Gail Nettles

Posts Tagged ‘Seed Beads’

I decided to try a beaded bead bracelet, since I found three of my lampwork beads that were hanging out and not doing anything. I immediately saw that they used two of the colors from my coraling bracelet (which I am slowly but surely working on), so I got the idea to make a beaded bead bracelet.

Beading the Beads

I decided on three different types of beaded beads; a small tubular ndebele, a ladder stitch and a fringed donut. 

The ladder stitch and tubular ndebele look amazingly alike, but I think the tubular ndebele is stronger.  I probably won't wear this bracelet very often (I just have too many), so I didn't worry about the ladder sticth ones coming apart.

The fringed donut was easy; just a loose circle of six beads, and then I created two finges for each bead.  Keep the original circle on the loose side, since you'll be passing the thread around the beads several times, and it tightens up on its own.  That much I learned from my first one!

I found some turquoise, in two different qualities.  One was a large chip, supposedly from the Sleeping Beauty mine.  The other was matrix turquoise from China.  Both were certainly useful, but naturally the Sleeping Beauty was much nicer.

I located a toggle clasp that I didn't realize I had for the closure, as I am out of the lobster claw, and I don't like using magnetic on my wrist (I get my hands and wrists too close to my laptop's hard drive for my own comfort).

Haven't named this beaded bead bracelet as yet, because I'm not sure what to call it -- nothing is jumping out at me.  Guess I'll have to wear it awhile and see.

The Coraling Goes On

I'm still working on my coraling bracelet, and it's taking longer than I anticipated.  Probably because I decided to make the bracelet dense with beads.  First, here is a closeup of the coraling; you can't get the effect, but I thought it was a really cool photo.

Now keep in mind that my bracelet is based on a peyote stitch.  Then I am snaking up through and between the various beads with the coraling.

OK, so just what is coraling?  I guess you could call it a kind of kinky fringing.  The difference (in my mind, anyway) is that the coraling creates branches which can contain branches.  Kind of like what coral looks like.

I don't know where the name originated, but after working with it, I think it's apt.  I like it better than kinky fringe, because I think coraling leads to more possibilities.

OK, now here's the amount of the bracelet I have done; roughly one third is coraled at this point.

I decided to use three (four, if you cound the accent beads) different colors in this bracelet.  One is an inside color green encased in a light yellow.  Another is a turquoise encased in clear.  The final is a matte jade color.

One note; I used size 8 seed beads for the peyote base, I didn't use the tubulars.  The tubulars I found give a firmer stitch, which is exactly what I didn't want for this bracelet; I wanted it very flexible to start, because I was going to be going back through the size 8's many times, which would stiffen the bracelet some.  The coraling beads are a mix of size 11 seed beads and tubular beads.

That's all for today, as my eyes have gotten tired and my fingers sore from pricking them far too many tmes with the needle while making the tiny beaded beads.  See 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!

I enjoy lampworking, when the weather isn't too hot.  Lampworking, if you don't know, is the art of making glass objects (in my case, beads) with a torch.  In other words, I take rods of glass, heat them in the flame of a torch until they melt, then make beads.

Here's one set that I made.  The beads are about 18mm tall and wide, and about 11 mm thick at their widest.

I mentioned that I prefer to make beads when it's not too hot.  You see, my studio is in my garage, and I live in South Florida.  As you can imagine, between May and September, the weather is hot and humid.  Since being in the garage seems to make it hotter (especially with the torch and kiln going).  So it will be another month or so before I'll start up again.

You know what's funny?  I make all these unique glass beads (and trust me, they are unique; it's rare that I can make two exactly alike) and I rarely make jewelry!  I tend to sell them faster than I can hang onto them.  However, sometimes buyers want me to make bracelets for them, so I get a chance to play then.

Seed Beads

Before I got into lampworking, I did make jewelry -- from seed beads, mostly.  Although I did also like to include keshi pearls, gemstones and Swarovski crystals.  I learned most of the stiches, but my absolute favorite was making organic jewelry.

Here's a bracelet that I made which is an example of the kind of work I enjoyed.  It's made mostly with size 11 seed beads, but I also utilized size 15 and size 8 in places.  Oh, and turquoise chips here and there as well.

I always got tons of compliments when I wore it, but when people would ask the price, they would flinch since I'd quote $100.  It takes so long for me to make a bracelet like this, that I wanted to earn at least minimum wage, after the cost of the materials.

I also delighted in making organic watch bands.  My biggest problem was trying to find the right style of watch, so that I could make bands that would attach and detach (in case something happened to the watch itself.