New Twist on Big Hole Beads

by Kim

I am loving this bracelet I made last week. It has some bling and lots of movement, and was pretty easy to make. You just have to be able to manage a needle and thread, and know how to do basic stringing.




Don't you love these big hole beads? 


 I get mine at TwoPurplePandas.com. They have a great selection and you have a choice of silver plated (or gold), triple plated (the finish will last longer), or sterling silver. TwoPurplePandas.com also has one of the best selections of charms for jewelry making. On the site, you will find lots of jewelry ideas. Each idea has a list of components, making it easy for you to order what you need to make the piece you like.







But of course, I wanted to try it a different way.


To do this yourself, you need:

  • TwoPurplePandas.com big hole beads ( I used 30) Pick any you like
  • silver seed beads, size 8
  • silver toggle clasp
  • 2 silver crimp tubes
  • liquid silver beads or small silver seed beads
  • beading needle and beading thread
  • scissors
  • crimping tool
  • jewelry glue


Here is what you do:
1. String a seed bead bracelet that fits your wrist. Leave the seed beads loose on the wire, so there is room for the thread to fit between the beads.
2. Add a bead dangle between two seed beads with 5 or 6 liquid silver beads and a large hole bead. Fill it in as full as you want.
3. Put dots of glue on your thread knots.


Use your Vitamin C and have fun designing your own!


P. S... Follow TwoPurplePandas on facebook and/or twitter!
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Posted by Kim at 2:45 PM 10 creative thoughts
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My German Bead Soup

by Kim

 I did not get into the current bead soup party over at Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog. So, I threw it out there that I would love to exchange beads with someone, unofficially. That is how I met my new friend Doris. She is a lampworker who lives in Germany. Check out her blog, she makes great beads. I definitely got the best part of this deal. She blogged about our exchange in German and in English. Impressive!


I received a selection of beads from her. She had asked me what my fav colors are and I declined to tell, because I wanted her not to have limitations. Even so, she sent me my favorite colors! 


 I made two bracelets from the beads she sent. I used the fabulous donut bead as a focal piece for the first bracelet. I used an asymmetrical design.


 Here is the donut focal and the cute charm Doris sent.


 On one side, I used her big hole beads (that remind me of Cheerios, I love them), as sliders. They move back and forth over a section of seed beads.


 And on the other side, I used the cheerios in a different way. I also added a bead dangle at the clasp to balance out the weight of the focal when worn.


 
For the second bracelet, I braided three strands of crystal beads, adding in three spacer beads from Doris. 

 It is very sparkly! 

Three of her beads became a focal piece. I like that it is a totally different kind of focal than in the first bracelet.

And, a bonus! Doris sent me this cute birdie charm!


What a cool bead exchange we had. Interesting that we sent the same color palette and a bird to each other. Guess we were thinking spring. On her blog, you can see what I sent her and the beautiful piece she made from them.


Thank you Doris!


Put yourself out there and use your Vitamin C, you never know what great people and things will come your way.

Posted by Kim at 1:13 PM 3 creative thoughts
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Bead Avenue for All

by Kim

 I found this jewelry making line at Michaels called Bead Avenue.  It is a line designed to teach kids to make jewelry. The beads are plastic. The colors are bright and the shapes are great! I made a couple bracelets with no more tools than a pair of scissors. Anyone who can tie a knot, kid or adult,  can make some lighthearted jewelry pieces quickly and easily. Also, because it is designed for kids, the price is right! 


There is cord, elastic, and chain in the line. Everything works together to make easy-to-assemble jewelry....without jump rings, wire, crimping, and the other things you normally need for jewelry-making.


 I used this technique: cut a 5" length of cotton cord. Tie a knot in one end. String a bead on the cord. The cotton cord holds a knot well. If you are nervous, add a dot of white glue to your knot.


 Knot the bead to a bangle, or a link in a chain, or a fatter cord.  This is a thin wire bangle. Just one bead charm makes a cute piece....


 but lots of bead charms are awesome! Doesn't look like a kid's bracelet!

 I used the same technique to make this charm bracelet. The charms are attached to a chain.
All daisies. Cute summer bracelet, right?


Same technique with butterflies on a chain.


There is a great selection of bead colors and designs. Go to Michaels and check it out. 


And then use your Vitamin C to whip up some cute jewelry!

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Posted by Kim at 12:45 PM 2 creative thoughts
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The Newest Lampworkers

by Kim

Last week, my two young friends came to spend the day. It is always their choice about what they will do when they are here, and this time they wanted to learn some lampworking.

I had them dip their own mandrels and they did it assembly line fashion. One dipped, one set the mandrel in the holder. Speedy. 

I gave them a few basics and all of the safety rules and after a few tries, I let them go for it. 

They had lots of ideas. Technique was not fabulous, but their interest and excitement was huge. It was fun to watch them plan out what they would make. They worked for hours and would have kept going but they ran out of mandrels.


The next day when I emptied the kiln, I found flora and fauna.

Fun day. They used their Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 9:42 PM 0 creative thoughts
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