Subscribe-It's FREE | Contact Barb | Advertising Info May 6, 2009, Vol. 3 No. 6 Table of Contents Get the Most from a Budget Tool Color Power Tools Free Project: The Desert and the Ocean Reader Q & A Getting Your Jewelry Designs Published In this letter, I'll give you my expert tips for buying a good inexpensive tool and getting your designs considered for publication. Find out about a fun Web site with an interactive color tool. And, if tangled thread has ever caused you beading consternation, read a few hints that might help. Pearl lovers will enjoy this issue's free project, The Desert & the Ocean, designed by Suzann Wilson. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Want it delivered to your inbox every three weeks? Sign up here Get the Most from a Budget Tool I confess: I'm a tool snob. For example, I use ergonomically designed Lindstrom pliers, an investment that I've never regretted. Quality tools make a big difference in the amount of work needed to get good results. Expensive tools are machined to precise tolerances, which is one reason for the greater cost. If you're just getting started with wire and not ready to spend a lot on tools, you can get what you need with less costly tools. Budget tools are cast in large lots, allowing for a lot of variation from pair to pair; therefore, thoroughly inspect each tool before breaking out your credit card. The following are important aspects to check for: 1. Make sure the blades open and close easily. If you have to squeeze really hard to close the blades, the springs are too tight. 2. Plier tips should be the same size and line up perfectly when the blades are closed. 3. Jewelry pliers have smooth blades. If they are serrated or corrugated, they aren't appropriate for jewelry making (no matter what it says on the package). 4. When closed, there should not be a gap between the blades, especially at the tips. 5. My best advice: buy from a local store that allows you to inspect a tool before purchasing it. Stores that host classes normally use less expensive tools for classes; ask for a recommendation or "test drive." Buy the best tools you can afford. Chain- and round-nose pliers are the most important, followed by a good pair of flush cutters. Back to top. Color Power Tools If you like to play with color, you're going to love Colr.org. This site features a swatch generator linked to Flickr.com, a photo site. Use a randomly chosen photo, upload your own picture, or choose one from a Web site. Generate a color scheme from the image, and add or subtract colors from the palette until you're satisfied. Add a tag to save the color scheme on the Web site. I generated these palettes on Colr.org using photos I uploaded. This power tool can be used for beading, home decorating or choosing colors for a Web site. Save your finished palettes under recognizable tag names, and return to view them later. Share them with your graphic designer, best friend or decorator. Back to top. Free Project: The Desert & the Ocean Design by Suzann Wilson Tied together with a vivid dichroic pendant, this multistrand necklace is rich with colors and beads from the earth and sea. Materials 164 turquoise chips 42 (10mm) bronze freshwater pearls 32 (10mm) Paua shell diamond beads 32 (3mm) gold round beads 40 gold daisy spacers 16 gold fluted saucers Gold foil glass focal component 6 (2 x 2mm) gold crimp tubes Gold flower clasp 3 (21-inch) lengths .015-inch-diameter 19-strand nylon-coated flexible beading wire Crimp pliers Wire nippers Tape Finished Size 18 inches (including clasp) Project note: Use tape to secure strands of wire not being strung. Instructions 1) String a crimp tube 1/2 inch from one end on one 21-inch wire; place short wire tail through one half of clasp and back through crimp bead. Use crimp pliers to flatten and fold crimp bead. 2) String two turquoise chips and a gold fluted spacer. String 10 turquoise chips and a gold fluted spacer; repeat seven more times, but do not string last gold fluted spacer. 3) Repeat step 1 to attach a second wire to same half of clasp. 4) String a bronze pearl and a daisy spacer; repeat 20 more times, but do not string last daisy spacer. 5) Repeat step 1 to attach third wire to same half of clasp. 6) String an antique gold round and a paua shell diamond; repeat 15 more times. 7) Insert all three wires through focal component. 8) Repeat step 2 in reverse on turquoise chips wire. 9) Repeat step 4 in reverse on bronze pearl wire. 10) Repeat step 6 in reverse on paua shell diamond wire. 11) String a crimp bead on one wire; insert wire through remaining half of clasp and back through crimp bead. Flatten and fold the crimp bead. Trim excess wire. 12) Repeat step 11 for remaining wires. Sources: Beads and focal component from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads; clasp from Blue Moon Beads; crimp tubes and beading wire from Beadalon. Copyright © May 2008 Simply Beads magazine. All rights reserved. Click here for printer-friendly page. Back to top. Reader Q & A "I have heard that Fireline® doesn't tangle, but I beg to differ. I use Fireline® almost exclusively for my beadwork, and I will invariably have at least two tangles or more. I just thought you might like an opinion from 'an average beader.' Don't get me wrong: I love Fireline®; I just don't like the frustration with the tangles." Via e-mail from Rhonda R. of Ketchikan, Alaska. Simply Beads doesn't often talk about beadwork with thread, but Rhonda brings up a good point. Since I am very familiar with Fireline®, I thought I could help. There are a couple of ways to prevent tangled thread. First, try waxing your thread with beeswax. Second, pull Fireline® through a damp washcloth before threading your needle. Last, a tip I learned from master bead weaver Marcia DeCoster (MarciaDecoster.com): Use shorter lengths of thread to keep them more manageable. Back to top. Getting Your Jewelry Designs Published I am frequently asked by readers how to get the attention of a bead magazine editor and get designs published. First, familiarize yourself with the publications and look through their information on how to submit a design. Make sure you understand all submission guidelines and procedures, and check the editorial calendar. Provide exactly the items requested by the publisher. If you're submitting photos, make sure your pictures are good, and the image resolution is adequate. Blurry, extremely tiny or low-resolution photos are frustrating to review. Keep props minimal. Also, submit a specific design -- don't refer an editor to your Web site to review your work. Another suggestion regarding images is to be aware that photos show the tiniest of details, especially flaws! Make sure all jump rings are closed tightly. Be sure clasps function well by taking the jewelry on and off a few times. Strung designs should be free of gaps or loose crimps. Tuck down the tails on wire wraps. If your design has a front and back, put a small sticker or dot on the back side. Make certain you spell-check every letter and e-mail. Because you're asking an editor to publish your written instructions, quality makes the best first impression. And, last but not least, be patient! It often takes weeks to get back to potential contributors and sending more e-mails can slow the process down. Getting your designs published is exciting and inspires even more great designs. Don't give up after a single unsuccessful attempt. As I was often told as a child: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again! Back to top. Simply Beads will be back in your Inbox in three weeks with another fun project, helpful tips and bead news. In the meantime, let the pageantry of spring inspire your next beaded masterpiece! Barb Switzer Editor, Simply Beads newsletter PS. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to your beading friends, so they can subscribe! Send feedback! Please do not reply to this e-mail. Instead, fill out the easy feedback form to let me know your thoughts, questions, news or anything else you want to tell me about. You never know, I may feature it in an upcoming issue of this Simply Beads newsletter. Keep reading! For more information on items or organizations mentioned above, please click on the following links: Colr.org Flickr.com MarciaDecoster.com Please click on the following links that may be of interest to you: Annie's Attic e-PatternsCentral.com FreePatterns.com Your privacy and security matters to us. Click here to read our privacy/security pledge. Terms of Use  Copyright © 2009 DRG. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or via any other information storage and retrieval system, without our written permission. 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