The Best of Free Tip Friday...Tassel and Leather Lariat Necklace

A tassel is a great chameleon component...it can be a tiny adornment, like a charm...it can be a statement piece, like in this show-stopper Kate made on FTF back in November 2017! Create your own tassels from scratch, and adorn yourself accordingly...here are some fresh palette ideas:


CLAIRE

1 Pkg Distressed Green 1.5 Indian Leather
2-3 Jade Rings Deep Serpentine
4 Avocado Czech Rollers
.05 CKC: Sea Green, Mocha, and Mint
Fine C-Lon: Oyster and Marigold



JOSIE




















1 Pkg Metallic Red 1.5 Indian Leather
1 Pinwheel Carnelian
1 Pkg Silver Keg
1 Pkg Currents Red Reef
.05 CKC: Red,  Ivory, and Brown
Fine C-Lon: Nutmeg and Venetian Red




GINNA 

1 Pkg Cream Surfer Cord 1.5mm
1 Infinity Clover Brown Serpentine
1 Sand Cast White Beach
1 Pkg Ostrich Shells
.05 CKC: Chocolate, Milky Latte, and Champagne
Fine C-Lon: Oyster and Cocoa

The Best of FB Live...The Gatsby Necklace

Happy Wednesday! As you know, we're taking a summer break from FB Lives and Free Tip Fridays and will be re-posting some old faves with some new ideas instead.

Today we're going back to this gorgeous three-strand necklace, The Gatsby Necklace. We created a sample in all whites for the show, and on air showed off an all-black palette. So today I thought I'd share some colorful palettes but keep with the 20s theme...pearls, glass, and decadence. I can't wait to see what you create...share in our FB Group, please! Enjoy!


DAISY

1 Czech Glass Button- Dragonfly Volcano Silver
1 Spool .014 Soft Flex and Soft Flex Findings
1 Strand 5mm Purple Iris Potato Pearls
2 Strands 6mm Coated Lavender AB
1 Strand 8-10mm Soft Gray Potato Pearls
2 Strands 3mm Luster Stone Gray
1 Tube 8-4220 Duracoat Galvanized Eggplant
1 Tube 11-576 Dyed Smoky Opal S/L Alabaster



ZELDA

1 Button Pearl
1 Spool .014 Soft Flex and Soft Flex Findings
1 Strands 5mm Peach Blossom Potato Pearls
1 Strand 8mm Devotion
1 Strand 6mm Devotion
2 Strands 3mm Luster Rosaline
1 Tube 8-155FR Matte Transparent Light Tea Rose AB
1 Tube 11-215 Blush-Lined Crystal





JORDAN

1 Pirouette Button- Gold
1 Spool .014 Soft Flex and Soft Flex Findings
1 Strand 5mm Blue Iris Potato Pearls
1 Strand 8mm Shades of Blue
1 Strand 6mm Shades of Blue
1 Strand 3mm Montana Blue
1 Tube 6-1254 Matte Metallic Blue Gray 
1 Tube 8-151FR Matte Transparent Cobalt AB -OR-
1 Tube 11-4516 Picasso Montana Matte
(I'd pick one or the other...brighten it up with the Cobalt or keep it dark with the Picasso Montana...I couldn't choose, you'll have to!)


I have to say, I love this necklace as is...but adding a charm at the button loop would add a bit of pizzazz! Consider adding a charm or perhaps a Czech Daisy on a headpin...what do you think?

The Best of Free Tip Friday...Working With Bib Components!

It's Friday! It's Friday! As you know, we're taking a summer break from FB Lives and Free Tip Fridays and will be re-posting some old faves with some new ideas instead.

This Friday I thought we could revisit Working With Bib Components, where Kate made this FAB necklace she called Silk Road. Her original blog post with the episode and all the ingredients can be found here.

This is one of my favorite necklaces, and it's so great for a summer night out with a cute sundress or paired with jeans and a cardigan heading into fall. Below are some ideas for new designs...in one I have used the same bib component Kate did, which we call Modern Woman, in a new colorway. I also created a couple new recipes using our other bib component, called Boho Bib, which is smaller and I think more on the feminine side. My favorite clasp, Round and Round, is in all three. It's so easy to put on, even for a butterfingers like me. Add .14 Soft Flex, crimps and crimp covers, wire guardians, and headpins and eye pins in coordinating metals and you are good to go. I can't wait to see what you create...share in our FB Group, please!
Enjoy!


Ginger

 1 Boho Bib Component- Antique Copper
1 Strand From Childhood 8mm Carnelian Rounds
1 Pkg Turquoise Tassels
1 Strand Temple- Copper
1 Strand 6mm Czech Melons- Sapphire and Bronze
1 Pkg Czech Bugles- Crystal Bronze Copper
1 Round and Round Clasp- Copper
Soft Flex and Findings
Headpins and Eye Pins





I envision this piece as mostly coppers and oranges...the Temple beads are a fave of mine and a great alternative to Little Shadows or heishi. I'd love them in-between each Carnelian 8mm round as well as hanging fro the bib with the Bugles and Melons. A splash of blue is unexpected and brightens the palette up.




Cindy

1 Modern Woman Component- Antique Silver
1 Strand Onyx 8mm Rounds
1 Pkg Grey Tassels
1 Pkg Little Silver Sands
1 Strand 8mm Czech Rondelles- Black
1 Tube 8-576 Dyed Smoky Opal S/L Alabaster
1 Round and Round Clasp- Silver
Soft Flex and Findings
Headpins and Eye Pins




I love the classic black and silver combo...always elegant. Instead of bugles and metal beads I've got my favorite seed bead here, Dyed Smoky Opal Silver Lined Alabaster...that's a mouthful! But it's a beaut and it's my fave! Nestled between the onyx rounds and stacked on headpins or eye pins instead of bugles...yass! I'd also love to see these Little Silver Sands used...maybe above the tassels? What do you think?




Kimberly

1 Boho Bib Component- Antique Brass
1 Strand Matte Green Aventurine 8mm Rounds
1 Pkg Beige Tassels
1 Strand 3mm Czech Melons- Ultra Luster Opaque Green
1 Strand Little Shadows- Bright Brass
1 Tube BGL2-2035 Matte Metallic Khaki Iris
1 Round and Round Clasp- Brass
Soft Flex and Findings
Headpins and Eye Pins



Green is always fresh and inviting. While Kate loves to mix her metals, I love to mix my finishes...antiqued with bright, matte with shine...it's something a little different and interesting. I went back to Kate's original Little Shadows here, but switched the Czech Glass up...I couldn't resist the tiny 3mm melons...they are too cute!

Happy beading, everyone!

The Best of FB Live....Malas!

Happy Wednesday, gang! As you know, we're taking a summer break from FB Lives and will be re-posting some old faves with some new ideas instead. This week we've brought back Mala With Tassel. We love making malas, don't you?

Below are some ideas for new color ways...I've used 6mm Stone Rounds for the bulk of the Mala, added rondelles and our new Lava Beads to make the stations, and selected Gurus, C-Lon, and combinations of Vintage Finds with tassels or charms. I really like the idea of keeping the bulk of these stone, something natural. I also really liked playing with size, as some of the rondelles are tiny 4mms intended to sit on either side of the 8mm Lava Beads...these were fun to put together! Enjoy!

Forest Clearing

3 Strands Matte Wood Opalite 6mm Rounds
1 Strand Fossil Coral Faceted 6mm Rondelles
1 Strand 8mm Burnt Olive Lava Beads
1 Picture Jasper Guru Bead
1 Tiny Tassel Olive/Gold
1 Envision Vintage Finds Carved Component
1 Spool Sable Regular C-Lon

Midnight Desert

3 Strands Kalahari 6mm Rounds
1 Strand 4mm Coppered Hematite Faceted Rondelle
1 Strand 8mm White Lava Beads
1 Carnelian Agate Guru Bead
1 Tiny Tassel Grey/Silver
1 Infinity Clover Gray Agate Vintage Finds Carved Component
1 Spool Gray Regular C-Lon



Hidden Waterfall

3 Strands Matte Green Aventurine 6mm Rounds or Green Aventurine 6mm Rounds
1 Strand 4mm Peacock Hematite Faceted Rondelle
1 Strand 8mm White Lava Beads
1 Green Aventurine Guru Bead
1 Willow Charm- Antique Silver
1 Lucky Charm Green Serpentine Vintage Finds Carved Component
1 Spool Celadon Regular C-Lon

Free Tip Friday: Tips and Tricks with the August Monthly Mix

Thanks for joining Cara and I on FTF today... I just loved Cara's mix for August and know that you will love working with it, too.

Find all the details for the August 2018 Monthly Mix, Summer Sunset, here.

Here is a list of some of the products used in the broadcast. Find all the ingredients at www.beadshop.com:

Bollywood Style Bracelet

.5mm Chinese Knotting Cord (Cara used Poseidon, but try Teal or Aquamarine)

Memory Wire

Odyssey Style Bracelet

Teal Irish Waxed Linen

.5mm Chinese Knotting Cord (Cara used Poseidon, but try Teal or Aquamarine)

Stretch Bracelet

Stretch Magic

2mm Crimp Tubes and Covers (Kate used gold)

Tiny Tassel Hot Pink/Gold

Xuron 4-in-1 Crimper

Wire-Wrapped Spiral and Tassel

16G Rose Gold ParaWire

24G Rose Gold ParaWire

Soft Flex and Soft Flex Findings

Chasing Hammer and Bench Block

Nylon Jaw Pliers

Chain Nose Pliers

Enjoy and have fun creating with the Monthly Mix.

Free Tip Friday: Horseshoe Wire Component

We continue our exploration of wire techniques this week with the Horseshoe Component. A versatile wire unit that can be adapted in a variety of ways!

Easy to make and so many possibilities...

Here is what I used:
Titanium ParaWire in 16, 18, 20 and 24G.
6mm Matte Black Onyx
Antique Silver Small Swivel Clasp

Ruler
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Bent Chain Nose
Chain Nose
Xuron Flush Cutters

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

Free Tip Friday: Wire Components and ParaWire!

Hey Gang!
Thanks for joining me today. It was a fun and free-form exploration of wire working.

As promised, here is the finished piece:

Here are some detail shots:

16G and 24G wire with 6mm Etched Vitrail Firepolish and 8mm Black Onyx.

20G Free form wire over the 8mm Onyx.

20G wraps the Pyrite 30mm Pi.

16G used to make the clasp. Ends are strung using .014 Soft Flex, Wire Guards and Crimp Covers.

The list of materials I used:

Titanium ParaWire in 16, 18, 20 and 24G.

6mm Etched Full Vitrail

6mm Matte Black Onyx

8mm Black Onyx

Pyrite Pi 30mm

.014 Satin Silver Soft Flex

Antique Silver Wire Guards

Antique Silver Crimp Covers

2x2mm Silver Crimp Tubes

Antique Silver Queen Shadows

Check out the entire broadcast here and enjoy exploring and experimenting with wire!