Tuesday, October 26, 2010

New pattern uploaded: Pebbled Earrings

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: Pebbled Earrings, $3.25, also available at Bead-patterns.com:


Instructions are for both pair of earrings (with or without the chain) and they match the Pebbled Bracelet. These beaded bead earrings work up fast (under an hour) and instead of glass pearls, you can use any 4mm round beads, including gemstones such as garnets and amethyst.

Monday, October 25, 2010

More Free Tila Bead Bracelet Patterns

Everyone seems to be going Tila bead crazy with some wonderful new designs. Jennifer VanBenschoten, guide to About.com: Beadwork, has two new (and free) tutorials up for these incredibly lovely bracelets:

Elegant Tila Bead Bracelet


Fancy Tila Bead Bracelet

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Free Tila Bead Pattern

Centperles Blog has a free tila bead pattern up. Click on "hiropdf" to download a one-page PDF of instructions. The catch—it's in French but the illustrations are great. For materials, "rondes de 8mm" are 8mm round beads and "rocailles" are seed beads.


There are many more free patterns under the category tab along the left—Schemas 2008, Schemas 2009 and Schemas 2010. Just click on the thumbnail under each picture to download instructions in PDF or jpg format.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Bijoux Ornament

I bought some large Swarovski crystals and pearls because I thought I'd design some holiday ornaments but I just can't seem to get inspired by these large beads. They sure are pretty but I'm not feeling the love. So... I decided to try a different approach and used these beads on one of my earring patterns, the Bijoux Earrings, with the following changes:
  • Instead of 6 lb. FireLine, I used 8 lb. FireLine.
  • Instead of 11/0 seed beads, I used 8/0 seed beads.
  • Instead of 4mm bicone crystals, I used 8mm bicone crystals.
  • Instead of 4mm glass pearls, I used 8mm glass pearls.
  • I used a larger 4mm jump ring, which I attached to a hook.
  • In Steps 12 and 13 where it says to add five seed beads, I found that you have to add six seed beads.
  • And in most of the steps, I went back around through the beads to make the ornament stiffer and less floppy.
It's about 3 inches long and 1.75 inches wide, and I'm quite sure my purple-loving Mum-in-law will want it for her tree :)

Monday, October 11, 2010

The Netted Cab

I've been using peyote to bezel rivolis but Ruby has a step-by-step tutorial up on how to use netting to bezel—The Netted Cab:

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Beading in the Rain

I am always amazed at the beautiful rivolis available on eBay (and heaven knows, I have spent a small fortune on them). Beading in the Rain constantly wows me. They always have some great auctions going but their "Buy It Now" selection is also worth a long look.

In addition, Beading in the Rain is one of the few shops where you can buy Swarovksi rivolis with special coatings. I just received some 12mm Mystic Shimmer rivolis that I won in an auction and the picture just does not do them justice because they are so beautiful:


I have also purchased Beading in the Rain's Water Lily, Peacock, Mystic Crystal and Glacier Blue rivolis—all equally lovely, especially the Peacock rivolis because they are so unique: