I took some time out of my frenzied web redesigning/cramming PHP and MySQL to try the bead pattern that Gwen Fisher was kind enough to give me. Here’s the result:
I like it! although, I did make one or two mistakes in creating it. The one problem is that the leaves are too big; they tend to collapse into a leafy mass when dangling. (You can see in the photo that they spread out too wide for the top to support.)
It was fun making it, too – I’m thinking that I may indeed buy one or two of Gwen’s more challenging patterns (maybe her Time Machine) and try to make them, just for the challenge of it. Her instructions are not cheap, but they’re very well-written; doing the Three-Drop bead was easy as long as I followed the instructions. So I might buy either the Lotus or the Time Machine and play with it a bit. Probably the Lotus – it’s not as difficult in her rating system, but it would probably make a nice brooch or shawl pin.
You might (or might not) be interested in some of Takako Samejima’s work; I keep ogling her books at Borders etc. but haven’t yet convinced myself to buy one yet. She does have a website at http://www.crystalloid.co.jp/takako_samejima/ , though it’s mainly in Japanese and imho has relatively unimpressive pix; Google Books does have some of her first book (she has four translated into English so far) at http://books.google.com/books?id=3hjSqdXiKawC& .