Thursday, June 10, 2010

Beading with gemstones

I have quite a few pretty gemstones left over from my wire-wrapping phase and wondered how they would look in some of my earring patterns. My favorite turned out to be the Crystal Drop Earrings using 6mm tigereye beads (left) and 6mm faceted amethyst beads (right) instead of 6mm bicone crystals:


Here are my Bijoux Earrings using 4mm tigereye beads (left) and 4mm garnet beads (right) instead of 4mm pearls:


Here are my Elizabethan Earrings using 6mm tigereye beads (left) and 6mm faceted amethyst beads (right) instead of 6mm fire-polished beads:

Monday, May 31, 2010

New FREE crystal bracelet: the Skinny Bracelet


 
(copyright 2010 Deborah Roberti)

Materials (for a 7-inch bracelet, not including clasp):
• 3 yards of 6 lb. FireLine
• Approximately 80 size 11 seed beads: Miyuki Lt. Bronze 11-0457L. Can be purchased online at Charlene's Beads and WhimBeads.com.
• Approximately 100 size 4mm bicone crystals: Swarovski Topaz Satin. Can be purchased online at FireMountainGems.com.
• clasp



Step 1: Thread your needle with 3 yards of Fireline. String four bicone crystals. Leaving about a 14-inch tail for attaching one end of the clasp, tie the beads in a circle with a double knot:


Step 2: Go back around through three of the bicone crystals that you added in the last step:


Step 3: String three bicone crystals. Go around and back up through the bicone crystal that you exited at the end of the last step:


Step 4: Continue back around through two of the bicone crystals that you added in the last step (highlighted in RED):


Step 5: String three bicone crystals. Go around and back down through the bicone crystal that you exited at the end of the last step:


Step 6: Continue back around through two of the bicone crystals that you added in the last step (highlighted in RED):


Step 7: Repeat Step 3 to Step 6 until your bracelet is the length you want it, minus about a half-inch and the length of your clasp:


Step 8: At the end of your bracelet, go back across through the bicone crystal highlighted in RED:

Now you’ll add a row of seed beads in between each bicone crystal along the top of your bracelet.

Step 9: String a seed bead and go across through the bicone crystal highlighted in RED:


Step 10: String another seed bead and go across through the next bicone crystal along the top side of your bracelet (highlighted in RED):


Step 11: Repeat Step 10 until you get to the end:


Step 12: Go around through the two bicone crystals highlighted in RED:

Now you’ll add a row of seed beads in between each bicone crystal along the bottom side.

Step 13: String a seed bead and go across through the bicone crystal highlighted in RED:


Step 14: String another seed bead and go across through the next bicone crystal along the bottom side of your bracelet (highlighted in RED):


Step 15: Repeat Step 14 until you get to the end:


Step 16: Go up through the bicone crystal highlighted in RED:


Step 17: To attach one end of the clasp, string a bicone crystal and three seed beads. Go through your clasp and then back through the last seed bead that you just strung:


Step 18: String two seed beads and a bicone crystal. Go up through the bicone crystal highlighted in RED:


Step 19: Go back around through the bicone crystal, the seed beads, through the clasp, the seed beads and the bicone crystal highlighted in RED:


Step 20: String a seed bead. Go around through the three bicone crystals highlighted in RED:


Step 21: String a seed bead. Go back around through the bicone crystal, the seed beads, through the clasp, the seed beads and the bicone crystal highlighted in RED:

Weave back into the bracelet, knot in several places and cut your thread.

Step 22: To attach the clasp to the other side of the bracelet, thread your needle with the tail from Step 1. Go up through the bicone crystal highlighted in RED:

Repeat Step 17 to Step 21.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

New pattern uploaded: Scalloped Pearl Bracelet

I know it has been a while but I have finally uploaded a new pattern: the Scalloped Pearl Bracelet:
It's available at my Web site, AroundtheBeadingTable.com, and at Bead-Patterns.com for $4.00.

I used 4mm glass pearls but any 4mm round beads will also work for this design. I started a bracelet using 4mm bicone crystals instead of the white glass pearls that I used in the photo above (referred to as Color1 in the PDF of the pattern) and it worked quite well but I didn't like the colors I used so I have since taken in apart. Will try, try again.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Blossom Bracelet

I just uploaded a new pattern, the Blossom Bracelet:
It's available at AroundtheBeadingTable.com and at Bead-Patterns.com for $4.00.

You can make matching earrings and/or pendant with the Boleyn Earrings & Pendant pattern.