I've been wanting to show this off, it's one of my first forays into seed beading. I based the pattern on a piece of African mud cloth. I love the strength and colors of mud cloth, and am working up a small series of cuffs based on their patterns.



I sewed the ends of the cuff into tubes and closed the bracelet with stretch cord. It hides in the tubes but allows enough stretch to fit over my hand. At first I thought this method was totally cheating, really unprofessional. But I've been wearing this a lot, and love the ease of getting it on and off, and how it looks like a completely closed piece once it's on. What do you think?

Here we are at the last week of this round, and a warm welcome to Jennifer of Mewes Mountain Arts, who has volunteered to pick up with future Facebook rounds.

IF YOU'RE FEATURED this week, please promote the Handmade Artists Forum. The link is: http://www.facebook.com/handmadeartistsforum

Remember, once you've posted, return to this thread and provide the link to your post.

GROUP ONE
     Larissa
     Diana Shye Jewelry
     My Lil Craft Shoppe
     I Knit and Bead (formerly Paradise Purls)
          Your spotlight this week is on I Knit and Bead, here's the link to promote: http://www.facebook.com/knitsandbeadsbyebeth

GROUP TWO
     I Knit Quilt Sew
     Jewelry by Janelle
     LTD Beads
     Mewes Mountain Arts
          Your spotlight this week is on Mewes Mountain Arts, here's the link to promote: http://www.facebook.com/MewesMountainArts

If you'd like to join the Facebook group, just reply to this topic and include the one link you'd like to promote as well as your Facebook link. Questions? Check the FAQs.

Again, my apologies for late posting.

We're split into two groups, no one will wait too long to be featured.

IF YOU'RE FEATURED this week, please promote the Handmade Artists Forum. The link is: http://www.facebook.com/handmadeartistsforum

Remember, once you've posted, return to this thread and provide the link to your post.

GROUP ONE
     Larissa
     Diana Shye Jewelry
     My Lil Craft Shoppe
     I Knit and Bead (formerly Paradise Purls)
     ChainMaille Lady
          Your spotlight this week is on My Lil Craft Shoppe, here's the link to promote: http://www.mylilcraftshoppe.com/

GROUP TWO
     I Knit Quilt Sew
     Jewelry by Janelle
     Budding Creations
     LTD Beads
          Your spotlight this week is on LTD Beads, here's the link to promote: http://www.beadbeat.blogspot.com/

If you'd like to join the Facebook group, just reply to this topic and include the one link you'd like to promote as well as your Facebook link. Questions? Check the FAQs.

We're split into two groups, no one will wait too long to be featured.

IF YOU'RE FEATURED this week, please promote the Handmade Artists Forum. The link is: http://www.facebook.com/handmadeartistsforum

Remember, once you've posted, return to this thread and provide the link to your post.

GROUP ONE
     Larissa
     Diana Shye Jewelry
     My Lil Craft Shoppe
     Paradise Purls
          Your spotlight this week is on Larissa's Reef Botanicals, here's the link to promote: http://www.reefbotanicals.com/

GROUP TWO
     I Knit Quilt Sew
     On Pens and Needles
     Jewelry by Janelle
     Budding Creations
     LTD Beads
          Your spotlight this week is on I Knit Quilt Sew, here's the link to promote: http://handmadeartistsshop.com/iKnitQuiltSew.html

If you'd like to join the Facebook group, just reply to this topic and include the one link you'd like to promote as well as your Facebook link. Questions? Check the FAQs.

This is the final week of the current round. Sorry to be posting late, it's a holiday weekend for me, guess I got carried away ...

IF YOU'RE FEATURED this week, please promote the Handmade Artists Forum. The link is: http://www.facebook.com/handmadeartistsforum

Remember, once you've posted, return to this thread and provide the link to your post.

GROUP ONE
     Larissa
     On Pens and Needles
     LTD Beads
     Additions Style
     Diana Shye Jewelry
          Your spotlight this week is on Additions Style, here's the link to promote: http://additionsstyle.blogspot.com/

GROUP TWO
     Jewelry by Janelle
     Aimee's Rock Works
     My Lil Craft Shoppe
     Penny Farrow Designs
          Your spotlight this week is for this site's sponsor, Andrew Kitchen of Chainmaille by MBOI. Here's the link to promote: http://www.facebook.com/chainmaillebymboi

GROUP THREE
     Jewelry by NaLa
     I Knit Quilt Sew
     Crows Roost Prims
     Ripe Designs
          Your spotlight this week is for Kimberly Kitchen of Making the Best of It, here's the link to promote: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Point-Pleasant-NJ/Makin-the-Best-Of-It/444329005222


If you'd like to join the next Facebook group, just reply to this topic and include the one link you'd like to promote as well as your Facebook link. Questions? Check the FAQs.

Please note that Penny Farrow is joining Group Two. We're split into three groups, no one will wait too long to be featured.

IF YOU'RE FEATURED this week, please promote the Handmade Artists Forum. The link is: http://www.facebook.com/handmadeartistsforum

Remember, once you've posted, return to this thread and provide the link to your post.

GROUP ONE
     Larissa
     On Pens and Needles
     LTD Beads
     Additions Style
     Diana Shye Jewelry
          Your spotlight this week is on Diana Shye Jewelry, here's the link to promote: http://www.dianashyejewelry.etsy.com/

GROUP TWO
     Jewelry by Janelle
     Aimee's Rock Works
     Akula Hope Designs
     My Lil Craft Shoppe
     Penny Farrow Designs
          Your spotlight this week is on My Lil Craft Shoppe, here's the link to promote: http://mylilcraftshoppe.storenvy.com/

GROUP THREE
     Jewelry by NaLa
     I Knit Quilt Sew
     Crows Roost Prims
     Ripe Designs
     HJM Art Gallery
          Your spotlight this week is on Crows Roost Prims, here's the link to promote: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Crowsroostprims

If you'd like to join the Facebook group, just reply to this topic and include the one link you'd like to promote as well as your Facebook link. Questions? Check the FAQs.

We're split into three groups, no one will wait too long to be featured.

IF YOU'RE FEATURED this week, please promote the Handmade Artists Forum. The link is: http://www.facebook.com/handmadeartistsforum

Remember, once you've posted, return to this thread and provide the link to your post.

GROUP ONE
     Larissa
     On Pens and Needles
     LTD Beads
     Additions Style
     Diana Shye Jewelry
          Your spotlight this week is on Larissa's Reef Botanicals, here's the link to promote: http://www.reefbotanicals.blogspot.com/

GROUP TWO
     Jewelry by Janelle
     Aimee's Rock Works
     Akula Hope Designs
     My Lil Craft Shoppe
          Your spotlight this week is on Jewelry by Janelle, here's the link to promote: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7000502

GROUP THREE
     Jewelry by NaLa
     I Knit Quilt Sew
     Crows Roost Prims
     HJM Art Gallery
          Your spotlight this week is on NaLa's Handmade Harbor, here's the link to promote: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139995785046

If you'd like to join the Facebook group, just reply to this topic and include the one link you'd like to promote as well as your Facebook link. Questions? Check the FAQs.

The Facebook Spotlight provides an opportunity for group promotion. It is a 6-8 week commitment, and you need a Facebook page to take part.

One member is spotlighted every Sunday. Everyone else goes to their own Facebook page and posts for the spotlighted artist. This builds lots of links for whoever's featured, and when it's your turn, you'll get the same benefit.

Then reply to the current Spotlight topic and provide the link to your post. This is important. This way we can comment on your post, providing additional links for all of us. I will track this; if you don't follow through, you'll be bumped off the list. Of course, "life happens." Just keep in touch if you have a problem.

FAQs

Do I need to post on Sunday?
     No. You can post on whatever day of the week works best for you. For me, sticking to the same day each week helps keep me on track.

Will reminders be sent?
     No. A new topic will appear every Sunday (sometimes quite late on Sunday) giving the name and link for the next Facebook Spotlight. So come to the Facebook Spotlight section of the Forum to learn who to promote.

When will this start?
     On Sunday, as listed in the "New Round" posting. Rounds last 6-8 weeks, so nobody waits too long to be promoted.

Exactly what should be promoted? How do I do this?
     The featured artist's link, in general (or in as much detail as you want). It can be very quick: go to your Facebook page, put the featured link in the "What's on your mind?" box, the link area should expand automatically and you can click 'till you find a picture you like. It helps the Forum to mention HAF, so I put: HAF Spotlight on ARTIST'S NAME, along with any other text I want, before their link. Click the "Share" button and you're done.

Can I change my link every week?
     You can update which link you want featured, but you can only have one link featured in each round. A round lasts several weeks, until everyone has a turn to be featured. Then we'll start a new round.

How long is my commitment?
     Your commitment is to post once a week for the entire round. We'll be broken down into smaller groups to keep the rounds to about 6 to 8 weeks each.

Newbies, maybe this will help ...
     When you enter the HAF Forum, there are subdivisions in green bars across the page: main, outreach events, business tips, etc. In the right hand portion of each bar is an "Unread Posts" button. Click on this to see new posts.