Índex per April 2017 a Bead&Button

Over the past few years, the news has been full of studies that support the notion that to maintain a youthful vigor, we should constantly be learning new things — that exercising the brain may be just as important as exercising the body in keeping us healthy and vibrant. And while beading may not raise your heart rate (except occasionally when you feel the need to throw your beadwork against the wall out of frustration), it can encourage weight loss because it ’s really hard to eat and bead at the same time! On top of that, it certainly can give your synapses a workout. Sometimes, I swear, I can practically feel my neurons popping when I ’m trying to understand a new technique or follow a complicated thread path.…

1 Sea turtle purse This design was inspired by beaches and my concern for the turtle hatch. The turtle is constructed in several beading techniques and uses a variety of seed beads and gemstones. It was in the making for many months and seemed to speak to me as I went along. The turtle is mounted on a background of faux leather and accented with beaded waves and white caps. Madalyn Svendsen Port St. Joe, Florida svendsensmith@gmail.com 2 Under the sea Inspired by the beautiful waters off the coast of Aruba, my first bead-embroidery necklace is made from a collection of Czech and Japanese seed beads, pearls, semi-precious gemstone chips, vintage rhinestones, and more. The large octopus cabochon is a repurposed pendant and I made the smaller cabochons myself from…

DIFFICULTY right-angle weave / peyote This reversible pendant is embellished with crystals and pearls for two looks that are both stylish and wearable. BASE LAYERS 1) On a comfortable length of thread, pick up eight 110 seed beads, and sew through all the beads again to form a ring, leaving a 10-in. (25 cm) tail. Continue through the first four 110s again (figure 1, a–b). 2) Work in modified right-angle weave (RAW): Pick up six 110s, sew through the last two 110s your thread exited at the start of this step (b–c), and continue through the next four 110s (c–d). Repeat this stitch to work a total of eight units using a tight tension (d–e), and then sew through the next two 110s (e–f). 3) Working off the previous row,…

The 2011 royal wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton in the United Kingdom captivated the world and was viewed by millions. But relatively few of them probably noticed the wedding bouquet carried by the bride. Svetlana Sapegina spotted it and her instincts told her it would look fabulous in beads. So she designed and made a beaded replica of the bouquet’s five plants — lily of the valley, Sweet William, hyacinth, ivy, and myrtle — in copper wire and 500 grams of different types and shades of white and green cascading glass beads. The project took 150 hours over three months to complete, and it was presented by a British Lord on Sapegina’s behalf to Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge, in 2012. Sapegina lives…

DIFFICULTY right-angle weave / peyote stitch 53 materials blue necklace 17½ in. (44.5 cm) • rivolis (Swarovski, green sphinx) -- 1 18 mm -- 3 12 mm • 1 18 mm spike crystal (Swarovski 6480, Bermuda blue) • bicone crystals (Swarovski) -- 2 6 mm (Jet AB2X) -- 46 4 mm (Jet AB2X) -- 18 3 mm (Olivine AB2X) • 24 4 mm fire-polished beads (blue zircon) • 2 g 80 seed beads (Miyuki 4203, Duracoat galvanized yellow gold) • 5 g 110 seed beads (Miyuki 4203, Duracoat galvanized yellow gold) • 150 seed beads -- 6 g color A (Miyuki 4203, Duracoat galvanized yellow gold) -- 2 g color B (Toho 506, higher metallic June bug) • Fireline, 6 lb. test • beading needles, #11 or #12 Find info…

DIFFICULTY wire wrapping Enhance your beading skills as you make 24 gorgeous pieces by expert jewelry designer Irina Miech, like this fabulous Ocean Wave Pendant. Featuring Irina’s soothing, organic style, the projects in her latest book, Wire Jewelry: Beaded and Beautiful, are fashionable and easy to make. Available at eclecticabeads.com and JewelryandBeadingStore.com. Ocean Wave Pendant There is something mesmerizing about watching the waves of the ocean rolling into the sand – so peaceful, yet so much power. This open medallion-style pendant captures the spirit of an ocean wave in a simple round frame with a casual, fun look. Materials • 10" 16-gauge copper wire • 30" 26-gauge copper wire • 2 2mm gemstone beads • 2 3–4mm gemstone beads • 2 5mm gemstone beads • 6mm gemstone bead Tools •…

My favorite color for everything has always been green, so naturally I love green beads. Over the years I have come to love purple as well, so when the two colors are put together it’s even better. The combination reminds me of beautiful flowers (lilacs and violets), gemstones (emerald and amethyst), antique fabrics, and the colors of royalty. Recently I’ve also added copper to the mix – Carolyn Cave ladybeadledesigns@nucleus.com I love all shades of blue and my favorite color is turquoise. – Svetlana Chernitsky Websites: lirigal.com, lirigal.etsy.com Email: lirigal@gmail.com Most of my beadwork includes golds and greens, because I love the combination of these two colors. Add a little red tone and everything pops! – Norma Jean Dell Website: njdesigns1.com, njdesigns1.etsy.com Email: njwdell@bellsouth.net I don’t have a favorite color.…

ROCAILLE The word rocaille (pronounced ro-ki or ro-kail) is sometimes used to refer to round seed beads, probably in a nod to its French origins, meaning “rocky ground” or “pebble work.” DRUK Round, pressed Czech glass beads. Possibly derived from the German “druck,” meaning “pressure,” alluding to the process of making pressed glass beads. MACO/MACCO TUBES A tiny, thin-walled tube, similar to a bugle bead but smaller. Many look a lot like Delicas but the ends are less regular. CHARLOTTE Traditionally, Charlotte beads are size 130 seed beads (rocailles) with a single facet ground into each one for extra sparkle. Charlottes are also referred to as true-cuts. Other size seed beads (150, 110, 80, and 60) are now available with a single facet and some people will refer to them…

DIFFICULTY bead weaving materials green bracelet 71⁄2 in. (19.1 cm) • 5 10 mm crystal pearls (Swarovski, iridescent green) • 5 g 5 x 2.3 mm Half Tila beads (Miyuki, metallic bronze) • 66 3 mm bicone crystals (Swarovski, olivine AB) • 1 g 80 seed beads (Miyuki 2006, matte metallic dark bronze) • 2 g 110 seed beads (Miyuki 2006, matte metallic dark bronze) • 150 seed beads (Miyuki) -- 2 g color A (2006, matte metallic dark bronze) -- 1 g color B (457, metallic dark bronze) • 1 ball and socket clasp • 2 5 mm jump rings • Fireline, 6 lb. test • beading needles, #11 or #12 Find info for the alternate colorway at FacetJewelry.com/ resourceguide basics FacetJewelry.com/basics • ending thread • opening and closing…

DIFFICULTY bead weaving Sometimes a special evening just needs big, sparkly earrings. Create these stunners by circling around and around with bicone crystals, seed beads, Delicas, and SuperDuo beads. materials earrings 2 in. (5 cm) • 60 2.5 x 5 mm SuperDuo beads (matte gold) • 60 4 mm bicone crystals (Swarovski, rose water opal AB2X) • 110 seed beads -- 4 g color A (Toho PF557, permanent finish galvanized starlight) -- 1 g color B (Miyuki 4219, Duracoat galvanized magenta) • 2 g 110 Delica cylinder beads (Miyuki DB410, galvanized yellow gold) • 1 g 150 seed beads (Toho PF557, permanent finish galvanized starlight) • 1 pair of earring findings • Fireline, 6 lb. test • beading needles, #12 • 2 pairs of chainnose, bentnose, and/or flatnose pliers basics…

DIFFICULTY peyote stitch / bead weaving materials blue pendant 2 in. (5 cm) • 1 18 x 13 mm oval crystal stone (Swarovski 4120, light turquoise) • 5 g 2.5 x 5 mm SuperDuo beads (pastel emerald) • Swarovski bicone crystals -- 14 4 mm (white opal AB) -- 2 3 mm (light turquoise AB) • 2 g 110 seed beads (Miyuki 4201, Duracoat galvanized silver) • 1 g 150 seed beads (Miyuki 4201, Duracoat galvanized silver) • 1 lobster claw clasp • 17 in. (43 cm) small-link chain • 1 8 mm jump ring • 3 6 mm jump rings • Fireline, 6 lb. test • beading needles, #12 • 2 pairs of chainnose, flatnose, and/or bentnose pliers • wire cutters Find info for the alternate colorway at FacetJewelry.com/…

Flat-backed floral components make for great earrings, pendants, bracelets, and more. What can you create with this versatile design? I was given some single-hole lentil beads and decided to make beaded flowers with them, pairing them with curved petal beads and craft store buttons to mimic the look of a blooming water lily. I added metal filigree stampings for extra panache. PENDANT The lentil beads shown in this project are coated on one side so they look green on one surface and silver on the other. The instructions will tell you from which side you should pick up each lentil. Pick up each petal bead with the curved side facing up. 1) On 2 ft. (61 cm) of thread and leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail, pick up six 150…

Of course we all know that when gemstones come out of the ground, they generally aren’t ready to turn into jewelry. How do rocks from a remote gem mine in another continent end up on a string, tempting you to blow your budget at a bead show? In this issue, we’re going on a journey to find out. FROM MOUNTAIN TO MARKET Nowadays the vast majority of stone beads are mined in huge quantities using heavy equipment, shipped to Chinese factories by the container load, machine cut and drilled, and often have their appearance artificially enhanced. But we’re going to follow a small lot of high-quality Nepalese kyanite all the way from the mine to the Tucson show. Nepal is a Himalayan kingdom dwarfed by its massive neighbors — India…

DIFFICULTY tubular peyote / right-angle weave materials blue/purple adjustable bangle inside circumference 2–21⁄4 in. (5–5.7 cm) • 2 14 mm rivolis (Swarovski, satin chrysolite; beadoholique.com) • 67 2 mm pearls (Czech, matte grape pearl) • 4 g 110 cylinder beads (Miyuki Delica DB0027, metallic teal iris) • 110 seed beads -- 2 g color A (Miyuki 571, silver-lined mint green) -- 2 g color C (Toho 2113, silver-lined milky pomegranate) • 150 seed beads -- 2 g color B (Toho 2113, silver-lined milky pomegranate) -- 2 g color D (Miyuki 4217, Duracoat galvanized seafoam) • 9–12 in. (23–30 cm) 12-gauge aluminum wire • Fireline, 6 lb. test • beading needles, #12 • 1 pair of wire cutters Find info for the alternate colorways at FacetJewelry.com/ resourceguide basics FacetJewelry.com/basic • right-angle…

DIFFICULTY bead weaving materials bracelet 7 in. (18 cm) • 98 CzechMates two-hole crescent beads (matte metallic bronze iris) • 24 3 mm English-cut round beads (oxidized bronze berry) • 5 g 110 seed beads (Toho 221, bronze) • 1 magnetic clasp • Fireline, 6 lb. test, or One-G thread • beading needles, #11 or #12 basics FacetJewelry.com/basics • attaching a stop bead • ending thread CHANGE IT UP For a different look, try using other two-hole beads like Rulla beads, infinity beads, and CzechMates two-hole lentil, bar, brick, and triangle beads. 3 x 10 mm crescent bead -top view 110 seed bead 3 mm English cut round Join strips of crescent beads together to make a bracelet with a delicate, feathery look. How to pick up the crescent beads:…

DIFFICULTY prismatic right-angle weave Showcase captured pearls in this prismatic right-angle weave stitched necklace and earrings. NECKLACE 1) On a comfortable length of thread, pick up five color A 110 seed beads, sew through the beads again to form a ring, and continue through the next A, leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail. This is the base of the first prismatic right-angle weave (PRAW) unit. Work the following PRAW units as follows: Unit 1: • Side 1: Pick up three As, sew through the A your thread is exiting, and continue through the next A in the ring (figure 1, a–b). • Sides 2–4: Pick up two As, sew through the adjacent A from the previous side (b–c), and continue through the A your thread exited at the start of…

DIFFICULTY bead weaving materials bracelet 7 in. (18 cm) • 3 g 2.5 x 5 mm SuperDuo beads (turquoise Picasso) • 32 4 mm crystal pearls (Swarovski, white) • 60 2 mm fire-polished beads (goldplated AB) • 1 g 110 seed beads (Miyuki 199, gold iris) • 2 g 150 seed beads (Toho 223, antique bronze) • 1 box clasp • Fireline, 6 lb. test • beading needles, #11 or #12 earrings 11/2 in. (3.8 cm) • 16 2.5 x 5 mm SuperDuo beads • 16 4 mm crystal pearls • 20 2 mm fire-polished beads • 1 g 110 seed beads • 1 g 150 seed beads • 1 pair of ear wires basics FacetJewelry.com/basics • ending thread • square knot Join fun and easy-to-make components together to create…

DIFFICULTY French beaded flowers Stretch your beading skills with this stunning bouquet. Though it uses just one technique, it poses a big challenge — do you have the stamina to complete the whole thing? materials one branch 27 in. (69 cm) • 100 two-cut seed beads -- 15–20 g color A (white, gray, or yellow-green)* -- 3 g color B (brown) -- 3 g color C (light green) • 26-gauge craft wire, 1 spool each of silver and brown • 27 in. (69 cm) 12-gauge wire (for main stem) • 20 in. (51 cm) 14-gauge wire (for offshoot branch) • brown floral tape • roundnose pliers • wire cutters * The pussy willow bouquet is made up of 33 branches, each of which features colors A, B, and C two-cut…