Cellini Spiral Bracelet

In 2010, at the Puget Sound Bead Show, everywhere I went I kept seeing these wonderful crocheted bracelets.  So, after the show, I spent the entire summer trying to learn how to crochet so I could make one.  Well, it seemed I did okay until I went to bed and then I forgot everything I learned.  So I tried again, and again, and again, and yet again.

Finally, I realized that I could do almost the identical look in tubular peyote.  Then, if I used different size seed beads ... oh my gosh ... I could make these fabulous undulating, crochet looking things, and I didn't  even have to know how to crochet.  It wasn't until later that I discovered that this technique was called a Cellini Spiral and it has become one of my favorite stitches.  

When Barb and I traveled to Florence, Italy in 2011, we ran across the bust of Benvenuto Cellini on the  Ponte Vecchio bridge.  Cellini was a great jewelry artist and sculptor.  Barb does not have fond memories of this bracelet.  In fact, for some reason the mere sight of this statue  brought tears to her eyes.

 I, on the other hand, love this stitch and even like beading them on trips. I only need to take 3 or 4 tubes of beads, a needle and thread and - since it's the same stitch over and over - long plane trips become much more tolerable.  So here are some of my favorite completed projects (as well as examples from others).

This one beaded with 6/0 seed beads in burgundy,
 a size 8/0,  two size 11/0's (all in pink tones),
 and a 15/0 in metallic blue

Here I used 4mm Czech fire polish,
 a size 8/0, and two colors 
of size 11/0 seed beads.

I love blacks, so had to make two.

I love teal and turquoise even more - 
so actually have three but didn't
 have photos of the third one.

This one belongs to Jennifer and she made
 her's thinner with a size 8/0 as the largest bead.
  Notice she used a clasp instead of creating a bangle.

If you would like to try this, here is a great pattern by Elena Nazarchuk.  I couldn't get the link to work on my tablet (remember I'm traveling) so am just putting this here for now,  I also have a video - with same problem - so will not add that now but will fix both of these later.  


A pattern  by Elena Nazarchuk



U need seed beads:

Long Magatama Drops

Saturday, September 15th is the last day of Bead Street's Moving sale.  More information about a new location will be posted in the next couple of months. 

Included in this sale are the 4 by 7mm Long Magatama drops.  And about a dozen new colors in Sherbets (think sorbet, frozen yogurt with berries), matte pastels and matte metallics.  Here are some ideas and a couple of tutorials on using them.


Beautiful bracelet created by Deb.
She used a magnet clasp so that it looks continuous.
From Super Beadwork, Feb/March 2011



Long Magatama Spiral Stitch Bracelet




Another version using one of the new colors
 and a vintage button



For instructions on how to do this bracelet,  
click this link Spiral Stitch



Here is another free pattern for an Embellished Ladder Stitch Bracelet using these Magatama drops  written by Amadeuslila and Zuzzl.

Triple Spiral Class

This is the end of January and now my hope for 2012 is that the next few months are better than the first month.  It was just a few weeks ago that I said ".. I have plenty of pain pills and I'm not using Depends - so in my mind, life is good."  Well folks,  last week sucked.

Somehow I managed to hurt my hip and was in excruciating pain (I actually thought I had broken it) and I couldn't get out of bed.  Once I had help getting out of bed, I couldn't sit or get back into bed. I know you've heard this before - but it's worth repeating - I have the best customers in the world.  Thank you, thank you, thank you - to everyone who offered to work in the store, shop for groceries, lift packages up off the floor, pick up prescriptions and of course - inventory beads.  Also, many thanks for all the prayers and good wishes. 

I'm now on the mend and getting back to scheduling classes and updating this blog. I have updated the calendar for February and March - check out 'Classes' in the top header.  I'll also be posting photos of the new classes in the next few days. 

Here are photos of Saturdays "Triple Spiral" class.  Probably not a beginner class - but if you have beaded some and are handy with a needle, you can handle this.  Nancy is such a great instructor and has a way of making complicated projects much easier.  The project won't be completed in class but you will learn the spiral, double spiral and then a triple spiral stitch.    Cost is $15 and you will need to bring seedbeads in sizes 11/0, 8/0, and 6/0, and maybe some drops, crystals or small fire polish beads.  If you are used to using size 15's - you can bring those as well.   We have a couple of seats still available, so if interested, let us know.

Triple spiral necklace beaded by Masoumeh

Triple Spiral

One of the new classes we are doing.  This is being taught by Nancy-Sathre Vogel.  She is one of the few people out there that knows every bead stitch there is and some she may have created herself. Nancy's work  has been published in Belle Amour, Beadwork, and Bead and Button.

This is called a triple spiral and students were both excited and challenged

and absolutely loved the class.  I think these were beaded

by Massomeh.  Aren't they beautiful!  The last photo

is my favorite - maybe she'll let me borrow it??