Treat Yourself to Fast and Fun Earrings

Timbuktu Earrings by Nela Kábelová

Beaded by Sylvia Abeyta

These pretty earrings work up quickly and easily.  You can also link the square components to make a bracelet.  With our broad selection of Nib-Bits and SuperDuos you have a lot of options to create different looks.  The pattern for the Timbuktu Earrings by Nela Kábelová is available as a FREE download to the public on the Matubo beads "Inspiration" webpage here.  We'll be doing this project at our Friday Happy Hour on 2.2. from 4:30-6:00 PM in Studio Poppy at the shop.  If you can't join us, download yourself and try your local bead shop for supplies.  If you'd like to order this color way, you can click the link for the bead bundle below.  We'll send you the pattern pdf, with your purchase of the beads.  

We're planning a unique 2-week bracelet project for the Happy Hour events that follow this.  So, if you want something quick to "make and take", don't miss the Timbuktu Earrings this Friday. 

Timbuktu Earrings by Nela Kábelová

Supplies Needed

(Available at Poppyfield Bead Co 

and on our e-commerce site here)

Nib-Bits (16)
Matubo 7/0's (8)
SuperDuos (8)
11/0 Japanese Seed Beads (16)
15/0 Japanese Seed Beads (1g)
Jump Rings (2)
Earring Findings
Fireline 
Beading Needle

Valentine's Day Is On The Way

Chi Bracelet by Thomasin Alyxander

Beaded by Sylvia Abeyta

The designer of this week's Happy Hour bracelet sees the Greek letter Chi. I see hugs and kisses (XOXO).  So, Sylvia and I chose this bracelet and worked it up in Valentine colors.  It is fun and easy.  

Chi Bracelet by Thomasin Alyxander

Supplies Needed

(Available at Poppyfield Bead Co 

and on our e-commerce site here)

3-holed Beams (36)
2 mm Fire Polish (16)
8/0 Demi rounds (36)
11/0 Demi rounds (2g)
15/0 Japanese seed beads (1g)
Jump Rings (2)
Clasp
Fireline 4lb

Finally! Kites and Baby Silkies in a Project

Quilted Kite Bracelet by Susan Sassoon
Beaded by Sylvia Abeyta

Often customers come in asking if we will carry this new bead shape or that new bead shape.  With all the new shapes - it can be hard to decide what to buy for the shop, and what to decline, or wait on. One of the fun parts of owning a bead store, is that when I see a bead I love, I just go ahead and order it for the shop.  That's how I feel about Kites and Baby Silkies.  Kites are an obviously cool shape...and the two holes mean lots of pattern options with other 2-holed beads.  Their top to bottom asymmetry and drop-like design, mean they will function nicely in the interior of design, and also bring the eye out to the edge in an interesting way.  I made the decision to get Kites a while back and did have them in our warehouse.  But, what to do with kites?  I've been waiting for some free projects using kites and I've found a really nice one.  Even better, they are paired with Baby Silkies.  

Silkies have been around for a few years, and they are lovely 2-holed beads. They are chunky, textured, and symmetrical, and they are featured in many patterns (both free and for a small cost) out there on the internet. We've used Silkies in many of our Happy Hour projects, and they are very popular.  When Baby Silkies came along, I was sent a free sample by a supplier.  I fell for them. They are just so cute.  I bought them in a lot of colors and have had them available for quite a while.  Everyone agrees that they are cute. But what to do with them?  The patterns using them never materialized.  Well, folks FINALLY!  We have one.  They serve as the corners of each motif in Susan Sassoon's Quilted Kite Bracelet.  In her sample, she matches them to the adjacent Kite beads, so they blend.  I chose a similar color match in our sample shown here.  I think for the next one, I'll try popping the corners with a different colored Baby Silky.  

So treat yourself to the experience of this lovely design using beads you may not have tried yet.  
Also, give yourself another treat... Try a multi-strand clasp with the vertical loops.  You may never go back to the old ones.    

Quilted Kite Bracelet by Susan Sassoon

Supplies Needed

(Available at Poppyfield Bead Co 

and on our e-commerce site here)

 9 x 5 mm Kite Beads color A (40)

9 x 5 mm Kite Beads color B (40)

5 mm Baby Silkies (20)

11/0 Seed Beads (1g)

 4-strand slide clasp

6 lb Fireline

Beading Needle

Necklaces by Puca and Julia

Jeromine Necklace by Puca

Beaded by Julia Hecht

I was thinking about spring and cherry blossoms when I chose the beads for Puca's Jeromine necklace.  It uses her Arcos and Kheops beads for a playful combination of curves (Arcos) with lines and edges (Kheops).  I found this pattern that she shares freely, on Pinterest.  The link to the pattern is here.  Although the text is in French, the pictures are excellent and the design is simple. So, one can do this easily from the original.  For our Happy Hour event on Friday 1.12, I'll provide the English translation.  If you can't join us for Happy Hour, but want the text, you can copy and paste into google translate, like I did.  I am sorry, but due to copyright, I cannot distribute a pdf for this pattern.  

Facet website

 "Rockin' It" in Bead and Button Feb 2018

My Rockin' Blossoms 7-strand kumihimo necklace pattern appears in this month's issue of Bead and Button.  We are currently selling Limited Edition kits on our webstore in the cobalt and copper (original) color way. The cobalt flower buttons are only intermittently available.  So we do sell out from time to time.  The bright copper 3 mm rondelles are no longer made. So, they'll only be a small number of these kits.  I've designed 2 other color ways - an earth tones with bold red/orange accents, and a tropical mix of purples, pinks, and greens.  Kits in these colors will be available soon.  

Seven strand kumihimo has several advantages over the traditional 8-strand round braid.  It is a great way to create a rope with large focal beads.  It is also a speedier way to make a rope.  In addition, because the cords cross at a larger angle, the beads are less likely to slip out from their positions.  There is always an empty spot on the disk, and so one cannot lose her place.  It is always obvious where you left off.  Personally, I think it is a better braid for beginners.  

Jeromine Necklace 

Supplies Needed

Arcos 10g

Kheops 10g

Matubo 7/0 (2 beads)

11/0 Seed Beads

15/0 Seed Beads

**Mini Duos 10g 

Jump Rings

Clasp

Thread

Beading Needle

**I used Unos and 15/0's as drops under the Kheops, instead of mini-duos as Puca shows, because I don't like the empty Duo hole.  If you do this, you will need about 10g of Uno's and 3g of Mini Duos.