Alice & The White Rabbit

Oh my!
I am just about to complete the Alice In Wonderland Series. Here's a sneak peak at the White Rabbit in progress and the rough draft of Alice.

"The Queens" Long Needle Case Finished!

"The Queens" Long Needle Case in Progress.

Too much fun! Should have The Queens ready for sale in the next few days.

Please Pray For A Special Young Lady

I had the honor and the privilege of meeting a very special young lady during the Summer of 2009. Her name is Amanda. Shortly after I met her she was diagnosed with brain cancer. The challenges this diagnosis has brought her have been more than I think I could handle. I am told that Amanda has faced this battle head on and never complains. That she is an inspiration to everyone around her.

A belated birthday is planned for her this Saturday. Amanda has requested that gifts be brought for children in the hospital or items be brought that sheltered animals could use in lieu of presents for herself.

Amanda has touched my soul. I knew from the moment I met her she was special. I never dreamed she was going to touch my heart in such a big way.

Amanda,
Stay strong my friend. We will bead again.
Beth

Mad Hatter Needle Case Pattern

Gypsy & Maverick join the brood!

These pups were saved by my daughter. Miss Gracie had her babies much sooner than I was expecting. Maverick was found outside cold and near death. My daughter found him, warmed him and saved his life. She named him Maverick because he is brave and strong. She never plans to get rid of him. The only girl is mine. She is so pretty. I named her Gypsy. JJ, Victor and Spencer are all doing great. They can hardly wait to play with the new babies. Everyone is warm, happy and their bellies are full.

A Random Act of Kindness

When I left for work last night I did not bother to stop and check the mailbox because:

A. It was really cold outside.
B. I don't like to be late.
C. I could have sworn I saw the mailman driving down the wrong side of the road.

He must be new. I did not recognize the Charcoal Gray Jeep Cherokee. But, there was a yellow flashing light just off center on it's roof. I assume this is the new mailman. Yeah! At least someone is trying. Now if they can just pick up the speed a little. Who else gets their mail at dark-thirty?

So, I waited until I got home this morning to check the box. Much to my surprise a very special treasure was waiting on me. Robbie Payne (read her blog here) sent this gift to me.

See the special note inside?
It reads...
12/2010
Beth, Hope you can use! Robbie

Oh, I can use alright. It will not stay empty long. I am going to keep it in my nursing bag. I will store all the little tiny things that I need in emergency situations in the ICU. You know like spare parts and stuff that are not always easy to find, but a good nurse can get her hands on them in a hurry.

It will be used when time is of the essence and
small things mean so much.

So pretty. I LOVE IT!
I always wanted one of these. Now I have one.

Robbie,

Thank You so much for sending me this gift from the heart, not Walmart. It means so much to me.

Until We Bead Again, Beth

Needle Case Patterns - Another Dozen

Mad Hatter Beats The Rabbit

Something told me that little pesky rabbit would just have to wait.
Here's the rough draft for The Mad Hatter.
Much more to come!
Tweak, tweak, tweak!
You have no idea how much work goes into designing a needle case until you have tried it!

What have I gotten myself into? The Queen of Hearts is already haunting me!

Cheshire Cat Beaded Needle Case Pattern

Tah Dah!!! I finally finished The Cheshire Cat Long Needle Case Pattern!!!! I am very happy with it. Final count...18 different colors! He will complete the next dozen patterns that I will offer for just 12 bucks! Look for the new collection available soon on my website.

This needle case was attempted, rough drafted, tweaked, undone, & redone until I finally got it.

I have that pesky little rabbit in my sights.

And then there is this guy.

Business is booming!

Thank you to all my new customers and the old faithful ones too. My patterns are swirling around the world thanks to this wonderful thing called the Internet.

It is truly the ultimate satisfaction for a bead artist. Come up with an idea, express it in beads and have others repeat what you have created. Some even take it one step further and alter my patterns to make their own creations. Brilliant!

Here's what I am working on right now. And yes, it is official. I am going to make a series of Alice in Wonderland needle cases. Why...I don't know. The challenge is great, but the subject matter and colors ease the labor.

Because I was not able to fit that pesky little rabbit on the first one, he has earned a short needle case all to himself. Maybe I can have him ready by Spring. That remains to be seen.

Hope everyone is having fun this crafty season!

Until We Bead Again, Beth

P.S.

I'll be here, beading by the window in the sunlight if you need me.

Cheshire Cat Beaded Needle Case Pattern

Now the real fun begins! Final draft before beading. I can't wait to get started on this one. It's 30 degrees outside and I can't think of anything better to do than get busy beading! If all goes well and things turn out as expected, I will have this pattern available on my website in just a few days. Wish me luck!

I will not be defeated by the Cheshire Cat Needle Case!

And so the story goes. The Cheshire Cat has been haunting me since I watched Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland on the big screen back in March. This is the first rough draft. All attempts before this were just that. Attempts. If you have never designed a needle case before and you are looking for a new challenge in bead work, I highly recommend you give it a try. Just be sure you are up for the challenge of making big things fit into itty, bitty, tiny places. Oh and you also need a pretty good idea of how the reflection of light makes different bead finishes appear to be something they are not. 

This is far from over. I still have plenty of tweeking to do. I still want to fit in the hat and the rabbit. Maybe the hat but the rabbit is looking pretty doubtful at this point. Then there is this dream I keep having about making a whole series of Alice in Wonderland needle cases. Not that I am a huge fan of the story. To be honest, I fell asleep at the movie and I am too old to remember just what this whole story is about. But, what I do know is, I love all the colors and the cast of characters. I also love the challenge of making big things fit into itty, bitty, tiny places. Don't knock it until you have tried it!

PS22 Chorus

If you have not already heard about PS22 Chorus you just gotta check them out. They are an incredibly talented group of kids that are lead by Mr. B. He is one of those special people that is able to enrich the lives of others by doing what he loves. So often tears of joy have come to my eyes when I watch the candid videos of these children singing and just having a good time with well known talented artists. I worry about the future of our youth at times. The world has changed so much since I was a young child. Art was always my favorite subject in school. So many schools have removed it from their curriculum. That really bothers me. Thank you Mr. B. for taking the time to invest in the future of our children through the arts.

Here's the link to PS22's BLOG. Please visit. You will not be disappointed. I guarantee it.

Monkey Needle Case Pattern

It's the day after Thanksgiving. I am exhausted. I have had this needle case beaded for about a week or so. But, I've been so busy that I have not been able to even get a pic of it posted until now. I am still trying to figure out that Cheshire Cat. He's in there. I just have to figure out how to make him appear.



He's so cute.

Bead Giveaway by Juls

Here's a pic of the billboard I rented to enter myself in Juls drawing for one of her bead giveaways. She is an incredibly talented bead artist and crazy funny. I love to read her blog. She has a way of brightening my day. Love ya Juls! Click here to read her witty blog and see pics of the gorgeous beads she makes.

In Memory Of My Favorite Veteran

This is the first beaded needle case I made. It was a gift for my father. Even though he knew he was approaching the end of his life, he kept himself busy hand sewing. His death was expected but the nursing care he received was not. A nurse should feel honored and privileged to be there when a life ends. What a difference the smallest acts of kindness can make. A nurse should be there to do everything in her power to ease the pain and suffering. It is not a job. It comes from the heart. I'll never forget how hard I fought to keep a promise I made to my father. The only thing he asked was not to let him struggle to breath as he passed. When a nurse refused to follow orders and give him morphine to ease his pain and suffering I was devastated. When I asked her why she would not give him the morphine the doctor had ordered her reply was, "I have to answer to God." What kind of God wants a man to struggle to breath as he dies? Maybe hers does, but mine does not. Many years have passed since Dad crossed over. That does not make that horrible memory of how he struggled to breath, and how I felt like I had failed to keep my promise to him any easier. Some people just don't get it. Some people are just plain stupid and should not be nurses.


RIP Dad. I miss you. I am so sorry you had to go the way you did.

Mmm.....Delicas

Lovin' the Delicas. Worth waiting on the 5:30 pm mail run!

Sometimes I buy my delicas from Artbeads.

Sometimes I buy them from Barbara Elbe.

I like the way Barbara packs hers better.

Find the Sock Monkey

Just sittin here waiting on the 5:30 PM mail to run. I need yellow beads for my bananas. If anyone knows someone who would like to work for Flintstone, GA., USPS, please ask them to apply. Now Hiring.

Today is Chesire Cat day one.

Challenge.

Thrive on it.

Beaded Stethoscope

Beaded Stethoscopes

Made by special request.

It's funny how I started working on a beaded stethoscope for someone at work and then I received an email request for another one. Must be the law of attraction at work.

Beaded Piano Needle Case Pattern

Piano Needle Case

Okay, I know I said I would make the Sock Monkey needle case next, but this one is a gift for someone. The monkey will have to wait. This Piano pattern only has 3 colors in it. It is a great pattern for beginners.

Sock Monkeys Needle Case Pattern

Here's a variation on the Monkey Pattern. Sock Monkeys. I'll bead him up next.

Monkey Beaded Needle Case Pattern

The Marathon ends today with this funny little needle case pattern.

Get it Here on my website.

I had a long stretch off from my nursing job. It was a great and well deserved break. I was able to design and complete 6 new needle case patterns. Just a few more to go and then I will offer one of my famous 12 for $12.00 deals. That's a steal. But, if you see something you want to bead up as a Christmas gift you better get it now. I'm not sure when the rest of the collection will be finished. I do have a few patterns swirling in my brain. Alice In Wonderland's Chesire Cat is on the list.

Oh Happy Day!

No explanation required!

I have resorted all my little pretties. Oh how I love Delicas. My paint.

Meanwhile I am working on my next needle case. Here's a clue. I have gone Bananas!

I'm so impressed!

Claudia Kelly posted this on my Facebook wall.

Hi, Beth!
Wanted to share a bracelet in my Etsy shop that I created based on the Tree Frog pattern that I purchased from you (notice I gave you credit!):

What a class act!

You can go to her Etsy by Clicking Here.

Oh Fudge!

I have been a very busy little beader. But, if I keep eating what's at the end of this post, I won't be little for long!

This Awareness Ribbon pattern can be done in any color combination you want.

You know you want some. When I was a little girl my mother used to make homemade fudge during the Fall and Winter. Sometimes I just gotta have it. Here's the recipe.

Old Fashioned Fudge

2/3 c. Cocoa

3 c. Sugar

1/8 tsp Salt

1 1/2 c. Milk

4 1/2 tbsp. Butter

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Combine cocoa with sugar and salt, add milk, bring to a boil stirring frequnetly. Cook until a small amount of mixture forms a soft ball when dropped in cold water or 234 degress F on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, drop in the butter. Cool to lukewarm; add vanilla, and beat just until mixture thickens. Pour into a buttered pan and enjoy! Add pecans so you can call it healthy food!

How To Read Even Count Tubular Peyote Patterns

For Zahra Beaded Needle Case Pattern

Here's Zahra.

Lighthouse Tale Beaded Needle Case

Happy Halloween!

Here it is. Yeah!! I finished it. What a little treasure it is.

So much fun to make. This one has 16 colors. Patience was not granted. I just could not wait on my beads to arrive. Bad me. So, I went to the only store in town that carries Delicas. Way too expensive. Shame on them for charging so much!

Currently I am working on Zahra and filming a video of it. Never can have too many How to Even Count Tubular Peyote Videos right?

Snap shot of Zahra in progress.

For Zahra

Zahra Baker's story is the most tragic child abuse and murder case I have ever read about.

How could they?

No punishment can equal what she suffered.

I'm not going to tell her story here. There is plenty of horrific information on the internet.

I wanted to honor her life in some way. I created this needle case and named it after her. "Zahra" What a beautiful name.

I can imagine Zahra, in Australia, smiling at all the beauty there. She had overcome so many challenges in life. What a strong young lady she was.

May she rest in peace.

May those who harmed her never harm again.

Free Needle Case Pattern Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  This is a great pattern to learn how to make beaded needle cases.
Only two colors are needed.

Please enjoy this video by my friends on Mount Desert Island.
Miss you guys. You are the best!

Meanwhile, I wait in great anticipation for the arrival of a large shipment of Delica beads.
When will my ship come in?

Publish Post

Santa Needle Case Pattern

Yippee!!! I just finished Santa's Ho Ho Ho Short Needle Case.

You know you want one. Pair this one up with the Snowman.