Quilt Patchwork Patterns

Artsy Crafty Bookmarks

Working with beads and bookmarks is a neat way of expressing your talent.  It doesn’t only work on clothes or jewelry, it works absolutely everywhere!  By just releasing the creativity out of your system, you can recreate fun and unusual items that you and your loved ones can share together. 

Have you got friends, relations or significant others who loves reading so much?  Or do you know of someone that studies day in and out about not having sufficient time to spend with you?  Well you can make that person remember your fun memories together by gifting him or her with a beaded bookmark!  It is so easy to make, very simple and totally no hassle!  These beaded bookmarks are completely fun to use whether you adorn a store-bought bookmark with beaded tassels or make it fully from nothing.  Now your significant other will never ever forget you regardless of what she is doing! 

Beaded bookmarks will make your books looks so fancy as they drape over your hardbound book bringing uniqueness to a row of books on the shelf.  If you would like to make a fancier bookmark, you can do so by placing tassels over the top and the base of the bookmark.  Joined with a book or a journal, these fancy and inexpensive items will make excellent present items any time of the year!  These make a great Christmas gift idea. Present given to family do not have to be expensive so they may be appreciated. 

Instead of buying a new bookmark, why don’t you try to release your creativity?  It is worth a try!  What reminds you best of the person you are giving the bookmark to?  Do you possess a photograph of that person with you in it?  Take that photo and edit it in the web.  Add on some meaningful message either at the rear of the bookmark or below your picture.  You can add some glitter in it if you’d like too.  Have your work-of-art laminated. 

Next, punch a hole into the uppermost portion of the bookmark.  You can now create the beaded tassel.  All you need is a string or a hemp wire and some varied beads painted in different colors with holes that are large enough to fit the rope.  If you’d like to make a more dashing look, you can substitute the string with an embroidery thread and tie a couple of your colored beads to the end part or finish it off with a dangling charm.  Secure the tassel in place by stapling it or gluing it up to make it more secure.  Easy is not it? 

Once you have the hang of making bookmarks and have given some away, why not sell your own beaded jewelry creations? Reading is an extremely well liked pastime and most are always watching out for a personalized bookmark.

The Importance of Planning Your Beading Design

We have heard time and again that planning is a very important part of any activity.  Without it, the activity we had in mind would not go as smoothly and most frequently it would end up being futile. Planning and designing your own jewelry can be very rewarding and it is important to do it right to make sure that you enjoy your pastime or business.

The same is true when making patterns for your beadwork.  It is very important that you take a while to sit and really visualize how you would like your finish product to look.  What is your idea?  What color or beads would go well with this design?  Once you’ve had all of these down pat, you can start to work on your beadwork. 

You can find it tricky infrequently to come up with a new design every now and then.  But this is essentially made easier if you are aware of all the different types of basic beading patterns. Finding jewelry making patterns is as simple as doing a search online, there are many free patterns to make a choice from. A vital step is learning the stitches that are available to you and how it’s possible for you to use them individually and even in mix with each other.  The combination of these stitches would be what you call a pattern. 

You can choose your patterns depending on your skill level.  If you are just beginning to learn about beading, your best option would most likely be the flat peyote stitch.  Master this type of stitch and you may certainly find it simple to learn all of the others.  Another stitches that are usually employed in beadwork patterns are the brick stitch and the flat square stitch.  Starting out may seem tricky and you would need to actually keep your eye to make certain your stitches look right but in due time and with enough practice it’ll at last come naturally to you. 

Clueless as to the simplest way to finish off your pattern design?  Adding a fringe to your pattern design would be best to consider.  They are a good way to finish off your patterns because it adds that additional flourish in your design.  The commonest fringes that are out there are the easy looped fringe and plain knotted fringe amongst others.  Aside from a fringe, you may also select a wire such as the peyote stitch cord or the braided wire. 

When choosing the stitch, fringe, or cord to be used in your pattern, don’t forget to consider which sort of beadwork you will be making.  Are you making a necklace, a key ring, a bracelet, or a wine ring or doing your fimo bead making?  Knowing this beforehand will help you choose a more suitable style.  You can even opt to make beaded ornaments for the upcoming holidays or you can center them on other special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, for example.

Where Do You Get Your Beading Ideas?

It is a disappointment for most designers and any creative person when they run out of ideas for their projects.  I am sure all of us are familiar with the term’writer’s block’, meaning that a writer will find it hard to consider something new to write or to complete off something that they are already writing. 

Well for beaders out there we have what we call ‘beader’s block’ also.  This takes place when for some reason you simply cannot think about a new idea or design for your beadwork or you haven’t any clue as to the simple way to finish a pattern that you have already started.  Let’s try to look at some things we can do to help get over this. 

A neat place to start is working out where you currently are.  What are the things and materials that you already have at your disposal?  What types and colors of beads are in your drawers and containers?  Sometimes the simple act of having a look at these handmade glass beads will get your creative energies flowing. 

Psychologists say that mind block is common when you’re in an environment of disarray and misunderstanding so naturally the primary way to try and combat this is to keep yourself organized.  The brain is a dynamic organ and very capable of multi-tasking so you will not even notice it coming up with new ideas while you are in the act of organizing. 

All this fixing and shelving of your materials will get you beat at the end of it so it’s good to find a little time off for yourself.  When your brain is tired you will not get to do much and it’ll feel a bit like you are overworking it.  Resting is also a good time to allow your brain to process the ideas that it developed during the organizing exercise. 

How does one usually spend your relaxation time?  Do you read, visit a mate, or walk around?  Give your intellect a little time off from the entire beading activity and let it ramble on to other topics.  When you get back to pondering beads your brain will be very refreshed and free of old, exhausted ideas. 

When you suspect you are rested enough, look through some old material about beading.  Do you have magazines and books lying around?  Or perhaps you can look through some web sites online , try finding jewelry making patterns. The rest period you had prior to this will enable you to take a look at these with a new eye and point of view irrespective of how old the magazine or book is.  Still try and keep that atmosphere of relaxation by cozying up on a chair or drinking your fave relaxing drink. 

Don’t try and scrutinize each design you see.  Just let your brain call out to you when it sees something that sparks your interest.  Appreciate the designs instead of trying to look at them.  Ultimately, visit some craft stores and other bead stores where art abounds.  Art isn’t constricted to a single type of form so even those that are not related to beading might give you that idea you need. 

When you are ready to start thinking about ideas again, sit down and write down all the new ideas that are bound to be flowing in your head by this time.  Don’t be scared to try anything at this point.