ESTHER BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
- 7mm CzechMates 2-hole cabochons "Luster Opaque Rose Gold Topaz"
- 2mm Czech pearls "Champagne"
Back when I was trying a bunch of patterns with the new 7mm CzechMates cabochons, I made a sample of my "Esther Silky Bracelet" by swapping out the Silky beads for cabochons. Although they do work, I found that the pattern only works with Toho seed beads because the 7mm cabs were created to specifically work well with Toho beads. I couldn't find a way to make Miyuki seed beads work because they're so much smaller than Toho beads. There has to be an odd number of beads around each cab. When I tried adding two more Miyuki beads to fill the space there were too many beads to fit properly. In any case, these bronze Toho beads go very nicely with the rose gold cabochons.
You can download my free bracelet "Esther Silky Bracelet" pattern from THIS post. Red Panda has the 7mm cabochons HERE.
Where to buy 2mm Czech pearls:
Aria Design Studio Etsy
ArtBeads
Aura Crystals
Beads Gone Wild
Bello Modo
Beyond Beadery
CJBeaders (UK)
Eureka Crystal Beads
Haute Hobby
Potomac Bead Company
Red Panda
Robin's Beads (UK)
Stitchncraft Beads (UK)
BLUEBELL BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
- GemDuo beads "Crystal Grey Rainbow"
- SuperDuo beads "Polychrome Copper Rose"
- O-Beads "Matte Metallic Leather"
I showed you a sample of this colorway in my GemDuo post HERE. The Matte Metallic Leather GemDuos are a mixture of mostly shades of gray but there were just enough that had a reddish tint to make this bracelet.
Download the free "Bluebell Bracelet" pattern from THIS post. There is a list of places to buy GemDuos in the post that I mentioned above. THIS post has a list of sources for O-Beads.
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- GemDuo beads "Chalk Senegal Brown"
- SuperDuo beads "Matte Chalk Bronze"
I showed you a sample of this colorway in THIS post about the new GemDuo beads. There is no pattern for this bracelet but there is a YouTube video tutorial HERE for a very similar bracelet called "Bardot". The main difference is the placement of the netting along the outer edge. I make mine using a different method from the one in the video. I start by making the first clasp loop and I also add my netting as I create each motif. In the video she creates the base of DiamonDuos and SuperDuos first then goes back up and down the length of the bracelet adding the netting beads and clasp loops. The end result looks the same and you can easily add the netting beads where Bisaneta does instead of where she puts them in the video.
This bracelet is a nice medium width and is somewhat heavy for its size. It is a comfortable bracelet to wear. You probably won't be able to find SuperDuos this color but you should be able to find them in "Chalk Senegal Brown", which doesn't have a matte finish like the ones I used. I found these on Etsy but that shop is out of this color and I've never seen it anywhere else. Read my GemDuo post HERE for a list of places to buy them.
- 11/0 seed bead Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
- 8/0 seed bead Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
- Cali beads "Chalk Lumi Punch"
- SuperDuo beads "Milky Amethyst"
These bracelets are an adaptation of Norma Jean Dell's "Lattice Gates Bracelet" pattern. Her original pattern is made with CzechMates and I usually make mine with Silky beads and call them "Sandra Silky" bracelets. I made a single row of the pattern and substituted Cali beads for the Silky beads this time. You can buy Norma Jean Dell's original tutorial HERE.
I looked through my bracelet patterns for ones that might work with Cali beads and this was the only one that seemed suitable. Cali beads have three holes in them but I only needed to use the two outer holes for this design. I was surprised that these two bracelets came out pretty much the same length as my Silky bead version until I realized that Cali beads are about the same size as the bumps in the center of Silky beads.
- 11/0 seed bead Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
- 8/0 seed bead Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
- Cali beads "Patina"
- SuperDuo beads "Matte Chalk Picasso"
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| CALI BEADS |
Here are a few places to buy Cali beads online:
Queen City Bead Etsy
Beadaholique
Potomac Bead Company
Creative Beadcraft UK
Bead Passion Studio
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- Half Tila beads "Matte Metallic Dark Bronze" (HT-2006)
- Half Tila beads "Matte Metallic Patina" (HT-2008)
I showed you a bracelet in this same colorway back in March HERE. I put a button and loop clasp on that one as you can see in the photo below. I wasn't happy with that fastener so I re-made the bracelet with a small magnetic clasp. The supply list remains the same except that I've added a couple of 8/0 seed beads for the jump rings to go through. Read my other post for more information about where to find patterns and YouTube tutorials for making this kind of bracelet.
DiamonDuos have a new competitor called GemDuos. They both look similar when beaded up but there are differences. Whether the differences are good or not seems to depend on the design that you're working with. Where DiamonDuos have a distinct pyramid shape on the top, GemDuos have just a single ridge down the center that is slightly flattened in the middle. Even though the tops of the GemDuos don't stick up as high as the diamond tops of the DiamonDuos do, the side holes of the GemDuos are positioned so that they are very close to the bottom of the beads. The DiamonDuo holes are closer to the center. So, both kinds appear to be raised up in the beadwork to about the same height.
Both kinds of diamond-shaped beads are about the same size and weight but DiamonDuos have most of their weight in the top pyramid part of the bead. GemDuos are bottom-heavy and have a much wider base than DiamonDuos. That feature might be great if you want to stitch lots of GemDuos next to each other but it's not so great when the beads are strung in a circular design. The bottoms sometimes end up a little too close to each other and can sometimes cause warping of the beadwork.
I found the two diagrams below online. The top view of the GemDuo doesn't show the center ridge for some reason but the side view illustrates the difference between the two beads pretty well.
Here are some specs for comparison:
THICKNESS
DiamonDuos = 3.45mm
GemDuos = 3.32mm
WIDTH AT THE WIDEST POINT
DiamonDuos = 4.95mm
GemDuos = 5.33mm
LENGTH
DiamonDuos = 7.79mm
GemDuos = 8.58mm
WEIGHT (per 20 beads)
DiamonDuos = 2.83 grams
GemDuos = 2.80 grams
In the photo below you can see how much larger the bottoms of the GemDuos are compared to the DiamonDuos. The GemDuo samples are the ones where you can see a sort of line down the length of each bead on the bottom. DiamonDuos have very flat, smooth bottoms.
Below are some of my GemDuo experiments. I took photos of some of the samples next to examples of the same patterns made with DiamonDuos.
ROUNDABOUT BRACELET
LEFT SAMPLE:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- DiamonDuo beads "Chalk Lumi Blue"
- MiniDuo beads "Opaque Amethyst Luster"
RIGHT SAMPLE:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- GemDuo beads "Chalk Blue Luster"
- MiniDuo beads "Opaque Amethyst Luster"
LEFT SAMPLE:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- GemDuo beads "Bronze Pale Gold"
- MiniDuo beads "White Senegal Brown Purple"
RIGHT SAMPLE:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- DiamonDuo beads "Matte Gold"
- MiniDuo beads "White Senegal Brown Purple"
Although GemDuos will work with this pattern, they do alter the shape of the motif a little and the motifs have a tendency to warp. The corners are more pointy on the GemDuo samples and more rounded on the DiamonDuo samples. Personally, I prefer this pattern with DiamonDuos but that wouldn't stop me from using GemDuos to make this bracelet if they are a color that isn't available in DiamonDuos. You can buy Deb Roberti's "Roundabout Bracelet" pattern HERE.
KANDA EARRINGS
LEFT SAMPLE:
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
- DiamonDuo beads "Turquoise Bronze"
- 4mm Czech bicones "Hematite Luster Aquamarine"
RIGHT SAMPLE:
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- GemDuo beads "Bronze Pale Gold"
- 4mm Czech bicones "Crystal Golden Flare"
This was my first time trying this free pattern from Elfenatelier. Because the diamond-shaped beads aren't very visible in this motif, it's hard to tell which is which. I do think that the GemDuo sample motif is slightly larger than the DiamonDuo version but that might be an optical illusion due to the light and dark colors that I used. While making these samples, I found that the motif isn't very stable. I needed to add the same netting to the back of the earrings as on the front to keep the motif from sort of folding up. Download the free earring pattern HERE.
Here is the back view showing the added netting:
TONI EARRINGS
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Dark Mauve" (4213)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Dark Mauve" (4213)
- GemDuo beads "Bronze Copper"
- GemDuo beads "Green-Gold Mix" (I used only the green ones)
These earrings look very different when made with GemDuos instead of DiamonDuos. They have a sleeker look. I haven't decided if I like that better or not. The seed bead outline looks a little smoother with GemDuos too but the earrings come out a lot more soft and flexible no matter how much they are reinforced.
Below you can see the GemDuo sample earring next to two examples made with DiamonDuos. Read my previous posts to get the bead information HERE and HERE. Download my free "Toni Earrings" pattern HERE.
TAMMY BRACELET
TOP LEFT SAMPLE:
- 15/0 seed beads Toho "Transparent Montana Gold Luster" (204)
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Transparent Montana Gold Luster" (204)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Transparent Montana Gold Luster" (204)
- GemDuo beads "Chalk Beige Luster"
- GemDuo beads "Chalk Vega Purple"
BOTTOM RIGHT SAMPLE:
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- GemDuo beads "Jet"
- GemDuo beads "Gold-Bronze Mix" (I used bronze ones only)
I like how the GemDuos look with this pattern very much. Because GemDuos are a little bigger than DiamonDuos, Toho seed beads work quite well and help fill the slight gaps between the seed beads. Miyuki beads work fine though and the gaps aren't very noticeable.
Download my free "Tammy Bracelet" pattern and get the bead info for the silver and purple bracelet HERE. You'll find the bead info for the black and gray bracelet HERE.
BISANETA'S 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)
- GemDuo beads "Chalk Red Terracotta"
- SuperDuo beads "Red Luster"
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
- GemDuo beads "Chalk Senegal Brown"
- SuperDuo beads "Matte Chalk Bronze"
GemDuos work very well with this bracelet pattern too. There is no pattern for this bracelet but there is a YouTube video tutorial HERE for the "Bardot Bracelet" which is very similar. Read THIS post to get the bead info for the DiamonDuo bracelet in the photo below.
IVY BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- GemDuo beads "Chalk Green Luster"
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Light Blue Picasso"
- O beads "Jade Picasso"
I really like the GemDuos with "Ivy". They have a softer, more organic look than DiamonDuos and that suits the design very well. Download the free "Ivy Bracelet" pattern HERE and get the bead info for the bracelet in the photo below HERE.
BLUEBELL BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
- GemDuo beads "Crystal Grey Rainbow"
- SuperDuo beads "Polychrome Copper Rose"
- O-Beads "Matte Metallic Leather"
I love this colorway and will definitely make one of these for myself. Obviously the GemDuos work great with this pattern too. I used a GemDuo color mixture and picked out mostly the ones that were sort of mauve. Download the free "Bluebell Bracelet" pattern and get the bead info for the DiamonDuo bracelet in the photo below from THIS post.
PLACES TO BUY GEMDUO BEADS:
Red Panda
Queen City Bead
Bead Passion Studio
Charlene's Beads
Jill Wiseman Designs
Beads Direct USA
Spoilt Rotten Beads (UK)
Supply Emporium
Fofinhas Perlenstuebchen (Germany)
I hope to blog again soon but I haven't had much time for beading in over a week. I've been busy driving my husband to his doctor appointments all week. I should have some beading time today but I probably won't get to take any photos until later next week. Please continue to bear with me until things are back to normal.
