Happy Birthday Sara

I met Sara's Mum whilst I was browsing in the bead aisle at Hobbycraft, a shop I have never been in before but it will be useful when I run out of bead bits. Sara is 12 today and her Mum was asking me what sort of things she might like to get her started with making beady things! I think she went away with a lovely selection and I thought I would show Sara some of the things I make with exactly the same things as she now owns.
Also, I think this blog isn't very 'crafty' sometimes, so here is a 'doing' post!
I like to make necklaces and bracelets  and I love making felt. Last year we went to Cape Town and I found the best bead suppliers ever. This is where I got the bulk of the stuff I now use.


Here are the tools and stuff to get you started. Worth being organised and having everything well stored and sorted before you begin.

So using all of the above and some of the felt I made here, I made these for presents, for sale and for me.


these button bracelets were inspired by the one owned by Sue, one of the knitters, and are a bit like Ali's necklaces  (which are magnificent)

I love this combination of green and black.

Felt and pearls and last of all for this post some more glass bead necklaces. They are all such fun to make.

Beading is the best hobby and a really useful one to have when you need a unique and interesting present. Searching around the internet will reveal all sorts of other wonderful ideas like this and this and this. Happy Birthday Sara - and have a wonderful time with your present.

Comments

[Lucy Locket]

Hi Katie - that's a lovely post! Sara was lucky her mum met you for advice. I LOVE the button bracelets - are they on elastic? Do you know of a good place to get mixed buttons cheaply? I used to be able to buy them by weight from the Fat Quarters but they keep them now for craft projects and children's classes - it was so useful having a random mix. Hope things are good with you. love lucy x

[Sara]

Thanks Katie! I'm having a great time with my jewellery kit- so far I have sorted all of the beads into my bead box and made a pair of earrings for my birthday party! It took a few attempts to secure them to the hook with my pink pliers ( which I LOVE), but they look pretty good!

Love, Sara xxx

[Jo A]

Hi Katie - love your jewelry. Have just got into felting myself. Am hoping to go on a course in Knaresborough run by Beth ar Felting in Fibrespace this autumn. Expecting lots of friends to get felt necklaces etc for Christmas!

[Annie]

Another skill to master...
I really like all your jewellery (I'm wearing a WhatKatieDid necklace as I write) but I'm particularly taken with the green and black beads - very striking.

[Charlotte]

Wow! They're all gorgeous :) I particularly like the button bracelets and the green and black combination. Do you sell your beady things? I'll definitely be dropping by on next year's art tour.

[willow]

All the beads are lovely, I can't choose my favorite! Years ago when she was a young teenager my dd MamaMia owned a bead company, Angel Beads; she created and sold necklaces, bracelets, anklets. I still have some of her favorites. Beading is great fun, a great hobby, and can be a great money making venture.

[suzie Sews]

You have inspired me to get get all my old beads out...Mmmm may be this might take my mind of the kids returning to school to leave a void...that might just get filled with beads!!!
Suzie Sews

[dottycookie]

I really like those felted beads - are they easy to do? I have some rovings in the cupboard, I might just have to have a go.