Trend: Colorblocking

by Kim


Colorblocking is one of the current fashion trends for spring and summer. It speaks for itself, I think. Here is a little bit about colorblocking, anyway.



 I always wonder how fashion trends translate to jewelry trends...if they do at all. And, in researching, I found that colorblocking is a natural for jewelry, especially the enamelling trend that is also current.




Seems like colorblocking can be subtle or bold. 


Will you be using colorblocking as inspiration for your own projects this spring and summer?


Take your Vitamin C and colorblock!

Posted by Kim at 11:00 PM 1 creative thoughts
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Vintage Bead Necklace

by Kim

Admittedly, I don't know much about vintage beads...except that I like them.  My friend, "She Who Owns The Best Vintage Beads" sometimes gives me a broken strand to play with. She owns beads handed down from her Mother and Mother-in-law. I remake the beads into new pieces for her daughters and herself. Great idea, right?


 This grouping of beads is left from a double strand, as I recall. Some time ago, I used the bulk of them, and these are what is left. She requested I string them with some silver. I tried to keep the flavor of the stringing while adding a more contemporary, trendy twist.


 There are two kinds of beads here, not counting the silver I added. The striated, transparent beads are acrylic with an AB coating. Very cool in person. 


The solid beads are foiled and are so lightweight, that I think they are some kind of paper.  They are in really great shape if they are paper.


Anyone know something about this type of vintage bead? I don't know for sure, but according to what they looked like before I took them apart, I would say maybe the are from the early 50s.


Vintage beads...fun way to use your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 10:16 PM 1 creative thoughts
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Too Short Toggle Bar

by Kim

 Have you ever had this problem? The bar piece of the toggle is too short. You can tell by looking that it can slip right out of the toggle circle (or teardrop in this case). This will for sure cause you to lose your jewelry. When you are not paying attention. It will slip out, the bracelet will fall off and you will not notice. Bah!


I used to restring the bracelet with a new toggle when this happened. It has happened to me with toggles I bought and added to my own jewelry. It has happened to me with pre-made jewelry that I purchased. It is maddening.


But, today, I decided that I was not restringing, and would find a better fix. And I did.


 I used a 6" piece of silver wire, 22 gauge. I strung one end through the little toggle loop. And wrapped the long end of the wire around the base of the toggle five times. To finish, I twisted the ends of the wire together...tightly...on the side(ish) of the toggle, so it wouldn't scratch my wrist during wearing.  And then I trimmed the wires as short as I could without having to worry that it would untwist.


Tada! It worked. No more worries about losing a bracelet that I really like.


Anybody have a different remedy for this problem?


I love using my Vitamin C to creatively fix a problem! 

Posted by Kim at 5:31 PM 1 creative thoughts
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Wavy Disc Beads

by Kim

I have been having Fun With Wavy Discs. Love these earrings, (I am going to show you how to make them, keep reading....)

...and these sweet little pink bell flowers. They are in this month's issue of  Bead Design Studio Magazine...both a lesson on how to make the wavy disc/bell flower beads, and how to make the necklace they are in. Find my column: First Glass. And if you are not a lampworker and the lesson on how to make the beads is lost on you, you can buzz over to my Etsy shop and buy some already made.

 Back to the earrings! You need two wavy disc beads...also available in my Etsy shop in different sizes and colors. 


 1. Cut a 5" length of silver 20 gauge wire. Wrap a small loop in one end. 


2. Gather up some small beads you like. I have seed beads in two sizes and some 4mm crystals. String them on silver head pins. Make 3-5 headpins with beads.


 3. Attach the headpins to the wire loop by wrapping loops.


 4. Put the wire with the dangles into the front of the wavy disc bead.


5. Turn it over. Bend the wire at a 90 degree angle.
6. Wire wrap the earring piece to an earring finding. Repeat for the second earring.


I had planned on taking these earrings apart and putting the beads in the Etsy shop, but changed my mind! If you want to buy a set of these purple and red beads, just post or email and I will make you some.


Take your Vitamin C and tell me what else you might do with wavy disc beads.

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Posted by Kim at 6:27 PM 1 creative thoughts
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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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