HEX this month...

My contribution this month to the StitchMAP HEX challenge projects is how to stitch a spider-web with beaded spider. A very "necessary" thing if you do any traditional style crazy quilt work. 

Here is a closeup of the body beads as I'm stitching on the legs. You can also see how the spokes of the web are "wrapped" as the circular rounds are stitched...and the embroidery work of the branch (Stem Stitch) and leaves (Triple Detached Chain). I like to have some kind of plant life around and/or across my spiderwebs when that fits the space...so liked doing this little HEX with a branch. It makes it a bit more realistic. And...pretty little beads keep the spider from being "scary".
 

Give-A-Way Time!

Look what I found last week hiding in my bead stash! I had tucked these two back for some reason...and forgot about them. So, let's draw and give them to two lucky winners!   The 2 Rules for winning are simple...   1) Leave a comment that answers this question: "What would you do with a four-inch pink beaded spider?"   2) Make sure your comment includes an email address or link to your Blogger profile with email...so I can contact you for a mailing address. No email...and you are disqualified...as I simply do not have the time to "hunt you down".   That's it...just leave a comment..and make sure I can email you if your comment is randomly selected.  The time frame for the give-a-way will be until this Saturday, . So you have until midnight...CST (my time)...Friday, 5 April 2013 to leave your comment. Comments will not appear right away...as I'm still moderating. But, if you leave one...I WILL get it.  Make sure I can contact you easily! I'll select two winners at random. Let you know by email if you win...and post the winners on the blog Saturday morning (once you respond to my email asking for your mailing address). Good Luck!   So, who wants a spider?

More Beading...

I'm still making spiders...got some pink and silver ones done. I like and wear more silver than gold...and maybe some other folks do too. Then, I decided to start on another large jewelry piece...it will take me a while, because all of the bead components need to be made first. And, you know that I'll need more beads before I'm done. This one will be a lot like the Mermaid Necklace...but it will be Victorian in style. I'm thinking about doing a Shabby Chic style too...but that's later for sure!

Here are the bead components I've completed so far!

 

Some Spiders on Etsy Now!--Sold Out Already!!

 

 Thank you to those of you that admired the Victorian spider yesterday, and asked about purchasing one. I decided to add a few of the larger and more decorative spiders to the Etsy site. 

Here are the ones that are listed there now.

 

 

 

 

And, if you use Coupon Code BLOG10 you'll get 10% off your order! A thanks to my blog followers!! Update: Sold Out Already!! Looks like I need to get busy! I have another of the Ruby Pink (last photo above) and I'll post that on the site ASAP...and I'll be beading some more up today of the crystal and blacks. Waiting on more beads for the pink ones!

Beaded Spider Tutorial

 Here are the simple steps to create a large (about 3-4 inches square) beaded spider. The beads used are for the spider shown. The size of beads can be adjusted to fit the size of spider you want to create. These are fun to create! 

 Step One: Find a large bead for the spider body and a slightly smaller one for the head. Here I'm using a 16mm round bead for the body and a 10mm round bead for the head. I also added a 3mm Swarvoski crystal and a crystal rondelle spacer to the back of the body to just add a little more sparkle.  You could also add bead caps and a rondelle in the center of the spider if you desired. Place the beads on a flat head pin and twist the end down like a little coil with a pair of jeweler pliers or needle-nose pliers (use the very tip).

 Step Two: Cut 4 long pieces of wire, about 7 inches long each. Use wire that can easily bend and twist. I use from 24-28 gauge and different colors depending on the spider color. Fold the four wires in the middle, creating eight legs.

Step Three: Place the wires between the head and body beads and twist them in the under side. Thinner wire can be twisted once, but thicker wire will only be able to be "pointed" in the opposite direction...without any actual twists. That is the case with this spider, here is what the wire looks like at the underside of the spider.

Step Four: Plan your beads for the legs. Always start with seed beads because the legs will begin by hugging the body and need to have small beads to start. Add larger beads or combination of beads to mimic "joints" in the legs, there will be two of these areas. Then end with seed beads and bugle beads for long slender portions of the legs. For this spider I've used this sequence of beads for front/back legs: 5 seed beads pink, 4mm flat round pink, 6 mm round ivory pearl, 4mm flat round pink, seed bead, bugle bead, seed bead, 5mm rice bead, seed bead, bugle bead, seed bead, bugle bead, seed bead, bugle bead, seed bead, seed bead. The center legs have one less bugle bead and seed bead than the front and back legs..this is optional as all eight legs could be the same.

Step Five: Place the beads on the wire. Cut the end of the wire until you have about 1" of extra wire left. Twist the end like a spiral until it touches the last seed bead placed. Repeat this to complete all eight legs.

Step Six. The spider is finished. You can play around with the placement of legs until you have a realistic pose. I start by pulling all eight legs straight up and putting the spider body flat on the table with the top facing up. Then I bring the middle legs down bending at the "joints" and having the legs at a straight angle out from the body. The front and back legs are done in a similiar manner but are pointed towards the front and back instead of the side. (Note: This spider would hang from it's "head" because that is the coil end of the head pin...if you wanted it to hang down from it's "tail" the head pin would start at the head and be coiled at the tail instead.)

Here is how the spider looks underneath when finished.

So, go find some beads...and wire...and one flat head pin (or use a piece of wire and coil both and head/tail ends)...and create a beaded spider. Have some fun!

Still Making Spiders

Here's the condition of my craft table at the moment...

I'm still making spiders for my sister to take to her co-workers. It's mindless work, and I like it. Except...I got big orange beads to use...and promptly misplaced them in the middle of all this clutter! So, I had to re-order them and I hope the new ones arrive before October!I'm sure that they are here somewhere...in a very safe place! But, I'm tired of looking for them...

Don't be Afraid...

...these are not real! But I think they are gorgeous! I'm going to have a tree of spider ornaments. My sister wants earrings and a necklace for work ...in orange/black...Halloween style!

Mom wants a larger one to put in her porch window...so, I've ordered some large orange beads. Here are some more to help put a little fright in your day!

 Is your heart beating fast yet?

 The white is so pretty...like a piece of jewelry!

This little fellow would be good to put into a potted plant!! He hides well!!