Bead Wish List: Spring Candy

With two very kid-friendly holidays to enjoy, this time of year is full of candy and brightly colored treats. There’s a lot of inspiration to be had in spring confections, like the rainbow appeal of a bowl of jelly beans, or the soft pastels of sweet-hearts. I’m really excited about the return of certain chocolate eggs, but the colors are really the best part of spring. With Valentine’s behind us and Easter ahead, I went on a hunt for beads in candy colors, and those that just look good enough to eat. These are my favorites!

These unusual Czech glass ovals from Maya Honey definitely look like they’re made with tasty flavors, with a mix like rock candy or salt water taffy. The pink patina even adds an additional layer of frosted appeal. I’d definitely want to pair these treats with some luminous orange-lined seed beads for an extra pop of color to bring everything together. This shade is a near-perfect match for the filling in fondant eggs. I think the combination would be great in a chunky multistrand necklace.

There’s something really special about the candy-coated look of these epoxy resin charms from Fire Mountain Gems. The mix of colors and the smooth finish can definitely cause a sweet craving. The round shape was absolutely my favorite, which brings to mind all kinds of classic sweets. I also found some delicious glass bead strands, although it was tough to choose just one. I like this jewel tone mix, which looks a bit like gourmet gummies or fancy jelly beans. With a great neutral backdrop, this duo would make a pretty memory bracelet.

More rock candy inspirations can be found in Czech glass, especially when it comes in a gorgeous pastel palette like this Spring Fling rondelle mix from Lima Beads. The Picasso finish is gorgeous anywhere, but in this case I think it makes these beads look a little like malted robin’s eggs. All the rondelles need is a nest, and the sour-sweet of apple green sliced seed beads is perfect for the part. I’d probably want to use this combination in a fringe design, or perhaps something minimalist and asymmetrical.

Pearls of any kind are wonderful when you want to create food themed jewelry. These shiny glass pearls from Fusion Beads have a tasty lustered finish that is perfect for spring jewelry. I particularly like the pink, but they also come in pumpkin, yellow squash, pea green, and light plum. Yummy! Toho seed beads in cotton candy-lined crystal would make a great backdrop for any combination of glass pearls. I’d love to use them in a freeform design or a cluster of circular brick stitch medallions.

Not all treats are candy-colored, so for my next duo I started with lovely chocolate howlite rounds from Auntie’s Beads. The color is delicious, and the perfect companion for sweet hues. To complete this set I picked a pretty mix of pastel Super Duos with hints of pink, green, and blue – all great colors to pair with chocolate. This combo would make a great cuff bracelet or perhaps a chunky collar.

Clearly mixes are so ideal for candy theme, and it was impossible to resist this Carnival Candy seed bead blend from ArtBeads.com. The darker purple really pops with the other soft colors. I finished this duo with some Czech glass coins featuring a cute bird motif. Though they might not look tasty, they’d definitely be at home in a basket of goodies. I think this pair would look great in some simple earrings or a bead embroidered cuff.

Finally, I fell in love with these confetti jade rounds from Beadholique, which look so much like a birthday cake-flavored treat. The hints of pink and blue in the buttery jade is adorable and a great way to add just a bit of color. Since the bird coins had looked so great, I decided to finish this combo with a pretty lavender hummingbird focal in vintage style Lucite. This mix would make a great pendant, perhaps with some white seed beads to match the hummingbird and round out the palette.

Do you have a favorite candy color or tasty bead shape?

Mortira

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How to Mix and Use Bead Soups

There’s something wonderfully enticing about a mixture of beads. The combination of colors and shapes all playing together before the beadwork has even begun can be so much more inspiring than a single seed bead color. Bead soups are an excellent source of creative juice, not to mention a great way to experiment with new colors, or use up leftover beads.

One of the best ways to create a gorgeous bead soup is to hand select colors and shapes that work well together, as well as with your favorite techniques. A lot of bead sellers create their own custom mixes and blends, so the work of building a palette is done for you. If you want to experiment with concocting your own bead soup recipes, leftover beads are a great way to play with colors.

Starting with a single color is a good way to play it safe and see what your beads can do. You can mix together similar hues and shades to get a wonderful monochrome palette of ready-to-use seed beads. It’s a good idea to keep track of how much you’re adding with each new color, especially if you already have a project in mind. This way you can get a good balance of shades and be sure you’ll have enough beads to complete your design. If you’re not sure how your mix will turn out, start with a few grams of each color and add a dash of this-and-that until you get the perfect blend.

Mix together seed beads of different sizes for texture.

Blue is a great color for bead soups because you can combine almost any number of shades together and they’ll still look great. Turquoise, aqua, cobalt, indigo…they all play well together. When planning your soup, try placing the beads you want to use together before mixing, to see how different finishes will look. Sometimes transparent, lined, or matte looks great when mingled, but different finishes can dramatically affect how other colors look.

Shaped seed beads are great in soups.

This green mix is a great example of too many shades. The mint and lime beads would look wonderful paired with the emerald. When all three come together, they clash. One way to salvage this soup would be to add some yellow or blue. This would allow either the mint or lime to attach itself visually to the new color, leaving the other to pair off with emerald.

Try adding accents of similar sizes and shapes to start.

You can add accent beads directly to your bead soups. This is a great way to build a palette for freeform peyote, multistrand pieces, or bead embroidery. Depending on your project, you may want to go for a small range of sizes (from 3 to 6 mm), or add a handful of chunkier pieces. This is another great way to use up odds and ends in your bead stash.

Bead soups look great with freeform stitches and motifs.

Blending similar hues together can work out really well. This mix combines neutrals and a variety of warm tones for a sandy look. Starting with a base of neutrals (white, black, grey or beige) and then adding a few highlights is a great way to experiment with mixing colors.

Bead soups are great for multistrand and fringe projects.

You can also use multiple bead soups in a single design. To create an ombré effect, create two bead soups with colors that are close together on the color wheel, or use one all-neutral palette. Remove one third of each soup and mix those thirds together to create an additional blend. Alternate between the three soups to gradually change the look and color of your beadwork.

If you're not using a bead spinner or stringing multiple beads at once, it can be tricky to find a truly random groove. When working with mixes, I like to pour out a portion of soup onto my workspace, then pinch a few grams into a line that I can choose from. By moving steadily through this row of beads, I can be sure that I'm not favoring a color or creating a pattern instinctively.

Do you like to mix your beads together? What’s your favorite bead soup palette?

Mortira

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading

Work in Progress: Messy, Messy RAW

This week I got started on my new abstract/ugly necklace design, using nothing but culled seed beads. I’ve always got an old tealight cup on my bead tray to collect beads that are a little wonky, and after so many years of beading, I’ve collected a lot of them. They’re the perfect material for an ugly necklace, and my plan is to stitch a great big swatch of them with right angle weave. This will be the base for my piece, which will probably include some embellishments of assorted bead leftovers and some Unfinished Objects.

I’ve still got a tray of lime green 8/os waiting to be put away after shooting some photos for an upcoming tutorial. I’ve got 3 different projects lined up for you in the coming weeks. The one I’ve just completed is so much fun – I think you’re going to really love it. Keep watching for that one!

What are you making right now?

Mortira

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Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading

Culled Bead Collection Update

Back in January I snapped a photo of my collection of culled and wonky seed beads, in the hopes that it would take on some kind of transformation later. I knew of course that it would get bigger, but I wondered if the ratio of jet black to colorful beads would change much over time.

It’s a little hard to tell just from a photo, but the amount of beads has increased by at least 50%. The color hasn’t really changed all that much. I wonder if it isn’t just my preference for jet black, but the quality of that particular color? I didn’t use jet black in my seed bead brand comparison, so it’s hard to tell.

Then

Right now all of the projects that I have lined up require either a bunch of planning, or I’ll be taking step-by-step photos. This means I can only work on them when I’m at home during the day, but I need something to bead in the middle of the night. So I think it’s time to finally get started on using this big bag of wonky beads.

Now

I recently checked in with the Ugly Necklace Contest, and there aren’t any rules posted for a 2016 contest. I hope this doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be one! I still find making an ugly design really therapeutic, so I’m going ahead with my idea. It’ll give me something meditative to work on, and I’ll get a chance to use up some of the colored bead threads I’ve had in my stash for forever, since I’m sort of hoarding the last of my Fireline right now.

I’m not going to give too many details about my theme for the new piece, but I will say that it was inspired by a mean critique, and it will almost certainly include some UfOs. I’ll be sure to share some in progress photos!

How do you store and use your culled beads?

Mortira

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Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading

Culled Bead Soup Experiment

As I get ready to start taking inventory for this spring’s tax returns, I’m doing a lot of sorting and reorganizing. While I was cleaning my work space and putting away a lot of stray bead packages, I discovered that I had several baggies and tubes of culled beads built up from the past few years.

I always drop misshapen beads into a designated tea-light cup on my bead tray, and when it gets full I’ve been in the habit if pouring most of the beads into the nearest empty package. I always leave a few behind to act as stop beads, and then forget about the rest. The result is a sprinkling of these little mixes all over the place.

During my cleanup, I decided to consolidate all of the culled beads into a single large bag. It occurred to me that I probably have other tubes and baggies stashed somewhere else from ‘the early years’. I thought it would be interesting to catalogue this batch, and then check back later this year to see how the quantity and colors have changed.

Right now the mixture is mostly black 11/o seed beads – partly because I used it so much, but also because after switching to Czech seed beads, I got a lot picker. I’ve tried to reduce the waste a little bit by setting up a second cup for culled beads. In it I’m saving all of the beads that are just really tiny, but not weirdly shaped. They’ll come in handy for fringes some day.

When it’s time to take a look at the mix again, I’m hoping to use it in a new purge necklace, while also using up some UFOs and unwanted beads.

Do you save your culled beads? Have you come up with a special use for them?

Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading
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Bead Shops: Spirit Bear Beads

Nothing beats an indie bead shop when you’re looking for unique supplies. One of my favorite shops to browse is Spirit Bear Beads, which specializes in custom seed bead mixes and gorgeous Zuni bear gemstone fetishes. Shop owner and bead soup chef Mia offers a wonderful selection of supplies that you can’t find anywhere else.

Inspirational Beading: How did you get into the business of jewelry supplies?

Mia: My Mom..... We went to a bead store one day to restring a necklace of hers. I wandered around fascinated by the beads, picked some out and made a bracelet. We were both hooked! Soon we were traveling to bead shows, shopping catalogs and online. Suddenly I had more beads than I knew what to do with. Selling the extra online was a logical step.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite material, color, or bead style to keep in stock?

Mia: My favorite and mainstay are the size 6/0 Czech seed beads, I create my own mixes and keep the best in stock.

Inspirational Beading: What kind of criteria do you use when selecting new products to carry?

Mia: First and foremost it has to appeal to the Artist in ME! 2nd I want to be able to use that product in a new and exciting way that no one else has thought of, and finally, will it sell? What customer am I appealing to with the item?

Inspirational Beading: What makes your bead selection stand out from other craft supplies shops?

Mia: Well, I have been told, many times, that my unique and original bead mixes are what customers love, and keep coming back for. I also stock, what I believe to be, the largest selection of Zuni Bear Beads on the internet.

Inspirational Beading: Many beaders are familiar with the emotion that comes from selling a finished design. How does it feel when you sell something that will become a beautiful work of art?

Mia: All too seldom do I see the finished product. I have several customers whose work I am familiar with and it does make me very proud to see one of my unique bead mixes in a finished product.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite thing to make (or see others make) with your beads?

Mia: I love to make earrings! I literally have hundreds of pairs of earrings!

Inspirational Beading: Baggies, tubes or strands? Which is your favorite?

Mia: Baggies for the seed beads I sell, I weigh my seed beads so that works the best for me. My personal stash is stored in Tic Tac boxes!

Inspirational Beading: In your opinion, what’s the best thing about small supplies shops vs. the big bead retailers?

Mia: Personal service and attention to detail. Customers like to be considered special, I often have requests for quantities, colors or a certain type of bead. I enjoy filling those custom requests, you don't get that kind of service from the 'big box store" type of retailer.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have any plans for new products this year?

Mia: I always have plans! I have this muse that wakes me up out of a dead sleep with ideas! I never know when her inspiration will strike!

You can find current bead mixes and other unique bead selections at Spirit Bear Beads on Etsy and ArtFire. Mia also sells gemstone jewelry and Southwestern accessories at Spirit Bear West. For updates and inspiration, follow along with Spirit Bear Beads on Facebook.

Copyright 2014 Inspirational Beading and Spirit Bear Beads
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Bead Giveaway: Broom Beads and Delicas

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good old de-stash giveaway, and this month I have some really great picks for you. Although I still have lots of great vintage acrylics to share, this time around it’s all new goodies.

I recently received an adorable packet of broom beads as a freebie in my last bead order. I can’t resist a surprise bag of beads, even if there’s a chance that I won’t be able to use what’s in it. The unusual mixture that I found was actually really fun, with lots of colors and shapes to choose from, and plenty of multiples to make a successful project or two. Although I can tell right away that most of the pieces are glass, a few are a mystery.

It could take me more than a year to find the right projects for most of these beads, so instead I’m going to pass them on to a beader who wants to tackle them. To sweeten the pot, I’m also including a few grams of 11/o Delicas in matte transparent gray and silver-lined ruby.

How to Enter:

For a chance to win all of the beads shown, simply leave a comment on this post telling us what you would do with the broom bead mix. I can’t wait to hear your ideas!

One lucky reader will be drawn on Tuesday, June 17th. This giveaway is open to international readers.

Important: Comments must be posted here on Inspirational Beading to qualify, but no log-in is required. Please make sure to leave a contact method in your comment if you do not have a profile with a public email address. For security, you can type your email like so: username AT yourmail DOT com. Incomplete or duplicate entries will not be included in the draw.

Good luck!

Update: This giveaway has closed.

Copyright 2014 Inspirational Beading
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Bead Grab Bag Giveaway and Contest

This year’s beading challenge, to destash all of my not-new beads, is coming along really well, and has resulted in some fun new designs and inspirations. One of the purposes of this mission is to lighten the size of my bead stash, in preparation for a big move later this year. Even though I’ve also been doing more frequent giveaways, things are not going as quickly as I would like.

Recently, I went through all of my extra seed beads, broom beads, and assorted bits, and created some fun Czech and Chinese bead soups, and now I want to find new homes for them. There are six prize packs in all, each one with three helpings of bead soup, an assortment of findings, and cord or ribbon. Each winner will also receive two PDF beading tutorials of their choice.

With six winners, the one comment-one entry style of giveaway that we usually do just doesn’t seem that fun. Instead, we’re going to have a little contest with Pinterest!

How to Enter:

1. If you do not have a Pinterest account, you can request an invite, and create some boards to organize your pins.

2. Follow one or more of my pinboards so that you can "share" your entries. (You can stop following after the contest closes if you like.)

3. Pin any image from Inspirational Beading or The Sage’s Cupboard, and include the tags @Mortira #Beading in the description, so that I can find your entry. Every pin counts as an entry, and you can enter as many times as you like!

Six winners will be drawn and announced on Monday March 26th. The contest is open to readers from Canada and the US.

Pinning Tips

1. Before you start pinning, create some pinboards with different categories to help you organize your finds. Check out the Pinterest help guide for just a few pinboard ideas.

2. You do not have to download the Pinterest bookmarklet to enter this contest. On ArtFire, just look for the Pin It button to clip any image from a page. You can also find lots of previous pins from Inspirational Beading to use. Repins count as an entry, as long as you include @Mortira #Beading in the description.

3. Just for fun, here are some fantastic pinboards that you might like to follow:

Lampwork Beads pinned by Artbeads.com
Colour Palettes pinned by COLOURLovers.com
Cool Jewelry Displays pinned by FusionBeads.com

If you have any questions about the contest, leave a comment here or email InspirationalBeading@gmail.com.

Good luck, and happy pinning!

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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A Bracelet a Week: Rocky Path

This week’s bracelet design took almost the full week to complete. Summer comes rather suddenly here on the West coast, and as soon as the cold weather of June is behind us, my family and I spend most of our free time out doors, which leaves very little time for beading.

Luckily, I was able to scramble things together and finish the bracelet with just enough light to take photographs. Perhaps it was because I had to rush, but I had a lot of mixed feelings about this bracelet as I worked on it. For awhile, I thought it was going to be a dud. But by the time I had put on the edging, I realized that it’s pretty charming.

I wanted to try a different approach to the ‘safe’ freeform peyote I had used with African Christmas beads. This time I started with Delicas, then increased with 11/o seed beads. The beadwork started to pucker almost immediately, so I improvised by adding extra pockets of Delicas. It turned out really cute - the little gray patches look sort of like buttons.

This bracelet is the first piece of the last half of the challenge, and it is also my first Etsy listing of the year. Since joining April’s Army, I find I’m spending a lot more time on the site, and I decided I might as well try to sell some jewelry while I’m there. I had to eat a little crow, but that’s okay. Now I’ll be able to separate my new tribal themes from other designs.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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Bead Wish List: Seed Bead Cocktails

I can’t speak for all beaders, but personally, I don’t really like working with seed bead mixes. When I'm planning a design, the colors and shapes that I select each have a specific job to do, and sorting through a mix just isn’t that fun.

If I do want an assortment of beads, for a spiral or freeform piece, I like to make my own. So why is it that I am so drawn to bead mixes? Every time they appear, I want to have them for my own. Perhaps it’s the explosion of color, which ignites creativity, or the illusion of vastness that an assortment of beads creates.

Either way, they are so hard to resist, it almost makes one want to do freeform work all the time, just to try them all. Here are just a few of my favorite seed bead cocktails:

Blue Frost Bead Mix by TOHO
from Artbeads.com


Tropicooler Seed Bead Cocktail by TOHO
from Rings & Things


Turquoise and Coral Miyuki Bead Mix
from Aunties Beads


Georgia Earth Tones Miyuki Cube Bead Mix
from The Bead Stylist


Momiji Red TOHO Seed Bead Mix
from Lima Beads


Serenity Miyuki Seed Bead Mix
from Bead My Love


Caribbean Seafoam Seed Bead Mix
from Earthly Possessions


Matte Rainbow Delica Bead Mix
from Beadaholique


Picasso Perfect Seed Bead Mix
from A Grain of Sand


Northern Lights Seed Bead Mix
by Whimbeads


Dusky Evening E Bead Mix
from Totally Unique Treasures


Caribe Seed Bead Mix
from FusionBeads.com


One Pound Seed and Bugle Bead Assortment
from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads


Twilight in the Canyon Seed Bead Mix
by Spirit Bear Beads


And my personal favorite!
Small African Christmas Trade Beads
from Happy Mango Beads

Do you like to buy pre-mixed beads, or come up with your own unique concoctions? What’s your all time favorite color combination?

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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