Shimmer River Bracelets

A few months ago I made a new set of bracelets, the Shimmer River Bracelets.

The Shimmer River Bracelets feature a whole bunch of Swarovski's "shimmer" fallback crystals, along with either Toho's Demi Round seed beads or Miyuki's Spacer seed beads. These thin beads are available in two sizes and are half the width of traditional 8° and 11° Japanese seed beads.

I've noticed differences between Toho and Miyuki brands before. True to form, there are subtle size and color differences between Demi Round and Spacer beads too. But I was able to use them interchangeably in this design.

When I first set out to stitch this design, I wanted to show off the crystals without covering them up or overshadowing them with other beads. This design was actually my first attempt at this idea, but then I stitched another bracelet that used and exaggerated different beaded elements. Unfortunately, the crystals were lost in this second attempt, so I circles back to my original idea. Sometimes simplicity is better and less is more!

It works up so quickly that I stitched it in five different colorways!

The beading pattern for this bracelet is appropriate for advanced beginners. The pattern is 12 pages long and contains 37 photos and illustrations.

Kits are available in all five colorways pictured, and contain all the beads needed to stitch the finished bracelet (extra crystals and beads are included so you can make a bracelet longer than those shown here).

Thanks for looking!

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New Beading Video and Kits: Dainty Prismatic Right-Angle Weave Flower Charms

A few months ago I had the opportunity to film a series of videos based on four different areas in beading. The videos are now available at the Interweave Store both as instant high definition video downloads as well as in the DVD format. This is the last in a series of four blog posts on those video projects; check out the previous posts here, here and here.

Together with the team over at Interweave/F+W, we organized these videos with each level of beader in mind. Beginners can watch me weave each step of the project one stitch at a time, I share several variations for experienced beaders, and throughout the course of each video I include many tips and tricks that are useful for beaders of all levels. If you're new to my Bead Origami style then these videos are a great introduction to my approach to beadweaving, but if you're already familiar with my work then you'll want to check them out too as I cover a new project in each one.

For the last video I focused on a topic that often shows up in my work; stitching beaded flowers using Prismatic Right-Angle Weave (PRAW).

Stitching Flowers with PRAW

Last spring I put together a webinar on Prismatic Right-Angle Weave where I talked about the geometry behind the term, and I showed several different examples of beaded art that use this technique. I also explained how to stitch four different kinds of basic PRAW beaded ropes in a detailed supplementary PDF file, which was then adapted into an article for the August/September 2015 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

In this video I talk about how to use PRAW to make dainty beaded flowers using a collection of shaped beads and seed beads. I start with a brief review of PRAW, and then I show how to weave three different sizes of these flowers using PRAW-4 (CRAW), PRAW-5, and PRAW-6. When we use the same materials and vary the PRAW count, we get flowers with four, five, and six petals (respectively).

I also discuss petal-shaped beads in this video. For this project I chose dragon scale beads in a specific finish that gives us many different colors in one bag of beads, but I've also used lentils, rizos, rose petals, and even drop beads to emulate flower petals with beads.

Quick Petite Earrings

In the next part of the video I show how to make a quick pair of earrings using 5-sided charms with matching pear-shaped crystals. I also cover how to balance the earrings so that the flower faces forward.

Delicate Bracelet

In the last part of the video I show how to make a matching bracelet using 4-sided charms, including how to connect them together and how to attach a magnet clasp.

Once you're comfortable making these charms and connecting them together, try creating a collection of charms using a different number of sides. You can mix and match and connect them together to make more intricate necklaces, bracelets, and earrings!

This video is available both as a High Definition Video Download and in the DVD format, and includes a supplementary PDF pattern with step-by-step written instructions and a complete materials list for the bracelet and purple pair of earrings shown in this post. Additionally, a special limited edition kit is also available for this project, and it includes the video download, the PDF, as well as all the beads needed to make the bracelet and earrings shown here. The last time I partnered with Interweave to sell a kit it completely sold out, so you won't want to miss your chance to snag this one!

Thanks for looking!

PRAW Webinar Airing Soon!

A quick reminder that my webinar on Prismatic Right-Angle Weave (PRAW) is airing this Tuesday, March 24, at 1 PM EDT.

The webinar is in the style of an academic lecture, and is very much like my beaded bead webinar; you can think of it more as a live TED Talk rather than a Craftsy how-to video, and attendees will have the chance to ask questions at the end of the presentation. Also, anyone who registers for this webinar will receive a tutorial in the PDF format that describes how to make bracelets and simple beaded beads using the PRAW stitch. Here are some examples of those beaded beads and bracelets:

If you can't make it on the 24th, you can still register for this webinar and you can watch it later; anyone who registers will get a link to download a recording of the webinar a couple of days after the live presentation. If you're interested, you can register at the Interweave Store.

If you'd like to learn even more about PRAW and its place into the beading lexicon, Jean Cox wrote a post over at the Inside Beadwork Magazine blog about how this naming convention fits into the context of prism geometry. I must admit that it was really interesting to read this post and learn how the self-described "snooty editors" over at Beadwork Magazine don't often accept new naming conventions, but they like the name PRAW "because it makes so much sense." Check out the post on their blog here.

Thanks for looking!

New Pattern and Kits: Double Rosette Beaded Beads

I've finished my second beading pattern that uses QuadraTile beads: the Double Rosette Beaded Beads:

A Double-Layered Beaded Bead

This design uses two layers of QuadraTile beads, Japanese seed beads, and round beads to create two different sizes of circular beaded beads. The inspiration for this design originally came from the Double Pinwheel beaded beads, which use two-hole triangles for a more pinwheely shape. I had originally thought that the QuadraTile beads could combine with the triangle beads using a similar pinwheely technique, but that didn't pan out quite the way I had imagined it, so these turned into nice rosette beaded beads instead.

You might have seen these beaded beads in the print advertising for this new bead shape as well...

The beading pattern for this design describes how to make two different sizes of Double Rosette beaded beads using a variation on the peyote stitch, how to string these beads together with round beads to create an elegant bracelet, and how to finish the bracelet with a matching beaded button clasp.

This QuadraTile beading pattern is in the PDF format, and clocks in at 23 pages of step-by-step instructions with 81 full-color illustrations and photographs. This pattern is appropriate for experienced beaders who want to take up the challenge of beading with four-hole beads, but beaders who have already mastered the Double Pinwheel beaded beads are in great shape to try out this design.

Four Kit Colorways

Kits for this design are available in the four colorways shown, and include all the beads and findings needed to make the complete bracelet.

Thanks for looking! 

Prismatic Right-Angle Weave (PRAW)

I've been playing with prismatic right-angle weave, or PRAW. So what's PRAW, you may ask? Well, the short answer is that it's the technique of cubic right-angle weave (CRAW), applied to the geometry of prisms.

Prismatic Right-Angle Weave

PRAW is a relatively new term, but it describes a variation of CRAW that's been around for a while. Marcia recently blogged about the consensus around the PRAW term in relation to her gorgeous Ancient Bells necklace. Basically, the great thing about CRAW is that it's such a versatile stitch that can be adapted in many different ways, but many variations of this technique have gone beyond the "cubic" part of CRAW to the point where what's being stitched is no longer a cube, but rather a prism. While PRAW adds another term to the lexicon of beadweaving, the good news is that if you already know CRAW, you're in great shape to learn PRAW.

One way to think about PRAW is that if one unit of CRAW makes a square-shaped room with four walls, a square floor, and a square ceiling, PRAW starts with a different shape for the floor. If you make the floor a pentagon, then you will have five square walls, and the ceiling will also be a pentagon. This can be described as PRAW-5. PRAW-3 has a triangle for its floor and ceiling and three square walls, PRAW-4 is the same as CRAW, PRAW-6 has a hexagon for its floor and ceiling, and this stitch can be expanded to PRAW-7, PRAW-8, and beyond. Finally, since a cube is special a type of prism, CRAW is also a type of PRAW, and all the beading tips and tricks that are used in CRAW (such as turns, joins, and embellishments) can apply to PRAW too.

PRAW Beaded Ropes

PRAW is an excellent method to vary the thickness of a CRAW beaded rope while keeping the detail that you get from using small seed beads. I made four bracelets using this stitch using size 11 seed beads punctuated by units of crystals. From left to right, the bracelets are in PRAW-6, PRAW-5, PRAW-4 (CRAW), and PRAW-3.

PRAW Beaded Ropes

Since I can't get enough of beaded beads, I had to make a handful of them using PRAW. These beaded beads use PRAW-3 through PRAW-6, and use fire polish beads for the floors and ceilings and bicone crystals for the walls.

PRAW Beaded Tilings

Individual PRAW units can be joined together at their square sides to make both 2D and 3D beadwork. Gwen's used this stitch to make some amazing 3D beaded sculptures, as well as an adorable beaded heart pendant. I used the same strategy to combine PRAW-4 and PRAW-5 units to create this beaded flower.

PRAW in Beaded Flowers

Speaking of flowers, several of my floral designs actually already use PRAW (though I didn't know it at the time :) ). PRAW is used for the flowers in my Sakura Charm, Poinsettia Bracelet, and Prism Blossom Pendant designs.

Live Webinar!

If you'd like to learn more about this stitch, I'm giving a PRAW webinar on March 24 at 1 PM EDT. The webinar is in the style of an academic lecture; I'll talk about the history and technical details of this stitch, and several artists other than myself have graciously contributed photos of beautiful beaded eye candy to this talk. The format is very much like my beaded bead webinar; you can think of it more as a TED Talk rather than a Craftsy how-to video, although anyone who registers for this webinar will receive a PDF that describes how to make bracelets and simple beaded beads using the PRAW stitch. If you're interested, you can register for it at the Interweave Store. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions at the end of the presentation.

If you can't make it on March 24, you can watch it later! Anyone who registers for the webinar will receive a link to download the archived version, which you can watch as many times as you'd like.

Thanks for looking!

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New Pattern and Kits: QuadraTile Sweet Bun Set

Since I just can't resist playing with new bead shapes, I applied and was accepted to Starman's TrendSetters program last year. My first pattern resulting from these new beads, the QuadraTile Sweet Bun Set, is now available at beadorigami.com.

QuadraTile Beads: A bead with Four Holes

This pattern features the new QuadraTile beads, which are square-shaped beads with four holes that look sort of like square buttons. Like the other CzechMates beads such as the two-hole triangles, the holes of these beads are spaced uniformly for consistency across the CzechMates line.

Working with these beads presented all kinds of new challenges, such as how to position the holes of the beads so that they point in the correct direction, and how to engineer the beadwork to make use of all four holes. But it's been a fun challenge and I came up with several ideas that I'm looking forward to talking about more over the next few months.

A Delicious Bracelet

This beadwork design combines the QuadraTile beads with two-hole triangles and Japanese seed beads to create round circular components. The components are quite sturdy, and I liked the feel of the rounded edges of the CzechMates beads so much that I joined several components together to make bracelets.

The connections between the components are rather rigid, and the bracelet is finished with a magnet clasp. While I was photographing these bracelets, I found that the magnets kept sticking to the metal surface that sits on the bottom of my photography box. This led to some interesting bracelet gymnastics shots such as this one:

A Matching Pendant

The beading pattern for this design describes how to make both the bracelet and a matching pendant using variations on the circular peyote and circular netting stitches. The pendant component uses 8-fold symmetry instead of 6-fold symmetry to make it slightly larger than the components used in the bracelet. However, this component can also be used in place of some or all of the smaller bracelet components to make the bracelet slightly longer.

This QuadraTile bead pattern is in the PDF format, and clocks in at 17 pages of step-by-step instructions with 46 full-color illustrations and photographs. This pattern is appropriate for experienced beaders who want to take up the challenge of beading with four-hole beads.

Three Kit Colorways

Kits for this design are available in the three colorways shown, and include all the beads and findings needed to make either the bracelet or the pendant (the pendant kit does not include a chain or other stringing materials). 

Thanks for looking! 

Special Announcement: Beadwork Magazine 2015 Designer of the Year

I'm pleased to announce that I have been selected as one of Beadwork Magazine's Designers of the Year for 2015! As part of this special designation, Beadwork Magazine will publish a new beading pattern from me in each of their 2015 magazine issues. I've already completed several projects for this series and I'm looking forward to seeing them in print in the coming year.

Additionally, my first project in this series, the "Flowerpots Bracelet" is on the cover of the Feb/March 2015 issue! Check out the Interweave Store for more information on how to purchase print or digital copies of this magazine, or for how to purchase kits for this project.

New Pattern and Kits: Sparkling Compass Set

I recently retired the Sparkling Compass Set from my teaching portfolio, and it's now available as a pattern on my website.

A Delicate Bracelet

The Sparkling Compass Set features the four-pointed Sparkling Compass component woven from a collection of round crystal pearls, bicone crystals, and shaped and round seed beads. This versatile component can be combined with galactic crystals for a delicate bracelet.

An Intricate Beaded Bead

Six components can be woven off of a common base for an intricate beaded bead.

Elegant Earrings

Finally, individual components can be attached to pendant crystals for a pair of earrings. This pair features rhombus crystals, but I've also created them with galactic crystals.

Several Bead Options

Different bead options are possible in this design as well. In this set of earrings, the pair on the left includes a couple of Rizo beads for a more four-pointed compass look.

Three Kit Colorways

The pattern for this design is now available on my website at beadorigami.com, and it describes how to make the beaded Sparkling Compass component, and how to use the components to create the bracelet, beaded bead, and earrings. The circular peyote and circular netting stitches are used to create each component. The pattern is in the PDF format, and clocks in at 15 pages of step-by-step instructions with 45 full-color illustrations and photographs. Kits for this design are available in three colorways, and contain all the beads and findings needed to create the bracelet, earrings, and beaded bead.

Thanks for looking!

New Pattern: Poinsettia Bracelet

After a long, hot summer I've been quite ready for Christmas, so I wholeheartedly dived into holiday beading right after Thanksgiving. Dragon Scale beads in particular have previously spoken "flower petals" to me in other designs, but I've recently found them particularly suited to poinsettias.

Miniature Beaded Poinsettias

The Poinsettia Bracelet features miniature beaded Poinsettias joined together in a delicate a bracelet. I chose the reddest Dragon Scale beads that I had in my stash for the poinsettia flower, but I didn't have any that were green enough for the leaves. So, I used bugle beads instead to mimic the angular, pointed shape of the poinsettia leaf. A handful of tiny 15° seed beads and some stabilizing Half Tila beads complete each flower.

Red and White Poinsettias

I had so much fun making the red poinsettia bracelet that I had to make one depicting white poinsettias too.

I used crystal AB Dragon Scale beads for the white poinsettias. These beads are so shiny!

Matching Earrings

Since this is a component-based design, the individual poinsettia flowers are easily adapted into matching earrings. I used gold seed beads in the center of each flower in this pair, which more accurately mimics the poinsettia flower.

Holiday Beading Pattern

The pattern for this design is now available on my website at beadorigami.com, and it describes how to make the beaded poinsettia component and how to weave several components together to make this bracelet. The circular peyote stitch is used to weave most of each component, and a variation on the cubic right angle weave (CRAW) technique is used to finish each flower. The pattern is in the PDF format, and clocks in at 12 pages of step-by-step instructions with 32 full-color illustrations and photographs.

Thanks for looking and Happy Holidays!

Beaded Triangles

I've been making beaded triangles... Lots of triangles.

What's more, these triangles are made out of other triangles. Two-hole triangle beads, to be exact, plus Rizos, O beads, and Japanese seed beads. Joined together, they make a nice, delicate bracelet.

But they can also make many kinds of beaded beads. Here's one made out of 20 triangles.

It's a pretty big beaded bead, so I think I'll string it as a pendant. What do you think?