Jewelry and Beading » Beading

The easiest necklace of all

Cyndi Lavin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:45 +0000

Consumer Crafts has introduced the Twister Bead Necklace, made from Darice twister beads. This is one of the simplest pieces of jewelry to make that you’ll ever find, and it offers an easy way to customize for your giftee! There is a wide variety of bead colors, plus pendants to dress the necklaces up. You can barely even call this “beading”, but if you’re in a hurry, it could be a lifesaver.

In under four minutes, you can see how to work with them on this Darice youtube video:

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Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!

Cyndi Lavin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:00:20 +0000

A Bead A Day:
Lisa shares a special gift she received from a friend, SHRINKY DINK earrings!! Still a great product after all these years!!

About.com Jewelry Making
Sparkle plenty with this endless knotted red crystal necklace project!

Art Bead Scene
It’s the last ABS monthly challenge of 2009. Are you running out of ideas and inspiration? ABS has just the antidote!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
One shrunk sweater equals felted beaded mitts for me!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy explains why she chose Lee Krasner’s painting “Untitled” for this month’s Art Bead Scene Challenge.

Lorelei’s Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei tested out some cool chain from Rings and Things.

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Would you like to investgate a lyrical book which explores all areas of your imagination and challenges your creativity? Try Lisa Crone’s!

Strands of Beads
Melissa shares a cute find – sterling silver elephant clasps.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Thinking deep thoughts, Andrew offers up a sumptuous bracelet and adds a new bronze charm to his shop.

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Some more jewelry gifts for the holidays

Cyndi Lavin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:00:44 +0000

Whether you want to make something festive to wear to a party or are planning on making jewelry gifts for others this year, here are some great ideas to get you going. I’ve tried to include patterns here that will be appropriate for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Solstice. Please feel free to add more links (free patterns only, please) in the comments below. When it comes to the holidays, you can never have too many options!

Five golden rings bracelet

Poinsettia necklace

Holiday earring bead patterns for every winter holiday

Sugar plum swirls necklace

Five golden rings bracelet

Evergreen star earrings

Berry bracelet bead pattern

Snowstorm earrings

Starry night Hanukkah earrings

Holiday beaded bracelet

Holiday zipper pulls

Sugar plum swirls necklace

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Beaded jewelry as decorations

Cyndi Lavin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:00:54 +0000

Have you ever thought of using your beaded jewelry as garlands? How about to decorate Christmas lights or to enhance another gift? Here are some great projects that are fast and easy to do, and will leave your house (and packages) looking elegant and festive!

Fun ways to use beaded jewelry at Christmas on the Bead Jewelry Blog.

How about these darling little beaded wire trees by Fusion Beads? I know they look like earrings, but they’re for your tree!

Small beaded wreathes for your tree? These can be made to be elegant or cute, depending upon the beads you choose.

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Beaded ornament covers

Cyndi Lavin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:00:16 +0000

Most of the ornament covers you see out there are not for beginners, but the results are spectacular! A really motivated beginner could tackle some of them, and if you’d really like to have a go at it, I’d recommend working through the first one on the list to get the idea of how they go together. From there, dive into the more difficult ones!

Victorian beaded Christmas tree ornament

There are many kits available, and patterns that you can buy. Some beading magazines also have patterns, and if you want to make the really elaborate ones, you’re probably going to have to buy a pattern or kit. Still, here’s a selection of the free patterns that are available:

Beginner’s beaded ornament cover

Easy netted ornament cover

Beaded ornament cover

Victorian beaded Christmas tree ornament

Fancy crochet and beaded ornament

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Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!

Cyndi Lavin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:00:13 +0000

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton:
Each representing a different spectrum of lampwork glass, Andrew shares the new additions to his bead collection from two different artists.

A Bead A Day
If you find yourself in need of a quick holiday gift, don’t overlook memory wire! With this simple design, you can make one for all your friends.

About.com Jewelry Making
Thinking of making some beaded ornament covers? Then you’ll need to know the size bulb to use too.

Art Bead Scene
It’s the first day of Art Bead Scene’s annual Twelve Days of Free Projects!

Barbe Saint John – New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe gets all steamy over the new Steampunk Style book!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi wonders if anyone else is working on Spring.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Inspired by Grandma’s necklace, Cindy creates an edgey look with CZ’s.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows a sneak peek of a pair of earrings she made for the upcoming book Steampunk Style by Jean Campbell.

Jean Campbell
Jean shares 3 easy tips for making holiday gift production a little less stressful.

Katie’s Beading Blog
Katie’s making tons of earrings this season. Here are a few fun ideas for your own last-minute gifts!

Lorelei’s Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is saying Thank you and Merry Christmas by giving away a gift certificate to artbeads.com!

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
When you check out this ornament kit which is available for you to make, it will REALLY put you in the spirit!

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Jewelry artist: Harriette Knight

Cyndi Lavin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:15:35 +0000

Harriette Knight is an artist with heart! A desire and a dream showed her the way to create her Charity Clarity Healing Jewelry line. Take a look at her beautiful work, and enjoy her story Harriette writes:In March of 2003, I was looking for a way to raise money for families of U.S. Troops, and literally had a dream that told me what to do. In the dream I saw “Prayer Wheels for Peace,” and realized that I could make bracelets using vintage beads and stones, infuse them with healing energy, and use a portion of the proceeds as a donation. Being an artist and a healer, this was a wonderful outlet to utilize my creativity and healing abilities for a good cause. From there, the designs grew to include one-of-a-kind necklaces, watches, worry bead bracelets, car charms, and other items for what became the Charity Clarity Healing Jewelry line.

I love to mix up textures and styles. This piece is centered around a carnelian pendant and is a double strand of turquoise, carnelian, citrine and inspirational charms that say Dream, Believe, Hope, and Love. Someone once described my pieces as a mixture of elegance and earthiness, a kind of hard and soft, which I believe helps to carry the piece from day to evening wear.This Butterfly Beauty is a combination of a carved Mother of Pearl Butterfly floating amidst a double strand of Abalone, Mother of Pearl, and Silver. When worn, the butterfly can float a bit to the side giving it a different look. The descriptions of each piece come with a story which includes the meanings of the stones and their healing attributes. These definitions are also included in my book CHAKRA POWER! How to Fire Up Your Energy Centers to Live a Fuller Life which offers an bonus section called Abalone to Zircon; The Meanings of the Stones You Wear.Adding a touch of whimsy is nice, too. With this piece, the woven strands of rose quartz look like cotton candy, while the embossed turquoise ceramic pieces look like hard candies. The rose quartz and turquoise pendant transform the piece into something more serious, like going out to a nice restaurant after a day at the amusement park. Rose quartz is calming and soothing and opens the heart, while the turquoise does the same for the throat area.Harriette Knight, Master Healer & PsychicAuthor of “CHAKRA POWER! How to Fire Up Your Energy Centers to Live a Fuller Life” and EASY ART FROM THE HEART, A Rhyming Guidebook for Parents and Teachers with 100+ Art Projects for Kids Ages 2 and UpFor Life Changing Healing Sessions, Healing Jewelry, & WorkshopsHarriette Knight Charity Clarity JewelryHealing Jewelry

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Beaded Ornaments For Your Tree or Table

Cyndi Lavin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:00:10 +0000

Here are some projects that will help to bring the generations of beaders together in your family this year. I wouldn’t recommend putting the beaded tea lights on your tree, but all the rest of these projects make nice tree ornaments as well as table top decorations.

Golden beaded pear – not difficult to make but a bit time-consuming. Can you picture a set of these in a bowl on the table or hanging from your tree?

Star, candycane, and wreath – easy to make beaded ornaments that kids will enjoy helping with.

Safety pin tea lights – I’ve seen lots of flag pins and bracelets made from beaded safety pins, but I’ve never seen tea lights before!

Fuse bead ornaments – another great project to do with the kids!

Beaded wire ornaments – look how many things you can do with stars!

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Deco Scarab necklace

Cyndi Lavin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:00:27 +0000

After several false starts, I finally came up with a beaded necklace style that suited the gorgeous Deco Scarab pendant that my friend Melanie Brooks sent me to play with. If I do another of these, I will probably make one change, and that is to look for size 6/0 seed beads for the base strands that are rounder, less cylindrical. The rounder shaped beads generally sit together in a smoother line than the cylinders, oddly enough. Still, the weight of the pendant holds the beads straighter when it is being worn than is shown in the photo above, so I’m satisfied with it for now!

Step by step instructions

Materials & Tools

Deco Scarab pendant from Earthenwood Studio
Black Nymo thread, size O
7 AB red glass rounds, 11 mm
8 AB topaz glass rounds, 7 mm
8 topaz glass rounds, 6 mm
Gold seed beads, 11/0
Matte frosted AB brown seed beads, 8/0
Silver lined rootbeer seed beads, 6/0
2 jump rings, 7 mm
6″ copper wire, 20 g
4 copper bicones, 6 mm
2 textured copper rounds, 4 mm
4″ copper chain and lobster claw clasp

Beading needles, size 12
Scissors
Glue
Flat nose and round nose pliers
Wire cutters
File
Tape measure

As regards FTC disclosure guidelines: I have received the Deco Scarab pendant free of charge from Earthenwood Studio in order to write an honest review and/or create a project free of charge for you. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

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Jewelry and Beading » Beading

The easiest necklace of all

Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!

Some more jewelry gifts for the holidays

More holiday tutorials from around town

Beaded jewelry as decorations

Beaded ornament covers

Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!

Jewelry artist: Harriette Knight

Beaded Ornaments For Your Tree or Table

Deco Scarab necklace