What's new in beads for 2016.

After the whirlwind of new beads that came out last year I was honestly wondering if there would be anything new to strike my fancy this year.  Well the folks at Starman and Toho have truly blown my mind.

Demi beads.

The Demi™ is more than a shape; it is a new concept in seed beading. Developed by TOHO in collaboration with Starman, the Demi Round™ is a thinner version of the traditional round seed bead with the same hole size and diameter.

This exclusive innovation is made possible by the quality glass cane and precision cutting of TOHO manufacturing.

Look at just one page of the amazing colors available.

I had to break my fast.  Let me tell you that as soon as I opened my package this Dainty Beader truly gasped!  I was expecting them to be a fun element.  I was expecting them to challenge me.  What I was not prepared for was just how tiny and precious they would be.  Any of you that have followed me know I am, for lack of a better term, obsessed with the tiniest of seed beads.  for me the smaller the better.  Of course maybe that is why I need yet another prescription change in my glasses.  This time I was very picky and very smart when ordering.

And just for a bit of perspective here is a picture of the size 11/0 Demi right next to the regular size 11/0 rounds.

There are a few patterns out for them from the Starman Trendsetters.

I began to play first by using Nichole's pattern.

I plan on making this into a memory wire bracelet with two of Caroline's amazing birds I have been hoarding for awhile.

At first I was a bit wary of the delicate nature of these beads.  As I began working with them I am overly pleased with their durability.  They may be tiny but they are also very strong I have not broken one yet.  I also started playing with a couple other of my favorite stitches and have found that I really like the possibilities.

As I was working with them I saw yet another potential use.  When I am bezeling a cab there are times when I need a bead bigger than a 15/0 but not as wide as an 11/0 and this surely fills that need.  I also have a few attempts at a pattern where I have found myself needing something bigger than an 11/0 but not as wide or as tall as an 8/0( which as you can see in the diagram above they also make them in 8/0 size which I have not tried yet).  I cant wait to test this theory out.

 In short my opinion on these new Demi beads is that they are going to quickly become an important addition to my weaving stash.  I will be saving to get as many colors as I possibly can.

The Dainty Beader strikes again.

I had posted this little tutorial back in April of last year.  I really do love making this rope and I have made several using twins and Czechmate triangle beads.

And now as you all know I love tiny little beads.  I can not stress enough that they are an addiction I do not think I will ever get over.  The smaller the better!  So I know I told you all about the Miniduo's which are a smaller version of a Superduo.  Well this tutorial works for them too!  All you do is substitute the Miniduo's for the twins and size 15/0's for the 11/0's.  Everything else is the same!  Here is a sample.

Here is the tutorial!

Start with 11/0 seed beads and coordinating twin beads.

Step 1 - Pick up an 11, a twin, 11 and twin.

Step 2 - go through all the beads and exit the first 11.

This is what it will look like

Step 3 - Pick up 3 11's and pass back through the starting 11. Go through the twin and the 11 on the opposite side.

Step 4 - Add 3 11's and pass through the twin and 11 on the opposite side.

go up through the next 2 11's.

Step 5 - Pick up an 11, a twin and an 11 and pass back through the starting 11.

Step 6 - Pass the needle through the top hole of the twin and pick up 2 11's.  Pass your needle through the 11 next to the twin added in the previous step and the twin.  It does get a little fiddly at this point but it will snug up. 

Pass the needle through the top 11 in the next section.

Step 7 - Pick up an 11 and a twin and pass through the side bead added in previous step and the starting 11 in this step.  Here is where it will all start to cinch together.

Without adding any beads pass through the top hole of the twin and the side bead of the first set of beads added in Step 5

As you pull the thread you will see how it comes together.

Step 8 - Pick up an 11 and pass through the side bead added in Step 7 , the twin , the 11 and exit the bead you just added.

This is how it will look.

Pass through the next twin, 11, twin and exit the 11.  This will strengthen the thread path.

Go back to step one and repeat all the steps again.

 So tell me what do you think of this?  How will you use it?  Don't forget to show me how you use it.

Tiny Bead Obsession!

In my last post, I showed off the very first bead embroidered piece I've made in several years.  After I finished that pendant, I found a matching pair of tiny stoneware cabochons.  Earrings happened!

I encountered several problems while making them.  I had to rip the thread out more times then I can count.  At first that really annoyed me but then I realized how much I learned from having to do some of the sections over and over again.

Since I made these earrings, I've completed another pendant and started on a third one.  I really want to make a big cuff bracelet though.  For the bracelet, I plan to use some of the techniques featured in Dimensional Bead Embroidery.

This is Jamie Cloud Eakin's second book.  It contains lots of wonderful techniques that I'm just drooling over! I can't wait to take the plunge and try more complicated work!

Happy Beading!

Diana P.
Suburban Girl Studio