Posts Tagged: beads

Bead Info & Trivia — No Comments
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.

Projects — No Comments
3
Mar 10

Drop Bead and Seed Bead Earrings

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.

Designers — No Comments
12
Feb 10

Jean Campbell

Jean Campbell bead artist

I’ve worn a lot of hats in the beading community–editor, teacher, designer, writer…I’ve even hawked beads at big shows, worked behind the counter at a bead shop, and have put my mug on tv surrounded by these little gems. With all these hats, I’ve decided to just call myself a “beadist”…plain and simple.

Veve Cuff by Jean Campbell

Veve Cuff by Jean Campbell

I have a couple of projects lately that I’m quite happy to toot my beadist horn about. One is my just-released book, Steampunk Style Jewelry. It’s a beautifully designed book on a very interesting trend…a trend I’m so excited about that I fashioned myself a raygun to go with my mad scientist goggles. Check it out here.

The other project that I’m over the moon about is a book I just finished writing…Unfortunately I can’t reveal the title or pictures–publisher’s rules–but know that it involves lots of Crystallized Elements by Swarovski, seed beads, needles, thread, and over-the-top glamor! This baby will be released Fall 2010.

Peyote Buttons by Jean Campbell

Peyote Buttons by Jean Campbell

I’m also pleased to announce my involvement in CraftEdu, a great new online teaching platform. I’m in the company of not only other wonderful beaders like Marcia DeCoster, Maggie Meister, Sherry Serafini, and Margie Deeb, but also altered book artists, polymer and precious metal clay experts, textile designers, metalsmiths, and more. It’s going to be an amazing site! Visit www.craftedu.com to learn more about the upcoming launch.

If you’re interested in knowing even more about what I’m up to, come visit my website, www.jeancampbellink.com.

Bead Info & Trivia — No Comments
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.

Projects — No Comments
4
Feb 10

Texture with Fancy Drops

Miyuki Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch Bracelet
Miyuki 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.

Projects — No Comments
2
Feb 10

Looplicity Brick Stitch Earrings

Looplicity Brick Stitch Earrings

Looplicity Brick Stitch Earrings

Materials:

Japanese beading needles (extra thin)
C-lon beading thread size D (Burgundy)
Miyuki 15/0 seed beads (15-1428)
Miyuki Delica beads (DB1244)
Miyuki 11/0 seed beads (11-302)
Miyuki 10/0 triangle beads (tr10-1836)
Miyuki 8/0 seed beads (8-24f)
2 7mm soldered jumprings
2 earwires

Step 1. Add one 15/0 seed bead to your thread. Sew through the jumpring, and back down through the seed bead. Repeat nine times to complete your initial row.

Step 2. Increase in the following row by adding two Delica beads to your thread. Sew through the thread bridge between the first and second 15/0s on the edge of your work your thread is coming from, and go up the second bead added and then down the first. Come back up the second bead. For the row’s remaining stitches, pick up one bead and go under the next thread bridge on the previous row. Go back up the new bead.

Step 3. Repeat step two using 11/0 seed beads, always increasing by one bead for each new type of bead added.

Step 4. Repeat step two using 10/0 triangle beads.

Step 5. Repeat step two using 8/0 seed beads.

Step 6. Beginning at the edge of your work add thirty-two 15/0 seed beads and sew up through the center 8/0 seed bead. Sew down through the next further down 8/0 seed bead, and add another thirty-two 15/0s. Create a new loop by sewing back up through the second 8/0 from the edge, and continue to work across the earring, one 8/0 at a time until each one has been used once. The only 8/0 to have two strings of 15/0s coming from it is the center 8/0.

It is fun to use a slightly contrasting color of C-lon to accent the beadwork on these earrings. Send us a picture of your interesting combination to share with everyone!

Designers — 2 Comments
28
Jan 10

Beaded Turtle

Former Caravan Beads employee Tina Chance makes incredible bead sculpture look easy.
Beaded Turtle in 15/0 Miyuki Seed Beads by Tina Chance

Using the smallest seed beads we have to offer, she made this lovely fellow from illustrations of real turtles found in nature. His toes are made from toothpics colored black with magic marker.

Beaded Turtle Underside in 15/0 Miyuki Seed Beads by Tina Chance

Send us pictures of your beaded art and we’ll put them up on the blog for other beaders to admire.

Projects — No Comments
21
Jan 10

Regal Caterpillar Bracelet

Regal Caterpillar Bracelet in brick stitch with Miyuki Japanese seed beads

Regal Caterpillar Bracelet in brick stitch with Miyuki Japanese seed beads

Regal Caterpillar brick stitch bracelet on modelmaterials –

Japanese beading needles
1 bobbin C-Lon Thread size D (purple)
1 tube 15/0 Miyuki seed beads (15-462)
2 colors of 11/0 Miyuki seed beads (11-465 and 11-469)
1 tube of 10 cut twisted seed beads (10C-TW-462)
1 tube of 2mm x 6mm twisted bugles (TW206-191)
1 tube of Miyuki drop beads (DP-453)
1 clasp

Brick Stitch Instructions from our friends at Bead & Button.

Step 1 – Make your ladder row with twisted 2.0 x 6mm bugles. Continue until it is the desired bracelet length, minus the length of the clasp.

Step 2 – Begin working on one side of the bracelet. Decrease by 1 bead in your next row using 11/0 seed beads. (Example uses 11-469).

Step 3 – Decrease by 1 bead in your next row using twisted 10 cut seed beads.

Step 4 – Decrease by 1 bead in your next row using 11/0 seed beads of a different color. (Example uses 11-465).

Step 5 – Ornament outside edge with alternating additions of three 15/0 seed beads and another three grouping: one 15/0 seed bead, one drop bead, and one 15/0 seed bead. Or use a different ornamentation – be creative!

Step 6 – Repeat rows 2 through 5 for the other side of the bracelet. Complete with a clasp.

Remember to send us a picture of your version of this bracelet, and we’ll post it on the blog!

Projects — No Comments
15
Jan 10

Scalloped Brick Stitch Bracelet

Scalloped Brick Stitch Bracelet with miyuki beads

Scalloped Brick Stitch Bracelet with miyuki japanese seed beads

Scalloped Bracelet

materials -

Japanese Beading Needles
1 bobbin C-Lon Thread size D (teal)
1 tube 15/0 Miyuki seed beads (15-452)
1 tube 11/0 Miyuki seed beads (11-2008)
1 tube 8/0 Miyuki seed beads (8-2405fr)
1 tube 10/0 Miyuki triangle beads (tr10-455)
1 tube 2.7 x 12mm Miyuki twisted bugles (TW2712-401fr)
1 clasp

Brick stitch squares (make four).
Brick Stitch Instructions from our friends at Bead & Button.

Step 1 – Begin your ladder row with 7 10/0 Triangles.
Step 2 – Increase in your next row to have 8 11/0 seed beads.
Step 3 – Decrease in your next row to have 7 Twisted 2.7 x 12mm bugles.
Then reverse and repeat step 2 and 1, in that order.

Once you have completed your four squares, connect them with strands
of seed beads. My pattern was 15/0s, 3 11/0s, 2 TR10s, 1 8/0, 2 TR10s,
3 11/0s and 15/0s again. On the outermost rows I used 11 15/0s on each
side, the next two rows I used 10 15/0s, and the center row I used 9
15/0s. This gives the bracelet the nice scalloped shape.

Complete two sections with a brick stitch square on each end and a
seed bead scallop in the middle. Then connect the center with a row of
7 8/0s (or any other decorative touch you like). Decrease at each end
to 6 10/0 triangles, and attach to clasp. Finish off any loose ends.
Remember that it is easy to adjust the length (this one was 6.75”) by
adding to the seed bead scallops or adding additional center or end
rows.

Scalloped Bracelet
If you make this bracelet, we want to see it! Remember to email us a picture of your version and we’ll post it on the blog for everyone to admire.

Designers — No Comments
24
Jun 09

Nan Morrissette


If you’ll be visiting Maine this summer, or if you’re already here, Nan Morrissette just invited us to see 15 of her beaded neckpieces at the Maine Fiberarts Gallery in Topsham. Here’s the official announcement:

INTRICACIES: KNITWEAR, BEADING AND SURFACE DESIGN by Nan Heldenbrand Morrissette

Needlepoint on silk gauze or linen, 1024 stitches per square inch… Knitwear with as many as 123 different colors and fibers in a single sweater… Neckpieces of woven words and intricate designs, made of thousands of beads…

Maine Fiberarts Gallery 13 Main Street Topsham ME 04086 July 5 – August 31, 2009

Please join me for the Opening Reception on Sunday, July 5th 1:30 and 4 PM, with a Gallery Talk at 2:00