Wonder and Whimsy May 2025 Reveal: Diamond Tessellations, Part 2

Hurray, it's time for Part 2 of my Monthly Challenge Reveal!

In the first part of this reveal--seen here--I showed some bracelets I made using some tutorials and kits I found on the internet. Those pieces were all inspired by--of all things--a chair:

Now, for Part 2, I want to show off a few things that I made from my own patterns--yes, ones that I created--using the tips and tricks that I learned while making the tutorials.

So! First up, we have a design that was inspired by my husband. You see, when he first looked at the chair, this is the pattern that he saw:

The three little diamonds together, making something that looks like three sides of a cube.

In all my internet searching, I could not find a design that really focused on this element and this element alone. So, I made one up!

After quite a bit of trial and error, this is what I came up with:

I am so incredibly proud of this little bracelet. I figured out a reasonable thread path, I figured out a way to add a clasp, and I figured out how to join the little elements together.

And, here's a secret: it was actually meant to be a prototype. I picked contrasting colors so that it was easier to follow what I was doing, and ended up liking it so much I made it into a complete thing. I am very pleased!

And then I decided to take it one step further.

I decided to use that same pattern and make a necklace. After all, I have been making a lot of bracelets for this reveal--and I don't even wear bracelets.

So! Here is the necklace version--made in non-prototype colors:

Special added touch: the chain is made of a series of little brass diamond links. Diamonds, diamonds, everywhere!

Now, I wish I could have made it longer, to go all the way around, but it wouldn't lay just right--the curve doesn't quite work for a necklace curve. So! I'm glad I had chain as an option.

I plan on playing around with this style even more--I have a lot of GemDuos left, after all. I'm just so pleased to be able to come up with my own thing, now that I know how they work!

Next up: another starburst element! 

Remember that I said I wanted to play more with the starburst element found in the Danielle Wickes Polonia bracelet kit? After snooping around a little bit, I found a place to buy the side-beads, and created this beauty:

...Yes, even complete with a chainmaille/scalemaille dangle.

I don't know if you can quite tell, but the starburst is actually made of two different colors of GemDuos: two different shades of blue. I thought it might add some depth and shadow to the piece. I really like how it turned out!

I have enough of those silver beads to make one more necklace like this... I wonder what colors I should go for next? As it is, I know I'll wear the blue a lot!

...And now, we have reached the unfinished part of this reveal. 

I have two more things to share, but they are not done. Try as I may, I could not get them finished up in time. (My elbow started to hurt a little, and I've learned to rest when that happens.) These pieces are made with more odd count peyote stitch--except this time, I made up the patterns.

Here is Pattern 1, in two color schemes because I can't decide which I like better. I based it off the little cube element I showed earlier:

Here is as far as I've gotten, stitch-wise:

...I admit that, in this case, I stopped because: 1. I wasn't sold on either color pattern, and 2. I'm really not convinced those are actual Miyuki delicas. I bought that set off of Amazon, and they're not near as uniform or lovely as the ones from my earlier reveal (which were from LimaBeads). So, lesson learned, I suppose. Only buy Miyuki Delicas from reputable bead stores that have a good understanding of seed beads. Amazon sellers are not always to be trusted.

Anyway! Here is Pattern 2:

I based this one off of the same six-pointed starburst motif that has been showing up in some of my other pieces. 

Here is as far as I've gotten with that:

...I'm also not convinced that those are Miyuki Delicas either, but at least they're better than the previous set. They were purchased at the same time. Ah well. Still, I am much more pleased with how this piece is coming along... I need to do another inch and a half, and I'll be done! I'll try to remember to post a finished picture when it's all wrapped up.

So... ta-da! That was Part 2 of this reveal. 

But wait, there's more! Part 3 will be posted tomorrow. Both Parts 1 and 2 have been dedicated to seed beads and other forms of bead-weaving... Part 3 will focus on some materials I'm more familiar with: wire, charms, and beads over 2mm! They are a bit more "inspired by" diamond tessellations rather than literal representations, but I still think they're pretty cool.

Come back tomorrow for Part 3! 

Wonder and Whimsy May 2025 Reveal: Diamond Tessellations, Part 1

 Guess what day it is? That’s right: it’s reveal day!

This month’s challenge was incredibly inspiring. For such a simple inspiration (literally just the back of a YMCA chair), I had an incredible surge of ideas. So many, in fact, that I’m going to break this reveal up into a few different blog posts over the course of today and tomorrow. Hopefully you don’t mind… I just thought that might be the best way to show off what I made.

And now, without any further ado, let’s get started!

As a reminder, here is the inspiration chair in question:

...and here is a close-up of the back:

Such cool diamond tessellations!

Now, when I saw the chair, I immediately thought of the two-holed Czech glass beads called GemDuos. They look like this:

Not my picture! This photo is from Beadaholique.

See? They are exactly the same shape as the little diamond elements you see in the chair!

However, I had never used them before. I was not incredibly familiar with how to work with two-holed beads—specifically, the best thread paths to use with them. Just a little bit of playing around showed me that following someone else’s instructions might be helpful, at least to start.

So I actually went online and found three different tutorials/kits that I wanted to try. 

The first two things I made were inspired by this particular pattern you can see in the chair:

For the first piece, I used this tutorial for the “Gina” bracelet, developed by Yuliya Abelovich. I found it on Etsy; her store name is WonderfulJewelryShop. 

This is the final result:

See? It's just like in the chair! Isn't that neat?

I will say that, since this is the very first piece I made for this challenge--and the very first thing I've made with GemDuos ever--it is a little sloppy. If I were to do it again, I would definitely adjust my tension and make it a little tighter. While I was making it, I thought it was tight, but more trial and error has shown me that I could do better.

Still, not bad for my first time playing with these cool new beads! I'm pretty dang pleased.

For the second piece inspired by this particular design element, I used a kit put together by Danielle Wickes for her Polonia Bracelet. (I think I may have actually purchased the last kit; the directions can be seen here.) I fell in love, and immediately wanted to try it. 

It was quick to put together, and I honestly love the result:

Aren't those two-colored GemDuos fun? And I am completely enamored with those golden beads... I definitely want to play with this simple starburst more!

Thank you to Danielle for putting together such a lovely kit! 

Now, that starburst is the first design that I saw when I looked at the chair... but it's definitely not the last. 

The second pattern that I was inspired by was this one:

The tutorial I found to match this was from Potomac Beads… specifically the Floral Quartet bracelet tutorial (found here). I think it matches pretty perfectly:

I particularly like the bead frames, which very much remind me very much of the same frame-shapes you see on the chair. I found them on PotomacBeads, and they were pretty easy to use. I will definitely be using them again!

Now, those three pieces alone would be enough for this reveal. However, I have one more that I want to share that fits the "used a pattern or tutorial from someone else" criteria.

You see, while I was rooting around, looking for tutorials, I also found this diamond-inspired peyote pattern from Beadaholique. It was odd count peyote, which is something I’ve been wanting to try, so I gave it a whirl. After all, it features diamonds—and, in this challenge, repeated diamond patterns are the star of the show!

Here is how it turned out:

Oh, and the colors? Since this whole thing was YMCA-inspired, I decided to make this pattern in the colors of the Greater Cincinnati YMCA.

Odd count peyote was not nearly as intimidating as I thought it would be... in fact, after doing one section of the bracelet I didn't even need the pattern anymore. I love the way that Miyuki delicas just click into place, so I know for a fact I'll be doing more!

So, ta-da! Those are the pieces I made for Part 1 of this reveal. Those are all things that I made using other people’s patterns. For the next part of the reveal, you get to see what I made when I took my new tool set and made up my own patterns! Wheee!

Thanks so much for stopping by... keep an eye out for Part 2!

Wednesday's Worktable: Sneak Peak... and Sushi!

This is the week of a challenge reveal! In just a few days, on Friday, I get to show off what I've made for my Diamond Tessellations challenge. 

...That also happens to mean that my current worktable is covered with projects that I'm attempting to finish up in time. I actually have quite a bit to share--and I am debating doing a few separate posts to showcase them all--but that doesn't stop me from wanting to make just one more thing. I certainly haven't been lacking in ideas for this challenge! 

As a bit of a sneak peak, one of those projects involves these beads:

...and that's all I'm saying about it for now! You'll have to come back on Friday to see what I made. (How's that for incentive? Hah.)

But, just because I don't want this entry to be disappointing, I have one more thing to share. Here are the earrings that I finished using last Wednesday's sushi beads!

And here I am wearing them:

I hardly ever share pictures of myself, so there you go. Don't get used to it. ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! It's always fun to share what I'm working on--or, at least, hinting at it. See you on Friday, when I get to share all of my Diamond Tessellation creations!

Until then, have a lovely week everyone!

Wednesday's Worktable: A Tale of Migraines and... Sushi?

I've been battling a pretty nasty migraine for the last several days, so I don't really have much to show for this week. I've spent more time staring at the ceiling than doing any creating. Bleh.

Still, I'm definitely on the mend (yay!), so here's what I'm looking forward to working with the next time I'm able to sit down and bead:

Yep... those are whimsical silicone sushi beads. I have plans to make them into earrings--and, if I'm honest, probably a tassel necklace. I'm silly like that.

Something happy to look forward to. Hopefully I'm feeling up to playing soon. 

Thanks for stopping by today... Have a wonderful (hopefully migraine-free) day, everyone!

Rainy Day in May - Surprise Reveal! Woohoo!

Hello everyone!

I have another finished project to share... woohoo! I'm on a roll, getting things done and cleared off my beading table. It definitely feels good.

So, what am I showing today?

Well, frequent visitors to my blog might recognize this little mix:

That's right... It's what I shared for my Wednesday Worktable on May 7th. 

In case you missed that entry, I essentially gave myself a little mini-challenge to create a necklace using only beads from last month's Jesse James Mystery Bead Box. That includes both the beads seen above, and the beads seen below:

I am happy to report: I did it!

And without further ado... here it is! The piece that I'm calling my Rainy Day in May necklace!

Some features of this necklace: 

• The tassel design is actually asymmetrical... most of the tassel strands are different, with very few repeats.
• The necklace chain is also asymmetrical... the length of chain is different between each beaded section.
• Everything is from the Mystery Bead Box except for the chain, the seed beads (which were still from Jesse James Beads), and the tassel's bead cap.

I am really happy with how this design turned out. It's been awhile since I've made a strung tassel like this one, and it was fun revisiting this style. I also liked how everything looks like it's flowing... the asymmetrical design really adds to the organic, falling-rain feeling.

So, there you go. Thanks for stopping by today. See you on Wednesday!

Until then, have a wonderful day, everyone!