Last minute gifts...

Oh, it's going to be a big beading weekend for those who are making baubles for family and friends. If you have more beads than money these days, here are some of the best FREE patterns (in my humble opinion) on the Web, and oh yeah, don't forget to check out my Free Patterns & Tutorials:

Sabine Lippert's Blommor:

Sandra Halpenny's Round Lace Bracelet:

Art Deco Earrings by Alexis:

Jann Christiansen's Sealed With a Kiss Bracelet:

Ruth Kiel's Two Drop Dutch Spiral Necklace:

Ruby's Star Bracelet:

Jennifer VanBenschoten's Modern Brick Stitch Earrings:

Rita Sova's How to Create a Toggle Clasp:

Beki Haley's Flat Undulating Herringbone Bracelet:

Michelle Skobel's Imperial Majesty:

Shanna Steele's Woven Starburst Pendant:

Seeing Stars by Eva Maria Keiser Designs:

FusionBeads.com's Making a French Hoop Ear Wire:

Sabine Lippert's Little Stars:

Starflower Bracelet by JayCee Designs:

Wigjig.com's Tie Chain:

Vicki Star's Herringbone Flower Bracelet:

Jean Power's Lacy Herringbone Bracelet:

Marylo's Mandala Ring:

Mini Kimono Bead by Toika Bridges:

Ruby's Herringbone Bangles:

Princess Earrings by Alexis:

Sandra Halpenny's Tennis Bracelet:

Jann Christiansen's African Helix:

Beki Haley's Spiral Rope Bracelet:

Wigjig.com's Beaded Rings:

Ruby's Crystal R.A.W. Bracelet:

Sabine Lippert's Maze Lace:

Sandra Halpenny's Seed & Fire Necklace:

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

If you prefer to stay inside and keep warm, there are lots of great snowflake patterns on the Web to keep you busy.

Sandra Halpenny is the queen of the beaded snowflake, and along with a great many snowflake patterns and e-books for sale on her Web site (Sandra D. Halpenny Bead Weaving Patterns), she's also got some freebies up:

Mini Snowflake #1:

and the Mini Snowflake #3:

 

Michelle Skobel has a free Tila Snowflake Pattern:

BeadJewelryMaking.com has a Beaded Snowflake Star Project:

If you know how to crochet, here are instructions for a lovely tatted Bead Snowflake designed by Sharon Briggs:

New free pattern from Centperles blog

If you can read French, or even if you can't but can follow along with the illustrations, Centperles blog has a new free pattern out called Marigold. To download the PDF, just click on the text "Marigold" underneath the phrase "et en PDF" below the photo:

New pattern uploaded: the Holiday Earrings

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: Holiday Earrings, $3.25, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

 The pattern is for both pair of earrings. They work up fast and make great gifts.

Octagonal Ornament

Still experimenting with turning my earring patterns into holiday ornaments. For this ornament, I used my Octagonal Earrings pattern with the following changes:

• Instead of 8 feet of 6 lb. FireLine, I used 2 yards of 8 lb. FireLine.
• Instead of 11/0 seed beads, I used 8/0 seed beads.
• Instead of 3mm fire-polished beads, I used 4mm fire-polished beads
• Instead of 4mm bicone crystals, I used 6mm bicone crystals.
• I used a larger 4mm jump ring, which I attached to a hook.
• In Step 22 and Step 24, I went back around through the beads again to make the ornament stiffer and less floppy.

It's about 2.25 inches long and 1.5 inches wide: