Bead Love Archives - Page 2 of 3

Teen DIY Jewelry Making

January 5, 2016 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Over winter break, I had an opportunity to work with kids and teach them jewelry making. It was a great experience. Fourteen girls, but I learned that boys wanted to make jewelry too so in the future we will maybe do a metalworking class. I love that.

We made necklaces, bracelets and earrings over two days. They learned all the basics. I’m so proud of the results–you can see them in the slideshow below. But real quick–I wanted to give you the link to a tutorial I did well over a year ago–

But real quick–I wanted to give you the link to a tutorial I did on the above necklace well over a year ago–you can see it here. All the components are from JesseJamesBeads.com and the findings are by Beadalon.

Filed Under: Bead Love, Beads, Tutorials

Bluebird of Happiness Necklace

December 14, 2015 By candiecooper 3 Comments

Have you ever started making something and you don’t know what you’re doing or where you’re going, but you just dig in? That’s how this necklace came to be. I made it on the show floor in Tucson two years ago (the first year I worked with JesseJamesBeads.com). I had just read the Happiness Project book by Gretchen Rubins.

Happiness.

I’m no stranger to soul searching, contemplating (ok, over-thinking sometimes) and trying to figure out what really makes me happy. As someone with a diagnosed mild to moderate anxiety disorder (aka worry wort), I think this comes with the territory.
Back to simply digging in on this necklace, I think it’s kind of a metaphor of my happiness: Stop talking and thinking about it and just dig in. Choose to do what makes me happy.

And that’s the cool thing about jewelry—it serves as a reminder. In Gretchen’s book, she talks about having a bluebird of happiness reminder (paper weight, I think). This is mine. I wear it because it makes me happy, as a shield (you will not steal my joy) and when it’s not being worn I hang it up where I can see it.

Tassels from Woman Shops World on Etsy

Large Beads from JesseJamesBeads.com

Filed Under: Bead Love, Beads, Jewelry

Beadalon Tent Sale and Classes

September 10, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Join me Pennsylvania friends at the Beadalon fest tent show and classes! I’m teaching this class that features Beadalon‘s tassel maker and findings on Sept. 19th at 2pm in Westchester, PA. Want to sign up?

Email salesATbeadalonDOTcom to sign up. Cost is $25 (amazing right?!?).

You’ll learn how to make fantastic tassels and basic stringing techniques and leave with a layered necklace and matching bracelet featuring Jesse James Beads!

It’s going to be a ton of fun as I am joined by Katie Hacker, Wyatt White, Sandra Lupo and Sarah Ellis. Let’s get this party started!!

I can’t wait. Here’s the skinny on the rest of the sale:

Filed Under: Bead Love

Beadalon Bracelet Jig Stretch Bracelet Part II

April 15, 2015 By candiecooper 4 Comments

Greetings Day Fivers!

Where has the time gone? So in the last post, I showed you Beadalon’s new bracelet jig tool. Now let’s turn that piece into a bracelet topper.
When you pull the piece from the bracelet jig, you’ll have something like this. Finish the ends with wrapped loops.For the back end of the bracelet, I strung a section of topaz colored glass beads with brass spacer beads (easy!) in an alternating order. By the way, I’m using Beadalon’s 1mm Elasticity, because I like the thickness, but they do have a smaller size just in case.
Don’t forget to pull and stretch your elastic to break it in a bit.
Knot one end of the Elasticity to the bracelet topper. I really love using the same color of Elasticity as the wire–blends right in! Trim the Elasticity from the spool, leaving a couple inches to tie the other side.
Trim the extra Elasticity away, leaving about an 1/8th inch and dot the knot with nail polish.
The loops from the bracelet jig make a perfect place to connect bead dangles and charms if you like. For me, I enjoyed the simplicity of this and the dainty flowers.

Speaking of, these acrylic flower beads are popping up everywhere at Bead Fest Spring. Hello spring, we’re glad you’re here!!

Filed Under: Bead Love, Tutorials, Uncategorized

Coachella Jewelry Idea

April 3, 2015 By candiecooper 1 Comment

This post brought to you by LeatherCord USA.Have you seen all the Coachella fashion love on Pinterest and in magazines? Coachella is actually a music festival where you’ll see free spirited fashions galore.

This set started with the knotted strand I had hanging (unfinished) on my bead wall. I was thrilled when LeatherCord USA sent a batch of their tassels for me to play with.
Here the tassels are in raw form. They come in suede and nappa finishes and in two sizes. I opted to play around with the nappa finish which is a little smoother and slicker compared to the suede.
To customize the tassels, I brushed them with Ranger/Vintaj Patina paints. I used a stiff brush so I got the scratchy lines of paint on the leather. Start with metallic gold…
and brush both sides of the leather. A little dab of paint will do you! I like to brush most of it off on the wax paper before touching the leather. Brush a layer of turquoise (both sides) and end with one last coat of gold.

Finishing with a layer of gold tones down the straight turquoise, making the layers blend and look really good!
You can do this treatment on thin or thick tassels. The wheels are turning for more patina’d tassels!
Here’s how I used them in my finished jewelry designs. I love how the tassels look with the Czech beads!For the earrings, I used 20g. Artistic Wire to wrap the druzy bead and tassel to the big hoop (which is from Snapeez). So fast to make!
For the pendant I strung on a big chunky druzy on 20g. wire and finished the ends with loops. The top of the tassel was wire wrapped with more gold and silver wire. This gives it a nice finished look.

You can shop for tassels here!

Now who’s ready for a road trip to the Coachella music fest?!

**To knot your own strand of Czech beads like this—check out this tutorial.

Filed Under: Bead Love, Get Crafty, Jewelry

Making Halloween Jewelry Crafts with Kids

October 24, 2014 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

For First Friday at the Wabash White House (our little gallery in town), we host children’s creative make and takes and activities. One of the things we did this month is an easy kids halloween craft making skull necklaces. I thought you might want to make your own!
You’ll need some skull beads, 20g. Artistic Wire, Jesse James Beads, pre-made ribbon necklaces or cord, a hammer and steel block, and some basic jewelry making pliers.
When working with kids, I like to keep things pretty tidy and organzied so it’s easy to see what we are doing. Is it me, or are these beads, good enough to eat?!
I buy skull beads at bead markets/festivals, but you can find them in Etsy shops and sometimes in the craft stores.
Use round nose pliers to twirl the end of the wire around in a spiral. Hammer the spiral so it stays nice and rigid.
String your beads!
Finish the end of the wire with a wrapped loop, attaching it to the ribbon before closing up the loop. Pipe cleaners would also work for necklace making. That could be really fun!
Here’s a closer peek at the tools I used. Top: wire cutters. Middle: round nose pliers. Bottom: Chain nose pliers.

Check out these cute examples that some of our guests made that night!

Filed Under: Bead Love, Kids Arts and Crafts, Tutorials

Stone Fringe Necklace

October 23, 2014 By candiecooper 2 Comments

This post brought to you by Jesse James Beads.Purple Rain….sing it with me, people!

No doubt, I am hooked on these fringe focal bead pieces from Jesse James Beads. They come in a variety of colors and stone types, ready to string into statement necklaces and I’m going to show you an idea for how to use them in your jewelry making.But before we get going, I have to show you this leaf blizzard happening in our front yard. I’m not complaining because I love wading through leaves. Hopefully the mailman feels the same.

Really, the colors of fall are so inspiring, aren’t they? That’s where I found the inspiration for the color pallet in this necklace. Ambers, plum, sparkly orange and rust, it all works together. Take a peek.You can find all of these magical beads in a kit ready to make right here from JesseJamesBeads.com!You will also need: crimping pliers, wire cutters, Beadalon beading wire (19 strand, .018 diameter), perhaps some bead stoppers, #1 crimp beads, a piece of leather (8″) and that should do it. You can find these fine tools and supplies also on JJB.com.String your focal beads separated by hematite beads (I used 3).

String 2 crimp beads, 1 hematite bead, 2 small round beads, 3 hematite beads, round bead, 3 hematite beads, round bead, hematite beads, 2 round beads, hematite beads, round bead, hematite beads, round bead, hematite beads, and round bead onto the wire. Thread the wire through the first round bead, hematite bead and crimp beads. Cinch up the loop and crimp.Slide the beads to the finished end and repeat, making a second beaded loop.Secure a new wire to the middle of the beaded loop by crimping and string the sides in desired order.

Finish the ends with small loops, just big enough for the leather to fit through.This is a nifty closure that I’m also hooked on. I don’t know why I don’t get the leaves raked? Thread the leather through both loops and tie in a bow. How about that easy and unique clasp solution!