New pattern uploaded: Tuscan Drop Earrings

I was playing around with my Tuscan Earring design and found that these earrings looked even prettier with a drop. This pattern is fully illustrated with detailed step-by-step instructions for two drop versions: one with pearls in each corner (at right) and another with pearls in the center (at left). I used Swarovski #5500 9x6 pear drops but any drop bead will work.The Tuscan Drop Earrings pattern, $3.25, is available at my website, AroundTheBeadingTable.com and Bead-patterns.com:

New patterns uploaded

I just uploaded two new patterns: the Maya Earrings & Pendant, $2.50, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

and the Athena Earrings & Pendant, $2.50, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

New SuperDuo pattern: Athena Bracelet and Earrings

I just uploaded a new pattern to my website: the Athena Bracelet and Earrings, $5.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

 

It uses size 11 seed beads, 4mm fire-polished beads and the new two-hole SuperDuo beads that I have fallen in love with. I'm thinking that it may work with other 4mm beads but haven't tried it yet. Please let me know if you do!

New Crystal Patterns

I just uploaded two new crystal patterns to my website:

The Alexandra Bracelet, $4.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

An some matching Alexandra Earrings, $3.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

New Tila SuperDuo Color Combos

Betsy over at RedPandaBeads.com has beaded up my Tila SuperDuo Bands pattern in some great colors!

Here is Band 1 with burnt sienna Tila beads, green turquoise capri and ivory capri SuperDuo beads and size 11 bronze seed beads:

And here it is with mustard Tila beads, opaque yellow picasso and matte brass SuperDuo beads and size 11 bronze seed beads:

And here it is with copper Tila beads, matte copper and matte rose gold SuperDuo beads and size 11 duracoat muscat seed beads:

Beautiful!

New pattern: the Tila SuperDuo Bands

I just uploaded a new pattern to my website: the Twin SuperDuo Bands, $5.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

 A trio of bands made from seed beads, Tila beads and SuperDuo beads. The pattern is fully illustrated with detailed step-by-step instructions for each bracelet and includes a page of three blank charts of three different widths so you can design you own bands. Note: I used SuperDuo beads because they are much more uniform in size and slightly thicker than Twin beads. I did not try these bands using Twin beads but if you do and are successful, please send pictures!

New Pattern Uploaded: Twin Cube Wave Band

I just uploaded a new pattern to my website: the Twin Cube Wave Band, $4.50, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

This is a fatter version of my Tila Twin Wiggle Bracelet, using two colors of Preciosa Twin beads and 3mm cube beads instead of Tila beads.

A new pattern for sale, FREE pattern and some SuperDuo confusion

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: the Tila Flower Bands, $5.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com. Two bracelets made from seed beads, Tila beads and two-hole SuperDuo beads (top) or Twin beads (bottom):

And I also uploaded an easy bracelet made from seed beads, two-hole SuperDuo beads and Tila beads: Skinny SuperDuo Band (a PDF is available for download at the bottom of my Web site page):

Okay, so if you are wondering, "What the heck are SuperDuo beads?", here is what I have managed to figure out: 

• Twin beads and SuperDuo beads are often referred to as two-hole seed beads and they look almost exactly alike with a few exceptions. Twin beads, made by Czech company Preciosa Ornela, have the same oval shape but are often somewhat irregular in size. SuperDuo beads are pressed glass beads (i.e., made in a mold) so they are a bit thicker and much more uniform in size than Twin beads. 
• As of this writing, SuperDuo beads are rather hard to find and seem to come in two sizes: 2.5mm by 5mm and 2mm by 5mm. In some instances, SuperDuo beads can be used as substitute for Twin beads and vice versa, but sometimes not. It depends on the design. For this pattern, I used 2.5 by 5mm SuperDuo beads from RedPandaBeads.com. 
• Chris Franchetti Michaels of Beadwork.About.com has the best list of SuperDuo suppliers at: http://beadwork.about.com/od/BuyBeadsOnline/a/Superduo-Suppliers.htm
• Preciosa Ornela is coming out with, or has already come out with, their own "pressed glass" Twin bead, although I have not been able to find them.
• There may be several Czech companies making "SuperDuo" and "Super Duo" beads, which could account for the size difference. Dee's Place has a great article that provides a bit of the inside scoop: "The Great Czech Two-Hole bead Wars" by Doris Coghill.