Another beauty from Chris Franchetti Michaels

Another beautiful free pattern from Chris Franchetti Michaels, Beadwork Guide for Beadwork.about.com: the Golden Wreath Beaded Pendant Tutorial:

Beadaholique's Victorian Wreath Earrings

If you are looking for some last minute gift ideas, Beadaholique.com just uploaded a very nice instructional video for creating Victorian Wreath Earrings:

New pattern collection uploaded

For those who like single PDF pattern sets, the Tuscan Bracelet, Tuscan Earrings and the Tuscan Necklace can also be purchased as part of the Tuscan Pattern Collection, $10.25. Note, these are the same PDF patterns that have been offered for sale individually. The collection is also available for sale at Bead-Patterns.com:

Beautiful new Tila designs from Chris Franchetti Michaels

Chris Franchetti Michaels, Beadwork Guide for Beadwork.about.com, has two beautiful new and FREE Tila bead designs up.

Easy Tila Bead Ladder Stitch Bracelet:

Tila Segmented Ladder and Lace Bracelet Pattern:

New pattern uploaded: Tila Drop Earrings

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: the Tila Drop Earrings, $3, also available at Bead-patterns.com. Note, 4mm and 8mm beads used can be round, oval fire-polished or bicone—crystals or gemstones. This pattern is very versatile. It's the size of the 4mm or 8mm bead that matters, not the bead type:

Sunday Surfing

It's been a while since I went scouting for free beading patterns on the web but here are a couple of beauties:

Beaded Hexagon Angle Stitch Bracelet Band Tutorial by Chris Franchetti Michaels, Beadwork.About.com:

...and Right-Angle Weave Waffle Pendant:

...and Hexagon Stitch Beaded Earrings:

I want to 3 4 5 6 by Sabine Lippert, TryToBead.com:

... and Little Stars:

Cecilia Rooke's Christmas Tree Wreath:

Jan Christiansen's Crystal Tennis Bracelet:

East Peyote Stitch Beaded Bead Earrings by Jennifer VanBenschoten, Beadwork.About.com:

Bead Maven's Embellished Peyote Tennis Bracelet:

SweetBeadStudio.com's Spiral Wire Clasp Turorial:

WhimBeads.com Tila Wheels Tutorial:

Caravan Bead Blog Scalloped Brick Stitch Bracelet:

Centperles.canalblog.com's Waveround:

Special blog offer: buy 2, get 1 free

From now until midnight on Sunday, October 30, 2011, buy any 2 patterns from AroundTheBeadingTable.com and get 1 free.

Simply purchase and download your 2 patterns as you normally would and then forward the email receipt to me at espresso@sonic.net with your 3rd pattern choice. I will email you this free pattern within 24 hours. This offer applies to patterns only and not e-books or pattern sets.

New E-Book: Tila Bead Designs

Downloadable PDFs are $21.95 and can be purchased and downloaded from AroundTheBeadingTable.com.

This e-book features 8 bracelet patterns, 2 earring patterns and a necklace pattern using Miyuki's new Tila beads. All patterns are fully illustrated with detailed step-by-step instructions, ideal for beginner beaders. They can also be purchased individually as part of the following patterns:

Diamond Tila Bracelet and Earrings
Tila Bands
Tila Curve Bracelets
Tila Deco Bracelet
Tila Medallion Bracelet and Earrings
Tila Wave Bracelet
Tila Wave Necklace

PDFs can also be purchased and downloaded at:
Bead-Patterns.com
Sova Enterprises

Print copies of all e-books can now be purchased for $24.95 at my Lulu.com store. Full color, 8.5 by 11 inch booklets are professionally printed on 80lb interior paper with a 100lb cover and saddle-stitch binding.

Beyond my beading table

For me, one of the best things about creating a bead pattern is seeing what colors and types of beads other beaders use, and what little touches they add to make the design their own. Here are two beautiful examples.

Instead of pearls, designer Debra Wilde used gemstones to bead my Scalloped Pearl Necklace and the results are stunning. You can see more of her creations at her Etsy store—http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadforester:

 

Myra Fierro used segments of my my Tila Bands pattern to highlight this beautiful owl connector. More info about this piece is on her blog and you can find many more creations at her Etsy store, Ramy's Designs—http://www.etsy.com/shop/ramysdesigns:

Beautiful!

Carmel Manley of Australia used my Flower Earrings pattern to make this gorgeous necklace. She will be teaching the design at the Bead Society of Victoria Expo in November. Beautiful, Carmel!

Special blog offer: buy 2, get 1 free

From now until midnight on Sunday, September 18, 2011, buy any 2 patterns from AroundTheBeadingTable.com and get 1 free.

Simply purchase and download your 2 patterns as you normally would and then forward the email receipt to me at espresso@sonic.net with your 3rd pattern choice. I will email you this free pattern within 24 hours. This offer applies to patterns only and not e-books or pattern sets.

New Tila bead patterns from Marcia Balonis

Another of my favorite designers, Marcia Balonis, has uploaded some beautiful new Tila bead patterns to her Web site, BaublesbyBalonis.net. Payment is through PayPal and she can either email a PDF or mail the pattern.

Tila Checkerboard Bracelet:

Tila 3 Strand Bracelet:

Tila Ribbon Bands Bracelet:

Tila Windows Bracelet:

Tila Peak A Boo Bracelet:

They are lovely, Marcia!

New designs from Carole Ohl

So while I've been goofing off on vacation, one of my favorite designers—Carole Ohl—has uploaded a bounty of beautiful new designs for sale:

Diamond Dew Cuff:

Vintage Fire Necklace:

Trinity Earrings:

Wave On:

Rustic Rounds Necklace:

Filigree Focal Cuff:

Tila Tower Earrings:

Three Button Peyote Cuff:

What a beautiful collection!

New Tila bead patterns uploaded

I just uploaded two new patterns to my Web site:

Tila Wave Necklace, $4.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com. Note, I used 4mm bicone crystals and 4mm fire-polished beads but any 4mm bead will work:

Tila Wave Bracelet, $4.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com. The intructions are written for a bracelet created with 4mm bicone crystals and 4mm fire-polished beads (top bracelet) but you can use any 4mm beads, including gemstone rounds (bottom bracelet):

New pattern uploaded: Tuscan Cuff

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: the Tuscan Cuff, $4.50, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

New pattern uploaded: Tila Medallion Bracelet and Earrings

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: the Tila Medallion Bracelet and Earrings, $5, also available at Bead-patterns.com. This pattern is fully illustrated with detailed step-by-step instructions for a bracelet and matching earrings. Note, I used 4mm round beads but any 4mm bead will work:

New pattern uploaded: Tuscan Necklace

For those of you who have been asking for more necklaces, I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: Tuscan Necklace, $4.50, also available at Bead-patterns.com.

It matches the Tuscan Bracelet:

and Tuscan Earrings:

New pattern uploaded: Venetian Cuff

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: Venetian Cuff, $4.25, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

Sandra Halpenny's new Tila bead beauties

Sandy Halpenny has a couple of beautiful and unique new Tila bead bracelets available for download.

Tila Medallions, in Bead-Patterns the Magazine - Issue 35 (May/Jun 2011), $8.95:

Double Time Tila Bracelet, available at Sandy's Web site and Beadpatterns.com, $5.23:

Correction to free pattern

To those of you who have been banging your head against the wall over my free Triangle Weave Band, I am so sorry. I made a boo-boo. I listed size 8 seed beads in the "Materials" box when I actually used size 11 seed beads. I'm blaming it all on menopause :)

An updated PDF is now available at AroundTheBeadingTable.com (scroll to the bottom of the page) or just click here HERE.

New pattern uploaded: Larkspur Bracelet

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: Larkspur Bracelet, $4, also available at Bead-patterns.com. For those who prefer the larger beads, this is the Crystal Wiggle Bracelet on steroids, using 8/0 seed beads and 6mm bicone crystals, 6mm glass pearls and 6mm fire-polished beads. If you prefer a more delicate bracelet, you can sub in 11/0 seed beads and 4mm bicone crystals, 4mm glass pearls and 4mm fire-polished beads instead. This pattern is fully illustrated with detailed step-by-step instructions:

New pattern from Carole Ohl

Carole Ohl has a new pattern up for sale at Bead-patterns.com. Her Awesome Blossom is indeed awesome!

Where did you get that clasp?

I often get asked what clasps are best to use and where I get the clasps I use on bracelets in my patterns. I think everyone has different tastes when it comes to clasps. Some people prefer toggles and some hook and eye clasps. I don't have any set rules for selecting clasps. I usually have a good selection on hand and make a decision based on what I think looks good to me, or if the bracelet is a gift, what type of clasp I know the giftee prefers.

I do, however, have my favorite places to buy clasps:

Rishashay.com has a huge selection of high-quality clasps. My favorite are these little spiral J-clasps (B0837-sgr-2 and B0837-ggr-2) that sell in sets of five and come in both sterling silver and gold-plated:

Once a year, I make a major purchase from Plasabali.com. I say major because they ship all the way from Bali at $17 FedEx International Priority (to the U.S.) so I find it best to buy as much as I can in one order to make up for shipping costs, but you just can't beat their prices, even as the price of silver continues to skyrocket. They have an incredible selection of sterling silver toggle clasps but years ago I fell in love with this simple hook and eye clasp (C3037) that you see on a lot of my bracelets:

Sometimes Plasabali.com sells this clasp in vermeil as well but I don't see it listed today. I also buy earwires here.

Embellishmentsinc.com has some really unique clasps, especially clasps with gemstones. Their selection changes constantly, however, so what is there now may be gone tomorrow:

 
Just remember that there is no right or wrong when it comes to selecting a clasp. It's all a matter of personal preference so just go with your gut. For years, I only used hook and eye clasps but now I use a lot more toggle clasps. You'll find that your tastes change over time.