Bead School

Terrible Blogger Makes Amends

2008-07-17T16:52:00.011+01:00

I cannot believe how long it has been since my last post. I cannot even claim to have been busy making jewellery. In fact I have been mostly knitting. 2 sweaters, a cardigan, a hat and 2 shawls, in case you were interested.

I have made very little jewellery lately, but I did make 3 pendants for my neice's bridesmaids (the wedding is this Saturday). They are 1" sterling silver circles, which I have wrapped with Swarovski crystals and sterling silver wire. They are very delicate and quite pretty but I haven't got a photo of them yet. The colours of the crystals are just stunning.

Some other news is that the June/July issue of BEAD magazine has been in the shops for over a month now. It is the issue that has a feature on me as a jewellery designer and bead business owner, plus a project feature on my Fantabulous Bracelet. Of course their photography at the magazine beats mine hands down!

I thought that I would make up for not updating this blog by posting some free instructions for a little charm/keyring or even earrings motif.

Spring into summer pendant/charm

You will need; Beading thread
Beading needle
Seed beads - 3 colours of size 8/0, 2 colours of size 11/0 & 1 size 15/0.
6mm Round Bead
Jump Ring

This motif is worked from the centre.

1. Thread your needle and thread on 12 seed beads (A). Go through the first seed bead again to make a ring. Secure this ring shape by passing your needle and thread through the ring once more.

2. Add your 6mm bead to the centre of your ring by threading it on and then passing your needle through the seed bead at the opposite side of the ring of seed beads. Pass your thread through 3 more seed beads.

3. Commence herringbone stitch by adding 2 seed beads (B) and then passing your needle through the next 2 beads in the ring. Continue adding beads in this way until you have added 6 pairs of seed bead (B).

Reposition your thread so that it emerges from a (B).

4. Repeat step 3 with seed beads (C), (D), and then (E), following the same thread path through the centre ring and repositioning the thread to the top of the next stack each time. Ensure that the new rows of beads do not twist. The pairs of beads added should begin to lie side by side as you continue to add rows.

5. Bring the thread through a bead at the top of one of the stacks of beads and add 1 seed bead (F). Pass the needle down through the next bead in the same stack, and the 2 seed beads below it. Add 1 x (F), 1 x (A) and 1 x (F) then pass your needle UP through the corresponding beads on the next stack. Continue with this step until all six stacks are complete.

6. Reposition your thread so that it emerges from an (F) at the top of the nearest stack. Add 7 more (F)’s and go back through the one at the top of stack to create a small ring of seed beads. Pass your needle and thread through this ring again to secure it and then secure your thread by passing it through several beads in your pendant. When the thread feels secure enough you can cut it. Add the jump ring and attach your pendant/charm to a chain, keyring, ribbon or handbag.

I promise to try to blog more often! More next time.

Snowstorm Slave Bracelet Project

2008-01-24T12:20:00.003Z

I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. Sorry about that!

My latest news is that one of my jewellery designs is featured in the current edition of Bead (UK) Magazine (Issue 8). It is a slave bracelet, which is a bracelet that connects to your finger as a ring. It is surprisingly comfy, but not something I would wear for a day of chasing the kids and changing nappies (which rules out most days for me). It would look great for a special occasion, maybe even for a bride.

Bead magazine are also running a feature about me in June, together with another of my projects and featuring some more of my jewellery. I am quite looking forward to it but I desperately hope they don't ask for a photo of me, although they probably will do.

I am not one for new years resolutions but I am trying to get a bit better at organising my beads and jewellery. At the moment I am taking pictures of beads and jewellery for my great new inventory. I honestly did not know that I had quite that many beads, even though I used to run a beads business.

Beads Part One; Czech Glass Beads

2007-08-06T19:55:00.001+01:00

The Czech Republic is well known for producing fantastic glass beads.

Glass bead making is a massive industry in the Czech Republic and it is also a thriving cottage industry, providing an income for many people.

Czech beadmakers produce a wide range of beads in many shapes and sizes but what makes them so special is the huge variety of colours and finishes.

The Czech Republic produces; Glass pearls, pressed glass beads, crystals, seed beads and bugles, lampwork beads and my own favourite - fire-polished beads.

Right; The famous "Summer Garden" Necklace Kit from my old online store The Bead Garden.

Teal beads - Clockwise from top left; Frosted drops, flattened ovals, 2-tone flowers, dagger drops. Center; seed beads.

Pink beads - Clockwise from top left; trumpet flowers, large hearts, daisies, semi-transparent "milky" leaves. Center; seed beads.

Glass pearls (coffe colour) & Fire-polished beads (olivine with *AB coating)

*AB = Aurora borealis

More soon!

2007-08-03T11:01:00.001+01:00

Wiring a bead is as easy as 1-2-3!

When making an earring, pendant or charm (any thing wired with a loop at only one end) use a headpin.

Place the bead that you want at the bottom of your piece in the headpin. If the bead has a right or wrong way up you need to put the bottom of the bead nearest the head.

Bend the headpin above the bead at approximately a 45 degree angle. Cut the headpin to leave approximately 8mm above the bead.

Use round-nose pliers to grip the head of the wire and then twist your wrist to "roll" the pliers. This will make a loop in the wire which you can adjust by re-positioning your pliers and turning until you are happy that the loop is secure and even.

This technique can be used for wire from a reel too, this will give you a wired bead with a loop at each end. To save wastage add your bead to the reel and make a loop before cutting the wire approximately 8mm from the other side of the bead. Make a loop at the other end.

To join wired beads simply open the loop by twisting it to the side with pliers (never open loops outwards as this will ruin the shape of your loop). Put the opened loop through the closed loop of another wired bead and then close the loop.

Top tip; I always make a loop at the top of my headpin after stage 1 so that when I cut my headpin I have a spare piece of wire with a loop at one end, ready to use as an eye-pin.

Wire-wrap for a great look and added security.

Make a loop above the bead using your round-nose pliers, leaving a small gap where you want your wire to be wrapped. Don't cut the wire yet.

Use your pliers to hold the loop while you wrap the wire around the stem using your fingers or another pair of pliers if you find it easier. Coil the wire around snuggly with no gaps, this may take practice.

When you have filled the space and the bead is secure trim the wire flush and press the end in with your pliers.

To join this kind of loop to another wired bead you will need jumprings, or join beads before wrapping.

Use these techniques to make this bag charm.

You will need a selection of beads, headpins, jumprings and a trigger clasp or similar.

Wire all your beads and then join pairs of beads with jumprings

Assemble the pairs of beads using more jumprings. Add the clasp at one end.

Keep assembling 'till you're done!

Never Buy Jewellery Again

2007-08-02T14:21:00.001+01:00

You can;

copy the jewellery of the rich & famous

get the designer look at a fraction on the cost

design the jewellery YOU love

design & make gifts for family & friends

start your own business

Making your own jewellery is easy...

I will show you how for FREE - no catch.

About me

I have been making jewellery for 18 years and I love it. I also love talking about it and teaching others how to do it too. That's why I have started this blog, which I will use to post projects & information for others to learn or just to build their confidence and knowledge.

I am completely self-taught (yes I know, so is any idiot) but I also pick up a lot of tips and techniques through reading and general research and messing about with beads. I hope that I will be able to help you to create your own fabulous jewellery, either for personal use, gifts or as a business.

It doesn't take a lot to get started. Infact, you may have everything you need already. I started with some broken necklaces inherited from my grandma, some fuse wire from the kitchen drawer and some old nail scissors. I made a few pairs of earrings and then my dad gave me some pliers but I couldn't find any jewellery making or beads suppliers in the UK. I stuck with making earrings for while because they used up fewer beads.

I made dozens of pairs of earring but I was only 11 and not allowed to get my ears pierced, so I started giving them away (the earrings, not my ears). After a few weeks I got smart and took them to school to sell. One lunchtime I had laid out my earrings on a class table and was selling to the girls in my class when our English teacher walked in. I thought that I would get into trouble but she loved the earrings and bought 3 pairs for herself. After that I was always the first person anyone came to if they had a piece of jewellery that needed fixing or re-threading and they would usually give me a box of chocolates or something for my trouble.

18 years on and I am still passionate about jewellery making and I still make my living from it.

What you will need

Surprisingly little actually and it needn't break the bank!

Round nose pliers (for forming wire loops and shapes)

Flat or snipe nose pliers (you will probably need these to add clasps, etc. even if you do not make wire jewellery)

Wire cutters (er, for cutting the wire, obviously)

Crimping pliers (useful when threading beads on tigertail - more about that later)

You can pick these tools up for a couple of pounds a pair from most jewellery supplies companies, or treat yourself to some posh and expensive ones (Lindstrom are £30+ per pair). Many jewellery makers invest in better tools when their hobby starts paying for itself, but you don't have to spend a fortune to buy good tools.

You will also need

Beading needles (if you are stringing or weaving beads)

Findings - i.e. clasps, earring wires, headpins, brooch backs - more about these later

Thread such as Nymo, C-lon, Fireline, Tigertail or even fishing line (not sewing cotton)

Wire - comes in a wide range of metals & thicknesses, 0.8mm being the most useful - more later

BEADS - This is where you will be investing most of your money, the range of beads available if huge. You could become quite mad/addicted/senseless/broke very quickly. Be warned!

I have covered the subject of pliers, in my opinion you can make beautiful jewellery with £2 pliers, its what you do with them that counts. I will post some step by step wiring pictures on here shortly with instructions to help you get started.

I will now go through more thoroughly the other things listed above;

Needles - If you are using a beadloom then long beading needles are better but for everything else I use quilter's sharps size 12. 12's fit through most beads and cost less than special beading needles. Short needles are easier to use for off-loom work. AND, here's a tip I picked up; if you lose the tip of your needle you can still use it because BEADS HAVE HOLES. You do not need your needle to be sharp and it might be better to cut the tip off before you start so that you don't pierce your thread.

Findings - Base metal or plated findings are very cheap these days and sterling silver is now more affordable than ever. Some people have metal allergies and can only wear precious metal such as silver or gold. Gold-filled findings are a great alternative to 14kt gold because they contain 100 times more gold than gold plated and the gold doesn't rub off.

Clasps available range from bolt-rings to lobster clasps to toggles. You can also get magnetic clasps but these are not suitable for people with pacemakers.

I always use sterling silver or gold-filled findings in my jewellery because they do not cost a lot of money anymore and it is worth using precious metal after putting the work into a piece of jewellery.

There are many kinds of earring findings available; Fish hooks, kidney wires, french wires and clip or screw on findings for non-pierced ears. Again, I always use sterling silver or gold-filled.

Headpins are small lengths of wire (usually about 2") with a "head" at one end. Use headpins when making wired earrings, charms or pendants.

Thread - You should not use sewing thread to make your jewellery as it is not strong enough to withstand the wear and tear that jewellery is subjected to. Nymo thread is very cheap and a bobbin of it goes a long way. C-lon is similar and both Nymo and C-lon come in a wide range of colours. I use both of these but sometimes I need a stronger thread if I an using crystals, bugles or heavy beads. Tigertail or Fire-line or regulare fishing line are great for tougher jobs.

When using tigertail you can use crimp beads to fasten it to hold a clasp or to keep beads in place. These are small metal beads that you thread on and then squash tight to prevent the tigertail from moving through it.

Wire - I use plated and precious metal wire, depending on what I am making. I use a lot of 0.8mm wire because it holds its shape and is not too thick. 0.4mm or 0.6mm is used for wire-wrapping and tiaras, thicker wire is used for bulkier items. Sterling silver wire also comes in varying degrees of hardness from dead soft to hard with half-hard in between.

BEADS - Not sure where to start with this one, so we will cover these as we go along!