Handmade Crocheted Beads - great supply for jewelry projects

One of most popular product in my Etsy shop is crocheted beads. So I decided to tell a bit about these beads in my blog. :)

What are they made of? 
These beads are natural and are made by covering wood beads with crochet thread. Wood beads I use for them are unfinished - they don't have any varnish, they are no dyed or otherwise modified - it's just pure wood shape with drilled hole. Of course, I don;t make them myself, although I have idea of getting small turner's bench and making them myself. But it's just dream for now.

Wood beads I use for making crocheted beads -
You can find them in my shop also :)

But  let's return to the beads. I cover these beads with crochet thread - I use 100% cotton thread,  also natural material. I started with few colour choices, and now I can offer more than 60 different colours. But those beads can be made also with different type yarns - linen or wool, if You want something natural, or acrylic, if You have allergies to natural yarns.

These are 22 mm crocheted beads (cotton thread)

And these are 22 mm beads made with acrylic yarn.

How large are they?
I have different size beads - starting from tiny ones (~11-12 mm) up to 32 mm large ones.

Tiny crocheted beads - 12 mm

And large ones - 27 mm

Where can they be used? 
Crocheted beads are wonderful source for different jewelry projects.
Most popular is teething or nursing necklaces - if You are Mom, You definitely know, how hard it is to wear any jewelry, when You are with baby - they love to touch everything, chew everything, play with everything. So nursing necklaces are great accessories for Moms - they looks wonderful and are safe for babies to chew, to play with - also they are easy to clean. And they are made of.... You are absolutely right - they are made of crocheted beads and plain wood beads.

Crocheted nursing necklace.
Larger beads are 27 mm, smaller 20 mm. Size of uncovered beads are 20 mm and 18 mm.
Length of the cord is ~ 1 yard (90 cm). It is also crocheted cotton cord.

But, of course, these crocheted beads can be used also in other jewelry pieces - simple earrings will add special touch to Your look, bracelet will look very cool, too. Or necklace... By the way, hre is my favorite - I made it for sale, look at it... and made one more - for myself :)

My favorite necklace :)

Where can You get them? 
Well, You can make them Yourself - there are plenty of videos on Youtube with tutorials, how to make them (o.k., I just checked - there are not plenty of them, but still You can find something useful there :) ). Also there can written tutorials and photo tutorials - just google...

Or You can send me a note and I can make them for You! (yes, I know this was shameless self promotion :) ).

So, if You've decided, that You want some cute crocheted beads, You can do one of the following:
A) visit my shop www.kikamoracrafts.etsy.com - look at everything I have and make order! Special offer to those, who have found this post and read it :) Here is coupon code for You - BEADS7 ! All September You can get 7% discount on Your purchases (and it does include everything I have in shop), if it's larger than 15$. 

B) send me a note to sales @ kikamoracrafts. com  (when sending me e-mail, take out all empty spaces in address) with Your wishes.

Here are colours You can choose:

 As for price - it depends on bead size and amount - more You buy, less You pay per bead :)

Do You like peacocks?

One of my crocheted bird applique was included in a beautiful collection on Artfire. Theme - Eye of the Peacock. Curated by LotusBeads (btw, if You need cool beads, You can find wide variety of them in her shop).

Eye of the Peacock

Curated By: LotusBeads

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Photography

July sale on kikamoracrafts.etsy.com - 10% off with coupon code

For those who like discounts (well, who don't like them... ;) ) - just in July I'm offering 10% discount on purchases larger than 15$ in my Etsy shop - just use coupon code July10 at the checkout!

(and, by the way, until 20th of July I'm running sale with 10% discount so, if You purchase something till 20th July, and purchase is larger than 15$, You get 20% discount! Doesn't it sound great?)

So... May be You need some crocheted beads for fancy earrings or baby teething toy? 

Crocheted beads in different sizes on
www.kikamoracrafts.etsy.com

 

Or may be Your summer beach bag needs some refreshing accent - like these appliques: 

And, of course, if You have fashion doll collection, Your girls definitely need some new jewelry: 

So feel free to browse and may be You will find something You really, really want :)

My own domain name!

At last I have my own domain name.

Yay! Now crochetery.blogspot.com becomes 

 www.kikamoracrafts.com

New outfits for Monster High dolls

This month I tried to pay attention to my Monster High dolls. There were two reasons for this. First - I have more of Monster High than I should (but less than I would like to have). They have different skntones, different hair color and hairstyle... So every outfit I make is like something totally new and exciting.

Second - as You know, I have Etsy shop. This month I joined a team called "TEAM + 10". It's a "challenge for sellers that want to grow their business. Add +10 listings to your shop each month, or set your own goal!" One of my goals was to add at least 10 doll outfits. So I thought this time I could be Monster High doll outfits.

So, this post is kind of gallery of my March goal in "TEAM + 10". As month is not over yet, I have only six outfits this far, but I will  make more :) After all, my Claudine werewolf and roller skater Frankie also wants to be models :)

So, here I present You my newest Monster High doll dress collection - all dresses are crocheted. Each dress has some matching accessorie - either headband, or belt, or bracelets... Also all of them are kind of "OOAK" (one-of-a-kind") - I don't use any patterns so I'm pretty sure I won't be able to make another same looking outfit - somethind very similar - yes, but not same.

So - take a look and enjoy!
P.S. (Tiny self promotion) If You want something, You can buy it here:
KikamoraCrafts on Etsy >>

 Monster High doll outfits crocheted by KikamoraCrafts!

 

Crocheted dress in red and black for Monster High dolls.
"Live model" - Draculaura.

Crocheted dress for Monster High doll on my "live model" Ghoulia.

Jade green dress for Monster High dolls. As You can see,
Frankie looks great in it!

Peach pink dress for Monster High dolls. Cleo looks sweet
in this outfit, doesn't she?

Light green dress with ruffle and orange belt for Monster High dolls.

Dress with pink and black stripes + cuff bracelets - adorable!
Monster High Draculaura looks cute in this outfit!

Simple crocheted shamrock applique - photo tutorial

Few days ago I was asked if I can make small crocheted shamrock appliques. So I tried and made some. It was fun so I decided to share this fun with other people :) So - here is simple tutorial of cute shamrock applique.
I'm not so good at writing tutorials and crocheting terms so I added pictures for each step.






Stitches used for this applique:
Chain (ch), slip stitch (sl), double crochet (dc), treble stitch (tr).



So - let's start!

1. Make magic loop (or magic circle).






Make magic loop (magic circle)



2. Chain 3, treble stitch 1, chain 1, double crochet 1, chain 1, treble stitch 1, chain 3, slip stitch in magic loop.



 

Chain 3

Treble stitch 1, chain 1, double crochet 1, chain 1,
 treble stitch 1, chain 3, slip stitch in magic loop.
This is how it will look now.

3. Repeat previos step  two more times (or three if You want lucky clover leaf).


Now this starts to look like shamrock.

4. Now we need make stem for this shamrock.

Chain 7, turn. Slip stitch in 2nd stitch from hook, slip stitch in each stitch till end of the row, last slip stitch make into magic loop.


Chain 7, turn.

Slip stitch in 2nd stitch from hook, slip stitch in each stitch
till end of the row, last slip stitch make into magic loop.

Now turn around, pull the thread. Weave in ends.



Congratulations! You have cute shamrock applique! Try different yarns and threads - these appliques look a bit different with different yarns.

Cotton yarn, applique measures ~1,2 inches

Embroidery thread, measures ~1 inch wide

Cotton thread nr.10, measures ~1 inch wide.

And, if You don't want to crochet, but want these cute appliques (and many more different appliques), You are welcome to visit my shop at www.kikamoracrafts.com

New year...

The new year has begun. I barely have had time for myself - hobbies, crafts, life - lately. Well, let's say - I felt like robot last 6 months - my dayjob took all my resources. I can't say I did not like my job - I loved it. I still do. But I had to make decision - job or health. So I did. I have to work 2 more weeks and then I'm unemployed again. That means - I will have time for crafting and dolls.
Yep, since last post here my doll "family" has grown. Total number for now - 44 dolls. I don't think this number will grow much more, but now all these "people" need clothes, accessories, space...
As for clothes... I played a bit and here are some dresses for fashion dolls. Model for these dresses - Barbie Fashionista, but dresses fit also Silkstone Barbie, Fashion Royalty dolls, Liv dolls.

Hot pink and black strapless dress. Also matching handbag.

Strapless dress in black-grey-white shades. Comes together with matching shawl
and black "pearl" necklace.

 

Blue and light green combination - summer dress, scarf and headband.