Category Archives: Bead Projects and Ideas

Domino Pendant Macrame Necklace

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Domino Pendant Macrame Necklace

Materials -

1 Domino Pendant
2 tubes of Miyuki Drop Beads
1 spool of C-lon Bead Cord
2 cord ends
2 jump rings
1 S clasp

Step 1 – Cut one 5′ length of bead cord and one 20′ length of bead cord, fold them in half and make an overhand knot at the center so you have four cords to work with (2 short and 2 long)

Step 2 – Make the short cords the center and the long cords the exterior. Add a drop bead to each exterior cord, and pass the right cord over the center two and under the left, tuck the left cord under the center two and up over the right, then pull snug.

Step 3 – Repeat this spiral pattern until the middle is reached, then add the Domino Pendant over all four cords and continue with the spiral macrame to the end.

Step 4 – Knot the end and crimp the cord ends on each end. Attach the clasp with the jump rings.

Domino Pendant Detail
Jocelyn Kahn of Caravan Beads hand-colors, stamps, paints, decorates and finishes real domino game pieces. She sells them at several bead and clothing stores. For more information you can email her at cbeads_retail @ caravanbeads.net.

Fun at the Circus Drop Bead Earrings

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circus drop bead earrings

Materials -

1 Tube of DP-Mix-12 (Circus Drop Mix)
2′ of open link sterling chain
2′ of sterling 24 gauge wire
2 earwires

Step 1 – Choose a number of drop beads in a range of colors. For each drop bead cut a length of chain between 1 and 5 links long.

Step 2 – Wrap each drop bead and create a wrapped figure eight of wire to connect it to the bottom of each small length of chain.

Step 3 – Slide the chain onto the opened earwire so that the chain links graduate from short to long to short again.

Step 4 – Repeat for the second bright and whimsical earring.

Blackberry Drop Bead Earrings

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Blackberry Drop Bead Earrings

Materials -

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Beading Thread (Royal)
Miyuki Drop Beads (DP-452)
2 Flower Bead Caps
2 links of Chain
2 Earwires

Step 1 – Use right angle weave to make a small beaded bead with Miyuki drop beads. Add four drop beads to your thread, sew back through them to make a small square. Tie off your thread and cut off the tail end.

Step 2 – Add another three drop beads, sew back through the original drop bead the thread was leaving from to make a figure eight comprised of seven drop beads.

Step 3 – Sew through two drop beads so your thread is exiting a drop bead at the end of your figure eight. Add three more drop beads and sew around again so you have a series of three small squares and your thread is exiting a drop bead at the end of the series.

Step 4 – Add one drop bead and sew through the drop bead at the opposite end of the series to connect the two ends. Add a second drop bead and sew back through the bead at the first end so you have made a little beaded ball of drop beads.

Step 5 – Sew up through the silver bead cap and around the chain link a bunch of times, knotting frequently. Sew back down into your beaded bead, evening out as necessary and sew in your end and cut it off.

Step 6 – Add the earwire, and repeat for the second earring.

2-color Wrapped Leather Bracelet

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2 color C-lon Beadcord Leather Bracelet

Materials -

6′ of C-Lon Bead Cord (2 colors)
1 Big Eye Needle
1 tube of 6/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (6-401FR)
4′ of leather

Step 1 – Fold the leather in half and double around to make a knot and loop at the center.

Step 2 – Wrap the C-Lon bead cord just below the knot in the leather several times. Sew around and back through the wrapped thread and tie off.

Step 3 – Add a 6/0 seed bead to your thread. Sew one color over the right hand leather, through the bead, and under the left hand piece of leather. Take the 2nd color of cord and sew over the left hand leather, through the bead, and under the right hand piece of leather . This is just like a macrame square stitch.

Step 4 – Repeat until the desired length is reached. Add a bead or a button for the clasp. Tie off the leather and wrap the C-Lon bead cord just below the knot in the leather several times. Sew around and back through the wrapped thread and tie off.

Our wholesale customers can shop for C-lon Bead Cord here.

Long Magatama Branch Necklace

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Long Magatama Branch Necklace

Materials -

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Beading Thread (Burgundy)
2 Tubes of Long Magatamas (LMA-134F)
1 Tube of 11/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (11-641)
1 Tube of 15/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (15-460)
3mm Copper Heishi
Copper S Clasp

Step 1 – Tie your thread securely around one end of the clasp. Add one 15/0 seed bead and three 11/0 seed beads (repeat pattern) until desired length is reached. Finish with one 15/0 seed bead, and knot around the other end of the clasp. Then thread back through all the beads to reinforce the top row.

Step 2 – Add three 11/0 seed beads, one 15/0 seed bead, one Magatama, one heishi and one 15/0 seed bead. Skip the bottom 15/0 seed bead (stopper bead) and sew back up through the heishi, Magatama, and 15/0 seed bead.

Step 3 – Add three 11/0 seed beads and sew through the 15/0 seed bead that is next in the top row, sewing away from the clasp end you are closest to in your work.

Step 4 – Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until one third of the necklace is completed.

Step 5 – Repeat Step 2 and then instead of adding beads and going back to the top, add three 11/0 seed beads one 15/0 seed bead, one Magatama, one heishi and one 15/0 seed bead. Skip the bottom 15/0 seed bead (stopper bead) and sew back up through the heishi, Magatama, and 15/0 seed bead. Then sew back up through the three 11/0s, so your thread is next to the top Magatama. Add three 11/0 seed beads and sew through the 15/0 seed bead that is next in the top row, sewing away from the clasp end you are closest to in your work.

Step 6 – Repeat Step 5 until about 5 sections from the middle of the necklace. Continue to increase your branch to 3 Magatama drops and then 4 Magatama drops for the center four sections of the necklace. (A section is the space between two of the 15/0 seed beads in the top row.

Step 7 – Reduce the length of your Magatama drops back to 3 and then 2 and 1, mirroring the other side of your necklace. Sew in ends, and complete.

Double Wrapped Leather Bracelet

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double wrapped leather bracelet

Materials -

6′ of C-Lon Bead Cord (Cyan)
1 Big Eye Needle
1 tube of 6/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (6-2405FR)
4′ of leather

Step 1 – Fold the leather in half and double around to make a knot and loop at the center.

Step 2 – Wrap the C-Lon bead cord just below the knot in the leather several times. Sew around and back through the wrapped thread and tie off.

Step 3 – Add a 6/0 seed bead to your thread. Sew around the top piece of leather, back down through the bead in the back, then sew back up through the bead in the front. Each bead will have the C-lon bead cord pass through it in the back and the front of the leather, holding it in place.

Step 4 – Loop the C-Lon bead cord around the top piece of leather, add a 6/0 seed bead, loop around the bottom piece of leather, and then sew back up through the bead in the front.

Step 5- Repeat until the desired length is reached. Add a bead or a button for the clasp. Tie off the leather and wrap the C-Lon bead cord just below the knot in the leather several times. Sew around and back through the wrapped thread and tie off.

This design could be made with 3 or 4 pieces of leather for added oomph!

Our wholesale customers can shop for C-lon Bead Cord here.

Snowflake Pattern

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Snowflake #34 Ornament Pattern
Sandra D. Halpenny © 2007 – 2010 All rights reserved
www.SandraDHalpenny.com

Beaded Snowflake #34 by Sandra Halpenny

S = Miyuki® 11/0 seed, 247 beads

Start by waxing and stretching your thread. Use C-lon beading thread, Fireline*, or Nymo D and an #11 or #12 beading needle. Tie in a “stopper” bead, leaving about a 8-10” tail and begin at step #1.

Snowflake_34_Step1

Round 1
Pick up 6S, make a circle and go with thread through the 1st S bead just added. Continue with working thread around through all 6 beads again, plus go through the 1st bead again. Circle of 6 made, (C6).

Round 2

a) Pick up 12S, go with thread down through the 5th through 1st S beads just added in this step and forward (right to left) through the next S bead in C6.
b) Repeat (a), around 5 more times
c) Continue with working thread forward through the 1st through 8th S beads in the first repeat of (a) this Round.

Round 3

a) Pick up 3S, go with thread down through the 10th, 11th, and 12th S beads, R2a.
b) Pick up 5S, go with thread up through the 6th, 7th and 8th S beads in the next repeat of (a), R2.
c) Repeat (a and b) around 5 more times.
d) Continue with working thread up through the 1st S bead in the first repeat of (a) this Round.

Round 4

a) Pick up 5S, go with thread down through the 3rd S bead, R3a, the 10th and 11th S beads, R2a.
b) Pick up 6S, go with thread up through the 7th and 8th S beads in the next repeat of (a), R2, and the 1st S bead, R3a.
c) Repeat (a and b) around 5 more times.
d) Continue with working thread forward through the 1st and 2nd S beads in the first repeat of (a) this Round.

Snowflake Pattern Steps 2-4

Snowflake Pattern Steps 2-4

Round 5

a) Pick up 3S, go with thread down through the 4th and 5th S beads, R4a.
b) Pick up 3S, go with thread left to right through the 3rd and 4th S beads, R4b.
c) Pick up 3S, go with thread up thrugh the 1st and 2nd S beads in the next repeat of (a), R4.
d) Repeat (a, b and c) around 5 more times.
e) Weave the working thread into the snowflake and end.

Snowflake Step 5

Snowflake Step 5

Bead colors for Rounds
R = Round
Each Round begins at the red dot in drawing. The snowflakes are done in rounds.

Snowflake Tips
Making Hangers for your Snowflake
1. Make it with beads, make a loop with as many beads as you would like,
2. or use a piece of fishing line, making it invisible with monofilament,
3. or a piece of pretty ribbon. Add ribbon after your snowflake is stiffened.

Finishing
After the snowflake is complete, you can stiffen it with Future® Floor Finish. It is a great stiffener; it stays clear even on the crystals. Test it first if you use seed beads with dyed colors to make sure the floor finish doesn’t remove the colors.

Pour enough of the finish into a small container that is wide enough for the ornament. Float the ornament into the Future and push it around a bit with your finger. (After I am done with the floor finish, I use a funnel and pour the extra back into the bottle). Take the ornament out and blot both sides with a paper towel.

Put the ornament on a piece of wax paper, shape and flatten it and let it remain on the wax paper to dry. (If you use plastic wrap, the beads can stick a bit to the wrap, so it needs to be moved around a bit to prevent this from happening.) If your ornament needs a little extra flattening, use two pieces of wax paper and sandwich your ornament in between; put a book on top of the wax paper for about an hour. Take the book and the top piece of wax paper off the ornament and let dry overnight on the bottom piece of wax paper.

Beaded_Snowflake34_colors

See more beautiful patterns at Sandra’s website – www.SandraDHalpenny.com

Drop Bead and Seed Bead Earrings

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Miyuki Drop and Seed Bead Earrings

Miyuki Drop and Seed Bead Earrings

Materials -

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Beading Thread Size D (Burgundy)
11/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (11-2016)
Miyuki Drop Beads (DP-2035)
2 Earwires
2 Jumprings

Step 1 – Thread on one 11/0 and one drop bead 4 times. Sew back through all eight beads to make a loop.

Step 2 – Exit through the following 11/0 seed bead, then add three 11/0s and sew back through the first 11/0 in the same direction you exited originally.

Step 3 – Sew through the next drop bead and repeat step 2 for each of the original 11/0s.

Step 4 – Once you have completed your little diamond shape, sew it onto an earwire or soldered jump ring to complete it.

Shop for Miyuki drop beads here.

Peyote Triangle Waves Bracelet

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Triangle Waves Peyote Stitch Bracelet with Miyuki seed beads

Triangle Waves Peyote Stitch Bracelet with Miyuki seed beads

Triangle Waves Peyote Stitch Bracelet

Materials -

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Size D Beading Thread ( Royal )
Size 10 Miyuki Triangle Bead ( tr10-452 )
Size 8 Miyuki Triangle Bead ( tr8-452 )
Size 10 Miyuki Delica Bead ( DBMC – 0002 )

This bracelet is made using even count peyote stitch.
(Learn how with this link from our friend Suzanne Cooper)

Step 1 – Add six DBMCs to your thread. Begin even count peyote stitch for 5 rows.

Step 2 – Begin next row with TR10s. Continue even count peyote stitch for 5 rows of TR10s.

Step 3 – Begin next row with TR8s. Continue even count peyote stitch for 5 rows of TR8s.

Step 4 – Repeat step 2.

Step 5 – Begin next row with DBMCs. Continue even count peyote stitch for 7 rows of DBMCs.

Repeat rows 2-5 until desired length is reached. Notice that as you change the bead size the width of the bracelet increases and decreases in a wave shape. Experiment with different sizes of beads to see what cool examples you can come up with. Remember that we’d like to see the versions you come up with, so send us pictures of your projects!

See all three sizes of triangle beads here.

Texture with Fancy Drops

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Miyuki Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch BraceletMiyuki Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch Bracelet

Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch BraceletMaterials -

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Size D  (Turquoise)
1-2 tubes Miyuki Fancy Drops (dpf-31)
(fancy drops are color-lined with contrasting colors to the rest of the drop)
1 tube Miyuki 11/0 Seed Beads (11-271)
1 clasp or snap

Step 1- Start flat peyote stitch with twelve 11/0 seed beads. Each following row you will add 6 beads.

Step 2- Begin randomly inserting the drops to create a textured surface. Continue until bracelet reaches desired length.

Step 3 – This bracelet is clasped using a snap sewn onto a tiny leather tab. It makes the closure point nearly invisible. Using a button or regular clasp would also work fine.

Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch Bracelet on wrist Miyuki’s color-lined fancy drops give this bracelet a cool optical effect – as you turn your wrist the color appears to change because the angle of the light hits the bead at a different place.  Try your own version and admire the effect!

See miyuki drops and fancy drops here.