Highly Unlikely Hexagon and Borromean Link

I'm still having fun with cubic right angle weave.

This piece is Three Intersecting Rectangles for the Math Nerd In You No. 4 (Borromean Link).  Each of the three rectangles is an entirely separate piece of bead weaving.  Although all three are linked together, no two are linked to each other.  If you would like to learn how to make one for yourself, check out the pattern and kits for the beaded Borromean Links. 

Here is a Highly Unlikely Hexagon, also made with cubic right angle weave.  Matte black, gold and aqua... and I added a few sparkling Swarovski crystals at three of the corners for a little subtle bling.  These pieces are available in my Etsy shop, just in case you want them.     

 

I have a tutorial for the Highly Unlikely Triangle, a related but simpler design.  Thanks for looking.

Unlikely Square Earrings and Pendant

I've been fiddling around with cubic right angle weave (learn how to make CRAW), making beaded versions of things like the Impossible Triangle of Roger Penrose.  This strange construction was made famous by M.C. Escher, and several years ago, I made what I think was the very first one using bead weaving.  Since then, several new finishes of beads have been made available, many of which have found there way into my big box of beads.  So I decided to revisit these designs with some of my newer bead finishes.  I'm really quite fond of these new colors.

Because a square has four sides, and CRAW also has four sides, you can color the square frame with four different colors that wind their ways around the frame.  Each color does one lap around the square.  Here's a different color scheme of the same construction.

The triangle doesn't lend itself to this same kind of coloring, since it has just one edge and one face that wind their way around the triangle three full laps. I have a tutorial for the Highly Unlikely Triangle. 

I really wanted to use more colors than in the triangle above, so I made this triangle below.  It has a different color on each leg of the triangle.

I really liked the color scheme of the square earrings and pendant at the top of this post, so while the beads were out, I made some DNA Earrings (learn how to make them yourself).  I added some green amethysts to add a touch more sparkle.

And a little pair of Cutie Pie Earrings (learn how to make them yourself), with three natural sparkling amethyst on each earring.

Links for the tutorials are in the text above.  The jewelry is for sale in my Etsy shop.   Click on the photos to see the listings.  Thanks for looking.

Infinity Ubercube and Other Beaded Cubes

Florence Turnour and I will be teaching two classes on the Infinity Ubercube at the Bead & Button Show 2012.  Lately, I've been working diligently on our kit offerings. The kits each make 11 beaded beads.  This is the complete green kit. (Click on the photos to see them larger).

To make some jewelry, our students will each receive a "Findings Packet" including things like wire, ear wires, crimps, ribbon, etc.  We will not be including larger beads, however, because we want to encourage them to be creative with their beaded beads and make their own jewelry their own.  For example, I added a few extra beads from my own stash including hand made borosilicate glass, a glass button, dichroic glass and a big glossy prehnite.  With these, I made a pair of earrings and a simply strung necklace.

Here is a close-up of the pair of earrings I made with the mini cube beaded beads.

These are the 11 beaded beads in the pink and purple kit,

and this is the necklace I made with the beaded beads. I've had those purple glass roundels for years, and they finally found a home.

Florence designed this kit in juicy fall colors.  Those purple drops just want to be plucked!  

I'm looking forward to seeing what she and all of our students make with their kits. You can now purchase the pattern here: http://www.beadinfinitum.com/Kits/index.html#Ubercube Thanks for looking!

Video on Mathematical Bead Weaving Talk G4G

I finally recorded a video of the talk I gave at the Gathering for Gardner in March, 2012.  My audience was mostly mathematicians and puzzle designers, and I created this talk with that group in mind.  I assumed that most of them had never seen bead weaving before; so I tried to make this a quick overview, showing a large range of mathematical concepts in the short time they gave me to speak.

Since there were so many speakers, the organizers gave most of us just five minutes, and they joked that you get a silver dollar for each minute under five that you used.  This video is just under six minutes, so no dollar for me.  I hope you like it.