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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Miyuki Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch Bracelet

Materials -

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.

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.

Regal Caterpillar Bracelet in brick stitch with Miyuki Japanese seed beads

materials –

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!