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 videoto 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.
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.
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.
My mother, Lydia, was an avid collector of vintage pieces, including Art Nouveau. One of the wonderful things she passed down to me is a "boudoir set" for someone named Isa. It was made by Tiffany and Co., probably around 1890. Recently I unpacked the set of two brushes, a mirror, and a cachepot. As you can see by the unpolished brush, it was very oxidized. I wanted to shine it up, but I knew it had to be done with the utmost care. There is only one silver "cleaner" I would trust with something so priceless: Pro Polish Pads. With their gentle cleaning solution embedded in the sponge-like surface, the silver polish is released just where I want it and leaves no scratches or residue. I've always said that Pro Polish Pads are the best thing since sliced bread. I still believe that! And, thanks, Lydia, for the gift of Isa. I will treasure her always. ~janice
What a fun #FreeTipFriday this week. Thanks to all for watching and sharing ideas. The broadcast this week is full of useful tips on working with crimps and Soft Flex...especially closures. We had a fun result from the broadcast, and we wanted to share the details here with you.
At the beginning of the show we had a viewer question on how to crimp an endless (no clasp) necklace. Kate showed her tried and true technique of using two crimp tubes and threading the Soft Flex through a center bead.
This photo shows one crimp tube with a crimp cover and one without. Whichever you choose, it's a sturdy way to finish an endless necklace.
Kate also shared her tips on floats and showed how she might end a multiple strand float necklace. The demo evolved into a terrific tassel design shown below:
Garden Fairy Project by Brittany Ketcham-Roney ~ Sample by Jen Tello
In the Garden is one of the most popular designs from beadshop's assortment of free projects. In the projects area of the web site, the In the Garden section boasts 18 different variations on this jewelry piece, three of which are fairly recent additions. So, if this wrap-style bracelet is an old favorite of yours, make sure you haven't missed three new ones: Garden Fairy (shown above), Tiger Lily, and Honey Dew (both pictured below).
Project by Brittany Ketcham-Roney ~ Sample by Grace Noland
Project by Brittany Ketcham-Roney ~ Sample by Grace Noland
Along with new projects to add to the In the Garden design, a new handout also provides updated information and extra tips to go along with the already existing video. (For those new to In the Garden, it is strongly suggested you watch the video as you review the handout, as they work together). Each version of In the Garden posted in the projects area of the web site includes a link to this free pdf handout, which you can download and save to your digital device or print. Here are just a few of the extra tips covered in this updated version of the In the Garden handout:
While the video shows how to secure your project to a design tray, there is also a Skill Builder Handout that covers this important consideration as well.
Longer wrap bracelets is a current trend, which wasn't the case when the video was published in 2013; therefore, the handout suggests using a longer piece of leather when starting out.
Make sure you don't miss out on adding more beautiful wrap bracelets to your collection by taking a look at this popular design that has been given a few fresh new looks.
Making custom earring findings is a quick way to get exactly the look you want. All it takes is a few specialized findings and a good glue... at beadshop.com we have both!
Don't know how to crochet but wish you could make beaded crochet jewelry? Not a problem! With help from crochet and beading expert Emily Miller and beadshop.com, you can quickly learn the basics to get you started. After mastering the simplest of stitches - crochet chain stitch - you will be able to combine your love of beads with colorful fiber. Chain stitch is just one of the many stitches that crocheters use, but for the Bits & Pieces projects now available from beadshop.com, the only stitch necessary is the chain stitch. Watch the video of Emily and Kate for helpful how-to instructions and tips. Make sure to also download both the episode notes (available on beadshop.com's Facebook Live page), and then head over to the Bits & Pieces project page. Select your favorite colorway, and you'll find a link for downloadable companion instructions that go with the video.
Picking just one of Emily's projects will not be easy. Along with Clarity of Thought (shown at the top of this post), there are three other color combinations to choose from:
Emily suggests starting by learning the chain stitch before adding your beads. You may even have some yarn around the house, or kitchen twine is also a good choice for new crocheters to practice with. You may want to use a larger crochet hook when first learning to chain stitch, but once you get the hang of it and are ready to add some beads and use thinner fiber, you will size down your crochet hook. Beadshop.com suggests Clover Crochet Hooks because of their ergonomic handles. Whether you are new to crochet or are already skilled at chain stitch and other crochet techniques, we'd love to see some of your fiber and bead crochet creations!
Boho Earring Copper & Denim (2 inch hoops) by Kate Richbourg
Memory wire is most often associated with memory wire bracelets, but Beadshop's Kate Richbourg has come up with another wonderful way to use memory wire with her fun Boho Earrings projects. Pictured above is the design using shades of blue and 2 inch diameter memory wire. However, you can make a smaller version using the 3/4 inch diameter memory wire, all of which come together in Beadshop's Memory Wire Assorted Sizes Package in Copper (used by Kate for both these earrings). Here are the smaller Boho Copper & Denim Earrings:
Boho Earring Copper & Denim (3/4 inch hoops) Kate Richbourg
While they still have the Boho look and are very long, they are scaled down and may be more wearable for some who aren't ready for super large hook earrings. Both pairs of earrings include tassels in a beautiful turquoise color.
Tassels, Turquoise
Kate used two tassels together for each earring and secured them with a Capped Off cord-end. Tassels can be a tad tricky to work with because they can come apart easily after pulling them off the mother cords, so make sure to watch Kate's pre-recorded Facebook Live video before tackling tassels. About 28 minutes into the show, she shows a neat trick for sliding the tassels off the mother cord and onto copper wire. Then she dabs a little hypo-cement on each one as an added precaution.
Denim is only one color choice. Kate used the same technique and designed another larger and smaller pair of Boho Earrings using a Bronze and Olive color palette. Beautiful! And, these colors are more on the neutral side so can be worn with just about anything.
Boho Earring Bronze & Olive by Kate Richbourg
For a complete list of Boho Earring ingredients as well as a handy map and links to how-to videos and more, head over to the Facebook Live page of this show, filmed in late May 2017.
Hey Gang!
Making embellished hairpins is quick, easy and satisfying. It's a great summer accessory. Prefect for brides or anytime you need to dress up your coiffure.
1. Cut 7" of 16G wire, mark center and use the barrel of the Sharpie Marker to make a u-shaped bend in the wire.
2. Use bent chain nose to bend "zig zags" on each side of the pin.
They don't have to be super even. I made two zig-zag sections.
3. Place the pin on the bench block and hammer to flatten and work harden.
4. Cut 12" of 28G wire. Wrap around one side of the pin. Add a bead, bend wire and twist.
5. Continue adding the beads until the pin is embellished to your liking. Tuck in excess wire and clip away ends. Cut ends of the pin flush and file smooth using the nail file.
The result is a fun and stylish pin, ready for an updo!
Check out the video below from #FreeTipFriday for the full hairpin tutorial
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