Daily Blogs : necklaces

The BEST Stringing Ideas PLUS 2 Free Projects!

Erin Carey — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:15:00 GMT

30 Necklace Tips and More in The Best of Stringing Magazine
Have you done something really interesting in your jewelry-making lately? Perhaps you found a unique way to attach a pendant or discovered a new trick for incorporating a clasp? I've been in a bit of a creative rut recently, to tell you the truth. You too?

Now we can be inspired by 183 great ideas in The Best of Stringing, a just-released special collector's edition filled with favorite Stringing designs. Not only are the magazine's many projects exciting, but so is the feature, Fun with Focals. Together co-author Michelle Mach and I highlight 30 stand-out necklaces–all hand-picked from past issues of Stringing magazine–that demonstrate cool ideas and innovations for designing with focal elements.

Under the Artful Influence
My work has already been influenced by some of these necklaces. For instance, in the photo below you can see how I interpreted Silvija and Taya Koschnick's necklace from The Best of Stringing, by reflecting their way of laying chain on top of beads in my Golden Blush necklace.

Fun with Focals
Artist Heather Powers was also influenced by our Fun with Focals article. Powers, who has designs featured in The Best of Stringing, is the creative mind (and hands) behind HumbleBeads.com, purveyor of polymer clay beads and finished jewelry, and the interactive blog, artbeadscene.com. In these photos you can see how Powers was inspired by Teri Bienvenue’s idea for a horizontal focal piece to create her own distinct design!

Free Projects!
I leave you with two brand new, never-before-seen stringing projects. Click each picture to download the instructions for that project. I hope they both inspire you to create your own fun focal pieces. Long live creativity! --Danielle

What have you designed that was inspired by one of our Fun with Focals projects? Share your ideas here!

4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Erin Carey — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:23:00 GMT

How do you deal with a necklace design that's perfect but too short?

Like most of you, when I design a new necklace I make it to my favorite length. I happen to prefer 16" necklaces because the focal bead sits just perfectly above my “Great Plains.” But if I’m making a necklace as a gift or to teach, I need to be sure that women of all different shapes and sizes can wear it. Not everyone’s got the Great Plains. Actually, most women I hang around with are more the, well…Grand Teton variety. So I usually make my necklace designs so they can easily be extended, either by the person that’s making it or by the person that’s receiving it.

Here are 4 ways to extend the length of a necklace:

Lisa Kan's
Autumn Bouquet

Jennifer Van Benschoten's
Back to Byzantium

1. Add more beadwork. If you’re stitching a beadwoven necklace, simply extend the strap or rope design to your desired length with the same or a different type of beaded strap. If the rope is too plain, incorporate other beads or embellishments to jazz it up a bit. Check out stitched necklaces like Lisa Kan’s Autumn Bouquet and Jennifer Van Benschoten’s Back to Byzantium to see the type of necklaces I’m talking about. See how they could easily be extended at the ends?

2. String extensions. You can easily transition from stitched beadwork to strung beads, like my example here. Just crimp a short length of flexible beading wire to one end of one strap, string enough beads to reach the back center of your neck, and crimp on half of the clasp. Do the same with the other side and you’re golden.

Jean Campbell's Fiori Necklace	Julia Zaccaria’s Delicious Donuts	Lindsay Burke's From the East

3. Attach extender chain. This is the simplest way to lengthen a necklace, as I’ve done with my Fiori Necklace. Just add a chain to one end of the strap and a lobster clasp to the other end. For some extra pizzazz, hang a little dangle at the end of the chain that incorporates a bead from the main necklace. You can also see this technique in Delicious Donuts by Julia Zaccaria and From the East by Lindsay Burke.

Anne Timmons'
Freshwater Pearl
Bridal Set

Katie Hacker's
Great Lengths Necklace
and Bracelet

4. Use a detachable extension. Use a bracelet with the same type of clasp and beads as your necklace to act as an extension. Just attach the bracelet clasp ends to their corresponding necklace clasp ends, and voilà! That’s at least 7" of extra length. Necklace/bracelet sets like Anne Timmons’ Freshwater Pearl Bridal Set and Katie Hacker’s Great Lengths Necklace and Bracelet work well for this concept.

Do you have other ideas for extending necklaces, or, for that matter, shortening them?
Please share them here and on the Beading Daily forums!

Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

Erin Carey — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT

A few short years ago I decided to quit my day job and attend culinary school. Okay, so it wasn’t exactly on a whim, but I had finally decided to follow my passion and learn the art of creating beautiful cakes and pastries. Although I learned how important it is to work neatly and to mise en place my ingredients ahead of time, by far the biggest—and most challenging—lesson I learned is what Chef Elizabeth called the Ta-Da moment. ...(read more)

New Right-Angle Weave eBook: 5 Free Projects

Michelle M. — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:33:00 GMT

One of the fascinating things about beading is that just by changing the beads you can make a project look completely different. Take the Triple Quatrefoil by Tina Koyama, one of the featured projects in our latest free ebook, Right Angle Weave: Beading Daily Presents 5 Free Beadweaving Patterns. In her original version, Tina used a base of 4mm fire-polished rounds with size 10, 11, and 13 Czech charlottes for the edging and embellishment. I loved her fun, summery version, but I didn't have any beads like that in my stash and I didn't want to wait until I had time to shop. ...(read more)

Create a Seed Bead Necklace with an Interchangeable Pendant

Michelle M. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:05:00 GMT

I may be the owner of the last reversible skirt in America. To be honest, I've only worn it with the pattened side showing, but I love the idea that I could wear the plain blue side showing if the mood ever struck. I especially enjoy packing that skirt for trips. It lets me pretend that I'm one of those über clever folks who know how to make 27 outfits out of 3 items of clothing and a scarf....(read more)

5 Free Beaded Necklaces: New Beading Daily eBook

Michelle M. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:32:00 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)

Why Simple Designs Aren't Always Simple to Make

Michelle M. — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:32:00 GMT

Recently, Stringing editor Danielle Fox and I were marveling over a necklace that had been submitted to the summer issue by sisters Silvija and Taya Koschnick. It was so simple, yet very appealing, the kind of piece that both of us would feel comfortable wearing often, even though our personal styles are quite different. While there were many other designs that were more complicated or technically difficult, this simple necklace stood out in a good way and reminded me that simple projects aren't necessarily simple to design. It's so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more is better, especially if you sell your work. Remember, the worth of your design is not just in the materials, but the design skill you bring to it. ...(read more)

3 Ideas for Jewelry Bails, Plus Free Project

Michelle M. — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:39:00 GMT

Take a look at one of my recent bead purchases--tagua nut circles. Do you see the problem? No? Neither did I, until I started trying to design with them last weekend. ...(read more)

New: Free Wire Jewelry Ebook

Michelle M. — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:03:00 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.

Are You a Bead Snob?

Michelle M. — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:30:00 GMT

I met a well-known bead designer last year who confessed that she sometimes enjoyed mixing high- and low-end components together--beads from her local craft store with some high-end silver or handcrafted art beads or findings. I admitted to her that I did this, too. Looking back, it's funny how we furtively looked around as we talked in hushed tones, as if we feared we would be found out by the bead police and dragged away....(read more)

Create an Artsy Pinwheel Necklace

Michelle M. — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:07:00 GMT

Have you ever created a necklace with more than one focal bead? When I saw Katie Hacker's free Perfect Pinwheels necklace from Beadwork, I admired how she managed to use more than one large bead in her asymmetrical necklace. While I've combined smaller beads together to make larger pendants, I've never used multiple large focal beads in a single design. The key seems to be to use two different sizes of focals if you are placing them next to one another. Otherwise, spread them out throughout the necklace for balance....(read more)

Free Netted Gemstone and Seed Bead Necklace

Michelle M. — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:05:00 GMT

I like experimenting wtih non-seed beads for beadweaving, so I was intrigued--and a little frustrated--when I saw the photo for this week's free project, Net Full of Gems by Linda Richmond. As you can see, the white necklace with seed beads and white gemstone chips is on a white background, making it difficult to see the stitches well. Luckily, the directions are clear, though I wondered about the "small" gemstone chips listed in the materials section. How small is small?...(read more)

11 Ways to Wear a Rope Necklace

Michelle M. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:08:00 GMT

11 Ways to Wear a Rope Necklace

I have a sick kid at home today. She’s barking like a seal, but she doesn’t have a fever so she’s got just enough energy to knock on my office door every half hour. Not too conducive to the technical editing I’m doing this week. So I put her to good use by asking her to organize my jewelry “vault”—the nearly bed-size plastic box where I keep most of my finished jewelry.

She just came in with a piece I made for Getting Started Stringing Beads. I remember when I made it and thought it was so ridiculously plain. That was Emma’s reaction, too: “Mom, this necklace is so boooooring!” But after I sat her down on the couch and showed her all the different ways you can wear it, I think she’s changed her mind. Check out this list:

Long	Flapper	Doubled

Tripled	Quadrupled	Lariat

Knotted	Doubled, then Knotted	Twisted through Ring

Twisted with another necklace	Yet another necklace thrown on top

The possibilities are endless! Trust me, I’ve been witnessing that as she’s been working on more ways to wear this thing all afternoon. Who knew that a necklace could provide such entertainment after it was made?

I used just one type of pearl, flexible beading wire, and a couple crimp tubes to make my 48” rope necklace, but you can certainly get more inventive. For inspiration check out the rope necklace by Sara E. Graham on the cover of the latest volume of Creative Jewelry. It incorporates wood, seed beads, and bicones, creating a colorful textural look. While you’re exploring this issue, study the pearl knotting tutorial inside to learn how to make a traditional pearl rope necklace—the kind Josephine Baker might have worn. It’s a great issue with lots of innovative jewelry designs. And, if you’re home sick today, but have just enough energy to bead, you can buy and enjoy Creative Jewelry right now because it’s available online as a PDF download you can receive instantly. Ain’t that the coolest?

Do you have some imaginative ways to wear rope necklaces? Share your tips on the website.

Ask Jean a question! Having trouble with wirewrapping? Need some tips on two-drop peyote stitch? Got a beading dilemma that is driving you crazy? Submit a question for Jean. Responses to selected questions will be published in a future newsletter. Due to the volume of questions, personal replies are not possible. Thanks!--Michelle Mach, Beading Daily editor

Jean Campbell writes about beading and life every Wednesday on Beading Daily. If you have comments or questions for Jean, please post them on the website. Thanks!

How to Store Pearls, Plus Free Necklace Instructions

Michelle M. — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:11:00 GMT

When I read Jean Campbell's post on last-minute gift-giving, I had to laugh when she mentioned pearl jewelry as one of her go-to last-minute gift ideas. Pearls (rather than crystals or gemstones) are definitely my go-to bead type when I'm stumped for a design idea or need a quick project. ...(read more)

Tips for Making Your Own Fabric Beads, Plus Kristal Wick Interview

Michelle M. — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:26:00 GMT

A few years ago I tried to make beads from ribbons. Sounds pretty easy, right? Cut a piece of ribbon, roll it up, and glue it. What could possibly go wrong? (How much time do you have?) My beads came apart at the seams and they were easily squashed. I couldn't figure out how much ribbon should overlap on the seam or what type of adhesive I should use. It's safe to say I was very intrigued when I saw Kristal Wick's new book, Fabulous Fabric Beads. Here was an artist who made and sold fabric beads for a living--if I still couldn't figure out how to make a good fabric (or ribbon) bead with this book, then I would just give up!...(read more)