Welcome to ChrisBeads!

A Blog about Bead addiction, crochet, knitting and life in general.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Madeit Shop now open




This is the latest addition to my Madeit store. Decided to give Madeit a go because it is an Australian site and maybe the problem with my etsy store is that people are not keen to go outside their geographical zone to buy. Whilst I don't seem to have a problem selling instructions, made up items are slower on etsy. Will see what happens with Madeit.
I have resolved to try posting more frequently. Hopefully at least once a week. Just need to retrieve my photos from the old hard drive and then it will be easier.

Saturday, April 24, 2010


















Single Needle Right Angle Weave - so many people think this is such a scary stitch! Last week I started a new class teaching the "charming beads" - individual beaded beads which fit nicely onto the Pandora style bracelets. Two of my students caught on immediately and were finished one of the larger beads by the end of the two hour class. The other two were having difficulty getting the concept of RAW. It certainly requires a lot more concentration than other stitches, but once the concept is grasped, there are so many wonderful things to be done with it.
I just completed a class myself with the Beadcats - Virginia Blakelock and Carol Perrenoud from the USA. We did some double needle RAW, which Virgina prefers. For flat work such as bracelets and necklaces, I tend to agree. But for beaded beads, nothing beats SNRAW. I really appreciated being able to take a class with these two wonderful beaders. It was great fun.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Another Sale

It's a strange thing, but each time I almost give up on etsy sales, I find I have made another one. Whilst I am never going to make my fortune this way, somehow I keep listing. I guess if I don't list, there is no way to make a sale.... any port in a storm.
This is the item I have sold this week.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/44809101/vintage-neckwarmer-pattern
Funnily enough, I had a stall on the weekend and sold one of these neckwarmers at the stall as well. It is one of my best sellers, even though it is a very simple design.
It can be worn in a couple of different ways, and looks good in many different colours.