Beadwork February/March 2020

We humans have been creating personal adornment for over 100,000 years! The earliest forms of adornment are shell beads found by archaeologists in Israel. Prior to this discovery, there were ostrich-eggshell beads found in Kenya that were made 82,000 years ago. More and more treasures are added to this list, and it’s so exciting to know that, even when people lived with very simple means, they had the desire to make and create things beyond the ordinary. Glass trade beads emerged in the fifteenth century and were primarily used by Europeans to trade for African resources. Africans did not have the means to make glass beads, so they traded and wore those beads proudly. As technology and manufacturing has changed, so has the bead. You can now find beads made in…

1. Shiny! These new rainbow titanium-coated pliers from The BeadSmith are so cool. Appropriately named Chroma, these pliers are manufactured with hardened stainless steel and have ergonomic grips. These pliers are available in chain-nose, bent chain-nose, round-nose, flat-nose, and flush cutters. Buy them because they put a smile on your face and enjoy them because they are really great tools that will last a lifetime. Request them from your favorite retailer or see more at www.beadsmith.com (wholesale only). 2. These gemstone spikes from Zola Elements are right on-trend and oh-so-versatile. Glue an end cap on and string one onto a chain or use them in place of a dagger bead in your bead-weaving designs for an artsy boho addition. Ask for them from your favorite retailer or visit www.zolaelements.com (wholesale only)…

THIS SIMPLE LACY BRACELET works up very quickly using right-angle weave and Demi Round seed beads. beginner friendly! TECHNIQUE Right-angle weave PROJECT LEVEL MATERIALS 5 g green tea galvanized permanent-finish size 11° Demi Round seedbeads (A)3 g aluminum galvanized permanent-finish size 11° Demi Round seedbeads (B)4 g pastel frosted mudbrick opaque size 8° Demi Round seed beads (C) 2 g metallic suede pink size 8° Demi Round seed beads (D)18 silver-plated 4mm jump rings1 silver-plated 10×6mm lobster claspSmoke 6 or 8 lb FireLine braided beading thread TOOLS ScissorsSize 11 beading needle2 pairs of chain- or flat-nose pliers FINISHED SIZE 7 ¼" 1) ROW 1. Use right-angle weave to form the first row: Unit 1: Use 4’ of thread to string {3A, 1C, 1D, and 1C} twice, leaving a 6” tail (Fig. 1, blue thread). Pass through the beads again, skipping the middle…

TECHNIQUES Tubular herringbone stitch variation Circular netting PROJECT LEVEL MATERIALS 1 g red size 11° Japanese seed beads (A)4 g lava red 5×2.5mm 2-hole SuperDuos (B)15 lava red 6mm 3-hole RounTrios (C)10 red AB transparent 4mm pressed-glass round druks (D)Crystal 6 lb FireLine braided beading thread TOOLS ScissorsSize 10 beading needle FINISHED SIZE 1 ¼ × 7⁄8" 1) TOP. Use a variation of tubular herringbone and circular netting to form the top of the beaded bead: Round 1: Use 4’ of thread to string {2B and 1A} five times, leaving a 3” tail. Pass through the beads (same holes) again to form a circle; use the working and tail threads to tie a square knot, then pass through the second (outside) hole of the first B added (Fig. 1, orange thread). Round 2: String 2B; pass through the next B (outside…

You may recognize Debora Hodoyer’s beadwork. Her eye-catching color palettes and inventive combinations of shaped beads and seed beads makes her jewelry stand out. Debora is a gifted musician who weaves a bit of her artistic soul into everything she does, including designing beautiful jewelry. She believes that the same tenacity it takes to play music skillfully also helps her to develop intricate beading patterns. Debora always listens to music while she beads and feels that her beadwork is made of music. Debora’s beadwork is strongly influenced by her childhood on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. She believes that “growing up on an island like Sardinia has influenced my creativity on a subliminal level. I’ve been surrounded by natural beauty and artistic handicrafts from a tender age. Sardinia is a real treasure…

Use shaped beads if you want to finish your beadwork faster. Since they’re larger than classic seed beads, your jewelry will work up quickly. Check holes for blockage before weaving them because you will not be happy to find a blocked hole when you are in the middle or almost at the end of the work. Choose a sturdy thread that’s as thick as possible. Repeat the thread path at the end of the round to hold the beads in place. Pay attention to the finishes and coatings. Some can withstand a lot of wear, and are good for bracelets. Others are better for earrings, since they don’t touch the skin. When combining different types of shaped beads, use spacer beads to cover the thread and ease the transition between shapes.…