Lost City Tagua Pendant

Now that I’ve got my beading groove back, the destash challenge is rolling along smoothly again. I’m seeing all kinds of new ways to use up beads that have had me stumped all year. Last week, I took a break from the tough stuff, and did something a little more fun.

When I went shopping for some new tagua slices this summer, and could only find packages of 10, I didn’t hesitate to snap up the colors that I needed, and some extras in a lovely rich blue. Hidden at the bottom of the destash tray are a variety of small front-drilled pendants that need a little boost, and tagua is my favorite way to back up a weak pendant. I would have more than enough tagua to put an end to most of these pendants, so I paired them off and set them aside for later.

Among these tricky pieces are a pair of carved bone fish - possibly salmon - that are just as plain as can be. When I paired one up with the intense blue tagua, I had visions of a mysterious underwater city - Atlantis! This week, I started adding beads from all over the place, including a packet of blue and white porphyry bicones from the destash tray, and my new Czech Picasso ovals. The coppery brown with hints of turquoise and lime look just like treasures at the bottom of the sea.

To add a little extra personality to the piece, I made two beaded starfish in teal green. When I added them to the necklace, I stitched back around and included a few sprigs of coral fringe in bright green. The entire necklace has so many mysterious aquatic elements, though I have to admit that the ovals are still my favorite.

There are three more pendants like this one to come, but each one will (hopefully) have it’s own theme!

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Beading Tutorial: Square Stitch Trim

For every beading stitch and project style, there is a variety of finishing techniques that give a piece a professional look, while also providing extra durability. Protecting beadwork with an appropriate trim adds a little personality, and covers up the exposed threads.

One of my favorite techniques for finishing beadwork is a variation of square stitch. Although it takes a little extra time to weave, square stitch trim uses fewer beads than picots or fringe, and provides a nice, smooth edge. You can add this finishing technique to any beadwork with bridge threads along the edge, like peyote or herringbone, but I find it looks best with curved beadwork such as circular brick stitch. Square stitch worked in the round this way is very compact and strong - it also creates a base for extra embellishing, or seed bead bails for pendants.

Because it works so well on curves, I love to use square stitch to finish bead embroidery projects as well. This stitch is perfect for simultaneously zipping up two or more pieces of embroidery material, while adding a clean edge to the design. It can be worked with any seed bead size, and nearly any project shape, so long as there are no tight turns.

To Add Square Stitch Trim to Embroidery Projects:

Secure a comfortable length of thread at the back of the embroidery, and exit from the edge of the beadwork. Gluing your backing to the embroidery piece is a personal preference, but make sure to leave a bit of space along the edge for securing new threads as needed.

Pick up one seed bead, and bring the needle through the backing and embroidery from back to front. Pull the thread snug, and stitch up through the bead just added.

Pick up one seed bead, and stitch through the material from back to front, just above the previous bead. Pull snug, and stitch up through the bead just added. Spacing is key - if your latest stitch is too close or far away from the previous bead, remove the needle from the thread and pull out the stitch, then try again.

Continue adding one bead at a time with square stitch, all the way around the edge. You can alternate bead sizes, or create patterns as you go. Always make sure that you stitch close to the edge, but with plenty of room to keep the thread secure - check the work from both sides.

When you come around to the first bead again, pass through all of the edge beads to secure them. You can trim the thread here, or use traveling stitch to enter the embroidery and secure the thread within the main beadwork. Adding a small additional row of square stitch provides the perfect base to string the embroidery as a pendant. You can also add a loop of seed beads to a single edge bead for a basic bail.

What’s your favorite way to finish embroidery projects?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Autumn Apple Collar

I suppose it must be time to get out and pick a few apples from the neighborhood tree, because I’ve still got crisp fall fruit on the brain. When I finally shook off the case of beader’s block that took over during the herringbone rope fail, the first thing in the destash tray that called out to me was a packet of vintage Czech leaves in smoky amethyst.

I asked around for some feedback on possible color combinations, and thought I had it all worked out - something equally smoky and mysterious in cool tones like blue, teal, and black. But when I pulled out my 11/o seed bead trays, all of those ideas went right out the window. As soon as I spotted a packet of transparent red AB, I had visions of juicy apples.

The color is a lot more like magenta than plain red, and with the addition of some dark topaz, it was a perfect match for the amethyst leaves. The palette had all the mystery that I wanted, with just the right amount of sweetness. I topped everything off with one more destash pick - some leftover Czech nuggets with hints of blue and red.

Of course I had to put all of these beads together in a collar. I’ve decided that it’s time to start focusing on what I really like to do, and leave behind all of the stitches and styles that just don’t fit my tastes. I think all beaders reach a point where experimenting is less productive than specializing. Doing beadwork that we think we should do, instead of what we really like, is just going against the creative grain.

What do you think of the relationship between repertoire and repetition? Are you set comfortably in a niche or searching for your beading identity?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Wear It Twice: Back to School

Happy Labour Day, beaders! For some of us, it’s just another day off, but for many, it’s a day for double and triple checking supply lists, planning lunches, and getting back into a routine. For me, the words “back to school” always bring to mind the look and fragrance of a fresh box of crayons, and the excitement of a new outfit or two.

Today’s fashion collage is a mixture of inspirations: back to school clothes and the colors of fall candy apples. Between county fairs and Hallowe’en, these treats are everywhere. Whether you like cinnamon or caramel, these tastes and colors are a once a year delight!

Candy Apple by mortira featuring handcrafted jewelry

For this collage, I used a palette of cream and brown, with just the right amount of lipstick red. Bold red lips are making a comeback, and what better time to show them off than during the months when the weather is starting to cool off? I wanted just a hint of apple green to avoid any Christmas vibes, so I went with a beautiful, glossy statement necklace. I like the hint of blue as well, but all green would be even better.

For a little extra September inspiration, here are a few apple and crayon inspired bead picks and projects.

Colored Pencil Bead and Jewelry Tutorial by Design Mom

Color Wheel Bracelet Video Tutorial by Auntie’s Beads

Apples and Sunshine Stoneware Pendant from Artbeads.com

Czech Glass Yellow and Red Apple Beads from Beadaholique

T-Beads Apple Glass Bead from Fusion Beads

Fire Designs Rainbow Sparkle Furnace Glass Beads from Artbeads.com

Crayon Glass Bead Mix from Fusion Beads

Opaque Rainbow Delica Mix from Beadaholique

Tiny Ceramic Crayon Beads from The Crafty Bead on Etsy

What’s your favorite thing about back to school time?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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Book Spotlight: Crystal Chic

No matter what kind of beading or jewelry design you practice most, chances are there are some areas where mediums and styles blur. Not all jewelry is beaded, and not all beading is done with just beads. Sometimes even the most basic craft techniques make it into high quality art jewelry designs.

Just like the cabochon which easily goes with beadwork, metalwork and more, flatback crystals are a jack-of-all-trades in the beading world. These little gems are just as beautiful as their drilled bead cousins, and can go many places that other beads can’t.

In Crystal Chic,Debbi Simon shows readers how to incorporate CRYSTALLIZED Swarovski flat-back and hotfix crystals into a wide variety of gorgeous jewelry designs. Debbi combines these versatile gems with everything from standard jewelry blanks and filigree, to polymer clay and tagua slices. Each project provides beautiful and inspiring examples of how you can add extra sparkle to designs you already like to make.

Crystal Chic begins with a detailed overview of materials and techniques, particularly selecting and using the right adhesives for your projects. There are also tips on making molds from two-part silicone and polymer clay, mixing and pouring resin, and basic jewelry techniques like wrapped loops and crimping.

There are 37 projects in all, including necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. There are also two embellished clasp projects, and a stunning polymer clay poppy brooch. The tutorials include complete materials lists with Swarovski product numbers for easy reference, step by step instructions and easy to follow photo diagrams. The projects are divided into seven chapters: Filigree, Metal, A la Pavé, Fibers, Polymer Clay, Resin, and Fun Stuff with found objects and charms.

The book finishes with an inspiration gallery, including crystal designs by artists like Kristal Wick and Brenda Schweder. If you love to embellish, glue and bedazzle, Crystal Chicwill provide you with lots of fun ideas. You may have to do some hunting at your local library or flea market to scoop up a copy, but it will be worth it!

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
Debbi Simon and Kalmbach Books
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