Faux pearl and lampwork beads necklace
Yesterday, I showed you a predominantly blue lampwork bead necklace that had yellow contrast beads. I used the same focal bead set and made another necklace, this time with pink and faux pearl accents.
The point to this lesson is the importance of accent beads. They are like the bass line in a pop song, not really noticed, but essential to the impact of the music.
Spring inspired lampwork bead necklace
Making lampwork beads requires high heat, molten glass and the blessing of the Fates. I’ll never do it. I’m more a buy-em-and-string-em gal.
My preference is to include a few sparkly beads in the design too. With this project I worked out from the focal bead – the largest bead on the string, positioned at the centre of the piece. The contrast colour choice was yellow. I wanted to pick up the yellow in the beads positioned 6 spaces from the focal bead. I think I might have been more successful had I chosen beads in the same pink as the flower in the focal bead.
That’s why a bead board is so useful. You can see how the design works before stringing, making changes without the hassle of taking the necklace apart. My mistake was not purchasing the alternate beads in pink. I had it in my mind from the onset that I was going to use yellow. Yellow is the colour directly across from blue on the colour wheel. It was the obvious choice.
The obvious choice may not be the best choice. If you want a stand out piece that sings – sometimes you have to ignore the colour wheel and go with your gut. I didn’t and I was disappointed.
The list of materials and instructions for this braided beaded cuff are on the Michael’s website. The instructions are for a red, blue and silver cuff constructed of standard sized beads.
I used beads I had on hand, and copper wire. The beads I used were not standard in size. That didn’t matter for each strand of braid, it mattered a great deal when I finished the piece. If you are a stickler for consistency, then purchase the supplies as listed.
Things I learned that were not in the instructions
The loops required at the beginning and end of each strand are easier to make if you turn your tubenose pliers away from you on the first bend. That allows you to see the end of the wire, because you will be making a coil of loops. Rather than having the end sit tight against the wire as you do when making a single loop, you must lay it next to the write and continue to lay each loop alongside the other – coiling.
The 3/4 of an inch suggested for each loop coil is perfect. The length of 8 inches per strand of wire, I found to not be enough for my wrist. Although the sample piece in the photo will fit a smaller wrist well.
Braiding the strands would have been simpler had I pinned the piece down, or asked someone to hold the top while I braided.
This is an extremely versatile pattern, and the repetition is great for a beginner. Practice makes perfect.
Sample of peyote stitch
Beading for the Soul, by Deborah Cannarella, is my current craft read. I am working with a stitch that is as old as time – peyote. Native American in origin, the simple and versatile stitch is a challenge for beginners. Like casting on in knitting, the first three rows of peyote can be a roadblock to success.
I am trained to writing how-to manuals, which does not mean that I can understand manuals written by others. Peyote stitch is one such subject that I find incomprehensible when I read the written instructions. So I have spent the past three days repeatedly stitching, attempting to understand how I might write a better instruction sheet.
The photo is the sample piece I will take to class later this month. I do not believe in bringing perfect samples to class. I prefer samples with teachable elements. The sample in the photo has plenty of them, especially for the beginning beader.
I alternated bead colours as I added rows to help the viewer identify the row structure peculiar to peyote. This is a 4 bead wide piece of peyote. The beginner’s mistake is to hear the word row, and assume is a singular string of beads stacked upon each other. Peyote off-sets the rows. The beads stack on the diagonal as the rows build.
I used leftover beads that were of an approximate size, and varying shapes from donuts to oblongs. Peyote works best with consistently sized beads. This is a fact. Using irregular beads can create texture, but you aren’t gong to create a perfect piece of peyote.
Keeping a consistent tension on the beading string is difficult for a beginner. Practice, consistent bead size, and practice are required to develop consistent tension. The size of our needle and the diameter of your bead string should be compatible too.
Peyote Stringing pattern
I took a photo of the stringing pattern illustration from Beading for the Soul. In my opinion, it is the best I have seen, because it shows the offset rows, and has a clear needle path.
By the way…my sample is even count peyote. The instructions for an odd number of beads is different. For beginners, I recommend starting with even count peyote. When you have the muscle memory developed, then move on to odd count.
Venetian Style Necklace
When I demonstrate beading during an in-store event, someone inevitably asks if beading is an appropriate activity for a young lady’s birthday party. The shortest answer is yes. The shortest answer, however, is not sufficient.
There are two distinct levels of beading for youngsters. The first is safe, and easy, and involves soft stringing material and plastic beads. The finished bracelet or necklace looks like something made in an arts and crafts class at summer camp. That’s fine for girls 8 and under, but not for tweens. The sophisticated expectations of tweens are driven by television shows and teen magazines with photos of teen idols on red carpets.
Choose the Pandora-style of bracelet for your birthday party project. One bracelet will require:
I recommend that an adult removes the screw clasp from all the bracelet chains and retains them for safe-keeping. Return one to each young lady when she finishes her piece. Allow the young ladies to pick the beads/spacers/charms from a large bowl. Explain before the selection begins that the limit is 3 or 4 per person. If you are hosting a large group, you can make gift bags in advance that contain all the supplies required for one bracelet. That will eliminate the problem of the last person having little from which to choose in the bottom of the bowl.
The beads/charms/spacers are strung on the chain in any order that the child chooses. Once the beading is complete, the clasp screw is returned to the chain – et voila a party favour to wear home.
Use memory wire. You will have to invest in 2 tools – a memory wire cutter and a pair of tubenose pliers. Or perhaps you know an adult beader willing to lend you the tools? Purchase 2 or 3 packages of memory wire in the bracelet size. The amount depends on the number of youngsters attending the party. Before the party cut the memory wire into bracelet length pieces: 1.5 turns around the wrist is the minimum length. With the tubenose pliers, make a loop at one end of each piece of bracelet wire. Choose a selection of beads – buy in bulk – with holes large enough to allow the memory wire to pass through, but not too big. The number of beads to string depends on the size of the bead you have chosen. The easiest way to estimate is to lay an inch of beads in a the groove of a bead board. Count the number of beads it takes to make an inch. Multiple that number times the length of the wire you cut. For example: 15 beards per inch x 5 inches = 75 beads x the number of bracelets to be made.
When all the beads have been strung on the memory wire, make another loop exactly like the first loop that will stop the beads from slipping off.
Do not cut the wire with anything other than memory wire cutters. You will ruin your regular wire cutters. Do not, I repeat, do not cut memory wire with anything other than memory wire cutters.
When you make the loops at the end, turn the wire back away from the natural curve of the memory wire. Do not go with the flow. Again, do not go with the flow, bend against the natural curve of the wire.
What would you rather have as a party guest? A loot bag with things you’ll never use ever again, or a pretty bracelet you made yourself to wear home and show your parents?
