Beading Supplies We Love

New Portable Bead Organizer from Ezel Findings - Meet the Beading Pal!

2013-05-13T13:00:00Z

One of the many things that I love about my job is when I get to see new beading products before they're available to the general public. My friend Sunyoung Park of Ezel Findings made my day last week when she sent me their latest innovative beading and jewelry-making product, the Beading Pal.

The Beading Pal is a fantastic organizer and built-in beading surface, meant for beaders on the go. It's sturdy construction is great for times when you want to just toss it into a tote bag and head to your beading group or favorite cafe for an afternoon of beading time. The faux suede interior and bead tray has rolled edges to prevent beads from spilling or running away, and the elastic loops and mesh pocket are perfect for organizing any seed bead tubes, beading tools, and beading thread that you'll need while traveling.

What I love the most about this new bead organizing and travel system is that it really is a convenient all-in-one way to pack up and play with your beads. Even when you're not traveling any further than from the living room to the dining room of your own home, the faux suede beading surface is one of the nicest that I've ever used. Soft, sturdy, and the perfect color to make all your tiny seed beads, crystals, and pearls easy to see.

The outside of the Beading Pal is just as luxurious as the inside, with a silky, metallic faux leather, and metallic gold accents. It really makes you feel like you're beading in the lap of luxury, no matter where you are!

With dimensions of 10 1/4" long x 8 1/4" wide x 1 3/8" thick, it's the perfect size to tuck into a tote bag or backpack, or even just to carry as you go with your beading projects tucked safely inside.

Ezel Findings will have the Beading Pal available for sale at all their major bead shows beginning in June, 2013, or you can check their website, Ezel Findings, for updates and product information.

Contact Sunyoung Park at info@ezelfindings.com, or at 1-800-977-9904.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Vintage Beads I Love: Mercury Glass Beads from A Grain of Sand

2013-04-25T15:10:00Z

I've always had a soft spot for vintage beads, and if you look through my collection, you'll find all sorts of old glass and Lucite goodies tucked away in bags and boxes. Suzanne Branca over at A Grain of Sand contacted me recently to let me know that she has uncovered some fabulous mercury glass beads in the now-famous Bead Hoard! She's shared a little bit of information with us about these rare vintage glass beads and why they're so special.

What are mercury glass beads? Mercury glass beads were well-known for their use in Christmas garlands and glass ornaments. In the early 1800s, the beads were originally made with mercury to give them a metallic luster. By the 1900s, the mercury was replaced with a silver nitrate solution, but the name stuck.

Mercury glass beads are made by blowing a long, thin tube of glass into a mold, creating a series of hollow bulges at regular intervals. The glass tube is then coated or lined on the inside with 24k gold mixed with a solution of silver nitrate. Finally, the tube is cut between edge bulge to create individual beads. Cutting the beads apart leaves a characteristic "neck" on these vintage glass beads and results in beads that are unique in character. It also means that the edges around the hole of these beads can be sharp, so for that reason, it is recommended that you use a heavier weight of Fireline (10 lb.) when stitching or stringing these beads.

Mercury glass beads are delicate, hollow glass beads that have been made for centuries. The mercury glass beads pictured here were made in Japan around the 1950s. They are quite small, 2mm and 2.5mm, which is quite a rare find for mercury glass beads!

Suzanne has a very limited supply of these vintage glass beads available at A Grain of Sand, sold in small lots of 50 beads in both the 2mm and 2.5mm sizes.

Want to see what three different designers came up with these precious and delicate vintage glass beads? Stay tuned!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bead Hoard Curiosities Club for April 2013: A Sneak Peek and a Contest!

2013-03-27T07:00:00Z

Are you a member of the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club from A Grain of Sand? If not, April might be your lucky month -- A Grain of Sand is having a Design Challenge using a special vintage jewelry-making component included in the April club boxes. The staff of A Grain of Sand will choose the design they like the best from the A Grain of Sand Facebook page, and the winner receives a $100 gift certificate! Check out this preview of a few of my favorite picks from the April 2013 Bead Hoarders Curiosity Club box:

		Are you ready for a design challenge? This is the funky, cool April Design Challenge piece. It's solid (no holes), and the back is slightly curved. Put on your beaded jewelry design thinking caps and GO!

		The only thing I like better than genuine freshwater pearls are vintage Japanese imitation pearls, and the April Bead Hoard Curiosity Club box includes a strand of these enormous, beautiful, silvery-grey vintage Japanese pearls. Use one or two in a design, or re-string the entire strand and finish with a crystal box clasp for a stunning beaded necklace!

		Do you love chain? The April Bead Hoard Curiosities Club box also includes an amazing assortment of chains! You'll find finished chains (with clasps that can easily be removed), unfinished chains, shorter lengths, and some very cool metal jewelry-making components tucked into this month's club box, too.

Are you ready to start designing for a chance to win that $100 A Grain of Sand Gift Certificate? You still have time to sign up for the next month of the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club! You can find all the details over at the A Grain of Sand website! Good luck, and happy beading!

Jennifer

Book Review: Suzanne Golden Presents - Interviews with 36 Artists Who Innovate with Beads

2013-02-20T21:26:00Z

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of receiving an advance copy of Lark Books' next release, Suzanne Golden Presents: Interviews with 36 Artists Who Innovate with Beads. It was definitely one of those drop-everything-and-grab-a-cup-of-cocoa moments, because this is a book that I've been looking forward to seeing for a long time.

For anyone who isn't familiar with the bead-weaving of Suzanne Golden, she's been creating fabulous pieces of wearable bead art for decades. Inspired by her own unique brand of fashion and color sense, Suzanne's work is instantly recognizable for it's bright, bold, and larger-than-life beaded bangle bracelets and beaded necklaces.

So, really, it only makes sense: if you want to see which artists are taking the art of bead-weaving to new levels and introducing beads to a whole new generation of artists and appreciators of art, Suzanne is the one to show you.

The thirty-six artists represented in this book use a range of techniques and mediums, but all of them include beads prominently in their work. Some create jewelry, some create sculpture, and some of them have yet to be defined in terms of where they "fit" into the art world, but each of these artists has found a way to use beads in their work that will astound and inspire you.

If you're ready to start thinking differently about your beads and want to see the future of beadwork as fine art, get your hands on a copy of Suzanne Golden Presents: Interviews with 36 Artists Who Innovate with Beads. (Check with your local bead shop or book store!)

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Do You Rizo?

2013-02-14T08:00:00Z

Sabine Lippert, one of Beadwork Magazine's Designers of the Year for 2013 has started distributing her newly-designed Rizo beads here in the United States. So far, the response has been fantastic!

What is a Rizo? Sabine designed the Rizo bead to fill in the gap in sizes between a drop and a dagger. Rizo beads measure approximately 2.5mm x 5.5mm, and come in about fifty different colors and coatings.

Rizo beads are incredibly versatile when used in bead-weaving and beaded jewelry design. They pair nicely with the Czech glass spikes and gumdrop beads that I'm so fond of, and they make a wonderful addition to beaded fringe. Mix them up with freshwater pearls of crystal rivolis and crystal stones for some truly unique and dimensional beading projects!

Rizo beads are available from both Whimbeads and York Beads, or check with your local bead shop.

Bead Happy!

Jennifer

Bead Hoard Curiosities Club for February 2013

2013-02-13T14:00:00Z

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and keeping with the theme of love and hearts and all things sparkly, A Grain of Sand's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club had some beautiful vintage jewelry-making supplies in it this month! Take a look at my favorite pics:

		I loved the fun jewelry in this month's box. A pair of beautiful pearl clip-on earrings, a funky vintage coin bracelet, and a pair of bamboo earrings were welcome additions to my collection of vintage jewelry!

		I'm not usually a fan of hearts, but these metal hearts, bezels, and even earring findings made me swoon! The textured metal hearts are perfect for coloring with inks, dyes, or even just inexpensive nail polish. Punch a little hole in them, then dangle them from a beaded bracelet or necklace.

		The way to this beader's heart is definitely with vintage seed beads, nailheads, and vintage Czech crystal beads, and, oh, look! There just happened to be a sampling of all three in February's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club box!

		Finally, if you love vintage plastics, there was a great selection of vintage plastic "ice" chips and faceted dangles. A small sample of vintage cabochons rounded out this month's very romantic selection of vintage beads.

Suzanne has also shared a sneak peek of what's going to be in next month's box, too. If you're a fan of Downton Abbey, you won't want to miss the March Bead Hoard Curiosities Club shipment. A selection of opulent vintage metal jewelry-making components will be included in each box! Imagine what you could do with these beauties!

You can find more details about the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club, and how to become a member, over at A Grain of Sand. While you're there, spend a little time browsing Suzanne's fabulous selection of new and vintage beads, clasps, and jewelry-making supplies!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Vintage Jewelry Making Components From the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club

2013-01-16T08:00:00Z

Just as I'm thinking about what I want to do with my beading projects and jewelry-making in 2013, what arrives in my mailbox? The January shipment of A Grain of Sand's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club!

I can never tell what's going to be in each month's club box -- they're so well-packed that even shaking it gently doesn't give me a clue. But this month's box had a definite metallic sound to it when I carried it into the house. I could hardly wait to unpack it and see what was inside, and I wasn't disappointed.

		The first breathtaking piece to come out of the box was this plastic lion's head focal. I can remember seeing jewelry made from these when I was a little kid back in the 1970s, and I really wanted to just drop everything and start beading this piece!

		My excitement at the lion's head focal was temporarily forgotten when I saw these beautiful vintage Japanese beads and glass floral cabochon. I don't often use beads in these colors, so I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge of creating a lovely springtime necklace or bracelet with them.

		And how much fun are these? More vintage Japanese jewelry-making components, these fun chain tassels will look fabulous as accents on a v-shaped right-angle weave necklace!

		These black tin-cut Czech crystals will look fabulous when draped under a focal point in a festoon-style necklace, don't you think? They make me think of the jewelry worn by Queen Victoria!

		Now, these amazing metal jewelry-making components really stole my heart. This month's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club included a huge bag of them! I could hardly wait to get my hole punching pliers and my Vintaj Patina Inks out and start painting and punching. These are going to make some truly amazing vintage-style jewelry!

		As always, there was a fun assortment of vintage plastics, Lucite, seed beads, chain, and findings in the box, too. My five-year-old loves to help me sort and bag these up for future use!

If you loved this month's fabulous finds, stay tuned to see what I create with them! You can also join A Grain of Sand's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club and get your very own treasure box of vintage beads and findings every month, too! Club shipments go out on or close to the first of the month. Head on over to A Grain of Sand to find out more about joining the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bead Hoard Curiosities Club for November 2012

2012-11-21T08:00:00Z

If you love beading for the holidays, you'll love this month's finds in the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club from A Grain of Sand! So many beautiful beads to play with, I hardly know where to start! Everything seemed to glimmer or sparkle or shine, and the bright holiday colors really put me in the mood for some holiday jewelry-making with my beading supplies. So, here are my favorite picks from this month's Club box:

		The first items I picked out are these two beautiful vintage pins, just begging to be embellished for the holidays! If you got this month's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club box, you can embellish your pins and post pictures on A Grain of Sand's Facebook page for a chance to win the Design Challenge.

		Next, I found these lovely satiny silver bugle beads; a package of vintage plastic rings in bright red; assorted metal "bells"; and best of all, a vintage Swarovski crystal snowflake pendant!

		Some more of my favorite things: vintage seed beads, including striped seed beads; a vintage German glass cabochon; shiny gold baubles; a vintage three-strand clasp set with rhinestones; and a package of beautiful vintage glass stones, perfect for use in Crystal Clay or your favorite epoxy clay!

And, of course, there was the usual assortment of very cool vintage sequins, plastic beads, vintage metal chain, and vintage findings! Every month, it's like a treasure hunt to sort through all the fantastic vintage beads and findings included in the box from the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club.

If you're looking for a great holiday gift, why not get a box for a friend? You can find all the details over at A Grain of Sand. Make sure that you sign up before November 30, 2012 -- boxes ship on or close to the first of each month! You and your friends will love hunting through all the fabulous vintage beading supplies, beads, cabochons, and jewelry findings in each box.

Stay tuned for a sneak peek at how each box is made by the wonderful folks over at A Grain of Sand!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Chain Maille Supplies from Blue Buddha Boutique

2012-11-15T08:00:00Z

Back in March, I made my first-ever chain maille project from a free set of project instructions here on Beading Daily. I was a little nervous when I set out to try it, since wire work has never been my strength in jewelry-making, and I was more than a little intimidated by the thought of opening and closing all those jump rings. But what I found was that once I got started, there's a lovely, Zen-like rhythm to making chain maille jewelry, and I was eager to try more.

So when the owners of Blue Buddha Boutique approached me about participating in a chain maille blog hop and giveaway here on Beading Daily, I used it as an excuse to try some new chain maille weaves and learn a little more about chain maille in general!

I took advantage of the free chain maille projects available on the Blue Buddha Boutique website, and chose three projects: Shaggy Loops, Wiggle (Mobius), and the Double Spiral weave. Not only were the instructions easy to follow, they worked up much faster than I ever could have imagined. It took me about two hours one evening to whip up two bracelets and a pair of earrings, and then another hour the next morning to finish my third bracelet. Once I got started, it was hard to tear myself away from my bead mat and those shiny little jump rings.

Chain Maille Tip #1: Use a jump ring opener. The rhythmic linking and closing of the jump rings was made much easier by my new favorite chain maille tool: this little jump ring opener that slips over your finger. With it on the forefinger of my left hand, and holding my flat nose pliers in my right hand, I could open an entire bag of jump rings in just a few minutes. For just a few dollars, this chain maille tool is probably going to be one of my new favorite beading tools.

Chain Maille Tip #2: If you're a beginner, buy your jump rings. I know, there are purists out there who insist on making their own jump rings, and those that do add an extra special touch to their work. But for those of us who are wire work-impaired, buying your jump rings is so much easier and makes the whole process much more enjoyable! Don't get me wrong -- I aspire to being able to make my own jump rings one day. For now, however, while I'm learning the ins and outs of all the different chain maille weaves, I'll stick to buying my jump rings pre-made and just focus on opening and closing them properly.

Chain Maille Tip #3: Stick to base metals for your first projects. Sure, I love the look of sterling silver chain maille, but while I'm still just getting started, I'm going to stick to buying high-quality base metal jump rings. Another plus to using base metal jump rings is that you can add a pop of color to your chain maille jewelry projects with those anodized aluminum, niobium, or enameled copper jump rings.


	Head on over to the Blue Buddha Boutique blog for a chance to win this easy starter chain maille kit.

	*Leave a comment on this blog post for a chance to win a customized Shaggy Loops chain maille kit!*

Are you ready to get started with some chain maille jewelry? Our friends at Blue Buddha Boutique are here to help with a cool giveaway! Simply leave a comment on this blog post telling us either why you love chain maille jewelry, or why you want to get started with it, and someone will win a free Shaggy Loops chain maille pack! You have until 11:59 p.m. CST on Sunday, November 18, 2012 to leave your comments and be entered to win.

Once you've left your comment here, head on over to Blue Buddha Boutique and leave another comment on their blog to be entered to win an All-in-One Easy-to-Start Chain Maille Pack. Make sure you leave your comment before November 28, 2012, and you could find yourself the lucky recipient of a very cool chain maille kit! (Both contests are open to international entries, too!)

What's next? I've made up a list of new chain maille projects I want to try, including the fabulous Japanese Cross bracelet and Mesh and Rosettes. When I need a break from the bead-weaving (because we all need a creative break now and then), chain maille has given me something new to do with my hands while my beady brain takes a rest. A big thanks to the wonderful ladies over at Blue Buddha Boutique for all the inspiration!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer



Japanese Cross chain maille bracelet project available from Blue Buddha Boutique		Mesh and Rosettes chain maille projects available from Blue Buddha Boutique

CraftOptics Telescopes for Beading

2012-09-28T14:00:00Z

As someone who has suffered from migraines and eye strain, I'm always looking for beading tools to make my beading time easier on my eyes. Someone once suggested to me that I try a pair of drugstore magnifiers or reading glasses, but because I'm near-sighted and only need corrective lenses for driving, they didn't do much more than aggravate my headaches.

Then I saw one of my beading friends wearing a pair of these strange-looking glasses called CraftOptics. She told me that not only were they fantastic for reducing eye strain, but she also noticed that her back and neck weren't as sore after a long session of beading. I could hardly wait to get my hands on a pair of them, and I wasn't disappointed.

Improving the Way I Bead with CraftOptics

It took a little while to get used to wearing the CraftOptics telescopes, but once I did, I noticed that my posture while beading was much better, too. It struck me as I worked on a piece of tiny bead embroidery one afternoon that I wasn't hunched over in my chair, my neck wasn't bent at an odd angle, and I wasn't holding my beadwork right up against my nose. The muscles in my arms, neck, and lower back all felt much better at the end of a long beading session, most likely because I was able to sit comfortably and not have to scrunch my arms up near my face.

Whenever I had an all-day beading session in the past, I almost always woke up with a headache the next morning from eye strain. (My husband used to call them "beading hangovers". Whatever you call them, they were no fun.) But once I started using the CraftOptics on a regular basis during my beading sessions, I noticed that I wasn't getting those "beading hangovers" anymore, most likely because I'm reducing my eye strain.

Now, even if you do wear corrective reading lenses, you can still have them put in to a pair of CraftOptics. The reason is that the type of magnification provided by the CraftOptics is different than the reading lenses. CraftOptics telescopes provide magnification so that you can see more detail at the correct working distance. When used with your regular prescription lenses, they provide enhanced magnification. The CraftOptics telescopes are not a substitute for your reading glasses -- they are a welcome addition that make it possible to see incredible detail while you work.

CraftOptics are the same type of telescopes that are worn by dentists and surgeons to help them see better. So why not use them for bead-weaving and jewelry making, too? They make those tiny little 15^o seed beads look like 8^o seed beads!

I don't want to say that the CraftOptics were responsible for improving my bead embroidery skills, but when I used them while working on my Beading For a Cure piece, I noticed that my lines of bead embroidered backstitch were much straighter than before. I noticed that it was much easier for me to see where I was stitching as I came up through the back of my bead embroidery medium. Was it all due to the CraftOptics? I'd have to say, yes.

My favorite unexpected benefit of using CraftOptics when I'm beading? How easy they make it to untangle knots in my beading thread! No, really. Think about how difficult it can be to see the center of a little tiny knot in the middle of your Fireline or your Nymo beading thread. When I have the CraftOptics on, I can clearly see right down the center of that little knot so I can stick my beading needle into it and loosen it! It's so easy, it's almost ridiculous.

CraftOptics telescopes start at $399.00 (without corrective prescription lenses), but in my opinion, they are most definitely a worthwhile investment for anyone who is passionate about beadwork and wants to feel better while beading.

You can get more information about CraftOptics by checking out their website. Contact the company for more information and to find out if CraftOptics are right for you!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bead Hoard Curiosities Club for September

2012-09-19T13:00:00Z

I can hardly believe that it's already September! But here we are, autumn is coming here in the mountains, and I'm starting to stockpile beads and supplies for my beading and jewelry making projects to get me through the long, cold Adirondack winters.

The September shipment of the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club from A Grain of Sand had a wonderful and diverse selection of vintage beads and jewelry making components to get me inspired! Check out my favorite picks from this month's club shipment:

		The vintage beads in this month's selection were as varied as they were beautiful! My top picks? This strand of vintage Japanese beads with sugar glass coating; a handful of vintage Czech glass tin-cut drops; and a fat little bag of these three-sided bugle beads!

		Vintage cabochons are my weakness when I'm buying beads, and this month I definitely got my fix from the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club. I was bowled over by the sparkle of the yellow vintage Czech glass faceted stone, and the red glass teardrops will be the perfect addition to my next bead embroidery necklace. Red and green pointed-back glass stones will make the perfect holiday necklace, and the amethyst vintage Swarovski sew-ons are going to make someone on my holiday gift list very, very happy.

		The metals in this month's shipment were inspiring! I loved the three different colors of the funky shaped aluminum drops, and the textured frame will be perfect for my next resin jewelry making project. There was also a healthy length of vintage gold-plated chain and a small length of crystal cup chain in pastel colors.

Other favorite items from this month's box were a huge bag of vintage wood beads from the Philippines, a bag of vintage wound glass beads in a lovely, deep maroon color, a few adjustable ring findings, some beautiful small Bakelite rings, and a handful of charming little brass drops. It was so much fun to sort through the beads again this month!

If you want to get in on next month's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club shipment, do it now. Suzanne Branca, owner of A Grain of Sand, has let us in on a little secret: next month's club shipment will include a full box of vintage Swarovski Article #21, dangling beads in vitriol medium (72 pieces)! Head on over to A Grain of Sand and get signed up -- boxes will ship out on October 1!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

*Correction: This post originally stated the the product included in the October shipment of the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club was a box of crystal Rivolis. The post has been updated to reflect the product, Swarovski Article #21, vintage dangling beads in vitriol medium.

Beading Supplies I Love: Thread Catchers, Bead Mats, and Crafting Totes from Judi Patuti

2012-09-13T13:00:00Z

I love my little "corner office" where I have my desk, my computer, and my beading area set up. What I don't love is that because we have a large dog who gets into things, I have to constantly remember to empty my garbage can of thread scraps and snips all the time so that he doesn't eat them. So, I was absolutely thrilled to receive the gift of a JudiPatuti thread catcher to keep my beading area free of scraps of thread and other snippets from my beading sessions.


My Judi Patuti thread catcher goes everywhere I go when I'm beading!

The first thing that struck me when I opened my thread catcher is just how sturdy and well-made it is. I can't sew to save my life, but my aunt was a professional seamstress, so I recognize great stitching when I see it.The thread catcher is padded, and the fabrics are perfectly color coordinated.

This is a versatile piece of beading equipment. The design allows you to use this thread catcher pretty much anywhere that you like to bead. Tuck the little weight inside and stand it up on your desk or table. Unfold the weight and sling it over the arm of your most comfortable chair while you bead. Or, use the side of the weight with the non-slip fabric to hang your thread catcher on the side of your table.

The inside pouch is definitely large enough to hold all of your scraps from a good session of bead-weaving or bead embroidery. It's the perfect way to catch all those snipped threads, scraps of Ultrasuede or bead embroidery backing, and used toothpicks so they don't find their way onto the floor.

Slip a small pair of embroidery scissors or a thread cutter into the inside loop, and fold the whole thing up and tie it with the colorful ribbon when you're ready to take your thread catcher with you!

Each thread catcher is handmade in the USA, one at a time. There are dozens of bright and fun fabrics available on the JudiPatuti website so you can pick just the right one for yourself or for a gift.

And if you want to get your entire beading area totally decked out, choose a matching JudiPatuti bead mat, complete with a colorful tool box for your needles, small jewelry pliers, and other small sewing notions. Carry it all in one of the luxurious JudiPatuti tote bags, and you're ready to bring a little bit of sunshine with you wherever you bead!

You can read all about the JudiPatuti line and purchase your very own thread catchers, bead mats, and tote bags on her website, JudiPatuti.com.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Beading Supplies I Love: Kumihimo Beading Supplies from Tapestry Beads

2012-09-11T07:00:00Z

Last month, I was lucky enough to be able to take a basic kumihimo with beads class at Bead Fest Philadelphia from the amazing Jill Wiseman. It was so much fun, and I picked it up so quickly, that the next day, I signed up for her advanced kumihimo class where I learned how to add focal beads and make a two-tone hollow kumihimo braid with a core of satin cords. You could say that I'm completely hooked on kumihimo, and yes, I'm working on writing up a few tutorials on basic kumihimo for Beading Daily in the coming weeks!

But meanwhile, if you've ever wanted to learn kumihimo and you're the kind of person who learns well from printed directions, you can find everything you need to learn how to do kumihimo with beads right on Jill's website, Tapestry Beads. Here's just a sampling of the kumihimo supplies you can find there:

Basic Kumihimo with Beads Bracelet Kits

This is the project that Jill teaches in her basic kumihimo with beads class, and the very first kumihimo project that I ever made. The kit comes with everything you need to make the bracelet in purple, silver, or gold iris. (Pretty colors!) The step-by-step instructions leave nothing out, from setting up your kumihimo disc to stringing on your beads to actually starting that first braid. You'll be amazed at how quickly this bracelet comes together -- you really can finish it in an evening.

If you've already mastered the basics of kumihimo and just want an easy project with beads, you can purchase a kit refill that comes with everything except the instructions. Jill's kumihimo with beads instructions are also available individually, without the kit materials.

Kumihimo Discs and Bobbins

Now that you're hooked on kumihimo like I am, you'll probably have four or five kumihimo projects going at once. Tapestry Beads sells more kumihimo discs and bobbins to help feed your need for making these beaded braids! (And the extra bobbins are also great for winding on long lengths of beading thread when you decide to hit the road with your bead-weaving projects, too!)

Kumihimo End Caps

I love the whole finishing process for my kumihimo braids, and the end caps are my favorite part! End caps and cones make for a nice, neat finish to your fun beaded kumihimo bracelets and necklaces, and Tapestry Beads has a wonderful assortment for the adventurous kumihimo beginner. There are huge end caps that can be used with size 6^o seed beads (or larger), and smaller end caps for smaller beads.

The only thing you can't purchase from Tapestry Beads online (yet) is the S-Lon or C-Lon cord we used for our beaded kumihimo projects. You can usually find S-Lon or C-Lon cord at your local bead shop, or for online sources, try Sparkle Spot Bead Shop or Caravan Beads.

Even if kumihimo isn't your thing (yet), make sure you spend some time checking out all the fabulous bead-weaving kits and projects that Jill has for sale at Tapestry Beads, including signed copies of her new book, Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

New Beading Tools for Flat Peyote Stitch from Deb Moffett-Hall

2012-09-10T13:00:00Z

Flat peyote stitch is a great bead-weaving stitch to know, but starting a new piece in flat peyote can be tricky, especially for a beginner. Those first three rows always seem to want to twist in on themselves, and if you're trying to work from a charted peyote stitch pattern, that can be frustrating.

Deb Moffett-Hall is a prolific designer of detailed charted flat peyote stitch patterns for things like holiday ornaments, bracelets, and earrings has come up with two fabulous new products for those of us who love to work in flat peyote stitch.

Quick Start Peyote Cards

Instead of using a pin or a needle to hold those first few rows of peyote stitch, try Deb's Quick Start Peyote cards. These little laminated cards are very simple to use: just fold them in half, string a stop bead, and weave your thread through the slots in the card. Make your turn, and then start picking up the first row of "up" beads from your peyote stitch pattern. When you've finished your pattern or you have enough peyote stitch completed for you to comfortable hold, you just remove the stop bead and slide the thread out of the card.

The beads you string on the Quick Start Peyote card don't twist and don't wiggle, so you can clearly see where to add each bead as you continue adding rows. While the material used to make each card is extremely durable and won't tear, you can still trim the cards using a pair of good, sharp embroidery scissors, and you can even make small marks on the cards with a pencil if you need to mark your place or make a note.

Another huge benefit of using the Quick Start Peyote cards is that they give you something substantial to hold on to when starting those all-important first few rows of flat peyote stitch. Instead of grappling to hold on to a tiny, twisted piece of beadwork just a few rows long, these cards give you something to grasp between your fingers. Being able to properly hold on to your beadwork can make all the difference when you're trying to maintain proper tension in your bead-weaving, especially in flat peyote stitch!

Deb notes on her website that these cards can also be used to start right-angle weave. I haven't tried using them for right-angle weave yet, but I can see where they'd be especially beneficial for a right-angle weave beginner who needs a little help distinguishing between each unit in the first row of right-angle weave.

The Quick Start Peyote cards come in a range of sizes to accommodate seed beads in ranging from 15^o seed beads to 6^o seed beads. Prices range from $7.99 for a pack of 3 cards (any size) up to $14.99 for a pack of 6 assorted size cards.

Quick Start Peyote Pattern Reading System

There are lots of ways to mark your place when reading a charted peyote stitch pattern, but Deb's new Peyote Pattern Reading System is a great product for both beginner and experienced peyote stitch beaders.

The Quick Start Peyote Pattern Reading System comes with a dry erase magnetic board, four round button magnets, three adhesive dots, binder clips, a dry erase pen, a dry erase magnet bar, a sheet protector, and a six pack of assorted Quick Start Peyote cards. Similar to my favorite magnetic board, this product is a fool-proof way to mark your place in a peyote stitch pattern.

Using the magnetic strip and the dry erase marker, you hold your pattern in place and mark off each row of beads on the magnetic strip. Alternating colors of button magnets on either side of the magnetic strip ensure that you remember which side of the pattern you need to read from and make it easy to remember where you stopped if you need to take a break.

Because both the metal board and magnetic strip can be wiped clean, you can use them over and over again without worrying about ruining them or not being able to see your markings.

The Quick Start Peyote Pattern Reading System retails for $40, and includes a 6-pack of Quick Start Peyote cards (which cost $14.99 separately).

You can purchase all of these products, as well as more charted peyote stitch patterns and beading kits, from Deb's website, PatternstoBead.

Bead Happy!

Jennifer

Jewelry Making Components and Supplies from Lillypilly Designs

2012-08-31T07:00:00Z


Lillypilly now offers a large selection of fine gauge copper sheets, perfect for mixed media jewelry making projects!


The fine gauge copper sheets are available with both patina and embossed patterns on them.


It's easy to stitch through the copper sheets using wire or traditional quilting threads.


Take a walk on the wild side with Lillypilly's new anodized aluminum rounds!


Lillypilly also has new and beautiful shell jewelry making components for stringing, resin, and bead embroidery projects.

You might already be familiar with the beautiful laser-engraved shell and gemstone beading components from Lillypilly Designs, but at this year's Bead Fest Philadelphia, I found some really intriguing new jewelry making components made from metal!

Patina Copper Sheets from Lillypilly Designs

If you've ever wanted to work with more metals in your beading and jewelry making projects, but don't really want to get involved with things like metal saws and serious metalsmithing tools, the new line of 36 gauge copper sheets are perfect for you. Using an ordinary pair of craft scissors, you can cut these fine gauge metal sheets into whatever shapes you want for your jewelry making projects. You can even use large scrapbook punches to create perfectly uniform shapes!

The 36 gauge copper sheets are available in a wide range of colorful patinas as well as embossed with fun patterns and designs. They can be encased in resin, used with cold connections, or just cut and layered for unique rustic-style pendants and earrings.

After seeing a quilt made with fabric and some of those 36 gauge copper sheets, I was inspired to experiment with them. I created a fun metal and Ultrasuede cuff bracelet using wire embroidery techniques. I was really pleased with how easy it was to cut and shape the copper sheets with my craft scissors, and I'll definitely be coming back for more the next time I want to create a mixed media piece of beaded jewelry.

Anodized Aluminum Sheets and Rounds

I also saw Heidi coloring these fun little anodized aluminum rounds with Sharpie markers! Now, it's not as easy to cut the aluminum as it is the fine gauge copper sheets, but the pre-cut rounds come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, making them the perfect way to add a little metal into your jewelry making designs.

The aluminum rounds can also be layered with resin, shaped into domes with a dapping tool, and used for links with the addition of a couple of holes made with your favorite hole punch.

I brought home a handful of aluminum rounds with the idea that I'll color them with my favorite Sharpie markers, then encase them in resin and use them like cabochons in my bead embroidery.

The aluminum rounds come in three sizes, nine colors, and nineteen different patterns for you to play with! They're like little miniature coloring books for your favorite jewelry maker.

Shell Pendants and Components

And of course, I couldn't leave without a couple of my favorite laser-engraved shell jewelry making components.

New for 2012, Heidi has shell bezels for use with resin. These lovely jewelry making components are perfect for adding your favorite origami papers or your colored aluminum rounds to make unique (and easy) beaded jewelry.

I also found a lovely pair of lightweight rectangular Buddha pendants (without holes) to use as cabochons for a pair of bead embroidery earrings, and a couple of smaller round pendants (also without holes) to use in a couple of beaded cuff bracelet projects that I have in mind.

The last item I chose was a small laser engraved shell donut. I love Heidi's shell donuts, and I find that they make beautiful lightweight jewelry making components for both beaded necklaces and beaded bracelets. With designs that are both delicate and intricate, I don't really have to do much to showcase these lovely little creations.

You can find out more about my Bead Fest Philadelphia finds from Lillypilly Designs by checking out their website, Lillypilly Designs.

Do you have a favorite item or two from Lillypilly? What is it? Leave a comment and share your favorites here on Beading Daily!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer