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Monday, February 13, 2012

Bead Wish List: Picasso

Every beader has their favorite supplies, techniques, and colors. Often, the beads that we like the most are those that help to define our style, and what beading means to us. Although a girl who loves bicone crystals is in many ways a totally different beader than the one who loves Lucite flowers, we are all connected by our craft, and can appreciate these little quirks that separate us. Our tastes and palettes are as unique as we are.

One of my all time favorite bead finishes is Picasso, especially on faceted or cut beads. I love the earthy quality they have, the subtle elegance, and the way the colors seem more vibrant under the Picasso blush. They’re awfully rugged and rustic for something so pretty. Today I felt like doing a little window shopping, with nothing but Picasso on the list.



Hyacinth Picasso Table Cut Rectangles
From MK Supplies





Picasso Jasper Faceted Rounds
From AuntiesBeads.com





TOHO Hybrid Seed Beads in Jet Picasso
From Artbeads.com





Turquoise Picasso Fluted Firepolish
From FusionBeads.com





Aqua Picasso Chunky Ovals
From Mountain Shadow Design





Siam Ruby Firepolish Rondelles
From LimaBeads.com





Yellow Picasso Table Cut Squares
From Happy Mango Beads





Cobalt Blue Teardrop Window Beads
From Beadaholique





Old World Picasso Mix Seed Beads
From Beads-and-Babble





Dew Drop Blue Faceted Rondelles
From Bobbi’s This n That


Do you like Picasso finish beads? What’s your favorite shape and color?

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12 comments:

  1. HI Mortira - have been following you for awhile and love your inspiration. Imagine that....I live in Nanaimo too but only part time. Usually summer when it is beautiful. I'm laid up having had foot surgery so gives me lots of time to peruse blogs. Just getting my website updated too so feel free to visit me or follow my blog. Think I might get a tray of beads and do one of your tutorials - which one do you suggest? Seems I do everything in peyote or some variation of it because I simply love doing it. Oh, and yes, I too love anything Picasso. Happy beading!
    www.terrabeadworks.com

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  2. i already bought some of those gorgeous beads on the pictures. I so so so love them !

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  3. Beads, beads - can't have enough. My favorite is Jasper.

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  4. I love Picasso finished beads! Beautiful round up here. I have ordered a few Picasso beads from beadsandbabble.

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  5. I like those beads.Mostly the tinted firepolished.
    I like gemstones-all the shapes and colors.Also 'Preciosa'seed beads #11-especially the metalic ones.I work with them a lot.
    Greetings-Halinka-

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  6. Love picasso finish beads! Some time ago I was really fond of picasso on opal colours. Then I became a fan of the opaque jean blue and tangerine brown picasso seeds Beads & Babbles have. I've also got some really nice fp with silver picasso finish. And matte picasso on e.g. jet is very nice too.

    Apart from czech picasso/travertin I also really like Toho's marbled finishes (not the hybrids, which are czech picasso and which I love, but Toho's own marbled effects). Marbled gold blush (pinkish brown on olive green), for example, is fab.

    I once used light pink opal beads with picasso finish to make the pink less cutesy and more earthy. While it can enhance some colours, it gave me the right rusty vintage look on pink.

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  7. I have been following this blog for a bit now and love the beautifully photographed beads and projects. Good job and thank you! Regarding this post, as beautiful as the beads are, I can't quite tell what determines a "Picasso" finish. I have been beading for quite a while and though I have heard of Picasso beads, I have not seen a good definition of Picasso finish. Can you perhaps explain a bit more what is special about it and how it is done?

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  8. Great question! Picasso beads have a distressed look, like an artificial antique finish. This is characterized by the random, organic patterns of darker 'smudges' over the original bead color. These are usually concentrated at the edges of the bead, although in the case of Picasso seed beads, the marbling effect is usually seen across the entire surface.

    It would seem that the reason behind the name "Picasso" has been lost, but you can find a brief description of traditional firing process here:

    http://www.rosaryworkshop.com/HISTORYpicassobeads.html

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  9. I love the Picasso finish and have squirreled some away in my stash -- reluctant to use them! You have gorgeous examples of it here!

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  10. I don't use a whole lot of glass my jewelry designs, but when I do, abut 99% of the time is Czech glass with a glorious Picasso finish! Love the organic rustic feel the finish gives to the beads and the design. As always, a fabulous post, Mortira!

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  11. I'm all about Czech glass with Picasso finishes. I love that no two in a series are exactly alike. And? the diversity, the range of choice, in shape, colour, size and even mood and style. Rustic, elegant, sexy, earthy, it's all there and sometimes all at once. I think they are amazing and have way more personality that Swarovskis.

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  12. Thank you for featuring my aqua Picasso oval beads! I very much appreciate the mention:)
    Diana (mountainshadowdesign)

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