June 2013

June 2013

Peyote Starter Strip Review

In the March blog I mentioned trying the Peyote Starter strip to make my Peyote stitched pieces. Using the starter strips really makes it a lot easier when working the first few rows; plus there is no more twisting, turning and grumbling to keep the rows in the correct position. I did find I prefer using the beaded Peyote Starter strip made from Suzanne Cooper’s web site versus the Peyote Start Card. I made a Delica bead strip and a regular size 11 seed bead strip based on Suzanne’s tutorial and followed the instructions provided with the Peyote Start Card and the instructions posted by Theresa Olin on the web. The Peyote Start Card works too but it is more suited for Delica beads than the regular size 11 seed beads.

To make your own Starter Strip you can find the pattern on Suzanne Cooper’s website. http://suzannecooper.com/free/measure.html

To understand how to use the Starter Strip go to http://www.vacacita.com/tutorials/peyotestrip.html

To learn more about the Quick Start Peyote Cards and the different sizes of cards available go to Deb-Moffett Hall’s website. http://www.patternstobead.com/   

A Measuring Tool

Trying to determine the number of rows needed to make a seed bead bracelet or other piece can lead to a lot of undoing, redoing and frustration. To help me overcome some of these issues I created some measuring strips with the size and type of seed beads I use the most. I have a Delica Strip and a Regular Size 11 Seed Bead Strip. The strips are 10 beads wide and each strip is marked off in sections and each section is 10 rows. The Delica Strip has 12 sections; 120 rows. The Regular Size 11 Seed Bead Strip has 10 sections; 100 rows. I made my strips on a loom but the strips could be made using square stitch. I have used the strips many times to figure out the numbers of rows I need when designing pieces and creating tutorials. Here is a picture showing the two strips followed by a pattern. 

 

 

 

 

Seedbeadersters

The Seedbeadersters June Bead Along is a Right-Angle Weave (RAW) project. There are some great tutorials available on the web for RAW.  One of the loveliest is the X’s and O’s Bracelet designed by Deborah Farrand. Her tutorial was published in the 2009 Bead & Button Special issue Brilliant Crystal Jewelry 2 pages 22-23. The tutorial can also be purchased through her family's Etsy store.  http://www.etsy.com/listing/103373557/bracelet-beading-pattern-pdf-ohdonna-xs?ref=shop_home_active

Here is my version of Deborah Farrand’s X’s and O’s bracelet.

 

 

The beads are 6mm Emerald crystal pearls, 4mm Fire Opal crystal bicones, 4mm Erinite crystal bicones, size 11 metallic gold seed beads (permanent) finish, size 15 Charlottes in 24k gold finish, and Power Pro 5lb. test braided line in green. The clasp is a hammered gold-tone toggle. The bracelet design makes use of both the Single Needle RAW technique and the Double Needle RAW technique. The bracelet was easy to put together, but I did make some modifications. The first modification was in the clasp attachment. I have found a toggle clasp needs quite a bit of flexibility when trying to close the clasp (especially if you are doing it by yourself). I added seven size 15 seed beads after the initial five 11s to attach the first half of the clasp (not the crossbar) and completed the attachment as directed. To attach the clasp crossbar I added seven size 15 seed beads after the initial five 11s and before adding the crossbar and then seven more size 15 seed beads after the crossbar to allow more give to the crossbar. When adding the side crystals the stitching thread tended to show and pulling the thread snug affected the length of the bracelet making it too short. To maintain the correct length I added a size 15 seed bead before and after each bicone along the sides.

Another good RAW bracelet tutorial is presented by Off the Beaded Path on Youtube. The materials need to make the bracelet includes  4mm and 6mm pearls or rounds, size 15 seed beads, Fireline, and a clasp (box type clasp). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5PijrZE3vM

I used the video as a jumping off point to create my own design for a RAW bracelet. I used semi-precious gemstone beads in white Mountain Jade, fossil beads dyed dark blue, and alabaster gold lined seed beads in sizes 15, 11, and 8. When I finished the bracelet the color combination reminded me of the Spectator high-heels my Mother wore; thus I have dubbed it the Spectator.

 



Come join the Beading Fun with the Seedbeadersters. Visit our home page and see what we do. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/seedbeadersters/

Peyote Cuff Bracelets

A while back I read about the “Amazing Adventures of the Traveling Bracelets” http://travelingbracelets.blogspot.com/ Sig Wynne-Evans designed traveling bracelets. I like her bracelets and wanted to try the same thing with some of my own designs. I made my first one back in February and posted the photo in the February blog.

The bracelets are Peyote stitched and mounted on metal cuff blanks.  The Peyote Cuff Bracelets take a little more time and planning but they are definitely easier to put on, wear and remove. Since February I have come up with two more designs and a better method of attaching the Peyote bracelet strip to the metal cuff.

The second one I made is for my oldest Daughter’s birthday.  Back in February I created some Bitty Bead designs for a necklace and decided to play with some of those designs to create the new bracelet pattern. This pattern is for a 1 ½ inch wide metal cuff blank. I also used the Bitty Beads to make a coordinated necklace.

 

I have been working ahead and trying to create some Holiday designs and the latest is a Christmas Diamond Cuff. I decided to use a 1 inch wide cuff blank for this bracelet. I like the way this design turned out and may use it again in a different color combination.

 

 

Christmas Diamond Cuff Tutorial is now available: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/6878551

Thanks for reading my blog. Now grab those beads and make something new, it is what I am going to do.