Wallet Progress

Jenna's wallet is turning out quite cute. Its a very fun color scheme and the outside pockets and coin motif are finished. The black velvet is so so soft. I love working on it, though I find that alot of beads disappear against it, so the bright pink works well. I used a coin my girlfriend brought me from Trinidad/Tabago which I surrounded with peyote stitch and then I made a sunburst pattern around that using 3 mm faceted AB clear rounds and size 11 seed beads for the points. Just a bit more embellishing and I will be ready to sew the lining.


I always use shot glasses to keep my seed beads separated while I work. They are perfect since you can see through them and when I'm finished with a certain color for a bit, they slide easily over my vellux blanket piece that I use for a beading mat, while the beads stay under the glass. Another handy and unconventional 'tool' I use in beading is a small scallop shell that makes a perfect bead scoop. My leather thimble and a sweet little flower topped straight pin are two more implements I couldn't be without. If you look closely you can see all these in this picture.


I'm using some fabulous vintage flat backed faceted jet beads from a necklace that I picked up at an estate sale. I have a hard time 'parting' with them, since I know I'm sure I will never find them again once they are gone. But they look much better on this wallet than they do in a heap on my table!