Craving Crystal Band #4
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Bronze" (11-457)
- 4mm druks "Jet Matte"
- 4mm bicones "Lavender" (no info available)
- 6mm rondelles "Jet" (no info available)
This is the fifth and final "Craving Crystal" bracelet and I like this one very much. However, I couldn't make it fit my size so I added a couple of extra motifs and I will give it to someone as a gift. I'm sure that I could have tweaked it somehow to make it fit but I'll do that another time. It was nearly done anyway so I went ahead and finished it. I also had the same problem with the other Band #4 that I posted on Wednesday, HERE, but it's only a little bit loose. That one fits differently because the 6mm druks are wider than the rondelles I used in this one. It's also possible that using fire polished beads instead of bicones affected the size.
You can buy Deb's pattern HERE.
this one looks very Victorian i think its the style and the color that makes it look that way
ReplyDeleteHello Linda :) Linda from Georgia I hope it was ok that I posted in "around the beading table's facebook page with a big "thank you" to you! You give so many of us inspiration. I was wondering if you know about facebook beading groups? I have posted in one for Jill Wisman a few times and there is a group for Aunties beads. The one for Aunties beads has a lot of drama. Have you thought of a group for Deb? for fans of Around the beading table? It may help her sales. I would join in a heartbeat! It could be for Deb and pattern inspiration etc. Someone posted one of her necklaces with a chain on her page today! I have no clue how facebook works in that aspect? Just a thought :) Thanks again
ReplyDeleteHi Linda. Would you believe that I just heard about that Auntie's Beads group this morning from Jeanie Callaghan? It sounds like a fun idea but I'm already spreading myself a bit thin and it's starting to cut into my beading time, LOL.
DeleteLinda, thank you so much for the inspiration and education! I am a relatively new beader myself. I have learned so much from you. I have seen and tried many of the patterns you have in the past and I did not like the way they turned out, because of you now I understand I don't need colors in seed beads, I need to start with the metallics. I am on a budget personally and do not have a bead store near me so i have to order online. I would love to hear about how you collected your beads, what did you start with, do you buy by the color or the size? You have sooo many links to suppliers and it is so helpful and I hope you get commissions from all of them :D but who do you recommend for what type of bead etc? How did you choose your colors. I am drawn to antique victorian or gothic victorian so right now I have primarily red black and gunmetal colors from firemountain. One big problem I am having now is finding good purples and affordable 15/0's
ReplyDeleteHi Blaize. Thanks for your nice comments. I'm glad that my blog has given you some inspiration since that was my main reason for starting it. Have you read my "Beading on a Budget" post: http://tinyurl.com/mrqdajt? I wrote about where I get the best prices on different kinds of beads. You're right that the colors you choose can make a world of difference in how well a pattern looks. I suggest that you just keep trying different combinations until you find ones that you do like. That's what I do. In most cases I do use some kind of metallic, or metallic-like beads as the base color with a few exceptions. I think that gives beadwork more of a "real" jewelry appearance.
DeleteMy bead collection has evolved over time. I started out with some odds and ends that my friend, Teejay sent me then I discovered that Walmart had metallic colored beads that were very cheap. I've since given up on those though because the quality is so poor. They may be fine for bead stringing but not for bead weaving. Eventually, I learned about Miyuki and Toho seed beads and those are the two best brands you can buy. Stick with those two brands and track down the best prices on them. As far as colors, I always keep a stash of the basic metal colors, especially the ones that I use the most. I'd say that my top four favs are Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D - good basic bronze with an antique look), Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461 - a dark coppery bronze), Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (D4222 - gunmetal silver color) and Miyuki "Olive Bronze" (457H - a grungy somewhat matte bronze). I keep all of those colors on hand in 15/0, 11/0 and 8/0. Well, I can't get the "Olive Bronze" or the "Metallic Chocolate" in anything but 11/0 because they don't make them in other sizes. I do have a LOT of other metallic colors and I use whatever suits the other colors in my project the best.
I don't make any money from the suppliers that are listed on my blog with the exception of the Google ads that are inline with my posts. I just want everyone to know who I buy my beads from so that they can also get the best prices.
Make that FIVE basic metal colors. I forgot about Miyuki "Antique Silver/Nickel" (464A). It's more shiny and "fancy" than the pewter ones but it's also a gun metal-type silver. However, it is rather expensive compared to my other favorites so I use them sparingly. That color does come in all the sizes too.
Delete