Bead Info & Trivia

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9
Mar 10

Duracoat Galvanized Seed Bead Finish

We all remember how frustrating it was to have a bead finish that you couldn’t really recommend for the heavy wear and tear of everyday use. Lots of people sprayed these shiny galvanized beads with fixatives to keep them looking sharp. Miyuki has just come out with the Duracoat Galvanized finish and so far they are looking really good.

My sister Jocelyn has been wearing a bracelet made from the 11/0 Duracoat Galvanized beads day and night for about four months. (She actually sewed it on herself and can’t take it off without cutting it off). The bracelet has gone scuba diving and snorkeling in Hawaii, it has gone out on the town, it has gone in the shower and played with the cats. It still looks shiny and only three or four beads show wear on the finish. A definite improvement over the older galvanized coatings, this bracelet has been worn every day since the beginning of November.

Duracoat Galvanized Beads Bracelet

Duracoat Galvanized Beads Bracelet

Shop for 11/0 Duracoat Galvanized beads here. The new Duracoat Galvanized series begins at 11-4201.

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5
Mar 10

Bead Sample Cards

Shopping for seed bead colors online can be frustrating because computer monitors are different everywhere and the bead colors are never exactly the same as they appear online. The next best thing to having all the colors of Miyuki beads in your house or store is to have Miyuki sample cards as a comprehensive reference. About 1/2 – 3/4 of an inch of each color bead is hand-sewn onto each numbered card.

Bead Sample Card

part of the 11/0 Miyuki Sample Card

Sample cards are a great reference when trying to match a color, plan a new project, or check out the huge variety of Japanese seed beads that Miyuki offers. There are quite a few cards because Miyuki makes so many colors of seed beads and Delica beads. Most customers start out with the Delica Sample Card set and move on to the whole collection over time.

You can also see bead sample cards with Flash player on Miyuki’s website. Of course the colors may still be a bit wonky.

Shop for sample cards here.

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1
Mar 10

C-lon Beading Thread

C-lon Beading Thread

C-lon Beading Thread

Our popular C-lon beading thread comes in 36 vibrant colors in sizes D and AA. We like to use the D for on and off-loom beadweaving. It’s especially good for Delica beads and other wide-holed Japanese seed beads.

The size AA beading thread is wonderful to use when working with 15/0 seed beads as well as 15/0 Delica beads.

Try using contrasting colors with your work – yellow with teal, teal with purple, orange with lime green. It can add some excitement to a simple beadwork project, as well as being strong, easy to work with and versatile.

C-lon Beading Thread in size AA

C-lon Beading Thread in size AA


Nylon Monocord Size AA (CLBAA)

* uses: Off-loom beadweaving with size 15 seed beads
* current # of colors: 36
* breaking strength: approx 4 lbs
* diameter: very thin – comparable to nymo size 0
* put up: approx. 75 yards/69m per bobbin.
* type of beading thread: UV resistant nylon monocord
* made in the USA

C-lon Beading Thread in size D

C-lon Beading Thread in size D


Nylon Monocord Size D (CLBD)

* uses: On and off-loom beadweaving with size 10-11 seed beads or Delicas, mini micro-macrame, bead stitching and embroidery, etc. Also in use for making Teddy bears—who knew?
* current # of colors: 36
* breaking strength: approx 7 lbs
* diameter: comparable to nymo size D
* put up: approx. 80 yards/73m per bobbin.
* type of beading thread: UV resistant nylon monocord
* made in the USA

Shop for C-lon beading thread at your local bead store or ask us for the name of a friendly distributor.
Wholesale customers can purchase it online at Caravan Beads

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8
Feb 10

Miyuki Delica Beads

Miyuki Delicas - Japanese cylinder seed beads in four sizes

Miyuki Delicas - Japanese cylinder seed beads in four sizes

Miyuki Delica beads are cylinder shaped Japanese seed beads. These glass cylinder beads were first introduced by Miyuki in 1982 as a replacement for antique french metal cylinder beads. They are now available in four sizes – 8/0, 10/0, 11/0 and 15/0. There are approximately one thousand colors available in the most popular 11/0 size.

Delicas are used widely for peyote stitch, brick stitch, and weaving on looms because their cylinder shape gives the finished piece a flat surface maximizing any design or pattern. Their exceptional uniformity of size and shape create tiny rectangles which lock together to present an unbroken surface. Bead artists have used them to create detailed portraits and sculpures with each bead acting as a single pixel of color.

Miyuki Lazuline Butterfly Brooch Kit

Miyuki Lazuline Butterfly Brooch Kit

Delica beads also have a proportionally thin wall and large hole for their size which allows more threads to pass through the woven work. As every beader knows, this gives you more room for invention as well as being helpful for correcting mistakes or securing the finished ends. We recommend Delicas (especially the largest 8/0 size) as perfect for beginners learning peyote or brick stitch, since it is easy to see when you make a mistake.

Delicas are also available in a hexagonal cut version, with six faceted sides cut into the outside of the cylinder. Cut Delicas are available in all four sizes – 8/0, 10/0, 11/0 and 15/0 but in a smaller range of colors than their standard counterparts.

See all 1000+ colors here.

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25
Jun 09

World’s Biggest Bead?

I was going to order one of these beads for our yard, but then I started thinking about the cost of shipping and changed my mind.

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24
Jun 09

World’s Oldest Beads?

I’ve run across a few articles over the years discussing archeological sites where beads have turned up. The beads keep turning up in deeper (therefore older) strata, showing that dressing up for dinner—or perhaps to attract a mate—is an old custom.

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