Featured Brand of the Month: CzechMates - Week Three

As we continue exploring our pick for June's Brand of the Month, the CzechMates Two-Hole Beading System, I'd like to focus on the many cool and unique finishes these versatile 2-hole beads have to offer. Let's take a look through these interesting finishes that add styles. 

Here is a brief introduction of each finish offered by the CzechMates Two Hole Beading System. Take a look and find your favorite!

Transparent/Translucent: The glass of the bead is see-through. It might be tinted with a color, but it is still see-through. 

Picasso:  This is a fun effect that sometimes resembles natural gemstones.
 
Opaque: Solid color, light is not able to penetrate through the bead.

Matte: As the name implies, these beads are not shiny. Some people also refer to matte as frost.
 
Luster: Transparent pearly sheen.

AB or Aurora Borealis: A multi-color rainbow affect has been applied to part or all of the beads surface. Some people refer to this finish as Rainbow. 

Iris: Very similar to AB but the colors used in this finish are found very close to the bead's main color on a color wheel.

Metallic: The beads appear to have a "metal" like quality to them, usually very shiny.

Featured Project:  Metallic Rays Bangle

This week's featured project is Megan's Metallic Rays bangle which combines two metallic colors of 2-Hole triangle beads, one being Matte Metallic Flax, which features a bright metallic coating.

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Featured Video: How to Bead Weave a Flower using CzechMates 2-Hole Dagger Beads

In this video tutorial, see how to bead weave a pretty flower using the CzechMates 2-hole dagger beads in Coral Pink. The opaque finish on these beads looks lovely against the sleek look of the silver plated chain.

Designer Picks: Here are our picks for favorite finish. 


Julie 

My favorite finish has to be Picasso. I just love the paint splattered mottled look of this finish and it doesn't hurt that it is usually paired with some of my favorite colors like green, turquoise, and brown. To me, beads with this finish have an old world look, one that is interesting to look at and captures the imagination. 

 

Megan

Sometimes I can have pretty basic tastes.  One of my favorite bead finishes in general is an oldie but a goodie: opaque.  While I do love the pretty metallics, lusters, and matte finishes, there is something classic about a shiny opaque color in glass.  I love these Blue Turquoise Super Duos.  The color is so pretty in it's simple way.


Kat  

I love anything neon but what is really cool about these Dark Neon beads is that they have a matte finish on them.  The great thing about this finish is that by using the matte beads along with a bead with an opaque finish, for example, you give the eye a resting place in the design.  Using different  finishes in the same design is a wonderful way to add dynamics.


Karlin 

I really like the unique look of these Dark Green Metallic Suede beads. They're dark in color, but quite distinct because of their textured, almost sparkly appearance. I would probably pair them with something brighter, and allow them to add a nice contrast.





We hope you enjoyed exploring the many unique finishes offered by the CzechMates beading system. Stayed tuned for next week's blog post on our favorite projects!