All photos © Gill Henry

You have an idea but don't know how many beads to buy?

Or maybe you don't know what Triad, Complementary Harmony, or Split Complements are but want to put your colors together like a pro?

Find out how and more when you check out this

• Handy Information

Do you wish to create something special and all your own? Get the nudge that'll open the door to creativity from these

• Free Patterns

Beading Freeware:

Stitch (2,334 kb)
A great free program that allows you to keep your patterns in libaries

Bead Painter (312kb zip file).
This is a very old program that XP doesn't like so be aware that it may act odd or not work at all on your computer.

Peyote Stitch is made by alternating connections. First, string a row of beads. For the second row and each row there after: Bring your thread from the end of the first row up through the first bead then bring the thread down through the second bead (skipping the bead underneath). Continue adding beads. Peyote Stitch is often done in the round and, flat or round, is the most often seen stitch. As you add beads your project will automatically grown up and around. You can find this stitch used in pen and lighter covers for sale at PowWow's. It's also used in roaches and to cover the ends of feathers. Peyote Stitch patterns are off centered. Much of the Native beading you find is done in Peyote Stitch. This is Gills favorite and the one he was taught while growing up.

Flat Stitch is made one bead on top of the other. First string a row of beads. At the end of your first row, bring the thread up and through a new bead. Bring the thread back down and through the first bead then back up and through the added bead once again, to end up in the right direction. Continue adding beads in this way until you reach the end. Turn and continue adding beads until you've finished your project. Flat Stitch patterns are even. Vicki's favorite stitch is the Flat Stitch, maybe this reflects her Anglo heritage and past experience with embroidery and crocheting. Unlike the Loom Stitch the Flat Stitch can be done in any width.

This probably looks confusing but to do the Loom Stitch you need to understand that the beads are not woven onto the loom. A thread above and another below a row of beads holds that row of beads on. To do the Loom Stitch first get a loom and string it. Then, use a long, long line of thread on your needle. To start and end, tie the thread to the loom strings. Put the beads onto your thread in the pattern your design calls for in that row. Place the row of beads under the strings of the loom. Push the beads up and carefully work the beads through the loom strings with one bead between each string. There should be final strings on the out sides of your row of beads. Keep the beads in place with your hand. Be sure that you are pushing the beads UP through the loom strings and that the holes of the beads are exposed above the loom strings. Bring the needle and thread back through your row of beads, keeping the needle and thread above the loom strings. In this way you have a thread above and a thread below the loom strings. How do you get a loom? Easy. Make it. Gill made the one below out of 1x2's, a couple metal screws, some eye hooks, and bolts. What do you do if you make a mistake? Don't worry about it. Mistakes in beading add uniqueness to your project but if it's a mistake you can't live with you can do one of two things if you catch it quick enough. If you have one or two beads too many on the string you can take a needle nose pliers and crunch the bead. Pieces fly everywhere so watch your eyes and only do this with small seed beads. Or if you have several beads you want to remove hold the row between your fingers and slide the beads back over the needle. If you put the needle through the beads you can catch the thread in the needle and you'll be in a mess of trouble.

This top was a joint project by Gill and Vicki. You can see it on the model below. Gill used some soft deer hide to make the top. Vicki insisted on decorating it. The pattern for the top came from measuring and fitting directly to Vicki. The pattern for the beading is free form. It's meant to be simple yet pretty. The white flower is a Gardenia, a special flower which represents the south.

This is the work when all the elements are put together. Gill sells his work but this webpage is reserved for our hobbies. If you're interested in something like this you'll have to contact him directly at digifotos@comcast.net.

This is Gill's current loom project. There's no reason or purpose for this project, it's just a great design!.

This choker was Vicki's first project. You can see Gill's influence in the pattern. In this project there is a meaning for every symbol used.

Here are two of Vicki's projects. The one on the left is Flat Stitch. The one on the right is from the loom. You can see the respective sizes of these on the photo at the top of this page. The bear is a special symbol for Gill and Vicki wanted to make one befitting him. You can see Vicki has improved her beading skills from when she did the panther to when she did the bear. The added satisfaction in beading is in designing a pattern and, when you're finally done beading it, finding out that it actually does work! Vicki obtained clips and photos of the two animals, then created the patterns on graph paper. After tearing this bear apart a few times and redoing the graph several times it finally worked out (although the nose is a bit short).

A Dream Catcher made by Gill. The bead inside the web is a captured dream.

One of the many rings Gill has made. You use to see these at PowWow's a lot but not as often any more. They are made with a modified peyote stitch using wire. The Seminole Tribe has some of these rings for sale. The Siminole are fantastic when it comes to their crafts. No matter what your tastes, you'll find something to love in their Online Market Place!

The photos for the Seminole crafts and Market Place are from their website at www.seminoletribe.com