New Years

2013 was a year of great fear and joy in my life. This time last year I was deathly sick with morning sickness. I had this great little human growing inside me. The first half of the year was spent being sick and scared of what August would hold. No one or no book can ever prepare you for what birth is like. It's amazing how you can be in the worst pain of your life and then that all goes away once you see your childs face.

The second half of the year was spent in great joy. Gayson has brought so much happiness to us and our families. Our parents couldn't be any happier and Sammyand I are enjoying parenthood. We had 13 years to ourselves so now it feels like such a blessing to have our new "family."

With 2013 in the rearview mirror it is now time to look ahead to 2014. This year I have a few goals:

1. To try 52 new recipes. That is 1 new recipe a week. I feel like our food / eating habits have gotten into a rut  and that it's time to try something new. I will share my new food experiences with you guys along The way.

2. To get back to pre-Grayson weight.

3. To finally read through the entire bible

Well goodnight. I wish you a Safe and happy new year and look forward to our adventures in 2014!

More projects are rolling in and you guys are doing an amazing job!

Caron Bailey,  Austin TX
Czech 4mm bicone crystals-Lt Amethyst; Tila beads-I don't remember the color name and purple iris 11/0 seed beads

Yvette

11-Opaque Butterscotch Luster

15- Metallic Golden Olive Luster

Tila- Cream Ceylon

4mm Indian Pink Bicones

Diane Clark

Placerville, CA

On the St Pete's I used Ant. Bronze M/MA/R tila's, Delica's Golden M/L/R, and 15/0 ar SL RB Lt Gold.

the tila colors are TL2035 Ant. Bronze M/MA/R, and number 316 Lt Amethyst Gold.  11/0 seed beads are silver lined crystal, 15/0 seed beads are Amethyst SL/R. 

Jan Crosthwaite

Wallasey UK

used 11/0 & 15/0 seedbeads in silver lined gold and silver lined crystal for the band and red lined topaz 4mm magatama drops for the embelishment.

Josephine Lareza 

Milan, Italy

Peanut beads - Metallic olive

Peanut beads - Matte olive

3 mm drop beads - Matte metallic khaki iris

3 mm bicones - emerald

15/0 seed beads - Matte metallic khaki iris

lobster claw clasp

6 mm Fireline thread

6 mm Lentil drop beads - Coated Marea peacock/gold 

11/0 Miyuki Delica beads - Metallic earth batik gold iris

15/0 Seed beads - Matte metallic khaki iris

1.5 mm cube beads - Opaque-frosted terra cotta (can be seen slightly under the lentil drops.

Tila beads 5 x 5 mm - Dark bronze

4 mm bicones - Crystal AB 2X

11/0 seed beads  Metallic light bronze

15/0 seed beads Metallic dark bronze

Gold colored chain with approx diameter of 9 mm

Gold colored magnetic round clasp

Pat Jones

Black tila beads, size 11 bronze seed beads, size 15 silver-lined yellow seed beads, and 4mm  gold bicones

Priscilla

Ring: Drop beads: Gunmetal mix

            Cubes: Metallic amethyst gunmetal

            Delicas: Metallic Eggplant

Necklace: Berry: Noir-lined crystal

                       Drop: Gunmetal mix

                       Bicone: ?

Bracelet: Berry: Transparent Light Steel Luster Rainbow

                    Drop: Opaque Turquoise Blue

                     Becone: Same as above, don't remember the color.

I have also included an additional project from the Shaped Bead book: Perennial Path Bracelet.

Seed beads: Toho Marbled Turquoise/Ceylon Grey

Berry: Transparent Amethyst Luster

 I used purple iris 3mm drops, peanut bead A- opaq black AB, peanut bead B-Matt opaq black AB, 3mm bicone- Thunder Polish purple light, and finally for my #15 seeds I used metallic opaq eggplant iris. Had a great time beading with you all, God Bless, Debbie 

I'm sorry I got behind on posting pics of the bead along but we moved the shop last week to a new location so I spent the week moving. Hopefully I can stay on top of things for the remainder of the bead along. Everyone who has sent pics so far has done an amazing job! I am loving the colors everyone picked out!

Mandy
For the Marvelous Mosaics earrings I used:
Tila - Metallic golden rainbow
Delicas - silver lined gold
15/0 opaque black.

For the St Pete meets tila bracelet I used:
Tila - metallic golden rainbow
4 mm bicone - jet
15/0 metallic raspberry
11/0 amethyst lined pink

Jan Crosthwaite - Wallasey Uk 

For the earrings I used tila beads in metalic dark blue iris with 11/0 & 15/0 in purple lined purple. I added an additional componant as I like more of a dangle. I also made my own earring findings.

For the bracelet I used the same tilas as the earrings with size 11/0 & 15/0 silver lined crystal & jet black bicones.

Helen Verhey From Cleveland Queensland Australia .

Project 1

Matte Black Tila Beads -  inside .

Galvanized Grey Lustre Tila Beads  - outside 

Silverlined Crystal Delica 10/0

Medium Blue Iris  15/0 .

Project 2 .

Matte Black Tila's 

Opal 4 mm Bicones .

Amethyst Gold lustre 11/0 

Lined Aqua AB 15/0 

Square Antique Toggle Clasp 

Priscilla

 Messinger, Holden, MA

Josephine Lareza

Milan, Italy

Cylinder beads 10/0 Violet/Green or Miyuki Delica DBM 869

Tila beads Matte Metallic Dark Raspery Iris and Opaque Antique Rose Luster

Seed beads 15/0 Matte Metallic Khaki Iris

Robin Peterson

his bracelet I used Sea Foam Tila's with silver lined Emerald 11/0 Toho, and 4mm Jet Swarovski bicones. 

Gale Lynch from Illinois.

I used Opaque and Black Tila beads

11 Silver Lined Crystal Clear AB Rounds

15 Metallic Dark Silver Seed Beads   

Kathy - SC

I used Miyuki Green translucent tilas and Garnet translucent tilas for the earrings and Delicas Paladium plated for the cylinders and Gold luster cranberry for the 15's.

I also used the Myuki Green translucent tilas and Garnet translucent tilas for the bracelet with Swarovsky 4mm bicones in crystal copper. I used SL Rosaline  #11seed beads  and Miyuki Fancy Garnet #15's.

Pat Jones

All in browns and gold...no ear wires yet.

 Maybe could have added more color but was intended for Fall!

Yvette

Opaque black Tila beads-outside

Matte clear Tila beads-inside

Mettalic blue iris size 10 twisted cylinder beads

Clear ab 15 seed beads

Mary Van Spankeren

Tila Beads:  Matte Met Khaki Iris

                    Matte OP Red AB

11/0 :  Dk Red AB

15/0 Galv. Yellow Gold

Karen - New Zealand 

My Ring-a-Ling Ring is made with:

* 4x6mm Preciosa drops in Black

* 11/0 Delica seed beads in Medium Blue Iris

* 15/0 Frosted Metallic Iris Purple seed beads

Karen

My St Pete Meets Tila Bracelet is made with:

* Metallic Green Iris Tila Beads

* 4mm Swarovski Crystal AB Bicones

* 15/0 Frosted Metallic Iris Purple seed beads

and sterling silver parrot clasp & extension chain :)

My Marvellous Mosaics Earrings are made with:

* Matte Metallic Copper Tila Beads

* 11/0 Metallic Blue Iris

* 15/0 Frosted Metallic Iris Purple

and attached to the earring hooks with a handmade oversized bail :)

    

Easy Earrings!

I sat down last night while Grayson was sleeping and made the current Bead Along Project. I couldn't believe how quick the earrings were to make! All I need to do is add my ear hooks and I'll be ready to wear them. I used Matte Metallic Gold and Met Gold Iris Tila Beads, Opaque Cream AB 11/0 Delicas, and Green Patina Bronze Size 15/0. I know the pattern calls to use a 10/0 Delica but I didn't have any at home and the 11/0's worked fine. So if you don't have any 10/0's, no worries.

Bead Along Submissions

Debbie Hinklin from Texas
(Project 1) marvelous mosaics earrings. Tilas- metallic malachite green iris. 11/0 delicas- opaque luster olive green. And my own silver 20g wire for ear hooks. (Project 2) St. Pete meets tila. Tilas- met. Malachite grn. Iris. 15/0 seeds-met. opaque. eggplant iris. 4mm bicones- amethyst AB. with a gold plated lobster claw clasp. (Project 3) Ring-a-ling 11/0 delicas- opaq luster rainbow midnight, 1.5 cubes- # 926 ? color name, 15/0 seeds- met. opaq eggplant iris. 3mm purple iris drops. What fun!!!

Caron Bailey

Tila Beads: Transparent Aqua AB & Met Varagated Blue Iris

10/0 Delica: Transparent Light Sea Foam

15/0 Seed Bead: Transparent Frosted Cobalt

My how quickly life changes!

So as many of you know, I gave birth to Grayson on August 22nd. Sammy and I waited 10 years before we decided that we were ready to have a baby. After having 13 total years to ourselves our lives totally changed overnight!  I'm not going to lie...the first 3 weeks were HORRIBLE!  Grayson hardly slept at night and I couldn't get much sleep during the day because we had so many people coming in and out of the house. I felt like a zombie for those first 2 or 3 weeks. Thankfully though the last week or so he has slept a little better and I feel like I can at least function a little bit. We are starting to get out and about a little bit and we are finally feeling like "real" parents. It amazes me how you can love someone so fiercely so quickly! He came into our lives and BAM! love.

I am still trying to figure out how to function on a daily basis. It seems like it is so hard to get ourselves up and ready to be on time to go somewhere. I got up 2 hours early this morning and was still 25 minutes late for church lol. I'm sure it will get easier over time but right now it's a challenge just to get out the door. I know many of you who are parents have been there and know what I'm talking about. You wouldn't think adding a 10 lb person would add so much time and car space.

All in all though we are happy and I look forward to getting back to work. Here are a few pictures from the last couple of weeks.

Even though the first project for our bead along is not due until October someone has already sent in a picture. Here's the first pic. Great job Robin!

Robin Peterson
I used Robin's egg blue, green patina tila's, with Turquoise 11/O and Gold 15/0. An antiqued gold toggle to finish it off.

New Bead Along Books and FAQ

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 along with a list of colors that you used. As pictures arrive I will post them here on the blog 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 your color info I can't post it. I had someone get mad at me last 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.


Bead Along #1: Great Designs for Shaped Bead Work by Anna Elizabeth Draeger
I tried to pick out projects from this book that the materials wouldn't be hard to find. Some of the materials used in some of the projects were harder to find so that'l why I chose what I did.

Page 13-15  Marvelous Mosaics Earrings    Due Oct. 1st

Page 16-18  St Pete Meets Tila                     Due Oct. 15th

Page 48-50  Ring-a-ling                                Due Oct. 29th

Page 80-83  Dainty Daisies   (You can do either the necklace or bracelet)  Due Nov 12th

Bead Along #2:  A Beaded Romance by Kelly Wiese

Page 24-31  Victorian Circles (Necklace or Bracelet)   Due: January 8th 2014

Page 53-61  Fringed Bracelet                                      Due: January 22nd 2014

Page 97-106  Beadazzled (Necklace or Bracelet)          Due: February 4th 2014

Page 33-38  Picot Petals Ring                                      Due: February 18th 2014

Next Bead Along Book choice!

Ok everyone...  I need your help.....

I am working on getting the next Bead Along set up for October and November.  I have three books that I have chosen:

(1) Great Designs for Shaped Beads by Anna Draeger

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Designs-Shaped-Beads-Peanuts/dp/0871164957/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375479681&sr=8-2&keywords=anna+draeger

(2) A Beaded Romance by Kelly Wiese

http://www.amazon.com/Beaded-Romance-Beadweaving-Patterns-Projects/dp/144023213X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375479739&sr=8-1&keywords=beaded+romance

(3) Mastering Peyote Stitch by Melinda Barta

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Peyote-Stitch-Inspiring-Projects/dp/1596686332/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375479778&sr=8-1&keywords=mastering+peyote+stitch

Please leave a comment below letting me know which one you guys would like to do.

Project Runway.....LOVE

My one great vice is this world is the show Project Runway. I love that show! I love to see all the great designs that the designers come up with. It gives me such inspiration to see all the color choices and blockings that they use. I finally got caught up today and watched the first episode. I was blown away by the winner of this weeks challenge. The contestants had to use a parachute to make a garment out of. Here is a picture of this weeks winning design:



The designers name is Bradon and his work is amazing! The dress flowed so pretty and the colors used were amazing!

One of my favorite designers this year is:


He is deaf and uses an interpreter. Cool part is...He's from NC! Gotta support the local folks! His design this week was the pink dress above. It was sssssooooo pretty. I would actually wear the dress! I love the pink and black together. If you get a chance you should catch a couple of episodes it would be worth your time. You will get some great color ideas!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Last Bead Along Projects

Well the bead along is officially finished! Here are some pictures of the last projects I received. If you haven't finished the project yet be sure to send me a picture when your finished so I can get it posted. A big THANK YOU to all who participated. I know a lot of you who attempted the projects learned some new techniques and are getting better at reading patterns. Since Grayson is due in August it may be awhile before we start another bead along but rest assured that I will be looking for a great book in the near future.

Jan Crosthwaite - Wallasey U.K.

I used 8/0 silver lined gold seed beads for the peyote band and 11/0 silver lined crystal seed beeds for the netting.

Jen Amaral

The colors I used for this project are black and raspberry seedbeeds.

Pat Jones - Huntsville AL

Here are my earrings, size 11 and 15 white seed beads with crystal volcano foil back chatons. You can't see it on the back...but I also used a light purple seed bead with the white so I could keep track of the increases. For me, this one was a definite challenge!

Kelly Dale - Forest City NC

I used 11/0 Duracoat Galvanized Egg Plant. Instead of using a different color seed bead I added a 3mm Swarovski Crystal. 

Cake turned out great!

So I got up this morning and made the icing for the cake. It's more like a sugar drizzle. It smelled so good but cutting and eating a cake at 7:00 am didn't seem like a feasible thing to do.

Sammy and I went and picked up his grill and when I came home I could no longer resist. I cut the cake and had a slice and it was wonderful! It was super moist and the strawberries tasted so good. If you get a chance I would highly recommend trying this recipe!

Staycation

A lot has been happening in my world over the last week or so. I was so excited because Friday I went to the Orthodontist and ended up getting my permanent retainers put in. I'm on the books to have my braces taken off July 22nd! I'm so excited and can hardly wait. Since I've gotten pregnant I've been hoping that I would get the braces off before I had Grayson and it's happening! Going to have to wear a retainer at night for the rest of my life but it's totally OK because it's pink and my new straight smile will be worth all the money.

I also had to go have my eyes checked last week. As always my eyes had gotten a little worse so I had to purchase new glasses. They ended up having to order my glasses but I'm looking forward to having new frames.

I had an Anesthesiologist appointment this morning. I had to go and talk to him about my pain options during birth. I really don't want to have to use him but it's better to be safe then sorry. After the appointment we were supposed to leave for the Beach. Sammy's whole family is there this week. After much thought though we decided to have a staycation instead. There is so much still to be done before Grayson gets here in August. Did we want to spend over 1000.00 on 3 days vacation or did we want to invest that money into the house? In the end the house won so we have been busy working from home today. Our first big project this week is the front walkway so we'll see how that turns out.

Tomorrow we have to go and pick up Sammy's new grill. We go to a church called NewSpring on Sunday nights about 40 minutes from our house. For fathers day they were giving away a 500.00 prize to one lucky dad. Well Sammy ended up winning! We were so shocked because there were about 600 dads at Sunday nights service! We go pick up his new mac daddy 5 burner grill tomorrow and then they will be delivering steaks to our house later this week. Sammy's first official Fathers Day was pretty awesome!

I went to the Grocery store today to pick up ingredients for a new recipe that I found on pinterest. It is for a Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake. It's pretty simple to make. The prep time is about 20 minutes but then it has to cook for 1 hour. I made the mistake of deciding to start making this cake at 9:00pm so by the time I got it out of the oven a few minutes ago I was ready to go to bed. I'm going to let it cool tonight and then add the lemon glaze tomorrow. I'll let you know how it turns out. You can find the recipe here: http://www.aspicyperspective.com/2010/05/farmstand-fresh.html  Here is what the cake looked like when I took it out of the oven a few minutes ago. It's all I can do not to dive right into it right now! I'll finish it tomorrow, post pictures, and let you know how it tastes. I love pinterest but sometimes things are not always what they seem. Some recipes look so easy or look like they will taste so great and when i make them they don't seem that easy or seem to taste that great. Anybody else have that problem?

Sorry for the delay!

Sorry for the delay in getting the recent pictures put up. I purchased a new lap top with Windows 8 on it last week and I'm still trying to learn the operating system and how to do all the things I need to do. The pictures I have received are awesome and I'm so proud of all of you who have challenged yourself and learned new techniques!

Jan Crosthwaite - Wallasey U.K.

I modified the pattern slightly adding 11/0 seed beads to the outer edge of the 14mm rivoli.

I used purple lined purple 11/0 & 15/0 seed beads, 14 & 16mm swarovski crystal clear rivolis and 6lb crystal fireline.

Jen Amaral

This project has been my favorite so far, the earrings are very elegant and 2 people have already asked me to make them a pair. They make an easy and fun gift.  I used emerald Swarovski rivolis, and black seed beads.

Cheryl I, Lake wallenpaupack,Pa

I made the bracelet on page 41 instead of the oval link bracelet.

I used: 6mm gold dyed fresh water drop pearls, toho 11/0  gold, toho 11/0 rose gold, 6/0 bronze