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! 

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In case you’re interested, now that they're all posted, here are all three parts of this reveal:

Part 1

Part 2 (you are here)

Part 3