Lavender and Lemon Anklet

If you follow me on pinterest then you can probably guess that my favorite color is purple, and my favorite color combination is purple and yellow. This week's hero is my favorite bead in our shop and it was so exciting to use them in my jewelry creation this week.

I created this really fun dangly anklet on Julie's request. It is so striking and as much fun to wear as it was to make. This is a very simple project that uses just ladder stitch and fringe and works up very quickly. If you do not use seed beads often in your jewelry, the ladder stitch for this anklet is started by stringing 4 size 11/0 purple seed beads onto your thread and passing back through the first two beads in the same direction they were strung.

When pulled tight this will start your ladder with the two 2-bead stacks next to each other.  Continue the ladder by simply picking up 2 beads at a time and passing back through the previous two beads in the ladder. Every third row you can add a leg of fringe.

Here I strung 1-yellow, 9-purple, 1-yellow, 1-purple, the 6mm hero, and 1 purple. Skip the last purple seed bead and thread back up through the fringe leg and the ladder stack above it to attach the fringe and then continue with your ladder for another 3 rows. I shortened every third leg of the fringe a bit by adding 5-purple instead of 9 after the first yellow. You can make the fringe any length you like of course.

Add a spring ring on one end and a lobster clasp on the other by picking up 7-purple and the ring/clasp and passing back through the last ladder stack. Pass back through once or twice to make it secure. You will want to get a lot of wear out of this one!

You can get the materials for this anklet and your other jewelry projects for 20% off in our four day weekend sale using coupon code BEARTHDAY so go get some beads!

Bead Hero of the Week

The sun came out yesterday and it was so nice to get out and walk wearing a jacket and no hat, feeling the sun's rays hit my face. That seemingly insignificant walk has made me even more excited about spring colors. This week, these 6mm round yellow glass beads with the blue iris finish make a perfect spring hero, like small iris buds waiting patiently for their turn in the garden display. 

If you love these or just need beads for your next project, shop with us this weekend for our four day 20% off Birthday and Earth day celebration sale. Sale starts Friday 4/19 and runs through Monday 4/22 (the day we celebrate the earth and Jessie's birth!). Use coupon code BEARTHDAY to receive your 20% discount.

White is the New Green

Outside my window this mid April morning, the ground is white again and the trees are still bare. The idea that our Kentucky back yard would have already seen daffodils come and go seems a world away. I believe that leaf beads must have been made for Minnesotan beaders. An escape after a long winter to create with something green despite mother nature.

Snow in April is very new and exciting to me, but since I know I am in the minority of people enjoying this weather, this week's hero celebrates the spring that many of you are already experiencing and a few of you are waiting for.

 Leafy fringe is a great way to whip up a quick simple pair of earrings with minimal materials.

What does your spring look like (outside your window and inside your imagination)?

Hero of the Week

Colors named after fruits and cream sound so refreshing..(blueberries and cream, oranges and cream, banana cream)... you get the idea. This week's hero looks as sweet and refreshing as it sounds - strawberries and cream 4mm round beads.

What will you make with this tasty color?
Tell us about it in the comments below and check back Friday for more jewelry inspiration.

Hero of the Week

Primary colors swirl through this week's heroic gorgeous glass beads.

You can imagine that as a seed bead weaver, this shape is not one I commonly use. I have seen this shape used in some beautiful jewelry though. If you have a design idea for this dime shape that you will share with the group, tell us about it in the comments and I will show you what I did come up with on Friday.

Until then have fun and bead on!

Hero of the Week

This week our hero is another two hole bead. These metallic hematite flat beads are another that I can imagine so many possible designs with, but I have narrowed it down to a necklace for you, to be revealed on Friday.

Join us on Friday for inspiration using these 15x5mm two hole beads and share your ideas with us!


If there is a bead from our shop that you would like to nominate to be a future Hero of the Week please let us know!

Rockin' Duck Bill Earrings!

There, I said it, these earrings are rockin'! I had so much fun making these earrings as I began to see how they were forming to really show off the shape and color of this week's hero.

I used square stitch adding the curb chain as part of the work again and simply added beads every couple of rows to curve the beadwork out toward the bottom to display those beautiful duck bill drops.

Of course you can always make them shorter by using shorter lengths of chain but I think they have a totally 80's rocker feel with the length and bright colors.Which means they match my totally 80's rocker shirt!

You can't see the purple hot pants and silver scrunch socks but they are there ;).
You can find all of the materials to make these crazy cool earrings in our shop. The duck bill drops come in different colors too!

Tell us how you are going to rock these duck bill drops and until next week have fun and bead on!

Hero of the Week

Julie picked out one of the coolest shaped drop beads we have found. This week's hero is the aqua and fushia duck bill drop bead.

The colors on these are so fun and pretty and the flattened ends really show off the color mix well. This Friday's project will be a bit of a surprise for us all as I have not made it yet. I am thinking of an earring design but of course things can always change - especially my mind ;). If you are playing along with me and contemplating your own design there are flower beads in our shop that match these cool drops.

Share your thoughts on this week's hero and tune in Friday to see the finished project!

Cubes Squared

This week we bring you a wonderful necklace inspired by the Hero of the Week.

 

 Cube beads make great frames for the square stitched squares on this necklace. The only component that I made separately is the peyote tube toggle. Once that was made I strung the necklace and passed back through the beads weaving the squares on the way back.

 

The squares are so versatile. You can make a necklace just like this or weave the squares separately to string later. The extra large holes in the cube beads would even allow you to run an eye pin through the top row so you could link it too chain. Have fun with it. :)

You can conveniently find all of the materials to create this in  our shop. Here is a full list of what you will need:
     - 3mm Dark Olive Green Cube Beads
     - size 11/0 Frosted Rainbow Oxblood Seed Beads
     - size 8/0 Matte Brown Seed Beads
     - Black c-lon Beading Thread
     - Short Beading Needles

We would love to read your feedback in the comments below and if you have questions, we are always happy to answer!

Hero of the Week

This weeks hero was inspired by my younger sister. As I was listing the first items in our newly opened shop she sent me a message that said, 'I don't bead but I want those dark olive matte toho cube beads'. It made me think about how I have drooled over so much of our inventory as we have been going through this process and how just the finish and color of these tiny glass wonders excite even non beaders.

To be honest, I have used cube beads in my work just a couple of times so this was an exciting inspiration for me and I love the geometric necklace design I came up with. You can find these 3mm cubes in our shop now and you can check back here on Friday to see the project that these gorgeous green cubes inspired.

Do you use cubes in your work? Tell us about it in the comments. :)