Search This Blog

June 27, 2015

DIY Miguel Ases Style: Finding a Good Center Bead

Finding Spacer Beads for Ases Style Brick Stitch


So you want to make Miguel Ases style jewelry?  Yeah, me too.  Not sure where to start?  Ah, then I guess I might be able to help.

Since most Miguel Ases designs are done in circular brick stitch, it makes sense to start in the middle, or dead center, which in circular brick stitch is also the beginning.


Here are a few spacer beads - the type of bead I often use as the center.  But some of these are going to work better than others - I'll show you what to look for.

June 25, 2015

Summer Style: Beaded Hair Tie How To

Pony Up With DIY Bead Embroidered Hair Ties


If you haven't noticed - it's getting really, really hot outside! Southern California weather is a dream most of the year except for a couple of summer months when temperatures can soar over one hundred degrees. But it's a dry heat


Today's jewelry making project is hair jewelry - one of my favorites - all about keeping your cool and style at the same time. I've also made wire hair barrettes, but these elastic ones are so convenient to keep around.

I almost always have a hair band on my my wrist - and you have to admit, this looks much nicer than a plain old rubber band. And it's not that hard to make!

June 15, 2015

Knotted and Macrame Necklace: $6 Bead Challenge

Knot working right


It's one of those days. 

Great ideas but nothing seems to be coming out exactly right. But there's enough bright spots to put them out there while I'm doing some re-work on the details.


One thing I especially like is this accent on the macrame bracelet. It's brick stitch with 15/0 beads on the macrame cord.

June 12, 2015

Rectangle Stone Beads - $6 Jewelry Design Challenge

They're here...


Yup, this month's bead order has arrived.  Mainly staples - more seed bead colors, some thread I'd like to try, an assortment or two.  There are always a few impulse buys - things that could go either way.  They could be really cool - or just flat out blah.


Of course, impulse buys are almost always on sale. 3 strands, $2 each makes this month's impulse a $6 investment - thus my $6 Jewelry Design Challenge in the title.

June 06, 2015

Brick Stitch Daisy Flower DIY

If at first you don't succeed


Two for the scrap heap yesterday, one to keep.  But that was a good day!  In the end, I did come up with a design that I'm happy with and one that will make some fantastic jewelry.


Here's my brick stitch daisy flower.  I'm pretty sure the design will translate to other colors and bead shapes - but even if it doesn't, this is pretty fun.  Here's how I got there.

June 03, 2015

Combining Bead Embroidery and Brick Stitch Beadwork

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back


Who knew when I started dabbling in bead embroidery that it would bring me back to my favorite beading stitch - brick stitch?

As I mentioned in my post on Getting Started with Bead Embroidery, my previous bead embroidery works involved covering stains on clothing, not making jewelry.


Here's my latest bauble.  It is a flat shell cabachon, glued to stiff felt backing, with a back stitch bead embroidered bezel (sand color).