Posts Tagged: seed 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.

Designers — No Comments
8
Mar 10

Christina Neit

Christina Neit

I blame it on the porcupine!

I started my business by playing around with some porcupine quills and remembering a beaded pair my Mom had made and given me as a kid. Needless to say, the beading took on a life of its own. Not even a year after I started beading, I found myself teaching with Bead Fiesta shows in New England. I started vending right away too and that was, still is, and always will be a work in progress. You can see my schedule on my website. I try to keep it spicy by doing Ren Faires and have even done a few Pow Wow’s and adding local venues as they present themselves.

Blues Traveler 2

Blues Traveler 2 by Christina Neit

As a constant learner, I have taught myself how to do some work with horsehair and traditional techniques with quills. I have much further to go in learning to work with the quills, but the attempt has been made, now to find the time. Eventually, I will learn how to hitch with horsehair too. I always have my eyes open on how to incorporate new techniques and items into my bead work, it has opened up a whole new world.

Manja 1

Manja 1 by Christina Neit

I am beyond fortunate to be able to do this day in and day out. I am easily inspired and just cannot bead fast enough. I usually end up spending half of every day on the computer working on my website, editing photos, networking, designing patterns. Thankfully, I enjoy that a lot and have grown to be very fond of making my own graphics, I guess that just goes with the creative flow…

You can see more of Christina’s work on her website or her etsy site.

Bead Info & Trivia — No Comments
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.

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.

Bead stores — No Comments
24
Feb 10

Bead It!

“Bead It! – worth the trip? You bet! As you walk in the door, you see
walls of strands: stone, freshwater and Swarovski pearls, glass, shell,
wood, resin – Czech hanks and fire polish – you name it! Then thousands of
tubes of Miyuki seed beads – all shapes, sizes, and colors. Five tables,
three tiers high, of beads (lots of Swarovski crystal), charms, and
pendants. One table is all sterling (including Bali and Hill Tribe),
gold-filled, vermeil, brass, copper, and gunmetal. Then there’s cord and
chain. And how we love beautiful findings – so many lovely clasps! There
are two worktables; we love to have people stay and make their jewelry.
Customer service is our most important product. Bead It! also offers
classes, kids’ parties, and gals’ night out groups. Come check us out!

Bead It! Store InteriorBead It!

Bead It! Location

146 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
Tel: 603-223-0146
email: donna@beadit.biz
www.beadit.biz

Directions:
Route 93, Exit 14
Turn left onto Main Street
Bead It! is on the left just a few doors down.

Projects — No Comments
17
Feb 10

Peyote Triangle Waves Bracelet

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.

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!

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