My Bead Challenge Entry

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Yay!! I am so excited.

I have wanted to show you the bracelet I made for Crystal’s First Bead Challenge. But wanted to wait until she revealed them all on her blog. Go here to see the amazing work of the participants. Stringing, wirework, bead embroidery and bead weaving.

http://beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog/?p=18048

All different takes from three sets of beads. (I borrowed this photo from Crystal’s blog.)

I had the idea for my bracelet immediately after seeing the choices. I knew I would peyote something.

 

I used all ten of the silver saucer beads to connect the peyote tubes. And then created a clasp using round Swarovski crystals in siam, smoke and black.

I will be putting this bracelet in my Etsy Shop soon.

Thank you, Crystal, for sponsoring your bead challenge. I really enjoyed it.

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Crystal has an amazing selection of beads. Something for everyone. Even handcrafted jewelry is available. Great prices, super fast shipping. Check out her shop here.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadhappilyeverafter?ref=em

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AND for those of you following my blog for the beadwork and have waited patiently… good news!! I am going to make another bracelet in bronze. Crystal also had gold beads like the silver ones I used. Can’t wait to get started. Who knows!! Maybe 2012 will get me back to fondling little seed beads!!

Yay!! I Found The Green Seed Beads I Needed.

Whoa!! WT…

You are probably wondering What The Heck Happened.

1. Hubby jealous of time spent beading.
2. Dog ripped it up.
3. It just fell apart on its own.

No dog and hubby actually gives me suggestions. I wish I could say it just fell apart but the truth is…

I found the 11/0 green metallic cylinder beads I was looking for. I should be happy, right? Time for celebration.

Here they are in separate piles. New ones on the left. Original ones on the right. Only a slight difference.

And here they are all mixed together. Homerun out of the park!!

So then, why did I rip up my donuts? Yes, I admit it. I did it.

With 22 new colors of size 15/0 seed beads to choose from, I am going with a different color. I am thinking one of these.

Wouldn’t this yellow gold go great with the green? Either color really. I see both touches of brown and yellow in the green beads.

Happy and Sad. Sad and Happy.

Now, I need an extra pair of hands. So much to do.

Thanks to everyone suggesting sites and places to search for the green beads. Once again, you came through for me.

These Look Awfully Close

What do you think?

Don’t these look really close to the Evergreen Vitreal 11/0 cylinder seed beads I am looking for? Found on eBay.

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These are mine.

I ordered them. Maybe I will be able to finish my bracelet after all.

Pour the Coffee, Hold the Icing, Donuts are Done

My hat is off to those beaders primarily working with the teeny tiny 15/0′s and 11/0 seed beads. I had to keep telling myself, the end is near. And I kid you not. I kept falling asleep.

I love it though. And it feels great around my wrist.

As you can see, I ended up with six donuts for the bracelet and made two more for earrings.

It can stand up on its own.

And it looks great around my “model’s” wrist.

I have enough seed beads in both colors so I may make a larger donut for a pendant. Maybe…

Though I was challenged working with the 15′s, I have ordered more of them. A lot of the designs I want to now try, use them. So there is no getting around them.

What is your favorite seed bead size?

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This is my original design. Thanks for not copying or posting elsewhere without my permission.

My Donut Bracelet Is Almost Finished… Today?

I am working on the last donut. This bracelet is taking forever. Why, you may ask? What have I been doing?

Well, a week ago, I got tired of moving stuff to make room for stuff. I decided to tackle reorganizing my computer/craft room. Slowly the room took shape. The way I wanted it. Less clutter. Less mess.

Here are my two banquet tables stripped down to the tabletops. Too bad they can’t stay like this. But then you wouldn’t get to see my creations.

Anyhoo… back to the bracelet.

See that silver tube clasp? That is what I wanted to use but it just doesn’t seem to fit. I really like it and it is a perfect end for a peyote bracelet. In and around, fold flat, stitch. But… I am thinking a matching beaded toggle will look better.

Hopefully I can show you the finished bracelet later today or tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Starting Over, With A Different Color

So far, no trouble making this bracelet. I have (or had) three tubes of these 11/0 Toho Treasures in Rainbow Navy. Who names these things!! Does this look navy? More like cobalt blue or royal blue. They are cylinder beads and I like how they “snap” into place when I peyote.

But anyway… they should work and look like I originally planned for the green one.

2 circles done, 8 to go.

The fuchsia 15/0′s aren’t so bad. Just took some getting used to. I did learn one thing. Not to pour out too many. Too hard to gather back up. Just pour out as many as I think I will need for the round being worked.

And another thing I have learned working with such tiny beads is to use a marker. Like in crochet. I kept losing my place and had to undo back to a familiar round. After doing this about a dozen times, I remembered what I did when crocheting in the round. Use a marker to mark my stitch.

So, why not do the same when beading in the round? What I do is simple. And a huge time saver. I use the tail thread. Put it into the “step up” bead. So when I complete a round, I know exactly where I am. Keep moving the tail thread to each new step up bead. And I tell you, IT WORKS!! I haven’t had to pull out beads and redo my work since.

BTW, thank you so much for your assistance in trying to help me locate the seed beads I was looking for. That odd Evergreen color. Evergreen Vitreal. I searched the sites you recommended but no luck. So far. But I’ll keep looking. I won’t scrap my green and rose WIP just yet.

Bracelet? Probably. Not Sure Where I Am Going With This.

Another first for me. Working with size 15/0 seed beads. And not liking it. At all. Too tiny. Think colorful grains of salt. Sprinkled all over your beading table. They are so teeny tiny that if there WAS a flaw or chip, I wouldn’t see it. I can BARELY see the HOLE!!

Rose, I think. Though sometimes, under my Ott Lite, the rose looks peach.

And get this. I even bought John Adams size 15 beading needles thinking I would need a super thin needle. But, duh, my beading thread won’t fit through the eye. Note to self: buy Super Fine Fireline. For now, I am doing OK with the needles and braided thread I normally use.

I have created these so far using the 15/0′s and 11/0 green cylinder seed beads.

Started off with a peyote circle. Made two. Stitched the outer sides together. Any idea on what I did next? Aw, go on. Guess what I did. Cute, huh.

Now… what to do with them? They measure a little over an inch in diameter.

I am thinking bracelet. Connect them with a rose flat strip of peyote.

What would you do with them?

Meet The Herringbone Family

Couldn’t just make bracelets. How naked would the rest of the body be!! So I made a necklace and earrings.

Here they are……

Necklace and Open Triangle Embellishment

Worn simple without.

Or dramatic with.

Necklace doubles as a triple wrap bracelet.

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This is a close-up of the open triangle. (It’s made using peyote stitch.) I added a 6 bead fringe all around it using 11/0 seed beads. It fits over the green button closure.

Can be worn with this bracelet.

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And I made a pair of peyote earrings. (Maybe I will make some herringbone earrings.)

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Took more photos of the bracelets. I think these are better.

And one last photo. The whole set.

Day 2: Tubular Herringbone Bracelet, A and B

Now there’s an A and a B bracelet.

I was tickled to finally learn the Tubular Herringbone stitch. And as I mentioned yesterday, it’s an easy stitch to learn. So I wasn’t even disappointed that I had to ditch the first bracelet and start on a second one.

As I was adding the loop clasp part, I realized the color placement was all wrong. The green beaded toggle bar would be on the “purple” end. I didn’t want to pull out all that Fireline. So I just started from scratch.

This time I plotted out exactly where each color would go. The toggle bar will be green. Just need to decide on which color beads for the toggle loop. Crystal or green.

I have an idea on what to do with the mini triangles. Have to try it and see.

Be back tomorrow with Day 3.

Sneak Peek: Tubular Herringbone Bracelet

Have you tried Tubular Herringbone?

Easy. I learned how to make the basic stitch in 5 minutes. Using Beth Stone’s book, More Seed Bead Stitching. Pages 18-19. Her instructions and illustrations are easy to follow.

This is how my bracelet looks today. Day 1.

BBL.