Grey_Wolf

I do beadwork on a loom and I've been doing it for a while now. People have just recently started buying the work that I do. My problem is that my designs are seeming sort of overused, frankly. I only know of diamonds and I need some new designs. I was just wondering is anyone out there could help me with some designs or any place where I could find some new designs.

Thanks,

Grey Wolf

subeeds

You could try to google under Native American bead patterns.I saw some patterns on a site called www.homestead.com/eaglespirituk/Loom. I've been looking for some geometric patterns ,so I've been looking on google. I wanted to find some clip art, but somehow ended up on a dating site. (My husband of 26 years told me it was a little late in the game to be looking for his replacement ).There are a bunch of sites on google, but the one I listed is the only 1 I got anything from. Make sure you have tme when you do it-there must be a few thousand sites. Also try www.whisperingwind.com. I went to that site for something to do with beading and I liked the name so it stuck in my head. I'm pattern sorting tomorrow and if I run across any more, I'll let you know. I can print stuff at work, and I have to look at the pages to remember what came from what site.

between2worlds

Try cross stitch, crewel work, or needlepoint sites. One stitch = 1 bead.

Mostly I just make my own patterns. Find a picture that you like (fabric trim sites are a good source).



I use PhotoShop to grab a piece of the picture, blow the size up, and add the gridwork. Then enlarge a section so I can see what I'm doing and I print it out.

I've also used a copy machine, enlarged the the part of the pattern I wanted and printed it out on graph paper.

Using this method you almost -always- have to go through with a colored sharpy and "color in" the places that are not quite on the grid.

I've attached the half pattern (left side) of the repeat trim example I posted above. To get the right side, just turn the pattern upside down. It took maybe 10 minutes to grid the pattern.

Hope this helps.

Attached Images

halfpattern.jpg (50.3 KB, 28 views)

subeeds

I thought about the needlework patterns on my way home last night. Counted cross stitch is really popular and there are tons of patterns out there. Our local Wal-Mart has just the patterns for a little over a dollar each. some of them are pretty nice and most are 5"x8" or smaller. Also look for quilt patterns. A lot of those can conform to loom work. If you want to be adventurous, and go off loom, check out www.beadwork.about.com/library. They have some interesting stuff-projects and I think just about every stitch created. Edited to add P.S.- The fabric trim sites are a great idea. Thanks,Between2Worlds, I never would have thought of looking there. I don't need more patterns, I need more arms, time and beads to do what I have! LOL

Grey_Wolf

Thank you both very much. I'm sure what you told me will prove to be very helpful.

Fat Albert

Don't forget to look up the old stuff. There are tons of pictures of loom work from numerous tribes out there on museum sites and auction sites. Research is a good way to get going. You can also get inspired by any number of things. Beadman once told me that you get to a point where you see designs everywhere from sweaters to bathroom tile. I agree with him!

between2worlds

*grin* It's an addiction....

Fat Albert

Is there a support group for this? I can see it now... "Well all I do in life is sit in front of the computer downloading pictures from the internet... No not THOSE kinds of pictures!"

between2worlds

*grin* yup there is, they meet just down the hall from the 12 step program for those who are addicted to buying beads.

How do I know ... well, uhmmm

"Hi, my name is Patrick and I'm a recovering bead addict... it's been (looks at watch) 3 hours since I bought my last beads. I was going through Target and there they were in the dollar bin... #6's and #8's big packages in colors that would so work with what I had. I know I shoulda called my sponsor but.... "

Fat Albert

Dude... look at the designs man... they are EVERYWHERE!!! Far out!

Maybe we should start a line in the chit chat section called 'you might be a bead junkie if...'

If they can come up with so many for rednecks than surely there are a few for the bead freaks!

BeadMan

Oh my God!!! I totally remember telling you that. Great, now my secret is out, I'll have to take up knitting. Hhmmm....YarnMan? Nah!

Beadwork designs are tough if you don't have a lot of direction and experience. I started off at the tender age of 13 by (dare I say) copying old beadwork in the basement of the Gilcrease museum in Tulsa. By doing the piece one row at a time I unknowingly taught myself how designs develop on a loom.

For instance, to make a diamond you start with a bead in the middle, next row you decrease the background color by 1 on each side and add 2 to the diamond. Keep doing this until you get the size diamond you want and then go the other way with counting. I dictated a beadwork pattern this way once to a gal while playing a game of ping pong. I know...is there no beginning to my talent?

It took me 5-6 years before I ventured out to make my own designs on graph paper. Another 10 years and now I do nearly everything in my head without even graph paper and the designs are more complex than ever. So be patient. You WILL make ugly beadwork. Just remember to never make that mistake twice and you'll become better than all of us put together.

By the way 2worlds, I just dropped $500 on 20,000 grams of beads. Two days later at a powwow I saw more beads and had to lock my check book in the car to keep from....well you know.

between2worlds

I had a thread started a couple of months ago called "Yanno you're addicted when..." Yanno yer addicted when ....

Go ahead and start the "bead junkie thread".

1. Yanno your a bead junkie if, when you're out of cash for beads, you swipe the neon colored slurpy straws from 7-11 and cut them into "beads" so you can peyote stitch a design you just thought of and don't want to forget.

between2worlds

*understanding chuckle* Yup. I allow myself 2 bead shoppings a month. Each shopping has a "limit" (actually two limits... the one that I should stick to and the one that I HAVE to stick to).

I have more designs than I could possibly bead in one lifetime.... and the problem is every time I get more beads I find more stuff to make them into!