Dear friends, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season! I have been so busy beading holiday orders for my Etsy shop this month, that I haven’t had much time for anything else. Today, I would like to share with you one of my recent custom orders. This dog pin was inspired by an adorable Havanese named Nacho.

My customer sent me a photo which I used to create the sketch below:

Here is the finished product. It is not an exact replica, but I feel it is a pretty good likeness. Beadwork always makes the piece seem a bit larger, especially when I add layered beaded fringe as I did on the dog’s face. I think this effect adds to the whimsy of the piece.. Here, I used several different shades of black, gray, and white 15/o seed beads. I also used gray 13/o Charlottes on the dog’s front legs to add a bit more dimension. The dog’s owner was pleased with the outcome. What do you think?

I still have a few more beadwork orders to catch up on this week. Please stop by my Facebook or Instagram pages to view any updates. Also, I would like to mention that my New Year Sale is now happening on Etsy! All ready-to-ship beaded dog jewelry, beading patterns, bead kits, and art will be 20% off now through January 5, 2018! No coupon needed! Thanks for looking and have a safe and Happy 2018!!

Dear friends, I hope your New Year is off to a great start! We received quite a lot of snow here in Boston so I have been staying in and doing beadwork! I have also added a few new items in  The Lone Beader’s Boutique on Zazzle. Check out my new Lone Beader Definition slouchy t-shirt and hoodie dress! I have had this ‘definition’ posted on my website for over 10 years now. After reading many comments and emails, I have realized that many of you can relate..

Now, you can express yourself and tell the world that you love to do beadwork without saying a word. Wear (alone or with leggings) to bead shows, bead retreats, and definitely while beading! Also, please check my Facebook and/or Instagram pages for more items coming soon! Thanks for looking!

Dear friends, just a quick note to let you know that several of my bead embroidery patterns are now available in Spanish language at the Amazon Kindle store. Learn how to make your own beaded dog jewelry en español! Please note: these are single patterns, not books, and they are priced accordingly. Please click the screenshot below to check it out. Descriptions are in Spanish as well, just as they are in my Etsy store.

I hope to have a couple more patterns translated in the near future, so please check back or follow me on Facebook and Instagram! Thanks for looking! Chao!

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with an old filigree locket or other jewelry piece, here is a little inspiration! Recently, one of my customers wrote to ask if I had ever made a beaded locket before. I had not, but was intrigued by the idea. My customer wanted a ‘mourning’ locket which featured a beaded portrait of her beloved pet Papillon named Star. Star had passed away as a result of bladder surgery. The locket was meant to hold a lock of her dog’s hair.

At the time, my customer did not have a locket in hand, but after an lengthy search (and a bit of trial and error) we found a vintage one which would work on Etsy. So, I cut out a piece of beading foundation roughly the same diameter as the locket. Then, I created a felt foundation in the shape of the dog’s head which I stitched to the beading foundation. Using size 15 Japanese seed beads, I carefully beaded a tiny portrait in black, gray, and white. I also stitched on a tiny star-shaped stone bead just below her nose. After I completed the first layer of beadwork (above), I added a second layer of beaded fringe to accentuate her beautiful hair (below).

After I completed the portrait, I peyote- stitched a silver and gray frame around the beadwork. This extended beyond the edge of the beading foundation and added some visual interest to the piece.

Once everything was complete, I opened the locket and carefully stitched my beadwork to the front of the piece. This took a bit of time and very tiny stitches in between the rows off beads. I stitched around the inside of the locket a few times to ensure that the piece was secure. Below, you can see – the stitches are barely visible!

I hope this unique bead embroidery piece will provide some comfort to my customer as she remembers her dog for many years to come. I think it will also be quite a conversation piece! What do you think?

Custom pieces are always fun and challenging. If you have an idea for a custom bead- embroidered piece, please send me an email using the Contact form above or message me via Etsy. Due to another travel adventure, all Ready-to-Ship items purchased in my Etsy shop between Feb. 2 – Feb. 14, 2018 will ship out no later than Feb. 16, 2018. Most Made to Order items will ship according to production time stated in listing. All PDF beading patterns (English & Spanish language) will be 15% off Feb. 3 – Feb. 18, 2018 only. Thanks for looking!

Dear friends, recently, I returned from my annual trip to Mexico and had an amazing vacation! This was my fifth visit to the Yucatán Peninsula. On this trip, my compañero and I travelled like locals to really experience this beautiful country. We swam in the ocean, rode bikes on Cozumel, went snorkeling with barracudas, visited a Mayan Jungle Spa, and ate a lot of guavas and guacamole!

We then took a bus to the west side of the peninsula where we visited the ruins at Uxmal. This was one of my favorite days and definitely worth the trip. This is a very important Mayan site. The best part is that it’s not very crowded, so you can really explore and enjoy the architecture at your own pace. The artistic detail of the stones used to build these majestic pyramids is mind-blowing! This is also a good place to go birdwatching as well as admire iguanas in their statuesque poses:)

We also visited the northern tip of the peninsula the day we went on a birdwatching excursion. We went Birding with Steven, and had a wonderful time. Steven picked us up before dawn. We drove north to a tiny village where we saw many hawks, vultures, falcons, mockingbirds, parakeets, flycatchers, woodpeckers, grosbeaks, and my favorite bird, the Turquoise Motmot. It was a very peaceful way to spend the morning.

Steven then took us on a 2- hour boat ride at Río Lagartos (aka. alligator river). Río Lagartos is a fishing village located on a lagoon which is part of a natural biosphere. There we saw so many beautiful waterbirds: one pink flamingo (all by himself!), a huge hawk, an osprey catching a fish, tons of herons, a stork, a kingfisher, tons of pelicans, and a mangrove warbler. And back in the village we also spotted a Mexican Sheartail hummingbird! This species can only be found in the Yucatán. I managed to take the above photo before she flew away. Overall, we saw over 70 species – not bad for one day!

While I was studying Mexican birds, I also learned that a new species of parrot has recently been discovered deep in the jungles of Yucatán. This bird is a Blue-Winged Amazon Parrot! Those who have discovered them estimate that only about 100 of the birds exist, which would make them rare and endangered. So, I decided to create a bead-embroidered pin to give this bird some attention! 

This piece is currently available for sale in my Etsy shop. Please click the pics to take a peek and share. If you are interested in a custom beaded bird pin or portrait of a different species, please send me a message! Until then, I will be dreaming about my next trip South of the Border.

Dear friends, just a quick announcement to let you know that I now accept Bitcoin as payment on Etsy and for customer orders via my website. I have been doing some research on this subject and I feel that cryptocurrency is here to stay and may eventually become the way of the future. Also there seems to be little risk for sellers to accept this form of payment. So, if you are a Bitcoin enthusiast looking for a custom hand- beaded animal pin pendant, dog jewelry, or bead-embroidered pet portrait, you have come to the right place. If you would like to purchase from my Etsy store, please use ‘Other’ as your payment method when checking out, and write that you’d like to pay with Bitcoin in the “Note to Seller” field. Once the order has been placed, I will send an invoice to your Etsy email address. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL FEES WHEN PAYING WITH BITCOIN. NO RETURNS or REFUNDS WHEN PAYING WITH BITCOIN, however I would be happy to work out an exchange if needed. If you have any other questions, please ask. Thanks for looking!

Dear friends, I have been thinking about parties for pets recently. Apparently they are all the rage! People all over the world are having dog Birthday Parties, Bark Mitzvahs, and Yappy Hour events for their dogs. You can buy all sorts of fancy party favors and dog treats for these events on Amazon and Etsy, too! So, I decided to tap into the excitement, and start offering beaded doggie pins wearing party hats.

Here you can see the progress of my first pin, a Birthday Beagle. I added a felt hat to my original Beagle design and embroidered tiny blue glass beads to it. Please click the pic below to view the finished item for sale on Etsy. 

If you are interested in a different breed of dog (or cat) pin wearing a birthday party hat, please send me a message via Etsy! Framed 8″ x 8″ mini portraits are also available. Anything is possible with beads!

Receive 10% off any order w/ coupon code YAPPYHOUR18!

Earlier this year, I watched the film A Plastic Ocean and immediately became sick to my stomach. I couldn’t bear to watch the birds and fish eat so much plastic and ultimately dying as a result. These images are disturbing reminders of the damage that humans do the environment every single day.

So, all year, I have been trying to change the types of products I purchase. I no longer buy plastic water bottles if I can avoid them. I try to buy things like sunscreen, toothpaste, dental floss, and vitamins in a glass jar. I buy shampoo bars instead of plastic bottles. I also got a stainless steel drinking straw to use when I’m out and about. And, of course I carry a reusable shopping bag with me at all times. Overall, I have been trying to consume less plastic whenever possible.

However, it is not easy and I am not perfect. I do bring reusable cotton produce bags to the veggie market, but occasionally I find myself using a plastic produce bag or two. And, of course almost every type of food and beverage is packaged in plastic. I do reuse a lot of the plastic bags and containers and I do compost and recycle, but I feel it’s not enough.

All this got me thinking about the different types of industries that could and should use more sustainable products. The beading industry is definitely one of them. How many plastic ziploc bags do bead retailers and beadwork artists use? And how many plastic tube containers are filled with beads each day all around the world? What happens when we are finished with these containers? Bags end up in the trash, and the small tube containers most likely end up in the ocean, just like straws. So, what can business owners and consumers do? Personally, I have been searching for a bio-plastic manufacturer who would be interested in creating clear bio-plastic tubes which will eventually biodegrade in the landfill, but I haven’t found one yet. In the meantime, we must vote with our dollars. I will order biodegradable plastic baggies the next time I need them. I will purchase compostable shipping supplies whenever possible. I will boycott plastic beads and any products that contain them. I will ask my favorite bead shops and retailers to use more eco-friendly packaging supplies as well as implement better recycling programs & incentives. And, I will support businesses who make environmental sustainability a priority.

If you have any ideas on how to use less plastic, you may leave a comment below or use the Contact Form.

Please be kind to the planet – we are all in this together!

Happy New Year! Due to the high volume of orders which I have experienced recently, I have temporarily put my Amazon Handmade shop on vacation. However, my Etsy shop is still open for business. There you will find only ready to ship items, beading patterns and bead embroidery kits.

It seems to be the season of custom orders, as I have completed many of them lately. Some of my favorite items from 2018 are shown above, a few of which are still available for sale on Etsy.. Receive 10% off any order w/ coupon code YAPPYHOUR18! Please check out my Facebook and/or Instagram pages to see the progress of my latest custom work. I appreciate your interest in my beadwork!! Have a happy & healthy 2019!!

Recently, I received a rather challenging and exciting custom order request for a pair of beaded Turquoise-Browed Motmot earrings! It was a nice surprise to receive a request for a beaded bird. Before I began beading dogs, I started out making beaded birds – both pins & paintings! I have always been interested in birdwatching, so last year I went on my first birding excursion in the Yucatán Peninsula. It was there where I viewed a motmot for the first time in the wild. He was perched in an orange tree as happy as can be!

To properly depict the Motmot in beads, I had to make the earrings in a large size. My customer wanted long statement earrings. These earrings consist of 4 separate pieces of bead embroidery which were linked together using sterling silver components. I beaded the bird’s body, tail, and feathers first, then I added a second layer of beaded fringe to accentuate the bird’s colors.

Once all the beadwork was complete, I stitched sterling silver eye pins, links, and sterling silver posts to the back. Now, the tail and feathers dangle freely. These were a little bit of a challenge to create as the construction of them was fairly time-consuming. Its never easy for me to duplicate one of my own pieces, so for that reason, earrings always take me a little longer to create.

As you can see, the finished earrings are quite long – approx. 4″ x 1″! They definitely attract attention! What do you think?

I liked how these turned out so much that I made a (slightly different) second pair for myself which I plan to wear this month! If you are interested in custom beaded bird jewelry of a different species, please let me know! Currently my Amazon shop is in vacation mode, and I would like to note that any Ready to Ship items purchased in my Etsy shop between Feb. 3 and Feb. 16 will not ship out until the week of February 18. Also, during this time, made to order items have been temporarily deactivated. I will be making my annual journey South of the Border in search of nature, adventure, inspiration. Perhaps I will see another motmot!

Dear friends, I had such an exciting trip to Mexico this year. For two weeks, I traveled off the beaten path to do some swimming in a freshwater lagoon, birdwatching, kayaking, snorkeling, and exploring yet another Mayan ruin site deep in the Jungle. But I also visited some ‘touristy’ destinations. If you have never taken the ferry from Cancun to Isla Mujeres, you are in for a trip. Is is so much fun, and its a quick ride so there’s little chance of getting seasick. Most tourists probably never leave el Centro when they visit, or they are probably on a catamaran trip which also doesn’t allow for much exploration. But if you are a little more adventurous, jump in a taxi and explore the island. Yes, you can also rent a golf cart for the day, but I have found that a taxi is much cheaper and quicker if you are only headed to a few places.

On this trip, I stopped in to visit the Women’s Beading Cooperative on the island. These women make beautiful beaded jewelry – necklaces, earrings, bracelets, belts, and more. Most items are made by weaving tiny glass seed beads with nylon thread. Each piece is marked with the artisan’s name. When you purchase something, that artist receives 80% and the remainder is used for supplies. They also accept donations. I had brought over 1-lb. of Japanese size 15 seed beads as well as some Czech glass drop beads. Size 15 beads are rare in Mexico, so they were very happy to receive them! If you have the chance to visit this little shop, please do so, as you will be supporting the local community. These women work hard at creating some very unique jewelry!

At the end of the day, my companion and I went to Punta Sur. It is the southernmost tip of the island and it was one of my favorite places to visit. It had been very hot inland, so it was nice to catch some seabreeze here! At first, we thought there wasn’t much to explore here except Ixchel Temple and a sculpture garden. But as we made our way toward the tip of the island, we noticed that there were cliffside walking paths near the water’s edge which went in both directions. These paths are amazing and a little adventurous!

Once again, Mexico continues to surprise me. I already can’t wait to return!

My latest custom beaded pet portrait is complete! This piece was inspired by a dear cat named Tux.

She was created by stitching tiny glass 15/o seed beads to layered felt. I used several different shades of black, gray, and white to create her. After she was completed, I stitched her to a bright turquoise blue Ultrasuede background. And finally, I stitched tiny glass leaves and Czech glass flowers all around her as if she were laying in a spring garden. This beadwork was mounted in an 8″ x 8″ shadowbox frame.

Tux was a special companion to a man who recently passed away as a result of Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS. May they both be remembered forever.

If you are interested in a custom beaded pin, pendant, or pet portrait, please use the Contact Form above or send me a message through my Etsy shop. Also, please find me on Facebook or follow @thelonebeader on Instagram. Thanks for your interest in my beadwork!

I am having fun creating mini beaded dog portraits, and here is my latest: a beaded Shih Tzu!

This little bead-embroidered dog is surrounded in a bed of green beaded grass, and was sewn to a royal purple Ultrasuede backing. Beadwork measures approx. 5.5cm x 8cm and it is framed in an 8×8″ black shadowbox frame.

Royal Shih Tzu

This piece is currently available for sale in my Etsy shop. The perfect gift for any Shih Tzu Mom!!

If you are interested in a custom beaded pin, pendant, or pet portrait, please use the Contact Form above or send me a message via Etsy. Also, please find me on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks for your interest in my beadwork!

I am so excited to announce the completion of my latest beaded painting on canvas entitled ‘Red Square‘.

RED SQUARE.

This piece consists of extreme bead embroidery which was stitched to an acrylic painted gallery wrapped 30″ x 40″ canvas. It was inspired by my travels to Russia, just days after a blanket of smog covered the city of Moscow in August of 2010. On my final day of visiting Red Square, I sat outside of the Kremlin thinking about how much history took place there and how much change had occurred since then, when a young boy ran by flying a kite. A symbol of freedom. Hope that one day we will all be free to fly where the wind may carry us..

This piece has been a true labor of love as it has taken me several years to complete. Materials used in this piece include tiny glass seed beads, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver (for the crosses), silver wire, felt, and acrylic paint.

For those interested in viewing the progress of this piece, please check my Facebook photo album. St. Basil’s Cathedral is very textural as are the trees. In fact, I have sewn armature wire to the back of the trees to help them stand out a bit more.

The dog in the painting was inspired by an actual dog that I photographed while I was visiting the Cathedral. He had a thick leather collar on, but no leash or chain. He was laying down under the tree watching people walk by. Perhaps he lives near there and went there everyday..

When I decided to create this piece, I immediately thought to work in grayscale because I really wanted the boy’s red kite to be the main focus.

What does its symbolism mean to you?

If you would like to view more photos of ‘Red Square’, please visit my Etsy shop! Thank you for your interest in my beadwork!

Dear friends, just a quick update ahead of Cyber Monday.. Check out my latest beaded dog pin – a Chinese Chow Chow!! This piece was listed for sale on Etsy and SOLD in just a matter of days! Its unique texture was created by layering tiny glass seed beads using a needle and thread. And the tail was created by sewing beads onto a thin sterling silver wire – the tail actually moves when you touch it. Scroll through my Facebook page to view the progress of this piece.

I am also experimenting with a new product line – minimalist beaded cuff bracelets featuring your favorite dog or animal. This piece was created by stitching a tiny bead-embroidered Yorkshire Terrier to a sterling silver split cuff bracelet. This bracelet is lightweight and adjustable, perfect for those who work typing at a keyboard all day! I think I will have to make this design in other breeds. What do you think?

Check out this item and more at: thelonebeader.etsy.com. Get 20% off any purchase of $135 or more this weekend only! Thanks for looking!

I have recently completed a new custom order this season – a pair of bead-embroidered Pekingese dogs!

This is an oversized pin which features two little dogs, and yes, they are wearing sparkly hats! The inspiration for this pin came from a Christmas card showing the two dogs dressed in cute outfits. I simply modified the sketch a bit..  Then, I cut out several tiny felt pieces and stitched them together to build a beading foundation. Once that was complete, I started beading using size 15 Japanese seed beads! You can view a couple of progress photos on my Facebook page here and here. My customer was so happy with this piece that he left me a very kind review on Etsy!!

I love doing custom orders and I love hearing ideas from customers! If you are interested in a custom beaded dog pin, pendant, bracelet, earrings or pet portrait, please message me through Etsy or use the Contact form on this page. I am so grateful for your interest in my beadwork! Happy Holidays from Boston!!

Sold a new ‘custom’ beaded pet portrait – a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Complete with a little beaded grass in between his toes..

Pembroke Welsh Corgi. (sold)

This piece was framed in an 8″ x 8″ shadowbox. If you are interested in a custom beaded mini pet portrait of a different breed, please use the Contact form above, or contact me via Etsy. I love creating new beaded dog breeds!

Also, check out my latest dog pin on Facebook – a new pink poodle!! This will be the last piece I create for some time as I am headed south for vacation! My Etsy shop will remain open with limited items available. Please note the extended shipping times when purchasing ready to ship items… Beading patterns are available to download, as always!

Gracias por tu interes en mi trabajo. ¡Nos vemos pronto!

Back in January, before I left for Mexico, I received a custom order request for a beaded pink corded poodle similar to the ones featured in my ‘Pretty in Poodles‘ choker necklace.. This wasn’t the first time I received this request, so after creating it, I decided to list this item in my Etsy shop as Made to Order. This piece can be made as a pin or a pin pendant, and it’s available in several different colors. Please note that colors may vary depending on what I have on hand.

Since then, I have been keeping busy with various Etsy and Amazon orders which I am extremely grateful for in this uncertain time. Beadwork gives me something to focus on which is positive, and I find that helps with overall mental health. Its also a great activity if you happened to be self-quarantined.. Here is a pic of my most recent beadwork, a custom beaded ‘Champion Standard Poodle’. For this piece, I worked from a photo that my customer sent me. I used a mix of 15/o Japanese seed beads, as well as 1x4mm micro bugle beads. The dog’s hair actually moves when you touch it! What do you think? I like this design so much – I think it would look great in different colors!

Currently, residents of Boston and the entire state of Massachusetts have been ordered to ‘Stay at Home’ for the next couple of weeks. So, I will be busy working on beadwork orders, as usual! If you are living in a city or country which is currently in lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, and you are looking for something new to try, check out my bead embroidery patterns, beading kits, and beading supplies on Etsy. All ready-to ship items will be on sale for the next few weeks. If you are interested in learning bead embroidery and have never had the time until now, sign up for my email list to gain FREE access to my Intro to Extreme Bead Embroidery tutorial.

Also, if you are working from home and need something positive to listen to other than the news, I recommend the James Altucher Show. He’s my favorite podcaster these days. I also listen to Rich Roll for overall health news, This American Life, and The Minimalists, among others… And if you are interested in having some positive news delivered to your inbox regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, check out https://futureloop.com/c19… It is good to stay informed but whatever you do, don’t panic.. The grocery stores will remain open.

Stay healthy and safe, my friends!

Spring has arrived and yet we are all stuck in the house. However, I feel very lucky as beadwork has been keeping me busy amidst the pandemic. Recently I created new Teacup Pomeranian sterling silver split cuff bracelet…

… and matching dog earrings! These earrings hang on sterling silver ear wires which feature a clear crystal bead. Both items are listed for sale in my Etsy shop.

It could be that I am in extreme introvert, but I feel I am doing okay with the Stay-at-Home order. Although it sometimes seems like Groundhog Day. I wake up, do 2 or 3 bounce workouts on my Bellicon, make breakfast, check the Boston Globe, and do a Spanish lesson or read. In the afternoon, I will work on beadwork (or work on writing a beading pattern). Then, after dinner, I will usually do a couple more hours of work until its time to sleep. Of course just like everyone else, sometimes I stay up too late watching Jimmy Fallon, or sometimes I can’t fall asleep, etc.. I am trying to stay as healthy as possible. So, I try to keep a schedule, eat a whole food plant-based diet, take my vitamins, and get exercise and/or go out for a walk every day. What has your routine been like? What challenges are you facing? And how are you staying healthy? I would love to hear from you. That’s the news for now! Stay home and stay safe!!

Dear friends, as it turns out, I am somewhat productive when left to my own devices… I am so thrilled to announce that I have written a new beading pattern! Learn to make a happy Papillon dog pin! Also, a digital copy of my Intro to Extreme Bead Embroidery tutorial will be included with every pattern purchase. Two PDF files for the price of one! So, if you would like to learn how to do beadwork, and have never had the time until now, this is a wonderful opportunity. Stay home & bead!!

Check out more of my beading patterns and kits on Etsy. Thanks for looking!