This post brought to you by LeatherCordUSA.com.Golds and antique brass are in and I am embracing it!

I recently returned home from two different filming trips.  One for Beads, Baubles and Jewels and another for ArtBeads.com with LeatherCordUSA.com.  Both very good trips, but not much time for blogging with all the prep that is involved.

If you find yourself with not much time for making, you’ll like this necklace because it goes together fast.  Really fast.Round Braided Bolo cord from LeatherCordUSA.com comes in all different colors and diameters.  You know this if you’ve read any of my LeatherCord USA posts here.  But I’m a good squeaky wheel and will keep reminding you.Here’s the secret for making this piece fast: wire wrapping.  You can string all the beads and charms onto the bolo cord and then wrap it up.  Literally.

I’m into over-the-head necklaces right now and so I cut the cord and the chain to the length I wanted, threaded the bolo cord through the ends of the chains and then folded the cord over.  You could add a touch of adhesive or just wrap it with Beadalon 20g. wire.

Done.I do like to give it a little smoosh with chain nose pliers to crimp the wire a bit.Now let’s talk a minute about how to layer these bad boys.You could wear it alone.  But why?  Well with a t-shirt and boots, I think.  That would be a good reason why.  Maybe a jean jacket too.You could also add a knotted strand of crystals that’s a bit shorter to add another texture.  This piece has brass chain so it works with the first leather bolo necklace.And then you could go big, adding a chunky flat brass chain.  Go big or go home.  I would probably wear this look with a t-shirt too.  I like my accessories.

P.S.  This is my vintage Dianne VonFurstenburg shirt I found thrifting for $3.50 a few years back.  If there were other shoppers there, I probably would’ve held my hand up and started giving high fives.  That was a good day.Is anyone else hungry?  Three more days until Thanksgiving.

Wishing you a happy one!

This post brought to you by BEADALON!Day 2 of the Beadalon Tent sale post party is here and I want to introduce you to Sara Ellis!Sara designs all sorts of intricate pieces and at the tent sale, she was working with Beadalon’s Artistic Wire Findings Forms.  You can see them all here.  Here’s a quick little tutorial we shot from her demo table.  I think you’ll find it gives you some ideas from making clasps to links!  And if you’re like me and struggle with wire working, you’ll like the findings forms because they keep everything nice and consistent.
So on the left we have the findings form and on the right the finished product.  I’m not going to lie–I’m dying to hammer one of these with a chasing hammer.
You start by poking your wire through the hole from the front to the back.  This anchors it while you wind and wrap on the front.
Each form comes with a nice set of instructions with ideas of where and what direction to wrap the wire.
For this link, she used 20g. Artistic Wire in bright silver.
When you come to the end, slide the wire link from the form and trim the ends.  Now, you can hammer the link or add more wire wrapping.
Here’s a sweet little pair of earrings Sara made with pink wire and beaded drops.  I do believe this would be a really great activity for teens looking to get into jewelry making!
Just another peek at the fun after work.  Sara, Yvette, Katie and Sandra at the top!  Haha!
This is the class that Sara taught while at the tent sale.  It features this findings form.

I asked Sara what some of her favorite jewelry techniques were and she said:  wire wrapping and stringing!

Then I asked what some of her hobbies are and she said: painting, decoupage, shopping and writing.

Be sure to check out and subscribe to Sara’s amazing YouTube channel where she has lots of tutorials featuring many Beadalon products!

And for sure enter to win some Beadalon goodie swag below!  Winners announced next week!
a Rafflecopter giveaway