Russian Leaf Earring Samples - #16 and #29

LEFT SAMPLE:

• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
• 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Nickel Plated" (DB21)
• 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Opaque Black" (DB10)
• 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Opaque Dyed Maroon" (DB654)

RIGHT SAMPLE:

• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Gold" (4202)
• 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Duracoat Gold" (DB1832)
• 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Opaque Black" (DB10)

I will blog again when I can but I will be busy for a while working on some beadwork for birthday gifts that are mostly items that I've already blogged about.

I've had a request for some Russian Leaf earrings made with predominantly black Delica beads. What I discovered while making these sample earrings is that it's not easy to see where the thread is coming out when the thread is black and the beads are also black and very shiny. I made the black and red earring in the evening and I thought perhaps it would be easier to make them on a bright sunny day. Well, bright light does help some but not as much as I thought it would. Doing the peyote stitch wasn't difficult because the beads are added along the outer edge. However, I had to be very careful where I inserted my needle with each stitch as I wove around the perimeter to reinforce them. At least they did turn out very pretty and I don't think I left any threads where they shouldn't be. I did finish making the mates to these two earrings yesterday and I will take photos of them when I have a chance.

Watch Jill Wiseman's YouTube video tutorial HERE and download her free PDF HERE. You will need to use Jill Wiseman's tutorial but make them with seven rows instead of nine as Jill instructs. You can buy Delica beads at Red Panda, Aura Crystals, Supply Emporium and Baubles & Beads.

Below are the charts that I used to make these two earring designs:

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Suede Gold & Hematite

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Gunmetal" (451)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Gunmetal" (451)
• Cali beads "Hematite"
• SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede Gold"

I decided to make this final "Claudia" bracelet with the hematite Cali beads once again. I like the way it looks with the suede gold SuperDuos. For some reason this particular color comes in two versions depending on the bead supplier. These are the lighter version. The other version is much darker olive green color.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. For Cali beads, go to Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE.

This is the week that my sister-in-law is visiting so I haven't done any beading all week. It will probably be a while before I have a chance to make some new projects to blog about.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Steel Blue & Graphite

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
• Cali beads "Crystal Glittery Graphite"
• SuperDuo beads "Pearl Coat Steel Blue"

This colorway is another one of my favorites. These Cali beads appear to be a dark metallic pewter but they're actually translucent when held up to the light. They look opaque on my wrist.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. You can get Cali beads at Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE.

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Navy & Ivory

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Gunmetal" (451)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Gunmetal" (451)
• Cali beads "Hematite"
• SuperDuo beads "Navy/Ivory Luster Duets"
• SuperDuo beads "Jet Hematite"

Today's bracelet is mostly hematite with a little dark ivory to break up the monotony. The Superduo Duets are very subtle but effective in this colorway.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. You'll find a nice assortment of Cali beads at Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Jet & Silver

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
• Cali beads "Jet"
• SuperDuo beads "Jet"

Today's bracelet is "Claudia" in basic black. Nothing fancy but very practical.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. You'll find a nice assortment of Cali beads at Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Ivory & Aqua

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Gold" (4202)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Gold" (4202)
• Cali beads "Chalk Cream Shimmer"
• SuperDuo beads "Pastel Light Cream (25110)"
• SuperDuo beads "Turquoise Green White Luster"

Here's a nice, summery colorway. I don't use bright gold seed beads very often but they were just the thing for this bracelet.

UPDATE 7/13/17: I just found out when I thought I had ordered more of them that the old package of "Pastel Cream (25039)" SuperDuos that I had was labeled incorrectly. What I actually had was "Pastel Light Cream (25110)". I discovered the error when I ordered some "Pearl Coat Cream (25039)" thinking they would be the same color because the number matched what was on my bag. They are not the same color and would not work with this colorway at all. They are a darker yellowish cream instead of pale off-white that matches these Cali beads. I've corrected the color information in the bead list above. Be sure to match up the color number, not just the color name, if you buy beads to make this colorway.

Here are swatches of the two shades of cream so you can see the difference:

Pearl Coat Cream (25039)

Aura Crystals has this color HERE.
Red Panda has this color HERE and HERE.

Pastel Light Cream (25110)

Aura Crystals has this color HERE.
Red Panda has this color HERE.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. You'll find a nice assortment of Cali beads at Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE. I found the green turquoise SuperDuos at Red Panda HERE.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Amethyst Luster

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• Cali beads "Chalk Violet Luster"
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Gold Amethyst Luster"
• SuperDuo beads "Luster Gold"

I found these scrumptious amethyst SuperDuos at Red Panda recently. They have a hint of gold on them that gives them a bit of sparkle and they go very well with these Cali beads.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. You'll find a nice assortment of Cali beads at Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE. You'll find these pretty amethyst SuperDuos HERE at Red Panda.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Jet & Ivory

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• Cali beads "Jet"
• SuperDuo beads "Jet"
• SuperDuo beads "Black/White Beige Luster Duets"

The arrangement of the SuperDuo Duets gives today's bracelet a very different look.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. You'll find a nice assortment of Cali beads at Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Apricot

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Bright Bronze" (221)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Bright Bronze" (221)
• Cali beads "Chalk Medium Apricot"
• SuperDuo beads "White Apricot Full"

This colorway looks good enough to eat and is perfect for summer.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. You'll find Cali beads at Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Claudia - Purple & Turquoise

CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
• Cali beads "Chalk Lumi Purple"
• SuperDuo beads "Pink Luster Turquoise"
• SuperDuo beads "Chalk Vega"

This is another colorway where I had to use two SuperDuo colors because I didn't have enough of one color to make a bracelet. I love the combination of purple and turquoise.

Download my free "Claudia Cali Bead Chain" pattern HERE. You'll find a nice assortment of Cali beads at Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE.