Challenge Update

It is now 6 months into my personal challenge to NOT purchase any seed beads or two hole beads for weaving.  I have been like most of you and impulse purchased too many to count and needed to no longer rely on using the easy way to complete projects, you know just buy more beads.

I first started with this bracelet that I had been meaning to complete but I had misplaced the size 11 beads I was using. I did not get a picture of the unfinished part.

So I went hunting through my boxes, including the ones I throw the tubes I had already used and the UFO's.

That was the best thing I could have done because I not only found the beads I needed I also found some others to help me extend a necklace that I had made a bit to short.

I am so happy I am able to wear this now.  And of course you all know I am all about having matching sets so I made this fun little bracelet with the left over beads and a few additions.

And now we go back to the original bracelet I started with and you know it needed a necklace to match.  I was so inspired at that point I was able to hunt through my extensive Jenny Davies-Reazor stash.

Yes I do have an addiction but I will never stop wanting all of her beads. I found exactly what I wanted and this happened.

I am so pleased that I have challenged myself in this way.  It can be frustrating but it is so worth it in the end.  Have you met any of your challenges so far this year?

What is Hubble?

No I am not going to be discussing the Hubble Space Telescope.  Although It would be cool to look up all the pictures and dream about what is out there.  I am actually talking about a new stitch by Melanie de Miguel of Beadschool.

I was very intrigued when this book first came out.  A new stitch is rare to see. I have not yet gotten my hands on it but lucky for me I do have a subscription to Beadwork Magazine and they had a feature on this new stitch in the October/November issue.

As I looked at the stitch I did realize I have seen a similar stitch in Beth Stone's Seed Bead Stitching called a quad stitch.  A stitch she stumbled on while teaching her daughter the tri-stitch. However, the connecting thread path is very different with the Hubble stitch.  Let me assure you that you WILL need to purchase either the book or this issue of Beadwork to learn it because the key to it is the unique thread path connection. It also resembles the Right Angle Weave stitch at first glance but that is only at first glance.

I started out with the basic stitch and there is some getting use to tension and thread path.

Tension is the key.  Too much and it does not sit properly and too little makes gaps between connections.  Once I got the hang of it as many of you know I love taking knowledge that someone has shared and make it mine so I played for a bit.

As you can see I made a rope.  I almost gave up but once I found the trick to stepping up to the next level I really enjoyed it.  Then of course I would need a pendant to go with it.  And as per my usual style I did not make it an easy choice.

I love this pendant by Melissa of MelismaticArtJewelry.  It was a Component of the month piece I just couldn't figure out how to showcase it.  Now I will not tell you this bezel is perfect but I learned so much that I will be trying again soon.

After making the pendant I loved the combination of the matte and shiny beads so much that I tried something different from the original rope.

I really love this.  The small change in bead size created a cool texture to the rope.

"Hubbling" has many possibilities.  As I learned I have thought of a few things I would like to try with it.  If you give it a try have lots of patience.  Tension will test you but once you get it I think you will find that it is fun. At first it is not a quick stitch but I am sure once you get into a rhythm it will go faster.  For example with a rope it will take longer than a Russian Spiral but not as long as Cubic RAW.   It has a fabric type feel that is nice to wear when you are looking for that softness and feminine feel.  Give me a shout if you try it I would love to know what you think.

Free Tutorial - BiBo Buttons

I know we have talked about many of the new beads that have been introduced just this year.  It has been rather overwhelming in the community trying to decide what to play with.  I have been lucky enough to have gotten my hot little hands on some so I thought, with a little push from my teammates, to show you a couple I absolutely love.  So much so that I have come up with a little tutorial for you.

Button Beads are tiny little 4mm funky beads that have me totally infatuated. They are the brain child of the fabulous Sabine Lippert of Trytobead.  You will see in the bracelet they look to me like little nailheads when woven. 
I have been eyeing up these BiBo beads for quite awhile and I can tell you they do not disappoint at all. I love the shape.  Like a twin or superduo they have two holes but instead of having a fatter middle they are larger on the outside.

When I put the beads on my tray a funny thing happened.  This design just came to life on the first try.  I hope you will enjoy this little tutorial.

Materials needed:
18-20 Button beads
36-40 BiBo beads
Less than 5 grams of 11/0 seed beads
Clasp of your choice

On a comfortable length of fireline pick up 8 seed beads.  Go through all the beads two times and exit the next 2 seed beads.

Pick up a BiBo bead and 1 seed bead.  Go through the next hole of the Bibo bead.

Pick up 1 Button bead, BiBo bead and a seed bead.  Go through the next hole of the BiBo, Button and the starting hole of the first BiBo.

Go through the seed bead and the next hole of the BiBo, pick up 2 seed beads and go through the opposite BiBo.

Go through the seed bead, next hole of the BiBo and through the 2 seed beads in the starting ring.

Weave through to exit the 2 seed beads opposite the starting ring.

Pick up 6 seed beads and go through all the beads again.

Exit the top two seed beads and repeat all the steps for your desired length.  Be sure to add 6 beads at the end of your work for your clasp loop.


Be sure to let me know what you think and if you give it a try.  I would be thrilled to see your colorways.

New Work!

When you read this post, I will have just gotten back from a week long trip to St. Maarten with my boyfriend, celebrating our 50th birthdays - his was just after Christmas, mine is in May!  Since I won't have time to show you what my new beady inspiration will be from photos of that trip, I thought I'd just show you what I've been working on lately!

 First, I've been working on some round beads, and playing with frit reactions with silver foil! 

 Some sold immediately on FaceBook, which was really nice. Others are now listed in my etsy store.

I'll be working on more of these when I get back from my trip!

I've also been working on perfecting my beads using the bicone bead roller.  I love this shape!

I did some in the same colorways as the round beads, and then some with color wrapped around the middle.

I think my favorites, though, are the last two on this mandrel - the tribal looking ones and the softened bicones on the bottom.  There are many possibilities I'll also be revisiting!

I've also been doing a lot of work on my house, so I've been relaxing doing some bead weaving.  It's a new obsession, I think.  I made this one for me, with one of my favorite beads of all time!

It's hard to see, but these seed beads (Jonquil Rainbow Jet Lined size 11 from Toho) have the most amazing rainbow look and go perfectly with this black metallic heart I made.

I knew I wanted to use the bronze Saki Silver clasp, it goes perfectly with the imprinted swirl design on the heart.  But I had a hard time visualizing how I wanted to connect the heart to the necklace.  I thought about many things, but finally decided on this bronze bail.

I'm really happy with how it came out.

I made this necklace for my mom, with a ceramic flower pendant from White Clover Kiln.  It took me a really long time to decide one, find and finally receive the seed beads, but I'm happy I waited.

I made a spiral rope with size 11s as the base rose, and then the loops are size 15s and size 8s.  The contrast gives the spiral rope some nice texture.

I had the perfect clasp in my stash - a Swarovski box clasp I purchased from A Grain of Sand a very long time ago!

My mom loved her necklace!

Currently, I'm working on finishing this beaded bezel ammonite cab I made - I was in the mood for some color and I'm excited to finish this - maybe while I'm on my trip.

And I'm already planning my next project - deciding which pendant to use to make a spiral rope for myself; I love these colors, and this will most definitely be with my on my trip - if I have enough time in between laying on the beach, drinking fruity drinks and eating, I may just get to it!

When your schedule gets tight, what do you work on?  Have you tried anything new lately?

Susan Kennedy
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