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CONTINUATION - "Damselfly pendant"

• for the tail end: pick up one 15/0 seed bead with one thread and cross the threads in the seed bead

• make a few knots and melt the nylon thread with a lighter
• enjoy!

We used the following beads:

• https://dunebeads.com/en/japanese-seed-beads-miyuki-size-15-gunmetal-opaque-iris-finishing
• https://dunebeads.com/en/3x11-mm-czech-druk-beads-mini-daggers-translucent-light-colorado-brown-opaque-silver-peacock 
• https://dunebeads.com/en/4x4-mm-czech-faceted-round-beads-turquoise-blue-transparent-garnet-red-shimmer

Options:

• for earrings your loop should be smaller and five or seven 15/0 seed beads may suffice
• instead of a damselfly, you can also go for a dragonfly and use a 3x11 mm dagger and a 5x16 mm dagger for each wing
• to make a bigger dragonfly use 6x6 mm round beads

Thank you for choosing your beads and finding @ dunebeads.com!

Happy day, see you soon!

« Dancing rectangles » is a 6 mm large, slender bracelet that will charm young and old alike. Like the basic ladder stitch, « Dancing rectangles » is an easy beginner's project, but you will work with two beads at a time instead of one bead. If you are not familiar with the https://dunebeads.com/en/learn-and-create-the-flat-brick-stitch-on-a-foundation-of-ladder-stitch-part-1, try it out first. It will give you a good understanding of the thread path you will use here.

Challenge:

Understanding the thread path and controlling the thread tension. Too much tension and the top beads sit askew, too little and the beads do not line up nicely.

Supplies for the “Dancing rectangles” bracelet:

• 11/0 Japanese Miyuki Delica beads
• S-lon thread or polyethylene (fishing line), John James needles # 10 or #12
• clasp (optional), scissors and a bead mat

Weaving instructions for the “Dancing rectangles” bracelet:

• take a comfortable length of thread
• pick up 4 Delicas and circle back till your thread sits on the same side as the tail thread

• pick up 2 Delicas and circle back till you end at the top of the row you added

• pick up 4 Delicas and go DOWN through the outer stack of two beads you just exited

• you have put a square on top of your rectangle
• pass your needle UP through the two preceding beads and also through the closest two beads of the four you put on top

• go DOWN with your needle through the outer two Delicas

• to complete the rectangle : pick up 2 Delicas, circle back DOWN through the preceding set of two and go UP through the two last beads

• note : you always work with pairs

SEE - part 2

CONTINUATION: «Dancing rectangles»

• check the thread tension and look if the beads sit right on top where they belong, in other words the last row is stacked on top of the previous round; but the beads are located in between the beads of the previous round
• * pick up 4 Delicas and go back through the outer stack of two beads you just exited

• go with your needle UP through the preceding two beads as well as through the closest two beads on the top

• go DOWN with your needle through the outer two Delicas

• to complete the rectangle : pick up 2 Delicas, circle back through the preceding set of two and go UP through the two last beads **

• repeat * till ** until you reach the desired length
• attach a small clasp or zip the strip together
• enjoy!

Ideas:

• make several to create a stacking bracelet set
• would it not be a nice thumb ring too?
• you might want to work with two colors

Thank you for choosing your beads and findings @ https://dunebeads.com/en/delica-seed-beads-size-11-japan !

Happy day, see you soon!

The herringbone stitch an old-timer? No way, the newer shaped beads, such as the Cali bead, can be perfectly integrated and offer a different and very modern look to the traditional herringbone stitch. The start may be a little challenging, but it will end up being an easy and quickly made project.

Challenge:

As you are working with different sizes, going from tiny to relatively big beads, you need to maintain a firm thread tension and keep the Cali beads straight.

Supplies for the “Like no other” herringbone rope:

• 3x8 mm Czech Cali beads with three holes
• 15/0 Japanese Miyuki seed beads
• 3x3 mm faceted Czech beads for the intersection
• S-lon thread or polyethylene (fishing line), John James needles # 10 or #12
• scissors and a bead mat

Weaving instructions for the “Like no other” herringbone rope:

• check the holes of the beads before stringing them
• take a comfortable length of thread

• first round: pick up one Cali, one 15/0 seed bead, one Cali, one 15/0 seed bead, one Cali, one 15/0 seed bead, one Cali, one 15/0 seed bead equaling a total of four Cali-seed bead sets
• keep a 20 cm tail thread, so you can add the clasp later on without problems

• to form a circular base, make a second pass through all the beads as well as the first Cali bead

• second round: pick up a 3 mm bead and make a step-up by passing your needle through the second hole of the Cali you just exited, in other words make a U-turn

• pick up a 3 mm bead and pass the needle through the second hole of the next Cali, repeat two more times and tighten your thread
• note: while the 3 mm beads are maintaining the round shape, the Cali beads form strong V-lines. To work comfortably maintain the Cali beads nicely vertical.

• third round: make a step-up by passing your needle through the third hole of the Cali you just exited, in other words make a U-turn

• pick up one Cali, one seed bead, one Cali and go with your needle through the next Cali bead
• pick up a seed bead and go through the next Cali

SEE - part 2

CONTINUATION: "Like no other" herringbone rope

• pick up one Cali, one seed bead, one Cali and go through the next Cali bead

• pick up a seed bead and go through the next Cali as well as through the bottom hole of the first Cali you added in this round
• note: when you add Cali beads you are starting the next round, when you add just one seed bead you tighten the structure

• fourth round: make a step-up by passing your needle through the second hole of the Cali you just exited, in other words make a U-turn

• pick up a 3 mm bead and pass the needle through the second hole of the next Cali, repeat three more times
• note: ignore the seed bead of the previous round
• next round: see third round
• next round: see fourth round
• continue building up the rope by adding round three and four alternately
• proceed until you have the desired length by repeating the instructions of the third and fourth round and end in a way similar to the start
• to finish off the rope, you could add on each side a large bead cap or a small rondelle bead
• add a toggle clasp and enjoy!

Suggestions:

• to accentuate the V-shapes, choose the 3x3 mm bead in a contrasting color
• play with color variations for the Cali bead and keep the other beads in one color scheme

Thank you for choosing your beads and findings @ https://dunebeads.com/en/czech-cali-beads-with-3-holes !

Happy day, see you soon!

This over-sized beaded bead is an excellent beginner's design asking very little time and would be a lovely mother-daughter project. Just as the “Stylized flower” beaded bead, you can use the “I am not a Sea Urchin” bead as a pendant or make several large beads and integrate them into a necklace.

Challenge:

As we are working with relatively big Cali beads and tiny seed beads, you need to keep a firm thread tension and it is advisable to make a second pass through each row.

Supplies for the “I am not a Sea Urchin” beaded bead:

• 3x8 mm Czech Cali beads with three holes
• 15/0 Japanese seed beads
• 8/0 Japanese seed beads in a contrasting color
• S-lon thread or polyethylene (fishing line), John James # 12 needles, scissors and a bead mat

Weaving instructions for the “I am not a Sea Urchin” beaded bead:

• check the holes of the beads before stringing them
• take a comfortable length of thread

• pick up : one 15/0 seed beads, one Cali, one 15/0 seed bead, one Cali, one 15/0 seed bead, one Cali, one 15/0 seed bead, one Cali, one 15/0 seed bead, one Cali, to have a total of five Cali-seed bead sets
• slide the beads till the end of the thread while keeping a 15 cm tail thread

• circle back through all the beads till the first Cali bead situated in front of the tail thread

• go through the next seed bead-Cali set to complete the first round

• pass your needle through the central hole of the same Cali bead you just got out of to go to the next level
• as a consequence, with each step-up you change the needle's direction
• pick up one 15/0 seed bead and one 8/0 seed bead and go through the central hole of the next Cali bead

• repeat the above till you have a total of five sets and have reached the first 15/0 seed bead of the second round
• pass your needle through the next 15/0-8/0 seed bead set as well as the Cali bead to complete the second round
• note: you go past the tail thread

• make a step-up and pass your needle through the third hole of the same Cali bead you just exited

SEE part 2

CONTINUATION: “I am not a Sea Urchin” beaded bead

• pick up : one 15/0 seed bead, one new Cali bead and one 15/0 seed bead and pass your needle through the top hole of the next Cali bead

• repeat the above four more times

• to tighten your thread firmly, make a second pass through all the beads and you will see the structure fold together
• continue by going with your needle through the next 15/0 seed bead, the Cali and the 15/0 seed bead to complete the third round
• go through the Cali and make a step-up by moving to the middle hole of the Cali bead you just exited

• pick up : one 15/0 seed bead, one 8/0 seed bead and to through the middle hole of the next Cali bead
• repeat the above four more times
• continue by going through the first 15/0-8/0 seed bead set and exit the next Cali bead to complete the fourth round
• make a step-up and go through the third hole of the Cali bead

• pick up : one 15/0 seed bead and pass your needle through the top hole of the next Cali bead
• to complete the fifth round repeat the above four more times to close the beaded bead

• make a second pass through the first and second round and finish with a few knots
• weave the tail thread in your beaded bead and finish in the same way
• enjoy your creation !

Creative ideas : create a floating illusion necklace

• string several beads on a leather cord
• while making a knot at equal distance on each side of the beaded bead to fix it in place

Thank you for choosing your beads and findings @ https://dunebeads.com/en/czech-multi-hole-glass-beads-2-holes-and-3-holes !

Did you = Like = this article ?  Enjoy a happy day, see you soon!

What are chakras?

Emerged from the Indian culture, the chakra energy system, has seeped into our esoteric beliefs. What is called chakra is a focal point where psychic forces interact with the body and vice versa. The concept is very much present in each belief system and associated with the mind, spirit and soul idea.

Although there is a huge amount of chakra points, we normally only refer to the six intersections located along the spine and the one on top of the head. Each individual chakra is linked to a mantra or prayer and a deity. It is also associated with an organ, a color, a shape and an element in nature.

In the Western culture, we want each chakra to be fully energized and balanced; in the Hindu culture on the other hand, the Yogi attempts to raise his energy flow from chakra to chakra to reach the top of the head.

The seven chakras and their location:

the root chakra, situated in the tail bone, is linked to your survival, meaning health, food and shelter and in modern times this concept may be transposed in terms of money and motivation

1. the root chakra, situated in the tail bone, is linked to your survival, meaning health, food and shelter and in modern times this concept may be transposed in terms of money and motivation
2. the sacral chakra, located below the navel in the lower abdomen, is related to your own well-being such as pleasure and sexuality
3. the solar plexus chakra is found in the stomach area and linked to self-esteem, self-respect
4. the heart chakra sieges just above the heart and manages the ability to love, and find joy and inner peace
5. the throat chakra is indeed based in the throat and associated with emotions and communication
6. the third eye or brow chakra can be found between the two eyes and is connected with your thoughts, such as decision making, imagination, but also intuition
7. in the crown chakra, at the top of your head, you balance your sense of spirituality, bliss and beauty

SEE - part 2

CONTINUATION

The colors of the seven chakras and their healing stones:

Gemstones are supposed to assist the natural healing process of the chakras. Some gemstones with mixed colors may heal two or more chakras.

1. the root chakra:
   - black and red
   - Hematite, Black Onyx, Obsidian, Spinel, Bloodstone, Ruby, Red Jasper, Red Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Picture jasper
2. the sacral chakra:
   - orange
   - Sunstone, Carnelian, Orange Aventurine, Orange Jasper, Orange Calcite, Tangerine Quartz
3. the solar plexus chakra:
   - yellow
   - Citrine, Pyrite, Golden Brown Tiger Eye, Golden Rutilated Quartz, Yellow Jasper, Golden Calcite, Yellow Opal
4. the heart chakra:
   - green and pink
   - Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, Morganite, Pink Tourmaline, Green Aventurine, Chrysoprase, Peridot, Jade, Green Tourmaline, Green Moss Agate, Unakite, Emerald and Ruby
5. the throat chakra:
   - blue
   - Blue Apatite, Aquamarine, Blue Lace Agate, Blue Calcite, blue Chalcedony, Dumortierite, Sodalite, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Blue Kyanite and Blue Sapphire

SEE - part 3

CONTINUATION

• 6. the third eye chakra: 
  - purple and indigo blue
  - Amethyst, Angelite, blue Aventurine, Azurite, Iolite, Fluorite, Dumortierite, Sodalite and Lapis Lazuli

• 7. the crown chakra: 
  - white and violet
  - white Calcite, white Topaz, Howite, Magnesite, light purple Amethyst,Chevron Amethyst, Rock Crystal (Quartz), Moonstone

The functions ?

Inevitably, you will discover that a single gemstone can have several functions.

For instance, lapis lazuli :

• its primary function = throat chakra
• its secondary function = third eye chakra.

The same is true for most gemstones.

How to choose your stones?

First of all, the gemstone which makes you feel good is presumably the one that brings one of you chakra's in balance.

Secondly, whether you choose to create a pendant or a bracelet, you are supposed to wear it directly on the skin.

Enjoy a soulful day!

Thank you for choosing your beads and findings @ https://dunebeads.com/en/shop !

Do you = Like = this article ?  Have fun ... and see you soon!