Adventures of a Beadaholic
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
I'm Moving
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Bead Crochet Revisited
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Queen of the Sea Necklace
Made this necklace which is called Queen of the Sea. It's a pattern by Jenny Van.
I remember the first necklace I attempted to make was also a design by Jenny Van. I like her designs.
Been Away
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Trying New Things : Soutache
Happy new year everyone!
I've sadly neglected this blog for far too long. I had been busy with work and really wasn't able to do much crafting until the last few days.
I have been fascinated with soutache. It looks so lovely. Somehow it always looks intricate and fancy and oh so pretty. So after doing some research on what soutache braid to get, I bought some from beading.pl. They are an online store in Poland but you can email any questions and they'll reply in English. They were so helpful too! Me being a complete newbie in soutache, haven't even seen the braid in real life before, and yet I was soon able to get my soutache stash soon.
And here is my initial attempt:
I realized that my tension was too loose and this made the piece kind of soft. I also used Fireline initially and realized that this is probably one of the few instances that Fireline isn't quite the best option. I think it's because Fireline tends to be stiff when it gets "folded" and sticks out in the wrong places along the shaping stitches. Just my two cents though. I don't consider myself a soutache expert, of course.
Then I tried Nymo and this drapes quite nicely. I never liked Nymo for my usual beadweaving but I have to say it seems to be perfect for soutache.
My succeeding attempts:
Still not even. It sure takes a lot of getting used to especially when joining to make the "lollipop," or even just shaping the braid to create a gentle curve.
At any rate, I was able to work on better tension and this doodle seems to be better coordinated:
Then I got all excited and did embellishment already without adding any backing yet.
More soutache adventures to come!
By the way the soutache braid I got from beading.pl is composed of viscose and is the Pega brand. It's nice and does not fray too much. Although I haven't tried any other kinds of braid yet (rayon or polyester), I think this viscose kind is just great.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
CRAW Bangle
This has got to be the longest time it has taken me to finish a bracelet. And not because it's too difficult. I've just been so busy lately.
But I love cubic right angle weave and this bangle is my own design. I guess the reason why it's taking longer than usual too is because I'm adjusting as I go along.
I'm now using my new Tulip size 13 beading needle and I love it! It's quite tricky to thread though, as the eye is quite small. It's also shorter than the average size 12 beading needle. And it's so sharp! I pricked myself a few times as I wasn't used to the length. It takes getting used to.
But it feels really lovely, it doesn't bend yet it's very flexible. Another marvel from Japan. They make so many cool things there.
This is the bangle so far. I placed a bezeled 14mm Swarovski rivoli as focal bead. I have a few gaps in between the Craw bands where I'll put 4mm bicones in the same color as the rivoli. Then I'll put a continuous CRAW band for the final layer.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Netted Crystals
Haven't been blogging for a while but I have been beading. :)
Did this bracelet a couple of months ago. It's made using a simple netting technique, from a pattern called Crystal Suspense by Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour, from the Best of Beadwork book.
I used 4mm rondelles and size 15 seed beads alternating with size 13 Charlotte single-cuts.
I love this because it works up really fast. You can finish it in a couple of hours, maybe less if you work fast enough.
The pattern was for a bangle but I actually ran out of rondelles so I made it a bracelet. I used a bead cap at both ends, put a flexible wire in the center of the tube and crimped it with the clasp.
The finished bracelet. It's one of my favorites, I like wearing it and people have noticed it. It's simple yet elegant.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Floral Inspiration Bracelet
This next bracelet was from a design by Callie Mitchell featured in Bead and Button Magazine. The inspiration for this bracelet is the mimosa flower, which looks like a fireworks burst.
Its main base is a double St. Petersburg stitch, which uses size 15s as the main bead and 11s at the ends before another 15 to bring the thread back into the stitch.
The center spine uses 11s as well.
The spine is then embellished with 4mm bicones between two 15s, alternating along the 11s along the length of the spine. In my bracelet I used 23 bicones.
The end of the toggle is then composed of the "mimosa" feature, with dainty bead strands mimicking the thin needle-like petals of the mimosa.
The finished bracelet. The other end of the toggle is a 6mm x 11mm Swarovski crystal top-drilled teardrop crystal that should fit tightly into the hole made by the "mimosa" part of the toggle.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Bugle Bracelet Number 3
Decided to do another bugle bracelet and I definitely love how quickly this stitch works up.
I made a bangle this time and even without a tube or wire at the center I think it's firm enough.
I alternated a metallic brown rocaille with pink at the center, and used silver lined size 15s in between.
The bugle beads I used are a caramel color with a rainbow sheen.
Here's the finished bangle. I really love this pattern.
Finally!!!
Finally finished the green herringbone bracelet a couple of days ago. Been so busy with the office but I'm happy I was able to make some time for beading again.
Here it is.