Merry Pekingese Dog Pin

Posted in Amazon, animals, bead embroidery, beads, Boston, dogs, etsy by

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

Pekingese Dogs Bead Embroidery Pin Pendant Etsy custom order the lone beader

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!! 🙂

Beaded Chinese Chow Chow Pin + Cyber Monday!

Posted in animals, bead embroidery, beads, beadwork, bracelets, dogs, etsy by

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.

Chinese CHOW CHOW beaded dog pin pendant bead embroidery jewelry

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?

Beaded Yorkie Sterling Silver Split Cuff Bracelet Bead Embroidery Etsy

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!

Red Square -Extreme Bead Embroidery on Canvas- Complete!

Posted in bead embroidery, beads, beadwork, dogs, etsy, Russia by

I am so excited to announce the completion of my latest beaded painting on canvas entitled ‘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! 🙂

Beaded Royal Shih Tzu Portrait

Posted in animals, bead embroidery, beads, beadwork, Boston, dogs, etsy, pet portrait by

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

Custom Art Beadwork Purple Beaded Royal Shih Tzu Maltese Pet Portrait Bead Embroidery Beading Etsy Artist Amazon Handmade AKC Dog Beads Shih Tzu Mom

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.

Custom Art Beadwork Purple Beaded Royal Shih Tzu Dog Pet Portrait Bead Embroidery Beading Etsy Artist Amazon Handmade AKC Dog Beads Shih Tzu Mom

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! 🙂

 

Tux in Spring Flowers

Posted in animals, beadwork, cats, pet portrait by

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

Bead embroidery Tuxedo Cat Czech Glass Beaded Spring Flowers by The Lone Beader

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.

Custom Beaded Tuxedo Cat Portrait for Facebook Etsy Shop Beadwork by The Lone Beader

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! 😀

Visit a Women’s Beading Cooperative in Mexico

Posted in bead embroidery, bead shops, beads, Mexico, travel by

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.

the lone beader women's beading cooperative isla mujeres yucatan peninsula mexico beadwork

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!

Punta Sur the lone beader Isla Mujeres travel adventures Mexico day trip Cancun nature eco-travel cliffside trails Women's Bead Cooperative

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!

Punta Sur Isla Mujeres Cliffside trail travel Women's Beading Cooperative Beadwork Artist day trip adventures

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

Exotic Beaded Motmot Earrings

Posted in animals, bead embroidery, beads, beadwork, birds, earrings by

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!

Custom Beaded Turquoise Browed Motmot earrings the lone beader mexico

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.

Beaded Turquoise Browed Motmot bird earrings brooch bead embroidery Etsy art jewelry beadwork wildlife beads

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.

Custom Beaded Turquoise Browed Motmot earrings the lone beader mexico

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

Custom Beaded Turquoise Browed Motmot earrings the lone beader mexico

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! 😀