Book review: Beaded lace snowflake ornaments by Sandra D.Halpenny

Title: Beaded lace snowflake ornaments 

Author: Sandra D. Halpenny 
Rating: 9/10 
Number of pages: 88 
Subject: Beaded snowflakes 
Level: intermediate 
Main techniques: Circular netting 

Beaded lace snowflake ornaments is a  very detailed and specific book. It mainly is a pattern paperback, with a small introduction on materials and techniques (7 pages), followed by 14 beautiful snowflakes (see more snowflake ideas here).

Each project is clearly illustrated with extremely precise drawings. They are so intuitive that I almost didn’t read the written instructions while stitching. Sandra D. Halpenny did an amazing job in making every step crystal clear and in creating an incredible variety on such a narrow topic.

The only downside of the book is represented by pictures of the finished items, which are not very good quality. Furthermore, there are not many  tips on how to use the creations or change effects by using different bead sizes and finishes (but you can find some in the next paragraphs :-) ). However, as I said earlier, this is mainly a pattern book and it does an excellent job at fulfilling this purpose.

I must point out that the text can be quite pricey, if you don’t find it on sale. If you are interested in few patterns, though,  you can purchase them individually on the author’s website here and then create a large amount of different looks by changing color, size and finishes of beads.

In the pictures below, you can see some examples: on the top left, snowflake #2 was made with size 11/0 Ornela Czech transparent and silver-lined beads. On the top right I used slightly larger silver lined and white beads with a pearl finish, together with Swarovski crystals and Czech firepolished 4mm beads to bring to life snowflake #4. On the bottom left, with the same beads (except for the crystals), I made snowflakes #7, while the last one (snowflake #12) was created with the same seed beads of the first, adding some 4mm firepolished beads.

Once you finish, you can use the snowflakes to make cute holiday and winter decorations: from Christmas tree ornaments, to gift cards and boxes embellishments; from festive earrings to icy wreaths…let your creativity fly!

…and have a wonderful day! 

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Cute snowflakes

Hi everyone!

 

Today a new post on snowflakes for the January theme. First of all, I want to share a very good video I found on youtube, teaching how to crochet a small model that took me about 8-10 minutes to complete. You can then attach it anywhere: a pin, a pair of earrings, or a Christmas wreath (as I did here).

You can also change the yarn size, in order to obtain very different results. In the picture below, the large one is made with an acrylic 3-ply thread and a 4mm hook, while the other three are created with a size 2,5mm hook and different types of cotton yarn. I really like the one on the top, for which I used a yarn containing a very thin shiny pearly thread.

You can also create these small cute decorations with beads. The examples below are made following a beautiful pattern by Sandra Halpenny, also author of the book Beaded Lace Snowflakes Ornaments, (see full book review here).

Enjoy the pictures, and come back soon!

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Sweet snowflakes bracelet and earrings

Hi everyone! 

Today more snowflakes for the January theme! :-) 

Here are some very simple earrings with an adjustable charm bracelet made with freshwater pearls, 6mm white agate beads and 8mm crystal rondelles.

Enjoy!

  

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Snow Samoa

Hi everyone! 

For today’s necklace I want to thank Sereine for sharing the pattern of her beautiful Samoa netted necklace (which you can find here). 

I decided to make it in the shades of white, transparent, pearl and silver, because I wanted an elegant piece to wear with my New Years Eve black dress, but colors can be easily changed to achieve different effects.

The necklace takes a lot to finish, because of the small beads and intricate pattern, but, in my opinion, it is definitely worth the time!

Materials: size 11/0 white, silver and transparent Czech glass seed beads, 4mm Swarovski crystal pearls and size B nymo thread.

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Snow Queen necklace

Hi everyone!

Today I want to show you my necklace Snow Queen made for the January 2012 Beadaholique contest “The Jewels of January”. For this piece I took inspiration from the beautiful January snow and from the Draped deco necklace pattern from Beadaholique (which you can find here).

The basic RAW (right angle weave) row is the same, but on the following rounds many adaptations were required in order to attach the snowflake pendant. I made central piece using the circular netting technique, then I sew it to a silver-plated filigree stamping and attached the it to the rest of the necklace with a split ring. Adding the filigree on the back was not necessary, but in my opinion it provides additional stability and more complex texture. 

I hope you will enjoy the pictures and be inspired!

  

Materials: 4 and 6mm Czech fire-polished beads, size 11/0 seed beads, 4mm crystal rondelles, fire-polished drops, filigree stamping, toggle clasp and size D nymo thread (with a breading needle).

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January like White-snow&snowflakes

January is for sure the month of snow. In my hometown, we usually get only a few days of falling flakes, but each time they make me as happy as a child.

The only thing I can see are the small and candid pieces of sky slowly falling on the ground and covering the grey streets, cars and buildings with a shiny white blanket.

I love to stare at those little fluffy beauties while they calmly wander out of my window; I love the snow-smelling crispy air when I go out; I love how the city mysteriously becomes so silent, with every movement made softer; I love the intricate white shapes of bare trees and bushes in the parks and gardens; I love to play with snowballs (or at least my 5 years old inner child does!); I love to see footsteps on the sidewalk in the morning...

…I love snowflakes, I love snow, I love January!

  

 

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Love Snow wreath

Hi everyone!

I made this decorative wreath for Christmas, but I think I might keep it around also for January, because I really love it (and I hope you will too! :-) ). 

I bought the wooden wreath and heart separately (the first at Søstrene Grenes and the second at Føtex, but I think they can be found anywhere around Christmas), then I added the cream ribbon, by weaving it through the branches with a large-eye needle.

I made the crocheted roses, snowflakes and other flowers with cotton yarn of different types (some tutorials to make crocheted flowers here, on crochet snowflakes here, and more information about yarns here) and then I attached everything to the wreath using brown wire and adding the jingle bells and the two brown felted roses. 

Enjoy the pictures! And links to more tutorials on crocheted flowers soon!

 

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