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