Bead Chat

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

D.M.Z — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:30:52 GMT

Fiona, I usually buy my cards from the wholesaler that I get my delicas from, they of course have the newest releases of colors on new cards. I kept all the old ones and just marked off beads that were discontinued, but left the beads on the card. That way if I find an old pattern I can figure out what new bead will work.

You could just print the ones on Miyuki's site on a heavier paper and even though they have the beads printed on them, you could sew yours onto that for accuracy and a record of what you have in stock. If you use Excel, you could also have extra columns to use for actual physical inventory (which I should have done last month as I try to do it around the first of the year). I don't inventory down any further than the nearest gram..........

I also just adore the opal delicas..........so very wondrous in their effect. Oh heck, I love almost all the delica colors, I have them all now (all the colors, not exactly all the finishes though) except the new ones that aren't here yet. Some of my other faves are the clear with color lining. What they do in my loomed patterns is really cool, they show but they don't show, subtle. And one of my all time faves is DB70, pink lined clear and I don't like pink very much, but that one rocks. Donna

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

purplefiona — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:15:43 GMT

Really good point about the satin beads. My favourites are the opal silver lined colours and I can't wait to sew my own chart. A measure of my burgeoning obsession is that I actually work in a beadshop. You would think I'd be fed up with them, but no!

Where can I get the most up to date delica chart to attach my beads to without buying any delica beads to attach? Is it the silverhill one, which seems tonbe 2008, or should I make my own ? I can use Excel.

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

beadsbeadingbeaded — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:04:41 GMT

blueelephantart:

Oh Erin.... Boo!

Hahahahahahahaiiiiii

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

blueelephantart — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:16:14 GMT

Oh Erin.... Boo!

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

beadsbeadingbeaded — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 01:51:08 GMT

Beadiecat:

Erin, that fringe designer is sooooo cool!

Cat

I thought it would be appreciated around here! I'm glad I shared. Got more where that came from ...hahahaha

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

noelohwell — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:07:05 GMT

now that is really cool!!! love the fringe maker and the way of keeping track of your colors! awesome!!

Noel

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

Beadiecat — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:46:09 GMT

Erin, that fringe designer is sooooo cool!

Cat

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

beadsbeadingbeaded — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:49:34 GMT

noelohwell:

LOL...oh my gosh, I had no idea that there were that many colors! :)

Noel

Also, Noel, if you see yourself getting very involved with a personal supply, consider creating a means to track what you own and those you haven't purchased. You can do this either in an Excel Spread Sheet or there are places on line, usually offering a 'bead chart' list of Delicas. Meaning, the bead charts are offered for you to 'sew' a strand of the Delica, next to the DB #. Then you are making your own Delica Bead color charts. They can be expensive, or I know a woman that will make a selection of every color, selling at a cost of $42.00! (unbelievably inexpensive for what she gives you). Other then the chart, though, you can also use this to keep track of what colors you own. Then, if you are out shopping and see something you like, you can refer to your list. The link to this chart is HERE Also visit this site's Free Fringe Designer . It may come in handy sometime. One more point...sorry, if you also have a bead pattern program, you can create your own pallet with the Delicas you own. But still keep a physical listing in case something goes wrong with your program. I own over 750 Delica colors, right now, and have a number of ways to back up this list!

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

noelohwell — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:12:39 GMT

you and me both Donna, you and me both! ;)

Noel

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

noelohwell — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:11:39 GMT

LOL...oh my gosh, I had no idea that there were that many colors! :)

Noel

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

D.M.Z — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:18:17 GMT

I've used the satin in my loom projects because the thread path goes directly through the bead and cutting is minimized and I use 6# Fireline for my warp threads. So far I've had no problems with any of my pictures done with them. I've toyed with the idea of doing a whole loomed project (flowers) with the majority of the beads being the satins. Looming a picture that will be framed is what keeps them ok though, no movement happens once the project is mounted in the frame. However, for regular bead stitching, they are to be dealt with cautiously as Erin mentioned.

And yes, delicas are not precisely consistent in size. Metallic finish is a surface finish, so the beads end up a bit larger, matte's are smaller because they are tumbled or processed to take the finish off the bead. The dimension across the hole is almost always .0667, but the height up the side can run from .0550 to .0500.........which doesn't seem like much, but in a large loomed piece with a lot of one type of bead in one spot, it can be almost visible. My techno-weirdo nature discovered that early on. I bought an amulet kit done in square stitch. It had a block of white matte beads pretty much in the center of the bag.............I was new to beadstitching and reworked that section several times because I was thinking I was changing my tension. You could only notice it when you went back to the other beads around it because they didn't "fit" like the others. I ended up with my micrometer out and discovered the difference and went on to finish the bag. The vast majority of the beads fall well into the same size though and present no problems at all.

Ooooooh, more new colors, I can't wait.............(note to self: need MORE delicas). Donna

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

beadsbeadingbeaded — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:47:06 GMT

Uh Oh..you too? I love the Delicas, more so for the diverse number of colors and finishes they offer. Over 971 so far, but there are 32 new ones, waiting to be sold this year! No other 11/0 seed bead line has such a wide pallet.

A few things you may want to consider, with Delicas. No negatives, just a means to enlighten. The matt finish Delicas are small than, say the opaques. The metallics are largest of all. When looming, you may notice a bit of a difference, but not enough to feel they are causing any problems. Just something I noted, while I weave them side by side on a loom.

Stay fearful of the 'Satin' line. Gorgeous, yes, but very fragile. They break easily, have sharp edges and can cut your thread. Once you see them, you will fall in love, but keep your distance, lol. These are mostly in the #600 and some in #800 numbers of the Delica Line. They will state "Satin" in the color description.

Other than those two points, paint the world and plan on sharing with us here!!

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

noelohwell — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:26:40 GMT

LOL...a magpie...oh my goodness, I'm getting there already!!! my daughter and I started this journey because she became disabled a year ago this week actually and we were trying to find something for her to do with her time. we started with stringing and it just kind of moved along from there. we participated in a local big community event in October and I sell a lot of stuff at work. beads are just sooooo addicting!!!

Noel

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

SCB1 — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:12:24 GMT

OHHHHH, it is a dreaded disease, but we all have it. However after period of time you and your hubby get used to it. One of the symptoms is the inability to past a bead store, after all they may just have a color you don't already own 4 or 5 tubes of. I have found, when I sorted my beads that I am like a magpie, if I like the color I will buy it over and over. Just can't help myself, it is a disease.

Re: I think I'm becoming a Delica freak!!

noelohwell — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:43:52 GMT

well whew....so glad it's not some dread disease that no one has ever heard of before! ;)

thanks!

Noel