We Love you and still......

We had a blast bringing you some beautiful projects  over the course of the months since January.  In the end I just got too busy to keep up with weekly posts which required a fair amount of effort in order to bring you directions each week.

My colleagues all did a stellar job of contributing and you all did an amazing job of beading some really fun projects!

For now we'll be stopping as each of us leads busy lives and we need to turn our focus back to our respective businesses.

We thank you for being here and for participating.  The content will remain at least for now, so if you have a favorite you haven't beaded yet, you may want to make a copy.  Thank you, Marcia

Diane Whiting

My Love Affair with Bugle Beads

How lucky are we?  Stephanie Eddy is sharing the darling bugle bead heart and she's given us lot's of design inspiration in the samples she has shown us.  Thank you Stephanie!  Marcia









I’ve had a love/hate relationship with bugle beads dating back to the 60’s.

Some of my very first beading projects were earrings using bugle beads.

Back then, I only had access to the sharp-edged Czech bugles, which shredded the thread in just about every project I made.

I quit them...for awhile. I was sure the affair was over.

Steph & Nancy, Japan

Then, in the 90’s, I was fortunate to 

travel to Kobe, Japan, to teach. 

During that time I toured the Miyuki bead factory in Hiroshima, and later visited an incredible bead store, with my partner in crime, Nancy Cain.

While there, I discovered that these beautifully refined little bugles had undergone some magnificent changes through the advances in Japanese technology. 

Not only were the edges smoother, but they were available in a brilliant variety of colors— some even had lovely spirals and twists in the glass.

Row upon row, jar upon jar, color upon color of those lovely adversaries.

I was in love and hooked...again.

I hope you to will give these little gems a chance to share a little love in your heart. 

In addition to instructions to create the Art Heart, I’ve included some photos of other projects I’ve designed using my beloved bugle beads.

Art Heart tutorial: http://stephanieeddy.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/EDDYArtHeart021216.pdf

One of the first creations I designed following the trip to Japan was the “go-EN Necklace”. Once I had completed the piece I could not decide on the proper closure. I found a go-En (5 yen Japanese coin) in my bag. I used the coin for the closure. Go-EN means “good luck” so that seemed appropriate.

Other designs utilizing bugle beads.

Peyote Heart Earrings by Met Innmon

Met's engineering skills always shine through her designs.  CRAW  hearts seem to be the norm, but here Met gives us a peyote version where the placement of beads creates the shape.  I love a project that can be done fairly quickly which also provides some learning and can be made in different sizes.  Thanks Met!  Marcia

My Bead Love contribution is a sweet little open heart made with peyote stitch and two different bead sizes. Using size 11 and size 15 seed beads in carefully selected positions, stitches made with single beads or multiple beads and areas where you pass through beads without adding new ones creates these heart shaped earrings. 

Supplies for a pair of earrings … 

You will need size 11 and size 15 seed beads in the same color and finish. 

3 grams of size 11 seed beads (A) 

1/2 gram of size 15 seed beads (B)

2 size 8 beads (C) Note: These are used to attach the split rings. 

2 6mm split rings

2 ear wires

Beading thread One G, KO or Fireline 6lb. 

Size 10 or 11 beading needle

Each earring measures 1" by 7/8" (2.5cm by 2.3cm) without the split ring and ear wire.

Here are the bead numbers used in the earrings … 

Size 11 D4208 Duracoat Galvanized Berry 

Size 15 D4208 Duracoat Galvanized Berry 

Size 8 D4208 Duracoat Galvanized Berry 

Tips for using the visual cues in the diagrams …

• The thread path is a bold red line starting at a little black dot and ending with a bold red arrow.

• The beads stitched in the step are outlined in bold red. 

• The beads passed through (not added in the step) are outlined in bold black. 

Pull a 3 and 1/2 foot (107 cm) length of thread.

Row 1 and 2: String 36A. Needle through the first 2 beads again in the same direction making a ring. Slide the ring of beads down the thread leaving a 1 and 1/2 foot (46 cm) tail thread. The tail thread will be used later. 

With a medium tension … 

Row 3: Using A, make 18 peyote stitches. Step up into the first bead stitched in this row. 

Row 4: 

• Without a bead, needle into the next high bead. This is a decrease area and defines the top center of the heart.  
• Make 3 peyote stitches each with 2A. 
• Make 5 peyote stitches each with 1A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A. This is the bottom of the heart. 
• Make 5 peyote stitches each with 1A. 
• Make 3 peyote stitches each with 2A. 
• Pass the needle through the decrease at the top center of the heart. 
• Step up into two beads (the first 2A). 

Row 5: 

• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A needling into 2A’s. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A needling into 2A’s. 
• Make 3 peyote stitches each with 1A. 
• Pass the needle through 6A (low/high). This positions the thread in the 1st of the 2 beads at the bottom of the heart. 
• Pick up 1A and needle into the 2nd of the 2 beads at the bottom of the heart. 
• Pass the needle through 6A (low/high). 
• Make 2 peyote stitches each with 1A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A needling into 2A’s. 
• Make 2 peyote stitches each with 1A needling into 2A’s. 
• Without a bead, needle though 1 bead and the decrease area at the top of the heart. 
• Step up into the 1st bead in the 2 bead pair. 

Row 6: 

• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1B and 1A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A and 1B. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A and 1B. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A and 1B. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1B. Note: Use a little tighter tension to help the size 15 seed bead fill the space and to hide the thread. The tighter tension will also encourage the heart to curve and have more dimensionality. 
• Following the outside perimeter, needle through 8 beads (high/low). This positions the thread at the bottom tip. 
• Following the outside perimeter, needle through 8 more beads (high/low). 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1B. Note: Use a little tighter tension to help the size 15 seed bead fill the space and to hide the thread. The tighter tension will also encourage the heart to curve and have more dimensionality. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch 1B and 1A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1B and 2A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1B and 2A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A and 1B needling into the 2nd bead of the 2 bead pair. 

Adding the Size 8 bead for hanging the split ring

• Pass the needle through 1A, the decrease area, 1A, 1B and 1A. This positions the thread near the top on one side of the heart. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1C. 
• Needle through the low/high beads around the outer perimeter to reinforce the stitching. Note: If you want the heart to have more dimensionality use a tighter tension while reinforcing these beads. 
• Secure the thread and cut. 

Do not cut the tail thread yet. It will be used next.  

This row is worked on the inside perimeter of the heart with the tail thread. 

Row 7:

• Needle through 8 beads (low/high).
• Make 3 peyote stitches each with 1B. 
• Without a bead, needle into the next high bead. This is a decrease area and defines the inside point at the bottom of the heart. 
• Make 3 peyote stitches each with 1B. 
• Needle through 10 beads moving back toward the top of the heart. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A.

• Reinforce the inside perimeter by needling through the 34 low/high beads until you get back to the inside top of the heart. This positions the thread in the 1st bead of the 2 bead pair at the inside top of the heart. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A into the 2nd bead of the 2 bead pair splitting the 2 bead pair.

Secure the tail thread and cut. 

• Open a split ring and insert into the size 8 bead. 
• Open the loop on an ear wire. 
• Insert the split ring into the ear wires loop and close the loop on the ear wire. 

Make a second earring. 

Earlier in the year, I beaded Marcia's Love & Hope letters and put them together in a crossword. They decorate my bead studio color wall. Now, a small heart and two large hearts accompany Love & Hope! Here are instructions to make a large peyote heart.

Large Peyote Heart 

Supplies needed for one large peyote heart … 

You will need size 11 and size 15 seed beads in the same color and finish. 

2 grams of size 11 seed beads (A) 

1/2 gram of size 15 seed beads (B)

Beading thread One G, KO or Fireline 6lb. 

Size 10 or 11 beading needle

The large heart measures 1 1/8" by 1 1/2" (3cm by 3.8cm).

Here are the bead numbers used in the blue hearts accompanying Marcia’s Love and Hope letters… 

Size 11 F463Z

Size 15 F463Z

and the teal heart accompanying Marcia’s Love & Hope letters … 

Size 11 377I 

Size 15 377I 

Pull a 4 foot (122 cm) length of thread. 

Row 1 and 2: String 44A. Needle through the first 2 beads again in the same direction making a ring. Slide the ring of beads down the thread leaving a 1 and 1/2 feet (46 cm) tail thread. The tail thread will be used later. 

With a medium tension … 

Row 3: Using A, make 22 peyote stitches. Step up into the first bead stitched in this row. 

Row 4: 

• Without a bead, needle into the next high bead. This is a decrease area and defines the top center of the heart.  
• Make 5 peyote stitches each with 2A. 
• Make 5 peyote stitches each with 1A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A. This is the bottom of the heart. 
• Make 5 peyote stitches each with 1A. 
• Make 5 peyote stitches each with 2A. 
• Pass the needle through the decrease at the top center of the heart. 
• Step up into two beads (the first 2A). 

Row 5: 

• Make 4 peyote stitch with 1A needling into 2A’s. 
• Make 3 peyote stitch each with 1A. 
• Pass the needle through 6A (low/high). This positions the thread in the 1st of the 2 beads at the bottom of the heart. 
• Pick up 1A and needle into the 2nd of the 2 beads at the bottom of the heart. 
• Pass the needle through 6A (low/high). 
• Make 2 peyote stitches each with 1A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A needling into 2A’s. 
• Make 4 peyote stitches each with 1A needling into 2A’s. 
• Without a bead, needle though 1 bead and the decrease area at the top of the heart. 
• Step up into the 1st bead in the 2 bead pair. 

Row 6: 

• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1B and 1A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A and 1B. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A and 1B. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A and 1B. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A and 1B. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1B. Note: Use a little tighter tension to help the size 15 seed bead fill the space and to hide the thread.
• Following the outside perimeter, needle through 10 beads (high/low). This positions the thread at the bottom tip. 
• Following the outside perimeter, needle through 10 more beads (high/low). 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1B. Note: Use a little tighter tension to help the size 15 seed bead fill the space and to hide the thread. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch 1B and 1A. 
• Make 3 peyote stitch with 1B and 2A. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A and 1B needling into the 2nd bead of the 2 bead pair. 

Secure the thread and cut. 

This row is worked on the inside perimeter of the heart with the tail thread. 

Row 7:

• Needle through 10 beads (low/high).
• Make 4 peyote stitches each with 1B. 
• Without a bead, needle into the next high bead. This is a decrease area and defines the inside point at the bottom of the heart. 
• Make 4 peyote stitches each with 1B. 
• Needle through 12 beads moving back toward the top of the heart. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 2A. 

• Reinforce the inside perimeter by needling through the 42 (low/high) beads until you get back to the inside top of the heart. This positions the thread in the 1st bead of the 2 bead pair at the inside top of the heart. 
• Make 1 peyote stitch with 1A into the 2nd bead of the 2 bead pair splitting the 2 bead pair. 

Secure the thread and cut. 

For a printable version click here.

Thank you for beading my little peyote heart earrings! I hope you enjoyed the design and enjoy wearing the earrings.  Met 

met@metbeads.com 
www.metbeads.com

The LOVE Bracelet by Linda Roberts

Linda has been a friend for many years now.  As so often is the case, we became familiar with one another on Facebook.  Then we got to meet in person at Bead and Button where one's passion for beads often comes together with others.  Then I was lucky enough that she moved not far away and we got to bead together on a regular basis.  I admire Linda's breadth of mediums and it's been my pleasure to watch some of her bigger art pieces develop.  Here she gives us a tiled bracelet with the sentiment that started it all.....LOVE!  Marcia

I find that with beading, one idea often leads to another idea.  I saw the free beading project for July from Bead and Button Magazine and thought it might be a good project (skipping the resin part) for my beading group.  I hadn't yet taught them odd count peyote and it looked like a fun project.

I used the software program BeadTool to create my own 1 inch square design using size 11° Delica beads.  To make the beadwork fit inside a 25mm square pendant, the width of my beadwork used 19 Delica beads and the length used 15 Delica beads.  After beading, it is turned to fit the correct way inside the pendant and glued in place.  I gave the beaders peyote graph paper and they had a choice to design their own initial, or use the breast cancer awareness ribbon design I created for them.

   

While I was beading up a sample of my initial L for the class, the thought came to me that I could also create the letters O, V and E and make a LOVE bracelet for my Bead Love project. Since each letter component is approximately 1" square, four would not be long enough for a bracelet, so I also created a heart design and added a few rows to connect the squares.

Odd count peyote patterns allow for designs to be symmetrical on both sides of a center line.  But because there is not an even number of beads in each row, it is necessary to do a special turn around on one side of the peyote beadwork.  There are several You Tube videos available to watch to show you how to do the turn around.  Google "odd count peyote" to find them.

The bracelet is made with size 11° Delica beads, 6 lb fireline and a size 11 needle.  A Bead Legend and Chart, as well as a Word Chart for the heart and for each LOVE letter follows. Each design begins on the upper left hand side, and each row begins and ends with a black bead.   Even though the diagrams show each component separately, It is not necessary to bead them separately.  When finished with one, simply continue on with the next, noting that Rows 1 and 2 will be added separately.  The heart and four letters spelling LOVE all connected will be approximately 5 1/2" (14cm) long.  If the bracelet needs to be longer, it's easy to add another heart square at the other end, or add additional beads to each end of the bracelet.  Remember that your clasp will also add to the length of your bracelet.

 

  

   

  

 

Finish your bracelet by adding a clasp of your choice.  Then enjoy wearing it, or give it as a gift of love to someone special.

To get a printable version click here.

Linda Roberts
https://www.etsy.com/shop/beadsforever