Give it up!

While at our local library last week I was browsing through the titles and for some reason this book jumped out at me. For me, it is a fairly short book with less than 200 pages so I figured that I would give it a shot. The book documents one woman's goal to give up one thing each month. She gives up the following:

January - Alcohol

February - Shopping

March - Elevators

April - Newspapers

May - Cell Phones

June - Dining Out

July - Television

August - Taxis

September - Coffee

November - Chocolate

December - Multitasking

I can honestly say that for me the things on her list that I would have the hardest time with would be cell phones, shopping, and coffee. The book really was a good read because she tells you the lessons she learns each month after giving up said object. Most interesting was her Cell Phone month. In our society today I can see how it would be hard for anyone to go without their cell phone for one month. I remember when I was young if you asked me someones telephone number I could tell you without blinking. Now, If someone asked me a number I honestly could not tell you. 

If you had the choice to give up 1 thing for a month that would make an impact on your life what would you give up?

Ready for another Bead Along.....

As I stated in my last blog I finally feel like life is getting back to some type of normalcy. Before I had Grayson we did a few bead alongs and I'm ready to get another one going. For those of you who have never participated in a bead along here are some frequently asked questions:

What is a bead along?     A Bead Along is simply a group of beaders from all over the world working on a designated project all at one time. Everyone works on a project on their own time, with their own color choices for a 2 week period of time.

How does a bead along work?  First of all, buy the chosen book   At the beginning of the Bead Along you will be given a list of projects to complete and the dates that each is to be completed. Once you have the first project done you email me a picture of the finished product. As pictures arrive I will post them here on the blog and facebook page for all to see.

Why participate in the Bead Along?  The whole reason for doing a bead along is to learn new techniques. Beading isn't any fun if you never learn anything new! Doing a bead along pushes you to try new techniques or projects that you may, at any other time, might not choose to do.

What if I don't finish a project before a due date or life gets in the way?  No worries. There is no cost to do the bead along and no penalty if you don't get a project finished on time. If you don't get one finished or you finish late just email me pictures when your done.

Important Notes from Kelly:
1. All pictures are to be emailed to me at off_the_beaded_path@yahoo.com. You can email them to me at any time.

2. I CAN ONLY POST WHAT YOU SEND ME! If you don't send me your name or picture I can't post it. I had someone get mad at me one  time and tell me that I was prejudice because I didn't list her colors used. I had never met the person or even seen the person before. So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE understand that if you don't send it to me I can't put the info on the blog.

3. This is supposed to be a fun bead along so don't stress and just have fun learning. I will not be doing video tutorials on the projects because of the design infringement but I tried to pick projects that looked fun and easy but at the same time challenging for some.

Since I am doing a video series on peyote stitch I thought it would be fun to a bead along with a peyote book. One of the best ones out right now is a book called "Shaped Beadwork & Beyond" by Diane Fitzgerald. Diane always does a wonderful job with her directions and diagrams in her books. Her books give an overview of each stitch and then projects so pretty much any beader who can peyote stitch can do all the projects. So, this will be the next bead along book. 

First and foremost, please check with your local bead store to see if they have it for purchase. If not then go to other resources. Here is a list of projects to be done and dates they are due or to be done by:

August 25th, 2014  Page 99 - Diamond and Rivoli Earrings 

September 8th, 2014  Page 112 - Mancuff and M'Lady Bracelet (work on either one you want)

September 22nd, 2014 Page 79 - Rhombo Bead Earrings (If your up for a challenge the necklace for this is on page 74!)

October 6th, 2014 Page 51 - Radiance Pendant (Feel free to make any of her alternatives for this project)

October 20th, 2014 Page 160 - Pentagons & Crystals Necklace (Again feel free to make any of her variations of this project)

November 3rd, 2014 Page 133 - (Saved the hardest for last!!!!) Eye of Apollo Necklace

Remember, you can do any colors and use any type of beads that you want so have fun!

Hello from the a Dale Family

Hello from the land of the Dale Family. The past 11 months have been a learning experience for our family. Sammy and I waited almost 11 years to have a baby so to say that having a baby has thrown our world into chaos is an understatement. We love Grayson more than words can ever explain and it is so much fun watching him grow but it has been a big adjustment for Sammy and I. I guess for me the hardest part for me has been having to figure out how to juggle being a mom, president of our local merchants association, and being a full time store owner. I used to work all day and then come home and work all hours of the night. I was pushing patterns and projects out the door left and right. Since Grayson has come along it's been a lot harder trying to figure out how to get it all done. Thankfully though, I finally feel like I'm starting to get my groove back. I'm not able to get as much done as I used to but I'm getting some done and thats more than nothing. 

Grayson is almost 11 months old, is trying to walk, and finally is starting to have 2 teeth pushing through. He's a happy baby as long as you keep his diaper clean and his belly full. He is in a pointing stage. He points at everything and he is babbling all the time. He can say cat, mama, dada, nana, papa, and is trying to say yaya but hasn't quite got that one figured out. He has our parents wrapped around his little fingers and loves Yo Gabba Gabba. For those of you who have never experienced Yo Gabba Gabba count yourself blessed lol. 

Bead Along Pictures

Here are some pics from this bead along and the last bead along. I'm playing catch up!

For the ring I used garnet fringe drops, Miyuki 1.8mm cubes in purple-amber, Delica cylinder beads in Paladium Plated and 15 seed beads in SL Light Amethyst.

For the dainty daises bracelet I used Bicones in bronze, 15's were  Miyuki SL Light Gold, Peanuts were multicolored garnet and Miyuki drop beads in red.

Kathy  SC

 Helen Verhey

Cleveland Queensland Australia .

 6 mm  1 Hole Czech  Lentil   Apollo Gold Beads

1.5 mm  Toho Gold Lined Rainbow Crystal Cue Beads 

11/0  ( Delica ) Miyuki  , Silver Lined Light Bronze seed beads

15/0 Miyuki  Copper Lined Crystal seed beads .

Mary Van Spankeren
Czech mate tiles -  beige picas
11/0 Matte sea foam
15/0 Beige

Yvette C.
Cleveland, Oh

Lt. Aqua 4mm fire-polished beads
11/o silver-lined crystal seed beads
11/o opaque cobalt seed beads
Silver ball & socket clasp

Josephine Lareza Pics

Bedazzled
15/0 seed beads - shell pink, japanese rocailles 640A (accent colour)
15/0 seed beads - metallic dark gold, miyuki 457
4 mm pearls - bronze
3 mm bicones - caribbean blue opal
3 mm bicones - metallic light bronze
11/0 seed beads - opaque lustered light blue

Picot Ring

12mm Swarovski rivoli - light rose

4 mm bicones - violet opal

15/0 seed beads - sparkling peony pink lined crystal (main colour)

15/0 seed beads - light rose galvanised (accent colour)

8/0 seed beads - ceylon dusty rose (for ring band)

Fringed Bracelet:

3 mm Swarovski pearl - turquoise

11/0 seed beads - matte metallic indigo iris (main colour)

11/0 seed beads - galvanised burnt cinnamon (accent colour)

15/0 seed beads - matte transparent dark topaz (main colour)

15/0 seed beads - metallic dark gold (accent colour)

3 mm bicones - smoked topaz

4 mm pearls - light topaz 

Victorian Romance Necklace:

4 mm fire polished beads - light topaz

11/0 seed beads - metallic light bronze

11/0 seed beads - semi frosted pea green lined chartreuse

8 mm round bead - black

Drop beads - fire polished drop thru cut 8 x 6 mm - jet/bronze

New fun!

I have something new and fun to tell you about! A few months back I was looking at my Facebook feed and saw a lady talking about making a piece of jewelry from a DIY kit that she receives in the mail each month. After looking I found that the kit she orders is from a company called M & J Trim. It costs $30.00 a month and each month they send you two really nice fun projects to do. I looked back at some past kits and decided to give it a try. My box arrived in the mail 2 weeks ago and upon opening it I was very impressed with the packaging. The two projects for this month were a chain bracelet and necklace. Mom and dad took Grayson out town with them Saturday afternoon so I was finally able to sit down and work on the kit. I had the best time! The Kit was put together well and the projects were good for any level of beader. If you are looking for a fun new thing to do for the new year this is it!

Bead Along Started!

Another bead along has started! Here are the current pics I have received:

Ann Hushagen - Mississauga, ON

I used a luster mix of 4 mm firepolish, Metallic Brown Iris, and Bronzelined Black Diamond (my favorite colour!)

Priscilla

 Messinger

Here are the projects I have completed so far from A Beaded Romance. As you can see, my take on a couple of them is a little different.

Picot Petals Pendant: Size 15 Silver-lined Crystal and Silver-lined Light Sapphire

                    4mm bicone Sapphire

                     Dangle is odds and ends I had hanging around

Victorian Circles Bracelet: Size 11 Silver-lined Smoky Topaz; 4mm FP Silver-lined Bondi Blue

Fringed Bracelet: 3mm Pearls, Night Blue; 3mm Crystal Bicones, Light Sapphire; Size 11 Silver-lined Dark Cobalt and Frosted Silver-lined Light Sapphire; Size 15 Silver-lined Blue and Silver-lined Light Sapphire. For the clasp: Some blackish pearls I had lying around.