Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Harlequin Bracelet - Metalust Aqua & Jet


HARLEQUIN BRACELET
  • 15/0 seed beads Toho "Permanent Finish Galvanized Starlight" (557PF)
  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Permanent Finish Galvanized Starlight" (557PF)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Permanent Finish Galvanized Starlight" (557PF)
  • Kite beads "Metalust Aqua"
  • 6mm 2-hole cabochons "Jet"

This is the same colorway that I showed you as a small sample HERE. I did switch to Toho seed beads this time though and I also made the bracelet properly with 15/0 seed beads. This bracelet will be a Christmas present for someone with a 7 1/4-inch wrist. For that size you'll need 32 Kite beads and nine 2-hole cabochons. I'm going to try to come up with some matching earrings. I don't have enough of these Kite beads left to create earrings with them so I'll probably use SuperDuos in the same colors.



When I took these photos, the sun was super bright and I think it sort of washed out the color of the Kite beads. The color is actually more saturated like these SuperDuos:



You can buy Norma Jean Dell's "Harlequin Bracelet" pattern HERE on Etsy. You'll find a nice selection of Kite beads at Queen City Bead and Red Panda.



 

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Harlequin Bracelet - Jet & Copper


HARLEQUIN BRACELET
  • 15/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Potters Clay" (YPS0019)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Potters Clay" (YPS0019)
  • Kite beads "Jet Matte"
  • 6mm 2-hole cabochons "Jet Capri Gold Full"

Black beads are difficult to photograph so I hope you can see how pretty this bracelet really is. This time I used Toho seed beads and they work just as well as Miyuki beads.


You can buy Norma Jean Dell's "Harlequin Bracelet" pattern HERE on Etsy.



 

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Harlequin Bracelet - Dusty Rose


HARLEQUIN BRACELET
  • 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
  • Kite beads "White Red Luster"
  • 6mm 2-hole cabochons "Chalk White Gold Luster"


After I blogged about this pattern a few days ago, it was brought to my attention that the "Harlequin Bracelet" does in fact have 15/0 seed beads as well as 11/0 and 8/0 beads. Goodness knows how I missed seeing that there were three sizes of seed beads in Norma Jean's photos. So, I made a bracelet in one of the colorways that I blogged about HERE and this time I used 15/0 seed beads instead of 11/0. As you can see, the bracelet looks much nicer and more delicate with the correct size beads. I was a little worried that Miyuki 15/0 seed beads might be too tiny but they work just fine. Below you can see today's bracelet next to the sample that I showed you before.


You can buy Norma Jean Dell's "Harlequin Bracelet" pattern HERE on Etsy.



Tuesday, October 23, 2018

India Bracelet Samples

I have blogged about this pattern before but it was way back in 2014, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. At that time, the pattern, which is in French, was for sale on DaWanda. I just discovered about a week ago that Etsy has bought DaWanda and most of the old shops moved over to Etsy. Apparently this one didn't move and I don't think that the pattern is currently for sale anywhere. I have been in contact with the designer and I'm waiting to hear of she will put the pattern up for sale again. I'll let you know when I hear something.

The original pattern is made with SuperDuos and 4mm bicones. It also works quite well with 4mm fire polished beads, 4mm druks and 3x4mm rondelles. I only used bicones in one of the samples below because I didn't have any others to go with the colorways that I wanted to try. I did have to tweak the pattern slightly depending on which kind of beads I used. The pattern calls for 11/0 seed beads along the outer edge between each motif. Instead I used 8/0 seed beads whenever I used Toho seed beads and some colors of Miyuki seed beads. With some Miyuki beads, 3mm druks were needed to fill the gap. I plan to try making a sample with some Swarovski 4mm bicones and see if 11/0 seed beads will work as the pattern suggests. The bicones that I used in one sample below are Chinese ones which are much larger than Swarovski bicones. They made the gap between the motifs much too wide for just an 11/0 bead.


  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Permanent Finish Galvanized Starlight" (557PF)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Permanent Finish Galvanized Starlight" (557PF)
  • SuperDuo beads "Dark Turquoise Luster"
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Red White Luster"
  • 4mm druks "Chalk White Cream Luster"


  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Grey Travertin"
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Turquoise Picasso"
  • 3mm druks "Bronze"
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Chartreuse Picasso"


  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
  • SuperDuo beads "Chocolate Bronze"
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Olive Copper Picasso"
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Turquoise Heavy Travertine"


  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
  • SuperDuo beads "Blue Turquoise Bronze Picasso"
  • SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede Gold"
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Chalk White Green Lumi"


  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Light Pewter" (4221)
  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Light Pewter" (4221)
  • SuperDuo beads "Sleeping Beauty Turquoise"
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Brown"
  • 3x4mm rondelles "Amber #C29" (Chinese)


  • 11/0 seed beads "Bright Brown Bronze" (unknown brand)
  • 8/0 seed beads "Bright Brown Bronze" (unknown brand)
  • SuperDuo beads "Gold Shine Ochre aka Gold Shine Amber"
  • 3x4mm rondelles "Aqua Gold AB" (Chinese)


  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
  • SuperDuo beads "Turquoise Green with Light Picasso"
  • SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede Gold"
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Opaque Yellow Copper Picasso"


  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • SuperDuo beads "Nebula Ashen Gray"
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Violet White Luster"
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Stone Blue Luster"


  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Gold" (4202)
  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Gold" (4202)
  • SuperDuo beads "Pastel Teal"
  • SuperDuo beads "Pastel Dark Coral"
  • 4mm bicones "Teal" (Chinese)


  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Luster"
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Ivory White"
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Opaque Smoky Topaz Gold Luster"
  • 4mm Czech pearls "Antique Gold"


  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Nebula"
  • 3x4mm rondelles "Vitral Purple #C47" (Chinese)


  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki/Czech "Full Labrador" (27000)
  • SuperDuo beads "Satin Metallic Rouge"
  • 3mm druks "Jet Full Labrador
  • 4mm pearls "Indian Red #36" (Chinese)

I didn't realize until after I'd made this last sample that I had already made a pair of earrings that match this colorway perfectly. You can read about these "Circles & Squares Earrings" HERE.


Monday, October 22, 2018

Playing with my beads...Harlequin Bracelet Samples


I have Kite beads in three colors but hadn't tried making anything with them until the other day. I just happened to see a pretty bracelet on Pinterest and the link led me to THIS pattern by Norma Jean Dell on Etsy. The pattern description says that it takes 15/0, 11/0 and 8/0 seed beads but I don't see where the 15/0 beads are used. I don't have a copy of the pattern so I can only guess that Norma Jean uses them to attach her clasp. I made my clasp loops differently and didn't need any 15/0 beads.

I made samples in two colorways. I also have some matte black Kite beads that I'd like to try with this design when I have a chance. Below are the lists of beads that I used in each colorway. Note that they only appear to be completed bracelets on my wrist in the photos. I simply draped the samples over my arm in such a way that you can't see the ends. I tried making the turquoise and black sample with Toho gold seed beads first but it looks like Toho beads won't work with this pattern. They cause the beadwork to go all wonky so I re-made the sample with Miyuki beads.


  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
  • Kite beads "White Red Luster"
  • 6mm 2-hole Cabochons "Chalk White Gold Luster"



  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Gold" (4202)
  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Gold" (4202)
  • Kite beads "Metalust Aqua"
  • 6mm 2-hole Cabochons "Jet"



 

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Crystal Tile Bracelet & Hana-Ami Earrings - Beige Luster & Jet


CRYSTAL TILE BRACELET
  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Hybrid Antiqued Metallic Black" (Y503)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Hybrid Antiqued Metallic Black" (Y503)
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Opaque Beige Luster"
  • 4mm bicones "Jet - #C04" (Chinese)



HANA-AMI EARRINGS
  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Hybrid Antiqued Metallic Black" (Y503)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Hybrid Antiqued Metallic Black" (Y503)
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Opaque Beige Luster"
  • 4mm bicones "Jet - #C04" (Chinese)



As I mentioned in THIS post yesterday, I made another Christmas present set using the same two patterns but with slightly different colored beads. The photo above shows the two bracelets side-by-side so that you can see the color difference. The fire polished beads in bracelet that I blogged about yesterday are a buttery color. The ones in today's bracelet have a slight caramel tint like the color of sweetened condensed milk. I also used solid opaque jet bicones in today's bracelet instead of graphite bicones.



You can buy Deb's "Crystal Tile Bracelet" pattern HERE at Around the Beading Table. Her "Hana-Ami Motif" pattern is free and you can download it HERE.





 

Saturday, October 6, 2018

Crystal Tile Bracelet & Hana-Ami Earrings - Beige Luster & Black


HANA-AMI EARRINGS
  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Hybrid Antiqued Metallic Black" (Y503)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Hybrid Antiqued Metallic Black" (Y503)
  • 4mm fire polished beads "Antique Beige Luster Iris"
  • 4mm bicones "Grey Dark Silver - #C36" (Chinese)

I made some earrings to go with the bracelet that I blogged about HERE yesterday. The "Crystal Tile Bracelet" motif isn't really suitable for earrings but Deb's "Hana-Ami Motif" is perfect. All I had to do was add a loop at the top of the motif to attach my earring wire.


You can buy Deb's "Crystal Tile Bracelet" pattern HERE at Around the Beading Table. Her "Hana-Ami Motif" pattern is free and you can download it HERE.