Free Tip Friday: More Ideas with Double Drill Beads

Hey Gang!

Thanks so much for watching, it was a fun hour of creativity using Janice's sample as inspiration.

Double drill beads have so much potential, including using them with wirework. Here are the ingredients lists for all of the products I used in the video.

1 strand Matte Porcelain Jasper Double Drill

2 Antique Silver Triangle Baule beads

1-2 packages Happy Donuts Pewter

Mardi Gras Button Silver

.5 mm Natural Leather Cord

ParaWire Non-Tarnish Titanium- 20G

Nutmeg Regular CLon

1 Strand Dyed Aqua Impression Jasper Double Drill

1mm Metallic Teal Leather

1 Pkg Gold Tierra Heishi

Mardi Gras Gold Button Gold

Be Still Charm Gold

Triangle Flag Baule Bead Gold

Hammered Oval Link Gold

Cerulean Regular C-Lon

Joy Ear Wires Vermeil

ParaWire Non-Tarnish Gold- 24G Round

Enjoy and I can't wait to see what you create!

Free Floating Necklace How-To

Sunrise Float Away ~ Sample by Janice Parsons

Statement necklaces do not have to be overly large to gain attention, and the Float Away necklace projects are designs that bring the drama of statement jewelry pieces without any bulkiness. Stations of beads give the illusion of jewelry floating around your neck. Available in limited edition kits and also with free downloadable episode notes and video to watch online, the Float Away projects provide a light look for warm summer weather.

For jewelry makers who want the ability to easily copy the three current design samples made by Beadshop staff, convenient kits are a great option. There is the Sunrise kit, full of enough supplies for the pretty necklace pictured at the top of this post. The beading wire and findings used are copper colored, and the kit has beads in shades of pinks and lavender.

Sunrise Float Away Kit

The Spring Day kit is packed with beads that reflect a cheerful mood, such as Montana Blue Czech glass beads and various green tones seen in the aventurine, olive quartz, and serpentine stone pavers. 

Spring Day Float Away Kit

The nature-inspired combination of colors of the Spring Day design is simply beautiful! 

Spring Day Float Away ~ Sample by Emily Miller

Finally, Rainbow Float Away echoes the colors of the American Southwest with its hues of golds and browns. The beading wire used is Softflex in the Golden Bronze color. 

Rainbow Float Away ~ Sample by Kate Richbourg and Emily Miller

And, of course, there is a limited edition kit available for the Rainbow version of this design as well. 

Rainbow Float Away Kit

Kits are a good value and provide an easy way to make sure you have all the supplies you need. Keep in mind, though, they are limited edition! So when they are gone, they're gone! Full ingredient lists are available, however, on each project's page. Between the kits, the project pages, Janice's episode notes, and Kate and Emily's video (also posted to YouTube), Beadshop offers you lots of choices when you are ready to start floating away with your beads and beading wire. 

Soft Flex Collection Arrived!

Soft Flex Collection

The choice of which brand of beading wire is very subjective for most jewelry designers. However, Soft Flex is a brand that has a wonderful reputation and is popular with many beaders. We are happy to announce that Beadshop now has Soft Flex beading wire as well as many other findings and tools from this company as part of our Soft Flex Collection.

Soft Flex .014 Satin Silver

Probably the most well-known Soft Flex product is the Satin Silver beading wire in .014 diameter. It is available in both 30 foot and 10 foot spools. This beading wire is made up of 21 strands and micro-coated so that it is strong but also flexible. The thickness ideally works with an assortment of light to medium weight beads such as pearls, gemstones, and seed beads, as well as glass and crystal beads. 

Beadsmith Double Notch Crimping Tool

While you can finish the ends of Soft Flex beading wire with clam shells (also known as bead tips), many veteran beaders like to finish off the wire with crimp beads. Therefore, you want a good tool for this, and the Beadsmith Double Notch Crimping Tool is exactly what you need to get a good seal on 2mm to 3mm round tube-shaped crimp beads. 

Enjoy browsing through this new and extensive assortment of beading wires, tools, and findings that are part of the Soft Flex Collection. You will discover simple methods for giving your jewelry pieces a finishing touch that looks clean and professional.