It’s hard to tell sometimes if all these new Czech two-hole beads are a blessing or a curse. Although they can be quite a bit of fun for designers, these days I do sense that some beaders are getting a bit frustrated by all the “new two-hole beads” hitting the market. Me, too… and then I see some really awesome new beads and I just have to have them.
Such is the case with the new DiscDuo beads and Czech 2-hole Cabochons. What a delight these beads are! In fact, I have enjoyed using them in my MiniDuo Bands pattern so much that I have updated the pattern to include them and am eager to see how well they work in my other patterns.
DiscDuo beads are manufactured and distributed exclusively by the Potomac Bead Company. To me, they look and feel as if you took a Czechmates Tile bead, made it round, but still kept all the wonderful colors and coatings available in the Czechmates line. They are so delicious looking that I would, in fact, keep kids and pets away from them because they do look good enough to eat. DiscDuo beads are available for sale at PotomacBeads.com here: http://www.potomacbeads.com/DiscDuo-Beads-s/3175.htm. Here is what they look like in my MiniDuo Bands pattern (you can get links to the exact beads used by clicking on the picture and scrolling to the bottom of the page):
The new Czech 2-Hole Cabochons are about the same width and height as the DiscDuo, but much rounder and fuller at the top—as if you took a 6mm round bead, sliced it in half and gave it two holes. I have found them very difficult to find for purchase in the U.S. at this writing but I’m sure they will be more widely available soon. I purchased the cabs used in the photo below at Poppy and Gene’s Beadery Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PoppyAndGenesBeadery. You can also buy them at the Potomac Bead Company and they will be available at RedPandaBeads.com soon. Here is what they look like in my MiniDuo Bands pattern (again, you can get links to the exact beads used by clicking on the picture and scrolling to the bottom of the page):
And while we are on the subject of cool new Czech two-hole beads, there’s the new DiamonDuo... on my bead table right now. They seem to be selling out as fast as they appear. More on these beads to come….
