Gail Nettles

Archive for the ‘Seed Beads’ Category

Here's the freeform peyote stitch bracelet I've been working on -- finally! This will be a "drive-by" post, but I wanted to get the beaded bracelet photo up since I have been talking about it all week!

OK, so what's in it? Glad you asked!  I used the following in this bracelet:

• Size 8 and size 11 seed beads, in shades of blues and greens
• Abalone Beads (2)
• Baroque Pearls (3)
• Sterling Silver Beads (a few)
• Mother of Pearl Button
• Lots and Lots of Crystal Fireline

I always find the clasps the hardest part of the bracelet, because with freeform, I don't want the clasp to scream, "here I am!".  So I tend to minimize them, and let the bracelet itself take center stage.

Well, this was my warm-up.  I was looking through my bookcase last night and found my book on coraling -- forgot I even had it!  It's organic-looking, so right up my alley.

I also, in the process of rummaging around, found more of my lampwork -- I guess I still have some I can play with!  And the focal I found is a beauty, if I say so myself.

Well, I said this post would be short; goodnight, sweet dreams and see you tomorrow!

Are you like me -- you have beaded jewelry projects all around, in various states of completion?  I hope I'm not the only one, who half-way through a project gets another idea that I just have to start!

Anyway, I'm sorry I don't have the peyote stitch beading project ready for prime time yet.  I'm done except for the clasp.  Right now I'm struggling to find a cool button to use for my clasp.  I thought I had a ton of them.  Well I do, but they are all in shades of gold and white and pink and black...not colors I can use for this bracelet.  So, it will be another day at least until I can get the button clasp finished.

But all hasn't been lost!  In my hunt for buttons, I came across some projects, supplies and items that I totally forgot I had (has anyone else had that happen?).  Even the infamous beaded shoe project!  (More about that later.)

But quickly, here are two of my PMC projects; I really like the one with the dichroic glass cab.  But the one with the ruby (man-made) has a funny story.

I had made a pendant that I really liked, but unfortunately, I didn't make it strong/thick enough, and part of it broke off.  Grrr.

So, I took part of the pendant and went back to the drawing board.  I added more PMC and the ruby.  Finally, fired it and lo and behold...something very organic looking.  But when I brought it to class, people oohed and ahhed.  Moral of the story -- never throw anything away, you never know how it can be recycled.

(It really is prettier than the photo shows -- for the life of me, I can't get the ruby to sparkle in a photo like it does in real life.)

Now, onward to more of what I found. Like the shoe.

Beaded Jewelry Projects and "The Shoe"

I found tons of beaded necklaces, mostly peyote with bling added. They were made back when I was learning beading, so they're fairly unusable "as is". Unusable mainly because they are so darned heavy! But I'm confident that I can re-make them. One for sure I can re-do as a bracelet. The others...well, I have to keep at least one the way it is. Why? So when I get depressed because the beaded jewelry isn't going well, I can see how far I've come.

Now to my shoe project.  Yes, a real shoe (size 6) that I am covering in beads.  I got the idea after taking a bead embroidery class.  I decided to cut out some suede in the shape of the shoe (in parts, naturally).  Then, I would bead embroider each piece, and eventually piece it all together onto the shoe itself.

It's all done up in shades of red.  From fire engine to deep garnet, I have all kinds.  Some are seed beads, some bugle, some gemstone beads, all in a joyful melange of textures.

Am I done?  Of course not -- maybe half way.  I was originally making it for a contest, but ran behind and missed the deadline (and stopped working on the project).  Guess I'll have to start it back up again.

OK, let me go so I can get the peyote bracelet done and get a photo for you.  Catch you later!

Peyote stitch beading and I usually get along OK; at least, up until today.  Today...well, it was certainly an interesting start to my day!

I have some lampwork and wired pendants that would look fantastic with a more substantial necklace from which to hang.  I mean, a small sterling chain or leather or ribbons just won't cut it for these bolder pendants!  Kumihumo might work, but that is time consuming and finishing the ropes...oh boy.

So, I decided to make a peyote tubular rope.  I mean, I've done it in the past and peyote is relatively simple, so it should be a breeze, right?

Peyote Stitch Beading, Tube Style

First thing I should have remembered; it is much, much easier to use a form of some typoe when you do a peyote tube.  I couldn't find the knitting needle I had planned to use, so I thought I could wing it.  Can you say, "oh, no!"?  Thought so. 

I actually wasn't doing too badly for making a flat circular peyote stitch, but that's not what I was trying for!

I finally gave up for the time being and just decided to do regular flat peyote stitch beading.  At least there I was successful!  So I kept on and decided instead of zipping my flat sitches into a tube, that I would make a bracelet instead.  And so far, it's looking pretty cool.  I already have a name for it, I think.  I won't post a photo until I am done, but here's a hint:  it's done in mostly shades of blue.

Anyway, as soon as I get my bracelet finished (probably tomorrow), I'll try the peyote tube again.  I should be more successful this time, because I found the knitting needle I need to use as the form!

Because I don't have a photo of my peyote today, I'll leave you with a photo of some more of my lampwork for the time being.  Enjoy!