Auntie's Beads Blog – Beading & Jewelry Making

The Lantern beads are one of my favorite styles, and I love combining silver and black.  I like to make earrings that can be worn for any occasion.  I think these earrings would look great with just about anything…think jeans and a black turtleneck, or a cocktail dress at a holiday party.  The lantern beads provide a sleek, sophisticated look, while the dangles add movement and a touch of whimsy, creating an elegant balance.

- Created by Lisa Hughes Iversen of Angel Whispers Jewelry

1.  Using a 2mm ball head pin, place on a 4mm black bicone, 4mm Bali spacer, and 2mm sterling silver round bead.
2. Bend the head pin over the top of the silver bead, using a flush cutter trim to 1/4″ and make a simple loop using a round nose pliers – repeat 5 times – for a total of 6 dangles.
3. Take an eye pin, open the loop with a chain nose pliers, slip on 3 of the dangles, close the loop, and repeat with the second eye pin.
4. Take one of the eye pins, place a starburst spacer, lantern bead, a starburst spacer, a 4mm black bicone, a 4mm flat Bali spacer, and a 2mm sterling silver round bead.
5. Hold the eye pin above the 2mm bead, using a flat nose pliers, bend the wire to a 90 degree angle – in the same direction as the bottom loop, trim to 1/4 ” and make a simple loop.
6. Repeat steps 5 & 6 with the second eye pin.
7. Slip completed earrings onto French Hook ear wires or your own handmade ear wires.

 
Materials and Tools Needed:
 
Sterling Silver Lantern Bead – 12mm – 2 pieces
Sterling Silver eye pins – 2 pieces
Sterling Silver ball head pins – 6 pieces
Swarovski Crystal bicone beads – jet black -  8 pieces
Spacers – 4mm Flat Bali – 8 pieces
Spacers – Starburst Bali spacers – 4 pieces
Sterling Silver round bead – 2mm – 8 pieces
Sterling Silver Earwire with 2 mm Ball, 21 Gauge, Pair
  or  Handmade Ear wires (SEE POST BELOW)
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Flush cutter

- Created by Lisa Hughes Iversen of Angel Whispers Jewelry

As a jewelry designer, you always strive to create unique, wearable pieces of art. In the past year or two, there have been a lot of products on the market that let you truly create original, personal pieces for yourself and others. We call these products our Glue In and Glaze line. If you are looking for something new and fun to add to your design repertoire or just want to understand the product a little better, then you have come to the right spot!

We started our collection with pewter charms. I especially love the oval and round charms because their shape is just so versatile but we also carry them in squares, rectangles, and links. The best part about the pewter frames is the template so you don’t have to keep cutting your image down. Simply place your image under the template, trace, and cut.

After you have gotten your image down to a certain size, you will want to adhere it to the inside of the charm using Gem Tac and then give it a few hours to dry. If you are using shallow charms or pendants, you will want to use the Diamond Glaze which applies a thin, glossy clear coat on top of your images. In order to fill up the charm, you may have to use more than one coat; if so, let each layer dry thoroughly before applying the next. (I usually give mine at least 48 hours drying time.) A tip: always keep a paintbrush or toothpick—or some object with a small, fine point—handy so you can work out any bubbles that may try to arise within your work.

In addition to the pewter charms, we carry pendants that are perfect for customizing as well. Some are deeper than others, though so you have to be change gears a bit when working with these. Instead of using Diamond Glaze, you will want to use DG3 Gel. Both are clear drying products but Diamond Glaze tends to get a little cloudy when too many layers are applied. DG3 Gel will allow you to put multiple coats on without compromising the color or finish of your photo. Like the Diamond Glaze, DG3 Gel requires adequate time to dry between coats. Again, I would wait at least 48 hours between each coat. To take it even a step further, I usually wait a week before I will sell one of my finished pieces using the gel. Because it is water based, it requires a lot of time to fully cure. I have found that putting my pieces under a lamp helps expedite the drying process but I am still very cautious about handling my pieces until I know each layer is completely dry.

Let’s say you’ve got the whole process figured out but you make a mistake and accidentally stick your finger in the gel while it is drying. (Yes, this is written from a little bit of personal experience.) The best part about working with these gels is that, because they are water based, no mistake is permanent and clean-up is easy. All you have to do is soak your piece in water and you will be able to salvage your pendant or charm.

I honestly didn’t think this gluing and glazing thing would be something I would be into but it really is so much fun. From photographs to collage sheets, I have been able to create truly unique, personalized, wearable works of art with just a hint of glue, a smidge of glaze, and a dash of patience!

Shanna Steele, Auntie’s Beads Designer

Those of us who are beadaholics know that part of the addiction to making jewelry comes from the fact that you never stop learning. Whether you are exploring a new technique, tool, medium, or material, it seems as though there is always something to discover. I have noticed in my years of designing that beading has taught me a lot about myself and a lot of valuable lessons that can be applied not just to my bead board but to life in general.

 A few things I have learned along the way:

1. Frustration only breeds more frustration. Have you ever noticed that the more frustrated you get, the more negative you get, and the more this whole cycle of frustration and negativity hampers your creativity? The things we tell ourselves when we feel like we can’t do something are the very things that block us from being able to do that something. The solution: walk away from the bead board and return when you feel refreshed, relaxed, and more positive about yourself and your work.

 2. Patience really is a virtue. Most people assume that designers—or creative types of any kind—are always “on” and just have those creative juices flowing all the time. This just simply isn’t true. I can’t tell you how many times I have had an idea in my head only to find that the piece isn’t working out quite the way I envisioned it or only to find that the pattern I am working on just isn’t going to measure out the way it should. All the creativity in the world won’t help solve the problem; patience is the only real solution. My favorite, most original pieces have come from a perfect fusion of creativity and patience.

3. Work from your strengths, not from your weaknesses. A few months ago, we went through a strengths training workshop to discover what really moved, motivated, and inspired us. This changed the way I thought about beading—and life. Admittedly, I am not a person who likes repetition so I don’t like creating the same finished piece over and over again nor do I like making long necklaces (especially if they are straight strung or wire wrapped). Knowing what I don’t enjoy frees me to concentrate on the things I do love so I can grow and further my knowledge in those areas. I learned that it is okay not to be a jack-of-all-trades and it is perfectly fine to spend more time doing what you love.

One of the biggest perks of my job (besides being amongst beautiful beads all day long!) is hearing from people whose lives have been touched by the amazing rewards beading can bring. What life lessons have you learned from your experience as a beader? When you walk away from your bead board, what emotions do you have when you have finished a piece that has that “wow” factor? Share your experiences with me—and your fellow beaders—by commenting below!

Shanna Steele, Auntie’s Beads Designer

We would like to send a special invitation to all of those in our beading community who would like to share their beautiful jewelry designs created using AuntiesBeads.com products. 

Auntie’s Beads frequently publishes projects put together by our designers which include photos, supply lists and step-by-step instructions to make unique finished pieces.  We would like to invite all of you to do the same here on Auntie’s Blog.  The best part is, we will include a promotional link to your site from the blog post.

How to Participate…

Send an email to shanna@auntiesbeads.com with the following:

• Name of piece -  The name can be anything- someone your piece reminds you of (i.e. “Anna’s Earrings” or “Bracelet for Shelly”), a feeling your piece gives you (i.e. “Warm and Fuzzy Necklace” or “Earrings with a Wink”), pay tribute to a color that inspired you to make the piece (i.e. “Tantalizing Turquoise Earrings” or “Beautiful Blue Bracelet”), etc.  Sometimes it’s fun to make your name rhyme or use alliteration.  Just think of something you find catchy!
• Instructions –  Type detailed, step-by-step instructions to complete your piece. Be sure to include a list of all of the materials you used, including the number of each bead or jewelry component. Please be as detailed as possible; include what tools you used, lengths of beading wire, how to avoid possible problems while putting your piece together, etc.  For questions or help completing your instructions, email shanna@auntiesbeads.com.  You can also find how we like things set up by browsing our Beading Projects.
• Photograph -  The photograph does not have to be the best quality since we will be taking our own picture of the piece once it gets shipped to us.  We will just need something to go by when reviewing the instructions and name of the piece.

Once we have received your information, we will notify you with shipping details.  Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to accept only what we deem as a quality project.  However, we are more than willing to work with you and help you modify the instructions to meet a certain standard.  That’s what we’re here for. 

Important

• Auntie’s Beads is not responsible for the shipping cost, however, will pay to have it shipped back to the sender. 
• Only projects exclusively using products from www.AuntiesBeads.com will be accepted.
• It is very possible that Auntie’s Beads will make some changes in the name and/or instructions of the piece, as well as add substitute materials to be used for project.  Contributors will be informed via email if such changes are to be made prior to publishing.
• We will only include a link to your personal jewelry design site or blog.  No third-party storefront sites, such as Etsy, Artfire, etc.  It’s got to be your site!

Again, pleased send questions to shanna@auntiesbeads.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. 

We are VERY excited to see what our Auntie’s Beaders come up with…
Thanks for reading and participating!

In the past month or so, I’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with beading, and I don’t see that love fading anytime soon.  But like any passionate relationship, there have been times when my beads and I haven’t gotten along so well.  I find myself occasionally throwing a nipper tool across the room or yelling curse words at innocent little seed beads.  Still, slowly but surely, I have learned tidbit after tidbit that has made my bead blunders fewer and farer between.  I thought I would list a few beginner beading tips here and maybe save some poor ring mandrel out there from bead-abuse. 

1.   Always over-estimate the amount of beading wire or chain you’re going to need.  I’ve had to pull off my beads and start over with a longer piece a few too many times.

2.   Crimp covers can be your best friend.  They are easy to use (just use your pliers to squeeze them over your crimp bead) and hide the ugly part.

3.   When you’re working with wire, run it through your hands a few times first.  This is supposed to warm the wire and make it more flexible.  I don’t know about that, but it’s important to show it who’s boss.

4.   On that note, wire wrapping is difficult.  Be patient with yourself and remember that it will take practice.  Be ready to end up throwing away a little bit of weird looking, kinked wire.  You might want to use the cheaper stuff when you’re first learning.

5.   After you crimp your wire at the end of a necklace or bracelet, string it back through the first several beads.  This makes your piece stronger and helps hide where you trimmed off excess wire.

6.   Ever wondered how you tie off a piece of elastic so it won’t come apart?  Well I did.  Turns out you just tie a regular knot, but you put a few drops of strong glue (like hypo cement) on top to secure it. 

7.    Be an organized beader.  It will relieve your stress.  You can get little plastic bead organizers all over the place (I got a few from Wal-Mart for around 4 dollars).  Put your gold jump/split rings in one compartment, your silver in another, separate your crimp beads and your crimp covers by color.  Put your Swarovski Crystal in one compartment and your Czech glass in another… you get the picture.
Good luck and happy beading.

Kelly McCoy, Auntie’s Beads Designer

In my last blog, I talked about the roots of what can only be described as a lifelong beading adventure.  Having been a beader off and on for about 15 years now (and having more money at some times than others to invest in my hobby), I have learned a few things about the do’s and don’ts of jewelry making.  The following are a few tips and rules for those of you just starting out on your beading journey. 

1. Always use high quality crimp beads.  Whether you are using silver or gold, try to avoid anything plated or anything that is not tube-like in its appearance.  The plated crimp beads are okay for making simple illusion necklaces, but are not sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear of your beaded jewelry.

2. Do not sacrifice quality for price when it comes to beading wire.  Although 49-strand wire may seem expensive, in the long run it will save you time, money, and frustration from having to recreate pieces that have fallen apart due to the use of less durable wire.  And although Supplemax is a great product for creating illusion necklaces and woven pieces, it is not sturdy enough to hold strands of beads.  Neither is Fireline. (I speak from my experience and the experience of others on this one!)

3.  Use the most project appropriate findings and clasps possible in your pieces.  It is embarrassing to admit but when I began making jewelry again, I used beading wire and crimped the bottom so it would act as headpin.  Though this may seem creative, it was actually not very attractive or very sturdy.  And clasps… Don’t even get me started!  I used to buy my clasps in bulk and I used the same clasp on every piece of jewelry I made, whether it was delicate or bold and chunky.  Now I cringe when I see those old pieces with those plain silver plate toggles.  Also, when choosing a clasp, you will want to keep in mind what the finished piece will be.  I generally use a lobster and chain at the back of necklaces (so the length is adjustable) and use toggles on bracelets (because they are sturdy, attractive, and easier to take on and off than a lobster clasp).

4. I would never say that you shouldn’t use inexpensive beads; plastic, glass, and base metal beads can make some great fashion jewelry pieces.  What I would say is that you should never mix your less expensive beads with your more expensive beads.  For example, I probably wouldn’t use Czech glass to create a necklace around a $30 sterling silver pendant.  I also probably wouldn’t mix plastic beads with Swarovski crystal.  The main reason for this is that you will ultimately devalue your finished piece.  Remember: a person’s perceived value of a product is just as important as the actual value. 

5. The best advice I can give is to learn, learn, and learn some more!  I am a person who does not like to be taught by others.  I don’t read instructions and I don’t learn from a classroom environment; I am more about being self-taught and experimentation.  Some people, like Karla, find they do better when they have a trusty friend or magazine to help them learn a new technique or skill.  However you learn best, learn as much as you can!  Take classes, subscribe to beading magazines, look at free online jewelry projects, watch online videos.  All of these things will teach you not only new techniques, but what kinds of tools and materials and resources you can use while you learn your new craft.  And I believe one of the best things about this hobby is that you never stop learning!

You will get out of this hobby what you put into it and, whether you are selling your pieces or giving them as gifts or keeping them in your own jewelry gift, you want to make sure you are creating nothing but the best.  Happy beading!

Shanna Steele,
Auntie’s Beads Designer