Beading Supplies We Love : Stringing

Vintage Beads I Love: Mercury Glass Beads from A Grain of Sand

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:10:00 GMT

I've always had a soft spot for vintage beads, and if you look through my collection, you'll find all sorts of old glass and Lucite goodies tucked away in bags and boxes. Suzanne Branca over at A Grain of Sand contacted me recently to let me know that she has uncovered some fabulous mercury glass beads in the now-famous Bead Hoard! She's shared a little bit of information with us about these rare vintage glass beads and why they're so special.

What are mercury glass beads? Mercury glass beads were well-known for their use in Christmas garlands and glass ornaments. In the early 1800s, the beads were originally made with mercury to give them a metallic luster. By the 1900s, the mercury was replaced with a silver nitrate solution, but the name stuck.

Mercury glass beads are made by blowing a long, thin tube of glass into a mold, creating a series of hollow bulges at regular intervals. The glass tube is then coated or lined on the inside with 24k gold mixed with a solution of silver nitrate. Finally, the tube is cut between edge bulge to create individual beads. Cutting the beads apart leaves a characteristic "neck" on these vintage glass beads and results in beads that are unique in character. It also means that the edges around the hole of these beads can be sharp, so for that reason, it is recommended that you use a heavier weight of Fireline (10 lb.) when stitching or stringing these beads.

Mercury glass beads are delicate, hollow glass beads that have been made for centuries. The mercury glass beads pictured here were made in Japan around the 1950s. They are quite small, 2mm and 2.5mm, which is quite a rare find for mercury glass beads!

Suzanne has a very limited supply of these vintage glass beads available at A Grain of Sand, sold in small lots of 50 beads in both the 2mm and 2.5mm sizes.

Want to see what three different designers came up with these precious and delicate vintage glass beads? Stay tuned!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Beading Supplies I Love: Kumihimo Beading Supplies from Tapestry Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Last month, I was lucky enough to be able to take a basic kumihimo with beads class at Bead Fest Philadelphia from the amazing Jill Wiseman. It was so much fun, and I picked it up so quickly, that the next day, I signed up for her advanced kumihimo class where I learned how to add focal beads and make a two-tone hollow kumihimo braid with a core of satin cords. You could say that I'm completely hooked on kumihimo, and yes, I'm working on writing up a few tutorials on basic kumihimo for Beading Daily in the coming weeks!

But meanwhile, if you've ever wanted to learn kumihimo and you're the kind of person who learns well from printed directions, you can find everything you need to learn how to do kumihimo with beads right on Jill's website, Tapestry Beads. Here's just a sampling of the kumihimo supplies you can find there:

Basic Kumihimo with Beads Bracelet Kits

This is the project that Jill teaches in her basic kumihimo with beads class, and the very first kumihimo project that I ever made. The kit comes with everything you need to make the bracelet in purple, silver, or gold iris. (Pretty colors!) The step-by-step instructions leave nothing out, from setting up your kumihimo disc to stringing on your beads to actually starting that first braid. You'll be amazed at how quickly this bracelet comes together -- you really can finish it in an evening.

If you've already mastered the basics of kumihimo and just want an easy project with beads, you can purchase a kit refill that comes with everything except the instructions. Jill's kumihimo with beads instructions are also available individually, without the kit materials.

Kumihimo Discs and Bobbins

Now that you're hooked on kumihimo like I am, you'll probably have four or five kumihimo projects going at once. Tapestry Beads sells more kumihimo discs and bobbins to help feed your need for making these beaded braids! (And the extra bobbins are also great for winding on long lengths of beading thread when you decide to hit the road with your bead-weaving projects, too!)

Kumihimo End Caps

I love the whole finishing process for my kumihimo braids, and the end caps are my favorite part! End caps and cones make for a nice, neat finish to your fun beaded kumihimo bracelets and necklaces, and Tapestry Beads has a wonderful assortment for the adventurous kumihimo beginner. There are huge end caps that can be used with size 6^o seed beads (or larger), and smaller end caps for smaller beads.

The only thing you can't purchase from Tapestry Beads online (yet) is the S-Lon or C-Lon cord we used for our beaded kumihimo projects. You can usually find S-Lon or C-Lon cord at your local bead shop, or for online sources, try Sparkle Spot Bead Shop or Caravan Beads.

Even if kumihimo isn't your thing (yet), make sure you spend some time checking out all the fabulous bead-weaving kits and projects that Jill has for sale at Tapestry Beads, including signed copies of her new book, Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Jewelry Making Components and Supplies from Lillypilly Designs

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT


Lillypilly now offers a large selection of fine gauge copper sheets, perfect for mixed media jewelry making projects!


The fine gauge copper sheets are available with both patina and embossed patterns on them.


It's easy to stitch through the copper sheets using wire or traditional quilting threads.


Take a walk on the wild side with Lillypilly's new anodized aluminum rounds!


Lillypilly also has new and beautiful shell jewelry making components for stringing, resin, and bead embroidery projects.

You might already be familiar with the beautiful laser-engraved shell and gemstone beading components from Lillypilly Designs, but at this year's Bead Fest Philadelphia, I found some really intriguing new jewelry making components made from metal!

Patina Copper Sheets from Lillypilly Designs

If you've ever wanted to work with more metals in your beading and jewelry making projects, but don't really want to get involved with things like metal saws and serious metalsmithing tools, the new line of 36 gauge copper sheets are perfect for you. Using an ordinary pair of craft scissors, you can cut these fine gauge metal sheets into whatever shapes you want for your jewelry making projects. You can even use large scrapbook punches to create perfectly uniform shapes!

The 36 gauge copper sheets are available in a wide range of colorful patinas as well as embossed with fun patterns and designs. They can be encased in resin, used with cold connections, or just cut and layered for unique rustic-style pendants and earrings.

After seeing a quilt made with fabric and some of those 36 gauge copper sheets, I was inspired to experiment with them. I created a fun metal and Ultrasuede cuff bracelet using wire embroidery techniques. I was really pleased with how easy it was to cut and shape the copper sheets with my craft scissors, and I'll definitely be coming back for more the next time I want to create a mixed media piece of beaded jewelry.

Anodized Aluminum Sheets and Rounds

I also saw Heidi coloring these fun little anodized aluminum rounds with Sharpie markers! Now, it's not as easy to cut the aluminum as it is the fine gauge copper sheets, but the pre-cut rounds come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, making them the perfect way to add a little metal into your jewelry making designs.

The aluminum rounds can also be layered with resin, shaped into domes with a dapping tool, and used for links with the addition of a couple of holes made with your favorite hole punch.

I brought home a handful of aluminum rounds with the idea that I'll color them with my favorite Sharpie markers, then encase them in resin and use them like cabochons in my bead embroidery.

The aluminum rounds come in three sizes, nine colors, and nineteen different patterns for you to play with! They're like little miniature coloring books for your favorite jewelry maker.

Shell Pendants and Components

And of course, I couldn't leave without a couple of my favorite laser-engraved shell jewelry making components.

New for 2012, Heidi has shell bezels for use with resin. These lovely jewelry making components are perfect for adding your favorite origami papers or your colored aluminum rounds to make unique (and easy) beaded jewelry.

I also found a lovely pair of lightweight rectangular Buddha pendants (without holes) to use as cabochons for a pair of bead embroidery earrings, and a couple of smaller round pendants (also without holes) to use in a couple of beaded cuff bracelet projects that I have in mind.

The last item I chose was a small laser engraved shell donut. I love Heidi's shell donuts, and I find that they make beautiful lightweight jewelry making components for both beaded necklaces and beaded bracelets. With designs that are both delicate and intricate, I don't really have to do much to showcase these lovely little creations.

You can find out more about my Bead Fest Philadelphia finds from Lillypilly Designs by checking out their website, Lillypilly Designs.

Do you have a favorite item or two from Lillypilly? What is it? Leave a comment and share your favorites here on Beading Daily!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Beading Books I Love: Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry from Lark Books

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:00:00 GMT

What do Jean Campbell, Marcia DeCoster, Jean Power, Rachel Nelson-Smith, Sherry Serafini, Nancy Cain, Diane Fitzgerald, Leslie Frazier, Margie Deeb, Kelly Angeley, Laura McCabe, Lisa Kan, Leslie Rogalski, and Melanie Potter, all have in common? In addition to being incredibly talented beaders, they all have beadwork featured in the newest book in Lark's 500 series, Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry.

Author and juror Ray Hemachandra has undertaken the monumental task of putting together a collection of beadwork from bead artists all over the world and turned it into a tribute to the craft of fine beadwork, written in the voices of those whom it is actually meant to recognize. The finished beadwork presented in this book ranges from intricate bead-weaving done with seed beads to artful stringing, and includes beads made from fibers, handmade glass beads, and mixed media jewelry using found objects of all kinds.

Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry is truly a testament to the humble bead, and how those beads allow each of us to express who we really are while at the same time uniting us in our thoughts, our dreams, and our spirit. No doubt that while you're perusing the pages of this book, you'll recognize many of the names of the artists included in this book. But I think that you'll also be delighted with the work of the artists whose names may not be so familiar.

As a source of inspiration, this is one book that you'll find yourself coming back to, over and over again. The colors, shapes, textures, materials, and techniques used in the beaded jewelry will have you looking at your own beaded jewelry design ideas in an entirely new way. It is a book in which you can easily lose yourself, only to come back with a fresh perspective on the age-old techniques of beading and bead-weaving.

You can find more information about Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry on the Lark Crafts website.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Ray Hemachandra, juror and author of Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry, also works as the team lead and business manger for Lark Jewelry and Beading. He has authored or been senior editor for other books in the Lark 500 series.

More information: Lark Crafts

Czech Glass Beads: My New Stash of Glass Beads - Spike Beads and Mushroom Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I really picked out quite a nice haul during last week's trip to York Beads in Manhattan, and I'm so excited to share this first part of my new glass bead stash with you!

I've loved Czech glass beads since way before I started bead-weaving with them. When I was just a stringer, I loaded up on the gorgeous colors and shapes of Czech glass beads that could be found at my local bead shop. These days, I still buy loads of Czech glass beads, but now I use them in my bead-weaving projects!

You've probably seen these Czech spike beads popping up in bead shops and at bead shows. Looking like the pointed horns of the mythical unicorn, these beads fit right in with edgy fashion trends like steampunk. According to York Beads owner Perry Bookstein, these glass beads can be considered handmade. Instead of being pressed by machine, these beads are pressed by hand and then must be manually removed from the mold with which they were created. They are very lightweight, come in three sizes, and are available in a huge range of colors and finishes.

The Czech spike beads have a flat top so they can be used in bezeling and bead embroidery projects. The hole runs across the wide end of the bead so that the points hang down, like a pendulum.

I bought my first batch of Czech spike beads from Beyond Beadery at the Tucson shows in February. A few months later, I added six more colors to my stash from The Hole Bead Shop. And then finally, I bought four new colors and finishes from York Beads. The unique shape of these Czech glass spike beads makes them perfect for your steampunk beading projects or stringing projects.

My other favorite find from York Beads was a hank of these luminous Czech glass button beads, or as I call them, mushroom beads. (But of course, I'm very food-oriented, even with my beads!)

These luminous little beads come in a beautiful array of colors, and have round, wide tops with a narrow glass shank. When strung, they fit together to create a "bubbly" look, or you can use them individually as drops or even closures on your favorite beaded necklaces and bracelets.

Czech spike beads are available from many online bead suppliers, or from York Beads. You can find the mushroom or button beads at York Beads.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Pearls We Love: Large Holed Freshwater Pearls

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:00:00 GMT

Yes, you read that right! While I was in Tucson, I started hearing about these wonderful large holed pearls, but never had the chance to find some for myself. Once I got home, I was browsing online at A Grain of Sand and discovered that among their "New Finds" were these amazing large holed freshwater pearls!


Large holed freshwater pearls come in a range of colors.

These large holed freshwater pearls come in several different colors, and are all about 10mm around in the classic potato pearl shape. And yes, they really have large holes! With holes measuring around 2.5mm, you can easily fit a toothpick or a piece of 2mm leather cord through each pearl, making them perfect for designs strung on leather or even silk ribbon.


	*These large holed freshwater pearls can accommodate a leather cord up to 2mm.*

The design possibilities for these gorgeous large holed freshwater pearls are just about endless. I love the idea that I can use them with my other large-holed beads for stringing projects. I love using freshwater pearls in my jewelry making projects, but pearls have always required a little extra thought when I want to incorporate them because the holes of most freshwater pearls are just so small! With these freshwater pearls, I can include some of my favorite beads and design elements in pretty much any projects I have in mind.

When using the large holed freshwater pearls, make sure to use a toothpick or small beading awl to remove the little bits from the center of the holes before you string them.


A great and easy stringing project uses these new large holed freshwater pearls mixed with some vintage Lucite from The Beadin' Path!

A Grain of Sand is selling these pearls by the 8" strand for between $15 and $24. My 8" strand of cream colored large holed freshwater pearls contained twenty-eight pearls, which were more than enough for a necklace, bracelet and a pair of matching earrings.

What do you think of these new large holed freshwater pearls? Will you try them in your next jewelry making project? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Margie Deeb's Spring 2012 Color Report is Here!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:00:00 GMT

Winters in my part of the world are long. And cold. When we can get outside and do fun things like ice fishing, skiing or snow shoeing, it's not so bad. But this winter, there's not enough snow to do much of anything, and I'm starting to long for the warmer spring and summer days.

Just when I thought I couldn't take any more of this winter, Margie Deeb has released her Spring/Summer 2012 Color Report for Bead & Jewelry Designers! I've loved Margie's color reports since she first started writing them, and I find that they always give me a little bit of an artistic boost when I'm looking for a color palette for a new project.

The colors Margie selected for the Spring/Summer 2012 Color Report are a wonderful combination of bright and subdued tones that work beautifully with each other as well as with your favorite neutral tones.

If you've never seen one of Margie's Color Reports before, each one contains ten colors pulled from the Pantone Fashion Color Report. (Pantone is the world's leading authority on color and its use in everything from art and fashion to industrial product design!) You'll learn the characteristics of each color and see how Margie, a recognized expert in the use of color for beads and jewelry designs, uses these colors in sample palettes that include a range of colors in different proportions.

For each color, Margie creates four suggested color palettes as examples for your seasonal jewelry-making designs. Whether you do bead-weaving, stringing or lampwork, you'll find these color palettes to be challenging and inspiring.

At the end of each Color Report, Margie also provides us with an amazing gallery of mouth-watering beaded eye candy with designs from artists like SaraBeth Cullinan, Jamie Hogsett, Jamie Cloud Eakin and Gretchen Coats. The gallery is designed to show you just how versatile each color is and how you can creatively use these colors in your favorite beading and jewelry-making projects.

The Spring/Summer 2012 Color Report for Bead & Jewelry Designers can be purchased for $9.95 as an instant download from Margie Deeb's website.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Great Holiday Gift Ideas for Beaders

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:00:00 GMT

Yes, it's that time of year again. When it comes to the holiday gift-giving season, there are two types of people. The first type, like my sister, has all the holiday shopping done before the end of August, and everything is neatly wrapped, tagged and stored in anticipation of the big day. The second type, like me, waits until pretty much the last minute and then goes on a fun (but frantic) bout of holiday shopping, paying a little extra for expedited shipping so that everything arrives on time.

But when I shop for beading gifts for my friends, I try my best to avoid shopping at the mall or at a "big box" craft supply store where I have to deal with crowds and busy parking lots. Instead, I try to buy my gifts online or at local craft shows from independent artists.

If you're looking for some great beady gifts for your crafty friends this holiday season, here are a few places where you can find fabulous ideas and do your part to support an independent artist at the same time!


Any beader would be thrilled to get one of these handmade bead mats by Judi Patuti!

Bead Mats from Judi Patuti - Bead mats are always a great gift idea for beaders, but these bead mats from Judi Patuti are a truly outstanding gift. With fabulous fabrics in bright patterns, these handmade bead mats will make a cherished gift for your favorite beading friend.

Brass bead embroidery blanks from Designer's Findings - If you know someone who loves bead embroidery, a selection of brass bead embroidery blanks from Designer's Findings will be a wonderful surprise. Most of these bead embroidery blanks are priced between $1 and $3 - perfect for giving!


	A Mirrix loom is the perfect gift for anyone who wants to upgrade their bead or tapestry loom.

Bead Reference Chart from Beaded Phoenix - I can't say enough about how much I love my Bead Reference Chart from the Beaded Phoenix. When I owned a brick and mortar bead shop, we had one of these reference charts posted on the back wall so that we could easily size up beads and stringing materials. Get one for a friend and see how often they'll use it!

Mirrix Bead Loom - For a real splurge, give a gift that keeps on giving. Mirrix bead looms are sturdy and well-made and will be appreciated by anyone looking to upgrade their beading or tapestry loom. If someone already owns a Mirrix loom, check out their selection of kits, patterns and accessories!

Sample pack of Nicole's Bead Backing - The first time I stitched some bead embroidery on a piece of Nicole's Bead Backing, I was hooked. The best part about Nicole's Bead Backing is that it comes in a wide range of colors, so you don't need to muck around with dyes. Give your favorite bead embroidery enthusiast a sample pack of this fantastic bead embroidery material!


The Beaded Phoenix Reference Chart Poster is a gift that will be appreciated and well-used!

Of course, another popular gift idea for your favorite beader is a gift certificate to an independent bead shop. Online bead supply stores like Beyond Beadery and The Hole Bead Shoppe offer electronic gift certificates, or check with your Local Bead Shop to find out if they offer gift certificates.

Do you have a great idea for shopping local for bead gifts this holiday season? Leave a comment and share your tips and suggestions on the blog!

Bead (and shop!) Happy,

Jennifer

Bead and String Reference Chart Poster by The Beaded Phoenix

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Don't get me wrong - I love technology. I love being able to subscribe to my favorite beading magazine and have my issues delivered to my iPad, and I love being able to download movies, music and books without having to wait for the mailman to deliver them. But when it comes to certain things, I prefer good old-fashioned hard copies, especially when it comes to my reference tools.

Case in point: the Bead & String Reference Chart Poster from The Beaded Phoenix. This laminated poster fits perfectly on the wall above my beading worktable, and it contains so much of the information that I need to refer to throughout the day whether I'm working on a beading project, ordering beads and supplies or writing a set of instructions.

Some of the information includes examples of round and oval cabochon sizes, seed bead sizes, cord sizes and bead stringing wire thickness, and general measurements and weights. It makes it much easier when I'm ordering crystal stones and gemstone cabochons if I can get a visual estimate of size. Instead of flipping through books or pages looking for my size charts, it's all right here in one place - and I don't need a magnifying glass to see it, either!

While the Beaded Phoenix Reference Chart Poster isn't sized for easy transport, it's perfect for your bead studio or beading corner. The lamination means that you can even punch a small hole in the top and hang it from a hook or bulletin board.

The Beaded Phoenix Reference Chart Poster measures 11"x17" and comes with a handy paper leaflet with more great bead reference information. Order both from The Beaded Phoenix.

Bead Happy!

Jennifer