This beautiful beading was created by our members in our recent Hand Challenge which was conducted on both Beaded Art Dolls group and BeadDreamz Group. Congratulations to all who completed the challenge. These are certainly impressive works of art!
In just a few weeks, Christmas will be here. It's hard to believe that 2009 is almost over. Here's an early gift for you - the pictures of the beautiful work submitted for the November Calendar Challenge! Once again, members have contributed some stunning designs! Way to go, members!
Remember, a poll will be created in a few days for the members to choose their favorites from the following:
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
Our group members have chosen their favorite pieces from the Rope Challenge! Everyone did such great work in this challenge that it was especially hard to choose. Your humble blogger is honored to have her work chosen as one of the favorites. Many many thanks, friends! Here are your favorites:
1. "Pearl Spiral Lariat: by yours truly (thank you again!)
2. "Sweet Whisper" by Lorraine
3. "Acorns & Oak Leaves" by Lanai
4. "Nacre" by Julia
The creativity shown in the Rope Challenge is absolutely incredible! We have 19 entries, each as unique and beautiful as the next. Our members have outdone themselves!
Members, look for a poll in the next few days to choose favorites in this challenge. It will be harder than usual to pick just one. Individual photos are in the Rope Challenge folder and can be seen by clicking here. You can also check out the slide show below:
[Edit] Apologies to Gerlinde for initially crediting Lorraine with Gerlinde's two entries. Blogger brain fart! 
Halloween is over and there is absolutely nothing scary about October's Calendar Challenge entries. As usual, all were beautiful and unique. Thanks to everyone who entered! Here are the entries.
BeadDreamz is lucky enough to have, as a member, amazing bead artist and published author Marcia Decoster. Her new book, "Beaded Opulence: Elegant Jewelry Projects with Right Angle Weave," has inspired many of our members to dig into their bead stashes and start creating!
As a side note: Did you know that BeadDreamz is the friendliest beading-related group on yahoo? That's the humble opinion of your blogger, anyway!
One of our wonderful members, Barb Grainger, took the time to write out a review of "Beaded Opulence" and share it with us on the group. We appreciate it, Barb! With the permission of both Barb and Marcia, here is the review in its entirety.
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Well done Marica! A beautifully executed book full of eye candy and fun projects, 'Beaded Opulence' has something for everyone from beginner to advanced beader. The book teaches basic single needle right angle weave (RAW) techniques including: basic stitch, flat and tubular techniques, edge and internal increasing and decreasing, shaping, creating curves, joining and surface embellishment. DeCoster even tells the reader how to cut a piece apart yet maintain it's structural integrity. An eight page gallery section shows gorgeous pieces from such artists as Nan C. Meinhardt, Jeanette Cook and Rachel Nelson-Smith.
The projects range from a basic RAW bracelet, "Spun Glass", to an intermediate level, "Urchin" beaded bead project, to advanced projects such as "Etruscan Treasure" necklace which features a RAW captured Swarovski rivoli. The "beads' in the instructional graphics are not numbered but the illustrations are backed up with well written text. My only wish for this book would be more close-up, detailed graphics on some sections of the more complicated projects. Having said that, DeCoster's book is a wonderful addition to any beading library. Get it, bead it, enjoy it! Congratulations Marica.
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