New Tool - Quick Start Peyote Card

iKandies was able to attend Beadfest Philliadelphia this year and we had a ball!  Checking out all the vendors' offerings, attending classes, looking at new products - it was a busy three days. While browsing the show floor, iKandies was drawn to a demonstration of Deb Moffett-Hall's Quick Start Peyote Cards.   If you've ever worked with Peyote stitch you know why this would catch our eyes.

Several weeks prior to the show we started to make Fusion Bead's "Harlequin Bracelet" but had difficulty getting it going.  It's that pesky Peyote stitch! The Quick Start Peyote Card eliminates the confusion that we often have while stringing the first three rows.

The cards come in several sizes that match the size seed bead to be used - 15, 11, 8, and 6.  iKandies purchased the Combo pack so we could try it out with any size seed bead.

The cards are made of "durable laminated material".  They look like they would hold up well, but we were also told we could use them as templates and make new cards should we need them.

Our first attempt at using the card with size 11 beads went well.  As the beads are strung, they fall into small "slots" that are formed when the cards are folded.  This keeps the beads evenly spaced and makes for quick "pickup" when adding the next row.    Detailed directions and diagrams are provided and they are easy to follow.  Instructions are given for even count and odd count peyote.

iKandies can see where this will be a huge help in getting this bracelet project off the ground. We'll post the finished project and the rest of our review at a future date.

New Items for Jewelry Design

It's a new year and time to restock our bead supply!  IKandies has been shopping at some of our favorite shops and look what we found!  This stash includes antique copper, Czech picasso finish glass beads, mushroom button glass beads, Miyuki magatama beads, and African turquoise to name a few.

The design possibilities are endless, but what would you do with these mushroom beads? Or these picasso finish glass beads?                                                                                                                                  IKandies found an interesting bracelet design using magatama beads in a Kumihimo braid.  Never heard of magatamas?  Created by Miyuki the manufacturer of Delica seed beads, these beads have a drop-like shape resembling a small petal, with an off-center hole.  Often used for trim work and embellishment, they sit at a slight angle and add interest to your design. 

When we finish our designs we'll be sure to post them here on our blog and let you decide if we made a good choice!

Get Ready for 2012 Colors!

Here at iKandies we LOVE color!  So we've consulted the Pantone color website to see what colors are in store for 2012.  We found that the color of the year is Tangerine Tango. 

This color is described on Pantone's website as a " a spirited reddish orange" which provides "the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward."

Orange has become a more popular color in fashion over the past few years, not only in clothing but also in cosmetics.  Tangerine Tango can be used as a complementary color for blue or green eyes. 

Pantone's color report for Spring 2012 includes Tangerine Tango, Solar Power, Cabaret, Bellflower, and Sodalite Blue.  These neon colors mix with the soft pastel shades of Cockatoo, Sweet Lilac, Starfish, Driftwood and Margarita.  You can see all of these colors on Pantone's website.

Pantone is known as the originator of a color system that identifies, matches and communicates colors to solve problems that often occur when producing accurate color matches.  Pantone is known world wide for their color matching system not only in the fashion industry but also in digital technology.

iKandies has been inspired by it's investigation of Pantone's color system.  While browsing a bead supplier's website recently, we found a Czech glass and seed bead mix that includes colors similar to Tangerine Tango.  The order has been placed with Auntie's Beads and we're anxiously awaiting delivery so we can begin creating our first design for spring!  

Tell us what you think of this bead mix!

iKandies is blogging again!

Well, it's been a long time since I posted on iKandies Beads on the Block blog. Been working on our website and Etsy site, and boy, did they need a remake!  Our website, iKandies, has been reduced to just a few informational pages.  A sample of our jewelry designs that are for sale appear on the home page but traffic is being redirected to our Etsy site.  The iKandies site provides information about our company, our designers and our shop policies.  We also feature new designs we've added to the Etsy site. 
   Over 60 items are now available for sale on our Etsy site.  We've added newer, more descriptive photos of our designs.  We are featuring a sale at least once a month and are offering special coupons for first time buyers once they make a purchase. 

Abalone and Sterling Necklace

Fall Acrylic Necklace

Here's a sample of two of our newer listings:






We plan to add new items on a regular basis so please visit  iKandies and our Etsy shop today!

About Our Designers... Jill's Designs

Crochet Hook + Seed Beads = Bead Crochet?


Watermelon Seed Necklace

Crochet with beads?   That's right!  And Jill, one of ikandies' designers and my sister-in-law, has become an expert at it.  She picked up the technique for her "Watermelon Seed Necklace" by watching Karla Shafer of Auntie's Beads demonstrate how to add beads to wire and crochet a simple necklace.  Jill strung Swarovski crystals in greens and pinks on green artistic wire and joined several crocheted stands together to create this piece.

She also learned how to crochet seed beads into a rope-like necklace that gently spirals the length of the rope. Jill used turquoise, black and cream colored seed beads to fashion her "Twisted Turquoise" necklace, shown below:

Twisted Turquoise



Green Wave Bracelet

Jill has found "Karla Cams" on the Auntie's Beads website very helpful in learning other techniques, such as the two-row flat spiral stitch.  She used that to creative this beautiful bracelet in seed beads and crystals:

Jill looks for beads at local stores and various Internet sites but prefers to purchase her beads from Auntie's Beads or Fusion Beads.

Jill has attended the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee and taken classes in metal working and lampworking.  Here's Jill in her "workshop" dreaming of another project...