Snowflake Decorations

Snowflake ornament on my tree

"Snowflakes", TBS 2011 Calendar, December

It's hard to believe it's time to decorate the tree again.... Luckily, I have some of my snowflakes handy from last year. Glass bugles, seed beads and Swarovski crystals never spoil... Since they're specially interlocked in like a fan around a circle of beads, they keep their shape forever.

This extraordinary snowflake can be made quickly once you get the knack after you've made your first one. A very fine beading wire, .010 SoftTouch by Softflex, is the secret to holding the crystal-tipped long bugle V's in place around the circle of seed beads.

Several ways to get the instructions: See page 90-91 of Beaded Ornament for the holidays and Beyond from Bead and Button and BeadStyle Magazines by Kalmach Publishing Co., 2009.

Order an all-inclusive Snowflake kit with a choice of 15mm, 20mm or 30mm bugles and crystal pearl or silver-shade vitrial finish from Rypan Designs. Or get patterns for use with your own bugles and crystals. The instructions are available in printed pattern with a Supply List or a downloadable .pdf. Shortly it will be available in a Ukrainian .pdf version soon as I get the illustrations matched up to my translations.

Bead Unique - Snowflake Kit

Snowflake Kit by Rypan Designs on the top left of pg. 16

Hot off the press! Bead Unique offered up a spread of "Cool Kits" in this Winter's edition. My "Snowflake" ornament starts off this feature. They've just listed the basic components for one size. Patterns with instructions for two different lengths of bugles are available in printed version and a new 3-pg PDF.

Truth be told, once you have the pattern, snowflakes can be beaded in a host of colors and sizes. See my Student's Gallery for Jo-Ann's personalized gifts for her collegues. No two snowflakes are alike!

Rypan Designs Kits are available in two series: Swarovski ELEMENTS Crystal AB with pearl seeds and s/l crystal bugles; and Silver Shade with vitrial seeds and twisted s/l crystals bugles. See my Catalogue for all-inclusive beadwork kits with bugles ranging from 15mm, 20mm and 30mm.

Start now to be ready for holiday decor or gift giving. Enjoy!

Winter 2011

Christmas Beaded Tree ornament

This is a great ornament for Ukrainian Christmas Eve! As you can see, the Beaded Tree looks great when it's hanging freely. Beads were playfully strung on fine wire inside a metal cut-out attached to a burnished copper shape. A large bead above the tree serves as the topper and connection to the hook for hanging this fun ornament.

To those who celebrate according to the Julian calendar, best wishes for a Blessed Christmas.

Радісних Свят Різдва Христового та Щасливого Нового Року!

Веселих Свят!

Fan Wheel Snowflake ornament

This is my Deluxe Fan Wheel snowflake gracing the Christmas Tree. I love how the Crystal AB Swarovski crystals reflect the miniature tree lights. Being 3-D, it looks wonderful from all angles.

It's available in a beadwork kit or in Beaded Ornaments for the Holidays and Beyond book from BeadStyle magazine.

Best wishes for a Creative New Year!

Zulu Angel ornament

This angel ornament was made by Zulu women. The heavier wire outline has free-form beadweaving inside. Contrast wings and trim around give this angel a personality.

Legend of the Spider and Christmas Tree

This beaded ornament represents the spider that saved Baby Jesus’ life in the legend told to me by my teacher friend.

When King Herod was going to kill off innocent babies after Jesus was born, Joseph took Mary and the baby to escape the city so Jesus would not be killed. They ended up in the hills past the city. Mary had to stop and feed the baby. They hid in one of the caves where a spider wove a web at the entrance. When the soldiers came by looking for baby Jesus, they passed the cave where the Holy Family was hidden because the spiderweb was intact.

Best wishes for a Blessed Christmas.

Silver Shadow Snowflake Collection

A very unique and $$ Vitrial Czech 6/ seed bead inspired this Limited Edition. As seen above, they work beautifully as the inner circle and base for Swarovski Silver Shadow 6mm crystal tips on the 20mm or 30mm twisted bugle V's. I love how this Vitrial combo has transformed the pictured elegant 3-D Snowflake into chic ornaments.

These Silver Shadow Snowflakes, as well as the entire collection of pearl and Swarovski Crystal AB bicones on bugles ranging from 15mm to 30mm, straight or twisted, will be available at The Hobby Show. Write or call for your choice of one or 3-pack Snowflake beadwork kits.