Free Tip Friday: Braided and Knotted Bracelets with Leather Cord

Hey Gang! Thanks so much for joining me on Free Tip Friday. Weren't the leather bracelets a fun project?

You can use any diameter leather, 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm. Just tailor the leather to the scale of the bracelet you prefer.

You can silk wrap the ends closed or use crimps like our Transitions. Follow the directions in the video to make a Button Knot Closure, or add a button on the end to close.

I also used Zap Glue and our glue on clasps like Cool Luke or Tall and Handsome.

Check out the video below for all the details on how to create your own leather bracelets. Enjoy and let me know what you make!

The Fitzgerald Necklace in Black

Hi everybody! December 20, 2017 was all about New Year's Eve on Facebook Live and looking back to the Roaring 20's... the time of F. Scott Fitzgerald and elongated, romantic fashion lines, including draped, beaded jewelry. On FB Live Kate and Emily introduced us to the classic, all-white palette.

Then they surprised us with a separate palette for The Gatsby Necklace done in all blacks! 

We're calling the all-black, The Fitzgerald Necklace. You can do this in really any palette. Go to our Color Collection and create your own decadent design! 

Isn't this bold and ready to bring in the new year? Here are the beads they showed:

• Button- Flower Star- Golden
• 1 Strand Onyx 4mm Rounds
• 1 Strand Onyx 6mm Rounds
• 1 Strand Onyx 8mm Rounds
• 1 Strand 4mm Czech Glass Fire Polish- Jet
• 1 Strand 6mm Czech Glass Fire Polish- Jet
• 1 Strand 4mm Czech Glass FirePolish- Jet Bronze Picasso
• 1 Strand 6mm Czech Glass Melons- Black Picasso
• 1 Tube 6-401F Matte Black 6/0s
• 1 Tube 6-401 Opaque Black 6/0s
• 1 Tube 8-401 Opaque Black 8/0s
• 1 Tube 11-401F Matte Black 11/0s

Free Tip Friday: Wire, Briolettes and Chain...

Hi Gang!

It was so fun to share one of my FAVE techniques on air today. I think briolettes just add a special touch to a project and I really love the new stones we have in stock now.

As promised, here is the list of ingredients used in the broadcast for the three pairs of earrings I made.

Joy- Sterling Earwire
Strength in Numbers Bright Silver
Petite Rice Pearls
1.5 inch Head Pins Antique Silver
26G Silvertone Wire 
Green Serpentine Briolettes

Big Kidney Wire Silverstone
Tiny Tassel Burgundy and Silver
Petite Rice Pearls
11-592 Ivory Ceylon 11/0 Seed Bead
8-592- Ivory Ceylon 8/0 Seed Bead
Sterling Silver 2mm Round - Large Hole
1.5 inch Head Pins Antique Silver
Garnet Briolettes
28G Silvertone Wire

Teardrop Bauble Antique Silver Chain
Czech Drops Venetian Mix
Amethyst Briolettes
26G Silvertone Wire
Niobium Ear Wires- Gun Metal

Watch the entire broadcast tutorial below. I'd love to see your take on these techniques. Have fun and enjoy wrapping it UP!

Free Tip Friday: Let's make some embellished wire stars!

Hi All!

What fun we had today making festive holiday stars. I can't wait to make a whole bunch for my holiday packages and a few to festoon my holiday decorations.

You can check out the entire tutorial at the video link at the end of the post, but as promised, here are a few photos and the materials list:

To begin, design your jig. I made three sizes of stars. You'll need a board that is at least 1/2" thick by about 8-10" x about 6-7"

Draw your star pattern on card stock or heavy paper and hammer the finishing nails through the paper and into the board at the points that you want to bend the wire.

I used 24G silver tone wire, along with 26G gold tone wire for the stars and 20G silver time wire for the ornament hooks.

For beads, I used a variety of seed beads and 6mm Czech Melon beads for embellishment:

• 11/0 11-576 Dyed Smoky Opal S/L Alabaster
• 11/0 11-4221-Duracoat Galvanized Light Smoky Pewter
• 11/0 11-451- Gunmetal
• 8/0 8-242- Sparkle Pewter Lined Crystal
• 8/0 8-250- Crystal AB

• 6mm Melons Antique Silver
• 6mm Melons Ivory and Mercury

You'll also need some chain nose and round nose pliers, along with a wire cutter and a Nylon Jaw pliers for straightening the wire.

Check out the broadcast for all the how-to and let me know how it goes! I can't wait to see what you make!