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June 17, 2009, Vol. 3 No. 8 |
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Now that summer is officially here, perhaps you have a little more time on your hands. Or perhaps your bare arms call out for a new bracelet or your ears for some dangling earrings. This issue's free project, Wrapped in Chains, would make a perfect summer accessory for a barbecue or beach party.
In Your Neighborhood
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Recently, I stopped at a local bead store to find specific beads for a project. I already have many beads at home and have been watching my budget, so it had been a long time since my previous visit. With many new products on its shelves, the shop displayed semiprecious strands, metalsmithing supplies and new crystal colors, turning my quick stop into a very long shop.
While there, I traded information about local metalsmithing classes and found out about a local art studio where artists sell their finished jewelry. I returned home with the beads I needed for my project and an undeniable impression: I need to go to the bead store more often!
Local stores are a beader's most precious resource. Each store carries different beads, supplies and examples of finished jewelry. Even if you don't leave the store with beads, you will likely find a sense of camaraderie, an inspirational idea or a helpful publication. If you're interested in learning something new, there is no better or more affordable place to take a class than your local store.
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Show Off
I plan to share a review in an upcoming newsletter of this year's Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee, but I'm writing this preshow. As a teacher, I spend far more time preparing than I spend at the show itself. For attendees, the experience is about having fun, not work. So what can you find at a bead show?
Bead shows offer a variety of products not usually available in one place. You can meet the people behind the products you've seen in ads or on the Web.
Many artists and vendors introduce new items at shows or bring exclusive products. Shows offer an opportunity to see the work of artists who don't have Web sites too. But most important is the tactile experience; to touch a bead is to love it.
For a great insider's view about attending a bead show, read jewelry designer Suzann Wilson's blog: Beadphoria.Wordpress.com. Suzann shares advice on what you should bring and gives the locations of her favorite artists on the showroom floor.
My advice: Take breaks whether you're shopping or attending a class. If you bring your own supplies to a class, pack a little extra! Keep all your pertinent information in a binder or envelope, including floor-plan maps, class supplies and any class handouts. Most artists hand out business cards, and a quick note to yourself on the back can help you remember why you picked the card up. More important than anything else, enjoy yourself!
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 Free Project: Wrapped in Chains
Design by Margot Potter
This ingenious design fits beautifully around the wrist without the chains and beaded strand becoming tangled. Beautiful crystals make for a chic, sophisticated bracelet.
Materials
- 6mm CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements round crystals: 9 Indian sapphire, 9 Indian red
- 9 (6mm) jet CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements crystal rondelles
- 1/2-inch silver textured cross
- 8 (10mm) silver Balinese spacers
- 2 (3/4-inch) silver textured flattened bead cones
- 2 (1.3mm) silver-plated crimp tubes
- 4 (6mm) silver-plated jump rings
- 2 (20-gauge) silver-plated eye pins
- 22-gauge silver-plated head pin
- 2 (38-link) sections silver-plated rolo chain
- 8 inches .018-inch-diameter 49-strand nylon-coated flexible beading wire
- Round-nose pliers
- Chain-nose pliers
- Crimp pliers
- Wire nippers
Finished Size
8 inches (including clasp)
Instructions
| 1) |
String a crimp tube 1/2 inch from one end of beading wire; insert short wire tail through a jump ring and back through the crimp tube. Use crimp pliers to flatten the crimp tube. |
| 2) |
String the following beads: Indian red, jet, Indian sapphire and a silver spacer. Continue stringing beads in this pattern until the final Indian sapphire bead has been strung. |
| 3) |
String a crimp tube; insert wire through a jump ring and back through crimp tube and a few beads. Flatten the crimp tube. Trim excess wire. |
| 4) |
Open end links of rolo chains and attach to end jump rings on opposite sides of beaded strand. Close links. |
| 5) |
Open loop on an eye pin and slide onto one of the end jump rings; close loop. |
| 6) |
Slide eye pin through wide end of a bead cone. Note: Keep chains to each side of beaded strand and let them fall beneath as the eye pin is pulled through cone. |
| 7) |
Form a wrapped loop with wire extending from narrow end of cone; trim excess wire. |
| 8) |
Repeat steps 5-7 for opposite end of bracelet. |
| 9) |
Slide silver cross onto a head pin; form a wrapped loop. Trim excess wire. Use a jump ring to attach beaded head pin to one end of bracelet. |
| 10) |
Attach clasp to opposite end with a jump ring. |
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Sources: Cross and spacers from Singaraja Imports; textured cones from Pacific Silverworks; chain and findings from Beadalon; crystals from CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements.
Copyright © February 2009 Simply Beads magazine. All rights reserved.
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What's New: COPPRclay™
Joining the ranks of cutting-edge metal clay is COPPRclay from Metal Clay Adventures. Firing metal clay, like silver and bronze, burns out all binders, leaving behind pure metal.
While searching for a way to revitalize some old, dry silver clay, I ran across MetalClayAcademy.com, an excellent resource that includes videos, links and a lot of information on all types of metal clay. Visit NMClay.com to download informational PDFs on BRONZclay and COPPRclay that explain handling, firing and cost. Watching a video or taking a class is strongly recommended to make the most of your metal clay.
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Impatient for Inspiration
Enchanted Adornments: Creating Mixed-Media Jewelry With Metal, Clay, Wire, Resin & More by Cynthia Thornton is available for pre-order. The book will be released in November, introducing the world to Cynthia's remarkable, original jewelry. Cynthia is the creative force behind Green Girl Studios' clasps, charms, beads, pendants and buttons (GreenGirlStudios.com).
The book includes more than 20 projects, along with watercolor paintings, step-by-step project instructions and fairy-tale introductions. Cynthia uses her talents as a painter, sculptor, illustrator and designer to show each project from concept to completion. If you've ever wanted to peek over a designer's shoulder to see what is on the pages of her sketchbook, Enchanted Adornments is the perfect opportunity. I can hardly wait until my copy arrives!
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In the next newsletter, I'll share my bead-show experience and another free project to keep your summer inspiration at its peak.
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!
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Copyright © 2009 DRG.
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DRG, 306 E. Parr Road, Berne, IN 46711. All rights reserved.
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