Tube bracelet finished

Been down with the flu for the past few days. Felt better today so I decided to finish this tube bracelet as it seems to be taking me so long already.

So I added "tube parts" to the rest of the components so that each component in the "spine" now had a "tube part."

It now kinda looks like a solid tube this way.

At this point I was already improvising and wasn't referring to the pattern anymore.

The next thing I did was to close up one end.

To close this end I added thread so that I came out of the green bead and made another component to join with the other one on the opposite side.

This is the loop end of the beaded toggle clasp.

This is how it looks from the side.

Now before I can close the other end I have to fill the tube with the cherry quartz beads strung on flexible wire. I pulled it tight on the end that was already closed.

When I did this, the bracelet itself had to be clasped. If it was strung while the bracelet was straight and then closed up on the other end, you wouldn't be able to bend the bracelet around your wrist.

Here I saw that I lacked a cherry quartz bead at the end so I added one more.

I closed up the other end by using crimp beads, snipping off the wire and slipping it back through the last cherry bead on both ends. I made sure that everything was nice and snug. The bracelet still has to be clasped when closing the other end and crimping both ends.

The finished bracelet.

I actually added one more loop to the loop side of the clasp so that it could be worn looser. I made this for an 8-year old but the second loop will ensure that she can wear it even when she's a bit older.

Tube Bracelet part 3

Finished the "tube parts" and simulated the beads strung up in the middle.

It looks okay laid out straight. But when in a circle (which is how it will be worn anyway) I think it might be better to fill out the rest of the "tube parts." The cherry quartz beads will still be given enough peek-a-boo exposure.

I used flexible wire to string the cherry quartz beads to give the bracelet more structural support at the core.

Tube Bracelet part 2

Been busy the past couple of days so I haven't had a lot of time for beading. But I do squeeze in whatever spare time I can.

Continuing with the tube bracelet, the pattern called for 6mm stones for the center instead of strung seed beads as a design option.

What I had were 10mm round cherry quartz stones so I modified the pattern a bit. The "tube" is now made up of four components across instead of three. This includes the component in the "spine" part of the bracelet.

In the pattern, it showed that the "tubes" were formed on every component on the "spine". I'm making it every other component for now and will see how the string of cherry quartzs look in them.

Tube Bracelet

Making a bracelet from a pattern designed by Antonio Calles (Bead and Button). I actually started making this bracelet a few weeks ago and ended up joining the components to make a ring and earrings set.

First two components, joined as you go along.

I'm using Nymo thread size D now. I've attempted to for a long time but after reading a lot of forums I learned the proper way to use it.

Nymo thread has to be conditioned. It has to be pre-stretched and waxed with either beeswax or Thread Heaven. I read in one forum that it can actually be ironed lightly so that the wax bonds better with the thread. I never tried this before and I think it works!

I put the prestretched and waxed Nymo under a piece of fabric, like a handkerchief. Then I run the iron a few times across, on a medium heat setting.

When I'm done the thread doesn't fray as much and doesn't tangle at all. I used to avoid using Nymo because of the fraying, but this fixed that.

One way to avoid fraying is to just avoid sewing through the thread itself. This will be a big help when you have to unravel for some reason. This is pretty annoying when the thread is frayed.

Here is the finished bracelet base. I'm making it for an eight year old so it's a bit shorter than it says in the pattern.

The next part of the bracelet is to create the tube.

Herringbone Highway

This is a pattern from the December 2011 Issue of Bead and Button magazine. It's called Herringbone Highway designed by Aryd'ell Hotelling.

In my variation I made only one "lane" instead of the two called for in the pattern. I also used materials I had available.

I'm using 5mm faceted Carnelian round beads with 5mm freshwater pearls for the center of the "highway".

I don't have size 6 seed beads so I used size 8s but strung a 15/o before and after it to fill up the gap.

I used an 8mm round red agate for the toggle.

The finished bracelet.

Beaded Bails 2

I made two more beaded bails for a couple of pendants.

The black onyx pendant is a beautiful teardrop shape with a gold engraving of Mandarin ducks. I used a hexagon-shaped bail this time for a change.

I placed 2mm round fire polished crystals at the front and back hexagon parts as there is a hole from the original six-bead ring.

This crystal is a small phantom quartz, so the bail has to be smaller. I made two 3-row triangles and connected one side with flat peyote. Just a simple piece.

Beaded Bails

Today I'm making beaded bails for four beautiful stones so they can be used as pendants. This is a nice alternative to the ready made metal bails available out there.

This is the first stone done. This is a beautiful teardrop shaped rutilated quartz, around 32mm x 22mm.

The bail is basically made up of two small triangles, just around four rows. Then I connected the two triangles on one side with peyote stitch, around five rows. This will allow any thickness of chain or rope to go through the bail.

Then I closed it by adding size 15 seed beads on the point of one triangle, through the hole in the stone, and the same number of beads through the point of the other triangle. I run the thread through the same way another time and this closes the bail.

Two rutilated quartz pendants with beaded triangular bails.

Finished Amethyst Cabochon Pendant

Finished the pendant. Just put a simple peyote bail.

Amethyst Cabochon

Another cabochon challenge. The stone is a beautiful amethyst, and it's quite big at 35mm x 25mm. It's big for me, as this is actually the biggest stone I had to bezel.

The client requested that as much of the stone be exposed, as it is quite stunning. Therein lay the challenge for me to bezel it securely enough and yet keep much of the stone exposed.

To make sure the cabochon is bezeled securely, it's important that the initial ring of beads fits snugly around. At first I used size 11 Delica cylinders but realized that I would only have one transition to a smaller size bead to clench the stone, so I pulled it off and used size 11 round Japanese seed beads. These are slightly bigger than Delica cylinders so it would allow me for two transitions to the size 15.

When I was able to get the front dome shape already, the tricky part now was to continue the back portion in such a way that the cabochon itself didn't slide around out of place. So I temporarily placed masking tape on the front so I can tug at the transition beads without distorting the bezel itself.

This way I was able to tighten my rounds at the back and my cabochon stayed in place. It's especially helpful as this cabochon is quite heavy and it's easy for it to slip and slide while working on the back so the tape kept it in its place.

This is how the back looks. Even though I added more rows for stability, it doesn't show at all in front. It feels really snug and secure too.

Rivoli Twist Bracelet

Still in flashback mode.

The next project I did back in June was Carolyn Cave's Rivoli Twist bracelet from the August 2010 issue of Bead and Button Magazine.

After doing crossweave I wanted something different and had just gotten my new stash from Fusionbeads.com so I was excited to get started. I didn't get rivolis though so I decided to just make the bracelet version, so it's a Rivoli Twist without the rivoli. :)

The first twist in a series of seven. The curve is formed by the change in the size of the beads used. 6mm Swarovski bicones became the "intersection" of the twists. Clever design by Carolyn Cave.

At this point I thought of making a beaded toggle clasp instead, as I didn't have an elaborate one.

The finished bracelet. I had to adjust the toggle clasp a few times as the bracelet ended up being a bit too long and would slide right off my wrist. It worked out nicely when it was done.

I looved the 2mm Swarovski round crystals. They aren't available locally so I had to get them from Fusionbeads as well.

Diamonds and Pearls Bracelet

Flashback to May 2011. I made a couple of bracelets from a pattern designed by Janice Chatham from the Beader's Handbook 2.

I used amethyst Swarovski bicones for the first one I made, and clear AB size 15 Japanese seed beads. I also used light rose colored Swarovski pearls.

For the second bracelet I used Siam colored Swarovski bicones and black and gold size 15 Japanese seed beads. I used freshwater pearls this time.

This bracelet uses the crossweave technique.

Galaxy Bead Necklace finished

Finished assembling the Galaxy Bead pieces and modified two opposite joints so I can fit the twisted herringbone rope through.

The finished necklace.

Galaxy Bead

Starting on a new project. I made a twisted herringbone rope a few weeks ago and now I'm going to make a focal bead for it.

I chose Gill Stone's Galaxy Bead from Bead and Button February 2011.

In the article it said that Gill Stone was killed in a motorcycle accident while she and her husband were in Germany. So tragic.

Finished three parts of the bead, five more to go. I chose size 8 round seed beads for the center instead of the 4mm bicones called for in the pattern because somehow I couldn't get 4mm crystals to fit. I think it looks okay.

This is the herringbone necklace. I used size 10 clear hex beads with AB finish, so I'm matching the Galaxy Bead by using white rainbow finish Delicas and the same color beads I used as accents.

Emerald Bezel Earrings

Next project - tricky faceted emeralds. The back part is more domed than the front, and is also faceted. Not sure then if you can call them cabochons.

Started out with Delica cylinders in gunmetal color with black size 15s. The client requested black.

Not content yet, I added another layer of edge beads, I chose metallic dark purple 15s for this.

Then I made a loop and placed a 2mm Czech fire polished round for a bit of contrast.

Then decided to add 15s in another layer around the bezel but not at the edge as I didn't want the visible surface are of the emerald to get smaller. The 15s are in a color similar to the Czech round.

I think it looks much better now. The client wanted it simple and elegant so I hope the extra touch of the 15s tied in with the Czech rounds to give it visual unity.

Three Bezel Rings

And here are the three rings I've been asked to make.

Resting on my beeswax bar :)

Moonstone Bezel ring

Last ring for this batch is this a moonstone bezel. I used rainbow blue Delica cylinders and various 15s and 13s.

I put size 15 silver-lined gold seed beads along the edge of the ring band for a bit of embellishment.

Cat's Eye Bezel

Yet another bezel project.

A client asked me to bezel this green cat's eye stone. It's a 10mm x 12mm cabochon.

It ended up getting pointy at the ends, which kinda makes it look more cat-like I think.

Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon

Made this Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon from a pattern by Elizabeth Pullan. It uses a combination of peyote for the body and decreasing brick stitch for the ribbon ends.

I'm using a salmon-colored Delica instead as I don't have baby pink.

It's supposed to be an angel, but I didn't put the angel part yet and I'm thinking if I need to. I think it's fine as it is. I'll just attach it to a brooch finding.