Work in Progress: Ocean Pendant

Greetings to my fellow beaders after a much too long absence! My work schedule has been scrambled around quite a bit these past few weeks, and it’s has totally derailed all of my other schedules like sleeping, beading, and writing. I’m going to have to work out a new way of planning out my free time, but for now I’ll just have to play a little catch-up.

Although I didn’t have time to write anything special to celebrate the official release of Ancient Worlds Modern Beads today, I have been able to do a smidge of beading here and there. I’m almost finished a new spiral rope pendant featuring one of the carved bone shells that I added to my stash a while back. Originally, I was just going to go with a plain rope, but I found that the combination of colors made the rope look too naked, so I added some fringe beads and magatamas to bulk it up a bit. All that’s left is to construct the various components and then I can move on to something new!

What are you making right now?

Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading
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Work in Progress: Bone Lariat

I’m a little behind in this week’s update, having lost an entire day of work due to illness. Although I’ve been scrambling to catch up the last couple of days, I have managed to keep projects moving forward. Right now I’m getting down to a new chevron lariat, and it’s coming along rather nicely.

I decided it was finally time to try out my new bone tube beads. I had already played with color palettes a bit, so choosing the colors was easy. I threw in some gold pearls at the last minute as well, which should look great in the tassels. Finding a pattern took a little more work. At first I was just going to use black beads in the corners of the chevrons, but I didn’t like how it looked and had to start over. Instead, I’m using a new pattern with alternating rows in the center of the chain. The possibilities for adapting this stitch are still pretty exciting.

I also managed to dismantle a few of my purged pieces, and got some pretty pendants to re-use. As an added bonus, I was able to keep the beadwork from that particular necklace intact, so I've got a new piece to wear and some extra components at the same time. The new medallion with emerald Toho triangles is still on deck, waiting for me to be a little less distracted so I can finish it.

The dragonfly dagger collar I was working on a few weeks ago turned out really nice. The AB finish on most of the beads work so well together, and really enhance the Picasso finish of the daggers. I still have a few of them left, and I’m looking forward to using them again.

What are you making this week?

Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading
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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?

Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading
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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?

Copyright 2014 Inspirational Beading
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Bead Color Ideas: Bone and Monochrome

Sometimes when thinking up fun color palette trios, I’ve got a great theme in mind, or a great focal to experiment with. And sometimes, I just wing it. This month I wanted to make palettes for some new carved bone tubes with a natural finish. Instead of planning ahead, I just grabbed my seed bead trays and went with the first thing that came to mind.

The first thing I spotted was a hank of lustered turquoise blue, which is a fantastic match for the bone beads. On a whim, I grabbed a strand of aqua white hearts, too. Rather than separate them and try for two palettes with light blue, I decided to use them together. What better way to show off a great neutral finish that with bright monochrome?

Clear Skies is a palette that I can definitely see in a lot of different designs. Not only do the bone and turquoise look as if they were made for each other, but the glow of the white-hearts really plays nicely with the other blue. Together, they create a plain but interested backdrop for the bone beads, allowing the subtle shades of beige and brown to stand out clearly. I can see it in a multistrand design, or something with oodles of fringe.

Next I went for greens, and combined two colors in the same finish. Transparent emerald and transparent lime are lush and lively, which really enhances the organic quality of the bone beads. Secret Meadow looks rather sophisticated, with its natural colors and perfect balance. It would make a great fall or spring palette, with just the right amount of warmth and light. I think this trio would look great in a symmetrical design, like an embellished cuff or beaded pendant.

For the last palette, I switched out the roles a bit. Rather than two matched seed bead colors, I chose transparent dark topaz to go with the bone beads, and jet black for a contrast. Although we consider black to be a color that goes with everything, we often underestimate just how much black can change a palette. It can make other neutrals look lively, or bright colors seem serious and edgy. In Candlelit Study, the black provides a depth that makes the two browns seem perfectly aged. This palette definitely needs a classic design.

Do you like to use monochrome palettes and elements in your designs?

Copyright 2014 Inspirational Beading
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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?

Copyright 2014 Inspirational Beading
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Bead Color Ideas: Winter Green

Here on the West Coast, winter scenery is a little backwards. All summer long the grass gets baked to a golden brown, and then becomes lush and green again with the almost constant winter rain. This climate quirk has inspired me to try out some winter palettes with a more vibrant green than the deep velvet of holly leaves and pine needles.

The perfect character to play this part are some beautiful carved bone tubes from Happy Mango Beads. The finish isn’t uniform, giving them an organic, mossy finish. The colors range from olive to chartreuse, with little white stars scored into the surface.

First I paired the green bones with light and wintry blue, and shiny jet black for contrast. Although we miss the leaves when they’re gone, the look of branches in silhouette on a bright winter sky is a welcome one! The greens definitely have a coolness to them in this trio, like moss with a layer of frost. There’s a certain watery-ness to this palette, which I decided to call Frozen Creek.

Of course I couldn’t resist trying out some bright opaque red. Adding white seemed a little too obvious, and probably wouldn’t have a very festive effect on the lighter greens. Instead, I tossed in a handful of gold Swarovski Elements pearls. Antique Centerpiece has a warm elegance, like a favorite decoration that gets passed on from one generation to the next.

Finally, I wanted to try out a complementary palette, starting with lovely olive green seed beads. Transparent rootbeer brown provides a little light and some additional organic color for this palette. With so much green, this one could only be called November Lichen.

Are you using your winter greens right now? Which shade do you prefer?

Copyright 2013 Inspirational Beading
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Sculptor’s Lariat

It’s hard to believe that this year’s beading challenge is nearly finished - it still feels as if I’m just getting started. I’ve got 9 more Egyptian Gods to work with by the end of the year, including a few of my favorites.

Last week I put the finishing touches on a new chevron lariat for Ptah, the patron of artists and craftsmen. With his distinctive blue skull cap, I couldn’t resist using an abundance of cobalt white-hearts. To represent both gold and pottery, I added some terracotta and Autumn Tucson for accents, and the trio worked out really well. Since white hearts often have smaller bead holes, a stitch with few thread passes is ideal, and so I went with chevron chain once again. The beadwork comes out so slinky, it's definitely among my favorite techniques for necklaces.

I thought that scarabs would make great accents for the god of art, as well as a few carved bone tubes. The tribal motifs and patina finish bring to mind pottery shards, or ostraca. I also included some marigold yellow white-hearts for bumpers, which almost perfectly match the Autumn Tuscon seed beads. With so many bold accents, I decided to go easy on the fringe this time around, and I like the more lightweight look for this piece.

Copyright 2013 Inspirational Beading
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Bead Color Ideas: Fall Marigold

Of all the wonderful colors and shapes that remind us of fall beauty, is there any more charming than a plump orange pumpkin? Whether they’re in cute and crafty kids decorations, elaborately carved, baked in a pie, or dressed up for a chic Thanksgiving table setting, pumpkins are almost always cheerful.

Now that the back-to-school season is behind us, and it’s about time to start planning Halloween costumes, I wanted to explore some fun color palette ideas with a focus on pumpkin orange. I started with the most adorable carved bone rounds from Happy Mango Beads. Dyed a bright marigold with vertical stripes, they stand in perfectly for pumpkins. The challenge would be to create memorable seasonal palettes that aren’t too Halloween-y.

I started with an easy contrast - purple lined Rosaline. The purple is vibrant and lively, making it a perfect match for the zingy orange. To add even more light and a bit of balance, I completed Putting Up Preserves with some juicy transparent cherry. Although this palette is very fruity, the presence of orchard - and not tropical - colors makes it ideal for autumn.

Next I tried some jet black, which really enhances the bright orange. Since it’s so light, the combination is still far from ordinary, and I thought it would be safe to add some olive green. I love the mossy quality of this shade, and it goes so well with other earthy hues. As a trio, these colors are very organic, like Carving a Pumpkin straight out of the garden.

For the final palette I included some additional accent beads. I couldn’t resist the seed-pod shape of turquoise Rizos, which also contrast beautifully with the orange bone beads. While picturing the drops in wheat sheaf clusters, I added some warm and sunny transparent topaz to create Bailing the Hay.

What are your favorite combinations for orange?

Copyright 2013 Inspirational Beading
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Embellished Ombre Herringbone Cuff Tutorial

There’s nothing quite like a beaded cuff to show off the marvel of tiny seed beads. With the right combination of colors and stitches, you can have a bold and beautiful bracelet that fits like fabric. The only thing that can make a beadwork cuff even better is the addition of some choice accent beads.

This project combines the visual appeal of an ombre palette with the added texture and delight of disc bead accents. We’ll also explore an easy way to attach clasps to beadwork that can be applied to a variety of stitches.

Materials:

11/o seed beads in 6 colors
4 or more 6-8 mm disc beads
4 or more flat heishi beads or 8/o seed beads
Beading thread
A button or toggle (beaded or purchased)

To make an ombre herringbone cuff:

Start by arranging your seed bead colors from dark to light, or warm to cool. You can use 6 different shades of one color, or blend from one color to another. Try placing your bead packages in different positions until you get a pattern that is has a pleasing ombre look.

I like to start herringbone weave with a two-bead ladder, but you can also start with a single-bead ladder, or use the Ndebele technique. Check out the Twisted Tubular Herringbone Tutorial for full instructions on making a two-bead ladder.

Begin with 3 columns of each color in your chosen pattern, so that you have 18 columns in all. Step up to begin the first row of herringbone weave: stitch up through the bead next to where your thread is exiting, and up through the last bead in the top of the ladder.

Pick up two seed beads - making sure that they match the first and second columns below - and stitch down into the first bead next to where you thread is exiting. Pull snug so that the beads lock into place side-by-side. Stitch up through the next bead in the row below and pull tight.

Continue adding two beads at a time, matching them to the pattern, until you reach the end of the row. Remember to step up through the following base bead at the end of each stitch. You can work in whichever direction is most comfortable for you.

After adding the final bead pair, pull the thread snug, and then step up to start the next row: Stitch up through the bead next to the one that your thread is exiting, then up through the last bead added in the previous row. Pull tight, and flip the beadwork over.

Continue adding rows of herringbone weave until the beadwork reaches the desired length, adding new thread as needed. You’ll need to allow a bit of length for the clasp - about half an inch or 1.5 cm. The clasp will overlap, so the final length is adjustable.

Once the final row is added, you can cinch up the beadwork so that both ends match: stitch a dummy row by following the herringbone thread path, but without picking up any beads. Step up through the second column from the end, and stitch up and down the top two rows to connect the remaining columns together. There should now be threads between each of the beads along the edge. Weave in your threads and trim.

Add the bracelet clasp:

Secure a new length of thread in the beadwork, near one end. (If desired, add straight fringes to the edge of the beadwork using two or more beads of matching colors.) Exit from the 8th column, and pick up enough seed beads to form a loop that will fit your clasp. Stitch down into the beadwork through the 11th column and pull snug.

Retrace the thread path through the seed bead loop at least once more to strengthen. Continue adding fringes to the edge is desired, then weave in your thread and trim.

Secure a new length of thread at the opposite end. Test the length of the bracelet, and determine where you would like the second half of your clasp to rest. Count back 3 beads, and exit from one of the center 2 columns at this point.

Pick up 3 matching seed beads, your clasp, and 3 beads to match the corresponding column in the cuff. Stitch into the beadwork, then retrace the thread path at least once more to secure the clasp. Add fringes to this side of the cuff, then weave in your thread and trim.

Embellish the cuff:

Arrange your disc beads on the cuff in a pattern you like. Take a picture or make a quick sketch if necessary. You can also add embellishments freeform for an organic look.

Secure a new length of thread near the point where you would like to add the first disc. Make sure that you are working from the same side as your button or toggle, so that the accents will face out! Weave through the beadwork and exit from your start point. Pick up one disc bead, one heishi or 8/o bead, and one seed bead to match the closest row in the cuff.

Skipping the seed bead, pass through the larger two beads, and through the cuff below. Pull snug, making sure that there is no slack thread in the stack of accent beads. Pass through 2 seed beads from the underside of the beadwork, then two beads in an adjoining row - follow the herringbone thread path.

Pass the needle between the beads, being careful not to snag any threads, and pass up through your accents. Stitch through the top seed bead, then back through the accents and into the beadwork again. Continue reinforcing the stitch until the accent beads are secure, then weave through the cuff until you’ve reached the next area where you would like to place a disc

Continue adding your accents, adding thread as needed. Weave in your threads, and you’re done!

There are so many fun color and pattern possibilities for this project. If you make a variation, share it on Facebook - I’d love to see what you come up with!

Copyright 2013 Inspirational Beading
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Ankh and Feather Pendant

No matter how much experience we have with our beads and color palettes, sometimes when a new design is started, we just have to cross our fingers and hope for the best. Even when the first few inches of beadwork look great, a finished piece can fall flat. Sometimes a sample that looks mediocre becomes an amazing design.

I was determined to use a dual palette of elemental colors with black and white accents for my Ma’at pendant, but I had a feeling that it wouldn’t look so great in the finished design. I chose olive for earth, aqua for water, red for fire, and royal blue for water. They looked great together on the hanks with black and white for accents, but had yet to be proven in the design. Furthermore, the trouble with double St. Petersburg chain is that you have to wait quite a while before seeing how the final pattern will look. Whenever I have doubts, I usually start the second row of stitches after finishing the first thread, just be sure that everything will look alright. Even though I used this precaution with Ma’at’s necklace, I still wasn’t sure how I’d like it in the end.

Once both chains were connected and the bone ankh pendant was on, I was relieved to find that the palette and pattern were just as good as I had hoped. Ma’at is all about balance and harmony, and I like the way the colors enhance the feathery look of St. Petersburg chain, and play well with each other.

Finishing this necklace was a little tricky, because I didn’t factor in bead sizes when decided which color to start with. The olive green seed beads have tiny holes, and when it came time to zip the first rows together, I ended up having to switch to a size 13 needle just to get the job done. Luckily, I didn’t break a needle in the process!

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Work in Progress: Pendant of Balance

At one time or another, most beaders are a bit guilty of hoarding. Sometimes we have beads that we hold on to for years, perhaps waiting for the right inspiration, or maybe they’re just too precious to use. Occasionally, bead hoarding pays off, when a design idea comes along that wouldn’t have been possible without those pieces that have been kept under glass.

For the past several months, I’ve been wanting to use my last bone ankh pendant for a side project, but I kept putting it off, thinking that perhaps it would come in handy during this year’s challenge. I didn’t want to risk being without it should a project come along that wouldn’t be the same without an ankh. This week, that project is on the bead tray.

When designing a necklace for Ma'at, the goddess of truth and balance, I decided to go for a feathery St. Petersburg chain. At first, I thought about revisiting the scalloped variation with another turquoise wedge focal, but the loops of beads would obscure the feathery look of the chain. Ma'at was sometimes shown offering the Breath of Life by holding an ankh to the lips of the pharaoh, so a simple pendant was the way to go. I created a palette to represent the elements, and things are well under way.

Last week’s moon collar is finished. I’m very happy with the final palette, although a mistier shade of blue would have been ideal.

What are you working on this week?

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