Please Pass the Peanuts!

My latest Beadweaving tutorial is called "Please Pass the Peanuts!"

Some of the bracelet variations taught in my "Please Pass the Peanuts" tutorial

This versatile pattern features either Superduos OR Czechmates 2-hole bricks, plus 15/0 seed beads, and Peanuts (of course!). There are options to add other embellishing beads (depending on whether you use Superduos or bricks) such as 3mm Swarovski bicones, 3mm Firepolish (or other 3mm beads), 1x2 crystal rondelles, 7/0 Matubos, and more. Both narrow and wide variations of both the Superduo and brick versions are shown, and there is also an option on the Superduo version to substitute 3x4mm drop beads for the peanuts.

Enjoy!

New Beadweaving Tutorial - A versatile design for bracelets and earrings

Last night I published my latest beadweaving tutorial, "Stackers, Wrappers, and Double/Triple Deckers".

Stackers, Wrappers, and Double/Triple Deckers

a beadweaving tutorial by Sweet Freedom Designs

available on Etsy

When I say this is a versatile pattern, I'm not kidding. It uses a 2-hole bead, which can be either a Superduo OR a Czechmates™ Brick OR a Czechmates™ lentil - all of which give it a different look. Plus, it calls for a 3mm bead, which can be an 8/0, an 11/0 triangle, a 3mm Swarovski crystal, etc. - really, so many different choices here.

The tutorial gives step-by-step instructions for skinny stacking bracelets, a yummy wrap bracelet (I'm wearing the one at top right, above, right now!), a "Double Decker", and a "Triple Decker" (seen at top left, above). There are also instructions for making earrings.

I will be getting some kits put together soon!

Well Traveled: A Beadweaving Tutorial for Superduos and Czech 2-hole Tiles

Drumroll, please.....

While I was without a camera for 3 months, I busied myself with my Superduos, and managed to create an original design using the Superduos and Czech 2-hole tiles. After stitching a number of the bracelets, then teaching it to a couple of willing students, I holed myself up with my computer, and set about to create a .pdf tutorial ... which I am quite pleased with!

Well Traveled, a tutorial by Sweet Freedom Designs

In addition to the 10-page, full color tutorial, full of diagrams, photos, and step-by-step instructions, I also have put together kits for 8 different colorways. The kits contain BEADS ONLY - no needles, Fireline, or clasp, although if you contact me through my Etsy shop (where the kits are available) I will be happy to choose a clasp for you for a small additional charge.

The tutorial is available in my Etsy shop, as are the kits. I hope you'll take a look!

Tila Bracelets

The July, 2012, issue of BeadStyle Magazine arrived at the bead shop on Wednesday, and we have already dived in and made several projects.

Customers really enjoy seeing the various projects actually made up, and we enjoy (usually, anyway) making them - so here is one that we have explored this week:

On page 42, there is a Tila bead project entitled Tila Inspiration. It calls for Tilas, 4mm Swarovski bicones, 1.5mm cubes, and 15/0 seed beads. Although the project is worked on Fireline, with 2 needles, it isn't really beadweaving - it's really a stringing project.

I own a bead shop, but I can't tell you how many times I want to try various patterns in various beading magazines, and yet I don't even have all the bead ingredients the pattern calls for! So I can't even imagine how often that happens to beaders who don't own bead shops! But I can get very creative with substitutions, which also helps my customers figure out variations for projects.

And this pattern was no exception. I don't have any 1.5mm cubes. Fortunately, these weren't critical to the pattern. And speaking of not critical - while the project calls for 4mm Swarovski bicones, I rarely use Swarovskis to make spec bracelets for the shop - they're pretty, and I love 'em, but they are too pricey to use in demo projects! We almost always substitute 4mm Czech firepolish beads for 4mm Swarovskis (round or bicone), 3 mm Czech firepolish for 3mm Swarovskis, and so on.

On Friday, my friend Sonya used this Tila Inspiration pattern to create one variation - she used a bronze iris Tila bead, terra cotta-colored Czech firepolish beads, bronze 15/0s, and copper findings (the project calls for French wire, but we substituted wire guardians).

One of my favorite summer shirts is a lavender floral, for which I have no matching bracelets! Horror! And I never remember that I need a lavender bracelet until I put the shirt on, which I did again yesterday morning. So after arriving at the shop and getting all situated, I decided "no time like the present" - I love the bracelet that Sonya created on Friday, so I pulled some purple and lavender beads, and made one for myself!

Sonya's is the top one, mine is the lavender one under it:

I didn't have a purple 15/0 that matched my Tilas and firepolish (and, more importantly, my T-shirt!) very well, so I used 11/0s. Another substitution - good thing there are no bead police, right?

Sonya and I used slightly different stringing patterns - she strung her 15/0s once between each set of firepolish beads, and I strung my 11/0s on either side of the Tilas.

And I used Sterling silver findings with my purple beads, instead of copper:

These bracelets stitch up really quickly, and I love the way mine lies on my wrist - the 3 strands lie flat, and they separate a little when I move, and act like I'm wearing stacking bracelets. Pretty cool!

So, don't be afraid to play around with substitutions in beading patterns! You'll be pleasantly surprised what you can come up with!

And don't tell anyone that I started (and finished) a new project before I finished my Zombie Iolite Necklace - that is verboten!