complete Bead Guide

“The Complete Bead Guide” is not like any other book about beading you’ve ever read. The reason for this, is that a simple webpage was set up and people who visited it were asked to leave their biggest question about beads.

The author then answered them all!

This means that there’s no “fluff” in the book. Just the real answers you want to know about beads and beading.

You’ll discover all types of exciting tips and information about beads. From their history and origin … to what supplies you’ll need for your projects. From how to source beads (easily and inexpensively) … to the types of threads you should avoid!

Here’s a link to more information about “The Complete Bead Guide“:

I used 28 gauge thread, 7 metres for a necklace and 3 metres for a bracelet.

I started with a packet of seed beads and a packet of mixed beads in peach colored tones.

Next I sorted the beads into sizes. I wanted the larger beads to be in the middle of the necklace. I threaded the beads onto the wire with 5 seed beads between the larger beads and 3 between the smaller ones.

To cast on I put the end of the wire down the Wonder Knitter about 15cm. Holding the tail of the wire I passed the wire around the first pin twice. Then around the 2nd and 3rd pin. Put the wire across the first pin again and using the hook lift the original loop over. Do this for the 2nd and 3rd pins. This is the first row.

Now I added beads by sliding 3 seed beads into the gap before the first stitch. I passed the wire around the first in and lifted the original stitch over it with the hook. I did the same for next two stitch and continued adding beads between the stitches.

For the smaller beads I added seed beads on either side. For the larger beads I did each one with a stitch on their own and then the seed beads for the next stitch to leave more space. Give a gentle tug on the thread through the bottom to pull the knitting through.

To cast off leave 15cm or 6 inches of wire. Lift each loop with the hook and pass the end of the wire through all 3 loops and secure tightly. Flatten the necklace gently with your fingers.

To add a clasp pass the end of the wire through the clasp and through the closest bead and back 3 times. Conceal the end. Repeat for the other end. You can add a jump ring and clasp or an extension chain and clasp.

Beading as popular as ever! Found this article and thought you should check it out.

Old is new: Vintage jewelry has staying power
By Mary Awosika NYT Regional Newspapers Last Updated:May 20. 2007

Who doesn’t like a little sparkle around the neck or dazzle on the earlobes?- If you’re going to wear it, let it be seen.It’s is all about complementing a simple outfit with a dynamic piece of jewelry, a chunky choker or long ropes of beads.This is the age of costume jewelry.

It’s the perfect choice for those of us who can’t afford expensive jewels.Admirers dazzled by a bold conversation piece will be even more impressed when you reveal its $50, $20 or $10 price.”Jewelry is a means of expression,” said jewelry collector Shelley Osborne, of Vintagejewelryonline.com.

“However comfortable you are in your own body determines how flamboyant your style’s going to be.”Osborne says that vintage jewelry has emerged in the mainstream since magazines, movie stars and designers started accessorizing with older pieces.”People can pull out costume jewelry from high school and college,” she said.”I think the reason people look at vintage is because it has a certain sense of nostalgia … It’s all about making a statement.”

Old is new | TimesDaily.com | Times Daily | Florence, AL

technorati tags:free, beading, patterns

I would love to go to Innsbruck, Austria, to the home of “The Swarovski Crystal Worlds”. A truly magically place to visit. I will have to be content with check out my local Beading shop as the beautiful Swarovski Crystal beads are now available to everyone to make their own jewelry.