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Square "Silky" glass beads permit to create bold geometric lines and symmetry. The result is a decidedly modern, sleek bracelet with a luxurious feeling in Art Deco style.

Challenge:

• Mastering two-hole square beads by consistently working in a circle.

Supplies for the Art Deco bracelet :

• square https://dunebeads.com/en/czech-silky-tile-beads-in-2-sizes-2-shapes-with-2-holes
• Miyuki Delica 11/0 in two colors
• seed beads 15/0
• S-lon thread D
• John James needle no. 12
• scissors and a beading surface

Weaving instructions:

Starting:

• align two “Silky” beads and pass your needle on one side twice through both of them, leaving a tail thread of about 15 to 20 cm

• as you formed a circle, it permits you to reposition the two square beads side by side
• it follows that you have joined the middle of two “Silky” beads
• it has the added benefit that it also indicates the exact position of the clasp in relation to the bracelet
• in order to keep those 2 squares together you have to maintain tension in the tail thread, so wrap the tail thread around your fingers

Creating the clasp:

• pass your needle through the next hole situated on the outside of the same square bead
• add five Delica's, one 6 mm round bead and three 15/0 seed beads

• go back through the 6 mm round bead and the following two Delica's

• form the second leg of the clasp by adding three Delica's
• go through the hole on the other side of the “Silky” bead
• reinforce the clasp by making a second pass through it
• pass your needle through the other side of the same square bead

SEE - part 2

Creating the bracelet:

• * 1st circle: add two Delica's in color 1 and pass your needle through the second hole of the same square bead
• repeat on the other side

• 2nd circle: pass your needle through one of the Delica's in color 1 and add two Delica's in color 2
• go through the second Delica in color 1 and the “Silky” bead
• repeat on the other side

• 3rd circle: pass your needle through the Delica in color 1, the Delica in color 2 and add a seed bead 15/0
• pass your needle through the Delica in color 2 and the Delica in color 1 and go through the square bead
• repeat on the other side
• with each pass you will reinforce the structure

• to prepare to move the next “Silky” bead, go through the Delica's in color 1 and color 2
• pass through the square and exit immediately on the other side of the square**

• add a Delica in color 1 and pass through the next “Silky” bead
• add another Delica in color 1 and pass your needle through the previous square bead
• you have formed a circle and secured the attachment of the two “Silky” beads

• pass your needle through the previously attached Delica in color 1 and go back through the square
• repeat * till **

• adding the third “Silky” bead or the next square :

• ***pick up a Delica in color 1
• in order to be sure you add the “Silky” in the right position, hold it next to the previous square
• pass your needle through the “Silky” bead

• add a Delica in color 1 and form a circle by going back through the previous square

• pass your needle through the Delica in color 1 and go back through the square one more time***
• repeat * till** to decorate each square bead
• repeat *** till **** to add each new “Silky” bead
• at the desired length create the loop of the clasp and reinforce it

Do not forget: have fun,see you soon!

Jasper is considered the stone of balance and peace.  Although jasper may contain fine grained clay, it is often classified between the micro-crystalline varieties of quartz. In its chemical composition it is similar to agate, but it is more opaque. The colors generally range from yellow, red, reddish brown to green. Jasper carries many names, some referring to their matrix or to their origin, others to rivers and mountains and so on ... however, not all that falls under the heading of jasper is actually jasper ... quite some volcanic igneous rock calls itself jasper.

African turquoise is a spotted light blue-green jasper mined in Africa and is so called for its matrix resemblance to turquoise. It is actually a harder gemstone than the soft turquoise. It is said to encourage personal growth and evolution.

Earthy brown jasper also shows off large quartz bands and thin red lines. Brown being the color of the earth, this jasper connects us with nature and provides a calming stability.

Indonesian Bumble Bee or Bumblebee jasper … or the scent of danger … is a volcanic stone with sulfur layers and hematite traces from around Mount Papandayan in West Java. It is softer (Mohs' hardness 4.0-5.0) than jasper and often stabilized.

Crocodile jasper (Kambamba/Kambaba Jasper or Stromatolite jasper) has cores of algae which are coated with layers of iron sulfide. Over time the algae circles were replaced by blue-green minerals held in layers of black and yellow brown iron sulfide. This gemstone is found in northwestern Madagascar (South-Africa). It is believed to be a stone of transformation and change and said to soothe the nerves and to alleviate stress.

Fancy Jasper shows off a whimsical color combination of creamy beige, light grey, lavender blue, lilac pink and shades of green. To deepen the lavender and lilac mix, add Amethyst or lavender blue Malaysian Jade. If you want to accentuate the greens, mix it with green Aventurine. As this is an opaque gemstone, it would be interesting to add glass beads in those colors. Fancy Jasper brings tranquility and relaxation.

Heliotrope, also known as “Bloodstone”, is a dark green to dark blue-green opaque jasper with reddish spots of hematite or iron oxide (Fe2O3). The natural green color is produced by mineral sediments of marine water. Its name means “sun turning” in reference to the way it reflects light. It is the traditional birthstone of March and said to give courage, strength and good luck.

SEE - part 2

Imperial jasper is found in the Guadalajara, Jalisco area of Mexico. It has circular patterns and a creamy porcelain-like finishing. It comes in natural earthy pastel shades such as cream, pink and green. It is said to stabilize emotions.

Impression jasper is a trade name of a gemstone known under many other names.  It is mined in Hubei, China.  Because of its natural pale blue-green color with sandy, crimson or gray matrix, it is also called Aqua Terra Jasper, African blue opal or Sea Sediment Jasper. The natural blue varieties surely will give you also that relaxing feeling … as they are believed to bring inner peace, clarity and abundance.

Leopard skin jasper seems to be the trade name for a striking glassy Mexican Rhyolite. It resembles the mottled coat of a leopard with its spotting of red, bronze and pink on a background of gray. It is said to encourage taking responsibility and is associated with the root chakra.

Mookaite Windalia Radiolarite(mookite or moukaite) is a banded West Australian jasper in deep red, pink, purple and warm yellow earthy shades. Its name refers to the Mooka creek. It is said to be an emotional protector full of calming energy and is linked to the root chakra.

Ocean Jasper or Orbicular Quartz is found in the northwestern coastal region of Madagascar. It is a conglomerate of jasper and quartz. Like Poppy jasper it contains circular patterns. It comes in earthy light brown shades mixed with swirls and layers of white to transparent quartz and dark green Rhyolite. Green Ocean Jasper is associated with the heart chakra and releases stress.

SEE - part 3

In shades of black, brown, gray and cream Picasso jasper (Picasso marble or Picasso stone) shows a beautiful, distinct pattern due to the heat and pressure from deep within the earth. The striking patterns and lines give it a cubist character. That is why it is named after Pablo Picasso. It is said to attract like minded souls and to help renew lost friendships. Picasso Jasper is the birthstone of the Leo.

Banded Picture jasper shows off earthy sand and brown desert colors. This type of jasper is said to create perspective and to help resolve life's issues.

Poppy jasper has a warm red brown color with swirling poppy or orbicular patterns and dashes of grey and cream. It is a stimulating stone that brings cheerfulness.

Another volcanic igneous rock hidden under the jasper name is called Rainforest jasper (Rain forest jasper). This Australian (Queensland) moss green gemstone with gray quartz and brown feldspar nodules is reminiscent of the rain forest, but has no further link with it. It is also known as Spherulitic (with small needle-like spheres) rhyolite, green rhyolite and agatized rhyolite. Rhyolite is said to encourage self-realization and creativity.

Think earthy autumn colors when you imagine Red Creek jasper. Although it owns its name to the Red River/Creek, which runs in southeastern direction through China, it is also known as Cherry Creek jasper, red Picasso jasper and New Picasso jasper. The bright colors are all natural. However, Red Creek jasper is much softer than regular jasper. It is said to bring balance and relaxation.

SEE - part 4

As reddish as carnelian, but more opaque, Red jasper thanks its deep red color to iron oxides. It contains often thin grayish quartz lines. Some claim that this stone of perseverance is also highly protective.  Together with the Bloodstone, it is the birthstone of the month of March.

Riband jasper (or ribbon jasper, banded jasper, striped jasper, jasperine) is a jasper with parallel stripes of deep red, brown and cream. Some call it the good luck stone.

Silver leaf jasper, so called after the silver leaf oak, a lovely ornamental tree, has a natural swirling leaf and spot pattern in black, gray and white tones with a warm hue. This gemstone is used to heighten will power and discipline. It promotes peace, quiet and centering, which make it an ideal stone for meditation.

Tiger iron jasper is mined in South-Africa and Western Australia and is mainly colored by iron oxide. It has the characteristic attractive banding of tiger eye, but contains also red jasper and silvery streaks of hematite. It is the stone of creative and physical energy.

Zebra jasper is a creamy white to light brown banded jasper with dark brown streaks. It is said to help balance energy and to allow to see both sides of a situation. It promotes calm and centering, which make it an ideal stone for meditation.

Thank you for choosing your gemstone beads @ http://dunebeads.com/en/jasper-beads-in-plural !

This necklace is composed of open and closed components. The open shapes are incorporated by the use of wire crossings. In no time you will create an impressive necklace and harvest tons of admiration by the simple and elegant technique in which you cross the two wires through the beads.

Challenge:

• The change of direction of the wires in the intersection beads requires that you work meticulously, and that you check each section carefully.

Supplies:

• a unit of closed shapes: Czech glass beads
• three units of 16x16 mm cornflake beads in Zamak
• Czech seed beads 11/0
• 120 cm of 0,28 mm polyethylene thread or cabled stainless steel wire
• a toggle clasp
• if you use cabled wire: 2 crimp tubes, crimp pliers and cutters
• scissors and a beading surface

Instructions for a necklace made with the technique of crossing wires:

• thread the wire through the eye of a section of the toggle clasp
• fold the wire into two in the middle
• attach the clasp with a knot or a crimp tube
• thread both wires together through a square or rectangular bead

• *further on, you will work with each thread separately
• string on each wire 8 Czech seed beads

• then pass one of the threads through a cornflake bead
• add on the same side of the cornflake bead a single seed bead

• implement a crossing of the wires: pass the other wire in opposite direction through both the seed bead and the cornflake bead
• at each side of the beads a thread will appear

• tighten up both threads so that the seed bead of the intersection gets behind the cornflake bead
• string 8 seed beads on each wire
• pass both threads through a square or rectangular bead**
• check if the cornflake bead is neatly in place and if the wires are equally long

SEE - part 2

CONTINUATION: technique of crossing wires

• repeat from * till ** until you have reached the desired length

• attach both threads to the eye of the bar of the toggle clasp
• if you used cabled wire and crimp tubes, pass both threads together through the tube, then through the eye of the bar and back through the crimp tube
• as a consequence, you have four wires strung through the crimp tube before you squeeze it.
• do not forget, these wires need to stay parallel to each other
• enjoy your creation!

Tips:

• you can substitute the metal cornflake beads by ceramic ones or by http://dunebeads.com/en/greek-ceramic-daisy-flower-pendants
• Enjoy your creation ... and choose your favorite beads @ https://dunebeads.com/en/our-beads !

Did you =Like= this article ? Have fun. See you soon!

When you stitch a rather large piece, you may want to work faster and use the flat two-drop even-count peyote, which is a variation on the basic even-count stitch. The two-drop will also change the look of the pattern and a diagonal line in a motif will turn out more abrupt. 
Although you could use seed beads for the peyote stitch it is recommended to use Delica (Miyuki), as the perfect tubular shape of this particular bead will make it easier to gain insight in the thread path.

Challenge:

• Gaining insight into the thread path in order to get used to flat two-drop even-count peyote stitch.

Supplies for a sample :

• Delica 11/0 beads in three colors
• S-lon thread D
• John James needles no. 12
• scissors and a beading surface

Weaving instructions for a sample in two-drop even-count flat peyote

• take a comfortable length of thread, about 1,5 meter
• leave a long tail end, about 15 to 20 cm
• add on a bead in a different color and go twice through it in order to fix the bead, this one will function as your stop bead and is removed later on
• as both the first and second row need to have an even number of pairs, the total number of beads needs to be dividable by 4
• or in other words, pick up a number of beads forming a multiple of 4
• in our sample, we used 16 Delica in two alternating colors in order to form 4 pair of beads for the 1st row and 4 pair for the 2nd row

• to make the U-turn and weave the 3rd row, pick up 2 beads in the 3rd color, skip the previous 2 you picked up and slide your needle through the next 2 beads

• a section is made by picking up 2 new beads, skipping 2 beads and stringing 2 beads
• with each section 2 beads drop a half-height

• continue till the end of the row, to where your needle exits the very first two beads you strung
• which means, the tail thread and the work thread meet each other at the end of row 3

SEE - part 2

CONTINUATION: flat two-drop even-count peyote

• continue till the end of the row, to where your needle exits the very first two beads you strung
• which means, the tail thread and the work thread meet each other at the end of row 3
• keep the tension in your thread by sliding the thread behind your ring finger

• when looking at the top of your workpiece, you will see only two colors, which in this case makes it easy to decide what color you need to add

• to make a U-turn pick up 2 new beads, skip 2 beads and pass the needle through the 2 last beads you added in the previous row

• to end a thread and to start a new one, zigzag through your piece by going through 2 beads at a time
• when finished, remove the stop bead

Enjoy your creation ... and buy your beads @ https://dunebeads.com/en/tiny-beads !

Did you =Like= this article ? Have fun. See you soon!