Daily Blogs : Crystals, Chain Maille, Beaded Jewelry Design

Free Blooming Heart Mixed Media Jewelry-Making Project from Nunn Designs

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Silly me. All through high school and college, I thought that jewelry making with materials like fiber, clay, fabric, and paper was just a fun way to make jewelry. Little did I know that it's actually mixed media jewelry, and when I need to stretch my creative muscles a little bit, it's the perfect way to learn some fun new jewelry-making skills.

Our friends at Nunn Design have shared this awesome mixed media jewelry making project with us, designed by Karen McGovern as part of the Nunn Design Team. Enjoy!

Artist's Tip: Don't be intimidated by the list of materials used in this mixed media jewelry making project. If you can't find the exact materials listed, add your own favorite jewelry making or beading supplies, gemstone beads, or anything else that you'd like to use to make this project your own!

Materials:

Nunn Design Ornate Heart pendant in copper
Patterned brass sheet
2 faux pearl headpins, 3 inches
3 black flat-tipped headpins, 3 inches
4 polymer clay leaves (these were from Karen Lewis)
12 inches brass wire, 22 gauge
2 round beads, 4-6 mm, yellow and green
1 acrylic Lalibert flower bead cap, frost
1 enamel tipped headpin, 3 inches
Crystal Clay, black
9 inches Nunn Design Large Round Ornate chain in antique copper
9 inches plus three links Nunn Design Large Oval Ornate chain in antique copper
Nunn Design brass toggle clasp

Tools:

Wire shears
Wire snips
Round nose pliers
Needle nose pliers
Flat file
Your favorite epoxy or quick setting glue

Step-by-Step Instructions:

		Cut a triangle of patterned brass sheet ¾ inches tall by ½ inch wide. File the edges as needed to remove any snags or rough metal.

		Using your hands, gently curve the edges until you create a "pocket" that fits snugly into the heart bezel pendant. Set aside.

		Create your flowers, leaves and headpin embellishments. Slide a polymer clay leaf onto a head pin, and add a drop of glue. Carefully bend the wire so the leaf stands up. The polymer clay leaves are fragile, so take extra care when bending.

		Slide a yellow bead onto a black headpin, add a drop of glue, slide on the acrylic flower cap. Add a dab of glue to the end of another headpin, slide on your green bead.

		Make sure each leaf is glued securely to the headpin. Curve and bend the wires as you wish, trim with wire snips to fit into the brass sheet "pocket". Mix Crystal Clay according to package directions, and place enough clay into the heart bezel to fill the brass "pocket", but not show from the front. Press the brass in place, remove any excess clay that may squeeze out. Insert your flowers, wires and leaves, let cure for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight. After curing, test the wires. If any feel loose, add a dab of glue to the base.

		To assemble the necklace connect three links of oval copper chain to the pendant using the links as jump rings, then connect the hoop of the brass toggle to the end. Connect 9 inches of round copper chain to the toggle hoop, then connect 9 inches of oval chain to the round chain.

		Finish by connecting the toggle bar to the oval copper chain end. Add two polymer clay leaf dangles by creating simple wire wraps using 22 gauge brass wire. Place them so that they will hover over the toggle, a few links above the pendant.

What I particularly love about this kind of mixed media jewelry-making project is that you don't necessarily have to use the copper chain to finish it. Why not make a beaded chain using St. Petersburg stitch or Chevron chain? You could even stitch up a bail and hang this gorgeous mixed media pendant from a peyote stitch rope!

Are you ready to play with your mixed media jewelry-making skills? Mix things up a little bit when you get your copy of Handcrafted Jewelry 2012. For less than fifty cents a project, you'll get thirty-four mixed media jewelry-making projects using over forty different techniques! Whether you're just venturing into the world of mixed media jewelry, or you consider yourself a skilled mixed media jewelry artist, you're sure to find something new and inspiring to get you working on a new project.

Get your copy of Handcrafted Jewelry 2012 now, and feel like a kid again when you play with your jewelry-making supplies! Don't want to wait to have your print copy delivered? You can also download Handcrafted Jewelry 2012 instantly onto your favorite desktop or laptop computer. All the same great content as the print version, but in digital format and available for viewing in just minutes!

Have you tried combining mixed media jewelry-making components with your bead-weaving? Have some advice for those of us who like to create our own mixed-media focals and jewelry-making components? Share your tips and advice here and leave a comment on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

P.S. Nunn Design is currently looking for creative jewelry designers to be a part of the 2013 Innovation Design Team! You can find all the details on the Nunn Design blog.

5 Tips for Making Beautiful Wire and Bead Chains

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I've been doing a lot of wire jewelry making projects lately, thanks in no small part to my ever-improving wire jewelry making skills. I've discovered that just knowing how to make simple loops, wrapped loops, and jump rings can translate into a whole wire jewelry project!

So after seeing some absolutely beautiful wire and bead chain in bead shops and at shows, I committed that most grievous crime and actually said the words, "I can make that myself." But I knew I could put my money (and my beads) where my mouth is, so I set out to make a couple of beautiful wire and bead chains for my bead embroidery pendants.

The great thing about making these wire and bead chains is that they don't just work well as neck straps for my bead embroidery pendants -- they also make fabulous (and easy) wire jewelry projects all on their own! If you can make wrapped loops and know how to open and close a jump ring, then you can make your own wire and bead chains for all your beading projects.

Tip #1: Start with this free tutorial from Jean Campbell. Yep, Jean Campbell is my go-to resource when I need information or a technique tutorial. And she's written a great wire and bead chain tutorial for Beading Daily with clear, step-by-step instructions for how to make a wire and bead chain. Check it out to find out her tips for making consistent, even wire loops, too!

Tip #2: Work from the spool of wire. Instead of pre-cutting pieces of wire, I found it to be much easier to string the beads for each wire and bead link onto my spool of wire first, make a loop, and then trim the wire, just as Jean illustrated in her step-by-step tutorial above. A word of caution, though: don't string the beads for more than one unit at a time. That loose end of wire will whip around and send your beads into all corners of the room.

Tip #3: For speedy beading, use combination pliers. It might take a little practice to get the hang of handling them, but using combination pliers means that you don't have to stop, put down, and pick up a new pair of pliers every ten seconds. Plus, with the combination pliers, being able to keep my grip on the loop as I wrap it means the difference between a good wrapped loop and a great wrapped loop!

Tip #4: Make wrapped loop links, and join them with jump rings. Because I'm the mother of a four year old, I'm always thinking about ways to kid-proof my jewelry. To prevent your wire and bead chains from pulling apart and losing the beads, make wrapped loops at either end of your links and then join them together with jump rings or split rings. That way, if little hands yank at the pretty chain around your neck or wrist, you only lose a jump ring or two and not all those beads!

Tip #5: Get creative with your beads! Sure, you can make a great wire and bead chain using tiny gemstone beads, but this is one time when it's fun to think outside the box. Why not use up some of

those leftover beads or bead soup that you have lying around? Vintage beads make great wire and bead chain, and so do crystal beads, ceramic beads, and other large beads. (When you're using delicate crystal beads or vintage glass beads, it's a good idea to buffer them with seed beads or metal spacer beads to prevent the edges from chipping if they come in contact with the jaws of the pliers.)

If you don't think you want to start by making an entire wire and bead chain necklace, start small. Practice making links and use them as earrings, bracelets, and even fringe for your bead-weaving! Best of all, you can use colored craft wire or copper wire instead of precious metal wire to save money.

Are you hooked on making wire and bead chains? Trust me, it's only the beginning! For more great wire jewelry making projects, you'll want to check out Step By Step Wire Jewelry magazine. You'll find lots of great wire jewelry projects that use beads and wire with the same great step-by-step instructions that you expect from a great beading magazine. And if you like to stay current with wire jewelry making trends, new tools, supplies, and techniques, then you won't want to miss a single issue. Subscribe to Step By Step Wire Jewelry today, but don't say that I didn't warn you: wire jewelry making can be addicting!

Have you found a great way to work some wire into your beading projects? I still love using wire and bead chains for my bead embroidery pendants, either as neck straps or as fringe. (And the extra wire and bead links make great matching earrings for customer appreciation gifts, too!) Share your tips for working wire into your beading projects here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

My First Adventures in Chain Maille!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:00:00 GMT

Every once in a while, I am assigned a topic to write about here on Beading Daily that pushes the limits of what I know about jewelry-making. This time, it happened to be chain maille. I've never done anything with chain maille, and I was a little intimidated at the thought of opening, linking and closing all those tiny jump rings. Don't do it!, was the advice from Jewelry Making Daily's Tammy Jones. Tammy, apparently, resisted chain maille because she didn't think she had the patience to sit still and link all those little jump rings together, either!


It doesn't have to cost a lot to get started with chain maille. Some jump rings and a couple of pairs of jewelry making pliers are really all that you need!

But what's life without a little jewelry-making adventure now and then, right? And since this is National Craft Month and I'm participating in the 30 Day Challenge being given by Fusion Beads, I thought, hey, this will be perfect for the Day 3 Challenge: Learn a New Beading Technique.

To get started, I looked for an easy chain maille project. Naturally, the first place I looked was in the Free Resources section of Beading Daily, and sure enough, I found a lovely chain maille pendant project. After reading some of Tammy's Jewelry Making Daily posts about making chain maille, however, I decided that I would wimp out and buy my jump rings instead of making them myself. (I'm not THAT brave!)

What I found when ordering my jump rings was that I couldn't find the correct size for the smaller rings. So I ordered one size that was a tiny bit too small and another size that was a tiny bit too large. I figured I'd experiment with each and see what happened with them when I tried to use them in the pattern. I also ordered a special ring for opening and closing jump rings, thinking that any new beading tool that can help me with my first chain maille project can't be a bad thing.


	My first chain maille pendant, accented with a huge Swarovski crystal pendant!

Once I had all my materials together, I sat down on a gloomy Sunday afternoon and turned on (appropriately enough) a documentary about the development of mathematics and set out to make my first chain maille necklace project!

So, here's what I discovered:

My chain nose pliers were pretty much useless for gripping those jump rings. I'm not sure if it was because I'm just not skilled at opening and closing jump rings like that or if my pliers need to be replaced, but whatever the reason, I found myself dropping the entire piece of chain maille over and over whenever I tried to grip one of the jump rings with the chain nose pliers.

The jump ring opening tool was great for opening the rings, but not so great for closing them. My flat nose pliers worked much better for closing my jump rings, even when I had to nudge them into a tight space. I couldn't actually slide it all the way down my finger like a regular ring, but wearing it higher up on my finger gave me better control when I used it for opening my jump rings. It definitely made that chore faster!

The smaller size of the copper jump rings just didn't work for this project. But I noticed when using the larger size of the copper jump rings that each row of links turned out a bit tighter than I think they should have been. To compensate for this, I decided to just link the rows together at the ends instead of throughout the entire row. The result was a substantial piece of chain maille with a lovely drape to it!

And wouldn't you know it -- right after I finished my first chain maille pendant, I discovered that I had a large Swarovski crystal drop pendant in my stash that matched the colors in the jump rings perfectly! All that's left for me to do is make a beaded rope for it.

Are you looking for a great beginners' chain maille resource? Chain and Bead Jewelry: Geometric Connections is the perfect resource for someone who wants to teach themselves how to do basic chain maille! More than twenty projects are fully illustrated with easy-to-read and color-coded diagrams to make it easy to learn how to make your own amazing chain maille jewelry. Order your copy of Chain and Bead Jewelry: Geometric Connections and start linking your way to beautiful metal jewelry.

What was your first chain maille project? Do you have any favorite suppliers for chain maille jump rings and tools? Leave a comment and share your thoughts here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Where to Find Free Beading Patterns on the Internet: About.com Beadwork

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:00:00 GMT

We all love free beading patterns, there's no doubt about that. Last week, I talked a little about where to find free beading patterns here on Beading Daily. This week, we'll start looking around at other great places on the Internet where you can find free beading patterns. And we all know what that means - you can save your money for more beads!

Free Beading Patterns on About.com


Free Crystal Circle Pendant Beading Pattern

About.com is a website owned by the New York Times Company and maintains hundreds of individual websites devoted to a particular topic. The content on each site is written by a Guide, an expert in that topic chosen after a lengthy recruiting and training process.

There are two places to find free beading patterns on About.com. The first is the Beadwork site, which is currently written by author and bead artist Chris Franchetti Michaels. Chris has a vast knowledge of basic beading skills and is a wonderful designer of easy free beading patterns.

To find the free beading patterns on the About.com Beadwork site, click on the tab that says "Beading Patterns". Below, you'll find a list of some (but not all) of the free beading patterns on the site. Currently, they are grouped into the following categories: Beaded necklaces and pendants; Beaded earrings; Beaded Bracelets; Beaded Components; Holiday Beadwork; and Free Beading Patterns with Swarovski Crystals.

The free beading patterns on this site are not in .pdf format, and therefore you'll need to print the pages directly from your screen. If you need assistance in printing these free beading patterns, you can contact Chris Franchetti Michaels and she'll direct you in the best way to print these patterns.

(And if you see my name sprinkled throughout the patterns, yes - I was the Guide to Beadwork from 2009 until 2011, and many of the free beading patterns I designed are still available on the site!)

Jewelry Making Projects on About.com

The other place on About.com to find free beading patterns and jewelry-making projects is the Jewelry Making site. This site, run by jewelry artist and author Tammy Powley since 1998. Tammy is the author of several wonderful jewelry-making books, and brings her extensive knowledge of a variety of jewelry-making techniques and jewelry business to the site.

To find the free beading patterns and jewelry-making projects on the Jewelry Making site, just click on the tab at the top of the homepage that says "Projects". You'll find all types of free jewelry-making projects including metal clay, polymer clay, chain maille, basic bead stringing and even some seed bead patterns.

Other Free Beading and Jewelry-Making Projects on About.com

If you do a general site search, you'll find lots of other free beading patterns and jewelry-making projects scattered throughout the About.com site including cool and funky upcycled jewelry, paper beads, and kids' crafts. And they're all free!

Do you have a favorite source on the Internet for free beading patterns? Leave a comment and share it here on the blog for others!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Project Accessory: Bead Fearlessly!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:00:00 GMT


	Dangles from an old crystal chandelier make the perfect accent for a braided necklace and belt!


You might not believe this, but she's using match sticks to create a necklace!

Some of us around here at Interweave were so excited by the new Project Accessory on Lifetime that we decided to do a Bead Along Challenge here on Beading Daily, and a Make Along Challenge over on Jewelry Making Daily! Are you up for the challenge?

If you missed the first episode of Project Accessory, you can watch it for free on Lifetime's website. I won't tell you who the winner was, but I will tell you what the challenge is for this week!

This week, we're using found objects in our beadwork! Anything goes - rummage through your utility drawers, your garage workshops, your attics, your scary basements... Fill a box with "junk" and then go through it and find what inspires you. Tear, cut, drill, paint and then - of course - BEAD! Use anything you want to create a piece of beaded jewelry with the items you find. And don't be afraid to go over-the-top and make this really runway-worthy!

When you're done, post a photo of your found object beaded jewelry in the Reader Photo Gallery using the tag PABAL. (Note: you MUST use the tag PABAL in order for your piece to show up in the Project Accessory Bead Along Gallery!) You can also talk about Project Accessory and the challenge over in the Forums and get inspiration and advice from other beaders.


Get creative with this challenge: what can you find in your "junk" that would make awesome runway-worthy beaded jewelry?

I know that some beaders might be put off by the idea of using hand tools to alter their found objects. I, too, used to be tool-challenged, until I started learning how to make lampwork glass beads. There was something about using that torch while it was hooked up to tanks of potentially explosive gasses that removed all of my fears about hand tools. When I started fusing glass, my hands used the glass cutters and pliers as if I had been doing it my entire life. Maybe this challenge will be the perfect way for someone to overcome their fears of hand tools?

If you're not comfortable with power tools, start with a small Dremel tool to drill holes. Use your heavy-duty wire cutters to clip and trim metal and mesh and transform it into useful jewelry-making components. In this week's challenge, the designers used things like old metal rat traps (ew!), mattress springs and industrial wire to make jump rings and jewelry findings. The takeaway here is that ANYTHING can be turned into jewelry in the right hands.

After you've made your components, turn those jewelry-making components into a piece of beaded jewelry! (Does that make it a double challenge for some of us? I think it just might be!)

After you've made your jewelry components from your junk, bead it up! There are so many ways to incorporate found objects into your beadwork - you can stitch a peyote bezel around a round object, or hang a bunch of drilled charms from a right-angle weave necklace. It makes you realize just how versatile beadweaving is, both as an art form and as a craft.

Don't know where to start? Take a look at some of the steampunk projects in the Beading Daily and Jewelry Making Daily online shops! Interweave author and artist Susan Lenart Kazmer also has some wonderfully inspiring pieces on her website that are made with found objects. Take a look at the new Beading Daily Bead Along page to get some more great inspiration from blogs, beading and jewelry-making projects and our free projects, too!

Need some more inspiration? There's a special offer for Project Accessory fans this weekend!

Steampunk, “Mad Max,” industrial-chic – whatever you want to call it, using hardware and other unconventional items in your jewelry has always been hot. Maybe you don’t want to go as crazy as Brian Burkhardt did with the teddy bear and sofa belt (or maybe you do!), but you can learn how to express your vision in new ways and with fun materials with Jean Campbell’s Mixed-Media: Making Steampunk-Style Jewelry. It’s on sale for Project Accessory fans now through 10/30/11! Just enter coupon code PABD1 when you’re ready to check out. Start steaming up your jewelry now!

So let's turn our junk into jewelry, and bead fearlessly! Bead Happy!

Jennifer

Customizable Stringing Styles for Your Jewelry Making

Kristal Wick — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 09:44:00 GMT

Kristal Wick
is the editor of
Beading Daily

I don't know about you, but I'm an "over-the-top-funky-chunky" kind of jewelry designer. I love textures, 3-dimensional surprises, mixed media, big baubles, and bling. Having had years of experience selling my creations at shows (L.A. Gift show, Buyer's Market of American Craft, Quilt Market & Fest, to name a few of the biggies) and online, I've heard every type of customer comment you can imagine, kind and not so kind! One of the more commonly heard comment is "Oh, I simply could not wear THAT to work, it's too much." While the "more is better" design style is hot in my book, I realize not everyone enjoys a neck full of baubles, so I came up with a way to customize a necklace design to please everyone! Join me in creating a new look.

Simple strand for simple tastes

Wearing a simple strand comes in handy and is definitely more "wearable" for work or playing on the weekends. I throw in a mixture of metal colors so my necklace will go with silver, copper, and gold. That way I don't have to worry about matching my accessories.

		1. Make this easy strand with seed beads and Swarovski pearls and bicone crystal. 2. Crimp small loops on each end.

		Double the fun Now, let's create a second strand with a bit more color and texture. Keep it simple or add a blast of bling (you know I can't help it, Kristal is my name after all!). I used my Batik Beauty fabric beads with crystals for this strand. 3. String a more complex strand with more components than your first strand. Make sure this strand is a bit longer than the first one. 4. Again, crimp small loops on each end.

		Take it a notch up This is my fave strand, adding even more unusual elements. I love throwing in a few resin nuggets for a sea glass effect without the weight. This strand is also where you may like to include some large holed beads. I call this strand my "party strand." This is where I can go over the top and design this strand for holiday party-going! 5. String this strand a bit longer than the other two strands. 6. Crimp small loops on each end.

		The finishing touch You can either create all your strands long enough to go around your neck and finish off with a toggle or clasp. For a more cost effective design, I like to add chain as the back of my necklace. Usually my hair covers that part anyway, so sometimes I feel like I'm wasting my precious baubles by doing a whole necklace with components. 7. Add jump rings and a small lobster clasp to both ends of the chain, as well as to the back of your chain.

		Voilà! Clip your desired number of strands to each end of the chain. Single, double or triple strand masterpiece. You can also wear each strand separately so you essentially have a dozen different styles to choose from in one simple necklace!

Create your own design, or fill your noggin with hundreds of design inspirations from Stringing. I just love flipping through my copies when beginning a new project. I can take a bit from the design on page 4, and that pretty toggle from page 45, and that color pallet from page 67 and on, and on, and on....

Come bead with me.

Creatively,

Fast Gift Idea: Easy End Cone Earrings

Leslie Rogalski — Sun, 02 May 2010 09:54:00 GMT

Happy endings—
Oh no! It’s (insert impending occasion) . . . and I still haven’t made a gift yet!

That thought used to send panic through my veins, but not lately. I can whip up some earrings pretty instantly now, and I have a secret ingredient that makes even simple earrings look extra special—end cones.

With end cones and a few other items you're bound to have on hand, you can make unique earrings in minutes—especially the last minute!

Collect end cones
The variety of material and shapes and their afforable prices make cones the perfect finding to stock up on. You can buy new ones at every LBS or show without going broke, and feel satisfied that you've brought home something great for your stash. Buy in pairs, of course, but if there are different sizes, try one larger one, because end cones also make great single pendants. Shown here clockwise from top: cast silver, Sonoran glass, craft-store copper, my own coiled Parawire, grooved Thai silver, Kabela Designs brass filigree, Nina Designs floral silver.

Here are just four of the easy and fast techniques I use to make earrings with end cones: 1: Stop bead and head pin dangle String a seed bead as a stopper bead on a head pin. Thread on several fine chains of varying lengths. Pull the head pin through your cone from wide end to small end to snug the chains into the cone. Add another bead if needed to fill the small cone hole; make a wrapped loop on which you can now attach an ear wire. Add small wire-wrapped dangles to the ends of the chains, or use jump rings to add other charms.

2: Head-pin-loop dangle
Similar to the way I make a fine chain dangle, this method works for larger links of chain or capturing other jump ring components. Make a small closed loop with the head of a head pin, capturing your chain links or other dangles. Thread through the cone, snugging your chains inside the cone. Make a wire-wrapped loop with the remaining wire protruding out at the small end of the cone.

3: Fancy head-pin drop String beads onto a decorative end head pin. I’ve used a large crystal pearl to fill the wide end of my cone. Pass your head-pin wire through the cone to protrude from the small end. Make a wire-wrapped loop that will snug beads against the wide end of the cone.

4: Eye-pin charm dangle
Open the eye of the eye pin and capture the loop of a charm. Thread enough small beads on the pin to fill the pin length within the cone and leave the charm dangling below the cone, and have enough wire protruding for a wrapped loop at the small end of the cone. Pass the beaded wire into the wide end and out the small end. String another small bead if needed or desired on the protruding wire. Make your wire-wrapped loop to snug the dangle inside the cone.

Find tons of fast and easy gift ideas among our enticing eProjects in our online store and come up with your own fabulous last-minute gifts. Your occasions should always have happy endings!

Got a nifty trick for fast and fabulous jewelry projects? Come on, share your secret on Beading Daily!

Flower Jewelry from Beading Daily Members

Leslie Rogalski — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:46:00 GMT

Your garden grows on Beading Daily

Florals are sprouting up on every runway this spring, according to all the fashionistas. From dainty flowery prints to bold blossoms, flower power is back in style on dresses, tops, and accessories. So what do you make to be in vogue this spring?

Beading Daily members are clearly inspired by garden delights in their jewelry creations. The member Gallery is abloom with garden-inspired works, including excellent work submitted to a flower challenge last year. Though we wish we could show them all, we've selected just a few pretty petal designs past and present to share here. Kudos to you all!


Summer Flowers by Cbreul Lovely Lucite blooms on chain, with dewdrops of dangling crystals. Big flowers are in vogue!		Beaded Plumeria by Heartinhawaii Peyote-stitched with a center crystal, this floral hair stick would make a perfect island wedding accessory.


Purple Majesty Lucite Necklace by chris@312 Hand-wrapped vintage and modern Lucite drops and antiqued brass findings.		In the Garden by JSmaz, BD moderator Lively sunburst focal bead links up chain maille style with metal components.


Lucies Garden: Island Girl Version by TheHoleBeadShop A tropical bracelet strung with modern Lucite, seed-bead fringes and a lampworked focal bead.		Olivine Corsage by Mikki335 The winner of the experienced beaders flower challenge from last year. Seed-bead wow.

		Stringing magazine knows all about our love for garden delights—just look at the cover of the latest issue! Subscribe to Stringing today and you won't miss out on any budding styles all year.


SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! BEAD STAR CONTEST DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 10		*Lucky you, there's still time to enter the Bead Star* competition!** The deadline for Bead Star has been extended to May 10, so get those projects finished and photographed this weekend! Go to the Bead Star page for complete details and rules. You could win a trip to Bead Fest Santa Fe!

		FREE PROJECT! Combine a beautiful Thai silver focal flower with lampwork and raku beads in this week's free project. Guarding Beauty by Trish Kirkham is a simply strung necklace that represents the balance between beauty and strength. Download the instructions for this easy project here!

5 Free Beaded Necklaces: New Beading Daily eBook

Michelle Mach — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:32:00 GMT

At first glance, the five necklaces in our latest ebook, Jewelry Making: Beaded Jewelry Projects from Beading Daily: 5 Free Beaded Necklace Patterns, have nothing in common. From a 16" necklace sparkling with a right-angle weave crystal pendant to a 26" rope of simply strung seed beads and fiber-wrapped rounds, this ebook includes a wide range of necklace styles....(read more)

New: Free Wire Jewelry Ebook

Michelle Mach — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:03:00 GMT

A Lifetime Supply of Wire

When I started working with wire, my local bead shop talked me into a 20-foot spool of silver craft wire for practicing wrapped loops. I left there convinced that I had bought a "lifetime" supply of wire. It took me forever to make a single wrapped loop--I was always pausing and hesitating, trying to figure out if I was holding the pliers correctly and making the right motions with my hands.

What I didn't realize is how quickly things would change. I became obsessed with making simple and wrapped loops, working on them nearly every evening. As you might have guessed, my "lifetime" supply of wire quickly disappeared and now I have a whole drawer packed with all different kinds of wire.

If you're obsessed with wire too or just want to learn more about it, you'll want to take a look at our newest free ebook, Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily. Here's a glimpse of what you'll find inside:

• If you are new to wireworking or want a quick project: Cerulean Falls by Danielle Fox. You just need to know how to make 6 wrapped loops and open and close 4 jump rings.

• If you want to learn to make beaded chain or practice your wrapped loops: In Full Bloom by Ricky Talmage. This pearl and aquamarine necklace has 30 wrapped loops!

• If you want to practice a lot of skills in one project (coiling, hammering, forming a bangle, making a clasp) or want to use up a bunch of leftover beads: Gypsy Wire Bangle by Janice Berkebile. This fun bracelet has a little something for everyone.

• If you want to use up short scraps of wire or learn how to twist wire with a pin vise: Dancing Spirals by Heather Trundle. What a fun way to "go green" and recycle those 1" and 2" scraps!

• If you want to do your own thing: Freeform Wire Earrings by Leeza Khoury. Learn to frame gemstones with wire and add crystal embellishments.

• If you want to practice wirewrapping or learn to use a ring mandrel: Ring-a-Ding Rings by Martha Umberger. Experiment with using 2 different colors of wire for a modern look.

Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily

You can download this whole set of free wire projects in Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily.

Don't forget to tell your friends, so they can download their own copy of this new wire jewelry ebook!

Michelle Mach shares free projects every Friday on Beading Daily. If you have comments or questions for Michelle, please post them on the website.

Quick Beaded Valentine Cards, Plus New Reader Gallery

Michelle Mach — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:01:00 GMT

The first reader gallery of 2009 includes designs by 35 readers from all over the world, including Mexcio, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany. From simple strung necklaces to a Victorian-style beaded bag with size 15 beads to a bead embroidered pin, you'll find something to love in this gallery!...(read more)

Free Seed Bead and Crystal Peyote Bracelet Project

Michelle Mach — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:52:00 GMT

If it's been your dream to see your project published, but have felt nervous about the submission process, you'll find inspiration in Lynn Davy's story. One of her first submissions was to the "Bead Boy" reader challenge in Beadwork magazine two years ago. She might never have worked up the courage to submit, except her 8-year-old son created and submitted his own project to the magazine first! ...(read more)

Learn to Create Wire Jewelry on a Budget

Michelle Mach — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:40:00 GMT

One of the things I love most about jewelry is the diversity it affords (no pun intended!). Sure, I drool over the Tiffany’s catalogs, and gawk at the windows in the Diamond District when I’m in New York City. But my favorite pieces of jewelry contain no gold and no precious stones. Instead, they’re made from rubber tubing, scrap fabric, lampwork beads, copper, steel, and craft wire.

...(read more)

Win a $500 Jewelry Supply Shopping Spree

Michelle Mach — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:52:00 GMT

A quick chain maille necklace is like a quickie meal at an exclusive 5-star restaurant. It just isn't possible! ...(read more)

Artists Inspiring Other Artists: 3 Examples

Michelle Mach — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:36:00 GMT

In my editor’s letter in the Summer issue of Stringing, I mention how a comment from Beth Garbo, owner of Mystic, Connecticut’s You’ve GOT to be Beading, struck a chord with me: "Our customers love Stringing magazine—it’s awesome to see them inspired by other artists." It made me realize that the magazine really is about artists inspiring other artists. And that realization made me think about how I’ve been inspired to make projects because of something I saw in Stringing or other publications and how other people have been inspired by my work. ...(read more)