Free Tip Friday: Macrame Lattice Bracelet

Thanks for joining me on Free Tip Friday for the Lattice Bracelet. An easy and fun bracelet to make for summer and beyond. Make it as a simple strand or add it as a section to a wrap bracelet.

To use 3 and 4mm Firepolish beads or 3mm Melon Beads use Fine C-Lon. To use Freshwater Pearls, use 1 strands Fine C-Lon and 2 strands of Micro C-Lon

I used in on-air sample:

• 4mm- Polychrome Copper Rose
• 3mm- Metallic Green Turquoise Picasso
• Fine C-Lon Copper Rose
• Betty Button in Copper

• Light Gold Rice Pearl
• Fine C-Lon Cocoa
• Micro C-Lon Cocoa
• Betty Button in Brass

Additional Tools:

• Zap Glue
• Macrame Board
• Perfect End Thread Burner
• Old School Thread Clippers
• T-pins or Sewing pins

Cut 3 strands of cord at 96" each.
Make needles on the ends of the outer two cords to make self-needles.

Uses two basic knots: Lark's Head and Square Knots.

1. Start in center to make a series of Lark's Head Knots for button loop.  Measure to make sure loop slips over button.

2. Bring strands together and macrame 5 sets of square knots over the two counter cords.

3. Divide the 6 strands into 3 left strands and 3 right strands. Secure right strands to the side.

4. String beads on left side outer stand. Use the remaining two left strands to make a series of 5-6 strands of square knots. Repeat opposite side with the remaining right strands.

5. Continue to alternate between Steps 2-4 until your bracelet is the desired length.

Free Tip Friday: Bollywood for the Guys!

Hey Gang!
I thought you might like to see how I like to put a masculine twist on the Bollywood Bracelet. This one (pictured below left) is made for my husband, Chris and he loves wearing it.

Ingredients:
1 Spool 1.5mm Distressed Dark Green Leather
1 Spool .8mm Grey Chinese Knotting Cord
1 Tube 2/0 Matubos Matte Nebula Turquoise Green
1 Celtic Knot Brass Button

I also made a variation on-air (pictured above right.) I used the ingredients above except I use the Bonkers Button in Antique Brass, added Distressed Green Leather cord and Smoky Black Matte Picasso 8/0 beads.

You'll also want to grab a Thread Burner. A game-changer for this project!

Here you can see both laid out:

Check out the entire broadcast below. Enjoy!

Beadshop.com on Beads Baubles and Jewels, Episode 2706, Bollywood

Hey All!
More from my adventure from filming Season 2700 of Beads Baubles and Jewels for PBS. The theme "A Sense of Place" continues in this episode titled "India."  Katie Hacker and I had a fun time presenting this Beadshop.com classic design, Bollywood. A perfect project for this episode.

A quick make and a great project for any season, depending on the color palette you choose. I named this sample "Bhangra", an ode to the popular dance so often showcased in Bollywood movies.

Fun, huh??

The ingredients list is here:

5mm Chinese Knotting Cord

• Champagne
• Lime
• Coral
• Aquamarine
• Golden Toffee

Seed Beads

• Gilding Matte 8/0
• Dyed Aqua SL Alabaster 6-647
• Chartreuse 6-416F
• Matte Transparent Red AB 6-141FR

Download the companion handout here.

For more information on this season and all past seasons check out the Beads, Baubles and Jewels website Watch the Bollywood segment here:

I can't wait to go back next season, planning is already in session! Also, if you want some snazzy glasses like I am wearing, check them out at CraftOptics. 

Alley Mori's Maya Mix Necklace

This weekend, as we feature Stones and Tribal together, seemed like the perfect time to showcase Alley's beautiful necklace, based off Janice's Trail's End bracelet design. This piece is truly a work of art, and also a two-for! It can be worn as a necklace or wrapped around your wrist as a bracelet. As usual, Alley's eye for color, design, technique, and her sheer ingenuity are on display. Supplementing our February 2019 Monthly Mix, Maya, are a selection of beautiful semiprecious stones and tribal beads, including heishi, shadows, and more of the Natural Padres found in the mix. Scroll down for the full list of ingredients and techniques used, and please enjoy!

Ingredients List

1 Pkg Sable 1.5mm Indian Leather

1 Spool Gold Fine C-Lon
1 Vintage Finds Pinwheel- Blue Serpentine
1 Strand Popcorn Padres- Natural

1 Strand Matte African Turquoise- 6mm
1 Strand Matte African Turquoise- Large Hole
1 Strand Tribal Heishi- Brass 
1 Strand Shadows- Antique Brass (Bright Brass also works!)
1 Large-hole Serpentine bead (Alley bought hers from one of our Trunk Shows, but any large hole bead will work, it hides the end of the macramé loop) 

1 Tube Maya, February 2018 Monthly Mix, or purchase separately once sold out:

• 8-4481 Duracoat Opaque Eucalyptus
• 8-409- Opaque Chocolate 8/0
• 8-1233 Matte Opaque Mustard
• 8-4202- Duracoat Galvanized Gold 8/0
• 8/0 Metal Seed Beads - Gilding Matte Gold Plate
• 6-135S- Silver Lined Dark Topaz 6/0
• Popcorn Padres Natural

Techniques Used

How to Macrame

Learning the Wall Knot

Alley's closure consists of a loop of leather to secure around her Pinwheel stone. That leather loop is wall-knotted and strung with Padre beads and ended with a large-holed Matte African Turquoise bead and knotted. The tails of the leather are decorated with Padres, 6/0s, and Shadows. For the strung section, Alley starts at the Pinwheel with several strands of Fine C-Lon going through the holes of the Pinwheel and knotted behind. Note the single Shadow bead embellishment at the center...how pretty! Her strands are strung with the Maya mix, 6mm African Turquoise, Shadows, and Heishi. See how she tapers her strands at the end, combining two strands into one, before ending them in a macrame loop attached to her leather knot. Before attaching here, a large-holed Matte African Turquoise and her large-holed Serpentine bead are strung over her macrame loop to hide the end of it. 

Free Tip Friday: A Sassy Little Wrap

These slim wrap bracelets could not be easier...
Three ingredients. Three tools. Three minutes. Okay just kidding on the three minutes part, but seriously, they take no time at all!!

This is what you will need:

4 colors of 11/0 Delicas.
I used DB-010- Delica Black 11/0
DB-310- Delica Matte Black 11/0
DB-1831- Delica Duracoat Galvanized Silver 11/0
DB-1832- Delica Duracoat Galvanized Gold 11/0

1 spool 1mm leather cord.
I used Metallic Pyrite, Metallic Gray and Metallic Pearl.

1 spool Hana Thread. I used my all-time fave, Pebble.

1 Spool Regular C-Lon in Black and Bronze.

1 pkg Size 10 Sharps Beadsmith 20 Pack Sewing Needles

1 pkg Collapsable Eye Needles

GS Hypo Cement

Old School Thread Clippers

Clampers

Deep Dish Project Tray

Free Tip Friday: Basket Stitch and Matubos = New Bollywood Bracelet!

Hey Gang! Thanks for joining me today for this fun project. I think the Basket Stitch is a great addition to our macrame repertoire! I call this sample "Cardamom."

Here are the ingredients I used for the project:

• .8mm Chinese Knotting Cord, Golden Toffee
• .8mm Chinese Knotting Cord, Grey
• 8/0 Galvanized Duracoat Muscat
• 6/0 Pearlized Crystal AB Mint
• 2/0 Matubo Matte Jet Chrome
• Collapsible Eye Needles
• Zap Glue

I also used a Deep Dish Project Tray and Clampers.

Check out the video below for all of the info on how to create this fun, stackable bracelet set. A perfect companion to our Bollywood Project!

One Knot, Many Jewelry Making Possibilities

Poetry in Spiced Chocolate
Project by Janice Parsons ~ Sample by Beckie Ten Eyck

The square knot is one of the most common macrame knots. Even if you have never attempted macrame before, more than likely you are familiar with this knot because it is often used for other purposes than making macrame jewelry. However, if you haven't mastered the square knot, it might be time to give it a try because it will open up so many jewelry making opportunities for you. 

Beadshop has simplified how-to instructions for How to Macrame, and it focuses on the basic square knot. Once you have acquired this macrame technique, you are ready to use it on some beautiful beaded jewelry designs. Here are just a few of the free projects on Beadshop.com that incorporate the square knot.

Make some amazing Poetry jewelry pieces, which are primarily made up of macrame square knots, but also include beads, charms, and a button toggle. You can choose an eclectic approach, where the beads used are a mix of your favorites, or go with the classic take on this design, where only pearls are used in the finished piece. Poetry in Spiced Chocolate (pictured above) is an example of eclectic, and Poetry in Blush (pictured below) is classic, with loads of lovely pearl beads. 

Poetry in Blush
Project and Sample by Janice Parsons

Born Yesterday is a necklace design that uses stations of square knots between gemstone beads. Life Partners has Mahogany Obsidian 8mm and Poppy Jasper Rice Beads. The beads are strung on C-Lon, and square knots are formed in between the beads.

Life Partners
Project and Sample by Janice Parsons

As with any new technique, mastering the square knot may take some practice before you are ready to take on a large jewelry project. However, once you get the basics down, you will find it useful and fairly easy to do. 

Jewelry Making on the Go

Spring is here, which means summer time is soon to follow. For many of us, summer includes travel plans, which can put a hold on our jewelry making time. However, if you plan well, it is possible to bring a project or two with you, and beadshop has a number of tools that will make that possible. 

First, you can macrame in the car, airplane, hotel room, or wherever you are. Instead of using our regular macrame board, scale down by opting for the Mini Macramé Board by Anne Dilker, which is only 10-1/2 x 7-1/2 inches big. 

Mini Macramé Board by Anne Dilker

To keep your jewelry tools to a minimum while on the go, think of ways to use tools that have multiple uses, such as Handy Tape. This self-adhesive measuring tape is 25 feet long, and besides measuring in inches, it also shows millimeters.

Handy Tape 25 Feet Self-Adhesive Measuring Tape

Macrame means you will need lots of stringing materials, and to organize them, nothing could be simpler to use than beadshop's Little Box, a cardboard box that is 5 x 2-1/2 x 1-3/4 inches and holds eight spools of C-Lon.

Little Box 5 x 2-1/2 x 1-3/4 inch Cardboard Box

The right tools, packed along with your beads and beading supplies, can make your trip that much more enjoyable because you can continue to create, no matter where you happen to travel. 

New Odyssey Kits!

Odyssey Kits

Thank your mom, or anyone special to you, this Mother's Day by making or gifting one of the new additions to the Odyssey project, Lydia or Guin. Either kit has colors that align with the latest Pantone Spring 2017 Fashion Color Report, Pale Dogwood and Niagara.

If your mom loves to create like you do, then the kits include all the ingredients and instructions to let her enjoy a few hours of beading. The Odyssey is considered an all-levels project, which can be completed in three to four hours.

Lydia

The Lydia Odyssey sample is named after Janice's mother, who loved the color of Antique Rose. This jewelry design is strung on Tea Rose 4 ply Irish waxed linen and finished off with a 16mm Bamboo Silhouette Antique Copper Plated Pewter Button. 

Guin 

Just as with the Lydia kit, all the supplies you need to complete Guin are already in the kit when you order it. Kate's mother loves the color blue, and this piece is packed full of beautiful blue hues: Seafoam crystal lined AB 6/0 seed beads; Denim Irish Waxed Linen; and Light Blue Fine C-Lon. 

Additional tools required to make an Odyssey, other than your hands, include a tape measure, flush cutters or Xuron scissors, Deep Dish Project Tray and Insert or Macramé Board, scrap twine, and two binder clips. Each kit comes in a pretty organza bag to make the gifting that much easier for you. 

Wrap Bracelet Sneak Peek

Simple Stitches in Time will be the theme of some upcoming Facebook Live shows airing February 15th and the 22nd, 2017 on beadshop's Facebook page. If you want to get a little bit of a head start so you can follow along with Kate and Janice during these shows, head over to the Simple Stitches in Time page on the the shop's web site. Pick you our favorite design and order supplies before the show. You can also watch a helpful stitches video now that is already uploaded on YouTube, and download the free project handout.

Kindness
Project by Nicole Anderson ~ Sample by Janice Parsons

Pictured above is Kindness, made with distressed denim 1.5mm Indian leather. Some of the beads used include a mix of matte gold colored, 4mm luster stone gray Czech beads, and antique brass. 

Beauty
Project by Nicole Anderson ~ Sample by Kate Richbourg

The Beauty wrap design is an excellent blend of neutrals so you can wear this with anything. It is finished off with a 16mm plated pewter button with a bird in a tree design. 

Grace
Project by Nicole Anderson ~ Sample by Janice Parsons

For purple fans, there is Grace. Like the other two designs, stitches are mixed and matched, Herringbone Stitch to Spiral Knot.

Once you watch the video and review the ingredients lists provided, you may not be able settle for just making one of these. 

New Bead Additions - Poetry

In radiant fall colors,  meet new additions to Poetry. Add these to your must make list of designs for the fall.

By Janice Parsons

Poetry in Green Tea: The color combination for this beaded piece came after Janice was reading about the oxidation process green tea leaves go through in order to get their flavors. Bronze, brass, Picasso coral, and olive colors of beads, charms, and cord make up this project. 

Project by Janice Parsons; Sample by Beckie Ten Eyck

Spiced Chocolate: The sample for this version of Poetry was crafted by Beckie Ten Eyck. Carnelian gemstone beads are combined with crystal beads in colors of nutmeg, tweed, and iris. 

By Janice Parsons

Indigo: Like all the Poetry pieces, this is finished off with a button as the clasp, and this button is extra interesting. On one side, it is natural shell, and on the other side it is engraved with tiny circles and intersecting lines. Dumorterite, pearls, and crystals in various shades of blue are used throughout.

Most beginners will be able to find success with this project since the main technique used is a square knot. Plan to spend four to five hours to make Poetry, The finished length will vary depending on how many times you want to wrap it around your wrist and the size of your wrist, but most average around forty to forty-five inches long. 

You will find a complete ingredients list as well as a list a necessary tools and, of course, the free download on the Poetry project page so you can order and get started making one or more of these in plenty of time to wear and enjoy this fall. 

Fast Halloween Jewelry Ideas

Halloween jewelry is fun to make as well as wear, and there is plenty of time to get your supplies together and whip up a few cute jewelry pieces for yourself as well as family and friends. Whether you want to use an entire weekend to weave some bracelets or you’d prefer to just add some cute charms to ear hooks to make some immediate gratification Halloween jewelry, you can find plenty of inspiration at beadshop.

Sample by Ten Eyck

In the Graveyard is a spin-off of Brittany Ketcham’s In the Garden. Ten Eyck created the sample and used colors of copper, pumpkin, black, and mahogany. A Jack O’lantern charm dangles from the center. You can see a how-to video for the original design on beadshop's Youtube channel:

The Jack O’lantern charm comes with open jump rings, so it is easy to attached, and you receive two in a package. Perfect for a quick pair of earrings! 

Sample by Sam Applegate

The Wicked Mood bracelet was adapted from Brittany Ketcham’s Set the Mood design, and the sample pictured was crafted by Sam Applegate. 

It’s finished off with a cute skull copper button as the part of the toggle style clasp and is constructed with various colors of cord: purple, black, orange, gray, and garnet. 

Make some wickedly fun jewelry this Halloween!

DIY Prairie Leather Wrap

Wraps are so wearable and easy to make. They have become the go-to accessory for both women and men. With our new project, Prairie Leather Wrap, we just took it up a few notches...maybe that's an understatement? Before we knew it, we were going crazy with embellishment...from macramé with seed beads to sliders of all kinds. It really became a team obsession. Start with a few key ingredients and some studio tools and away you go! But, don't say we didn't warn you!

So much of Prairie Leather Wrap is about designing in real time. Build it as you go rather than trying to pre-plan. It's during the process of trying it on, working on it, trying it on again and seeing where the pattern falls around your wrist that the magic happens. Ideally, you want to create interest from all sides and this method of stringing, wrapping and stringing again will guide you in what to do next.

You will be working with the back side of the leather facing up. This insures you don't damage your leather with glue or tape. Follow the steps in our free handout, which includes how to macramé, adding new C-Lon colors seamlessly, tips on gluing and design. It's 15 pages!

From very simple to wild and crazy, we hope there's a Prairie Leather Wrap in your future!

Trail Ride by Janice Parsons

Annie Oakley by Cara Scopazzi

Country by Janice Parsons

Black Heart by Karen Marshall