I'm still working away on my latest experiment and think I've cracked it.

This bangle is now looking how I hoped it would, and I just need to continue beading it to make sure. But unfortunately I'm running out of the size 6 seed beads. Which is not good as they're not cheap!

So far I've used 2 tubes and, at £2.90 a tube, my calculations show me that it'll cost me around £20-£23 per bangle just on size 6s- ouch. Add in the size 8s and the crystals and these aren't throw-away pieces.

But I do love them! They're the reasonable new Duracoat beads from Miyuki, colour code 4222 (you can see a colour chart here), and whilst I have no idea if they'll last, I do love the fact that they're a "pewter" colour rather than silver. I love the silver galvanised beads (as a lot of my recent work shows!) but this darker colour makes a change and I don't think is so bright and "garish" in a finished piece.

That's important as I plan on putting something like 160 large crystals on each bangle- I'd hate them to look garish (hmm, maybe it's too late...)