Hello again,

Updated: 26 May 2010

Whenever I’m editing the projects in the magazine I’m always inspired to give them a try, but usually the constant deadlines of the job stop me from dropping everything and grabbing my beads!

…but I was so intrigued by the speedy little project Shanghai Lights (featured in the June issue), I though I’d give it a go and time myself. As soon as I’d gathered my supplies the stopwatch was set and I was off…

The stitching was so quick and simple, I’d constructed the main framework in no time at all and the only slightly fiddly bit was adding the seed bead crosses. After exactly 14 minutes and 23 seconds I’d finished off the main bead. I spent another 12 minutes threading the bead onto a head pin and creating some pretty dangles and a cord to hang my bead from. I’d stitched my thread around the top and bottom row of beads and pulled tight to close the hole, which meant I couldn’t then get the bead inside, but it didn’t matter, my bead was firm enough without it.

Here is my creation:

Not bad for under half an hours work, in fact it was so quick I’m inspired to make more in different colour schemes. I’m also keen to try adding another bead where the crosses meet to fill the little gap, but for now it’s back to the text editing!

Please do e-mail me some pictures of your version of this super little design, I’d love to see them.

Bye for now Michelle