Bead Table Wednesday-Crocheted Necklace with Quartz Gemstones from Aunties

Crocheted Quartz Necklace by Bay Moon Design

This Wednesday,  I have a completed a multicolored crocheted necklace that I make before leaving for our 6 week camping trip.  I found these luscious multi-color quartz top drilled nugget beads while cruising through Aunties Beads website.  I noticed there were 20,  5 star reviews  for these beads so I thought I would see what folks said.  In reading one of the reviews, a beader mentioned that these beads were wonderful in a crocheted necklace that she made.  I ran with that idea!  I agree.  The colors remind me of autumn leaves so I added a leaf clasp.

Fall Leaves with shades of pink, orange, and yellow

Aunties Beads has a number of different kinds of quartz beads in addition to the multi-colored ones that I used in this necklace.  They also have a wide variety of other gemstones such as amethyst, carnelian, rose quartz, topaz, agate, tiger's eye, jasper, jade, malachite, obsidian, and turquoise just to name a few.

In the gemstone section of Aunties website, you can find design tips like combining pink quartz with a mocha color bead.  I agree that makes a winning combination.  You can also find the history of some of the gems. 

In addition to great products like their gemstones, Aunties Beads is a terrific resource.  I should know I spend a lot of time shopping online!  Just ask my husband!  He knows too!  The UPS drovers love him, he helps them get lots of overtime with his Amazon Prime shipping. 

Anchors Aweigh Blog Hop

Welcome everyone to the Anchors Aweigh Design Challenge & Blog Hop!  Toltec Jewels is  hosting the Blog Hop with Suburban Girl Studio sapphire blue porcelain art beads.

We had a choice of using either---

Sapphire Anchor Beads

 



 or---

Stormy Seas Beads

 or---both!
I fell in love with these beads several years ago when I first spotted them at the Philadelphia Bead Fest.
I have purchased a number of these since.

BayMoonDesign   Anchors Away Earrings Available for Purchase

This is my lucky pair.  They are published in "Jewelry Stringing Summer 2014".

Anchor spotted in Keys of Florida

Since my daughter and I love to snorkel,  I made her a pair of earrings using the sapphire blue ceramics as a gift.  I designed this pair as a reminder of a special snorkeling trip when we spotted this anchor.

Sapphire Ceramics used in this pair by BayMoonDesign

For this blog hop, I used the sapphire ceramics once again in this new design.

Available for Purchase HERE

 

These ceramics are favorites of mine because they have a nautical theme and I love the ocean!  Living in Lewes, Delaware and Key Largo, Florida, my jewelry designs are influenced by these gorgeous places.  When you look through my shop you can't help but notice this.

Graphic from GraphicStock.com

Sit back with a cool drink and enjoy the blog hop.  We love to read your thoughts so, please leave a comment.

Featured & Honored Artist:        Diana Ptaszynski

Diana's Shop:                           Suburban Girl Beads

Diana's Blogs:                          Suburban Girl Studio

                                                 Art Jewelry Elements

Hostess: TJ                               Jewel School Friends

Bobbie Rafferty                         Beadsong Jewelry

Chris Eisenberg                         Wanderware

Heather Richter                         Desert Jewelry Designs

Michelle McCarthy                    Firefly Design Studio

Kathy Lindemer                         Bay Moon Design

Dini Bruinsma                            Angaza by Changes

Cynthia Machata                       Antiquity Travelers

Kathleen Breeding                     99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Linda Younkman                       Lindy's Designs

Robin Reed                                  Artistry HCBD

Marla Gibson                              Spice Box Designs

Gina Hockett                               Freestyle Elements

Renetha Stanziano                      Lamplight Crafts

Marianne Baxter                          Simply Seablime Jewelry        

Christina Miles                             Wings N Scales

Marybeth Rich                            A Few Words from Within the Pines

Shai Williams                              Shaiha's Ramblings

Cheri Reed                                  Creative Designs by Cheri

Monique Urquhart                      A Half-Baked Notion

Jennifer Reno                             Musings of a Crafty Jenny

Shirley Moore                             Beads and Bread

Tammy Adams                           Paisley Lizard

Melissa Trudinger                       Bead Recipes

Bead Table Wednesday -Love for SuperDuos Began with Aunties Beads Tutorial

 Aunties Beads Wrap Bracelet made with SuperDuos

This Bead Table Wednesday,  I am going to share with you a tutorial and bracelet that are on my beading table.  I have seen folks use SuperDuos beads in projects and loved their look, but I never tried them until I ran across a wrap bracelet tutorial on Aunties Beads website.  These beads are unique because each bead has 2 holes that are parallel to each other.  This bracelet also calls for combining the SuperDuos with seed beads.  Aunties Beads has lots of seed beads to choose from.     With wrap bracelets being so popular, I am increasing the number that I carry in my Etsy shop and also stocking up my inventory for my upcoming Fall craft fairs.

SuperDuos and seed beads come in so many colors that the combinations could be endless. The tutorial calls for a button for the focal  besides the one used as a clasp. Of course a focal bead would work too and in my bracelet I used a ceramic owl focal bead that I had as well as a vintage gold button from my stash.

These Are the Instructions from Instructions from Aunties Beads:

Determine the length of the finished wrap. For instance if you want it to wrap three times, as my sample, than figure 7.5x3=22.5 and add some extra.

You will need to double the amount you determine, so I am going to cut about 50" of beading wire.

String enough 11/0 seed beads to create a loop around your button, I used about 32 beads, let these beads drop to the center of the beading wire.

String a SuperDuo (SD) over both wires and bring it down to the 11/0's.

Repeat this pattern, 11/0 on both wires and SD until you have threaded about 8 1/2"; string on the other button and continue the 11/0-SD pattern for another 12".

When you have reached your end, ending with 11/0's string (1) 11/0 on to both wires together and run the wires up through a crimp bead, wire guardian back down the other side of the wire guardian.

Slip the button shank onto the wire guardian and then run the wires back through the crimp bead.

Make the necessary adjustments to tighten up the work and flat crimp the crimp bead using chain nose pliers.

Trim the excess wire with your nipper tool to complete! 

SuperDuos and Seed Bead Bracelet with Owl focal by BayMoonDesign

Basic Tools and Materials Needed for the Project:
Czech Glass 2.5x5mm SuperDuos, 10 grams - 12grams -Plan on 12 grams so that you have enough
11/0 Seed Beads
Focal of your choice 
Button of your choice
2x2mm Crimp Beads, 1pc
Beadalon 19-strand Wire, 30 ft, .015, Silver
Bent Chain Nose Pliers
Flush Cutter
The website lists some color combinations that you can consider.

Vintage Gold Button used in design by BayMoonDesign

I found the directions on Aunties Beads website easy to follow and I am thrilled with my owl wrap bracelet.  I also discovered some Pinterest resources that you may want to use for other projects.  These resources can also be used to get ideas of how some of the many color combinations look:
Superdrive Bracelets on Pinterest
Super Duo Bracelets on Pinterest 
 Have fun creating!  I would love to see your wrap bracelets!  I would also like to hear what color combinations you like.  

Acorns and Leaves Blog Hop

Autumn Leaf Bracelet by Bay Moon Design

My autumn leaf bracelet is my entry in the Acorn and Leaves Blog Hop sponsored by Moriah Betterly.

Acorn and leaf ceramics by Moriah Betterly

This photo has all of the beautiful ceramics that I received from Moriah Betterly.   I put a penny in the midst of them so you can get an idea of the size of the beads.  For my entry in this contest, I used the leaf bracelet bar and one of the beads with tiny leaves.  I paired these ceramics with copper wire, reddish brown wood beads and agate chips that have complimentary reddish brown and green colors in them.  I made the clasp out of copper wire to complete the bracelet.

Owl and acorn necklace by Bay Moon Design

 In case you are wondering what I did with the rest of the ceramics, I used them in an owl and acorn necklace.  The acorn has a little bit of blue in the glaze so it was perfect with an owl ceramic that I used as the focal.  I also used the remaining 2 ceramic beads with a leaf pattern on them.  I made some brass metal links and created a brass clasp.  I used wood beads in this also.

Autumn leaf bracelet by Bay Moon Design

You can vote for your favorite bracelet on facebook.  I would love for you to vote for Bay Moon Design.  Visit facebook to see the entries.