Isn't It Romantic?
I'm not an especially romantic person, particularly when it comes to jewelry design. As I mentioned in an earlier post ("Playing with Color") I have no pink beads in my bead collection and certainly no heart beads--or so I thought.
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Imagine my surprise when I found these cute silver hearts at the bottom of my jewelry box! I'd forgotten about these heart charms that I created in my first metal clay class a couple of years ago. So apparently, even though I don't buy heart beads, somewhere deep inside I have the compulsion to make them. How weird is that?
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Of course, now that I've found these beads, all I can think about is creating a sweet, sentimental design (dangly earrings? Y-necklace?) that features them. C'est la vie!
New Free Project
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Love Me Tendril
by Christi Friesen
This new polymer clay project comes to us from Step by Step Beads. Learn how to make polymer clay and semiprecious stone leaf beads with these step-by-step instructions and photographs. Even if you are not a polymer clay fan, you might want to look at the close-up photo of this project for some springtime color inspiration. In the instructions, the designer also gives tips for an alternate autumn color palette.(Instructions are for the beads only; instructions for stringing the necklace are in the March/April 2008 issue of Step by Step Beads.)
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More Lovely Free Projects
You might also enjoy these love-inspired projects:
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Keys to My Heart
by Jean Yates
Techniques: Stringing, Wireworking
Create a matching earring and bracelet set using crystals and silver components with colorful shibuichi patina.
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Lovey Dovey Ring
by Jamie Hogsett
Technique: Wireworking
Practice your wireworking skills as you create this dramatic crystal ring.
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Lilac Love
by Debbie Blair
Techniques: Stringing (necklace), polymer clay and wireworking (pendant)
Craft your own unique polymer clay heart pendant to jazz up a simple necklace.
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Love Birds Necklace
by Michelle Mach
Techniques: Daisy chain, wireworking, sewing and gluing (pendant)
Seed bead daisies decorate pearls and turquoise nuggets in this brass chain necklace. The pendant was fashioned from separate brass elements. (Yes, this is a romantic piece, but it was a Beadwork challenge--I never would have come up with a love themed necklace on my own!)
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Inspired by . . . YOU
This Valentine's Day necklace is by Beading Daily reader Susan Cuss. Susan is a self-taught beader who has been beading for about three years. In addition to beading, she also paints in watercolors and oils. The spiral rope uses four shades of pink beads, plus a shade of gray inspired by the hematite heart. The fringe uses glass hearts, as well as crystal bicones and fire-polished crystals. The clasp was created with two metal love charms that Susan adhered together to create a two-sided piece.
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Share the Love
The Beading for a Cure projects are now online. All the beaders used the same kit of beads and it's truly fascinating to see all the different pieces that they came up with! All the pieces will be auctioned off to raise money for the National Colorectal Cancer Research Association. The auction will begin March 2, 2008--mark your calendars!
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Michelle Mach is the editor of Beading Daily. She'll be working on her Beadwork challenge piece this weekend and it's starting to look like it may be another love-inspired design!
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Filed under: Pearls, Crystals, Bead Making, Stringing, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Bead Crafts, Beads, Beading Daily