Step by Step Beads features EBW members once again!

For the fifth straight time in a row, EBW members’ artistry is featured in Step by Step Beads magazine! These ladies rock! The 4 EBW ladies in the July/August 2008 SBS issue are:

Gabrielle E. Neijman of GreenEnvyDesigns has an article on page 11, Turn It Over, featuring her square stitch pendant.

Anna Neff of ARoseByName has her article on page 20. Anna shares her pattern for an even-count peyote bracelet called Geometric Gemtones.

Then, there’s Leslie Rogalski’s article on her design for a big toggle pod necklace called Mod Pods in page 38.

Last but not the least, there’s Carol Dean Sharpe of Sand Fibers who keeps us dazzled and on our toes with her patterns. This time, her Trendy Circles peyote stitch cuff is featured on page 51.

Well done, ladies! Hmm…wonder who is next?

Contributed by BeadJewelryShopGirl.

And the winner is... EnchantedBeads!




There were 534 votes this month, and Ileana's Food Chain in the Enchanted Garden pouch garnered the most votes this time around. The pouch features the sun, plants, an owl, a mouse, a spider, a ladybug, and a butterfly!

Runners up this month are:

#2 - Honeycomb Choker, by KathysKraftyKreation

#5 - Web of Life Collar, by nemeton

#3 - Ocean Fish Necklace, by nancygould

#4 - catkill cuff, by thebeadedlily

#10 - Dragonfly Amulet Bag, by Emarah

#13 - Reef by Moonlight, by ThePreciousBeads

#11 - Know Your Place... In the Food Chain, by SandFibers

#9 - Ouroboros, by lolos

#7 - Feeding Frenzy, by myfairladyvt4

Keep your eyes peeled for the entries for the June challenge. Lots of our beadweavers are already at work on their entries for 'Anything Goes'.

Etsy BeadWeavers Members in Step-by-Step Beads

When you see the newest version (May/June 2008) of Step-by-Step Beads on your newsstand, grab a copy!

You won't want to miss the pattern for this beautiful cuff, created by our own Carol Dean Sharpe (SandFibers) in both single peyote and in three-drop peyote.


Gracing the cover of the magazine is a colorful chain bracelet filled with wire-wrapped dangles, created by another member of our team, Leslie Rogalski (leslie19083). It's not beadwoven, but it's fun!

Congratulations to our April Challenge Winner!

Flower of Fire's Heart


was chosen as the winner of the Etsy Beadweaver's April Challenge - Fire and Flowers!


Wolf, aka DantesSpirit, is a seasoned veteran of the Beadweaver's team and actually chose this theme for the Fire and Flowers challenge. She will also have the honor of choosing the theme for our June challenge so stay tuned for that announcement before the end of the month.





The runners up in this month's challenge were:

2nd Place - 24. Blazing Flowers by Triz

3rd Place - 21. Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire by jstinson

4th Place - 22. Petals of Flame by AmethystRavenstar

5th Place - 4. Flames and Flowers by enchantedbeads

6th Place - 15. Firewheel by SweetFreedom

7th Place - 30. Summer Flame by SandFibers

8th Place - 14. Tattoo Flames Bracelet by PinkPoochDesigns

9th Place - 18. Huang by SilverDragon

10th Place - 19. Flamboyant Flower Brooch by enchantedbeads

Thanks to everyone that participated in the challenge and that voted!!

Etsy BeadWeavers in Step-by-Step Beads!

Have you stopped by your local newsstand, bookstore, or craft store to pick up the latest issue (March/April 2008) of Step-by-Step Beads?

You're going to want to make sure to grab a copy so you can check out all the new projects that are showcased in the publication. Of the 16 projects in this issue, three of them are by members of the Etsy BeadWeavers Street Team!

On page 12 you'll find instructions for the O-riginal O-ring, a circular brick stitch pendant created by Leslie Rogalski. Beautifully bold and modern, and a little bit industrial, these pendants are so much fun you'll want one to wear with every outfit. Leslie has these pendants in her Etsy shop, too, in case you want a Leslie original!

Turn to page 15 and you'll find instructions for a Fold-over Triangle brick-stitch pendant designed by Claire Groff. Claire's pendant design is very versatile. It can be made in different sizes, and by varying the bead colors and adding different charms or dangles you can have a whole wardrobe filled with these beauties! Just look how pretty this pendant looks when paired with a Kumihomo braid:

Carol Dean Sharpe's Southwestern Cuff peyote pattern can be found on page 39 of the magazine. Carol Dean takes her inspiration from a variety of sources to create patterns for an endless procession of beautiful bracelets and cuffs. Her Southwestern Cuff is obviously influenced by the colors and the landscape in gorgeous southern New Mexico.

Congratulations and kudos to these three talented members of the Etsy BeadWeavers team!

Etsy BeadWeavers in Step by Step Beads!

We love it when our members' creations are published, and if you peruse the pages of the January/February 2008 issue of Step by Step Beads you're sure to recognize Carol Dean Sharpe's signature cuff. Turn just a few more pages, and you'll find Leslie Rogalski's Comet Anemone bracelet!

Carol Dean Sharpe, whose Etsy shop is called SandFibers, creates cuffs in just about every color and pattern imaginable; and the patterns are, in most cases, her own designs. Within her shop you'll find everything from randomly-assembled blends of bead colors to stripes, braids, triangles, her signature spirals, and even a houndstooth pattern! Browse her shop some more, and you'll find rings, pendants, necklaces, amulet pouches, and other beautiful beadwoven masterpieces.


Leslie Rogalski, whose Etsy shop is called Leslie19083, is the editor in chief of Step by Step Beads, as well as a contributing editor to two other publications. To me that sounds like a full-time job, but Leslie also manages to create original, unusual, and finely crafted bead jewelry! Her shop contains just a few of these goodies, but it's obvious from just viewing those few pieces that you're seeing the work of a talented bead artist.

Kudos to both Carol Dean and to Leslie! It's wonderful to see beadweaving presented as the artform we all know it to be.

November Challenge - Caught in a Net

Wondering what the Etsy BeadWeavers are up to in November? Sandy (aka Forbesfarm), the winner of the October challenge, has selected a new challenge: Caught in a Net.

When asked to choose the November challenge theme, Sandy said:
When looking at the other beader's work, it appears that many of them stick to one or two stitches. I try to use a variety of techniques when I work. I was thinking about a challenge using just one stitch. It would be new to some of the group, and perhaps not their favorite one, but it would challenge them to get out of their comfort zone. Peyote and Herringbone seem to be done to death. How about a challenge for the Net stitch with no limit on color, beads used, etc.? Personally, I have used this stitch quite a bit, but always in a flat necklace. There must be more to it than that!

We'd love to have you join us for the challenge! If you're not a member of Etsy BeadWeavers, you can click the link on the blog to join. You just need to be a seller on Etsy and love to do beadweaving to be a member. You can send a convo (via Etsy) to either me (time2cre8) or Carol Dean (SandFibers) to join the Etsy BeadWeavers Street Team.

I thought I'd save everyone some searching by posting some links to sites with information about netting stitches:
http://www.beadwrangler.com/samplers/netting1/making_bead_netting_samples1.htm
http://www.whimbeads.com/cart.asp?pg=classroom_3beadnet
http://www.angelfire.com/co2/beltana/net.html
http://www.beadjewelrymaking.com/Arts_and_Craft_Idea/bead_netting_instruction.html

In addition to those sites, there numerous books and patterns available. Check 'em out and get started on your November challenge!

Hot August Nights

The August Challenge was completed, and everyone's hard at work on their September challenge, chosen by the August winner, noeasybeads. There were 154 votes total, and it was really close! The September challenge is Show Your Colors, and it's sure to bring out some wonderful beadwork from this talented group of beadweavers.

Make sure you check out the shops of all the participants in the August challenge:
beadbug

MistyRidgeBeads

beautyinthebeads

time2cre8

clairecreations

blazinbeads

SandFibers

dawnchastain

Forbesfarm

...and come back to check out the September entries and cast your vote for your favorite!