New seed bead colors in the mail today

Back in March, I ordered some Toho Takumi Large-Hole 11/0 seed beads from Artbeads because they were a bronze color that I hadn't seen before. It's a metallic color that I've been hoping to find since back when I first started beading. My favorite bronze seed beads from Walmart were the same color but they were crummy Chinese beads and I hated working with them. So, I've been keeping an eye on the seed beads in various online shops in the hope that either Toho or Miyuki would come out with a similar color. I had a feeling that if Toho made this color in the Takumi beads, they just might also make that color in regular seed beads.

I looked up a Toho color chart online and, sure enough, they make this color in the regular 15/0, 11/0 and 8/0 seed beads! Now I needed to find a shop that had that color for sale in all three sizes. So far I've only found them in one place - Simply Beads - and they do have them in all three sizes, HERE, HERE and HERE. The color is called "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" and the color number is Toho #225. Although the beads weren't on sale, they were much cheaper than what I'd pay at the local bead shop for the same quantity. A large tube would cost at least $15 at the local shop and I'd also have to pay sales tax there. I paid about $8.00 per tube at Simply Beads.

METALLIC BRONZE ANTIQUE GOLD

The nice thing about this color is that it goes very well with some other beading items that I buy. It goes perfectly with the Vintaj natural brass filigree, the brass metal beads that I buy at Hobby Lobby, and it also goes quite well with a lot of the bronze clasps and findings that I have.

Metallic Bronze Antique Gold Takumi Beads

 
I wanted to get free shipping on my order so I needed to spend at least $50 at Simply Beads. It was very convenient of them to also carry some of the Toho "hybrid" seed bead colors that most other online shops are always out of and some I'd never seen before. I didn't buy them, but they also have seed beads with the new "metallic suede" finish to go with the druks, SuperDuos and fire polished beads, etc. that come in those colors. These are the colors that I got:

Hybrid Opaque Luster Green Picasso #Y182

Hybrid Luster Gold Smoky Topaz Rose and Green #Y185

Hybrid Moon Dust #Y369

Hybrid Rosy Mauve Gold Topaz Satin Luster #Y508F

I'm very happy to have found the "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" beads and I'm still holding out hope that Miyuki will eventually come out with one of my other favorite bead colors: Metallic Chocolate #461. At this time, it's only available in size 11/0.

Princess Earrings

Last year I took a class at a local bead shop called Beadoholique. The class was taught by Robin Smith and the "Princess Earrings" pattern is her creation. Here are some photos of Robin's earrings as well as a necklace that she adapted from the earring pattern:

Robin's version calls for 4mm bicones and 11/0 seed beads so the earrings come out very large. I recently decided to give the pattern a try using smaller beads and the earrings are the perfect size for me and I think the design actually works better with smaller beads. When I have a chance, I'll make a full size earring and show you the two sizes side by side.

While making some sample earrings, I came up with my own little dangle for the bottom of them and also experimented with not adding a drop bead at all. Instead I make a little seed bead picot to finish off the bottom of the earrings. I really like them like that too. I blogged about my crystal drop idea HERE.

Below are some of my sample earrings along with the beads that I used to make them. Note that, as far as I know, this pattern is not available for sale anywhere. I'm posting them strictly for inspiration.

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 3mm fire polished beads "Bronze Illusion"
• 3mm druks "Bronze"
• 7x10mm drop bead "Amethyst"

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 3mm fire polished beads "Opaque Rose and Topaz Luster"
• 3mm druks "Bronze"
• 7x5mm drop bead "Crystal Celsian"

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 3mm fire polished beads "Light Sapphire Gold Marbled" *
• 3mm druks "Bronze"
• 7x5mm drop bead "Black Diamond AB"

* I've only seen this color at Aura Crystals HERE. I used this same color in a "Tokyo Rows Bracelet" that I blogged about HERE.

Here are a couple sample earrings that I made without a drop bead. I think I like this version even better than with the drop bead.

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 3mm fire polished beads "Ruby"
• 3mm druks "Bronze"

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 3mm druks "Frosted Montana Blue"
• 3mm druks "Bronze"

UPDATE: Although I can't post the "Princess Earrings" pattern, I can suggest a few tutorials that might help you to figure out how to make them. The "Easter Earrings" look similar but they're round rather than heart-shaped. You can find that free tutorial HERE. One problem that I found when I tried making the "Easter Earrings" was the way that she makes the "Hana Ami" motif at the top. Her method doesn't make a secure motif because she doesn't start with a ring of beads in the center. I suggest using Deborah Roberti's method instead and you can find Deb's free tutorial HERE.

UPDATE: You can download the free "Princess Earrings" pattern from THIS post.

Also, the "Esmeralda" earring pattern uses the same kind of Right Angle Weave technique as Robin's "Princess Earrings". You can watch the YouTube video HERE. There's also an "Esmeralda" pattern for sale on Etsy, HERE.

Coming Soon - Teejay's Silky "Mary Ann" Bracelet Pattern

I first blogged about this clever design HERE. My friend, Teejay, made the above bracelet for me for my birthday and of course I wanted the pattern so that I could make some myself. So, Teejay and I are once again collaborating to produce a pattern for everyone to enjoy. I've made a few samples in the past couple of days and Teejay's instructions are easy to follow and her illustrations are very clear. It only needs a little fine-tuning.

After trying a few different Silky colors with this pattern, I'm finding that the shape of them varies enough that it can affect the way the bracelet looks where the "chains" of seed beads surround the "bump" in the center of the Silky beads. Those beads either sit neatly next to the bump or they have a tendency to slide off and more of the bump is exposed. Either way, the bracelet is still very pretty so I don't see that as a problem. In my sample below, the seed beads are lined up neatly along the bumps on the Silkies. This sample shows two different ways to attach the clasp and both methods will be included in the pattern:

MARY ANN BRACELET

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• Silky beads "Opaque Lilac"
• SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede Pink"

Birthday Bracelet #5

• 15/0 seed beads Matsuno "Copper" (457A)
• 11/0 seed beads Matsuno "Copper" (457A)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Hybrid Opaque Yellow Picasso" (4512)
• 6mm round beads "Glass Jade Dyed Brown - #33" (Beads One)

This one is another creation by my friend, Teejay. I think I detect some similarities to "Lovely Lace Bracelet".

Birthday Bracelet #4 - Round Lace Adaptation

• 15/0 seed beads Toho "Bronze" (223)
• 11/0 seed beads Matsuno "Copper" (457A)
• SuperDuo beads "Stone Green Luster"
• 3mm round beads "Amazonite" (Beads One - not available online)

This is another pattern by Sandra Halpenny. "Round Lace Bracelet" is a free pattern which you can find HERE. Teejay added some embellishments to this one. She filled some of the holes in the "lace" with SuperDuo beads and druks.

I've got one more "birthday" bracelet to post tomorrow and then it might be a while before I post again. I haven't been able to do any beading in about three weeks so I'll need some time to catch up. I don't have a good place to do my beading at the moment but I'm hoping to set up a beading studio soon in our son's old bedroom. For now I have to store my beading supplies in the closet and that makes choosing my beads very challenging.

Teejay sent me the first draft of her Silky bead bracelet pattern and I'm hoping to have a chance to try it out today. So far the pattern doesn't have a name yet but she made some really nice illustrations.

Birthday Bracelet #6 - Dime Store Bracelet

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Hematite Green Iris" (453A)
• 4mm druks "Matte Hurricane Lace Lichen"

Once again, Teejay used a pattern by Sandra Halpenny. This is Sandra's free "Dime Store Bracelet" pattern which you can find HERE.
 

Birthday Bracelet #2

• 15/0 seed beads Toho "Bronze" (223)
• 11/0 seed beads Matsuno "Copper" (457A)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Bronze" (223)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Opaque Chartreuse Picasso" (4515)
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Grey Travertin"
• 4mm druks "Opaque Green Luster"

This is another one of Teejay's wonderful creations. I'm hoping to get the pattern for this one too.

UPDATE: You can download the "Elinor Bracelet" pattern from THIS post.

 

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