Do you see the 3? I am a geometer, which means I am interested in how things are shaped. The number 3 is interesting as a number, but I decided to think of my geometric roots, and work with its shape instead. When I made this 3 using herringbone stitch, I noticed it looked like the beginning of a heart, and I couldn't resist closing it off.

My entry consists of a sequence of three flat pieces of bead weaving. First, I made the sample on the left which shows a three by three square. Then I decided to make some pieces that are colored to actually look like a Tic Tac Toe board. I used all size 11/0 seed beads to make the middle piece next. For the third piece, on the right, I used colors to emphasize the 3 by 3 squares even further. This piece is all size 15/0 seed beads.

This piece was inspired by the Jabot in the White Russian beading book, although I have designed the piece my self. I usually follow patterns quite closely and only change it after I have done the stitch on many an occasion. This one just seemed “to happen;” I hope it is the beginning of my being able to design more pieces myself. It uses 3mm bugles with 15 seeds.

My entry into the first beAd Infinitum challenge incorporates three patterns: the Spinning Top, the Crystal Bangle and the Double Daisy Chain. I have also adopted a three colour theme of red, black and gold. I modified the crystal bangle pattern into beads for this design and am quite happy with how it came out.

From the pattern of little triangles inside of larger triangles, to the swags in their 3-2-1 countdown pattern, this princess-length necklace is all about the number three. This is a daughter weave to Kepler's Star; the basic method of working is similar, but turned inside out. I used sizes 15°, 11° and 8° seed beads in a variety of pinky-reds to give it a subtle shimmer. As always, I've written a tale to go with this necklace on my blog. In this one, I've incorporated my own recipe for Cranberry Relish into the story. If you'd like my recipe, here's a link: Jewelry Tales

Gwen and Florence are such an inspiration. I follow their creativety through the beAd Infinitum website and in forums. Once again, they have inspired me to create something especially for this "Challenge #1: Tic Tac Toe, Three in a Row!"

When I first read the title, and details, I knew that 'The Three Stooges' were what I wanted to create. Adding to the guidelines, I graphed out this picture, of 'the' three, in a row, loomed 33 beads wide, using 33 colors total. I finished the edge with 3mm sterling silver seamless beads in a peyote stitching. This edging added to the 'filmstrip' style of my "Picture This Cuff."

I am also submitting this entry, excited about the possibility to choose a pattern, created by beAd Infinitum! Deciding on just one would be difficult, but being able to incorporate one of their patterns, in some of my completed pieces, could be endless!

This didn't come out exactly as I had planned it (of course!) but I am enormously proud of myself, because this is the first beaded bead I invented. Not THAT complicated (takes about 20 mins to make one, once I figured it out), but all my own! I also really like the colour scheme: it has pink czech crystals and gold sandstones and makes me think of budding pink magnolias on the empty branches in spring.

The necklace is made of Miyuki seed beads 15/0 number 414FR and 11/0 number 151FR, Delica 11/0 number 165 and opalized glassbeads size 3, 4 and 6 mm. The three rings are in peyote, the rest is netting.

My mum is bead mad, and I think it's finally rubbing off on me. I saw the triangles in her latest Beadwork ("Geometry+Beads=Infinite Designs," by Phyllis Dintenfass, Beadwork December 2008/January 2009; image published with permission) and had to create my own bracelet. I'm really happy with the results as this is the first project I've completed in at least a couple of years. The toggle is only temporary as I haven't found the one I want, yet. I've used delicas and feel great to have worked out how this was done on my own, that is after mum showed me how to peyote stitch. I'm 20 years old. I already have my next project, which is a pryamid made of delicas, ready to go. The beads for this arrived today.

How this beaded bead was born is a long story; I want to tell it to you. Some time ago I visited the beAd Infinitum site; it was the first time that I saw such beautiful beaded beads–they were perfect! I decided I wanted to learn how to create my beaded beads, on my own, and very soon I did. I knew that my first beaded beads would not be so perfect, but I was very, very determined. One day in summer, I began to make my first beaded bead, it wasn’t an easy thing, but I was very, very patient and I had a lot of goodwill. Day by day, my work began to grow. At first it was small and not nice, but thanks to my good taste, in a short time it became a big lovely beaded bead. I’ve showed my work to my parents, to my friends, to the users of Internet, they were excited!! And I was excited, too. My beaded bead had been successful. “Wow,” I thought. And what were my next projects? To make other beaded beads, to became very good at making them. The road towards the perfect beaded bead is already long, I know. But my studies will help me to improve and perhaps one day I will make a bead very beautiful–for now, I made this “Snowflake” in a winter landscape, and I hope you like it, the result of my patience.

This bangle is formed around an armature. I covered the form in peyote stitch, and enclosed the ends with beaded beads, for comfort of wear. Using a combination of right-angle-weave and peyote stitch, I formed these graduated blooms out of seed beads, Swarovski pearls, and crystals. To incorporate the theme of "Tic Tac Toe, Three in a Row!" I focused on using a row of three flowers. I wanted to do some sort of "beaded bead" as a tribute to beAd Infinitum, and I also wanted to use geometry and symmetry. I had a lot of fun engineering this piece and thinking of different ways I could follow the theme. This week, I submitted this bangle for consideration as my first instructional gig at Bead Expo Portland (September 2009), and the piece was chosen! I will be teaching this and two other classes. There will also be a project of mine in the April/May issue of Beadwork magazine on using an armature to create a beaded bangle. Thanks Florence and Gwen for the inspiration with this challenge, it lead to great things!

I found my way to beAdInfinitum.com via a mathematical link, while researching platonic solids for a textile project on elements. I was intrigued by the designs and decided to see if I could work out how they were done. I’d been beading for several years but mostly peyote stitch with delica beads and so I had to buy a lot of different sizes of beads. I did figure out how to do some similar beaded beads, but the Octahedral Cluster fascinated me so much I decided to order the kit. My previous experience of kits had been a great disappointment, but I’m very glad I discovered these. The quality of the instructions is excellent, so easy to follow and well worth the cost. I then bought El Cubo. At first I was annoyed to find it has the same basic understructure as the Octahedral Cluster, but about halfway through the beading process the penny dropped, and I realised what it was all about – I understood the geometry. I have since made tetrahedrons and dodecahedrons using both methods of lace overlay. By this time I was totally hooked and sent for the Sea Star kit. This necklace is made with 3 triangular beaded beads that use the Sea Star technique. The lace overlay technique for El Cubo is my favourite and so far it’s the one I’ve found the most versatile.

I used beAd Infinitum’s Diamond Net Bead pattern with off-white pearls, silver-lined crystal seed beads, and a silver toggle clasp for this necklace. I created three of the full-sized beads and 6 of the half-sized beads. I used small pearls at each end of the beads to hold the 6lb. clear Fireline in the middle of the bead, and used six size 11 crystal seed beads between the beads. I added intervals of 11’s and one size 10 crystal seed bead between the beaded beads and the clasp.

This pattern was originally designed for a bracelet, but I didn’t like the way it draped on my wrist, so I kept beading. It is a triangle pattern using silver size 11 seed beads and blue tubes. The overall triangle design shows up better when it is twisted, so I twisted it and attached it to a twisted silver chain. I think it is much prettier as a necklace than it would have been as a bracelet.

I used beAd Infinitum’s Telstar Bead pattern for the 3 beaded beads. I spaced them apart using 3 bronze-colored pearls, small finished wooden beads, copper AB crystal bicones, and a copper clasp. I loved making the Telstar beads and adding the various other sized beads and textures seemed to really set the Telstar’s off. This is a striking necklace on either dark or light backgrounds and was a joy to make.

This is my Nan's Christmas present. She is in love with the shade purple. I made a spiral, hence added 1 core bead and 3 spiral beads. I also made picots on the edging, hence my other 3 for the theme.

I made a spiral rope to hold the pendant. I also made picots around the edges which is 3 beads. And, the spiral consists of 3 beads in a row also. This is number 2 necklace of a set of 3 I am making.

I haven’t done much designing of my own beaded beads so for this challenge I decided to go down the path of making a piece of jewellery with three as a theme. The materials that I used were size 8° triangle seed beads, 4mm Swarovski bicones, tigertail and beaded beads that I made with size 11° seed beads around 4mm wooden beads. The beaded beads have all been made with tubular peyote stitch. After designing my bracelet I looked at my drawing and found all of the relations to number three that it had and this is what I found:

• Each ‘bunch’ in the bracelet has 3 strands.
• Each ‘bunch’ has 3 beaded beads.
• Each strand has 3 beads.
• There are 3 different kinds of beads in each ‘bunch’ (glass, crystal and beaded beads).
• There are 3 different shapes of beads in each strand (round, triangle and bicone).
• There are 3 colours of beaded beads.

Maths has never been my best subject but designing and making this bracelet was fun and 3 is an easy number to work with.