Tabla de contenidos para January 2019 en Beadwork

The closing cycle of a magazine is filled with excitement, but more the kind of excitement that comes with a lot of parts and pieces in motion at the same time—and doing your best to keep up! To do this well, it takes a team that works closely and communicates well with each other. As we close this issue and begin work on the next, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work done by the team I have the privilege of working with. Lavon Peters—Managing Editor As managing editor, Lavon keeps things in motion so we hit all of our deadlines. More than that, she is a master at catching spelling, grammar, and technical errors. She can look at a project in layout form and spot…

If you know my work at all, you know I’m a big fan of two-needle right-angle weave. The base of this project was one of the first designs I ever created with SuperDuos. But once I stitched the base, I realized the piece was kind of boring. I tried embellishing the spaces between the SuperDuos with size 11° seed beads. Still not very exciting. When I realized 4mm beads would fit between the SuperDuos, I was ecstatic! This discovery opened up so many possibilities. I was able to create the bracelet as narrow or as wide as I wanted with metal beads or gemstones. The colors for this bracelet design originated from an error on another project. Believe it or not, the color palette for my Tucson Vista Necklace from…

The inspiration for the Cosmic Flora Bracelet originated with my curiosity about the new shaped crescent beads. I used crescents to create a four-point flower by working circular netting. I then added drop beads to represent small bulbous leaves. As a finishing touch, I added glass pearls to each flower for a little extra glow. When I create new jewelry, I rework the design until it strikes a balance of clever bead placement, layered dimension, and beautiful color. I knew the Cosmic Flora design was complete when I added the drop-bead clusters. The drop beads complement the crescent shapes, add structure to the component, and echo the rainbow finish of the metallic seed beads. My favorite part of the design is where the crescent tips sit perfectly on top of…

I love beading designs with right-angle weave (RAW). Winter Lily Cuff, like so many of my other designs, incorporates RAW throughout. In this pattern, the first RAW unit is created and additional units with various shaped beads are added to each side. A final beaded embellishment completes the symmetrical design and adds a flourish. Once combined, all the rows of beaded units create a very wide cuff—something else I love! When I first started beading this pattern, I found it challenging to combine the AVA beads, GemDuos, and two-hole cabochons. Once I worked through the pattern, it all came together quite easily. The ZoliDuos fit perfectly between the seed beads, and that might be what made the difference. The weaving does require you to pass through the beads a few…

TECHNIQUES StringingCrimpingSimple wireworking MATERIALS 5 g silver-lined medium bronze size 11° Czech seed beads6 smoked topaz 8mm crystal bicones40 assorted lavender and gold 4mm crystal pearl rounds8 gold 6mm crystal pearl rounds9 bronze 7–8mm irregular freshwater pearls2 gold 7×9mm crystal pearl twists10 amethyst 3mm rounds8 amethyst 6×3mm rondelles16 citrine 6×4mm faceted rondelles1 ametrine 11×17mm faceted teardrop7 ametrine 20–23×21–25mm rough nuggets1 gold 2mm roundAbout 160 assorted gold and copper 4–5mm daisy spacers9 antiqued gold 7×5mm jasmine-petal bead caps1 antiqued gold 7×10mm toggle ring2 antiqued gold 12×13mm flourish toggle rings1 gold 2" head pin6 brass oxide 8mm jump rings4 assorted copper and gold 12mm rings2 gold 25mm bumpy rings10 gold 2mm crimp tubes10 gold 4mm crimp covers48" of antiqued bronze 24-gauge half-hard wire24" of bronze .024 beading wire8' of bronze .018 beading…

TECHNIQUES StringingCrimpingHole punching MATERIALS 4 champagne 4mm crystal bicones4 champagne 17×20mm irregular glass nuggets2 citrine 26–29×42–44mm rough nugget pendants with attached bails1 gold 5×10mm lobster clasp with attached 4mm jump ring (small)1 gold 9×15mm lobster clasp (large)4 gold 3mm jump rings4 gold 6mm jump rings4 gold 7mm jump rings2 gold 2mm crimp tubes2 gold 4mm crimp covers2 gold-plated 2mm end caps with loops2 gold-plated 3mm cord ends with loops2 gold 2mm foldover cord ends2 gold 4mm foldover cord ends2 satin gold 8×2.5mm foldover crimp ends12" of metallic brown 1.5mm round leather cord12" of antiqued brown 2mm round leather cord12" of antiqued brown 3mm round braided bolo cord12" of dark brown 3mm leather lace12" of dark brown 5mm vintage flat leather lace12" of brown 2mm fuzzy cotton cord12" of brown-and-gold 6mm…

TECHNIQUES Simple wireworkingKnotting MATERIALS 22 opaque powder blue 3×2mm faceted crystal rondelles8 clear 8–12×5–6mm tumbled quartz pebbles2 clear 14mm cracked quartz rounds4 clear 15–17×10–12mm faceted quartz nuggets5 pale blue 15–20×16–22mm chalcedony rough nuggets1 pale blue-and-cream glazed 38×47mm raku ceramic pendant1 white bronze 31mm textured toggle clasp11 antiqued brass 21-gauge 1 ½ " eye pins10 antiqued brass 5mm jump rings12 antiqued brass 9mm etched jump rings2 antiqued brass 15mm rope jump rings36" of denim 4-ply Irish waxed-linen cord36" of cornflower blue-and-cream 1 3⁄8" wide vintage sari silk ribbon TOOLS 2 pairs of chain- or flat-nose pliersRound-nose pliersWire cuttersScissors FINISHED SIZE 25" (with 2" focal) 1. Attach one 9mm jump ring to each hole in the pendant; set aside. 2. Use 1 eye pin to string 1 crystal rondelle, 1 faceted quartz…

HERRINGBONE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE bead-weaving stitches. I love the look, feel, and smooth flat profile. Herringbone is fairly versatile and creates a flexible finished design. Developing a herringbone pattern takes a bit of planning, but the stitch works up quickly once you get started. Increasing and decreasing in herringbone stitch is easy, as this project illustrates. The contrasting seed beads and pearls add a bit of elegance and interest to the simple band in this design. Whether you’re honing your herringbone skills or you’re just looking for a simple but sophisticated bracelet, this is a great project to try. I’ve stitched one for almost every outfit! TECHNIQUES Ladder stitchHerringbone stitch PROJECT LEVEL MATERIALS 1 g metallic green-gold size 11° seed beads (A)15 g transparent garnet size 8° seed…

SEED BEADS ARE THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO ANY BEADS, ESPECIALLY multi-hole shaped beads. When constructing a new pattern, it’s often a puzzle at first to see which shaped beads will fit together best. Once all the beads are in front of me, the fun and the designing begin. Inspired by my love of versatile designs, I created this pendant to be reversible. You can create two different looks simply by choosing two different colors for the center 4mm rounds: Use one color for the front and another for the back. The colors of the CzechMates beads could also be switched so they are different on each side, too. The possibilities are almost endless. The tubular herringbone-stitched rope in this project features both round and Demi Round seed beads that accentuate…

AS A BEAD STORE OWNER, BEADER, and beadwork designer, I wear many hats. When I saw the new carrier beads and how people were using them, I immediately put on my designer hat and got to work trying to create something unusual with them. I wanted to step out of the Delica bead–peyote stitch box that carrier beads were quickly becoming known for. I wanted a fresh look, and I hoped to provide an opportunity for those who may not use Delicas or know peyote stitch. With the recent release of the adorably small Quarter Tilas, a natural union was beginning to form in my head. I finally settled on this design that features Quarter Tilas and seed beads stitched to create a cage to enclose the carrier bead. I…

Many of my beading friends joke about my fascination with over-the-top pieces. They laugh at my tendency to add a bit too much sparkle or one too many accent layers. The inspiration for my Crowning Glory Necklace stems from this fascination and my desire to create with layers. I love the look and feel of “wreath” necklaces, and I really wanted to showcase two-hole daggers and the new two-hole diamonds. Using basic bead-weaving techniques and building in layers, I created a versatile design that can be dressed up or down. TECHNIQUE Netting PROJECT LEVEL MATERIALS 2 g frosted higher metallic carnival size 11° Japanese seed beads (A)2 g frosted silver-lined dark peridot size 8° Japanese seed beads (B)7 g etched Aztec gold size 6° Czech seed beads (C)1 g green…

These designers combined rough-cut stones with ribbon, leather, and chain to show how versatile gemstone jewelry can be. TECHNIQUES StringingCrimping MATERIALS 20 coral 10×8mm faceted-glass rondelles14 mint luster 7–12×19–40mm crystal quartz shards28 antiqued brass 3mm corrugated rounds32 antiqued brass 4.5mm corrugated rounds2 brass 20×20mm 2-to-1 botanical connectors1 brass 7mm spring-ring clasp with tab2 brass 21-gauge 4mm jump rings8 brass 2mm crimp beads32" of brass .014 beading wire TOOLS 2 pairs of chain- or flat-nose pliersWire cutters FINISHED SIZE 18 ½ " (with 2 ½ " focal) 1. Attach 1 jump ring to one half of the clasp. Use one 9 ½ " piece of beading wire to string 1 crimp bead and the previous jump ring. Pass back through the crimp bead and use pliers to flatten. String eleven 4.5mm…

TECHNIQUE Simple wireworking MATERIALS 12 assorted 5×3mm fire-polished rondelles in amber, purple, and green1 amethyst slice 40×44mm crescent moon pendant1 antiqued copper 7×7mm star charm (small)1 green patina 13×13mm Mykonos cast star charm (large)5 antiqued copper 20-gauge 1 ½ " eye pins6 antiqued copper 4mm jump rings3 antiqued copper 6mm jump rings28" of antiqued copper 3×5mm figure-eight chain7 ½ " of antiqued copper 20-gauge wire TOOLS Wire cuttersRound-nose pliers2 pairs of chain- or flat-nose pliers FINISHED SIZE 32" (with 2 ¼ " focal) 1. Center the amethyst pendant on one 4" piece of wire and form a wrapped-loop bail. Use one 3 ½ " piece of wire to string the hole in the large star charm and form a wrapped-loop bail at the top and a wrapped-loop bail at the…

TECHNIQUES StringingCrimping MATERIALS 36 “tigereye” colored 3mm pressed-glass rounds30 chrysoprase 15–20×14–19mm rough-cut slices1 dyed turquoise 53×42mm wavy pendant1 brass 20mm 3-strand tube clasp6 antiqued copper 2mm crimp tubes6 antiqued copper 4mm crimp covers12' of autumn brown .014 beading wire TOOLS Wire cuttersCrimping pliers FINISHED SIZE 18" 1. Cut 6 pieces of beading wire, each 24" in length. String the turquoise pendant to the center of all of the wires. Divide the wires into 3 sets of 2 on each side of the pendant. 2. Working with 1 pair of wires at a time, use both wire tails to string 1 glass round. Use one wire tail to string the center of 1 chrysoprase slice from front to back and the other wire tail to string through the same slice from…

“I love this computer! It is easy to read and to use! I get photo updates from my children and grandchildren all the time.”– Janet F. Have you ever said to yourself “I’d love to get a computer, if only I could figure out how to use it.” Well, you’re not alone. Computers were supposed to make our lives simpler, but they’ve gotten so complicated that they are not worth the trouble. With all of the “pointing and clicking” and “dragging and dropping” you’re lucky if you can figure out where you are. Plus, you are constantly worrying about viruses and freeze-ups. If this sounds familiar, we have great news for you. There is finally a computer that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s the WOW Computer, and…

WHEN KATE MCKINNON DISCOVERED geometric beadwork 10 years ago, she didn’t just want to follow the thread paths, she wanted to learn how and why they worked. The stitches were simple (peyote and herringbone), but when combined they made structural magic. Geometric pioneers who had come before her had done beautiful demonstrations of vessels, ropes, and polygons. But what Kate hadn’t seen yet were two important things: easy starts for large open pieces such as bangles, and leaping, soaring, self-supported architecture. Kate formed a collaborative team, and the work on Contemporary Geometric Beadwork, Volume I began. The ideas were edgy, and the project was open-source; it was clearly an unusual endeavor. Kate blogged about new ideas as soon as they occurred to the Contemporary Geometric Beadwork (CGB) team, and beady…

Learn how to create gorgeous braided wire jewelry with kumihimo! Traditional Japanese cord braiding—kumihimo—gets a modern upgrade in Kumihimo Wirework Made Easy with author Christina Larsen. The 20 designs in this book have step-by-step directions to guide you on your journey of learning this new and exciting wire weaving technique. Visit www.interweave.com to order the book or download your digital copy. Learn everything you need to know about polymer clay in the four new Polymer Clay Jewelry Online Workshops with instructor Christi Friesen. Take your pick from Design Basics, Learn 10 Beads and Charms, The Art of Aging Gracefully, or Mixed Media. Expand what you can do with polymer clay by combining it with other media; learn how to use patterns, surface effects, carving, sculpting, aging techniques, and more! Sign…

ON THE COVER LONG BEFORE I STARTED TO MAKE my own designs, peyote was my go-to stitch, and pushing the traditional to a new level is what I always strive to do with my art. I was honored to be selected as a Beadwork Designer of the Year for 2018. To live up to this title, I stepped up my designs for each issue. Although I’m known for featuring the newer shaped beads in my work, I thought I would surprise people with a traditional seed bead and crystal project for my last design of the year. My inspiration for the Shiva Earrings came long ago when I was playing with shapes from Diane Fitzgerald’s Shaped Beadwork. I began by playing with different sizes of seed beads and crystals to…

IDRAW MANY OF MY DESIGN IDEAS from the unique splendor of nature. For this design, inspiration came from one of my greatest loves, the stars and galaxies in the night sky, and their endless beauty. To me, the shaped beads in this pattern represent spiraling galaxies in the infinite universe. I enjoyed blending the bead shapes and colors to create Stardust Nebula. Follow my design and weave intricate components that evoke the mysteries of the universe, then connect the components to create this galactic-inspired necklace. TECHNIQUES Circular ladder stitchCircular and tubular nettingFringeCircular peyote stitchTwo-needle netting PROJECT LEVEL MATERIALS 5 g silver-lined brown size 15° seed beads (A)2 g semi-glazed navy rainbow size 11° seed beads (B)42 bronze 3×6mm CzechMates prongs (C)91 matte metallic flax 3×10mm 3-hole CzechMates beams (D)42 matte…

MY MOTHER AND I SHARE A LOVE of gardening, which is likely why I so often find myself making designs with flower-shaped components. Weaving the Minos and Arcos par Puca beads, Super-Duos, and O beads with circular netting led to this romantic flower design. The color and shape remind me of a flourishing alpine meadow in summertime. Change the colors to match your favorite color palette or to suit the season. TECHNIQUE Circular netting PROJECT LEVEL MATERIALS 3 g matte olivine transparent size 15° Japanese seed beads (A)1 g matte dark olive size 11° Japanese seed beads (B)1 g lemongrass semi-glazed opaque size 8° Japanese seed beads (C)2 g brass gold 3.8×1mm O beads (D)41 light green luster opaque 2.5×3mm Minos par Puca beads (E)2 g light green chalk luster…

TECHNIQUES StringingSimple wireworking MATERIALS 1 matte carnelian 22×32mm rough nugget1 brass 4mm melon1 brass 7×8mm pineapple bead2 brass 8mm decorative rounds with crystal inlay1 brass 15×20mm flourish petal bead cap 1 brass 7×10mm lobster clasp1 brass 20-gauge 1 ½ " eye pin3 brass 6mm cable jump rings3 brass 8mm cable jump rings24" of brass 3×4mm cable chain1 skein of light coral size 5 cotton embroidery thread6" of antiqued brass 20-gauge wireCoral patina inkJewelry adhesive TOOLS Small paint brushReliefing block 2 × 2 ½ " piece of cardstock2 pairs of chain- or flat-nose pliersScissorsRound-nose pliersWire cutters FINISHED SIZE 25" (with 6" focal) 1. Apply a coat of patina ink to the bead cap, letting some of the texture show through. Let dry. Once completely dry, use the reliefing block to buff…

TECHNIQUES StringingSimple wireworking MATERIALS 2 reddish-brown 18×35mm vintage glass ovals33 peach moonstone 4mm faceted rounds16 composite coral 10×7mm rondelles4 Peruvian opal 10×15mm barrels4 African yellow jade 13×9mm faceted rondelles15 dravite 6–10×23–48mm rough spikes1 matte mookaite 36×7mm lentil4 gold 4mm heishi7 gold 5×2mm hex spacers3 antiqued gold 6×3mm textured spacers6 antiqued gold 8×4mm bumpy rondelles1 gold 14-gauge 42mm wire frame1 gold 10×5mm textured bail1 gold 8×14mm lobster clasp8 gold 18-gauge 8mm jump rings2 gold 2mm crimp tubes2 gold 4mm crimp covers2 gold wireguards1 brown 4×18mm leather tassel36" of gold 26-gauge dead-soft wire24" of gold 22-gauge dead-soft wire48" of gold 18-gauge dead-soft wire24" of satin gold .024 beading wire TOOLS 2 pairs of chain- or flat-nose pliersRound-nose pliersFlush cuttersCrimping pliersCone mandrel tool2 bead stoppers FINISHED SIZE 20" (with 1" extender) Tip: When…

TECHNIQUE Knotting MATERIALS 3 matte green dyed 6mm fire crackle agate rounds (A)4 matte fluorite 8×6mm rondelles (B)3 matte aqua 12mm agate rounds (C)6 dark aqua dyed 17–25×25–35mm agate nugget slices (D)3 amazonite 20–23×28–30mm nugget slices (E)4 aqua dyed 35–42×11–13mm fire crackle agate cut points (F)1 brown 8mm lava round3 turquoise-and-brown 10mm ceramic rounds1 antiqued brass 20×25mm lock-and-key toggle clasp6 antiqued brass 6mm jump rings5 ¼ " of antiqued brass 15×35mm twisted oval/8×25mm figure-eight decorative chain (two of each type of link)80" of brown waxed-linen cord TOOLS Scissors2 pairs of chain- or flat-nose pliers FINISHED SIZE 26" 1. Cut the cord in half. Hold both pieces of cord together and form an overhand knot 8" from one end. 2. Use both cord ends to string 1D; form an overhand knot…

PASS THROUGH VS PASS BACK THROUGH Pass through means to move the needle in the same direction that the beads have been strung. Pass back through means to move the needle in the opposite direction. FINISHING AND STARTING NEW THREADS Tie off the old thread when it’s about 4" long by making an overhand knot around previous threads between beads. Weave through a few beads to hide the knot, and trim the thread close to the work. Start the new thread by tying an overhand knot around previous threads between beads. Weave through several beads to hide the knot and to reach the place to resume beading. STOP BEAD A stop bead (or tension bead) holds your work in place. To make one, string a bead larger than those you…