Juliet Earrings - Turquoise & Lilac

JULIET EARRINGS

• 15/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
• ZoliDuo beads "Alabaster Lila Vega Luster"
• SuperDuo beads "Pink Luster Turquoise"
• 4mm druks "Lilac Vega Luster"

Because the "Juliet Earrings" go so well with the "Dicey Diamonds Bracelet", I wanted to make a pair to go with the bracelet that I blogged about HERE. The problem was that I had used some matte lilac druks in the bracelet and they don't make ZoliDuos in that color. The closest thing that I have are these "Alabaster Lila Vega Luster" ZoliDuos. The color is close but not quite the same. But, I figured that nobody would be able to tell the difference from a distance especially considering that the earrings will be so far away from the bracelet on my wrist.

I was all set to make the earrings when I realized that I don't have any 4mm silver druks. Goodness knows how that could be since I have them in pretty much every color and finish that's out there and I do have them in 3mm. I gave the 3mm druks a try but they aren't the right scale for this design. So, I ended up using druks that are the same color as the ZoliDuos and I quite like how they look together, possibly even more than I would have liked silver druks.

I was a little nervous about using Toho 15/0 nickel seed beads for for the netting around the earrings because their 15/0 beads are notoriously irregular and wonky. I could have used Miyuki nickel beads but they are harder to come by and I'm reserving my stash for extra special beading projects. So, I simply picked out the nicest-looking Toho beads as I went along being careful not to pick up any really oddly shaped ones. They do look fine but they were a real pain to work with because the holes are so tiny. I wasn't able to get back through the top loop as many times as I would have liked even though I used a size 12 needle and 6lb Fireline. I almost never have that problem with Miyuki's 15/0 beads.

Read THIS post for information about this pattern which was adapted from Teresa Morse's "Juliet Bracelet". I have a list of links to online sources for ZoliDuo and PaisleyDuo beads on the right side of my blog under "Where to buy..."

Playing with my beads...Dicey Diamonds Bracelet Variation with MiniDuos

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 3mm Czech pearls "Cream"
• MiniDuo beads "Opaque White Ruby Gold Luster aka Opaque Dark Pink Luster"

For information about this pattern, read THIS post. The other day Jeanie Callaghan asked me if I thought MiniDuos might work with this pattern. I'm happy to say that they work beautifully and perhaps even better than SuperDuos. I only had to make two adjustments to the design. I used 3mm pearls instead of 4mm druks and I eliminated four 15/0 seed beads on each motif. The result is a more dainty version of the bracelet.

Below is a comparison of my sample MiniDuo version next to the full-size SuperDuo version:

To make this mini version of the bracelet in my size, I will need to make five motifs. I will likely have to make an adjustment by leaving off the pearls near the ends otherwise it might be too long.

ALMOST THERE...

My blog hasn't quite hit 7 million pageviews yet but I expect it will in the next few hours. Right now the total count is 6,998,931 so 1,069 more to go. My blog typically gets between 3,500 and 4,000 pageviews per day and much more than that if I post a new pattern or something that's very popular.
 

SuperDuo Rosette Bracelet - Violet Picasso

SUPERDUO ROSETTE BRACELET

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (4222)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (4222)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (4222)
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Violet Picasso"
• 3mm Czech pearls "Opaque Pastel Brown Sugar"

The other day I showed you the sample below of a couple of "Dicey Diamonds Bracelet" colorways that I decided not to make into bracelets. I liked one of the colorways well enough that I wanted to use it for something so I made this "SuperDuo Rosette Bracelet".

This pattern does take smaller druks than "Dicey Diamonds" but I do have some 3mm druks in that color. This bracelet was very difficult to photograph so my photos don't clearly show the color of these SuperDuos. Below is a photo of the SuperDuos that shows a little better what the actual color looks like. I would describe the color as a dark plum/purple with metallic pewter accents.

You can buy Sam Wescott's "SuperDuo Rosette" bracelet pattern HERE.

SOON TO HIT 7 MILLION PAGEVIEWS

I started this blog on January 28, 2014 and it is just about to hit 7 million pageviews since then. I anticipate reaching 7 million sometime tomorrow. Thanks for your support and lovely comments over the years. I have made many wonderful beading friends because of this blog.
 

Dicey Diamonds Bracelet Variation - Turquoise Picasso

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 4mm druks "Opaque Medium Beige"
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Turquoise Picasso"

Read my previous post HERE about the origin of this pattern. I mentioned in that post that I was going to make one more colorway and that I would make it with five motifs. The bracelet comes out very long with five motifs. I tried it on a number of wrist sizes ranging from a 7 1/2-inch wrist to an 8-inch wrist. It's a little too loose on a 7 1/2-inch wrist and slightly snug on 8-inch. It fit the best on a 7 3/4-inch wrist size. The bracelet actually measures 8 1/4 inches long with the clasp and one jump ring on each end. With another jump ring added to each end, it would probably fit an 8-inch wrist. My four motif bracelets measure 6 3/4 inches long and fit my 6-inch wrist nicely.

In the photo below of the bracelet on my wrist, I have a lot of excess bracelet tucked under my arm. It almost fits my wrist twice (slight exaggeration). To give you an idea of what I do to get my bracelet photos, with this one I had to keep my left arm very still so that none of the excess bracelet would show. At the same time I had to pick up my camera, turn it on and snap about four or five photos with only my right hand. Keeping the camera steady is pretty tricky while holding it with one hand too.

 

Dicey Diamonds Bracelet Variation

Back in 2013 I got a pattern from Etsy called "Dicey Diamonds" by Jenn Schwartzenberger and Susan Schwartzenberger. Their old Etsy shop has closed now and this pattern isn't available in their new Stony Creek Bead Store which you can visit HERE. Below is the bracelet photo that is on the pattern:

When I first got the pattern, I made the sample below to try it out. Although I loved the shape of the motifs, I was very unhappy that the thread and the holes in the SuperDuos showed along the outer edges. For that reason, I never did make a bracelet with that pattern.

The other day I dug out the pattern and decided to see if I could find a way to keep the basic look of the bracelet but cover up the open SuperDuo holes. I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out. I don't know if I will ever post a pattern for my version because it's a little complicated to make and there are 54 steps in my instructions. Making diagrams for this pattern would be an awful lot of work too.

Because the motifs are so big, it's tricky sizing this bracelet. Lucky for me, four motifs, plus the little druk motifs in between them, fit my 6-inch wrist just right. Unlucky for me, four motifs put the little druk connector right in the center of my bracelet. That's not really too much of a problem though because I can just turn the bracelet a little to center one of the large motifs on my wrist.

I plan to make one more colorway today and I'll make it with five motifs so that I can see what size wrist it will fit but I estimate that it will fit a 7 1/2 to 8 inch wrist size. To make the bracelet fit a size in between might require some tweaking by removing a couple of the druk connectors or something. I will let you know my results after I've made the longer bracelet.

Here are two little colorway samples that I've decided not to make into bracelets:

LEFT SAMPLE:

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
• 4mm druks "Pastel Brown Sugar"
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Violet Picasso"

RIGHT SAMPLE:

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki/Czech hybrid "Black Bronze" (CZ55030)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki/Czech hybrid "Black Bronze" (CZ55030)
• 4mm druks "Saturated Metallic Autumn Maple"
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Violet Dark Travertin"

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 4mm druks "Opaque Turquoise Picasso"
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Brown"

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Nickel Plated" (190)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Nickel Plated" (190)
• 4mm druks "Matte Dusty Lilac"
• SuperDuo beads "Pink Luster Turquoise"

 

Juliet Earrings - Turquoise & Umber

JULIET EARRINGS

• 15/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
• ZoliDuo beads "Turquoise Travertine"
• SuperDuo beads "Umber"
• 4mm Czech pearls "Antique Gold"

Read THIS post for information about this pattern which was adapted from Teresa Morse's "Juliet Bracelet". I have a list of links to online sources for ZoliDuo and PaisleyDuo beads on the right side of my blog under "Where to buy..."

 

Juliet Earrings - Gold & Petrol

JULIET EARRINGS

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki Hybrid "Aztec Gold" (55127)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki Hybrid "Aztec Gold" (55127)
• ZoliDuo beads "Pastel Petrol"
• SuperDuo beads "Bronze Pale Gold"
• 4mm druks "Aztec Gold"

Read THIS post for information about this pattern which was adapted from Teresa Morse's "Juliet Bracelet". I have a list of links to online sources for ZoliDuo and PaisleyDuo beads on the right side of my blog under "Where to buy..."

I am planning to make a bracelet in this colorway and give the set as a Christmas gift. I will use Deb Roberti's "Athena Bracelet" pattern.

 

Juliet Earrings - Lila Vega

 

JULIET EARRINGS

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• ZoliDuo beads "Alabaster Lila Vega Luster"
• SuperDuo beads "White Terracotta"
• 4mm druks "Bronze"

Read THIS post for information about this pattern which was adapted from Teresa Morse's "Juliet Bracelet". I found these SuperDuo beads HERE at Supply Emporium. 

In case you haven't seen it, yesterday I added a list of links to online sources for ZoliDuo and PaisleyDuo beads. You'll find it in the list on the right side of my blog under "Where to buy..." or click HERE.

Where to buy...ZoliDuo & PaisleyDuo Beads

ZoliDuo Beads

ZoliDuos and PaisleyDuos are similar in shape and I'm pretty sure that they can be used interchangeably. The main difference between them is that ZoliDuos are flat on the back and rounded on the front. When you buy ZoliDuos, you have to buy right and left beads separately. PaisleyDuos are the same on both sides. I have only used ZoliDuos so I have no example beadwork to show you with PaisleyDuos. Below is a list of places to buy both kinds of beads online.

PaisleyDuo Beads

WHERE TO BUY ZOLIDUO & PAISLEYDUO BEADS

Ankes-Perlenstube (Germany) (ZoliDuos)

Aura Crystals (PaisleyDuos)

Beadaholique (ZoliDuos)

BeadBistroCrafts - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

BeadAndGlassBoutique - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

BeadFlairCreations - Etsy (UK) (PaisleyDuos)

BeadFX (Canada) (ZoliDuos)

Bead Passion Studio (ZoliDuos)

BeadPassionStudio - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

Beads Direct (USA) (ZoliDuos)

BeadsForMyString - Etsy (ZoliDuos & PaisleyDuos)

BeadsOfBohemia - Etsy (Czechia) (ZoliDuos)

Bead House (Netherlands) (ZoliDuos)

Beads Mine (Italy) (ZoliDuos)

Bello Modo (ZoliDuos)

Bijoux Components (Czech Republic) (ZoliDuos)

BurkeGemsBeads - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

Charlene's Beads (ZoliDuos & PaisleyDuos)

Creative Beadcraft (UK) (ZoliDuos)

Crystals and Ice Bead Shop (UK) (ZoliDuos)

DesertStarCreations - Etsy (PaisleyDuos)

DH-Perlenshop (Germany) (ZoliDuos)

Eureka Crystal Beads (ZoliDuos & PaisleyDuos)

Eureka Crystal Beads (ZoliDuos)

Fire Mountain Gems & Beads (ZoliDuos)

Fofinhas Perlenstuebchen (Germany) (ZoliDuos)

Fusion Beads (ZoliDuos)

Gyöngysziget (Hungary) (ZoliDuos)

HobbyPerline (Italy) (ZoliDuos)

Jill Wiseman Designs (ZoliDuos)

KnotJustBeads (ZoliDuos)

LadyBugsBeadsandBobs - Etsy (UK) (ZoliDuos)

Old Bicycle Shop (UK) (ZoliDuos)

Over the Rainbow (Australia) (ZoliDuos)

Perles & Co (UK) (ZoliDuos)

PoppyAndGenesBeadery - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

PotomacBeads - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

Potomac Beads (ZoliDuos & PaisleyDuos)

QueenCityBead - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

Red Panda (ZoliDuos)

Rockin Beads (ZoliDuos)

ScaraBeads - Etsy (Czechia) (ZoliDuos)

ScaraBeads (Czech Republic) (ZoliDuos)

Scarletbeads - Etsy (Israel) (ZoliDuos)

Southpassbeads - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

Spoilt Rotten Beads (UK) (PaisleyDuos)

The Northern Bead Company (Canada) (ZoliDuos)

ToriBethDesigns - Etsy (ZoliDuos)

Vivaccessories - Etsy (Israel) (ZoliDuos)

Whim Beads (ZoliDuos)