beaded diamonds first peek

It's been...several years since I last published a beading pattern. How did that happen? I've been way overdue to publish another pattern. It feels so good to have one well underway right now.

I'm writing basic instructions for creating beaded diamonds, eight variations for earrings, and instructions for making a ring, pendant, and bracelet. I'm planning to release two versions: the full pattern and earrings only. It's been a very time consuming process because I've had to make so many samples. I will be able to sell all of them when I'm done with the pattern, which is some consolation. (It also means that if you see anything that you like, you're welcome to claim it now). Regardless, it's still exciting to see it all come together.

Tentative release date: April 2015. Stay tuned for more details over the next couple months.

What have you been working on lately?

new directions

I thought that this would be an appropriate post to follow up yesterday's reworked post.  While I am revisiting a lot of old designs, I am also working on lots of new things for my shop.

I sold my first teaching package over the weekend.  Someone who bought one of my patterns through eBay this spring contacted me about teaching it this fall.  Thanks to Carol Dean of SandFibers who gave me some excellent advice about pricing and what to include, I was able to put together everything she needed pretty easily.

This is what I included in the package:
1) A cover letter explaining the terms and conditions for the pattern.  This includes the following:
All students must have a full copy of the personal use pattern, including the terms for it.
There is no limit to the number of times that you can teach the class and the number of the students that can be in each class.
2) A personal use copy of the pattern.
3) A commercial use copy of the pattern.

I can make these packages for any of my patterns.  I can also just make commercial use patterns.  Some sellers list both the personal use and commercial use versions in their shop.  I may at some point, but it hasn't been a big priority at this point.  I'm going to launch my next two new patterns before I worry about that.  Pricing for commercial use and teaching packages will vary for different patterns.  Let me know if you're ever interested.

Also, for those who are wondering why I'm not teaching this class myself, it will be offered in Arizona.  I'm not interested in flying around the country to teach classes.  I don't have the connections for that at this point either.  This woman already has a following at a particular store in Arizona as a teacher so it makes sense for her to do that.  I would teach a class in the Midwest if the opportunity presented itself, but I'm not pursuing that myself at this point.

I listed a new necklace over the weekend.

It's available here.  I bought these stone focals back in the spring with the intention of making this necklace for the summer.  Obviously that didn't happen.  I had so much fun with my July design piece that I got inspired to make more beaded bails and worked up this piece as well as very similar pieces with the remaining 4 stones.  This is a very versatile color combination that will carry you into any season.  Discounts apply for multiple orders of this necklace so if you'd like more than one, let me know.

I love this piece and hope that it does well.  I'd like to try making similar pieces with different stones and color combinations.  Here are a couple considerations for stones/focals.


Winter gemstone donut assortment by SueRunyonDesigns

Aqua and Black Wheel Thrown Stoneware Clay and Fused Glass Pendant or Necklace by artisanclay

I've been trying to find something local and haven't settled on anything yet.  I'm sure it's not a surprise that I have tons of other projects planned for now so I'm not ordering anything right away, but I mostly will at some point if I don't find anything in a store.

as promised, the rock garden pattern

I have not been doing a ton of creating lately, but I did finish and list the rock garden pattern today.

It's available here.  I created this design as an offshoot of my leafy series.  I wanted the same full embellished garden look but more delicate.  This is a pretty simple design, but it's one of my favorite bracelets to wear.  I'm sure that many of you already know that I didn't plan to keep the first one I made, but I did and still wear it all the time.  I've really taken to the newest blue/purple combination as well.  I may keep one and sell the other one.

Here is what I have currently available in my shop from this series.

first pattern for 2011

I completed my third bead weaving pattern on New Year's Eve.  This is the first (but hopefully not the last) pattern from randomcreative for 2011.  It's for my leafy series bracelet.  As I'm sure many of you know, I have had a little (that's an understatement) leaf bead obsession since sometime in early 2009.  Two years later, it's still going strong.  I have 10 designs in my leafy series on Etsy right now.  I decided that it was well past time to write the pattern for the design.  And here it is.  Click on the cover picture below to go to the Etsy listing.

I used my newest winter leafy bracelet for the tutorial pictures.

I'm going to make a larger version as well before I update the winter listing on Etsy so watch for those shortly.  For now, those of you who bead can make your own whenever you like with the new pattern!

PDF Patterns on CDs

One of my new additions for my fall/winter craft shows will be my two PDF patterns available on CDs.  I'm selling that for the same price that I have them for on Etsy.  I haven't done a show since July so I've been getting other things ready, too, and I've been putting a lot of energy toward listing on Ebay and generally cleaning things out at home.  But I finally got everything finished for the CDs today.

I did not realize that the new CD sleeves that I bought this week were multicolored haha.  (The last pack that we had was plain white.)  They'll contrast nicely with my black and sheet music print sheets/table clothes, though.  Besides the CD, each sleeve contains a cardstock cover with a picture on it, a description of the pattern (almost exactly what I have in the Etsy listing description), and a business card.  Here's a shot of it.

I'll let you know how it goes.

For anyone who's interested, here's the information about my show this weekend for those in central/Eastern Iowa: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Arts and Craft Show.

keeping it simple tonight with a treasury feature

Marilyn (Starwaves) included my Button Embellished Beadwoven Bracelet - For Personal Use PDF Pattern in her Do You Want to Get Hooked on Beadwaving treasury.  I love this treasury theme!  What a neat idea.

I'm nearly finished with the coordinating pearl earrings.  I said that I'd mail them by Friday, and I think that I'll be able to hold true to that.  I have a nasty cold right now and am not up for doing much else at this point in the night besides heading to bed so stay tuned again tomorrow.

Busy Friday!

Lots going on!  The biggest thing this weekend is that the EtsyBloggers are having a team wide sale for our 3rd anniversary as a team.  You can view all of the sales here.  Approximately 50 shops are participating.  I'm offering FREE SHIPPING in my entire Etsy shop, include sale and custom items, today through Sunday.  I will do a few single day free shipping offers before the holidays, but this will be the longest free shipping sale for randomcreative for 2010.  So take advantage of it while you can!

I published my second beading PDF pattern yesterday.  This one is for my Button Embellished Beadwoven Bracelet design.  Check it out here.

You can view all of the button embellished beadwoven bracelets that are currently available for sale here.

As promised, I have a couple new leafy developments.  I reworked my Indian Summer design and updated the listing yesterday.

I want to mention that I normally use Aleene's Jewelry and Metal Glue for the knots on my leafy designs.  I don't normally glue my knots, but because this design is fairly weighty, I like to give it a little extra security.  The glue itself works pretty well, but the bottle is a bad design.  I always end up getting glue everywhere, and it's about as strong as super glue so it doesn't create a good situation.  Jake always keeps super glue around for his models so I tried Loctite super glue for this bracelet instead, which was much better.  Their bottle designs are amazing.  If any of you who bead weave need a glue for your weightier designers, I highly recommend it.

I'm working on a couple purple/pink leafy designs next.  Here's a sneak peak at the first one.

I haven't mentioned any non fiction books that I've been reading in quite a while.  I recently checked out Camera Creative: Professional Photography Techniques for Innovative Images by Chris Gatcum from the library.  For those of you who use a light box and/or enjoy experimenting with photo editing/lens/etc., this is a great resource.  I have gotten some excellent advice from it about my light box, as well as confirmation that some of the things that I'm already doing are good.

Finally, I found out that my pieces are featured in two new treasuries yesterday.  jessypatterson included my new Tortoiseshell Cat Button Charm Bracelet in her Steeped Tea treasury.

Fellow EtsyBlogger DevineDesignsJewelry included my Beaded Bracelet - Double Linked - Chocolate and Cream in her Etsy Bloggers 3rd Anniversary treasury.

Have a great weekend everyone!