Beadwork Presents: 12 Designer of the Year Bead Weaving Patterns

If you’re the type of bead weaver who doesn’t shy from a challenge— these 12 Designer of the Year patterns will give you the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a big project. That doesn’t mean that these patterns are only for advanced beaders! The fully illustrated and clearly written directions make it easy for even enthusiastic-beginner bead weavers to up their game and tackle a more challenging piece.

It takes a special kind of person to become a Beadwork Designer of the Year. These are dedicated and hardworking bead weavers who are committed to turning their hobby into something more. They inspire us to push the boundaries of the traditional and they innovate ways to use the new bead shapes to their full potential. Let’s meet the three Designers of the Year we featured in this eBook: Leslee Frumin, Agnieszka Watts, and Sherry Serafini.

The Designers

LESLEE FRUMIN draws from her metalwork background in constructing her beadwork. She was Beadwork magazine’s Designer of the Year in 2014. Since she began beading in 1994, Leslee has become a well-published designer and has earned several awards for her work. Her love of teaching has taken her across America, Canada, and the Bahamas. She can be contacted at lesfrumin@mac.com or www.lesleefrumin.com.

AGNIESZKA WATTS is a jewelry designer and teacher. She was Beadwork magazine’s Designer of the Year in 2017. She resides in Lemont, Illinois, but also spends time living in her home country, Poland. She became an Illinois Artisan in 2014, and she is an associate instructor for Art Clay World in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Contact her at agnieszkawatts@gmail.com and visit her website, www.agnesse.weebly.com, and Etsy shop, www.agnesseartistry1.etsy.com.

SHERRY SERAFINI lectures and teaches throughout the United States and has won numerous design awards. She was Beadwork magazine’s Designer of the Year in 2011. She was voted one of the top 10 instructors in the United States by Bead & Button magazine. She has authored and coauthored several bead embroidery books and has several videos and project eBooks available at www.interweave.com. Her beaded art is owned and worn by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Grammy-winner Melissa Etheridge, Lenny Kravitz, and Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. Visit Sherry Serafini’s website at www.serafinibeadedjewelry.com.

The Inspiration

Sharing the story behind their designs with our readers is something our designers are passionate about—it helps shape the mood and feel of a piece. Here is what these three Designers of the Year had to say about some of their projects:

LESLEE FRUMIN – STEPPING STONES BRACELET When I first encountered two-hole cabochons, I immediately saw several design possibilities for these beads. I decided to make a bracelet. This design is woven continuously rather than in components, which makes the bracelet easy to size. I added an unobtrusive safety loop to help prevent loss.

AGNIESZKA WATTS – OCEAN LILY LARIAT Since early childhood, I have always loved looking for treasures. I’ve found a lot of ancient sea lily fossils, mostly as broken pieces. Collecting them is like trying to capture time. I used herringbone and peyote stitches in a lariat necklace to create my own version of these mysterious ocean lilies.

SHERRY SERAFINI – DRAGONFLY PENDANT Dragonflies look fragile but are actually quite fierce. And they fly about in any direction! This reminds me of why I love bead embroidery—I can fly (or bead) in any direction. Although my dragonfly project is structured, you can adapt it to suit your own taste and fly in any direction your wings take you!

With 12 fabulous Designer of the Year projects in this jam-packed eBook, you’ve got a lot to choose from. Which project will you try your hand at? Let us know in the comments and submit to W.O.R.D (What Our Readers Did) by sending photos to beadworksubmissions@interweave.com and including “W.O.R.D.” in the subject line.

Happy beading!
Meredith Steele
Technical Editor, Beadwork magazine

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