Daily Blogs : Beading Tools

How to Bead Comfortably

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

It's not often that I get a long stretch of hours to sit and bead lately, but when I do, I take full advantage of it. Most of the time, I only get a few minutes here and there to sit down and bead, so when an opportunity for a marathon beading session presents itself, I take advantage of it! The trick to getting the most out of the time spend beading is knowing how to bead comfortably.

When I first started learning how to bead, I'd plop myself down on the bedroom floor, cross-legged in front of the television, with my beads spread around me. While it wasn't the best setup, it worked for me for a few years, until I started getting serious about beading and found myself spending more and more time in front of my beads. After I injured my back doing something completely unrelated to beading, I discovered that knowing how to bead comfortably for long periods of time was more important than I had previously thought.

Do you find yourself suffering from an aching back and tired eyes when you spend long hours with your beads? Here are a couple of ideas to help you learn how to bead comfortably!

Setting Up a Place to Bead


	Before sitting down to bead, do what the great chefs do and make sure that all of your tools and materials are easily accessible!

There are three basic things you need in order to set up a comfortable place to bead: a sturdy table or work surface for beading, a comfortable chair that provides plenty of support to your lower back, and proper lighting and magnification if needed.

A sturdy table or work surface. My bead surface of choice lately is one of my favorite Bead On It Boards. These nifty bead boards are perfect for setting in your lap or on a table. The high, rolled edges mean that beads can run down to the sides of your work area, but they won't disappear off the edge of your board. And, yes, when you give it a gently shake, all those seed beads really do land with the holes up for easy beading!
A comfortable chair. Your chair should be your best friend when you're beading. Make sure that your feet touch the floor, and if you need to, don't be afraid to sit on a low pillow to provide extra support for your back.
Proper lighting and magnification if needed. If you have to squint to see your beads, then chances are, you need to improve your lighting or magnification when you sit down to bead. For over ten years, I've used the same trusty Ott-Lite task lamp when I sit down to bead. It's portable and light, so I take it with me on the road, too, when I'm traveling to classes or workshops. And since last summer, I've found that using my CraftOptics telescopes are indispensable for my bead embroidery projects or any beading project where I'm using size 15^o seed beads!

My favorite place to bead lately is at my computer desk. Since I have a laptop and don't use the keyboard tray, I keep my bead tray there so I can just roll it away under the desk when I'm finished! (But don't be fooled -- I'm also just as comfortable setting up my bead tray on the couch or outside on the back porch when the weather is nice!)

Another great tip for setting up a comfortable place to bead comes from one of my favorite bead artists, Carol Cypher. She recommends that beaders imitate what great chefs do, and set up their work areas in a "mise en place". This means that you have all of your tools and supplies set up where you can easily reach them.

Ergonomic Beading Tips


	They might look funny, but my CraftOptics are a very important part of staying comfortable when I'm beading!

Once you're set up in a comfortable spot for beading, it's important to pay attention to your body while you're working. I know it's all too easy to get lost in the meditation of bead-weaving, but sitting in one spot without moving for hours and hours will leave me with an aching back, tired eyes, aching wrists, and even a headache.

There are lots of beading tools that you can use to help you be more comfortable when you bead, including ergonomic gloves and easy-to-handle jewelry pliers. More tips for learning how to bead comfortably:

Take a stretching break. This one is the hardest for me, but it definitely makes a difference. Set a timer, watch a movie, or do something to remind yourself to get up out of your chair about once an hour to walk around, stretch your legs, and stretch your arms. You don't have to do a lot of stretching, either -- just a lap around the house or raising your arms above your head and taking a few deep breaths will help you stay limber and comfortable.
Try an exercise band. Some beaders keep an exercise band handy while they're working to use throughout the day. Just a couple of easy pulls can help keep your arms, shoulders, neck, and upper back happy for long periods of time!
Don't forget about your lower back. Speaking as someone who has dealt with low back pain, you can never be too kind to your back! If you're feeling achy or sore at all in your lower back, make sure you have a comfortable pillow or cushion to provide support while you work. A couple of years ago after a particularly bad episode of low back pain, I invested in a special chair that's actually an exercise ball set in a frame. When I'm not 100% comfortable in my office chair, I can easily switch over to the ball chair for some relief!

The best part of learning how to bead comfortably? You'll find that you can get more beading done! More beading means more beautiful beaded jewelry for gifts or for yourself, right?

Now that you're ready to sit and bead in comfort, check out 8 Favorite Beaded Bezel Projects. Taken straight from the pages of Beadwork magazine, these eight beading projects will teach you everything you need to know about creating beautiful (and secure) beaded bezels. Learn how to capture your favorite gemstones, donuts, and crystal stones with these eight fabulous beaded bezel projects! Download your copy of 8 Favorite Beaded Bezel Projects and test out some new ways to help yourself bead comfortably.

What's your best tip for helping yourself stay comfortable when you get the chance to bead for hours at a time? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your advice and tips with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Great Advice From My Favorite Stitch Pro: Jean Campbell

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Jean Campbell has long been someone that I look to for information and advice about everything related to beaded jewelry design. Along with her sense of humor and her twenty-plus years of beading experience, she's an absolute treasure trove of tips, techniques, and inspiration for those of us who love to bead!

Jean writes the Stitch Pro column for Beadwork magazine, and she also shares her beady musings with us on the Inside Beadwork Magazine blog here on Beading Daily. I picked out five of my favorites to share with you!

		Jean Campbell's 10 Must-Have Beading Tools. Are you looking to put together the perfect beading tool kit? Jean has recommendations for beading tools that every beader should have! A well-stocked tool kit is essential for anyone who wants to create their own beaded jewelry designs, so take a look and see what you should have to round out your collection of beading tools.

		Stitch Pro: Taming the RAW Monster. Right-angle weave is one of those beading stitches that can be a bear to master, but the payoffs are fantastic. If you've ever struggled with right-angle weave, Jean has some excellent tips for making right-angle weave much easier to navigate.

		Stitch Pro: In Search of the Perfect Clasp. Like anyone who dreams up and then creates their own beaded jewelry designs, finding the perfect finishing touch can be a challenge. Jean has come up with a brilliant way of using this Tierra Cast s-clasp for finishing a piece of beaded jewelry!

		Stitch Pro: Breaking Bad...Beads. Oh, sometimes those pesky little seed beads just don't want to behave themselves! If you've ever found yourself in a position where an extra seed bead or two has slipped into the wrong place in one of your beaded jewelry designs, Jean shows us two ways to safely break those beads right out!

		How to Become a Stitch Pro. Yep, knowing all the variations of all the different bead-weaving stitches out there can seem like a monumental task. But if you want to work on your own beaded jewelry designs, it helps to have at least a basic understand of the most popular variations of brick stitch, peyote stitch, herringbone stitch, and right-angle weave. Jean has come up with this handy reference chart that you can use to track your progress as you become a Stitch Pro!

Now, how would you like to learn four of Jean's most popular floral beaded jewelry designs? Watch as Jean takes you through each of four designs, one stitch at a time, to create one beaded ring, two beaded bracelets, and one showstopping necklace in Jean Campbell's Best Beading Workshops: Floral Designs. Not only will you improve your bead-weaving skills with each project, but you'll end up with four amazing pieces of beaded jewelry to add to your wardrobe! Pre-order your copy of Jean Campbell's Best Beading Workshops: Floral Designs and get ready for three hours of pure beading bliss! (Can't wait to get started? Jean Campbell's Best Beading Workshops: Floral Designs is also available as an instant download in high-definition!)

What's the best beading tip you ever received? Who was it from? Why did it make a difference? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your stories with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

What You Should Know About Gemstones For Bead-weaving

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Although lately I've been incorporating more and more glass beads into my bead-weaving projects, when I first started learning how to bead, I used lots and lots of gemstone beads in my designs. There's something about the look of gemstones in bead-weaving designs that still appeals to me. Maybe it's the organic nature of the material, or the colors and patterns you find in my favorite agates and jasper gemstones.

But using gemstone beads in your bead-weaving is a little different than using glass beads. Gemstones mix beautifully with seed beads, if you keep a couple of things in mind before you start to stitch.

Holes and Needles and Threads, Oh, My!

Most gemstone beads can be quite a bit heavier than my favorite glass beads, so when I decide to use them in my beading projects, I usually use a heavier weight beading thread. 10 lb. WildFire beading thread is a great option for bead-weaving with gemstones, as is 8 lb. or 10 lb. Fireline.

But before you break out the heavyweight beading thread, check the bead hole by passing your beading needle through it a few times. Gemstone beads are sometimes drilled from opposite sides to meet in the middle, and the lower-quality beads will often have uneven bead holes. (I think the technical term given to those uneven bead holes by my friends is "wonky".)

If the bead hole is straight, but too narrow, use your bead reamer to widen it a bit. (Always remember to use your bead reamer with the bead under water to cool the bead and the reamer and to prevent any particles from flying into the air.) You can also smooth out any rough edges on the bead hole before you start stitching, too, to prevent your beading thread from becoming frayed.

Dye Jobs

Before stitching with any gemstone beads, always find out if the bead has been treated in any way with dyes or colors that may run if the piece becomes wet or damp. As a general rule, I try to avoid bead-weaving with any gemstones that have been dyed, particularly agates or howlite, because those colors can run and ruin the finished piece of beaded jewelry.

If you're unsure as to whether or not a gemstone bead has been dyed or colored, drop one or two of them into a cup of diluted dish soap and let it stand in a window for a couple of days. If you see the color of the bead leaking out into the water, you might not want to use it in your beading project.

Learn More About Your Favorite Gemstones

You can learn so much about your favorite gemstones and their properties in the pages of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist Magazine! It's my number-one source for fascinating information about the sources and characteristics of all my favorite gemstone beads. Subscribe to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist Magazine and get six issues of great tips and techniques for jewelry makers of all kinds!

What do you love most about using gemstones in your bead-weaving projects? Leave a comment and share your thoughts, tips, and advice with us here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bead Lovers Meet, Swedish-Style!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT


Swedish bead artist Anna Lindell

From Jennifer: One of the awesome things about learning how to bead is being able to connect with other beaders around the world. When I was a competitor in last summer's Battle Of the Beadsmith, I "met" several lovely (and very talented) beaders from around the world, including today's guest blogger, Anna Lindell of Sweden. Even though we live with an ocean between us, we both speak the same language: the love of beads!

Anna recently traveled to a big Bead Lovers Meet, complete with beading challenges, good friends, good food, and bead shopping! Here's Anna's report on this year's adventures at the Swedish Bead Lovers Meet:

For the last six years, Swedish beaders have been gathering a couple of times a year for a weekend of beading, learning how to bead, teaching and shopping. Over the years we have grown to be quite an extensive family!

A dozen hard working enthusiasts spend months preparing the big bead events for us beaders. They work tirelessly to book a hotel, find sponsors for goodie bag gifts and contest prizes, make sure that beadshops bring their stocking supplies, and get tutors to exciting workshops. When the registration opens for the 150 spots in the Bead Lovers Meet, they fill up fast. Last fall, they sold out in less than four hours!

Last weekend, I went to the Bead Lovers Meet held in Lund, the first big event held away from Stockholm. People travel from all over Sweden to participate. We meet up outside the bead hall hours before it opens, making new acquaintances and resuming old ones. Everyone is in good spirits and the jewelry worn by the attendees is always great!

When the doors open we receive our goodie bags with beads and findings from the sponsors, and an important pamphlet with various information and the contest themes. It's always like Christmas morning, beading style! Within the hour, the tables are filled with tools, beading trays, patterns and supplies. The "bead hall" empties a bit when the workshops start and the room with the beadshops opens.

The "bead hall" is a bubble of creativity, a place away from problems and non-bead-related topics. Everything else is set aside as our minds are all on beading. The room quickly fills with laughter and friendly jibes, and some people stay up almost all night! In the early mornings, you can also find some beaders up before the sun, busily beading away, so the bead hall is almost never empty throughout the course of the weekend.

Meals can be pre-ordered, which is good because it's easy to lose track of time. Even though we consume lots of coffee, candy, water, and fruit between meals, once we get to the restaurant, we find that we're starving! Usually there is a midnight snack late in the evening, a most welcome extra meal for those of us that like to stay up late and continue beading.

The hourly "taster" workshops are held by beaders in all kinds of techniques, and offer lots of new opportunities to learn how to bead. It's great fun both attending and teaching a class, and you learn a lot from both experiencces. For those who like to compete, there are a dozen contests with different rules and time-frames. Prizes are awarded during the gatherings where everybody gets a chance to see the winning entries. At Bead Lovers Meet, we also got a chance to see all entries before the winners were announced, and I greatly enjoyed seeing how all the other beaders interpreted the contest themes.

When the weekend draws to a close, everybody packs up and leave for home. We've all become on big beading family through these big bead events. We know that we'll meet again, but it's still bittersweet to say goodbye and head home. The event continues for days on Facebook, where we share photos and remember fun times. People who can't be at the event are usually a bit envious, but for this Bead Lovers Meet, there was a spontaneous cyber beading event, complete with a contest and sponsored prizes! The Swedish beading family is so wonderful in every way!

No matter what language you speak, beads will always bring us together. If you're looking for a steady supply of great bead stringing projects, artistic inspiration, and all the latest beads and beading tools, you'll want to make sure you subscribe to Jewelry Stringing magazine.

What's your favorite beady gathering? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and let us know!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Earring Making Makeover: A Pair of Beaded Pearl Earrings

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite sources of inspiration for making beaded jewelry is antique and vintage jewelry. So when my good friend gifted me with a huge box of very special antique beaded jewelry, I decided to repurpose some of the jewelry for new jewelry-making projects.


	The original vintage pearl earrings (bottom) that inspired my earring making makeover (top)!

Even though earring making projects have never come easy to me, I was inspired by these vintage pearl earrings. I wanted to figure out how to re-create them using modern materials, and thanks to a little stash of Swarovski crystal pearls, I managed to do just that! These are real old-world glamor earrings, bold and brassy and fun to wear. Enjoy!

Materials:

24 Swarovski crystal pearl, Bright Gold, 5mm (A)
54 Swarovski crystal pearl, Bright Gold, 4mm (B)
66 Swarovski crystal pearl, Bright Gold, 3mm (C)
2 Swarovski crystal pearl, Bright Gold, 8mm (D)
FireLine beading thread, 6 lb. test
1 pair gold ear wires, or clip-on earring findings with 8mm pad

Tools:

Size 12 beading needle
Thread cutter
Chain nose or flat nose pliers (optional, but useful for guiding beading needle through a tight spot)

Step-by-step Instructions

		On a 5' length of beading thread, pick up 6 A. Pass through the first bead again, forming a ring. (If you are using ear wires, leave at least 7" of beading thread as a tail to use for attaching your ear wire.)

		Keeping your tension tight, pick up 6 C and pass through the same A again. Pass into the next A in the ring, and add 6 C. Repeat for each A in the ring.

		Pick up 2 B and pass through the A you're exiting again. Pass through the next A in the ring, and add 2 B. Repeat around.

		Pass through each B you added in the previous step again to form a solid ring. Pass through the first B of the second pair you added in the previous step.

		To form the "petals", pick up 1 B and 1 C. Push them all the way down against the B you are exiting.

		Pass your needle under the thread in the center of the 6 C you added in the second step. (Similar to catching the thread in brick stitch.) Pass back through the 1 C and 1 B you added in the previous step, then into the next B in the ring. Pass through the next 2 B in the second ring, and add another C and B in the same manner. Repeat around for each of the petals.

		From the B you are exiting, pick up 2 C and pass through the same B. (Same direction.) Pass through the next B in the ring, and add 1 C. Repeat around, alternating 1 C and 2 C until you have added a total of 9 C. Pass through all 9 C again and pull snugly to form a ring.

		From the C you are exiting, pick up 1 D and push it down into the ring. Find either the 1 C or 2 C directly across from the bead (or beads) you are exiting, and pass through. Pass back through the D and the bead (or beads) you originally exited at the beginning of this step.

		Pick up 9 B and push them down against the beadwork as far as you can. Pass through all 9 B at least twice more, pulling snugly to form a ring that fits around the D in the center. Tack the ring of 9 B down by catching the thread between beads of the ring of B you added in the third step. Knot your thread in the beadwork, weave your tail in a bit, and trim close to the beadwork.

		If you are using a clip-on earring finding or a post earring finding with a pad, use E600 or Euro Tool Super New Glue to attach the finding.

		If you are using an ear wire, weave your tail through the first 3 C you added in the second step. Pass through the ear wire, then down through the next 3 C, pass through the A, and back up through the first 3 C. Repeat the thread path a couple of times to secure, then knot your thread, weave it in, and trim it close to the beadwork. Repeat all steps for the second earring.

Would you like another free earring making project? For a limited time, when you purchase Melanie Potter's fantastic new DVD Bead Stitching Chevron Chain with Melanie Potter, you'll get her Wildflower Earrings as a FREE download! What could be better than learning the basics of chevron chain from a master bead-weaving artist? Get your copy of Bead Stitching Chevron Chain with Melanie Potter and get your free earring making project, too! (Or, if you're really into instant gratification, you can download Bead Stitching Chevron Chain with Melanie Potter and be watching on your desktop or laptop computer in just minutes!)

What's your favorite inspiration for beaded jewelry design ideas? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your ideas with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

It's a Secret: Make This Faux Chain Maille Bracelet by Jane Dickerson

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Are you a little intimidated by the idea of making chain maille jewelry? Jewelry Making Daily's Tammy Jones felt the same way, so you're not alone! But if you're comfortable with basic wire jewelry making, you'll want to check out this technique for a faux chain maille bracelet, designed by Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry's Jane Dickerson!

Best Kept Secret Bracelet
by Jane Dickerson

I love the look of chain maille, but I'm all fingers when it comes to connecting all those jump rings. So, look what I found! Shhhh, don't tell-it's chain-maille chain! Simply attach a clasp and you'll look like you've spent hours creating this fast-and-easy bracelet.

Materials and Tools:

16" (40.5 cm) antiqued brass 9mm chain-maille chain
Shibu 35mm Saki Silver toggle clasp
2 pairs of chain nose pliers
Flush cutters


	Try this easy and fun faux chain maille bracelet, designed by Jane Dickerson

Step by step instructions:

1. Cut the chain into two 6-1/2" (16.5 cm) pieces and one 3" (7.5) piece. Place the 6-1/2" (16.5 cm) pieces of chain side by side and disconnect one end link from each end of each piece of chain. You will be removing one 9mm jump ring and two twisted 6mm jump rings from each end.

2. Open two twisted 6mm jump rings from Step 1 and connect the end ring of the chain maille to one 9mm ring. Close the jump rings. Repeat with the three other ends of chain.

3. Remove two 9mm jump rings and four twisted 6mm jump rings from the scrap chain. Attach one 9mm jump ring to one half of the clasp. Repeat for the other half of the clasp.

4. Use two twisted 6mm jump rings from Step 3 to connect the 9mm jump ring on the toggle clasp and one end link of the bracelet. Connect the end link of the parallel chain to the toggle in the same way. Use two twisted 6mm jump rings to connect the 9mm jump ring on the ring side of the clasp with one end link on the bracelet. Repeat for the parallel link.

Voila! Look how simple that is--and no one will be the wiser. (You know your secret is safe with me!)

Even if chain maille isn't your thing, you'll still find lots of fantastic wire jewelry making projects in the pages of every issue of Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry magazine! Whether you love to do wire wrapping, chain maille, or just innovative wire jewelry, you're sure to find plenty of inspiration and instruction. Subscribe to Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry magazine and feed your need to create stunning wire jewelry.

Have you found another way to imitate the look of chain maille without actually doing chain maille techniques? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your ideas with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Start Designing Your Own Beaded Jewelry, Part 3: Putting It All Together

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Earlier this week, I showed you how to stitch up some easy herringbone bezels for beads, and then how to make a right-angle weave necklace base, all part of my Beaded Jewelry Design week here on Beading Daily. Today, we're going to look at techniques for putting them all together into one, beautiful beaded necklace!

The inspiration for my color palette on this particular piece was from a handmade lampwork glass bead made by none other than Amy Blevins of Bead & Glass Boutique in Pitman, New Jersey. (I visited Amy's shop when I was in town for Bead Fest Philadelphia last summer, and her beautiful glass bead just had to come home with me!) So, focal bead in hand, and necklace parts strewn across my bead board, it was time to figure out what my final beaded jewelry design was going to look like.

Attaching the Bezeled Beads

Remember when I told you to leave those thread tails nice and long? Well, now we're going to use those thread tails to attach the beads with the herringbone bezels to the right-angle weave base. Once you've figured out where you want each element to go, mark the spot with a small piece of beading thread.

I decided that I wanted to outline each bezeled bead with a length of herringbone stitch, so I made a herringbone tube long enough to wrap around each of the bezeled beads. I attached the first bezeled bead in the center of the necklace base, then wrapped the herringbone tube around it to get the idea for how to space the remaining elements, marking each place with a small length of beading thread that I clipped out after I attached the bead.

Using the thread tail, stitch into the set of 3 beads in the necklace base, then back up into the bezeled bead. Repeat the thread path a few times, then weave through the herringbone stitch bezel to get into position for the next attachment.

Make four attachments per bezeled bead in order to secure them to the necklace base.

After all the beads were attached, I tacked down the herringbone tube. I gave my tube a little bit of a twist as I tacked it down to give it some texture. A good trick here is to work from the back of the necklace, so that you aren't bumping into the bezeled beads that you attached to the front. I also stitched the herringbone tube to the top of the herringbone bezels as I went around for good measure.

Embellishing the Strap

The next step in the beaded jewelry design process is to add a little embellishment to the rest of the right-angle weave necklace base. I had a nice little bag of crystal rondelles in my stash that worked very well with this color palette, so I stitched them into the right-angle corners of the necklace base using size 15 seed beads.


	*The tiny crystal rondelles stitched to the necklace strap add just a hint of sparkle without being too obvious.*

The smaller crystal beads give the rest of the necklace a hint of sparkle without being too overwhelming. For a more dramatic look, you can use drop beads, Magatamas (long drop beads), or peanut beads. Experiment to see what you like best!

Adding Fringe

Designing and adding fringe to a necklace is always the hardest part of the beaded jewelry design process for me. I started out with a strand of branched fringe using deep blue seed beads and cream drops, but I wasn't happy with the placement of it. Back to the drawing board! I'm sure I'll figure out something over the weekend before the final reveal on Monday, right?

Other ideas for fringe don't have to be so dramatic. Sometimes, just a tiny drop or a spike bead stitched between units of right-angle weave is enough. Small loops of seed beads spaced evenly along each side of the necklace also work nicely when you want to make it a more elegant piece -- remember, sometimes less really is more!

More Inspiration for Your Own Beaded Jewelry Designs

I've always said that if you want to learn how to make your own beaded jewelry designs, a good place to start is to look through the pages of your favorite beading magazine. For me, that's always been Beadwork magazine. I always keep my copies handy to look for inspiration and ideas that I can incorporate into my beaded jewelry designs, and now that they're available in digital format, it makes it even easier to find just what I'm looking for!

Whether you're new to beading, or you've been working with seed beads and creating your own beaded jewelry designs for years, you'll want to grab a copy of The Beadwork Ultimate Collection, now at a special price! It's a special collection of seven years' worth of Beadwork magazine on CD, with all the same original content as the print editions. Grab your copy (while you can) of The Beadwork Ultimate Collection and watch the evolution of beaded jewelry design unfold!

I'd love to hear your suggestions for finishing my necklace this weekend! What kind of fringe should I use? Should I add some more embellishment to the neck strap? What about the clasp? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and let's share our beaded jewelry design ideas!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Start Designing Your Own Beaded Jewelry, Part 2: Right-angle Weave Base

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Continuing with your beaded jewelry design project, now that you've made herringbone stitch bezels for the beads, we're going to make the base to which they'll all be attached using right-angle weave.

The base I like to use when making these beaded necklaces is a "v" shape that drapes nicely and is easy to adjust for length and fit. (Because being comfortable wearing your beaded jewelry is important!) Another reason I like to use this type of right-angle weave base is because it can support heavier gemstone beads.

To make your right-angle weave base, you'll need the following beads and materials:

30-50 grams of size 11 beads, color A
20 grams of size 11 beads, color B
Beading thread (6 lb. FireLine recommended)

Before You Start Stitching: This necklace base using right-angle weave eats up a lot of thread in a hurry, and because you'll be passing through the beads at least twice more when you attach your components, it's best to use as long a piece of thread as you're comfortable with so that you can avoid having to weave in a lot of thread ends. (Starting and ending new threads can fill up those bead holes pretty fast!)

If you're not comfortable using a long length of thread, consider leaving longer tails when you add new thread that you can use to attach your design components later in the process.

		Pick up: 3 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B. Tie into a ring. Pass through the first 7 beads (3 A, 1 B, 3 A) again as shown.

		To add each additional unit in the first row, pick up: 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 3 A, and 1 B. Pass through the 3 A you exited in the previous unit, and back through the unit you just added until you are again exiting from 3 A on the side of the current unit.

		Work until your row is 5 units long. To start the second row, exit from the top 3 A of the last unit in your first row. Pick up: 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 3 A, 1 B, 3 A, and 1 B. Pass through the 3 A you exited at the beginning of this row and through the beads of the unit you just added until you are exiting through the 3 A on the inside of the unit. Pick up 1 B, and pass through the next 3 A in the next unit.

		You'll continue to add those extra B beads at the corners as you work each unit.

		Continue to add rows to your right-angle weave base until the base is about 9-10" long. (This will be for an 18-20" finished necklace, not including the size of the clasp.) You can check the size/fit of your necklace by draping it around your neck and seeing where the end lays. Remember that your center "v" will take up about 1-2" of space in the middle. When the first side of your necklace is long enough, add a new thread (remember to leave a nice, long tail!) and turn the piece on its side. Weave through the beadwork until you are exiting from a set of 3 A on the top (the long side).

		Work a row of 5 units in right-angle weave just as you did before, adding B beads at the corners of each unit.

		Continue working until your second side is the same length as the first side. You can easily make adjustments to the final length of the right-angle weave base by adding or removing rows from the ends.

		Now the fun part! Start playing with the arrangement of your focal pieces, looking at spacing and thinking about where you can add embellishments and fringe. Play with the placement of your clasp, and any necklace findings you might want to include in your finished piece. If you find more than one arrangement that you like, take pictures and save them so that you can decide which one you like best before you start attaching and embellishing.

Are you having fun yet? One of the reasons I love these particular techniques for beaded jewelry design using herringbone stitch and right-angle weave is that they open up a whole world of possibilities!

If you want to brush up on your basic right-angle weave and herringbone stitch bead-weaving techniques, look no further than The Best of Step-by-Step Beads 2010 special issue. You'll find dozens of fantastic, easy bead-weaving projects using right-angle weave, herringbone stitch, peyote stitch, and more that are just right for when you need to do a little beading on a spectacular project, but you don't have a lot of time. For a limited time, you can get your copy of The Best of Step-by-Step Beads 2010 for only $3 and keep your bead-weaving skills sharp!

Come back on Friday, March 1, for the final installment in Design Your Own Beaded Jewelry Week here on Beading Daily and learn a few techniques for attaching elements and embellishing your beaded necklace!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Are You a Bead Star?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about entering a jewelry-making competition? Whether your new to jewelry-making, or you've been creating your own beaded jewelry designs for several years, taking that leap and entering your work in a competition can be a fulfilling and eye-opening experience. Entering a jewelry-making competition is really a chance to let your creative voice sing. Don't hold back when designing for a jewelry-making contest -- you want to show the world what you can do with those beads!

If you're thinking that this is the year for you to take the leap and enter your original beaded jewelry designs in a jewelry-making competition, you'll be thrilled to hear that Bead Star is back!

Sharpen and straighten those beading needles, because entries are now being accepted for the 2013 Bead Star competition, and if you're a designer of beaded jewelry, take note: this year, entries made with seed beads and bead-weaving techniques are not only being accepted in all of the categories, they are being encouraged!

What are your favorite jewelry-making materials? Chances are, you'll find a category for them in the 2013 Bead Star competition. Entries will be accepted in the categories of Crystals, Glass, Pearls, Gemstones, and Metals & Wireworking. Imagine all the possibilities for fabulous jewelry-making designs when you mix those with your favorite seed beads!

Aside from the self-satisfaction you'll get from knowing that your work is good enough to enter in a beading contest, you just might win one of the fabulous prizes in the Bead Star competition: the grand prize is an all-expense paid trip to Bead Fest Philadelphia!

Don't worry if you've never been published in a magazine or book before -- there's even an Emerging Artists category, just for bead artists like you! And all the winners of the 2013 Bead Star competition will be published in both Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing magazines.

If you've entered Bead Star before, a few changes have been made to the competition for 2013, so make sure you check out the full list of Bead Star rules and prizes.

So, what do you think: are you the next Bead Star?

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Make This Easy Crystal Chakra Pendant

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

As I go further into my daily practice of yoga and meditation, I'm learning more about the ancient beliefs surrounding the physical and spiritual aspects of the poses. I'm particularly interested in the chakras, or energy centers, that are believed to exist in certain key areas of the body. There are colors associated with each of the seven chakras, or energy centers, and they can be used to balance our mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. I wanted to find a way to express my own connection with the chakras, so I decided to make a necklace using crystal beads to symbolize each of the seven energy centers.

At first, I had envisioned a very complex pendant, but as I sat with my crystal beads and thought about what I wanted my chakra pendant to look like, I realized that sometimes, a simple design is the best. You can make your own chakra pendant using crystal beads in just a few minutes, too!

Materials:

7 crystal beads, Swarovski 5052 6mm mini round bead in the following colors: Crystal red magma, crystal golden shadow, sunflower, fern green, aquamarine, amethyst, crystal AB
14 sterling silver or silver-filled seamless beads, 2.5mm
1 sterling silver head pin, 20 gauge, 1 1/2"
6 sterling silver head pins, 20 gauge, 2"
18" of sterling silver chain (your choice of style)
Clasp of your choice

Tools:

Flush cutter
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers OR
Combination pliers

Step-by-step Instructions:

On the head pin, string 1 sterling silver bead, the first crystal bead (go in the order that they are listed in the materials list), and 1 sterling silver bead. Make a wrapped loop at the top.
On each of the first 5 eye pins, string 1 sterling silver bead, a 6mm crystal bead, and 1 sterling silver bead. Make a simple loop at the top, joining the links together as you go.
For the last crystal bead, string 1 sterling silver bead, the crystal bead, and 1 sterling silver bead. Make a wrapped loop at the top of the eye pin large enough for your chain to pass through.
Slide the pendant onto the chain and attach the clasp.

The finished crystal chakra pendant is approximately 4 1/2" long, so expect it to dangle gracefully from the chain. You can also make it longer for a more dramatic look! Wear it when you need a little boost in your mood -- the rainbow of colors is guaranteed to make you smile.

Jewelry made with crystal beads and pearls never really goes out of style. Whether you're looking for simple or sublime (or both), you need to check out Create Jewelry: Pearls. With 22 pearl jewelry projects ranging from classic to modern, and suitable for pretty much any occasion, you just can't go wrong with pearls. Now is the time to get your copy of Create Jewelry: Pearls and save 70% off the original cover price during the Interweave Overstock Book Sale.

If you've ever wanted to complete your collection of this timeless series of jewelry-making books, take advantage of the special savings through February 14, 2013 at 12:00 midnight CST.

Are you ready for a little giveaway to brighten up your winter?

We have 19 copies of Create Jewelry: Crystals to give away, along with 19 prize packs of brand-new crystal beads from our friends at Fusion Beads! Just leave a comment on this blog between now and 12 midnight, CST on February 27, 2013. We'll randomly choose 19 winners to receive a copy of Create Jewelry: Crystals along with this fabulous crystal bead prize pack. (Please note: due to customs regulations, giveaway is only open to those residing in the United States at this time.)

The crystal bead prize pack from Fusion Beads includes a great selection of Swarovski Elements crystals from two of their most recent launches. From the Swarovski Innovations Fall/Winter 2013 launch, there are an assortment crystal beads in the new crystal color Light Turquoise, and the new effect, Crystal Blue Shade.

Also included is a sampling of Swarovski's new Mini Bead line -- two sizes of the round bead and two sizes of the oval bead. These two bead shapes are a great basic bead for many designs.

From the newest Swarovski Innovations launch for Spring/Summer 2014 comes the new crystal color, Light Silk, and the new effect, Crystal Rose Gold 2x, as well as the new crystal pearl color, Rose Gold. These three colors and effects were just announced last week, and are so new that the winners of this giveaway will be some of the first to have them! Fusion Beads has also included a new pendant shape from Swarovski Elements, the 6028 Oval Pendant.

As a special offer for Beading Daily readers, you can take 20% off your entire purchase of $50 or more at Fusion Beads by using the code SPARKLE20! (Offer expires March 4, 2013.)

Good luck, and bead happy!

Jennifer

Win a Free Mirrix Loom!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Mirrix Looms is having a great contest, perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to try bead-weaving on a loom or tapestry weaving. My Mirrix Loom is one of my favorite beading tools. Mirrix Looms are sturdy, well-made, and extremely versatile. Whether you love to weave fibers for tapestries or for beaded jewelry, you'll love working on a Mirrix.

You can feel good about Mirrix bead and tapestry looms, too -- they're built in the United States, and this small business is owned and run by an awesome mother-daughter team!

Mirrix Tapestry & Bead Looms is giving away a free 8" Mirrix Lani Loom to one lucky entrant in their latest contest. To enter, you need to be creative!

To enter, you need to create a piece of art with up to ten words that answers the question: What inspires you to create art?

Your entry can be created with any medium or mixed media techniques, but it must be an original work of art by the entrant. The contest is all about creativity, originality, and being able to share our talents. You can see all of the entries submitted so far on the Mirrix Looms website.

You can find the full set of rules, as well as the full list of prizes, on the Mirrix Looms website. Entries will be accepted until April 1, 2013. Get creative!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Who's Afraid of a Teeny Tiny Microtorch?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

It's true: if you've never used any kind of a torch, the idea of holding something in your hand that's capable of spitting out more flame than a barbecue lighter can be a little intimidating. For years, I used a single fuel torch for making my own lampwork glass beads, but the idea of using a butane torch (also called a micro torch) for jewelry making was something that scared the pants off of me.

My first experience using a micro torch was for firing precious metal clay (PMC) in a small workshop, and it really wasn't as scary as I had thought it would be. Part of feeling comfortable using a micro torch was understanding what it was for, and how to set it up. If you're curious about what the micro torch is all about, we'll learn about micro torch basics from Jewelry Making Daily contributor Kate Richbourgh!

Welcome to the world of butane torches (also known as micro torches or even crème brûlée torches)! Micro torches make creating simple soldered jewelry a breeze. I am really excited to share my favorite jewelry tool with you. Using butane micro torches can be intimidating to the novice (or even to the jewelry maker that uses a traditional torch and tank setup), so my goal is to share some tips and tricks to banish those "scary moments" and get you up and torching in no time.

Now, let's begin at the beginning.

Meet My Torches, Blazer and Max Flame
I have two torches that belong to the butane torch family. Both are durable, high powered, and specifically geared for jewelry making. I have put both of these torches "through the wringer" so to speak. They have been in constant use in the classroom and on my workbench for more than five years and are still as good as new.

My Blazer torch is the first butane torch I ever purchased that actually worked well for jewelry. I found out the hard way that with butane torches, you really get what you pay for. When you are shopping for a butane torch, take a good look at it. Is it mostly plastic with a minimum of metal parts? If so, put it back on the shelf, regardless of the great bargain it might seem. Torches that are kept on for an extended length of time (during the soldering process) get hot. That heat centers around the top of the torch and torch head. Too much plastic and you may find that your torch head may melt slightly, and that will affect the delivery of the butane to the torch tip, making the torch impossible to light. (Ask me how I know!) Torches that are mostly metal can be used for extended periods of time without fear of damage in this way.

My other micro torch is my Max Flame torch. The flame on my Max Flame torch is wider and longer; that means that I can solder bigger pieces with the Max Flame torch than with the Blazer.

Blazer vs Max Flame Torches: When to Use Each One
So you may be wondering, "What exactly do I use each torch for?" Here is the breakdown:

Blazer micro torch (up to 2400° F)

soldering jump rings closed (14g and thinner)
soldering thin (4mm and smaller) ring bands
soldering bezels closed
drawing a bead on a wire to make head pins
making a heat patina on a metal surface
soldering a small element or charm on a metal pendant (1" and smaller)
torch firing some types of metal clay

Max Flame micro torch (also up to 2400° F)

soldering jump rings closed (12g and larger)
soldering wide ring bands (5mm and larger)
soldering a large object together, like joining a bezel component to a ring band or a large pendant (1" up to 2-1/2")
annealing metal
torch firing enamel

Filling a Butane Torch

A butane torch isn't much good unless it is filled with fuel. I use regular butane fuel that I get from the hardware store. You may have heard that it is best to use "triple-refined" fuel to keep your torch head clean, but honestly most of the time I use regular fuel right off the shelf, and my torches work great. This is not an endorsement, just my experience.

Filling the torch can be one of the "scary moments" with a butane torch, but trust me--with a little know-how, it's a walk in the park.

Grab your torch and butane canister and go outside (You want to have adequate ventilation when you are filling the torch).
If your torch has a stand at the bottom that can be removed, go ahead and take it off and put it aside.
Remove the cap from the butane.
Turn the torch upside down. You'll see a filling point on the bottom of the torch. Insert the tip of the butane canister and press down firmly.

The butane will flow from the canister into the torch. If you hear fuel escaping out the torch head during filling, stop and tighten the knob that regulates the butane flow. I fill the torch until the butane makes a slight spitting noise at the filling point (about a 10 count). Then I replace the stand on the torch, stand it upright, and let the butane settle for about 30 seconds or so. I store my butane canister out of the way, and I am ready to go!

Turning On the Butane Torch

Consult the directions that came with your particular torch for directions on how to turn on your exact torch, but there are some basic concepts that apply to all micro butane torches:

Cover your workspace with a fireproof surface (a jelly-roll pan works well) and put on a pair of safety glasses before turning on your torch. Point the head of the torch about 8 to 10 inches above that surface at a 45-degree angle and turn on the torch by starting the butane flow and clicking the ignition button. Adjust the flame to its highest point then to its lowest (usually a lever or knob) to get the feel of the size of the flame. I usually keep my flame at the highest point.

Understanding the Flame
Now examine the flame itself. (Sometimes it's best to view it under dimmed light.) You'll see an inner and outer flame. The outer flame is a dark transparent blue. The inner flame is lighter and more opaque in color and comes to a sharp tip inside the outer flame. Just in front of that lighter flame is the "sweet spot" or the hottest part of the flame and the point to quickly heat metal and flow solder. You'll move this tip up close or farther away from the surface of the metal to control the rate of heat on the metal.

If you move the flame too close to the surface though, you'll hear a sound that resembles wind or a slight hiss and see a dark spot in the middle of the heated metal. You have gone beyond the sweet spot of the flame. The inside part of the inner flame is cooler, which means it will take longer to solder your pieces.

After you're done examining the flame, turn the torch off. Place the torch upright on the fireproof surface. Remember that the tip will be hot, so point it away from you.

Congratulations! You have conquered the first steps using a butane torch. Let me also recommend, as with any complex jewelry tool, to get out the instructions that came with your torch and read them. I'll bet there is a wealth of information on that piece of paper! Stay tuned for Micro Torches, Part 2: Torch in Action and Simple Soldering Setup. --Kate


Dancing Arcs by Kerry Bogert is just one of the micro torch projects included in this amazing bundle!

Is 2013 the year that you told yourself you'd learn something new? Learning how to use a micro torch for jewelry making can open up a whole new world of possibilities -- from soldered jump rings to handmade decorative head pins, you can easily find new ways to create custom jewelry findings and components for your beading projects.

If you're ready to jump into the world of using a micro torch, you'll definitely want to check out the Soldering With a Micro-torch Ultimate Collection. With over 100 minutes of video instruction and more than 190 pages of essential how-tos, this is all you need to get started with your micro torch. Learn from some of the jewelry making world's best-known experts as you fuse and solder your way into new territory. And if you're ready to get started right now, you can also get the Soldering With a Micro-torch Ultimate Collection as digital download, including all of the same great content from the DVD and print bundle, but ready to view on your favorite desktop or laptop computer in just minutes!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

P.S. If you're ready to move on and see the micro torch in action, you can read Part 2 of Kate's blog over on Jewelry Making Daily!

Spool Beaded Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Aside from having really cool and gently used clothing, my local thrift shop is a great place to find craft supplies for my beading projects! I love to dig through the bins of sewing notions and craft supplies, looking for unusual items that I can use. My three best finds so far include a large package of bone rings for beading around, a tiny sewing kit tucked into a red floral silk pouch, and a bag of old wood spools for making beaded beads.

These wooden spools make great beaded beads because they're so easy to bead around -- all you need is a quick strip of peyote stitch to wrap around the spool, or you can work tubular peyote stitch around the spool itself. I was too lazy to come up with a great charted peyote stitch pattern, but I did want to play with color a little bit and make something bright and cheery to fend off the winter doldrums.

Painting the Spools

Before I started beading around the spools, I used some acrylic paint to give them some color. The gold spools required at least three coats of paint to cover the wood. I didn't use a clear acrylic sealer on the painted spools, but if you do use something like Krylon, make sure it's in a well-ventilated area!

My five-year-old son had a blast helping me paint these spools, so this makes a great activity for snow days when your crafty kids are home from school, too.

Choosing the Beads

Like I said earlier, I wanted to do something cheerful and warm with these beaded beads, so I chose some bright marigold-colored seed beads and some matte silver-lined blue seed beads for the spools themselves. I don't usually use this color palette, but it just felt right when I saw all the beads on my bead board, along with a strand of oval dyed quartz and some vintage gold rounds from A Grain of Sand.

I worked tubular peyote stitch right around the spools themselves, and each one only took me about twenty minutes to bead. It was the perfect evening project to do while I got caught up on episodes of Downton Abbey, and the next day, I had my spool beaded beads all ready for stringing!

Stringing the necklace together was the best part of the project. I finished it with a gold s-clasp and made it just a bit longer than 17" so that I can wear it with my favorite t-shirts in the summer, too. Sometimes, the best beaded beads are the simplest, right?

Once you master the art of easy beaded beads like these, check out the February/March 2013 issue of Beadwork magazine where you'll find the winners of the 15th Anniversary Beaded Bead Contest!

Taking the art of beaded beads to a whole new level, there were five beautiful beaded beads designed by some of today's most talented bead artists, and each entry in the 15th Anniversary Beaded Bead Contest had to use at least one of each bead in their finished design. The range of designs and colors will astound and delight you!

If you can't wait to see who the winners were, you can also download the February/March 2013 Beadwork magazine instantly onto your favorite desktop or laptop computer.

And if you need another reason to get the latest issue of Beadwork Magazine, how about four great beading projects from the brand-new Designers of the Year, new beading tools and book reviews, and twenty more beading projects?

What's your favorite way to make beaded beads, easy or intricate? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Four Fast and Fun Wire Earring Making Projects

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

I can't imagine a better way to learn about making wire jewelry than with a few fast and fabulous earring making projects. The best part about making earrings with wire is that you don't need a lot of beads, and you don't need to be a wire expert to create fun, flirty little earrings!

Earring making has never been something that comes easy for me, but I love wearing handmade earrings with my jewelry. But the more that I play with my wire and my wire jewelry making tools, the more ideas I get for earring making projects! Give your earring making projects a little boost with one of these four ideas:

		I have a confession to make: I collect cones. I hardly ever use them, except for when I have time to do a Viking knit project, but I love to buy them. I have cones made from glass, precious metal clay, ceramic, even a pair of gemstone cones that I scored at a gem and mineral show a couple of years ago. They look so pretty in their little drawer, but now I have something to do with them! Using easy wire wrapping techniques, I can use those cones for some fast and easy earring making projects!

		Another reason why I love earring making projects is that they offer easy introductions to new beading and jewelry-making techniques, like how to make wire spirals. If you have just one or two extra beads left over from a project, you can string them up and make them into fancy earrings with the addition of a simple wire spiral at the bottom!

		Of course, if the idea of working with wire still intimidates you, then I recommend starting out with these easy wire wrapped beads. Show that wire who's boss! The great thing about these little wire beads is that there are no rules -- anything goes as you're wrapping the wire. Made with brass and copper, they add a rustic charm to any beaded jewelry design. Or try them in some brightly colored craft wire for a little extra whimsy.

		If you're ready to get adventurous with your wire earring making projects, I highly recommend the Dancing Spirals wire earring project. They're so delicate and much lighter than they look, and you'll get to practice your wire spiral technique. By the time you finish them, you'll feel like a wire wiz, and have a pretty pair of earrings, too!

If you're already comfortable working with wire, I highly recommend that you check out one of Tammy Jones' latest blogs over on Jewelry Making Daily: She's put together six simple design elements that you can make with wire for truly outstanding, artistic wire earrings.

Coiling wire is a technique that I'm only just starting to explore, but I can see a lot of potential for this, both with my earring making designs, and with my beaded jewelry designs. Making wire coils isn't really a difficult technique, if you know how to do it. Now you can learn from master wire jewelry artist, Kerry Bogert, in our new video, Wire Coiling Secrets.

Watch as Kerry demonstrates her easy-to-learn techniques for creating spectacular wire coils and uses them in beautiful wire jewelry projects. Pre-order your copy of Wire Coiling Secrets, or if you really can't wait to get started, Wire Coiling Secrets is also available as an instant download!

How do you like to make earrings with wire? Are you strictly a head pin and bead designer, or do you enjoy branching out and trying different jewelry-making techniques in your earring designs? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with us here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Glass Beads to Look Out For in Tucson

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT


	*My new stash of two-hole Twin beads has me pretty smitten with their shape and all their design possibilities!*

In just a few days, bead lovers from all over the world will be descending on the city of Tucson, Arizona for some of the world's best gem, mineral, and bead shows! From my little corner of the world, it looks like the big trend at this year's bead shows will be Czech glass beads.

Ever since the first two-hole Twin seed beads came out two years ago, we've seen an explosion in new Czech glass bead shapes and styles. For seed beaders and jewelry stringers alike, this is great news: more variety means more possibilities to play with your glass beads and jewelry design ideas!

If you're going to the Tucson bead shows this year, I've got the scoop on what two of my favorite bead pushers, er, bead sellers will have available. "Czech" it out!

Two-Hole Czech Bead System from Czechmates


If you're looking for a full range of two-hole glass beads, Whimbeads will have you covered in Tucson!

Beki Haley of Whimbeads has announced that they'll be launching a new series of two-hole glass beads from CzechMates that includes lentil, brick, dagger, and tile shapes. Why is she so excited by these new glass beads? Beki answers:

"I love them mostly because they are new, and what beader doesn't love new beads? There is always a level of excitement around a new bead, both my own excitement and that generated by the beading community. For me excitement fuels creativity, so I welcome it with open arms.

"In addition, the two-hole glass beads create so many opportunities for new design ideas. When the SuperDuos hit the bead scene it was only a matter of weeks before beaders were posting innovative beaded projects using them. The ease of turning corners and creating concentric elements allowed for some really beautiful items. I think these new two-hole beads in the CzechMate system will inspire even more creativity among beaders.

"What I like best about these glass beads is that regardless of their size or shape, the distance between the holes remains consistent so that they can be used together in one piece. I've found myself daydreaming about design ideas with them -- now to make some time to actually play with them!"

Decadent Glass Dagger Beads


	Animal print Czech glass dagger beads from York Beads? Yes, please!

My other favorite bead nut, Perry Bookstein, the owner of York Beads in New York City, will have a fabulous selection of my favorite decadent dagger beads! While glass dagger beads have been around for years, Perry has the best selection of fun and innovative colors, finishes, and coatings anywhere.

What's awesome about these glass beads? First of all, Perry was inspired to work with the Czech bead makers to create new coatings and colors after the peacock craze hit the fashion world. Everywhere you looked, there were men's neckties with bright, colorful, and wild designs. Perry thought those patterns and colors would translate well to glass dagger beads, and thankfully for all of us who love to bead, he was right.

The colors of these glass dagger beads come from different kinds of coatings applied after the bead is made, or even through the use of several different colors of glass rods during the process of pressing them in a mold. Chances are, you'll find a glass dagger bead in a color and size to meet your bead need! (And, yes, some of these beads even come in two-hole shapes, too!)

How Do You Use Your Czech Beads?

When it comes to versatility, there's no better bead for your money than Czech glass beads. Bead weavers can use them in all kinds of beaded jewelry designs using their favorite off-loom bead-weaving stitches, and stringers can use them to add a splash of unexpected color and shape to their designs.

If you're looking for new ideas for using your Czech glass beads, take a look at Jewelry Stringing magazine. Each issue is full of gorgeous beaded jewelry design ideas, complete with all the basic techniques you'll need to make each project. You'll find great beading projects for those of us on a budget, product and book reviews, and all the news on the latest and greatest in glass beads and tools from your favorite bead supply companies. Fulfill your need to bead and subscribe to Jewelry Stringing magazine today!

Are you excited by the new Czech glass beads available these days? What's your favorite type of Czech glass bead, and how do you use them? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and let's get inspired to dream up some new designs with these fantastic glass beads!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

P.S. If you'll be in Tucson this year, you can find Beki Haley and all of her fun friends at Whimbeads at the following shows: February 3 - 8, 2013 at To Bead True Blue, Booth GP 305; February 6 - 10, 2013 at The Best Bead Show, in the front patio; and February 9 - 11, 2013 at The Tucson Bead Show, Booth GP 305.

You can find Perry Bookstein and all his fantastic glass beads (including glass spikes and gumdrops) from February 3 - 8, 2013 at To Bead True Blue, Booths GP 239 and 240.