Beading Arts

Here's the next installment in my round-up of bracelet projects that have been posted over the years.  Last week was wirework :-)   Stitched freshwater pearl bracelet Crocheted bead bracelet Wild Caterpillar bracelet Shamballa ribbon bracelet Mini-Shamballa bracelets Shamballa bracelets with larger beads Beaded wrap bracelet Other beaded wrap bracelet alternatives - part one , part two Double-wrapped ribbon bracelet Leather bracelet with oval links Copyright 2017 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

I made a list for myself of bracelets that I have made and written up instructions for over the years, and my goodness...there's quite a few!  I don't want to just post a list of them, because some of the names don't mean much, so I think I'll try posting them by materials or techniques. Here's a batch of bracelet tutorials that center around wirework: Maruti bead bracelet Cup chain bangle Another cup chain variation Beaded beads bracelet Lampwork beads bracelet Winter Dreams bracelet Easy seed bead woven bracelet Twisted wire bracelet Pearl and crystal cuff bracelet Copyright 2017 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

One of the first beadweaving stitches that many people learn to do is the simple spiral stitch.  It's a stitch that I find myself coming back to from time to time, trying new variations, or sometimes just enjoying the simple rhythm as a way to clear my mind in between larger projects.  Just before Christmas, I found myself with a free evening and no energy to start a large project, so out came the beads and in no time I had this pretty spiral rope.  Now to figure out what to do with it...   I posted a hand-drawn tutorial years ago, and although it's a bit embarrassing in its simplicity, it still gives you the basic steps.  For my current spiral, I used size 6/0 seed beads for the core (shown in black on the illustrations) and 3mm druks surrounded on each side by two size 11/0 seed beads (shown in white). Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Repeat from Step 2 This post contains affiliate links: Beadah...

Bored By Back Stitch has been re-launched as a single e-book rather than as three independent chapters.  Written over the course of two years, this is the work that probably moved my bead embroidery work along the furthest in terms of innovative combinations of stitches.  It's also the work of which I am probably most proud :-) Bored By Back Stitch begins with twelve different motifs, stitched from what are usually regarded as beadweaving stitches rather than embroidery stitches.  From there we move into combining these stitches into ever-increasingly complex patterns, and we end with wonderful new materials that add surface interest to your bead embroidered pieces. More information on this 298 page e-book can be found at the link above.  Information on all of my e-books is located at this link.

A couple of years ago, I made a cute little crocheted bracelet with the beads you see above and some C-Lon cord .  As it had started to look a little worse for the wear, I decided to repurpose the beads into a new bracelet.  You don't have to start with an already-existing bracelet if you don't want to...just grab the beads you like and some wire.  I used heavy 12 gauge wire for the cuff, and 22 gauge craft wire for the wrapping.  The beads included 4mm Czech druks , large glass pearls , 8mm faceted Czech rounds , and shell chips .  I also used some size 8/0 seed beads as spacers. The tools you will need are as follows: Wire cutters Chain nose pliers Round nose pliers 1. Cut a piece of heavy wire a bit larger than the proper size for your wrist.  Since you will be wrapping the beads around the cuff, you want to make sure that there will be enough room to accommodate them and not dig uncomfortably into your wrist.  Turn simple loo...

I play with fire, knives, and power tools to create objects of beauty which bring joy to people. Unfortunately, they also require a sacrifice of the blood of a non-virgin. If you want to join in, leave a link to your blog post in the comments!

Just as soon as I can shake off the last of the post-holiday lethargy, I'll be posting a tutorial for this bracelet .  And, as a preview of what's coming up, let me say that my next e-book is in the works, and it just MIGHT have something to do with bracelets...  :-)

Casual Bead Elegance, Stitch by Stitch by Eve Leder Global Style Jewelry: Inspiration and Instruction for 25 Exotic Beaded Jewelry Projects by Anne Potter

To all my friends who celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ:

To all of my friends who celebrate the Festival of Lights

Eve Leder has written a new book, Casual Bead Elegance , published by Kalmbach , which doesn't make you choose which stitch to learn...instead, Eve wants you to try them all!  And then she wants you to learn how to combine them!   Using beads that any beader will most likely have on hand (seed beads, crystals, pearls, a few gemstones, and a couple of shaped beads), Eve leads you through ladder stitch, right-angle weave, cubic RAW, herringbone, square stitch, circular brick stitch, peyote, and then finally combined stitches.  You'll find three main projects for each stitch, plus variations.  The first project teaches the stitch path and reinforces good habits from the start.  The second project allows you to practice the new stitch with a more elaborate result, and the third challenges you to apply the new stitch in even more challenging ways.   If you've been wanting to brush up on off-loom beading stitches, work your way from the ones you...

I was leafing through a few older books (meaning 2013 in this case...not exactly OLD), looking for a quick and easy piece of jewelry I could make for a friend.  I came across a bracelet designed by Nancy Zellers in her book Metallic Seed Bead Splendor (review at the link and link to purchase).  It's a super cute bracelet that she calls "Going Baroque with Pearls".  I didn't have the right size and shape of pearls, but I found with just a few adjustments, I could use 8mm faceted fire polished beads . With some 8mm accent beads and two different colors of seed beads in size 11/0 and one in size 15/0, I made this bracelet in one afternoon.  It's a modified and embellished daisy chain stitch, and I kept my tension tighter than Nancy did so that my bracelet would twist a bit since my friend has a narrow wrist.  You could also leave a link or two out...or add more if you need them. This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique

Have you been hankering to add metal to your work, but haven't been quite ready to invest in a torch?   Judy Freyer Thompson's new book, Simple Metalwork Jewelry , published by Kalmbach , may give you just the boost you need to take that next step!  Judy teaches you cutting, drilling, filing, etching, texturing, riveting, sawing, and adding patina all while creating wonderful wearable jewelry designs. As you work your way through the earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings, you will find your confidence growing in your new basic skills, and maybe next year you'll decide to add a torch after all!  But even if not...Judy sets you up for lots of wonderful fun working with metal and cold connections!

I was rather enchanted with Sonia Davis's "Coiled Kumihimo Bangle" which appeared in Beadwork Magazine , the December/January 2017 issue.  I don't really enjoy kumihimo though, so I thought about how to change it for my own use.  I ended up deciding to use tubular brick stitch around wire instead and accent it with glass pearls .  The kumihimo project probably weaves up a lot faster than my version, but I didn't really mind.  These are size 11/0 seed beads , so it could have been worse!  Since it was really the construction of the bangle, with the three segments that overlapped, that intrigued me rather than the stitches, I definitely owe a debt of gratitude to Sonia for such a cool design!   This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique

The designs you will find in Kelsy Eason's new book, Micro-Macrame Jewelry , published by Kalmbach , are lighter, more open lacy and airy designs overall than you usually find in micro-macrame books.  Kelsy has decided that she wants her designs to be appropriate for everyday wearing, not just special occasions, so she has concentrated on easy-to-find materials and easy-to-learn knots. Most of the designs use the slightly larger size 6/0 seed beads, C-Lon or S-Lon cords, waxed linen, or 1mm round leather cording.  All of these are readily available online and in beading or craft stores.  There is only one piece of specialty equipment needed, and that is a padded bead board.  If you don't want to invest in one, Kelsy shows you to make one!   The knots used are ones you probably are already familiar with if you've done any macrame in the past, and they are all easily learned if you are a beginner: Lark's head (both horizontal and vertical), square kn...

Each year, I like to share a list of books with you that I think are really the top picks from all the books published in this past year.  I still think that many of the books from prior years' lists are good too, and if you'd like to see them, they are linked at the bottom of this post.  Also, I keep running lists of all the books that pertain to specific topics and media , like wirework, bead embroidery, etc, all linked up at the Books tab at the top of every page.  And finally, if you are looking for all of the bead and jewelry books published this past year , just scroll down to the bottom of the linked page and you'll find them all listed by month. My Top Pick for Everyone This Year: The Embroidery Book by Christen Brown For Beginners: Learn to Use Two-Hole Beads by Teresa Morse Make It Sparkle by Lindsay Burke Cool Copper Cuffs by Eva Sherman Colorful Wirework Jewelry by Kim St. Jean Hubble Stitch by Melanie de Miguel Discover Torch Enam...

Over the last two weeks, I have showed you how I put together the centerpiece of this bead embroidered necklace (links at the bottom).  Finally this week, I want to show you how I made necklace strands that would echo the colors of the center, but not compete with it for attention. 15. On the center of a long piece of beading wire , I added enough seed beads to loop through one of the bails.  I used a crimp tube , covered with with a large-holed glass bead , and filled that bead with tiny little seed beads for stability. 16. I strung each strand of wire separately, bringing them together in the middle through a small donut of amethyst . 17. I worked to keep the colors, textures, and sizes of the beads balanced on the strands, larger beads towards the bottom, and smaller towards the top. 18. At the end of one strand, I added chain and a handmade wire hook. 19. At the end of the other strand, I added chain and a wire dangle. 20. And here i...