Beading Instructions : Pearls

Add Some Sparkle and Texture To Your Polymer Clay Beads!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

A big thank-you to Iris Weiss of Polyform Products for sharing this free polymer clay bead making tutorial with us, and thank you to Suzanne Anderson of Yikes Studio for creating this tutorial!

If you've made some of the big hole polymer clay beads from yesterday's Beading Daily blog, here are some more ideas for adding a little bit of sparkle and texture to your polymer clay beads:

Making Metallic Beads

Use pearl clay to make a bead using the large hole bead inserts.

Texture scraps of the pearl clay with stamps or other objects, and cut them into thin strips. Wrap the beads with the textured strips.

For more metallic effects, use PearlEx or mica powders to the textured pearl beads.

Adding Crystal Flatbacks to Your Polymer Clay Beads

Roll a small, think snake of polymer clay in your desired color (to match or contrast with your crystal flatbacks) and cut off tiny pieces. Roll pieces into small balls.

Push your flat back crystals into the small balls of clay until the edges of the clay come up slightly over the edge of the crystal. This will form a secure bezel for your crystal flat back stone when the bead is properly baked.

Using your tissue blade, lift the clay bezeled crystal and place on a finished (but not baked) polymer clay bead. Press gently to adhere the crystal to the bead.

Bake the polymer clay beads according to the package directions.

Do you have a favorite technique for adding sparkle to your polymer clay bead making projects? Share it here!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Free Beading Project: Easy Wire Wrapped Cuff Bracelet

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I've really been getting into working with easy wire wrapping projects lately, and these two blank metal cuff bracelets from this month's A Grain of Sand Bead Hoard Curiosities Club just spoke to me as soon as I saw them. They wanted me to wrap them with wire and beads to make a couple of fun and easy beaded cuff bracelets!

You can find similar wire cuff bracelet components from Metalliferous or Designer's Findings.

Materials:

Brass or copper wire bracelet blank
Clasp (optional, depending on the type of wire bracelet blank you're using)
25-50 4mm beads (number of beads required may vary, depending on size of beads and size of cuff)
5 feet of 24 gauge copper wire

Tools:

Wire cutters/flush cutters
Flat nose or chain nose pliers

Step-by-step Instructions:

		If you are using a clasp, attach each piece of the clasp to either end of the cuff bracelet. Use the chain nose or flat nose pliers to gently close the loop around the clasp.

		Using the 24 gauge wire, make several wraps around one side of the cuff bracelet. String on one bead and push it down so that it sits on the outside of the cuff bracelet. Wrap the wire around the cuff bracelet, holding the bead in place with your fingers as you wrap. Pull snugly (but not so tight that the wire snaps) to secure the bead in place.

		Continue adding beads, one at a time, with wire wraps across the outside of the bracelet.

		When you get to the other end of the bracelet, make several wraps with the remaining copper wire. Trim the wire close to the bracelet. You can use the chain nose pliers to gently smash the end of the wire down so that it doesn't rub up against your wrist.

		Change up the look of your bracelets by using different beads! Some suggestions: Larger seed beads (like 6/0 seed beads) Different shapes of Czech fire polished beads Czech druk beads Small freshwater pearls Small gemstone beads

These beaded cuff bangles work up fast, and are so comfortable to wear, you'll find yourself making loads of them for last-minute gifts! Enjoy! (And make sure you check out the A Grain of Sand website to find out more about the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club!)

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

The Great Jewelry Making Makeover!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I really do have the best friends in the world. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine sent me a huge box, full of antique jewelry that had belonged to her late stepfather's first wife.

Before I go into detail about the jewelry, I want to tell you a little bit about her stepfather. Joe was what you might call "eccentric". Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was well-educated and traveled the world while in the Army during the 1930s and 1940s. By the time I met him, Joe was in his 60s, and his little quirks had become downright peculiar and hilarious. A hater of vegetables of any sort, he would suspiciously eye the spoons with which my friend and I cooked dinner to make sure that none of them had become "contaminated" by the eggplant or the peas. At restaurants, he made sure to wedge several bread plates between his dish and any dishes containing vegetables. On the days when the municipal garbage collectors came around, Joe could be found sitting in the garage, singing their praises as they emptied bins and cans into their trucks. One Christmas, he even went so far as to tell us to refrain from putting up a live Christmas tree, since he believed that its green branches would suck all the oxygen out of the house, thereby asphyxiating all of them as they slept. And I'm sure my friend and I will never forget the time that we left a box of vanilla-flavored dog treats on the dining room table, only to come back later and find that Joe had eaten this entire box of delicious "vanilla sugar cookies" without actually reading the label on the package.

But Joe was deeply in love with his first wife, Dorothy. He kept many of her things, and they were handed down to my friend when Joe passed away in 2011. So when my friend asked me if I would like part of the collection of antique jewelry, I was thrilled and honored to be the recipient of part of this collection!

As I tore through the many boxes she sent, it felt like I had struck gold at an estate sale. I picked up piece after piece of ethnic, silver, and antique jewelry, and couldn't take my eyes off the colors and shapes that danced in front of me.

My friend had suggested that I re-purpose much of this antique jewelry into other projects, but after looking at it, I knew that with my jewelry making skills, I could most likely repair almost all of it and restore some of it.

The easiest way to start was with a couple of pairs of earrings.These beaded earrings were hung from antique screw back earring findings, but I've always found those to be incredibly uncomfortable. It only took a few minutes to remove them and hang them on new pair of fish hook ear wires.

The first pair of beaded earrings was made with Mummy Beads, also known as Egyptian faience. Ceramic beads of this type have been found in some of the oldest ancient Egyptian tombs, and some faience beads are still made today with a combination of ceramic and glass bead making techniques. Despite the size of the earrings, and the number of beads that they were made with, the faience is actually as light as a feather, and the earrings are comfortable to wear all day.

I instantly recognized the second pair of earrings as vintage Mexican silver. These earrings, with their carved green gemstone cabochons, are now affectionately known as my "Little Green Man" earrings.

What's next for my jewelry making skills? There are several pieces of beaded jewelry in here that could use a little tender, loving care. There are more earrings that I want to try to recreate using crystal pearls and glass beads into necklace and bracelet components; strands of vintage Japanese glass pearls that need to be restrung; a necklace made of brightly colored shells that can be turned into a new beading project; and a bracelet made with large, chunky, faceted carnelian beads that needs some repairs.

Watch this blog for my weekly updates on what I'm doing next to take these vintage and antique pieces of jewelry and use my jewelry making skills to transform them!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Make a Cabochon Bezel with Right-Angle Weave

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:00:00 GMT

Making an open-backed bezel for a cabochon has certain advantages over making one using bead embroidery techniques. If you're using a transparent or translucent cabochon, stitching an open-backed bezel for it will allow light to pass through it and make it brighter. Or when using a transparent cabochon, you don't want the color of the bead embroidery backing to show through, it makes more sense to stitch an open-backed bezel for it.

You can make beaded bezels with peyote stitch and brick stitch, but I recently started using right-angle weave for some of my open-backed bezels. Using a strip of right-angle weave to create a bezel results in a better fit and a tighter bezel around your precious cabochons!

Materials:

1 gram of size 11^o seed beads in one or more colors to match or contrast with cabochon
1 gram of size 15^o seed beads in color to match or contrast with cabochon
6 lb. Fireline or beading thread of your choice

Tools:

Size 12 beading needle
Scissors of thread cutter
Chain nose pliers (optional, but helpful)

Step By Step Directions:

		Start by making a strip of right-angle weave to fit around the bezel. Use four beads for each unit. For the last unit, you'll only need to add one bead to the top and one bead to the bottom of the strip to join the ends. If the bezel is slightly loose, that's okay -- you can tighten it later.

		Exiting from one of the beads on the outer edge of the bezel, pick up another size11o bead and stitch through the next bead on the outer edge of the bezel. Fill in each space between beads in the right-angle weave bezel with another bead. I used a contrasting color for this row so that I could see where I was stitching. Make a step-up at the end of the round like you do when working in tubular even-count peyote stitch.

		Working in peyote stitch, add a round of size 15o beads between each of the size 11o beads that you just added in the previous round. Keep your tension tight as you work. Insert the cabochon into the bezel.

		Flip the cabochon and bezel over, and start stitching a round of 11o beads in between the beads along the outer edge of the strip of right-angle weave. Again, keep your tension tight as you stitch.

		Make a step up at the end of the round, and add a second round with the size 15o seed beads. Continue to work with a tight tension to make a secure bezel.

		A right-angle weave bezel is easy to embellish! Add fringe beads like magatamas or drop beads, pearls, or crystals.

Right-angle weave bezels are also easier to join together when stitching up several components for a beaded necklace or beaded bracelet. The spaces between the beads in the right-angle weave units make it easier to work your needle into the beads!

Have you tried making right-angle weave bezels? Share your tips with us, or take a picture of your right-angle weave bezel and share it with us in the Reader Photo Gallery!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Free Beading Project: Knotted Freshwater Pearl and Lucite Bead Necklace

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Among the treasures I brought back with me from the Tucson gem and mineral shows were these gorgeous vintage Lucite beads from The Beadin' Path. I love the colors and textures of the vintage Lucite beads, and the deep, rich red and gold swirls of these made them irresistible to me! When I received my order of some of the new large holed freshwater pearls, I knew right away that they would look fabulous paired with the Lucite beauties, knotted on a length of buttery leather cord.

Materials:

(12) Vintage Lucite round beads, approx. 20mm
(14) Large holed freshwater pearls, approx. 10mm
5 feet leather cord, tan or camel, 2mm
Button with large shank for closure
Glue (optional)

Tools:

Scissors for cutting leather (don't use your embroidery scissors!)
Beading awl

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1:

Tie the button to one end of the cord with two overhand knots, leaving approximately 2 inches for a tail.

Add a drop of glue to the knot, if desired.

Step 2:

String on a pearl and tie an overhand knot. Use the beading awl to push the knot close to the pearl.

String on a Lucite bead and tie another overhand knot. Use the beading awl to push the knot close to the bead.

Repeat until you have used up all the Lucite beads and 13 of the large holed freshwater pearls.

Step 3:

String on the last large holed freshwater pearl.

Make a loop large enough to fit comfortably over the button, not not so large that it slips off easily.

Tie an overhand knot at the base of the loop to secure. Add a drop of glue to the last knot, if desired.

Trim any excess leather, leaving a short (1 inch or less) tail.

Resources:

Large hole freshwater Pearls: A Grain of Sand
Vintage Lucite beads: Beadin' Path
2mm leather cord: Fire Mountain Gems

If you make this free beading project, take a picture of your creation and post it in the Reader Photo Gallery for us to see!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Mashed Up Hearts Polymer Clay Project: Raku Variation

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:00:00 GMT

If you loved the Mashed Up Hearts project over on our Beading Daily blog, here's a cool variation made to resemble ceramic Raku! Read on to find out how you can win a free kit including a package of Premo! Sculpey clay and the glitters used to create the original version of this free polymer clay project, courtesy of Polyform Products!

Smashed Up Raku Heart:

Materials:

(1) 2 oz. package Premo! Sculpey clay, black
Pearl Ex powders in: True Blue, Spring Green, Flamingo Pink, Super Copper and Gold to resemble traditional Raku colors
18 gauge jewelry wire in colors to match your powders and glitter

Tools:

Sculpey Super Slicer Blade
Clay conditioning machine
Work mat
Tools for adding texture to clay
Craft knife
Flush cutters
Chain nose or flat nose pliers

Step by Step Instructions:



Step 1: Roll out the Premo! black clay on the widest setting on the clay conditioning machine. Cut in half and stack the two pieces on top of each other. Use your craft knife to cut out a basic heart shape. It should NOT be a perfect heart shape!	Step 2: Use your index finger to soften the edge of the heart.	Step 3: Touch the Pearl Ex colors to the remaining piece of clay.

Step 4: Texture this piece of clay using your favorite tools.	Step 5: Make sure that your clay is firmly pressed to the work mat and use the slicer blade to slice very thin pieces of the textured surface away.	Step 6: Apply these pieces to the heart shape. You don't need to cover the entire heart with slices of textured clay.

Step 7: Twist a small amount of wire and cut to the desired length. Insert the wire into each side of the heart.	Step 8: Bake the clay according to package directions. You can add a pin back to the finished Mashed Up Heart or string it as a pendant!

And now for the fun part: the giveaway! Iris Weiss and the great folks over at Polyform Products have provided a fabulous little "mini kit" that includes four packages of Premo! polymer clay and a set of six glitters so you can make your own Mashed Up Hearts!

To win this lovely little kit of polymer clays and glitters, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog and tell me why you love working with polymer clay.

You have until midnight, EST on Sunday, February 26, 2012 to leave your comments. At that time, comments will be closed and I'll use my trusty random number generator to pick a winner! (So make sure that if you enter, you have a current email in your Beading Daily profile so I can contact you!) This giveaway is open to international entries, too, so our overseas readers can participate! (Retail value of the polymer clay kit is approximately $15.)

Good luck and Bead Happy!

Jennifer

Free Beading Project: Renaissance Diamond Chain Collar

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:00:00 GMT

I promised this free beading project a couple of weeks ago, and it's finally ready! The Renaissance Diamond Chain Collar is here! I had the idea for this collar floating around in my head for quite a while, and I wasn't quite sure how I was going to stitch it up. Then when I wrote up my tutorial for the diamond chain a few weeks ago, I realized that all the materials were sitting right in front of me! I used some lovely butterscotch colored Czech fire-polished beads mixed with two different colors of seed beads and some freshwater pearls and tiny 3mm Swarovski crystal bicones, just to give it a little sparkle.

This free beading project works up fast, so if you've got an extra day off this weekend for the Labor Day holiday, you can whip one up and wear it to work on Tuesday! One of the reasons that this collar works up so quickly is that the diamond chain drapes naturally around your neck so that you don't need to do any extra shaping.

To make a 17" necklace (not including the length of the clasp), you'll need the following materials:

136 butterscotch opaque Czech fire polished beads, 4mm (A)
33 freshwater pearls, drilled near the top, 5mm (E)
66 crystal AB Swarovski crystal bicones, 3mm (F)
1 gram metallic gold seed beads, size 15 (D)
5 grams metallic gold seed beads, size 11 (B)
5 grams red-lined amber AB seed beads, size 11 (C)
Clasp of your choice
Braided beading thread in color to match or contrast with beads
Size 12 beading needle
Scissors or thread cutter

		Base Chain Begin by making a base chain consisting of 34 units of Diamond Weave. For each side of the unit, pick up 1 A, 1 B, 1 C and 1 B. Stitch 1 D in between each A for the second pass-through of the unit. Exit from a protruding C in each unit.

		Adding the Pearls With your thread exiting from a bottom C, pick up 1 D, 1 C, 1 F, 1 D, 1 E, 1 D, 1 F, 1 C, 1 D. Pass through the bottom C of the next unit. As you add the pearls, make sure that all of the pearls are facing the same way. Some of these top-drilled button pearls have a flat side and a rounded side, so you want to make sure that all of the flat sides are facing the same way.

		Embellishing the Pearls After you've added all the pearls, weave around so that you are exiting the last F added. Pick up 1 D, 10 C, 1 D and pass through the F on the other side of the pearl. You may need to adjust the number of seed beads added around each pearl so that they lie flat and completely surround the pearl. You can always make them a little larger for a longer drape around each pearl. Repeat across the chain.

Finally, add the clasp of your choice using a simple seed bead loop. Weave in your thread ends, knot and trim close to the beadwork.

If you make this free beading project, take a picture and post it in the Reader Photo Gallery so we can see what you did!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bead Along with Beading Daily!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:39:00 GMT

I had so much fun participating in the Mirrix Weave-A-Long a couple of weeks ago that I've decided to have a Bead Along here on Beading Daily! What is a Bead-A-Long? A group of beaders get together (online, of course) to make the same project and share our experiences and ideas. And when we're done, we'll have a show-stopping necklace to show for it!

For our first Beading Daily Bead Along, we'll be making Linda Richmond's Net Full of Gems!

During this Bead Along, we'll be making Linda Richmond's Net Full of Gems, one of my favorite beading projects. I first saw this necklace in Beadwork Creates: Necklaces. I was preparing for my first-ever gallery show, and I needed to take a break from sitting in front of the torch for five hours a day, and I wanted something spectacular to wear to the opening! While I was looking for gemstone chips to use in the necklace, I realized that I had a few strands of these small freshwater pearls and a big tube of cylinder beads that matched them perfectly. For a little bit of contrast, I threw in some size 15^o silver metallic seed beads to bring out the 1960s vintage silver clasp and I was thrilled with the results!

This was the result from my first version of Linda Richmond's Net Full of Gems, using freshwater pearls instead of gemstone chips.

So here's how it will work: all you need to do is download your free copy of Linda Richmond's Net Full of Gems beading project. Get your supplies and materials together, and on Monday, August 29, we'll start beading!

Here's the official schedule:

August 29 through September 5: Get your supplies and start making the netted part of the necklace using the gemstone chips.

September 5 through September 9: Create the plain netting on either end of the necklace.

Weekend of September 10-11: Add clasps and finishing.

September 12: Show off your finished piece in the Beading Daily forums!

As we work, we can post pictures and questions over in the forums. Anyone is welcome to join! This project is easy enough for a beginner but also provides a nice creative stretch for more advanced beaders. Make the project as it's pictured in the instructions, or change it up to fit your personal tastes. Instead of gemstone chips or freshwater pearls, why not tiny Czech druk beads or fire-polished glass? Or maybe, if you're into maximum sparkle, why not make this piece with Swarovski crystal rounds or bicones?

This time around, I'll be using white Howlite chips and color lined gunmetal Delicas.

I've already chosen the materials I'm going to use this time around! Since I've got an entire drawer full of gemstone chips leftover from when I owned a bead shop, I went ahead and chose two strands of my favorite white Howlite and some color-lined gunmetal Delicas to accent them. It should be a dramatic piece when it's finished!

Do you have a suggestion for a future Bead Along? Tell us on the blog or in the forums so we can choose a new project for our next Bead Along!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Free Beading Project: Pearl Embellished Peyote Stitch Beaded Bead

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:00:00 GMT

I love making peyote-stitch beaded beads. Not only are they simple and fast, but it's also so easy to think up ways to embellish them! These freshwater pearl-embellished beaded beads were inspired by the Lisa Peters Art focal bead that I had in my stash. When I opened my most recent order of freshwater pearl strands, the colors of these luscious green top-drilled pearls immediately made me think of the colors in the focal bead. The idea for embellishing the beaded beads came while I was watching an old episode of the television sitcom 3^rd Rock From the Sun - the character of Mary Albright, an anthropology professor at a "third-rate" university in central Ohio, wears some truly amazing ethnic jewelry!

For each beaded bead, you will need:

1 g size 11° Japanese cylinder bead, in three colors (A, B, C)
5 top-drilled freshwater pearls, 5-6mm
Braided beading thread, 4 lb test
Size 12 beading needle
Scissors or thread cutter

Make the beaded bead:

On a comfortable length of thread, string a stop bead. Pick up 6 A, 12 B, and 6 A (Rows 1 and 2). Row 3: Peyote across with 3 A, 6 B, and 3 A.

Work in even-count flat peyote stitch for a total of 16 rows. Make sure the ends line up and zip the peyote stitch into a tube.

Make two strips of flat odd-count peyote:

Pick up 3 C. Work in flat odd-count peyote for a total of 24 rows. Wrap this strip around one end of the beaded bead, covering the line between the two colors. (You might have to adjust the number of rows, depending on the size of your beaded bead and the tension with which you stitch.) Zip the strip together tightly and weave in the thread.

When adding the second strip, don't weave in the end. Instead, position the strip so that the thread is exiting from a bead near the bottom of the strip. Pick up 1 B, 5 pearls, 1 B. Pass needle into the corresponding edge bead on the peyote strip on the other side of the bead. Weave back through the pearls and cylinder beads to strengthen. Weave the thread into the strip, knot, and trim.

For the necklace, I used two of these pearl embellished peyote-stitch beaded beads on either side of my focal bead and then finished the necklace with a pattern of Swarovski bicones and more top-drilled pearls. But imagine how lovely an entire necklace of these beaded beads would look! Change up your colors or use the pearl-embellished peyote-stitch beaded bead for your focal point. Experiment with colors and have fun!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Free Project Friday: Jazzy Herringbone Bracelet

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Free Project Fridays! I'll be posting a new free beading project every Friday here on Beading Daily, so stay tuned for some great new beading projects!

The Jazzy Herringbone Bracelet made by adding little groups of embellishments to a basic twisted tubular herringbone rope.

I love herringbone stitch, and the textures in twisted tubular herringbone stitch make some pretty fantastic beaded necklaces and bracelets. I love using this beadweaving stitch to make beaded ropes and straps for my bead-embroidered cabochon pendants, and lately I've been experimenting with adding a little bit of texture and color to my beaded herringbone ropes. Jazzing up your next tubular twisted herringbone rope is easier than you might think, and you can probably do it with the beads you already have in your stash!

(Before you start this project, make sure that you are familiar and comfortable with twisted tubular herringbone stitch. You'll be adding lots of embellishments to this beaded bracelet project, so it will be necessary that you are familiar with the basic mechanics of the stitch.)

For this beading project, you'll need:

5 g of size 11° Japanese seed beads in color A
5 g of size 11° Japanese cylinder beads in color B
1 g of size 15° Japanese seed bead in color C
15 g of 3.4mm Japanese drop bead in color D

Here's how to do it:

Start working tubular twisted herringbone stitch, alternating pairs of A and B. After you've worked about 1/3" of twisted tubular herringbone, add embellishments between each set of beads. Add a set of B beads and pass down through the next bead in the previous round. Before passing up through the next 3 beads, pick up 1 C, 1 D and 1 C. Pass up through the next 3 beads. Add a set of A beads and pass down through the next bead in the previous round. Add another set of CDC and pass up through the next 3 beads.

Alternate adding a set of embellishment beads between each set of A or B beads in every other round. Alternating rounds for embellishment beads will give your tubular twisted herringbone rope a fun texture while keeping it soft and flexible. Make sure that you pull snugly on your stitches when stitching the rows with no embellishments between bead sets to keep the stitching tight.

I used a custom-made peyote stitch toggle for this bracelet.

Because you're adding embellishments to your tubular twisted herringbone rope, you might have to make it slightly longer than usual for a bracelet. Once you're happy with the length of your herringbone rope, you can add a clasp. For my bracelet, I decided to make my own peyote-stitch toggle and embellish the ring with more of the Japanese drop beads.

Experiment with adding different types and sizes of embellishment beads between your bead sets! Try adding tiny freshwater pearls, 2mm or 3mm crystals, size 8^oseed beads or 1.3mm cube beads. Mix up your colors and most of all, have fun!

After you make up your own version of this bracelet, why not take a minute and share a photo of your beaded creation with us in the Reader Photo Gallery?

Happy Beading!

Jennifer