Beadweaving with Twin Beads

I started seeing twin and super-duo designs sometime last year - it took me a while to realize that these new seed beads are 2-holed!  Once I realized this, I was enthralled - how could these beads NOT open up the world of beadweaving to new patterns?!  I had to get in on it....

Ordering the beads was the easy part - creating a design that works well with these beads is another matter entirely!  I used some on a strung necklace and just let the long beads dangle, using only 1 of the holes.

Siren's Call Series - Black Shell Pendant

Then I spent a week making and remaking a pair of beadwoven loops.  I thought the design was pretty good at  first, but now I think it's missing something....they look better on a table then in my ears!

Twin Bead Hoops with carnelian drops

Finally I made a pair of earrings that I really do like - these are my "Art Nouveau" pair.  I haven't picked up the duos again since making these....but I do have some ideas to try out when I get the time!

Art Nouveau Earrings with twin beads and agate teardrops

I like playing around with the new beads but sometimes it's nice to just grab some beads and make a piece without so much thinking and restringing and reweaving and redesigning, too!  If you want to grab some twin or duo beads and get into creating a beautiful piece the first time, try some of these tutorials!  Maybe I'll post one after I have more experience with the new beads....

Free Super-Duo and Twin Bead Tutorials:

Preciosa Twin Inspiration - follow the photos for tutorials (not all photos have tutorials)
Bead Magic - Twin Bead Patterns
Around the Beading Table - Free Patterns (several are with twin/superduos)

Clarissa Bracelet - connected mandalas/beaded medallions
Bucles Muchas II - earrings

Pinterest - Twin Patterns (not all patterns are free)
Pinterest - Super Duo and Superduo (not all patterns are free)
Pinterest - Twin and Super Duo (not all patterns are free)

And if you would like to mix these with other 2-hole beads, check out tilas/czech mates (2-hole square beads), 2-hole dagger beads, 2-hole coin beads, and the NEW RULLA BEADS!  I just found the rullas while writing this - they are 2-hole cylinder beads!  So many choices.....

Happy Creating,
PZ

An Etsy Selection: Tree of Life Pendants

I just finished my own humble tree of life pendant - so far mine have been simple samples to show students the basic technique.  Many of the handmade pendants available online look similar with the chip beads and circular frame, but others are works of art!  The quality, unique styling, and gorgeous materials really make some stand out. 


In no particular order, here are a few of my favorites from Etsy (you may follow the link in the titles back to each artist's shop):

 By Purple Bus Studio - Hidden Word Tree of Life Pendant

 By Pheonix Fire Designs - Halloween Moon Tree of Life Pendant

 By Polymer Playin - Tourmaline Tree of Life Pendant

By Moniquerees - Copper Turquoise Tree of Life Pendant

 

 By Carrie Eastwood - Swarovski Tree of Life Pendant

By Rachel's Wire Garden - Citrine Tree of Life Pendant

 

 By Our Front Yard - Heart Tree of Life Pendant

There are many more awesome designs out there - it would take pages to show them all in a single post!  If you want to see more, search on Pinterest for a beautiful visual collection.

Happy Creating,
PZ

In Search of a Cookie Jar....

I no longer remember what my original search was, but I started searching for handmade cookie jars.  Why?  Because my house doesn't have one!  What!??!?!  I know, crazy what with the holidays around the corner.....

So I went off to Etsy and began searching.  I thought a cute one would be, well, cute and loved by my children, but then I thought about a beautiful one that would add to the overall kitchen decor.  These are what I found, in no particular order:

(follow the linked titles below each image to go to the artists' shops)

Earthworks Ceramics

Symmetrical Pottery

 Artifactorium

 Golden Apple Pottery

The Black Dog Pottery

 Tamarack Stoneware

Lauren Smith Pottery

 

Brent Smith Pottery

 

Rolled Oats Pottery

Fire N Flux Handmade

I'm still unsure which one I'll go with - they come in such different sizes and such lovely patterns!  I was surprised to only find one character jar in the handmade category, but that monster is cute!  I also found a nice selection of home decor pottery, but that is for another day.....

Happy Hunting!
PZ