DRAGONFLY BRACELET
- 15/0 seed beads "Metallic Chocolate" (no info available)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (11-461)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Transparent Seafoam Picasso" (8-4506)
- Miyuki Tila beads "Light Autumn Jasper" (TL-4505)
- SuperDuo beads "Chocolate Bronze"
- SuperDuo beads "Crystal Lazure Blue"
The pattern is from Eridhan Creations on Etsy. You can buy it HERE for $5.00 (Unfortunately, this pattern is no longer available). As I mentioned in my review of this pattern on March 21st, I really love this pattern. So far this is the only one that I've made but I hope to try it in other colors very soon. I love the look of it as well as the feel of it when I'm wearing it. It has the feel of "real" jewelry, if you know what I mean.
It was very difficult to get nice photos of this bracelet because of the dark beads that I used as well as the dimensional quality of the weaving. I hope that you can tell how lovely it really is in spite of the picture quality.
I made a pair of Kelly Dale's "Corundum Earrings" to go with this bracelet. I think they work very well together, don't they? You can watch Kelly's free YouTube video tutorial HERE. If you'd like to buy the pattern, she's selling it in her Etsy shop HERE for $4.00. I did change the pattern slightly by leaving off the little top motif.
CORUNDUM EARRINGS
- 15/0 seed beads "Metallic Chocolate" (no info available)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (11-461)
- 8/0 seed beads "Metallic Chocolate" (no info available)
- SuperDuo "Chocolate Bronze"
- SuperDuo "Crystal Lazure Blue"
Beautiful! I so love that color combination! Have you had good experiences with the metallic duos? I see that tilas are also available in that type of finish.
ReplyDeleteI've avoided the more expensive "metal" SuperDuos because of the price but the price of the "Chocolate Bronze" is reasonable. I also like the ones called "Luster Gold". They're relatively inexpensive yet are the same color as the regular bronze ones. The main difference is that the luster ones are semi-transparent when you hold them up to the light. I also have a nice antique silver color that I bought at the local shop that wasn't expensive. I've never had any problems with any of them except that the luster ones tend to have more plugged up holes than other kinds because of the glaze they put on them.
DeleteI just got some "Metallic Dark Bronze" Tilas and Half Tilas the other day and I can't wait to try them. I already had the matte version and those are great. They both match the Miyuki seed beads in those colors.
DeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you so very much for your wonderful blog !! :) You have inspired me to take my beading to another level. I found you from "Around the beading table" facebook. I live south of Atlanta with no local beadshop only the chain stores so I have to resort to the internet. Your resources have helped me and introduced me to a wealth of information for that I am so grateful. I did see yesterday that my local "Hobby Lobby" has twins in a 12g pack that went on sale starting tomorrow.( This is a very new item at my location) I stopped after work yesterday(Sat) right before they close .They will usually give you the sale price for next ad after six on Sat. I bought a few packs and will see how they work. I flipped when I saw the price point!! No shipping :)
Thank you again and again!! On facebook I am Linda Smith Roberson
Hi Linda,
DeleteI was just at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago and they didn't have any Twin beads. I just took a quick look at tomorrow's ad and they're going to have the Czech beads 50% off next week. I may pop in there for a closer look. Not that I NEED any more beads, mind you.
Although I have such nice local shops, I actually get most of my beads online. I wait until I need/want enough to get free shipping, if a site offers it. Have you been to Artbeads.com? They have only a $10 minimum for free shipping. I've had very good service from them too.
Linda, if you don't mind using Chinese crystals (bicones and rondelles, etc.), Beads One has free shipping with no minimum order: http://www.beadsone.com/ They're local so I go there when they've got their strands buy 1/get 1 free or I use my frequent shopper 20% off discount when they're not having a sale. Last time I was there they told me that I'm only $5.00 away from reaching the 25% discount level on my card!
DeleteIf you don't shop locally, those really cool bead stores are going to close.
DeleteHi Linda, Thanks for the info :) I do not mind using Chinese crystals but will not use them with a metal finish because I have had a problem with the color washing off! I usually take my bracelets off when washing my hands but a little water will run their dye on metal finish. I have seen Artbeads and ordered before and I also watch sales on Beadaholique and Fusion beads. I as well wait until I can get free shipping but often I want to "See" the color when trying to come up with designs. A little change in color can really make the other beads "POP" I have an older computer and my screen is off a little especially with the reds and pinks. Thanks for the link to Beads One. I will check them out. I also use Betsy at Red Panda because of her email deals but she can ship slow sometimes but I know this and do not mind because she is so nice and her sight works with Deb Roberti who I just love! I am working today on another Jill Wiseman "Festival of lights " bracelet but will not make it into a bangle. I am a small woman and the bangle just did not look good to me so I took it apart and now will add a clasp.... Your blog is the best beading sight for information!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday,
Linda
I know what you mean about wanting to see how colors look in person vs. on the computer screen. Even when you've bought a color before, and think you know what to expect, you can be surprised by a different dye lot the next time. That can be frustrating when you've run out of beads and need more for a project. It even happens with seed beads. The latest dye lot of Miyuki "Dark Bronze (457D)" seed beads is a lot lighter/brighter than any I've bought before. It's so different that I have to be careful not to mix the old and new batches.
DeleteThanks for your nice comments, Linda.
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI also love this pattern and made it recently, also leaving off some of the beads on the outside edge (before I read your review!). I used the tile beads per the pattern and I used fireline, but shortly after I finished the bracelet a break occurred between a tile and a superduo bead. Once you have all the beads added the bracelet is rather heavy and stiff. Have you had any problems with tile beads or superduos cutting through fireline? It may have been a sharp edge that I missed but this was the first time that I had had this problem.
Not so far. I've never had a bracelet break but I've had some of my early ones stretch and get loose over time. Did you use Tilas or CzechMates in the one that broke? Tilas seem to have sharper edges than CzechMates.
DeleteI used CzechMates. I am thinking I may have had the tension too tight, as I have never had this problem before.
DeleteOr, maybe you just happened to get a CzechMate or SuperDuo with a rough edge on it. When I get a SuperDuo bead that has a plugged up hole, I usually try to unplug it but I wonder if that's really a good idea. Even if I'm able to clear the hole, there could be some of the glaze around the edges that's a bit jagged.
Delete