Bracelet of the Day: Sandra Silky Bracelet - Tarnished Bronze

• 11/0 seed bead Miyuki "Metallic Matte Bronze" (2006)
• 8/0 seed bead Miyuki "Metallic Matte Bronze" (2006)
• Silky beads "Tarnished Bronze"
• SuperDuo beads "Chalk Rembrandt"

I've blogged a few times before about my adaptation of Norma Jean Dell's "Lattice Gates Bracelet" pattern. Her original pattern is made with CzechMates. I made a single row of the pattern for a narrower band and substituted Silky beads for the CzechMates. You can buy Norma Jean Dell's original tutorial HERE.

I got these unusual Silky beads from Marcia from the GCSuppliesTexas Etsy shop. She sent them as a bonus with my order and they're not listed in her shop. They don't have a name so I'm calling them "tarnished bronze". The base color is a translucent matte tawny brown and they've got a metallic coating on the tops that has been scratched off the table cut bump in the center. They have a deliciously worn out grungy look.

I tried three different combinations of beads before settling on the ones that I used in my final bracelet. Below are my first two samples. In the end, I decided that the matte bronze seed beads went a little better with the metallic coating on the Silkies than the shiny bronze beads.

TOP SAMPLE:

• 11/0 seed bead Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed bead Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• Silky beads "Tarnished Bronze"
• SuperDuo beads "Bronze"

BOTTOM SAMPLE:

• 11/0 seed bead Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed bead Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• Silky beads "Tarnished Bronze"
• SuperDuo beads "Chalk Rembrandt"

 

Bracelet of the Day: Daisy Duo Bracelet - Ivory & Turquoise

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 4mm druks "Goldenrod Picasso"
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Luster Picasso"
• SuperDuo beads "Blue Turquoise Bronze Picasso"

Here is another bracelet that I based on a photo that I saw in an Etsy shop, HERE. I will let you know as soon as I hear that the designer has this pattern available for sale.

UPDATE: There is now a pattern available for sale HERE on Etsy.

I made these matching earrings using my free "Bethany Earrings" pattern, which you can download from THIS post.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Daisy Duo Bracelet - Orchid Aqua

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 4mm druks "Metallic Suede Pink"
• SuperDuo beads "Polychrome Orchid Aqua"
• SuperDuo beads "Polychrome Pink Olive"

As I mentioned in a previous post, I got this design from a bracelet photo that I saw in the SpinPlanet Etsy shop, HERE. There is currently no pattern available but the designer told me that she is working on one.

UPDATE: The pattern is now available HERE on Etsy.

I also made a pair of matching earrings using my free "Bethany Earrings" pattern, which you can download from THIS post.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Golden Age Bracelet - Olive

GOLDEN AGE BRACELET

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Hybrid Oxidized Bronze Clay" (Y864)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Antique Bronze Gold" (225)
• MiniDuo beads "Metallic Suede Gold"
• 3mm druks "Metallic Suede Gold"

I came up with this color combination after I posted my sample photos back in December. I love these Toho "Oxidized Bronze Clay" seed beads. I found them at Simply Beads HERE and haven't seen them anywhere else. I wish that they came in 8/0 but they apparently only make them in 11/0 and 6/0.


Once again, I made this one with MiniDuo beads instead of SuperDuos. I also used druks instead of fire polished beads and they worked perfectly.

You can buy the "Golden Age Bracelet" pattern HERE in the Beaded Treasury Etsy shop.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Golden Age Bracelet - Turquoise

GOLDEN AGE BRACELET

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• MiniDuo beads "Blue Turquoise Silver Picasso"
• 3mm fire polished beads "Aqua Bronze Luster"

I posted some samples that I made of this pattern back in December HERE and this was one of the color combinations that I showed you in that post. I love this pattern, especially when it's made with MiniDuos. The pattern actually calls for regular SuperDuo beads but it works great, if not better, with MiniDuos. It comes out just the width that I like. I followed the pattern as written except that I added 8/0 seed beads on the ends to attach my clasp.

I recommend reinforcing the groups of six MiniDuos (or SuperDuos) in each motif just after you add the two outer ones in step 9. If you don't reinforce them, the motif can have a tendency to flop over. I used 6lb Fireline when I made this bracelet and weaving around the MiniDuos one more time really helped the bracelet  keep its shape. It's easiest to to this right after adding the last MiniDuo to each motif. If you wait to do it later, it will be more difficult to get your needle between the beads.

You can buy the "Golden Age Bracelet" pattern HERE in the Beaded Treasury Etsy shop.

UPDATE:  I forgot to mention that I found the fire polished beads in a local shop. I think they're from Nirvana Beads and they might not be easy to find. A good substitute color would be "Aquamarine Celsian". The difference is that the beads I used have an opaque core and Aquamarine Celsian is transparent and is a slightly bolder shade of aqua.

 

Free Beading Tutorial: Bethany Earrings

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede Purple"
• SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede Gold"

After teasing you by blogging for several days about my "Bethany" adaptation of Beth Clark's "Beth Duo Earrings" pattern, I'm very happy to tell you that Beth has given me the okay to post my version as a free pattern. I should warn you though that there are no diagrams in the tutorial, only the instructions. That's because I had originally typed it up for my own use and I didn't need illustrations. If I have a chance sometime, I might add some illustrations to the tutorial and will update the file at that time, if I do.

Click HERE to download the free pattern.

If you like this pattern, please consider making a voluntary donation through PayPal using the DONATE button on the right.

NOTE: I don't mind if you sell the projects that you make with our patterns, but please mention that you got the pattern from Linda's Crafty Inspirations. Please contact me for information about teaching this or any of our patterns in a class.
 

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Gilded Marble Black" (1706)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Gilded Marble Black" (1706)  
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Ivory"
• SuperDuo beads "Crystal Gold Luster"

 

Bethany Earrings & Duo Kheops Set - Baby Blue & Gold

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Olivine Bronze Iris aka Galvanized Carnival" (513)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Olivine Bronze Iris aka Galvanized Carnival" (513)
• SuperDuo beads "Crystal Amber Gold Full"
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Baby Blue Star Dust"

This is the last of five pairs of "Bethany Earrings" that I've made to go with five "Duo Kheops" bracelets. The earrings are my variation of Beth Clark's "Beth Duo Earrings" pattern which you can download HERE. The bracelet pattern is from Marina Beads on Etsy and you can buy it HERE. You can read my previous post about this bracelet HERE.

UPDATE 6/25/2023: Unfortunately, Beth's patterns are no longer available. Click HERE to download my free "Bethany Earrings" pattern which I used to make the earrings in this post.

 

Bethany Earrings & Duo Kheops Set - Ivory & Gold

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Olivine Bronze Iris" (513)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Olivine Bronze Iris" (513)
• SuperDuo beads "Crystal Amber Gold Full"
• SuperDuo beads "Pastel Light Cream (25110)"

This is the fourth of five pairs of "Bethany Earrings" that I've made to go with five "Duo Kheops" bracelets. The earrings are my variation of Beth Clark's "Beth Duo Earrings" pattern which you can download HERE. The bracelet pattern is from Marina Beads on Etsy and you can buy it HERE. You can read my previous post about this bracelet HERE.

Download my free "Bethany Earrings" pattern HERE.

I finally got my sister's necklace re-strung yesterday and the only cost was for about a dollar's worth of Fireline and a postage stamp. Click HERE to read my previous post about the necklace. 

Jeanie Callaghan sent me a few yards of 8lb Fireline and suggested that I just go around the entire necklace a few times with it, making a knot or two. I went around with the 8lb Fireline a couple of times then went around twice more with some 6lb Fireline. 

Jeanie's idea was perfect because now it makes no difference which way my sister wears the necklace because it's a continuous loop. There's no clasp or anything to indicate where the thread ended. I also realized as I was stringing the beads that there was no way that I could have done this without a needle. Because the paper beads were handmade, the holes weren't always easy to get through, even with a needle. 

I just happen to have a top that goes perfectly with the necklace so I took a selfie so you can see the final result.

Beading News: Another site with "Chocolate" beads

And, I'm happy to announce that at my request, Aura Crystals now has Miyuki's "Metallic Chocolate (461)" seed beads in all of the sizes, including 6/0. Here are the links to each size:

15/0 Metallic Chocolate (461)

11/0 Metallic Chocolate (461)

8/0 Metallic Chocolate (461)

6/0 Metallic Chocolate (461)

If you're interested in this color, I suggest ordering them promptly. I noticed yesterday that Red Panda has already sold out of them 11/0 and 8/0.
 

Bethany Earrings & Duo Kheops Set - Matte Chalk Bronze

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• SuperDuo beads "Crystal Gold Luster"
• SuperDuo beads "Matte Chalk Bronze"

This is the third of five pairs of "Bethany Earrings" that I've made to go with five "Duo Kheops" bracelets. The earrings are my variation of Beth Clark's "Beth Duo Earrings" pattern which you can download HERE. The bracelet pattern is from Marina Beads on Etsy and you can buy it HERE. You can read my previous post about this bracelet HERE.

Download my free "Bethany Earrings" pattern HERE.

When I made the other four pairs of earrings in this series, I actually had SuperDuos in the same colors as the Kheops beads that I used to make the matching bracelets. That wasn't the case with this pair. Instead I used some bronze SuperDuos for the center "flowers".

 

Bethany Earrings & Duo Kheops Set - Copper & Hematite

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Transparent Montana Gold Luster" (204)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Transparent Montana Gold Luster" (204)
• SuperDuo beads "Jet Hematite"
• SuperDuo beads "Granite Galaxy Gold"

This is the second of five pairs of "Bethany Earrings" that I've made to go with five "Duo Kheops" bracelets. The earrings are my variation of Beth Clark's free "Beth Duo Earrings" pattern which you can download HERE. The bracelet pattern is from Marina Beads on Etsy and you can buy it HERE. You can read my previous post about this bracelet HERE.

Download my free "Bethany Earrings" pattern HERE.

For some reason this combination of beads gave me a little trouble. These earrings came out a little warped and it's most likely due to the fat Toho seed beads that I used. One of the earrings is worse than the other so I might just re-make the wonky one when I have a chance.

 

Beading News: Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" seed beads!!!

I wonder if someone from Miyuki has been reading my blog. If you read my blog regularly, you probably have heard me whine about how this wonderful metallic seed bead color only came in size 11/0. Well, I'm excited to tell you that they are now making Metallic Chocolate (461) in 15/0, 11/0, 8/0 and even 6/0! When I first found out a week or so ago, through a comment here on my blog, the only places that I could find them were on wholesale bead sites. I couldn't find any retail sites that had the new sizes. So, I contacted Betsy at Red Panda and asked her if she could get them and she did. She has them in 15/0, 11/0 and 8/0. I placed an order from her yesterday so I should have them very soon. I will let you know when I find this color on other bead sites but for now Red Panda is the only place that has them.

Metallic Chocolate is a very dark bronze that is almost copper. It's the prettiest shade of copper that I've seen in seed beads and they give beadwork a vintage look that I love. I'm so happy that I'll be able to use this color with patterns that call for seed bead sizes other than just 11/0. And, I'm especially pleased that they're made by Miyuki rather than Toho. Miyuki's 15/0 seed beads are so much nicer than Toho's.

Miyuki Metallic Chocolate - 461

Here are some examples of bracelets and earrings that I've made with this color: