Today's Tangles - Mehndi Pattern Series

The contents of this post have been moved to my tangle blog HERE.

Today's Tangles - A Few More Official Tangles

The contents of this post have been moved to my tangle blog HERE.

Bracelet of the Day: Honeycomb Stacker - Blue Picasso

HONEYCOMB STACKER

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
• Honeycomb beads "Hodge Podge Blue Picasso"
• 4mm fire polished beads "Turquoise Copper Picasso"

Today's bracelet is a "Honeycomb Stacker" made in another Hodge Podge colorway. Once again, I used Toho seed beads. 

You can get these Honeycomb beads from Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE. Aura Crystals has the fire polished beads that I used HERE. Download Deb Roberti's free "Honeycomb Stacker" pattern HERE. Aura Crystals has these seed beads in 11/0 HERE but they don't have any of the 8/0 size in stock. In any case, the pattern doesn't actually call for 8/0 beads if you make your clasp loops as directed by the pattern. I checked Supply Emporium and Claire does have them in 11/0 and 8/0 and so does Red Panda.

 

Bracelet of the Day: Honeycomb Stacker - Seafoam Travertine

HONEYCOMB STACKER

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
• Honeycomb beads "Hodge Podge Seafoam Travertine"
• 4mm fire polished beads "Opaque Beige Picasso"

I've had these unusual Honeycomb beads kicking around in my stash for a while and I decided that it was time to make something with them. Deb Roberti recently came out with the perfect bracelet pattern and it's one of her free ones. It's called "Honeycomb Stacker" and you'll find it HERE at Around the Beading Table. It's super quick to make too. I don't think that it took me more than about 30 minutes to make.

I don't have Honeycomb beads in very many colors because I've been having trouble learning to like them for some reason. I think it is because they are usually so flat and plain on the top. That's not the case with this color which to me looks like some kind of stone. I think they're perfect for the casual style of this bracelet.

The pattern recommends Miyuki seed beads but I made a sample with them and wasn't happy with how they fit around the Honeycomb beads. So, I made another sample with Toho beads and they look much neater in my opinion. I did take Deb's advice and used one less seed bead with Toho.

I haven't really looked around for these Hodge Podge Honeycomb colors anywhere else online but I know that you can get them from Queen City Bead on Etsy HERE. Aura Crystals has the fire polished beads that I used HERE.

 

Liz Band & Pretty Drops Earrings - Aqua & Bronze

LIZ BAND

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• SuperDuo beads "Crystal Gold Luster"  
• 3x4mm rondelles "Aqua Gold" (Chinese)
  

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I found two new earring video tutorials that worked beautifully with my last two "Liz Bands". I found today's tutorial HERE at Gina's Gem Creations YouTube channel.

Download the free "Liz Band" pattern HERE. I bought the rondelles that I used in the bracelet at a local bead store. I bought the Chinese bicones that I used to make the earrings at Prima Bead online but their site is down at the moment for construction. I can't say for sure if they will still have these beads available when they open their site again.

PRETTY DROPS EARRINGS

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457)
• 4mm bicones "Aqua Gold" (Prima Bead)

Although Gina used Toho seed beads to make her earrings, I found that Miyuki seed beads work even better with her design. I also changed the top loop on my earrings.

 

Liz Band & Picture Frame Earrings - Chalk Lumi Green & Rose

LIZ BAND

• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Matte Cabernet" (703)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Matte Cabernet" (703)
• Mini DiamonDuo beads "Chalk Lumi Green"  
• 3mm druks "Alabaster Coral Rose"

I made this and one other "Liz Band" colorway that I will blog about tomorrow. After making them, I needed to find a couple of new earring patterns to go with both of them. I didn't have any patterns in my stash that would work well with the beads that I used. The earrings to go with today's bracelet needed to be made with either Mini DiamonDuos or the regular size ones. I also wanted to use beads in a color that was similar to the druks that I used in the bracelet.

Luckily, I found two new earring patterns that would work great with both of my new bracelets. Both of them are from YouTube tutorials so they're free. The "Picture Frame Earrings" that go with today's bracelet also have a web tutorial available.

Go to THIS post to download the free "Liz Band" pattern. Watch the video tutorial for the "Picture Frame Earrings" HERE. Maria also has step-by-step photos for the earrings HERE on her blog. I got the druks HERE at Supply Emporium. Unfortunately, the SuperDuos that I used in the earrings are no longer available anywhere that I know of.

I changed one thing on my earrings. Maria's earrings are square with the top loops being attached to one of the sides. I wanted mine to be diamond shaped to go with the diamond theme of the bracelet.

PICTURE FRAME EARRINGS

• 15/0 seed beads Toho "Matte Cabernet" (703)
• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Matte Cabernet" (703)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Matte Cabernet" (703)
• DiamonDuo beads "Chalk Lumi Green"
• SuperDuo beads "Matte Chalk Bronze"
• 3mm bicones "Purple Red AB" (Chinese)

PLAYING WITH MINI DIAMONDUO BEADS...

While I had the Mini DiamonDuos out, I thought I'd try making a couple of motifs of Deb Roberti's "Petites Fleur" pattern. Normally the pattern is made with SuperDuos but I thought perhaps Mini DiamonDuos might also work. They do seem to work. There is only a very slight warping of the motif which might be more noticeable with earrings than with a bracelet. I'd love to make bracelets in both of these colorways but I'm not sure if I have enough of all these beads.

LEFT SAMPLE:

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
• Mini DiamonDuo beads "Chalk Lumi Green"
• 3mm Czech pearls "Fiesta Nutmeg"
• 3mm druks "Matte Siam Ruby Bronze Picasso"

RIGHT SAMPLE:

• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• Mini DiamonDuo beads "Matte Gold"
• 3mm druks "Mustard Luster"
• 3mm druks "Turquoise Gold Topaz Luster"

 

Today's Tangles - Ribbon Patterns

The contents of this post have been moved to my tangle blog HERE.