Inside Jewelry Stringing Magazine

Jewelry for Dad

2013-06-14T10:00:00Z

Father's Day is just a few short days away! Before you go out to buy your old man yet another necktie, consider giving him a piece of tasteful handmade jewelry instead. And if he balks at the idea of wearing jewelry, you might want to remind him that there are plenty of guys out there who pull it off quite nicely...

When it comes to designing jewelry for men, less is definitely more. Stick to minimal color palettes, matte materials, and simple techniques. I've rounded up a handful of materials that would lend themselves to masculine designs:

		Add a clasp to a length of this flat braided cord from Leather Cord USA for a nicely textured bracelet.

		String a few of these sterling steel rounds with a matte black finish (Sterling Steel Ball) to the center of a piece of leather cord or chain to make a simple necklace.

		These lava rock rounds from Happy Mango Beads are made from natural lava rock, giving them a slightly rough surface and a light weight.

		Another natural bead, these wooden rounds are made out of finished palmwood and are sold by the strand at Beads and Pieces.

		Ball chain is the perfect way to turn a pendant or bead into a great gift for your guy. Easily customizable in length, ball chain comes in any metallic finish and in many different sizes. This antique brass finish is available through Ornamentea.

Happy (Father's Day) Weekend!

Chloe

Calling All Kings and Queens

2013-06-10T09:00:00Z

Only one more week until submissions for our Winter issue are due and I am so anxious to see what our talented contributors have come up with! The four themed categories are Retro, Baby; Days of Kings and Queens; Sparkle, Dazzle, Shine; and Chain Meets Fiber.

When we cooked up these themes several weeks ago, by far my favorite was Retro, Baby (since I am, like, totally an 80s girl!). But next week I'll be most curious to see the submissions for the Days of Kings and Queens category. We'll be looking for pieces with a commanding presence, yet wearable in nature--a modern homage to the lavish jewels that adorned history's royal women.

Dolce & Gabbana

Snow White and the Huntsman, Universal Studios

The Tudors, Showtime

Marie Antoinette, Columbia Pictures

Have an idea for a regal piece of jewelry? It's not too late! Just make sure your piece arrives in our Loveland offices by June 17^th (full details can be found on our web site here).

And be sure to pick up a copy of the Winter issue this December!

Happy beading!

Summer Trend: Chain Handpieces

2013-06-07T10:00:00Z

As the temperatures continue to rise and summer gets further underway, I have been noticing a lot of handpieces out and about as well as popping up online. This isn't a trend I have ever sported myself, let alone tried to make, but there is something so festively summery about these chain ring-bracelets that I am thinking about trying to make one up! I like the range of styles that these pieces come in--from big and bold to delicate and feminine.

I've rounded up a few of my favorite examples:

from BOHOCollective

from Obaz.com

from Love Culture

from Ami Clubwear

from Free People

What are some of your favorite summer jewelry trends?

Happy Weekend!

Chloe

Coming Soon: 101 Bracelets, Necklaces, and Earrings

2013-06-05T10:00:00Z

Today we send the 2013 issue of 101 Bracelets, Necklaces, and Earrings off to our printer (2012 issue pictured at right). Yippee! We've been working on this issue for months and months. Why? Because it's chock-full of awesome, all-new projects that had to be hand selected, photographed, and edited.

True to its name, we packed one-hundred-and-one pieces of jewelry into this supersized issue, which is arranged in color categories. All of the pieces are fairly simple. After all, that was the vision behind this magazine in the first place: to offer our readers tons of jewelry ideas that are fashionable, yet fast-to-make. In fact, most of the one-hundred-and-one stylish projects featured in the issue can be made in only an hour or two. That means you can get a new dress in the morning, make a bracelet from 101 BNE to match it in the afternoon, and wear your ensemble the same evening!

With so many pieces of jewelry between its covers, this magazine is like a catalog of creative possibilities. I’ve already tagged a few must-make items. One is from the pages I've shared with you below--the Jaded Earrings by Allison Hoffman in the Pistachio Greens section (top left). They honestly will take no time to make—maybe forty-five minutes, tops—and require few supplies.

I have a feeling you'll find many favorites, too!

101 Bracelets, Necklaces, and Earrings will be available on newsstands July 16. I hope you have as much fun reading it as we did creating it!

-Danielle Fox, Editorial Director of Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing magazines

The 7 Most Common Clasps

2013-06-03T09:00:00Z

If you're fairly new to jewelry making, it might be difficult at first to determine what type of clasp you should use when designing your bracelet or necklace. Below are seven of the most common. (Photos courtesy of FusionBeads.com)

		Box clasps are shaped like a box on one end and have a bent metal tab on the other end that snaps into the box. It's nice to use these as a decorative element on your piece--think asymmetry.
		Fish-hook clasps are most commonly used with a classic pearl necklace. They have a hook on one end that catches inside a marquis-shaped box.
		Hook-and-eye clasps have a J-shaped side and a loop side that hook into each other. This type of clasp requires tension to keep it closed, so it's a good choice when creating a necklace that has some weight to it.
		Lobster and spring-ring clasps have levers that operate an internal spring to open and close them. These are a great multi-purpose clasp for smaller, delicate pieces. They are my go-to clasp when using chain.
		Magnetic clasps are held together by strong magnets, so they should not be used by people with pacemakers. Since heavier-weight necklaces or bracelets could cause the magnets to pull apart, they should only be used for light- to middle-weight pieces.
		S-hooks are made up of an S-shaped wire with jump rings at each end. This clasp, like the hook-and-eye, depends on tension to keep it closed.
		Toggle clasps also require tension to keep them shut. Simply pass the bar half of the clasp through the ring half to fasten. This type of clasp works especially well for heavier necklaces.

Another thing to note: some clasps have one loop for making single-strand jewelry and others have two or more loops for multistrand pieces.

When designing your necklaces and bracelets, take a look at the clasps that your local bead shop or online retailers carry--the options are virtually endless!

Happy beading!

Sneak Peek: Beads 2013 Buyer's Guide

2013-05-31T10:00:00Z

Every year we put together a buyer's guide that is chock-full of the latest and greatest beads, findings, and tools. We have quite the collection to share with you in the Fall '13 issue of Jewelry Stringing, but that doesn't hit newsstands until August. So to tide you over, I pulled a few of my favorite products that will be featured to share with you a little early:

		These metal pendants are handmade by artist Patricia Healey. I love the coppery red of her Southwest-themed pendants and components!

		Stamp, punch, bend, texture, or color these fun metal blanks from Rings & Things to incorporate them into any kind of jewelry project.

		These adorable enameled filigree bead caps by Dana Rudolph come in a variety of color combinations, shapes, and sizes.

		These lovebird and daisy toggle clasps from Daisychain Designs are the perfect combination of sweet and subtle.

Stay tuned for the full shopping guide, coming this fall!

Happy Weekend,

Chloe

Crafting for Soldiers

2013-05-27T04:00:00Z

Today is Memorial Day here in the U.S., and what better way to observe this day than by honoring some of our enlisted military personnel or veterans with a handwritten note or handcrafted item?

Operation Gratitude

Operation Gratitude sends 100,000 care packages each year filled with snacks, toiletries, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members, their children at home, veterans, wounded soldiers, and first responders. They are hoping to include one of these paracord survival bracelets in each care package--instructions are included on their web site here.

Operation Care Package

Operation Care Package is soliciting handmade items to send to the troops. This statement on their web site says it all: "Nothing brings a smile to a soldier's face like receiving something handmade from home!" Click here to find patterns and instructions for how to make neck gators, cool scarves, and Christmas stockings. They are also in need of handmade stocking caps, quilts, and fleece blankets.

Operation Sweetest Appreciation - Soldier Cookie Donation

I love that the Butter Maid Bakery in Ohio will send a box of delicious cookies to a soldier on your behalf. Visit their "gourmet care package" page here for more information.

As you're throwing your brats or veggie burgers on the grill this Memorial Day, take a few moments to reflect on what these soldiers have done for our country, and consider sharing a note or handmade item to show your appreciation!

Global Etsy Craft Party

2013-05-24T10:00:00Z

Etsy has become a wonderful way for crafters to come together digitally, and now they are using the power of their expansive online network to bring people together at their annual Craft Party. Every year, Etsy designates a specific date and theme for their global Craft Party and invites crafters all over the world to participate by convening with other creators in their area and getting crafty together! This year's Craft Party will be on Thursday, June 20th, and will be focused around the theme, "Craft for Community". Makers will be coming together worldwide to share their skill sets with their fellow crafters, and combining their creative powers to make their hometowns even better. Check out the event list to see if there is a Craft Party scheduled near you. If there isn't--you can still organize one!

If you do attend a local Craft Party, snap pictures of the event and post them on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #craftparty, or upload them to the Etsy Craft Party Flickr group.

I just registered for my local Craft Party--it was super easy, and free. Your turn!

Happy (long!) weekend!

Chloe

How-To: Easy Engraved Bracelet

2013-05-20T09:00:00Z

Looking for an easy way to add a word or phrase to your next jewelry project? Recently I tried out the Micro Engraver from Bead Smith and learned a few tricks by making this easy mixed-media cuff.

To make a similar cuff, you'll need the following:

Blank metal cuff (mine is 10mm wide)
Lucite, resin, or plastic floral embellishment (I used a vintage-style 34mm matte mustard plastic rose cabochon from MK Beads)
12" of ribbon that is 10-11mm wide
Multi-purpose adhesive
Micro Engraver tool
Permanent marker
Scissors
Patina inks (optional)
Paper towel (optional)
Metal reliefing block (optional)

Mark the placement of your flower so you'll know where to start your lettering. (I wanted my flower slightly off center.)

Holding the engraving tool like a pencil, carefully write your word(s).

The finished phrase. You can leave it like this, or highlight the words using a little patina ink.

Apply a dot of patina ink and then spread with a paper towel, making sure to rub the ink into the engraved letters.

Once the ink has dried, use the metal reliefing block to remove the ink from the non-engraved areas.

Use the adhesive to apply a strip of ribbon to the non-engraved half of the bracelet.

Cut 3 short sections of ribbon and fray the ends; adhere in an "x" fashion to the cuff where the flower will be placed.

Glue the flower on top of the ribbon sections.

One side of the bracelet, showing the engraved lettering.

The other side, showing the ribbon and flower.

I found it difficult to make smooth letters with the Micro Engraver. Once the tip touched my cuff, I felt the need to move the tool quickly, otherwise my letters seemed wavy. And I couldn't quite tell how much pressure was appropriate--a fairly light touch seemed to do the trick. Both of these situations could easily be remedied with more practice.

The other challenge I had was applying too much patina ink the first time, dabbing it onto all of the letters using a paint brush. Once the ink had dried, it was nearly impossible to remove all of it from the non-engraved areas of the cuff. So on my second try, I simply placed a dot of ink on the first letter (straight from the bottle), then used a paper towel to spread the ink to the remaining letters, allowing for a much lighter application. This time it was so much easier to buff off the dried ink using the metal reliefing block!

I encourage you to give it a try! Having the tool allows for endless possibilities in customizing your jewelry with whatever your imagination holds!

Happy crafting,

Get Inspired! Tips for Creating Original Designs

2013-05-17T10:00:00Z

Submissions guidelines for the Winter issue of Jewelry Stringing were officially posted last week. We have already had some really stellar designs come in, and we can't wait to see the rest of the projects that our new themes inspire you to make!

During our brainstorming sessions for the new guidelines, we all agreed how strange it was to be thinking about wintery themes in the middle of spring. Constantly working two seasons ahead of the weather is one of the more bizarre elements of the work that we do. It occurred to me a few days ago that we aren't the only ones affected by this strange schedule--you are, too! Since I have experienced how frustrating it can be to try designing a piece of holiday jewelry when it's 80 degrees outside, I thought I would share a few of the tools that I find helpful in coming up with original design ideas.

Color Palettes

Retro, Baby!

Days of Kings and Queens

Sparkle, Dazzle, Shine

Chain Meets Fiber

I have found that selecting a palette for a new project is often all it takes to get my creative juices flowing, so I would encourage you to take some time to really consider the color palettes that accompany each of our theme descriptions. Allow these colors to be a jumping-off point instead of thinking of them as limitations; they are intended to give you an idea of what we are looking for, but we don't expect you to use all of the colors in order for your design to be eligible for consideration. There are usually a few colors in each palette that speak to me more than the others, so I like to consider just one swatch of color at a time--you never know which one might trigger your next big idea!

Pinterest Boards

In addition to providing color palettes for each of our themes, we also create digital inspiration boards on Pinterest for you to use as a reference. We use these boards to provide a few examples of jewelry pieces that would be good candidates for each section, but the majority of the contents that we pin on each board has more to do with the concept behind each theme. Cross-referencing these inspiration boards with the theme palettes and descriptions will give you the most complete picture of what we are looking for, and give you the best chances of seeing one of your designs printed in the magazine!

Word Association

This is a trick that I used to use to brainstorm for essays in college, but I hadn't considered using it as a design tool until I saw yesterday's post on Design Love Fest. In it, Bri Emery (the graphic designer behind DLF) talks about using word association to come up with fresh new ideas for her design work. I grabbed a notebook and some pens and took a few minutes to try out her method with one of our new Winter themes--with great results! I started by jotting down the first nine words that came to mind (blue writing) when I thought of our Sparkle, Dazzle, Shine theme, and then repeated the exercise using each of the new words as inspiration (pink writing). Finally, I went back through and circled the words/phrases that I found most interesting and inspiring. One thing that trips me up when I sit down to create a new piece is the flood of ideas that I have--too many ideas can be just as confounding as having none at all! This exercise helped me narrow my inspiration down to just a few key concepts to design around. Give it a try next time you are having trouble starting a new project!

What are some of your favorite design tricks and techniques?

Happy Weekend!

Chloe

Essential Beading Wires For Your Bead Stash

2013-05-15T10:00:00Z

I recently made a necklace for the Fall issue of Jewelry Stringing magazine using 24-gauge gunmetal wire. As I was sifting through my box of wires deciding which to use for this project, I realized it might be useful to discuss wires...especially the wires I couldn't bead without. If you're a beginning beader, I would recommend purchasing the following wires.

MEDIUM (.018 or .019 diameter) FLEXIBLE BEADING WIRE

This is a must-have wire. It's stainless steel wire that's been covered with clear nylon. A go-to material for any stringing project, this wire is won't kink and is strong enough to support most beads (use heavy wire for heavy beads, such as chunky gemstones). I like 49-strand wire--the greater the number of strands, the greater the flexibility--so 49-strand is super flexible compared to, say, 7-strand or 19-strand. Soft Flex, Beadalon, Accu-Flex, Flexrite, and Acculon are just two of the many beading wires available.

STERLING SILVER 24-GAUGE ROUND, HALF-HARD WIRE

Let me explain. Sterling silver is the type of metal, of course. While sterling silver has long been my favorite wire to use, recently I've purchased silver-plated wire instead due to the high price of sterling. The gauge refers to the thickness or diameter of the wire. 24-gauge is about .025" in diameter. This is considered fine wire, but I find it's a great size to fit most of the beads in my stash. "Round" refers to the shape of the wire, and "half-hard" refers to the temper. Temper is the hardness of the wire. Half-hard means the wire it's soft enough to be malleable but hard enough to hold its shape. This is the wire I turn to for my wireworking needs--it's perfect for making wrapped and simple loops.

While I use the above two wires the most in my jewelry-making projects, I've also accumulated several other wires that have served me well:

Heavy (.024) and fine (.014 or .015) beading wires: I string heavy gemstones on the heavy and pearls with tiny holes on the fine.
22-gauge silver wire: For projects when I want my wireworking to have more heft
Gold 22- and 24-gauge wires: For projects I make in gold tones
Antiqued brass or gunmetal wire: Because I've been using more and more brass in my work

What wire could you not live without? Tell me below!

-Danielle

Decadent Jazz Age Jewels

2013-05-13T04:00:00Z

The release of The Great Gatsby has been highly anticipated by many since last year and it finally hit the theaters this past Friday! I haven't seen it yet, but I'm anxious to take in the glamour and grandeur of it all. I've heard that the sets, costumes, and jewelry are such an authentic replication of the period that the actors and audience alike felt truly immersed in the fabled era known as the Jazz Age.

Tiffany & Co. supplied the jewelry for the film, and to celebrate the glitz that was the Roaring 20s, they have released a collection of jewelry aptly named Jazz Age Glamour. The collection includes this Pearl Tassel Necklace with diamonds and pearls, and these Tiffany Legacy Collection earrings with diamonds totaling 1.7 carats.

View the full collection at Tiffany & Co. here.

Carey Mulligan wears Tiffany & Co.'s hand ornaments and exquisite headpiece during a big party scene in the film.

Menswear designer, Brooks Brothers, has also created a collection inspired by the costumes in the film. See their Great Gatsby Collection here.

Bring the glamour of the era home by making your own version--the Spring issue of Jewelry Stringing, on newsstands now, features 7 spectacular necklace and bracelet designs with a modern twist on favorite flapper fashions such as lariats, tassels, and pearls.

I'd love to hear what you think of the Roaring 20's fashion, and if you've made any of the jewelry!

Now Accepting Winter '14 Jewelry Stringing Submissions!

2013-05-10T10:00:00Z

I know that many of you have been patiently waiting for the themes and guidelines for the Winter 2014 issue of Jewelry Stringing to be posted. Well the wait is over! Details about issue themes, color palettes, Pinterest boards, and deadlines (submissions are due by June 17th!) are now posted on our Submissions Page.

We are really excited about this issue's themes--we think you will be, too! Here's a snapshot of each one:

Days of Kings and Queens

The expertly costumed casts of popular television shows like Game of Thrones and The Borgias
have shown us that ornate filigrees and dripping jewels are just as captivating today as they
were in ancient times. Submissions in this category should be modern homages to the lavish
jewels that adorned the regal throats and wrists of history's royal women. While these pieces
should have a commanding presence, they should also be wearable. Consider pairing the rich
colors in the palette above with contemporary components, or combining era-inspired accent
elements with a current jewelry trend like mixed metals or leather.

See our Pinterest inspiration board for this palette at:
https://pinterest.com/stringingmag/days-of-kings-and-queens-winter-2014/

Retro, Baby!

While we think there are a lot of styles from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's that are best left in
the past, the jewelry trends that came out of these decades are some of our favorites! The
clean lines, classic silhouettes, and pastel palettes of 50's accessories are often seen in the work
of today's top jewelry designers, and the bright bohemian baubles that the 60's produced will
always be crowd pleasers. The chunky chokers and tribal motifs of the 70's are in the midst of a
comeback, and the geometric shapes and colorblocking of the 80's seem like styles that are
here to stay. Each submission in this category should showcase the trends of one of these
specific decades (including but not limited to those named above).

See our Pinterest inspiration board for this palette at:
https://pinterest.com/stringingmag/retro-baby-winter-2014/

Sparkle, Dazzle, Shine

Dark colors tend to dominate the attire at holiday parties--why not add a splash of wintery
color with a festive piece of jewelry? This collection will consist of projects that are
simultaneously glamorous and playful in shades of rosy pink, icy blues, and minty greens. Don't
be shy with the rhinestones and crystals--these projects should have plenty of glitz and
sparkle! Instead of being inspired by a specific era or genre, this category represents a
collection of our favorite things about the winter season: the twinkle of winking holiday lights,
the bright colors of confetti, the sparkle of a flute of champagne.

See our Pinterest inspiration board for this palette at:
https://pinterest.com/stringingmag/sparkle-dazzle-shine-winter-2014/

Chain Meets Fiber

The trend of chain-and-fiber jewelry is a perfect example of the axiom "Opposites attract."
Chain has structure, is composed of rigid shapes, and is metallic in color, while fiber is soft,
textured, and can be found in a vast spectrum of shades. Whether it is embroidery thread
braided around chunky curb chain, or silk ribbon woven through brassy chain links, this unlikely
couple has been showing up everywhere, from DIY blogs to designer jewelry. We want to see
your take on it! We are looking for projects that include both chain (in any material) and fiber
(ribbon, thread, yarn, twine, linen, fabric, etc.). We are hoping to see colorful fibers in the
saturated swatches above to offset the metallic colors of the chain.

See our Pinterest inspiration board for this palette at:
https://pinterest.com/stringingmag/chain-meets-fiber-winter-2014/

We can't wait to see the designs that these themes and color palettes inspire you to make!

Chloe

Free Tutorial From Our Friends at Ornamentea

2013-05-06T12:00:00Z

Every so often, it's fun to follow along with someone else's tutorial and not have to invent my own. Such was the case when I received this fun tutorial from Ornamentea in my inbox last week--I knew I had to make these earrings! Not one who typically seeks instant gratification, for some reason I really had the urge to make them now! The fabulous thing is, it was easy for me to substitute some of the materials with those I already had sitting around the office!

Thanks to Ornamentea for offering the full tutorial here for these Day Glow Earrings designed by Erin Siegel.

Erin's version (left) from the Ornamentea web site; my version (right).

Although waxed linen cord would be ideal (as the tutorial suggests), I used some green hemp cord that I had around the office. However, the wrapped portion turned out a little chunkier than I would have liked. I chose these apple green Kazuri beads from Antelope Beads because I loved the bright green color.

I thought this baby blue rhinestone cup chain would keep the casual feel I was going for.

The only snag I ran into was the fact that the holes in some of my beads were too small to accommodate the two cords plus a head pin, so I had to keep digging through my stash until I found some with larger holes!

All in all, this turned out to be a fast and friendly project. Do you have a favorite quick-and-easy earring project?

Happy beading,

Thoughts On A Snowy May Day

2013-05-03T10:00:00Z

May Day always makes me think of fresh wildflowers, sundresses, maypoles, and bare feet, so you can imagine how grumpy I was to be greeted by a fresh blanket of snow when I woke up on May 1st this year! As I was walking out to my car, bundled in layers and cursing the day that I decided to leave Southern California and move to Colorado, I caught a glimpse of the foothills behind my house. The red rocks looked stunning jutting out of the white snow, and the resilient spring greenery that had started to speckle the landscape was peeking through the drifts. The scene reminded me that, as ready as I am to put away my coats and break out the SPF, there is still a lot to be appreciated about this brief time when the seasons almost overlap.

While mulling this thought over later in the day I stumbled upon Australian artist Kirra Jamison's latest collection, titled Love Me Two Times. I was struck by how well each piece of artwork in this collection married cool, dormant, wintery colors with the electrically lively hues of spring:

So many of these pieces even look like flowers poking through a field of snow!

Kirra's stunning color palettes gave me so many exciting design ideas for new jewelry pieces! I am looking forward to burying myself in my stash this weekend and making up some jewelry designs in these great colors.

What started out as a gloomy May Day turned into a reminder that there are always silver linings...even in springtime snowstorms.

Happy May!