May Bead Stash Favorites

Although the new mini collar challenge has had a few timing mishaps, it has certainly helped me to achieve my main goal of finding new inspiration in old beads. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had any room in my budget for bead shopping, so finding ways to use what I have is pretty important. Since starting the challenge, I haven’t had much cause to think about what I could do if I only had ___.

Right now my absolute favorite is what’s left of my package of vintage Venetian white-hearts in tomato red. Every time I use these beads in a design it turns out magnificent. My particular favorite is the Babi collar from the Egyptian Gods series. At some point I really want to use them in a mini collar – probably when I feel like I need a break from drops and daggers. The only trouble with these beads is that they look a lot more uniform in the package than they actually are, and I’ve used up most of the semi-round ones. One of the reasons I don’t use them often anymore is that I haven’t yet found a design that is both worthy of the precious beads, and suitable for beads that are totally wonky.

Transparent Montana blue sapphire has long been one of my favorite Czech glass bead colors, although I haven’t had much success with the 11/o size, as transparent Czech seed beads tend to be a lot smaller and thinner than other finishes. Luckily, size 8/o beads look good no matter how they’re shaped, so I’m looking forward to making use of this hank very soon.

Finally, I have a small packet of jet Picasso drops that I’ve been saving for a fringed design. I’m hoping to work on a new PDF tutorial for herringbone fringe necklaces that I think these would be perfect for. They’re probably a little too big to use in a mini collar, although a single piece as a focal could work. It would be an interesting experiment to see if one chevron stitch in the middle of piece could be enlarged without warping the beadwork at all.

What beads are you inspired by at the moment?

Mortira

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April Bead Stash Favorites

Have you ever been at a loss for what to do with your beads? I’ve been in this spot for a while now with some of the accents in my collection, and I finally figured out what I’m going to do with them. I’ve got something very special planned, and suddenly my bead stash has taken on a whole new level of inspiration. I can’t wait to start using them.

Right now I’ve got my eyes on several different goodies in my bead cupboard, particularly my collection of lovely Indonesian glass from Happy Mango Beads. Colorful, organic, and stripey – just can’t get enough of these beads. I picked out my two all-time favorites to pose for this photo, and I liked the combination of lime green with striped cobalt so much that I think they’ll be paired with my first special project. Why didn’t I think of this combo before? It’s my favorite color pairing, and these beads have been staring me in the face for years.

I’ve also got oodles of drops, magatamas, and daggers that will be making much-awaited appearances soon. I’ve only just reached the point where I don’t feel like I need to save these beads for something really, really special. I just want to make pretty things with them. They’re also perfect for the idea that I have cooking, and I’m looking forward to seeing how many new ways I can come up with to make them shine. These long magatamas in lime and Rizo beads in opaque white might not go together, but I definitely want to use them both very soon.

Also in the top of my to-use pile is this delicious strand of sky blue glass rounds. These baubles are a part of the nautical-themed March bead box from Blueberry Cove Beads. Of all the collections so far, this one is definitely my favorite. Nautical themes are not only classic, but they have so many amazing design possibilities. Boats, beaches, sailors, treasure…the list is endless. I don’t often have glass rounds of this size in my stash, so it’s great to have some new dimensions to work with, and the color is awesome.

What beads are tantalizing your creative side right now?

Mortira

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March Bead Stash Favorites

Scouring my bead stash last week for spring inspired bead colors gave me a chance to really examine the materials that I have on hand right now. I’ve been floundering for new project inspirations quite a bit lately, so it was nice to really view my options and get reacquainted with some of my go-to beads. I’m looking forward to working with this month’s picks – hopefully in the very near future.

First up is one of my all-time favorite bead colors: gold-lined black diamond. There’s something about the earthiness and sparkle of this particular finish that I really love. I haven’t purchased Japanese seed beads in so long, and never anything with a metallic finish, so this color hasn’t made an appearance in my designs for years. Luckily, I’ve still got about 15 grams of black diamond in size 15/o seed beads. Now that I’m finding new ways to use them in bead embroidery, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to play with this color a little bit more.

More bead embroidery projects also means more opportunities to use cabs, and I’m really looking forward to using some of my favorite Egyptian beads and cabochons. I have a tendency to hoard these beads, not least because quite a few of them are vintage or limited edition. But no one will ever get to see them but me if I don’t use them in designs, so I’ll be keeping them in mind for upcoming projects.

Last but not least, I still haven’t had a chance to use the new mother of pearl chips I received from Blueberry Cove Beads. I love the buttery yellow color of these chips, and they have a very chunky, almost square shape that I’ve never really worked with before. I’ve been having a craving for some fringed lariats lately, and I think I’ll have to work a palette around these chips first and foremost.

What beads are inspiring you right now?

Mortira

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February Bead Stash Favorites

I haven’t yet been able to shake my very serious case of beader’s block, so I’ve been searching for ways to spark some new inspirations. I started by looking through my bead stash and taking out some tried and true favorites, to see if they could draw out some creativity.

Of course I went directly to my collection of trade beads, and took out my lovely African Christmas beads. No matter what, just looking at these beads always lifts my mood. The chaotic combination of colors and the organic shapes are so essentially beady, and I’m always reminded just how much I love working with this medium. The stripes don’t hurt, either.

My next pick is one of my current favorite finishes in Japanese seed beads. I’ve really been missing working with TOHOs lately. Although Czech seed beads offer a great value so I don’t have to worry about quantity, I really love the hefty shape of Japanese seed beads, and the exotic color combinations. I might have to think of a great project just for these black-lined blue beads and see if that can steer me back to my beading groove.

Finally, my favorite thing in my stash right now is Fireline. I usually wait to purchase new beads until I’m running out of Fireline, then fill out my order with whatever beads catch my fancy. My budget hasn't been big enough for that in a while, but I was lucky enough to snag a roll each of Smoke and Crystal with a gift card recently, so I know I won’t run out of thread any time soon. I just have to find the right beads in my stash to get things rolling again.

What kinds of beads are you most inspired by right now?

Mortira

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December Bead Stash Favorites

December is always a very hectic month, and I can usually tell when things are getting to that tipping point when I start to prefer easy and familiar things. I usually re-read favorite books, as they’re a much better escape than something new. In my workspace, I crave familiar materials and techniques. This month, I’m looking at some old favorites and a few standbys.

Lately I’ve really been in the mood for bezels, and I’ve been thinking of my stash of glass nuggets a lot. It’s been many years since I’ve used these in a project, and I haven’t even considered them for some time. I can’t say why, but I’m really looking forward to coming up with a project for using some of these little baubles – perhaps for a geek inspiration piece.

Drops and daggers are always a staple in my bead stash, and right now I’ve got my eye on some chunky cobalt blue briolette shapes that I have yet to cut into. They’re a little bit too big for most of the projects that I like, so I haven’t been able to come up with an appropriate design for them just yet. I’m thinking that they might be perfect for my next fringe experiment.

Also from my stash of drops, these SuperUnos have been calling to me lately. I’ve been working on a few different design ideas featuring two-hole beads, but these single-holed variations are always so appealing. I love the pinched shape of the SuperUnos, and the Picasso finish on both of these colors is very inspiring. I’m hoping to use them for an extra bit of texture in some upcoming projects.

What kinds of materials are you favoring right now?

Mortira

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October Bead Stash Favorites

October is one of those special months where everything seems to reach a turning point. The weather of a new season makes itself known. The necessity for year-end plans starts to rear its head. Essential craft projects and deadlines loom. Although for me October means the start of an incredibly busy three months, I still love it for all of the great things it brings, like colorful leaves and the promise of all of the best holidays. (Happy Hallowe’en!)

This month my favorite beads are all about great color and fun shapes. Throughout the year the inspiration of any bead collection can wax and wane – beads that seem exciting one minute leave us stumped the next. Right now, I’ve got my sights on a few essentials that are sure to bring good inspiration.

First up is a strand of amazing orange glass beads from Blueberry Cove Beads’ Autumn collection. The best word to describe the color is “Pow!” Its earthiness and intensity is strengthened by the organic finish. It’s not quite Picasso but it has the same “just brushed off the dust” kind of look. I can’t wait to add it to some fringe or a pretty chain.

I had all kinds of plans for assorted accent beads in my stash this year, and many of them just didn’t come to fruition. One thing I definitely want to get some use out of before winter ends is this tube of topaz O-beads. They’re great for stitching onto flat beadwork, and to use as delicate spacers. I’m hoping that I’ll find a few more interesting ways to make them shine, too.

Finally, I still haven’t broken into any of my strands of vintage millefiori beads yet. I most certainly need to get on that, and soon! There’s something so essentially beady about millefiori, and not just because they’re so classic. The patterns really showcase the wonder of glass art, and that makes them totally perfect for art jewelry.

What kinds of projects do you have planned for fall and winter?

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August Bead Stash Favorites

I haven’t yet had a chance to really comb through my stash and see what inspirations await, but I do have a few new materials waiting in the wings that I’m looking forward to trying out. Once I find the right combinations for these, there’s a chance I won’t have time for all of the ideas they bring out.

A few weeks ago I snagged this lovely strand of millefiori beads while thrifting for summer clothes, and I couldn’t be more in love. There’s just something gorgeous about the combination of white and yellow with a black backdrop. The translucent core makes these beads different from any of my other druks and rounds. I like these ones almost too much to use!

During a recent thread stock-up, I couldn’t resist trying out some Czech glass triangle beads. These are a single-hole variety, and although the shape is clearly a triangle from the top down, the sides of these beads look very curvy and organic. I’ve already tested them out in yellow, but this red is really calling out. It sounds like “pair me with turquoise”!

It might be a coincidence that all of my current favorites are on strands, just waiting to be cut. Either way, I’m really looking forward to seeing what these freshwater pearls can do. I’ve been a fan of the coppery finish for years, but I haven’t used pearls these small for ages. At about 5mm, they’re certainly small enough to go with just about any stitch, and I love the semi-round shape.

What are your favorite beads of the moment?

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Operation Inspiration: Phase Four

At last my mission to find new inspirations is complete with the arrival of my first bead order of the year. I didn’t spend a whole lot, and did a bit of stocking up on important elements like jet black 8/o seedbeads and Fireline, but there are some pretty exciting new beads in my stash now as well.

My absolute favorite grab from this haul is a pair of dyed horn rondelles in red and amber. I first tried these natural beads in a round shape last year, and I absolutely fell in love. The natural translucent finish and warm colors are so fantastic, and perfect for the designs I like to make. I can’t wait to start using these!

I also picked up a few things that were on sale and just called to me for the fun of it, including a big bag of carved mother of pearl butterfly pendants. I have no idea what I’m going to do with them, but there were some pretty great colors in the bag, including these turquoise, lime and black pieces.

Now I feel pretty much back on track, and I’m ready to start creating at my normal pace again. Although I’ll be working a lot throughout the summer – not to mention spending time at the beach – I know I’ll be able to make time for beading and sharing ideas, too. It’s good to be back!

Do you like to try out new beads for inspiration? What styles do you tend to go for?

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April Bead Stash Favorites

I haven’t been getting quite as much beading time in as I would like over the past few weeks, so I’ve spent some of my days off avoiding more tedious tasks and just stealing a little time with my beads. Rather than finishing up my inventory counts, I’ve finished and started two projects, and I’ve planned out a few more. Since I’ve just finished combing through most of my stash, I’ve got a lot of inspiration to work with this month.

I’m most eager to work with these amazing transparent ruby bugles. The color is so delicious, like raspberry juice, and I think it will look fantastic with some cobalt blue in a new cuff. I was so pleased with the way the blue satin one turned out, I’ve been excited to make another, and this color is too good to pass up again. The only thing I have to decide is which color of Fireline will look best with the color and stitch.

I’ve been amassing a small collection of coin beads over the last year or so, and I just had to move them to their own spot in my stash to accommodate the different styles and colors. I think the latest addition is these two-tone face beads, though they’ve been around so long I can’t remember. I did start a medallion with one, but it kept getting pushed to the back burner for other things. I’m looking forward to seeing what else they can do.

Finally, I re-discovered quite a few slices of tagua in my natural beads compartment and had to wonder why I’ve let them go unused for so long. I’ve got a long list of new pendant ideas to help cut them down a bit, although it might be tricky finding ways to use all of the purples. It's not a color I work with often, but the choices were limited when I bought these, and I was pretty obsessed with the style at the time. Hopefully some color inspirations will appear soon!

What kinds of beads are inspiring you right now?

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March Bead Stash Favorites

A week away from my bead space feels like a year, and so this month I’m definitely on the lookout for new inspirations. I have always found that one of the best places to look is right in my own bead stash, where there’s always something waiting to be turned into a rewarding design. Often there are beads that I’ve forgotten all about, and seeing them in a new light can be all it takes to get ideas and motivation rolling.

One of my favorite things in the bead cupboard right now is a strand of faceted Czech glass rondelles in a stunning yellow. I’ve always loved these beads with the Picasso finish, particularly how they look in earring designs. Since I’ve always sort of pictured them that way, I never got around to grabbing any for myself, until just recently. I’m still not sure how I’m going to use them – probably to add some pizazz to a collar or lariat – but just the idea of having them there is enough to get some fledgling ideas sparking.

Also loitering in my stash is a handful of Czech glass spike beads in an awesome shade of orange. I didn’t really have a plan in mind for these when I ordered them – I really just wanted to see them in person. I love the shape and the possibility of them. I’m thinking they might work well with a herringbone concoction, or as collar accents – it all depends on how spiky I want them to be, I suppose.

Last but not least, I treated myself to a very long strand of multicolored mother of pearl chips on a whim. I love the palette – it looks like the world’s most tropical fruit salad – but I probably won’t use all of the colors in a single piece. I think I can get a lot more out of them by separating the colors and creating individual palettes for them. The blue and yellow are my particular favorites.

What beads are you excited about right now?


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January Bead Stash Favorites

Over the past several months I’ve accumulated a lot of new beads. Many pieces are left over from my secret project, while others simply tagged along with my stock up orders and were forgotten in the mix. My mission for 2015 is to make my way through all of the amazing accent beads in my stash and see what they can do. This month I’ve got my eye on some really fun pieces.

I’m a huge fan of carved bone beads in almost any style, but these dyed tubes are definitely among my favorite. A while back I added a strand in crimson to my supplies, but haven’t had much of a chance to play with them. I’m thinking of a few different projects for this, including fringe and multi-strand. The color is just right for Egyptian designs, and looks amazing against turquoise.

I might be able to combine my new bone tubes with these gorgeous turquoise Picasso teardrops. In 6x9mm, the size is very full – one could almost say plump. The Picasso finish is very enticing, of course, and the color is ideal for just about anything. I’m thinking these might make a great collar fringe, although there are only enough for one project. This ignites the hoarder in me that wants to hold onto them until the time is just right. I'm going to challenge myself to just jump in and use them up.

Picasso has been on my mind a lot lately, and my final favorite this month keeps with the theme. I just recently picked up a strand of these delicate caramel daggers and I can’t wait to see them in action. There are definitely enough for a collar, plus at least one more project. I’m not going to worry about waiting for just the right inspiration to strike. All I need is a great palette of seed beads to back them up.

What materials are you working with right now?

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October Bead Stash Favorites

When we fall back on a favorite bead style, sometimes it’s just for the comfort of knowing exactly how they will look in a design, or just the right beads to pair it with. Sometimes it’s just because we love to see them and work with them.

Right now almost all of my favorite things are old faves in some way or another, although I did finally get around to picking up some of the new Czech glass O beads at Aunties Beads. They are incredibly adorable, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they’ll work in my favorite designs. Although I’d love to see more opaque or single-tone finishes in future releases, I’m pretty happy with the red azuro color that I chose. It’s red and blue and gold all at the same time.

I recently surfed around at Fire Mountain Gems, and did a little stock-up on basics like Fireline. I made a point of seeking out several new and old shades of red in 11/o seed beads. For the past few months, it seems like every time I sit down to design something, I need red – but I only have a handful of finishes to choose from. Now I’ve got plenty, and I’m particularly fond of these lovely rainbow rubies. The AB finish will allow them to blend in with a wide variety of palettes.

Another new addition to my stash is these Czech glass coins in one of my all time favorite finishes – tortoiseshell. I love the transparent topaz color with its flecks of black. It’s a little like an animal print, a little like a gemstone. I’ve already got a design lined up for these beauties and I can’t wait to get started.

What colors and shapes are your go-to favorites?

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September Bead Stash Favorites

It’s been quite a while since I’ve done a really good stock up on beads, and although I miss having a big order to sort through, I’m actually starting to run out of space for new goodies. I’m looking forward to a time in the not too distant future when I can set about really using up some of the great pieces in my stash and combining a few favorites.

In the meantime, I have picked up a few odds and ends, and some of them are really special. My current favorite is a strand of bright red natural horn beads from Fusion Beads. They have a fabulous, warm glow and the color can’t be beat. They’re going to be perfect for some Egyptian necklace recreations. I haven’t had a chance to try these out yet, and I think I’ll need to do a colorfast check before I sit down to work. The mono that these beads are strung in is tinged a bit read, which isn’t a good sign, but I’m hoping for the best.

This strand of bone tubes from Happy Mango Beads has been calling to me for awhile now. I love the striped design, which will be perfect for tribal pieces. It’s always tricky deciding whether to dole beads like these out a few at a time, or use a whole bunch in a single design. I’m still hoarding these ones until just the right project comes along. I definitely have some fringe in mind, though I still have some experimenting to do with new stringing materials.

Finally, I have a new little stash of carved bone ankhs. I was missing having some in my stash just in case I wanted to do a simple Egyptian pendant or two. I love the simplicity of these pieces, which are ready to be embellished or paired with just about anything. I still have some nice tagua slices, which always look great paired with a simple front-drilled pendant, so I might have to whip something together when I need a break from more pressing projects.

What beads are you excited about right now?

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August Bead Stash Favorites

August is usually a great time of year for beading in my workspace, despite the sometimes unreasonable temperatures. Summer activities are winding down, and the rush of fall and winter obligations are not yet realized. This year things are a bit different as I divert so much attention to my top secret project, and it has also affected the beads that I’m turning to the most.

One of the most exciting things in my stash right now is a new order from Happy Mango Beads. I haven’t had time to sort or store any of the new goodies, but every time I open my bead cupboard I see these three strands of white hearts peeking out of their temporary package and grin like mad. This time around I picked up some extra large yellows and some orange - I just need to find a little extra time to try them out!

Druks are a huge staple in the designs I like to make, even if they’re just there for the clasps. I’ve had an entire storage tray dedicated to just druks for a couple of years now, and it’s never as full as I’d like. Right now I seem to be using druks so often that their numbers are dwindling even faster than usual. Druks of all sizes and colors are crossing my workspace - I’m particularly fond of the little 4mm ones, which are a lot cuter than the 6mm druks that I use all the time.

I have been cultivating a large selection of brown and golden hued seed beads over the past year or so, and it’s getting to the point where I may have to divide them into light and dark shades, just to have enough room to store them in. Whatever the inspiration or theme, I always want to include one of these colors, and I just can’t get enough. Right now transparent medium topaz and brown iris are my go-to colors. They seem to be able to handle everything I want to do with them.

What beads are you excited about right now?

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July Bead Stash Favorites

Nothing beats trying out new beads for the first time. This month I’ve got my eye on a couple of new things, and I can’t wait to try them out. I’ve also got a new favorite seed bead color, one that might just replace transparent cobalt for my go-to blue.

These pretty little Czech glass bird ovals arrived just this morning. I purchased them on a whim while stocking up on other Czech glass essentials at Bead and Ribbon. It was the first time I’d seen them, and of course I couldn’t resist the Picasso finish. They will definitely be a welcome addition to medallion pendants. I’m curious if the design will look best with the beads resting vertically or horizontally, although I don’t mind experimenting with new embroidery shapes if we decided to go width-wise.

My camera can’t quite capture the amazing color of these transparent sea blue seed beads. They are intense and tropical, and I’ve already used up half a hank. I've actually had these beads for quite awhile, and I find that I’m turning to them any time a project calls for blue, and at the same time I’m reluctant to use them because I like them so much.

Finally, I recently added some new baroque pearls to my stash, this time in lovely green. I had such a great time doing some freeform embroidery with the culled beads from a previous strand, and I’m looking forward to adding some new variations. The pearls with flush holes will also look great in some necklace designs. These pearls are still on the strand, and need a bit of a rinse before I separate them into piles for stringing or embroidery.

Are you trying out any new bead styles right now?

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June Bead Stash Favorites

Do you suppose that it’s possible for one person to try every single bead available? It certainly wouldn’t hurt to try! Even though I’ve limited myself to only a handful of materials, I find it difficult just to keep up with my favorites. This month, I’m eyeing a few things in my stash that offer new twists on beads that I turn to often.

First up is a gorgeous strand of striped green Java glass beads from Happy Mango Beads. The colors are so summery and tasty looking. This bead style is one of my all time favorites, not only because of the very classic looking stripes, but because they are so organic. The imperfect shapes give each design a lot of personality. I’m seeing these as fringe with some sassy colors and even more stripes.

Transparent topaz has become one of my favorite colors for replacing gold in my Egyptian pieces. Dark topaz and light topaz both offer a great alternative with different moods, and I’ve been a fan of them for a couple of years now. And then I found medium topaz at Fire Mountain Gems. In any light, the color is gorgeous, and it has all the traits I look for in a not-gold bead. I’m just gonna use them in everything!

I recently did a little stock-up at Artbeads.com and picked up a few colors of Miyuki fringe beads to try out. I’ve always loved daggers, drops, and magatamas, and these little beads are right at home in my stash. I haven’t had a chance to try them out yet, but I can’t wait to see what they can do. Unlike so many drop styles, the shape of these are a lot closer to perfectly round, and they should make for some wonderful textures.

What beads are you craving right now?

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May Bead Stash Favorites

We are almost one week into May and I couldn’t be more excited. The caterpillars are out, which means butterflies won’t be far behind. Temperatures are climbing (hello beach weather!) and some of the best flowers are just starting to think about blooming. I’m looking forward to lots of summer inspirations, and looking to my bead stash for projects to come.

My absolute favorite thing right now is a new strand of cobalt blue white hearts, which I just picked up from Happy Mango Beads. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to stock up on my favorite beads in my favorite color, but they’re here now. They’re definitely going to look good in some Egyptian designs, but ocean inspired pieces aren’t out of the question either.

…Especially when I’ve got these fantastic scallop shell pendants! These huge beauties are made from carved bone with just the right patina, and I can’t wait to see what they can do. I grabbed these from Fire Mountain Gems, and I’ve been hoarding them while I wait for the sun to come out. One of them definitely needs to meet with some aqua and topaz.

Last but not least, I’ve got my eye on some new Czech glass buttons from Artbeads.com. I’ve decided to start experimenting more with purchased buttons, including making a little exception to the no-metal rule for glass buttons with metal shanks. These little buttons are all glass, though - and just the right size for summer bracelets. The floral designs are especially inspiring, and that lime green is too pretty.

What are your favorite bead muses right now?

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