Need For Beads

Payloadz.com - Selling File

2012-01-29T12:42:00.000-08:00

Payloadz.com - Selling File

New pattern from Need For Beads gives beginner beaders instructions on how to make a beaded bail.

More on Knotting

2012-01-09T11:24:00.001-08:00

Polymer Clay Knotted Necklace
So you have some favorite beads that you want to put in a necklace together, but there's one problem: Beads with different size holes. This presents a problem when a knot is big enough for one bead but not big enough for another. The knot will slipped into the bigger hole.

I faced this problem when I wanted to string some polymer clay beads that Bette Abdu had made and that I had won in a Yankee swap at the Bead Society of New Hampshire Holiday Party. The holes in the polymer clay beads were much bigger than the holes in the pearls that I wanted to use, ones that matched so perfectly. Betty had strung the polymer clay beads with spacers. However, the spacers also had holes that were too big.

I knew there had to be a way to get around this problem. One thing that I was taught during a knotting demonstration was that knots do not have to be on either side of every bead to make a knotted necklace. So, what I did was look for beads, small ones, that would not go through the holes in the clay beads or the spacers, but had holes themselves that were about the same size as the pearls. Then the design process started.

Getting my bead board, I laid out all of the beads, and checked to make sure that there would be enough knots in the necklace to keep the drape supple. What I wanted for the necklace was a string of pearls in the back, so that the necklace would be comfortable to wear, and then the other larger beads in the front, to showcase them.

I had planned to finish this necklace with silver findings, so what I chose for beads that would control the knotting were tiny silver round beads. This not only would incorporate silver into the necklace, but would match the findings.

I have done a lot of knotting lately, and have learned that one of the best things I can do before starting to string the beads is to check the silk thread or the silk cording that I'm using on a few test beads to make sure that when I knot the bead, the knot will hold and not slip through the bead.
After testing a few different options, I decided that FFF silk thread, doubled, would work the best. The silk cord that I had was too thin. So, confident that I had the right thread for the beads I was going to use, I started stringing the beads in the order that I had laid out on my bead board.
With all the testing done and the design completed even before I started, once the beads were strung all that was left was to knot the beads and attach the findings.

Here are the results:

Another picture shows a closeup of the knotting:

Notice the knots on either side of the pearls. Also notice how the silver beads fit slightly into the larger holes of the polymer clay spacers. The necklace has a wonderful drape despite the fact that some of the knots are about an inch to an inch and a quarter apart.

Even though I could have knotted just the pearls, I put a tiny silver bead in between to continue the design of the necklace itself. By using design techniques such as this, I ended up with the necklace that is a true memento of my friendship with Betty Abdu and a piece that will go into my personal collection.

If you have beads that you want to knot and face this problem, consider using this technique. You may find that you can make the knotted necklace you want. Have fun making it, then wear it, and enjoy!

Refurbishing an Old Piece

2011-11-15T04:53:00.001-08:00

Jade Knotted Necklace
This is a necklace that was given to me by my son, from a friend of his who traveled extensively throughout Asia. The piece was from India.

Originally, the piece was strung with monofilament, brass clamshell findings, and silver-lined seed beads as spacers. The necklace was not only very stiff, but plastic was sticking out of the clamshells and was very scratchy.

I did not wear the piece, because it was unattractive, and uncomfortable to wear. However it was a keepsake and meant quite a bit to me.

I decided to re-do the necklace using knotting techniques. I added gold beads in place of the tarnished silver-lined beads. The necklace was a little tight so I decided to chain. To that chain I added a decorative dangle. The new findings were 14KT gold-filled instead of brass.

Other than the updated findings and stringing material, I did not change the design of the necklace, as I wanted to keep it as close to the original as possible.

The stones are beautiful, and I will always treasure them. One picture shows the basic design of the necklace.

Another picture shows a closeup of the stones used.

And lastly, the third picture shows how I completed the necklace, with clasp, chain, and dangle.

To show you what the necklace looked like before, here are a few pictures. The knotted technique improved the drape tremendously, and the new style is very attractive.

If you have piece that you are not wearing, consider giving it an overhaul. You may need some new findings, but the beads are reusable and you will save money making your new piece. Then wear it, and enjoy!

Carnelian Necklace

2011-11-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

I purchased these faceted carnelian beads several years ago,and they were so beautiful I wanted to make sure I did something very nice withthem. At the time, I knew how to string using flexible wire and crimps, but Idid not know how to knot. The stones are all faceted, and in three differentsizes, all mined from the same source. The color match is therefore excellent,and the smaller beads in the back make it very comfortable to wear.

It took several years to become proficient with knotting andI did several weeks of research on the Internet to learn the best way to knotthese large-holed, heavy gemstones.

What I learned, was that heavier beads such as these shouldnot be knotted with silk, but rather knotted with nylon, because the weight ofthe beads is less likely to stretch the thread.

I checked my supply of stringing materials, and decided upona two-ply nylon cord number 2 manufactured in Mexico. I had been using this todo bead crochet with 8/0 Miyuki beads. I found that using it to knot thesegemstones work just fine if I doubled it up. That gives you an idea of howlarge the holes were. If I had used flexible wire, the beads would have jiggledon the wire. I wanted better quality than that, and I succeeded by using the nyloncord.

This close-up shows the beads in the front and the knotting.

This picture shows the graduation of the bead sizes. Ifinished the necklace with a 14 karat gold lobster clasp, and a large jumpring.

Peacock Pearls from India

2011-09-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

While I was in India in December 2009 with my colleagues from the Halma plc companies, we took a break from the work we were doing in the executive development program to vist a bazaar where vendors were selling distinctive Indian goods.

As you can imagine, I found the jewelry they had for sale very interesting, and I stopped at several booths to see the offerings.

At one booth, I found pearls. These were on my list, and I am always sure to bring a list, because most bead shows have such an overwhelming variety of goods, that it is easy to forget your intentions. The same held true at this bazaar. There were several wonderful things from which to choose.

Pearls from several geographical sources are drilled in India, and I wanted to do some pearl knotting. When I found five strands of beautiful peacock pearls, the bargaining began.

After my purchase, one colleague mentioned he wanted pearls for his daughter, and that he would want to give her a necklace. I promised I would send him a list of other materials he would need, as well as directions I knew were on the Internet for pearl knotting. I sold him a strand at a price that was a 67% gross margin over the price I had just paid.

My colleagues thought this was hilarious, as you must remember we are all business professionals. To us, buying low and selling at a margin comes as easily as breathing. It seems even though we had a night off, it was business as usual.

They asked me then what I was going to do with the pearls, and I said make jewelry. Again, the laughter came. They wanted to know what the design would be. I had no clue. That is not how I design. I promised them I would send pictures of the jewelry when it was done.

Yes, I know it is almost two years hence, but sometimes the ideas do not come as quickly as the purchases. I thought I would incorporate a little pearl knotting design tips in the telling of this story, and show how that leads to the jewelry. At the same time, my colleagues can see what I did with these pearls.

First, pearl knotting is not just for pearls. The reason you knot pearls or beads is to protect them. The knotting material, which is traditionally silk, can be nylon (for strength), a Spectra-based thread (like Tough Thread), or cording. Silk, with a thin needle, comes on cards in various colors, but also various sizes of cording. The diameter of silk threads sold on spools are from 0.20mm, which is very thin, to 0.419 mm (size FFF). If you buy silk cording on cards, the thread diameter is from 0.20mm up to over 1.0 mm (Size 16).
You can string pearls on flexible wire, but if you do, you lose the drape you will get from silk. So knotting pearls with silk gives you a necklace that has the wonderful drape of silk. And if the necklace breaks, you will lose only one pearl at most. Knotting pearls is a way to protect your investment in these beautiful gems.
Of course, there are drawbacks: the silk needs to be treated correctly. You don't want to get it wet, because unlike nylon, it will not last long if you do. You don't want chemicals on it, so you spray your perfume on yourself and let it dry before you put on your pearls. This careful treatment of the silk extends to the pearls at the same time, but even the best of care will not protect the silk from wear. Your necklaces will eventually have to be re-knotted.

Decades ago, I was in the Bahamas buying jewelry, and nearly passed up the chance to buy a necklace and earring set made from black coral. I was walking away because I thought black onyx looks the same, and I always find a necklace like that. The vendor called out to me and told me that the coral reefs were dying, and that the purchase would an investment, as the black coral was becoming rare. The necklace was on monofiliment, had gold beads, and was beautiful, and so I took her advice and bought it. Black coral is much lighter in weight than black onyx, and so wearing it is more comfortable.
After 35 years of wear, the gold beads were misshapened enough to make the necklace unattractive. I cut it apart, and then knotted it with black silk, replacing the gold beads. I kept the original design:

The necklace was certainly an investment when I bought it, but with the coral beads now knotted with silk, I have added to its value. This great momento from that trip now hangs with a fabulous drape.
So, what did I do with the peacock pearls I bought in India? The first necklace, I used white silk cord, size 6, with the pearls and some Swarovski Dorado gold crystals:

The color of the thread makes a big difference. The white thread is part of the design. When I used blue thread (not cord, because that makes a difference as well), I have a traditional pearl necklace, as shown below. This one will become part of my personal collection, as I will keep it to remind me of India:

Nothing, in my opinion, is so beautiful as a traditional pearl necklace. There are other ways to design, especially today when we have pearls in so many different shapes. This next one uses coin pearls with the same peacock pearls from India breaking up the design:

To show what these three would look like together:

That gives you an idea of how three necklaces made from the same pearls, with different pearls and crystals added, can give you fashion options. I would wear these three together on white. White velvet would be gorgeous, and since I have returned to sewing, I bet I could pull that ensemble together.

Finally, to show you the knotting differences, here's a closeup of the three necklaces:

Returning to one of the points I made earlier, pearls are not the only beads knotted. Any fine stones can be knotted, and so can crystals. The necklace below is one made from rare Ethyopian opals. Taking a picture of opals is problematical. The colors just don't show like the real thing:

One way I can give you an idea of the colors in these opals is to take the above photo into PhotoShop, and remove the white. Then you get this:

Looks surreal, doesn't it? But it does show the fire in the opals.

Finally, you might wonder what type of clasps I use on pearl necklaces. You have probably seen these many times. The filigree in the clasp gives a traditional look, and the clasp is one that works even if it unlatches. Losing your pearls, black coral beads, or opals is unlikely.

Once I finish a set of designs, I start wondering. What would the pearls look like with the gold crystals and black thread? Would it look better with blue? The 2mm Dorado 2x Swarovski crystals used in the above necklace are not readily available at the moment. That probably has something to do with the price of gold. Which leads me to the last bit of advice I have for jewelry designers: Buy what you can when you can, even before you have a design in mind. There is no guarantee of future supply. That is why I bought all the peacock pearls I found in India, even though I had no idea what I would do with them.

Farfalle Seed Beads - What to Do with Them?

2010-10-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

Farfalle seed beads – what to do with them? These beads are also known as peanuts or bowties. They've been out for a few years, but I haven't seen too many designs that employ them. I've done a few things with them that I'd like to share with you.
Here's a bracelet that is bead crocheted with farfalle seed beads in a green metallic. I finished the ends with gold bead caps and then connected the beaded bracelet to a Stewart Abelman art bead. The farfalle seed beads gave the bracelet a very organic look with lots of texture. Because of the bead crochet stitch, you can roll this one onto your wrist.

Another bracelet employed the same technique:

Having done a few bracelets with bead crochet, I turned my attention to peyote stitch. I wondered what would happen if I used the larger farfalle seed beads with some 11/0 Czech seed beads. Using odd-count peyote, I did a section of black farfalle seed beads with crystal AB seed beads, and then switched to pink farfalle seed beads for the next section.
Alternating back and forth between the two colors of farfalle seed beads, I ended up with a bracelet with more texture than if I had used the same size 11/0 seed beads. The smaller 11/0 beads were tucked down into the beadwork, creating channels. The bracelet is a little heftier, but still quite flexible. Looking at the bracelet from the side, the crystal beads all but disappeared, and the colors of the farfalles were more pronounced. I liked the effect. Here is the bracelet, then a closeup of the beadwork from above, and then from the side.

Picture of the bead work from straight above:

Now, in the next picture, which I took from a side angle, the crystal AB seed beads recede into the bead work, leaving the color of the farfalle seed beads more pronounced. It's difficult to show this affect in pictures – you have to see the bead work itself. I would encourage you to give this a try, because the effect is really very nice.

I continued my work with the farfalle seed beads. I had a pin that I needed to finish. I wanted to put UltraSuede on the back, and then hide the edges so that you could not see how the pin was finished. I've used several techniques in the past with seed beads. With the new shape of the farfalle seed beads, I wanted to see the possibilities of finishing the edge differently.

Here's what I did: I knotted my thread on the front of the pin and went through the layers of Lacey's Stiff Stuff and UltraSuede to the back of the pin. Then I brought my needle back to the front of the pin picked up a black farfalle seed bead, a lime-colored Delica, and then went back through the farfalle seed bead with my needle and thread, sewing to the back of the pin and placing the thread in position to sew the next bead.

This made a small picot on top of the farfalle seed bead. I lined up the the farfalle seed bead so that one larger end was on the top of the pin and the other larger end was on the backside. I worked in this manner all around the circumference of the pin.

I did not particularly like the way that the beads looked around the pin. The beats were disorganized. This just didn't seem to go with the design of the pin itself. To straightened the beads, I decided to sew between the lime green Delicas, putting another lime green bead between the beads on the top of the farfalle beads. As I came around the curves on each end of the pin, I put two Delicas between the picot beads if it seemed that there would be a gap if I used only one.

By sewing through this outside edge of Delicas three times, the beads aligned, and I found that the top part of the pin had a very nice finish, as did the back side.The longer farfalle beads worked to my advantage to accomplish this. The pictures below show the pin, front and back.

I am calling this one "The Toucan", as when I look at this piece of dichroic glass, I see a bird. When I took a photograph of the front, I placed one of my lights so that it would give the bird an "eye". The cabochon was a gift from Mona Hair, and was one of her first pieces of dichroic art. I have a brooch converter, and so I can wear this pin as a pendant as well.

Fixing Design Errors

2010-07-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

I had an idea for a necklace that would incorporate several jewelry design techniques: bead weaving, pearl knotting, wire-working, and chain maille. I made the body of this piece using a modified herringbone stitch, with 4 mm cubes, farfaille seed beads, and shocking pink 10 lb test fire line. The mono-chromatic design was to continue with two strands of knotted pearls and crystals, and then terminate with chain maille and a hand-made clasp. For the pendant, I use a simple chain maille weave and handmade14kt gold-filled jump rings to create a short chain. To this I added wire-wrapped crystals and pearls.

Once all the components were completed, I assembled the necklace, put it on, and realized the knotted strands and chain maille sections were much too long. So, what do you do when you have a situation like this?

I removed the knotted pearl and crystal section, reattached the chain maille, and voila! I had the necklace the length I wanted, and it hung perfectly.

Here's a closeup of the first pendant made for the above necklace:

The next decision was what to do with the pearl strands.

I connected those to a store-bought clasp and created another pendant, somewhat similar to the first one, but shorter, with much fewer crystals and gold dangles added to make a different design. I don’t usually make short necklaces, but I was not going to cut apart the knotted strands and start over. The strands were just long enough, and now I have two pieces designed.

This second shorter necklace designed, I call, “To Err Is Human”.

Modified Necklace

2010-07-10T08:53:00.000-07:00

I said I was going to redo a piece. I was going to improve on the design by making chain maille that was just a little smaller in diameter than the focal piece of pearls and sapphires. I finished that last week. Below is a picture of the necklace redone with chain maille.

I am still not sure which one I like better. They both are nice. However, I'm going to leave this piece as it is. I used the thin chain I took off the original necklace for a similar piece done with garnets:

I stlil have not bought another strand of sapphires, but eventually I will get back to that so I can design a matching pair of earrings.

Corning Museum of Glass

2010-07-04T21:43:00.001-07:00

This past week I took a road trip through New England: New Hampshire of course, Maine, Vermont, New York, just a bit of Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. I'm sorry I missed Rhode Island and Connecticut, but that's the way the trip went.
One of the museums that I visited was the Corning Museum of Glass. I took over 500 photos of what I saw there, and I thought I would share one of the pictures of beadwork done with what looked to me to be 22/0 beads. This is beaded knitting from the 19th century:

The one I'm talking about is the second piece in from the left, and if you look at the top rim of the goblet you can see a thin line of blue beads. Compare the size of these with the ones used in the piece in the middle with the deer on it. The centerpiece is made with 11/0 beads.

What an incredible piece this goblet is! I have no idea how they got a needle through those beads. They must have used a thread with the end glued into a portion stiff enough to be used as a needle. The whole piece was beaded with those tiny beads, and it's tough to get that many colors to make a flower pattern. Just finding the beads to reproduce this today would be quite the trick.

Mzuribeads

2010-06-13T07:49:00.000-07:00

These fun and lightweight paper beads from Uganda offer several design options. I did this chain maille piece with brass jump rings. After adding Mzuribeads to the bib, the necklace hung properly because the beads did not weigh down the chain maille.

A matching pair of earrings is one that is very comfortable to wear.

Pattern in the Works

2010-05-31T08:30:00.001-07:00

May 31, 2010 - Happy Memorial Day to my USA fans! And hello to everyone else!

I'm designing a new piece, writing up the instructions, and I'm going to publish them. I finished the piece, and I think I can make it better, but first I want to publish the instructions, so I took a picture of the piece as-is. I'll re-do the piece another day, as I think I can improve on the design by making chain maille that is just a little smaller in diameter than the focal piece of pearls and sapphires.

This means there will be before and after photos that will show the design process. And of course... the leftovers from what I take off this piece will become something else. The picture below is before:

Who knows? Making writing up the instructions and publishing them won't take all day and I'll get to do the chain maille improvement. However, publishing a pattern that fast would be a first.
I made this piece to match a bead crochet bracelet I made:

I have used every sapphire from the strand I bought, so if I am going to make matching earrings (of course I am!), I will have to buy another strand of sapphires.

Getting Back to the Basics

2010-02-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

Over the years, I have spent quite a bit of time grappling with new techniques, learning new stitches, and expanding my repertoire of jewelry making skills. Every now and then, it's good to get back to the basics. I love doing bead crochet. While I was learning, I used three different colors and beaded six in the round, creating stripes. I went on to do different size beads, adding gemstones and pearls, and different Czech pressed glass beads. Some of my pieces are composed of just very fine beads, such as the 24 karat gold lined crystal beads that are Czech vintage beads from the 1920s. The beads alone make the piece beautiful.

While planning for a trip to Pittsburgh, I decided that I would make a bead crochet bracelet upon which just the beauty of the beads would carry the piece. I did not have time to design anything complicated, nor time to pick one bead up at a time if I were to have the beads strung before I left.

Using just one kind of bead makes a simple bracelet, but loading them up onto Jean stitch is easy because you can use a bead spinner.I chose Delicas number 502, which is a 22 karat gold bead that has a lovely lavender iris finish. These beads are discontinued and Myuki no longer makes them. I bought them at a closeout, and only have a limited supply. These beads are some of the nicest I have ever seen though. I was going to do a simple bracelet with an invisible join.

However, as I got closer to finishing this strand, I received some 14 karat gold-filled findings, which included bead caps that fit the end of this strand perfectly. Doing an invisible join is something that took me awhile to learn, and most of my bead crochet bracelets do have the invisible join. Using end findings is a way that those who cannot perfect the technique of the invisible join can still make beautiful bracelet. It occurred to me that just because I COULD do an invisible join didn't mean I HAD to do an invisible join. The result is this delicate bracelet which is really quite pretty. I am glad I decided not to do an invisible join because the clasp and the findings add quite a bit to the design. You can still roll the bracelet onto your wrist, just as you can with any bead crochet bracelet, but the clasp is there if you want to put it on in the more traditional manner.

Moral of the story: Your knowledge of complicated techniques does not detract from the beauty of simple techniques. Get back to the basics every now and then.

Please visit Need for Beads see what else I have for designer jewelry! Or find me on eBay!

Latest Plaid Bead Crochet Pattern Published

2009-11-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

The McFarland Plaid
designed by Gail Devoid

This pattern will be released this weekend. This is an advanced design and not for those just beginning with bead crochet. The pattern is based upon the McFarland clan plaid itself, and was designed from a scrap of a hankerchief.

Online Radio Show-Don't miss this one!

2009-11-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

The Jewelry Connection with Host, Mona Hair and Co-Host Gail Devoid

3 pm EST, 2 pm CST.1 pm MST, Noon PST

In Europe: 9 PM, except for the UK where show time is 8 PM

November 15, 2009

A Holiday in Jewels - A Collaborative Jewelry Show

Mona and Gail will have a wonderful display of submitted pieces to show and discuss. This week, Mona returns to the permanent broadcast room (The Jewelry Connection) which has undergone an overhaul by LiveVideo. Stop by and see what is going on! No user id is required to watch and listen to the show. Check out the listener base that comes from over THREE DOZEN countries.

Location:

http://www.livevideo.com/the-jewelry-connection

SKYPE Mona77401 or call Mona at 1-832-397-6317

You may also join the show via Skype or this phone number during the show if you want to talk to Mona and Gail.

Copper Chain Maille Bracelet

2009-03-28T07:39:00.001-07:00

March 28, 2009 - Although it took a few weeks, I prepared copper jump rings for my next creation. When the wound spring of copper was cut, I noticed that several burrs were created. I had to spend a lot of time tumbling the rings, using a cup de-burrer, tumbling again, before I couldn't even begin to create the bracelet below. This is the standard Byzantine pattern, with a clasp easily made from the same copper wire.

More rings are on the way. We are trying some new cutting techniques in an effort to avoid burrs. In the next piece, I hope to use some stone druks.

Chain Maille

2009-01-31T13:44:00.000-08:00

I have been reading about chain maille and how to make it for a couple of years now. At the end of last year, I purchased a jump ring maker and at vibratory tumbler. I've made jump rings in silver and gold, tumbled them, and then started designing with chain mail. This is my first effort:

And here is the same bracelet laid out:

The chain maille in this bracelet is called Full Persian Chain Maille.

The next pattern that I tried was in silver and is called Box Chain Maille:

The art bead in this one is by Marj Bates, a bead artist from Massachusetts.

Finally, I did a necklace with twisted wire gold jump rings in the Byzantine chain maille pattern.

I finished the necklace with a lobster clasp. After making this necklace, my left wrist was sore for two days, but I don't care because I really enjoyed wearing this one! On Friday, January 30, 2009, I spoke at the New London Rotary Club about my manufacturing classification. I actually qualify for this classification three times: once for Labsphere, Inc., once for Tarnhelm Supply Co. Inc., and lastly, once for Need for Beads, Inc. My presentation was well received. I had a blast talking about all the things that we manufacture in these companies.

Next, I'm getting quotes on costs for different sizes of copper wire. I expect that I'll have a piece done in copper soon.

Mona Hair's Online Radio Show

2008-11-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

Next week I will be on Mona Hair's online radio show as her featured jewelry artist of the week. Mona plays some beautiful music that she has the rights to use, shows pictures of the work done by featured artists, and has videos that she plays during her show. Mona runs her show through www.nowlive.com and started this venture a few months back. She now has thousands of fans listening every week and almost two dozen people calling into the show. Once the show was over, the recorded show is then put up on YouTube.

To get to the radio show, click on Mona Hair's Online Radio Show.

I hope you will join us next week for the show and become the next Mona Hair fan.

Another Flower Bead Crochet Bracelet

2008-10-20T04:33:00.001-07:00

Designer Jewelry - Another Flower Bead Crochet Bracelet

Sometimes my designs come from combining two different things that I've done. One of my bead crochet bracelets that I've done in the past, used variegated colored thread with crystal glass beads. The design of the bracelet came from the thread not the beads. This weekend I finished a bracelet that used the same concept. I had some pressed Czech flower beads that were a beautiful shade of purple, and I wanted to make the body of the bracelet match that color. Not having seed beads in the exact color, I noticed that one of the two-ply nylon cords that I had was an exact match. So instead of using purple glass seed beads, I used the clear seed beads with the purple thread. The bracelet below is the result:

This is what the bracelet looks like when it's on your wrist:

Please visit Need for Beads see what else I have for designer jewelry!

New pattern published

2008-10-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

This pattern is going to look very similar to the picture at the top of my blog. And for good reason...

The watch band below is one that I designed in response to a challenge made to create a watch band that was adjustable. I started with the bead crochet tube, and then used some techniques to add wire to the ends of the tube. When I was done with the bracelet, I donated the watch and the band to charity.

That was years ago. I had always intended to write up the pattern. However, other bead ideas flooded into my brain and I never got around to writing up the pattern. With one of my customers asking for the watchband, I finally put the instructions onto paper.

This week, I published the pattern for this piece on my website. I am currently experimenting with different colors of seed pearls and Myuki drops.
I am always fascinated by the way the different colors make a piece so distinct from another based upon the same size beads. and then of course, I experiment with different size beads. For instance, I made the same type of band using white pearls just a little bit larger and got this result:

The difference is subtle, but the first watchband in the top picture looks more blue than the band in the bottom picture which looks more white. Because the white pearls are a little bit larger, they stand out more in the watchband,
and of course, the band is just a little bit thicker around the wrist.

Gail H. Devoid, Ph.D

Need For Beads, Inc.

http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads

Mailto:gdevoid@tds.net

New Amulet Bag Completed

2008-09-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

While I am working on customer orders and new designs, which are the types of work that go quickly, I try to have a long term project going. If I don't, I make mostly bracelets, or my customers wait too long for their orders to be fulfilled. Worse yet, new patterns don't get written up!

Below is one of my long term projects. I break the project down into parts and that helps me finish the project instead of creating a UFO (Unfinished Object) I complete maybe three of these big pieces a year:

Aten's Disk and Ankh

Like most of the bags I make, this one has a pattern on both sides. I was going to do a different strap until I saw how well this modified herringbone stitch went with the design.

The purple iris Delicas provide great contrast to the gold plated beads. With that finish widely available, I was able to use twisted Miyuki bead bugles and Czech daggers for the fringe. This fringe gives the piece a fluid movement.

My next bag will have spring flowers. Hopefully, the long winter months will allow lots of time for beading!

I also did a matching bracelet. Simple and quickly done, the bracelet complements the necklace when worn together, yet is beautiful enough to wear alone.

The bag has the same clasp shown in the bracelet. Even though the strap in the necklace is long enough to just put it on, I used a matching clasp so the strap design went in the same direction. This carries forward the V-shape design of the fringe on both sides of the necklace. Another reason for using a clasp: The pattern used for the strap would not connect the beginning pattern to the end very well. The clasp solved both issues!

I did manage to design a few new bracelets using my favorite stitch, which is bead crochet. Below is one that uses Miyuki drops and this shows first the side view and then a closeup of the bracelet from the top, or how it looks when worn:

Gail H. Devoid, Ph.D

Need For Beads, Inc.

http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads

Mailto:gdevoid@tds.net

Bead It Forward

2008-02-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer Squares for Bead It Forward

These squares were done by BSNH members to send to Jeanette Shanigan for her 2008 Breast Cancer "Bead It Forward" project (see the article on Jeanette in the December 2007 issue of Bead & Button titled "Beading for a Cause"). The theme of the beaded quilts for 2008 is "Roses". The squares for the quilts are sewn together by Jeanette, mounted and framed, and then auctioned at the Bead & Button Show. All proceeds from the auction go towards research for prevention and cure of breast cancer. These squares are not all the squares donated by generous BSNH members; some other squares were mailed to Jeanette separately and have become part of several quilts. The squares below, however, should be together in one quilt because Jeanette sews them together in the order they are received, and these will be sent as one shipment. I worked most of today to take pictures of these squares, and I have a great appreciation of all the work Jeanette does for this effort. She not only takes pictures of the squares, but then sews them together, mounts the quilt, and frames it.

The picture above is a composite of all the squares and gives an idea of how the squares would look in a quilt. This may not be how Jeanette sews them together. The quilts, as well as free patterns to make rose squares, are on her website at http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com/BCQuilt.html. To see closeups of the work below, click on the thumbnail. I managed to do two squares, and hope to do at least one more before the April 1st deadline.

Beaded squares for Breast Cancer Project 2008
Linda Rheault	Linda Rheault	Bette Abdu	Bette Abdu	Gail Devoid
Gail Devoid	Paulette Mason	Nancy Cassidy	Deb Fairchild	Sue (Cinnamon) Cannella
Sue (Cinnamon) Cannella	Sue (Cinnamon) Cannella	Sue (Cinnamon) Cannella	Sue (Cinnamon) Cannella	Sue (Cinnamon) Cannella

New Bracelet from Need For Beads

2008-01-14T15:51:00.001-08:00

I saw a great pattern in the Dec. 2007/Jan. 2008 issue of Beadwork Magazine written up by Michele Anderson and decided to give it a try. I used my loom made especially for Delicas, and the warp threads were long enough to knot the end of the fringe. But since I used fireline, knotting the ends was just as difficult and took as much time as sewing in the warp threads would have. The picture below shows the results:

Shimmering Tapestry Bracelet

I also changed the toggles on this. I saw Party Girl Necklace by Robin Cowart in the same issue of Beadwork Magazine, and knew I could modify the beaded bead to my project. I used 4mm Swarovski crystals, Japanese Delicas that match the pink beads in the band, and sewed up a beaded bead. It collapsed. So, I opened it back up and put in a black faceted 6mm glass bead, and the bead fit perfectly. Now I had a toggle that matched the band and was sturdy.

Here's the bracelet flat so you can see the pattern of the band and the beaded beads better:

Shimmering Tapestry Bracelet with Beaded Bead Toggles

The next one I am going to do with the pattern of the band will be in a different color, and I will use a no-warp threads method. I'll do this using the Versa Loom by Sova Enterprises. Although I will fold over the ends and embellish on top of the loomed band, I want to create a closure that brings the embellished ends closer together. I'll probably do that at the Bead Society of New Hampshire's March Bead Retreat.

Meanwhile, I am working on my Aten's Disk and Ankh amulet bag pattern, as well as getting ready to replenish my stock of finished pieces.

New Amulet Bag Completed

2007-11-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

I've finished the amulet bag on which I have worked over the last two month. This is one of my patterns, and I wanted to see how it would look with a strap that employs this new stitch I stumbled upon. The strap is very fluid, and seem to work very well with the bag.

I lined the bag with white jacquard fabric, and the white brightens the colors in the bag considerably. The fringe worked up quickly as the long bugle beads make things go along fast.

Here's the other side of the bag, which is the fire that the wizard has started with his magic wand:

The snap closure keeps the bag shut and add a little extra something to the Wizard side of the bag, while it hardly shows on the Fire side. The bag is made entirely of Japanese beads, Delicas for the body of the bag and fringe, and Miyuki bugle beads and 8/0 hex beads for the fringe accents. I used crystal fireline throughout the bag.

It's time to start another big project!

More work with two new stitches

2007-07-29T13:08:00.001-07:00

I've been doing some more work with my "This Way and That Stitch" -- this time I did a necklace using amethyst stones for the center. I wanted to get the look of amethyst in it natural state when inside a geode, so I surrounded the dark stones with a lighter lavender vintage Czech seed bead, and highlighted the outside with a crystal silver-lined triangle 8/0 bead. The effect was really very good. We took a trip up to Enfield last weekend, and stopped by Gemstar Gemstone. They have amethyst geodes for sale, and I put my necklace next to one. I have succeeded in getting the effect I wanted. And then going through my stash of sterling silver clasps, I found one that matched really well. Here's the necklace.

Let me know what you think.

I've been doing some more work with my "Porcupine Stitch" too (and no, it is not a slip stitch bead crochet tube). I had a dichroic piece around which I beaded a bezel. It's been on my worktable for months. Getting beads to match the colors, I use the stitch to create a necklace and a bracelet and finished both with silver plated clasps I bought at the 1st Innovative Beads Expo in Concord, NH. The show was well-attended, and we beaders are delighted to hear that the show will be coming back again next year. Hopefully, the show will get as big as the ones held in Massachusetts.

Here's the necklace and bracelet set:

This weekend, I'm busy redoing some of my amulet bag patterns. I lost some of the older Bead Cellar Software files when my harddrive failed on my notebook. So, bead by bead, I am re-creating them from the graphs I had in the pdf files. Then I am updating the patterns to include a bead map for tubular peyote. The Wizard and Fire amulet bag was probably the hardest, so I did that one first. I also started beading that bag, this time as a tube. It is such great fun to see the Wizard's feet form, and the Fire start up. Here's that pattern as a flat piece.

Amethyst bracelet

2007-07-06T06:08:00.000-07:00

I tried a new combination for this with which stitch I've been working. The center beads are amethyst, not purple glass, but actual stones. The darker smaller beads are glass, but they are vintage Czech seed beads from the 1920s. The crystals are Swarovski clear crystals 3 mm beads, so they are tiny.

I added two crystals to the toggle, the first time I tried that, and I like the effect. At some point, I will sell this one. I like it very much, but I have so much jewelry that I have to sell.

Hope you like it!

New design released by Need For Beads!

2007-07-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

Designer Bracelet - This Way and That

Fine Austrian Crystals and Faceted Stones

This bracelet is a eed for Beads design by Gail Devoid. This one will surely add some bling to the owner's fashion wardrobe! This bracelet uses fine Austrian crystals, silver-lined Czech seed beads and 4 mm round faceted stone beads. Made while writing the pattern instructions for this design, the bracelet has a solid sterling silver clasp with a beautiful faceted carnelian stone. The clasp matches the bracelet perfectly!

Maybe you have always wanted to own a designer's prototype; well, here is your chance. This bracelet fits a 7 1/4" wrist and will be the only one done in carnelian. If you want it, then visit http://snipr.com/1nqrh.

Green silver-lined Czech Seed Beads with Mother of Pearl Accent Beads

2007-06-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

This bracelet uses green silver-lined Czech seed beads with the center beads being mother of pearl. I also did one in blue.

Gail H. Devoid
Need For Beads, Inc.
431 High St.
Boscawen, NH 03303-3800
603-796-2551 Office
603-848-2552 Cell
603-796-2918 Fax
http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads

My latest design

2007-06-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hello students!

I’ve been sick for a few months and not able to teach the corporate classes Monday nights at Michaels in Concord, NH, or the advanced classes on Saturdays. This month and next I will resume teaching the corporate classes on Monday nights, and then in August, I will schedule some advanced classes. Let me know what you would like to see and I will take that into consideration for what we schedule in August.

The pictures here show some of the bracelets that I will be teaching this month at Michaels. The display board in the classroom has more, so check it out the next time you shop at Michaels!

And if there’s time in class, I will show you how to make earrings out of the leftovers!

The second earring to the left is from a bracelet you can see on the display board. It’s beautiful. I hope to see you in class at Concord’s in Michaels. Classes start Monday night at 6:30 PM and last until 8:30 PM.

Gail H. Devoid
Need For Beads, Inc.
431 High St.
Boscawen, NH 03303-3800
603-796-2551 Office
603-848-2552 Cell
603-796-2918 Fax
http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads

Need For Beads

Payloadz.com - Selling File

More on Knotting

Refurbishing an Old Piece

Carnelian Necklace

Peacock Pearls from India

Farfalle Seed Beads - What to Do with Them?

Fixing Design Errors

Modified Necklace

Corning Museum of Glass

Mzuribeads

Pattern in the Works

Getting Back to the Basics

Latest Plaid Bead Crochet Pattern Published

The McFarland Plaid designed by Gail Devoid

Online Radio Show-Don't miss this one!

In Europe: 9 PM, except for the UK where show time is 8 PM November 15, 2009

A Holiday in Jewels - A Collaborative Jewelry Show

Copper Chain Maille Bracelet

Chain Maille

Mona Hair's Online Radio Show

Another Flower Bead Crochet Bracelet

Designer Jewelry - Another Flower Bead Crochet Bracelet

New pattern published

New Amulet Bag Completed

Bead It Forward

Breast Cancer Squares for Bead It Forward

New Bracelet from Need For Beads

New Amulet Bag Completed

More work with two new stitches

Amethyst bracelet

New design released by Need For Beads!

Designer Bracelet - This Way and That

Fine Austrian Crystals and Faceted Stones

Green silver-lined Czech Seed Beads with Mother of Pearl Accent Beads

My latest design

The McFarland Plaid
designed by Gail Devoid

In Europe: 9 PM, except for the UK where show time is 8 PM

November 15, 2009