Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Miyuki Triangles

The Miyuki Triangles come in 52 different colors in each size.  Many of the colors are available in multiple sizes.  My daughter-in-law's birthday was this past weekend, so as a gift, I made another bracelet using the Triangle beads.  This time I used size 5/0 Triangles,5TR1833 ICL Light Rose/Dark Rose to make another cuff bracelet.   Again I used the 3-drop Peyote stitch to make a very interesting texture in this cuff.




This time I used one of the Red Bronze clasps, since it complimented the red Triangles so nicely.....



Here is the whole bracelet...



This time I added matching earrings using the size 8/0 Triangles and Red Gold earring wires.....


Here is the complete set.


I have yet to be disappointed with any of the Miyuki Triangles and any application I have attempted.  I just can't seem to get enough of these Triangles!  LOL



Happy Beading!

Betsy
  

Saturday, July 17, 2010

A Look Inside Red Panda

When Red Panda Beads started selling beads just over 3 years ago, it started out really small.  Over the months the business grew and after a year, we realized that we needed dedicated bead space.  LOL!  So after evaluating, we decided to convert our living room into my bead office.  We never really used our living room anyway, so it is a much better use of the space.  We began by clearing out the furniture and tearing up the carpet.  We installed hard wood floor (much harder task that we thought it would be).

Here is a shot of my office.  It is much deeper than it appears in this photo.


Once you step into my office, to the immediate right is a book case.



When not in use, looms are stored in the center section of the book case.....



Here is a view of my desk top ~ this is where I blog.....  And when answering emails, this is where I'm sitting....



To the right of the desk is the L shaped measuring/packing station.  This quality desk was made in Canada.....



In the center of my office is a work table.  This is a good set up to photograph all the Red Panda Beads products.....



The table is also handy for bead projects....




Here is one of the Bead Smith Bead Mat Trays, these things are great.... I don't know how I ever survived without these......

To the left of my computer desk is a cork board with handy info.  Above that is a photo of my great, great, grandfather.



Here's a close up view of the measuring scale set up.....



All the various baggies are pre-labeled and waiting to be filled with carefully measured beads......



We also purchased specialty bead cabinets from Canada.  They work great to store all the Red Panda bead inventory.


Two of my son's prints decorate one wall....


And a treasured oil painting that has been in the family for decades is on the other wall....


And of course the photo that inspired Red Panda Beads.....

One pressing business concern persisted for months.....


When the office was new, Chewie was investigating everything and my husband put in him in the chair for fun - now he thinks the chair is his!

But I'm happy to report he has finally adjusted to life in his bed.....


He sleeps at the foot of the book case.

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into the world of Red Panda.  Now when you order beads, you'll know where the cabinets came from that store the beads, the scale that was used to measure the beads and the computer that was used to print the mailing label!



Happy Beading!

Betsy

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

8/0 Miyuki Triangles



Have I already said that I just love the Miyuki Triangles?  Well, it is worth repeating!  The colors are fabulous!  My latest experiment with Miyuki Triangles used size 8/0 Triangles.  I love this green color


The green really flashes in the light!  Again I went with my favorite 3-drop Peyote - but I mixed it up a bit this time.  

I found these lovely spacer links....


I bought both the topaz and green ones.  Here you can see the topaz ones.  There are two holes on each end of the link.  So I did two strands of the 3-drop Peyote to connect the spacers.


Here is the underside of the spacer.  You can see where the beads go through the spacer holes.


I chose to use the Triangle beads to make the clasp this time.  Here is the toggle....



You can really see the light sparkle in the Triangle beads.

Here is the loop end....



Here is the closed clasp.....



This was a fun pattern to create.  I knew I had to use the flashy spacers and it just came together so easily.  I love all three pieces that I've made with Miyuki Triangles and can't wait to get going on my next project.  The Triangles have such a nice texture to them when used in Peyote and the colors are so gorgeous, I just can't resist their call.....



Happy Beading!

Betsy 

Monday, July 5, 2010

Abalone Focal Bracelet made with Miyuki 10/0 Triangles

Miyuki has three sizes in their Triangles.  The largest size 5/0 was used in my last cuff bracelet.  The next smaller size is 8/0 and the smallest triangles are the 10/0 triangles.  I chose these to use in my latest project.  Another cuff bracelet in done in Peyote 3-drop.  


I chose 10TR1830 - it is a rich blue that sparkles in the light.


The width of this bracelet is 7/8ths of an inch.  I chose an abalone pendant as the clasp that is the same width.  It came pre-drilled with a hole at one end.  I used my trusty Dremel to drill a second matching hole at the other end.


I attached the bracelet to one hole with more of the 10TR1830 triangles as spacers.  Then I used matching 8TR1830 beads to make a triangle to use to secure the clasp.  Here is a side view of the pendant as it is modified to be a clasp.  


Next I added a loop at the other end of the bracelet to complete the clasp.


This bracelet is designed to wear the clasp on top, where the  beautiful abalone pendant can be appreciated.


I love these colors together.  The abalone pendant makes a very nice focal piece for this bracelet.  The Miyuki Triangles, in all the sizes are proving to be versatile and the rich colors are a definite must have when designing jewelry!


Happy Beading!

Betsy  


Saturday, July 3, 2010

A different kind of Cross Stitch - Beaded Cross Stitch

Lee is not a typical Red Panda Beads customer.  She buys her beads to use in her needle work.  She recently finished a 25 year anniversary piece in cross stitch.  Of course the 25th anniversary is the silver one, so she had to use silver in her piece.  She started out with ecru Aida that had silver thread woven through it.


Then she added her stitches... 


Some of the stitches she added Miyuki Delica beads.  She used silver metallic and silver beads.  She even used some of the new anti-tarnish DB551 beads from Miyuki.  You can see some of the beads highlighting the 25 in her piece.


She added beads in the decorations above and below the message.


Here is the finished piece.  I'm sure this will be a treasured gift for years to come.

Thanks so much Lee for sharing your unique bead art!


Happy Beading!

Betsy