Pretty as a picture

I started doing bead work about three or four years ago when Anna showed me the project she was working on. I was tempted to take it away from her and I must confess I did whenever she brought it around. She got the directions from a place called Unique Beaded Jewelry.

I recommend you check it out. I am still amazed at the beautiful things I find there. I started making my own patterns and weaving small flat panels and doing the show and tell thing at work. The comment  from Jamie was, "Well Sherry those are lovely but what can you do with them." That pissed me off just enough to get  the wheels turning and a week later I presented her with my first useful bead weaving project a BIC lighter cover.

 Afterwards I found I had not invented the wheel there are tons of patterns for lighter covers and other things on-line if you just look. Anyway she was impressed and I felt vindicated. I was not just making pretty pictures with beads. The lighter cover led to the idea of covering pen barrels.

 

Everyone got one for Christmas that year and I got a beading tote and some beading instruction books, which I took it as a sign that I should continue and I have.

I graduated to these cute little beaded boxes.

and my bead people.

 Meanwhile Anna took on another related hobby lampworking the art of making beads from rods of colored glass. I found out that my sister was also making glass beads. They have made some really lovely beads and I whenever I can I get my hands on them and tuck them away thinking I could do something special with them. Well inspiration came from a pattern I found in Bead and Button the June 2011 issue (thanks Anna). 

I present to you "Under the Sea"

The first of my framed bead pendants. The fish bead is one of Anna's creations. The unique finding is from one of my favorite places to shop, Beading Elements, a local bead store.