Dear friends, I have just created a new tiny beaded poodle pendant! This piece has a sterling silver split ring attached at the top so you can wear it on your favorite necklace chain.
Click the pic below to view this listing on Etsy.
Enter coupon code HOLIDAY16 to save 15% on any purchase of $10 or more in my Etsy shop! Coupon expires December 16, 2016.
Thanks for looking!
Dear friends, two new items have been listed in my Etsy and Amazon Handmade shops. The first, a bead-embroidered German Shepherd police dog! I have been wanting to make one of these for awhile, because I feel we owe so much to these amazing dogs. They put their lives on the line every single day. If you are interested in a custom beaded Police Dog pin or framed portrait in a different breed, please use the Contact form to send photos of your dog.
If you would like to help buy a police dog a bulletproof vest, consider donating to Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog this holiday season. This is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to support Massachusetts police dogs, by helping provide bulletproof vests, essential equipment, training, & dogs. Vests cost over $1000 each, but they are worth every penny considering how many lives these dogs save.
Also, check out my latest customized Miniature Schnauzer pin pendant. This dog is Black and Silver. I used at least 6 different colors of seed beads for this piece as well as a drop bead for the nose. This design is currently available for sale on Etsy and Amazon.. Enter coupon code HOLIDAY16 to save 15% on any purchase of $10 or more in my Etsy shop. Coupon expires December 15, 2016.. Perhaps I should make matching earrings next?
Dear friends, if you have not done your holiday shopping yet, consider buying handmade items on Etsy! Between December 6 and 12, 2016, first-time Etsy buyers who spend $50 at one shop will receive a $10 credit toward a future Etsy purchase. Qualifying buyers will receive an email with instructions for redeeming their credit two to four days after making their purchase. The offer is limited to one per person while the promotion lasts, and credits must be redeemed by January 31, 2017.
To be eligible for this promotion, buyers must spend at least $50 at a single shop in a single transaction as their first purchase on Etsy, before taxes and shipping. Buyers can order multiple items from one shop to qualify. This promotion is available to first-time Etsy buyers making purchases in the following currencies: United States dollars (USD), British Pounds (GBP), Canadian dollars (CAD), Australian Dollars (AUD), and Euros (EUR). Click the photo above for more details!
Also, save 15% off any purchase of $10 or more in my Etsy shop now thru December 15, 2016 with coupon code HOLIDAY16! Coupon valid on all beaded dog jewelry, pet portraits, beading patterns, and bead kits. Happy Holidays from The Lone Beader’s Gallery Shop! https://www.etsy.com/shop/thelonebeader
Dear friends, ‘Tis the season for beaded holiday gifts! During the past couple of weeks, I have been super busy beading Etsy orders! Here is the latest custom order I have created – a chocolate Cocker Spaniel pin pendant.
This piece was created by stitching tiny Japanese glass seed beads to felt 2-3 at a time. Once I beaded the entire piece of felt, I did some layering on the dogs ears and legs. I basically just added long beaded loops which really add movement to the piece! The dog’s ‘hair’ really moves when you touch it, too! Do you like it?
I also created a fawn-colored English Bulldog pin.. This one is a bit more sparkly than usual. I used a mix of Japanese size 15 seed beads and size 11 Delicas. I also used special tiny brown doll eyes. Don’t you just think he’s the cutest?
Besides that, I have been trying to prepare for the holidays: shopping, shipping, cooking, jotting down ideas and goals for the New Year… Until then, I will be running a HUGE Year End Sale on both Etsy and Amazon Handmade. Nearly ALL Ready-to-Ship items will be 15% off, no coupon code needed. Sale runs December 25 – January 15, 2017. Enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas!
Dear friends, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. I took a few days off, but now I’m back to working on new ideas for 2017.. Here is the latest – tiny beaded doggie pendants hanging from a dainty Italian sterling silver chain!
So far, I have created a couple of tiny Yorkie pendants, and a new Westie pendant. These feature a tiny sterling silver heart charm. They hang from a sterling silver bail and 18″ sterling silver 1.3mm diamond cut bead chain with lobster claw clasp. This is the perfect Valentine gift for yourself or for a friend who enjoys wearing sterling as well as one-of-a-kind beaded jewelry.
If you are interested in a tiny beaded dog pendant of a different breed, please message me using the Contact form above, or contact me via Etsy. Also, check out my New Year Sale. Nearly ALL Ready-to-Ship items will be 15% off, no coupon code needed. Sale runs Now – January 15, 2017 on Etsy and Amazon Handmade. Enjoy and Happy New Year! :)
Dear friends, the New Year has already been busy! I have been receiving Etsy and Amazon orders ever since the holidays so I haven’t had time to blog! Here is what I have been working on..
The first is a new design – a tiny beaded Pitbull pendant. I actually made 2 of these, a brindle and a gray and white one. These bead-embroidered pendants are very small – they measure less than 1″ and they hang from an 18″ sterling silver 1.3mm diamond cut bead chain with lobster claw clasp. They also feature a tiny sterling silver heart charm.
Above, you can see how these look when worn. Of course, matching earrings can always be made upon request:) This design is listed as made to order on Etsy and Amazon Handmade.
And recently, I received my first international order through Amazon – an Orange Roan Italian Spinone brooch! I used nearly 10 different colors of seed beads for this piece, mainly a combination of whites, topaz, and gold. I have listed this as a new color choice in my online shops.
This piece has made its way across the pond! Hope it arrives safely. If you are interested in a custom beaded pin or pendant, please send me a message! Also I would like to note that all Ready to Ship items purchased after January 30 will not ship out until the week of February 13, and processing times for made to order items will be adjusted accordingly.. I will be off on another adventure searching for beads:)
Dear friends, long time no post! I have been off exploring the Yucatán and I have so much to share with you. This was my 4th trip to Mexico which officially makes it the country I have traveled the most. After visiting Mérida for a few nights (an amazing city!), my compañero and I took a bus to Valladolid. This is a small city in the center of the Yucatán, but it is very important to Mexico’s history. It is also very warm there as it is completely surrounded by jungle.
We arrived in Valladolid just in time to visit Casa de los Venados (House of the Deer). This is a private home which contains the largest museum quality collection of Mexican folk art in the country. There are more than 3,000+ pieces in this collection. The owners are kind enough to open their home every morning for a free tour (donations welcome!).
I had read a lot about this collection of folk art and I was very happy to have the opportunity to visit! This 18,000 square foot home is really a palace complete with beautiful open spaces, fountains, gardens, and a swimming pool.
I was amazed at the amount of art which was displayed in every room (there is even an entire room dedicated to Frida Kahlo). It is really a grand example of how one can make art appreciation a part of their daily lives. Of course, I was on the lookout for beadwork and I did find several pieces of Huichol bead art. Last year, I wrote a blog post about this art form which you can read HERE.
Folk art acknowledges the importance of what is sacred as a unique expression of a people’s perception of the universe. These works of art are primarily handcrafted for utilitarian or decorative purposes. A folk artist might be self-taught, or learn from other folk artists to create their own authentic works of art. This is different from ‘fine art’ which is generally taught and legitimized in academies.
At Casa de los Venados, the goal is to share with the community and teach that folk art is indeed something which the Mexican people should view with pride. They now conduct organized school tours to teach children about the art and handicrafts of their country. This is wonderful because in many cases the local children might never make it to a big city to view fine artworks. They now have the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the art that is all around them.
If you take a trip to Valladolid, definitely make time to visit Casa de los Venados as well as other historical sites around the city. Take lots of photos and keep an eye out for the Catrinas! :O
Dear friends, I would like to share with you the progress of my latest custom order. This is a new animal pin for me, one of which has been on my list for awhile now.. A beaded horse – in this case a majestic Anheuser-Busch bred Clydesdale horse:) This animal is much larger than the usual dogs & cats that I create, so the size of the pin must be larger as well, otherwise the details will be lost. So, I worked on a drawing based on the photo below and resized it to about 3″ x 3″.. This is usually a good size for a large brooch.
Next, I created a paper template which I used to cut out several layers of felt. The first layer is a stiff beading foundation, and the top layers or shapes were cut from felt. I can use any felt that I have on hand, either acrylic or wool. I stitched the layers of felt to the stiff stuff to create my overall foundation.
Next, I began by stitching a special 2mm glass eye onto the horse’s face, then I began beading. I always start with the animal’s face and work from there. In this case, I worked on the face, then legs as I outlined the horse’s body with Japanese size 15 seed beads.
Following those lines, I continued doing bead embroidery by simply filling in the rest of the legs and body. I used several different colors of seed beads to achieve the shading I wanted. Once the first layer of beadwork was complete, I began the second layer. I added tiny beaded fringe on the horse’s mane and legs. I also added some more lines to accentuate the animal’s features. Lastly, I stitched many long beaded fringes for the tail. I sort of stitched these together at the top so they sit right, but that was easier said than done.
This piece required a bit more time and patience than usual, but I think the results are worth the effort. I am really proud of how this piece turned out! What do you think? If you are an equestrian and are interested in a custom beaded horse pin or framed mini pet portrait, please use the Contact form above or message me through Etsy! I appreciate your interest in my beadwork!
Dear friends, long time no post! I have been busy filling Amazon & Etsy orders recently. And I have also added a new tiny beaded dog pendant & matching earrings to my Etsy inventory – an Italian Spinone!
It seems this dog breed is becoming more popular, because I have been making a lot of the lately! I made this tiny pendant the same way as the dog pin, but I attached a tiny sterling silver bail at the top. This piece hangs from an 18″ sterling silver 1.3mm diamond cut bead chain with lobster claw clasp.
Then, I made matching beaded Italian Spinone earrings. Earrings are more difficult and time consuming to make as great effort is made to make each dog look similar. Once the beadwork is complete, I stitched a sterling silver eye pin to the back, then backed each piece with Ultrasuede. Each earring hangs from a sterling silver ear wire which features a tiny black Onyx bead.
If you are interested in custom beaded Italian Spinone jewelry, I also offer Orange Roan and White as color options. Please send me an email using the Contact form above or message me through Etsy, Amazon, or Facebook. Thank you for your interest in my beadwork!
Dear friends, I hope you have been enjoying the warmer weather! Today just a quick post to share with you my latest item – a tiny beaded Pomeranian necklace. Or perhaps it looks like an American Eskimo dog? This pendant hangs on an 18″ Italian sterling silver 1.3mm diamond cut bead chain and it is ready to ship. Please click the image to view more details on Etsy. Also, check out more tiny beaded dog pendants HERE.
Also, this weekend only, you can save 20% on all ready-to-ship beaded dog jewelry, beading patterns, and kits. No coupon code needed! Sale starts now & runs through May 29, 2017! All items purchased during this sale will ship out after Memorial Day Weekend. Thanks for looking & enjoy the sun!
Dear friends, a new bead- embroidered pet portrait is now available for sale on Etsy – a pink Pomeranian! Or perhaps it looks like an American Eskimo dog to you?
A customer suggested this color to me awhile back and I liked the idea because I’m sure there is someone out there who has dyed their Pomeranian’s hair pink.. Whether you like that idea or not, I think it looks great in beads! I used tiny Japanese glass seed beads and layered beaded fringe to create this dog’s texture. I like it so much that I have added this color option for anyone who would like a pink Pomeranian pin pendant or earrings! It would definitely be a conversation piece! Please check my Etsy and Amazon shops for more details. Thanks for looking!
Dear friends, I am back to working on my Russian bead painting. Here is the latest progress – I have finished beading a large tree. The tree was created by first sewing together a felt foundation with several holes in it. I used a combination of bead embroidery and freeform peyote stitch to create a leafy texture which can be seen through when you move them around. Below is a sneak peak of what it might look like in the finished piece. This portion of the beadwork (tree + cathedral) measures approx. 12″x 15″. If you would like to see more photos of the progress of this piece, please visit this Facebook photo album.
Also, I am running a Christmas in July Sale Event on Etsy and Amazon Handmade. Save 25% on every purchase in my shop now thru July 23, 2017. This sale is my biggest sale ever as it also includes made-order-items and custom orders, as well! No coupon code needed! Please click the image above to visit my Etsy shop. Thanks for looking and have a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Dear friends, just a quick post to show you my latest design – beaded American Eskimo earrings! I just love how these turned out! These dangly Eskie dog earrings were created by stitching layers of tiny glass seed beads to tiny pieces of felt. Beadwork was backed with Ultrasuede. Earrings hang from sterling silver ear wires fearing a tiny black Onyx bead.
This item was originally a custom order request, but since they match my beaded American Eskimo pin pendant, I have decided to list them as made-to-order on Etsy and Amazon. Also, if you’d like to see beadwork progress photos or a photo of me trying on this pair, please check my Facebook or Instagram pages and/or the product listing. Thank you for your interest! Back to beading!
Dear friends, I have been thinking about the subject of gratitude lately. I often stay up late doing bead embroidery feeling incredibly grateful that I have discovered a craft which brings me so much joy. I am also grateful for all of the amazing friends I have met along my creative journey, all of the places I have traveled, and for each and every opportunity that has come my way.
So, to express gratitude, I have decided to provide FREE access to my Intro to Extreme Bead Embroidery tutorial when you sign up for my e-newsletter. Shortly after sign-up, you will receive a link to view the PDF file in the Final Welcome Email. I hope this tutorial will inspire you to try the art of bead embroidery!
I have also decided to lower prices on all beading patterns and kits on Etsy, Amazon, and Google Books. Beading patterns are now priced at $0.99 and $1.99 across the board, in English and Spanish. Now you can learn how to create some of my most popular beaded dog pins and pendants for a fraction of the original price!
If you have just stumbled upon this post and would like to learn more about me, please check out this recent feature on the Caravan Beads blog. Someday I will make it up to Maine to check out their shop..
What are you grateful for and what are some ways you express gratitude?
Ever since I began creating custom beaded dog pins and pendants, I have learned about many dog breeds which I had never heard of before. One of them is the Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon. A customer had sent me a photo of her dog and I immediately began working on a sketch. Once we agreed on the design, I cut out a felt foundation and stitched on the dog’s tiny glass nose.
Then, I went back to the photo to observe all of the dog’s colors. I learned that one of the color names used to describe the Griffon is ‘liver’. Liver is a dark brown usually referring to the color of said organ. This particular dog has a whitish coat with a liver-brown head and patches throughout. Some of these dogs have larger brown patches, but this one just has a few small brown patches peaking through her white wiry coat.
Next, I looked through my bead stash and found the colors I needed. I used a mix of Japanese size 15 matte gray, transparent crystal, white, and a few different browns. I stitched short rows of beads in the direction of the dog’s hair until the entire piece of felt was covered. I alternated colors and remembered to include those brown spots.
For the second layer of beadwork, I alternated between clear and crystal lustre AB using a khaki colored thread. (Thread color makes all the difference here.) I carefully spaced out my tiny layered fringes so that you can still see some of the undercoat peaking through. I also used a couple of different browns for the fringe on the dogs head as well as the ear. After I finished the second layer of beadwork, I stitched on the Ultrasuede backing and my piece was complete. Now this dog has a glass bead embroidered coat!
If you have a Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon, please feel free to share a photo on my Facebook page! Back to beading!
Sadly summer is coming to and end, but there is still a lot to look forward to! I am currently running another huge 20%-off sale on Etsy. Sale runs now through Sept. 5, 2017. Most ready-to-ship beaded dog pins, jewelry, beading kits, patterns, and artwork will be on sale. No coupon code needed!
Also, here is a quick peek at a small beaded tree I just finished. It was created by first doing bead embroidery around a P-shaped piece of felt using several different shades of green seed beads. I did several rows of freeform peyote-stitch across the center of the P. This tree will eventually be stitched to a canvas just a bit behind the larger tree. If you would like to see more progress on my Russian bead-painting, please check out my Facebook photo album. Next, I need to work on the relief aspect of these trees, but I do have a plan..We’ll see if it works.. Stay tuned!
Last month, a customer from Mexico City purchased 2 of my Etsy items. One was the above custom beaded Great Dane pendant. I purchased a USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate shipping label. I requested tracking updates on the USPS website and received email notifications the entire way. A delivery attempt was made on the morning of the Sept. 19, 2017, but my customer was not home to receive it.
Just hours later, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Greater Mexico City area.
I was very worried, and and didn’t hear from my customer for nearly two days..(Thankfully she is okay!) I also didn’t receive any tracking updates for an entire week. I sent a tweet to the Mexican postal service with my tracking# and they responded telling me that their offices were closed so they could inspect their buildings. They also reassured me that the package would be delivered but they weren’t sure when… So, I relayed that info to my customer, and the very next day she was able to go to her local Post office to pick up her package! I also received another tweet from the postal service telling me that the package had been picked up..
Now, that customer is a repeat customer! She placed another order for 3 more custom beaded Great Dane pendants, and I have just shipped them the other day.
So, to those who haven’t shipped to Mexico yet, I say, why not give it a try? My only hope is that Etsy will make some modifications to their shipping settings. I would like to see the option to select only ONE shipping preference for certain countries. For example, I prefer NOT to offer shipping to Mexico via regular First Class International, because I have no idea how long it will take to arrive, or if it will arrive at all. Priority seems like the best way to go. If you have had trouble shipping to certain countries, please mention your experience in the comments below.
Also, if you are a dog owner, be sure to look for the latest copy of AKC Family Dog Magazine at your local veterinarian’s office. You will see my ad on page 13 with a special coupon code which can be used in my Etsy shop from now through January 31, 2018. You can also check out the digital issue HERE. Thank you for your interest in my beadwork!
Dear friends, I have received several orders for custom beaded pet pins recently. One was a request for a bead- embroidered Havanese dog pin. After receiving a few photos of my customer’s dog, I worked on a quick sketch which I converted into a felt foundation. And here is the design I came up with:
I began beading the dog’s cute little face by using a small glass drop bead for the nose and two tiny glass doll eyes. The rest was done in Japanese size size 15 seed beads.
Once I finished the first layer of beadwork, I added a second layer of tiny beaded fringe all over the dog’s body. This layer adds texture and movement to the dog’s hair and almost looks ‘real’! What do you think?
If you are interested in adopting your own beaded Havanese pin pendant, earrings, or even framed pet portrait, please use the Contact form above or check out my Etsy shop. Thank you for your interest in my beadwork!
Dear friends, recently another dog magazine called Just Labs
I had no idea there was a magazine dedicated to Labrador Retrievers
I don’t usually do much advertising because I am too busy beading, but if a publication reaches out to me, I will definitely give it some thought.. Here is what I have been busy beading – a custom Salt & Pepper Miniature Schnauzer pin!
And, for those who are cat people, I have also created a white Norwegian Forest Cat pin which is also available in several different colors. These pieces were made by stitching tiny glass seed beads to felt 2-3 at a time. For the cat, I have also used tiny 1x4mm micro bugle beads, to bring out the cat’s hairy texture. Perhaps Catster Magazine will take notice? 
If you are interested in a custom bead-embroidered dog or cat pin or framed portrait, please contact me through Etsy or Amazon! I will be accepting holiday orders for a few more weeks! Thanks for looking!
Dear friends, it seems that Norwegian Forest Cats are popular this month! I recently received another order for a white one- this one has blue eyes! This piece is a pin which can also be worn as a pendant. I used Japanese size 15 seed beads and 1 x 4mm micro bugle beads to create this piece. Check out the finished beadwork in this amateur Facebook video I posted below. Please Like, Comment, and/or Share this video on social media. I am planning to post more videos in the future!
Also, my Etsy Black Friday Sale has begun! Save 20% on the purchase of any ready-to-ship beaded artwork, dog jewelry, beading pattern or bead kit now thru – December 1, 2017! NO coupon code needed. Also, please check out my brand new Amazon Influencer Shop where I will recommend beading books that either I have read or are currently on my shelf as well as other products related to beadwork, dogs, art, travel, and health. That’s the news for now. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I will be busy beading:)
