We are really loving the bling around here this month. First, we started selling á la carte packs of the 6mm & 8mm Swarovski® crystal beads used in some of our jewelry kits – now we’re excited to announce that we are upgrading the seed beads used in some of our other popular maille projects! Our Glass Caterpillar, Glistening Bloom, and Inclined to Shine kits will all soon get a boost from beautiful Miyuki Beads.

And it doesn’t stop there: we’re also introducing a new glass ring color to our lineup. (Which color? We’re not sure yet. You tell us which color you want, and the most popular choices will join our inventory!)

We decided to upgrade our seed beads to the Miyuki brand largely on the recommendation of the artist behind these kits, Kat Wisniewski. I asked Kat this week why she loves these beads (and why she thinks you’ll love them too!) She said….

I like them because they are Japanese! Enough said. [laughs] They have a slightly larger outside diameter, which makes them more prominent in various jewelry designs. They are also extremely consistent in size (both outer and inner), which is important for a streamlined look and reduces waste from beads that are mis-shapen.

If that doesn’t sell you on why you’ll love the way they take your chainmaille to the next level, maybe a sneak peak of some new colors will do the trick. Help us decide which new glass ring colors to start carrying by clicking the link below. After you submit your vote, you’ll see a sneak peak of some of our favorite colors of our new Miyuki beads!