Lost in the Land of Beads

It's been a while since I've updated this blog and I have been busy. As I was sharing in my previous post about my back pain and it lasted longer than I thought. While I was sitting in the "Lazy Boy" chair which was the only place I could find some relief bored and not able to knit I had some beads near by and some yarn. I decided that maybe I could just string beads and maybe crochet something. Crocheting is a different movement than knitting.

I happen to have a ball of Noro Sock Yarn and 6 /0= 4.0mm ("e" beads) that I could reach. Slowly one by one I started to string the beads on to the yarn. Then I started to crochet chain one bring one bead down and the next thing I knew I had a bracelet. And so started the slippery slope or black rabbit hole of beading.

This necklace I call the "4th of July" for obvious reasons (next weekend is the 4th of July holiday). What I did here is crocheted around and existing leather necklace with a hook and chain fastener. Then I started to add beads, lots of lots of beads. Oh my who knew I loved doing this and am very pleased with the outcome.

Here is a video I watched and was inspired by:

Seed beads I love seed beads, I need more seed beads. My friend Brenda sent me a list of shops down town Los Angeles, now when to get the time to go.

Here are some of the shops that I like to go to, for beads:

1.) Athenian Fashions Main Store

820 S Maple St
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 623-1289

Athenian Fashions Annex Store

416 E. 8^th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90014

213-489-2237

2.) Bohemian Crystal/The Bead Factory

810 & 812 So Maple Street

Los Angeles, CA 90014

213-627-9553

(This is the place with the big bags of seed beads)

3. Beads & More

800 So. Maple Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90014

213-955-9000

4.) Shenoute

813 Maple Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90014

323-305-7051

5.) Berger Beads

Berger Specialty Co. Inc.
413 E. 8th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Phone: (213) 627-8783

FYI

(I often put up information so if I need to access this stuff I can search my blog and it may help some of my friends to access the information I gather.)

Seed beads sizes are stated in aughts, (not millimeters) ~ as strung beads per 20 mm or 3/4 inch length.
The higher the number, the smaller the bead.

Conversions from aughts to millimeters, large to small:

1 /0= 6.5mm
2 /0= 6.0mm
3 /0= 5.5mm (pony beads, crow, roller)
4 /0= 5.0mm
5 /0= 4.5mm
6 /0= 4.0mm (popular "e" bead)
7 /0= 3.4mm
8 /0= 3.1mm
9 /0= 2.7mm
10 /0= 2.3mm
11 /0= 2.1mm
12 /0= 1.9mm
13 /0= 1.7mm
14 /0= 1.6mm
15 /0= 1.5mm
16 /0= 1.3mm
17 /0= 1.2mm
18 /0=1.1mm
20 /0=1.0mm

3/0 beads would be 4 per inch,
about 1/4 inch thick each.
(Crow rollers, pony beads)

6/0 beads would be about 8 per inch,
or 1/8 inch thick each.
(The popular "e" bead)

15/0 beads would be 18 per inch,
1/18 inch thick each. (Tiny)

Just remember, the higher the number, the smaller the bead!

How to slow down my knitting

Slow it way way down..... actually I've been in so much back pain that I could not even knit! My dear husband remarked "You must really be sick you are not even knitting". I was doing some yard work and pulling some weeds, cutting some bamboo and actually having a great time out in the yard. The weather was great I was full of energy and Lucy by my side helping me dig we had a terrific time. This is the "growing" season for my Hawaiian Golden Bamboo and as you might guess it's growing like crazy. I love the way it looks and it serves a a natural "high" fence. The next day I was flat on my back and could not move from the pain.

Oh why did I do that? Oh it was not worth it! I'm never doing that again! Now I just have to wait to get better. It's a slow process but I am on the mend.

Soon I'll update my progress on my latest project the "Red Neck" sweater.