The other day, I dropped off my beaded portrait of Dr. Geoff White at Central Square Eye Care. This portrait was created using tiny glass seed beads, felt, and recycled eyeglass lenses. My beadwork will be on display at 3 Central Square, Cambridge, MA, indefinitely. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, do stop by and take a peek! This is also a very cool place to get a new pair of specs. I just ordered a pair of purple Lafonts. Can’t wait to receive them! 8)
Posted in Boston, exhibits, portrait
Tagged Bead embroidery, Beadwork, Etsy, eyeglasses, optical, optometrist, Portrait
Finally I finished working on my bead-embroidered Scottie dog. He is very small, measuring just 3.5cm x 4cm. First, I used 13/0 charlottes, then I layered 1x4mm micro bugle beads over top. Then, I stitched on some Genuine Czech Crystal – Preciosa Viva Rosemontees for the dogs collar. This little dog really sparkles now! Next, I will begin beading the front panel of my custom heart-shaped purse. How does it look so far? 
Semi-beaded 5.5" heart-shaped purse. Work in progress..
Please check my Facebook page for more updates. Thanks for your interest in my beadwork!
This week, I began working on a new custom order for my Etsy shop – my first bead embroidered purse! This will be a Victorian-style heart-shaped purse featuring a beaded cat & Scottie dog inspired by a vintage Valentine. ♥
After working on the purse design, I cut out many layers of Lacy’s Stiff Stuff and stitched them altogether. Using 1mm & 2mm glass eyes, I stitched on their noses and eyes. For those who are wondering, I get these at GlassEyesOnline.com. I use the ones which are attached to a long wire. The wire must be cut & poked through the felt then stitched to the back.
Next, I used Japanese size 15/0 seed beads for the heart and the cat. Its not easy to stitch through all the layers of Lacy’s Stiff Stuff, but after I completed the cat’s head, it got easier. Once I completed the entire body, I then lazy stitched some tiny crystal 13/0 charlottes over top of the other seed beads to add a little sparkle. This cat is very small – only 3cm x 3cm. The dog is only slightly larger.. I will be beading him next! :O
My Etsy shop has been keeping me busy these days! I have been working on some new designs as well as taking custom orders. Here is my latest: a beaded Skye Terrier. This breed of dogs originated in Scotland, but one thing that makes them different than the Scottish Terrier is they have a lot more hair on their face and ears! So, I layered beaded loops on the dog’s face, ears and front legs. I used several different shades of gray & black beads, including Czech 13/0 charlottes. This pin really sparkles! Please click the pic to view more photos:)
I have quite a few new dogs on my list to create, as well as a few cats. If you are interested in a particular breed that I haven’t created yet, please contact me for more information. Thanks for your interest in my beadwork!
I am so thrilled – one of my customers in the UK made her own beaded Jack Russell Terrier pin by following my tutorial! Then, she blogged about her experience! I am very impressed with her perseverance in this project – she told me she had only tried bead embroidery once before.. Please click the pic below to take a peek. I think she did a wonderful job! 
My Jack Russell bead embroidery tutorial is available for sale at my Etsy shop. I hope you’re inspired to try making your own little beaded Rudy:)
Soon after I sold my first beaded Lhasa Apso pin, I received a custom order request for another one! I was asked to create a bead-embroidered likeness of an adorable little dog named Sophie.
My customer sent me quite a few photos of Sophie so that I could see her beautiful coat from all angles, but I really only worked from two – a profile photo & a close-up of her face. (What a cute face she has:)
Next, I dug through my bead stash and picked out 10 different colors of mainly Japanese size 15/o seed beads. The main color which I felt represents Sophie best is a matte silvery-gold – a rather difficult color to find. You can see them in the pic above the pink seed beads. These are actually Czech 13/0 charlottes, which means there is one facet on each bead. The transparent gray beads I used on her body are also charlottes. They really sparkle in the light!
Above, you can see the first layer of bead embroidery I did. I used a combination of Lacy’s Stiff Stuff & felt to create the foundation. Then, I stitched on a glass eye for the nose, seed beads for eyes, and a little pink tongue. Working from the pics, I slowly beaded the rest of the dog’s face and body. When this layer was complete, I stitched a 2nd layer of beaded fringe onto her face and tail. And here is the finished piece. How do you think she looks?
Sophie. Custom beaded Lhasa Apso pin/ pendant. (3.5cm x 4cm)
If you are interested in a custom beaded pet pin, please contact me for more details. Also, check out the new CLEARANCE section in my Etsy shop for beaded items now available at 50% off original price. Once they’re gone, they’re gone! Thanks for looking!
Tagged Bead, Bead embroidery, Beadwork, craft, Dog, Etsy, Lhasa Apso, Seed bead
To thank all of you who have followed my blog over the years and to celebrate the end of 2011, I am running a major sales event in my Etsy shop all weekend. For 3 days only, all jewelry, beaded beads, buttons, bird paintings, and select beaded paintings will be 25% off original price. Sale runs now through Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, 6pm EST. This is the biggest sale I have ever had, so please take a peek a the NEW YEAR SALE section to see if there is something you would like! Out with the old, in with the new! Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2012!
This week, a Facebook friend suggested that I make a beaded American Eskimo Dog pin and I was up for the challenge!
First, I traced my sketch onto a piece of Lacy’s Stiff Stuff. I don’t usually use Lacy’s, but I have begun to use it for the first layer of my beading foundation when working on something very small & detailed. I actually prefer to use felt because it’s easier to manipulate, but for details, such as the tiny legs on this dog, Lacy’s is easier to cut to shape. Then, I cut a few more layers of felt and stitched them altogether.
Next, I stitched a tiny glass taxidermy eye for the nose. Then, I stitched tiny size 15 Japanese glass seed beads to the foundation. I always start with the face, as that is the most difficult part. It gets easier from there, but still time-consuming!
As you can see, this requires quite a lot of stitches using needle and thread in a very small space (3cm x 4cm)! After I completed the first layer of beadwork, I stitched on a layer of beaded fringe (over the other seed beads) to add movement and realism to this tiny canine. Then, I stitched eye pins to the backs of the legs for added support. When the process was complete, I added an Ultrasuede backing.
This piece is now listed for sale on Etsy. You can see detailed photos by clicking the photo above. How do you think it looks? What kind of dog should I bead next?
Tagged Bead, Bead embroidery, Beadwork, Etsy, Facebook, Japanese Spitz, samoyed, Seed bead
This week, I found the time to create a new beaded dog pin – a Lhasa Apso! These sweet dogs lend themselves well to beading because they have long beautiful flowing hair. For this pin, I used several different colors of Japanese size 15 seed beads as well as a glass eye for the nose. I layered some beaded fringe on the dog’s head & tail adding just the right amount of visual interest!
If you follow my Facebook page, you’ll know that I listed this piece for sale at my Etsy shop late last night. Much to my amazement, this pin sold in just a few hours, so I relisted it as made-to-order for anyone else who might like one:)
I worked on my Zazzle shop a bit more this week, as well! It seems that artsy iPhone & iPod Touch cases are big sellers these days, so I made these available in new designs. Check out my ‘Beaded’ Great Blue Heron iPod Touch Case, as well as my ‘Beaded’ Rudy’s Dream iPad Case! So, if Santa forgets to bring you a case for your new mobile device, now you’ll know where to get one:)
That’s the news for now. Happy holidays, everyone!
Today, I think I finally finished the beadwork for the portrait (of my friend, the optometrist) I’ve been working on! I stitched silver bugle beads around my recycled eyeglass lenses to create frames. Then, I stitched gray, brown, and gold twisted bugle beads for hair. So far, it measures 9″ x 7.5″. I think its a pretty close rendition of my original sketch! Now, the next step is to mount it to a canvas somehow… How do you think it looks? 8)
Tagged Bead Art, Bead embroidery, Beadwork, eyeglass lenses, Fiber Art, optometrist, Portrait, Seed Beads
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The Lone Beader
