Japanese Beading Needle
C-lon Thread (Size D)
2 colors of Miyuki Tila Beads
(shown in TL-468 and TL-2008)
15/0 Seed Beads (15-453)

1. Begin bracelet by adding one Tila, one 15/0 two times (I alternate colors each time I add a Tila but this is optional), then another Tila. Add three 15/0s and go back down through the opposite side of the Tila beads, adding one 15/0 between each. Add three 15/0s and go back up though the first side where you began. You will have created a bar of Tila beads separated by 15/0s, with three 15/0s on each end from hole to hole.

2. Go down though the right side of your first Tila so your thread is emerging from the bottom hole. Add a new Tila bead, and loop back through the first Tila (square stitch) from top to bottom. Go through the 15/0 and the next Tila bead on the first row and repeat. You will have three new Tila beads each one attached to the three Tila beads on the first row, but one level above. Make sure your new Tila beads are sitting on top of the previous row.

3. Go up through the bottom Tila bead of your new row, and add one 15/0. Go up through the next Tila and repeat. Go through the top Tila and add three 15/0s and arch across the top of the Tila and go down through the opposite side of the same bead. Add one 15/0 between each Tila hole, and add three 15/0s across the bottom of the Tila row. Go up through the entire left-hand side of the row and back down through the right side of the top Tila so you can begin your next row.

4. Repeat steps two and three until you reach your desired length. Add a clasp. This will also make a wonderful necklace. Please share your own images of Tila bead work with us, and we will post them on the blog!

The colors for the purple bracelet are (from the middle out) 8mm Jet, 6mm Purple Velvet, 5mm Tanzanite, 4mm Lt Amethyst and 3mm Violet.

The colors for the brown bracelet are (from the middle) 8mm Smoke Topaz, 6mm Crystal Copper, 5mm Fuschia, 4mm Ruby and 3mm Amethyst.

You can purchase the magazine or the kits here.

You can also purchase the completed bracelet on her website Chrononaut Mercantile.

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.

Made by Tina Chance this delightful beaded camel is going to become part of our logo. He is very cute, but probably is bad-tempered in person, as camels often are.

Shop for the 76 colors of 1.8mm Cube Beads here.

You can also buy the SB18 Sample Card, if you want to look at all the colors in person before you choose.

These new 2-hole Tila beads from Miyuki are gorgeous and just what we’ve been waiting for – and we’ll have to keep waiting until the end of July for the first shipment to arrive.

If you hurry, you can be one of the first to buy a Tila Bead Sample Card, or pre-order them now if you are already in love with the new Tila Beads, because we expect the first ones to go very very quickly.

They measure 5 x 5 x 1.9mm with .8mm double holes, and are first being produced in 30 colors. The first Tila Bead colors include some metallics, matte-metallics, whites and transparents, blacks and grays.

As you can see from some of the photos Miyuki has sent us, they can be used in some really neat and unexpected ways. Stay posted to see our first experiments using the Tila Bead samples they sent us.

Personally, I just have to say “LOVE!”

You can see the colors as well as look at the new beads (soon) here on the Caravan Beads site.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Detail of Silk Satin Delica Beads Necklace

Silk satin Delica beads have a flat glitter that reminds me of mica. They are slightly wider than regular Delica beads, and come in a range of grays, browns, pinks, corals and other pastels. The first Silk Satin Delica beads always remind me of moonstone, because they have a similar shine and color palette.

Since the series from DB0670 to DB0680 and DB0820-DB0833, Miyuki has come out with another DB1800 series of Silk Satin Delica beads. The new colors move away from the pale pinks and corals of the first silk satin Delicas, and add more purples, greens, and even better grays than before.

Shop for Silk Satin Delica beads here.

Silk Satin Delica Beads Necklace