The Beading Gem

Pyrite and magnesite are minerals which aren't really thought of as gemstones. Yet one modern innovative artisan has made them the focals in her jewelry designs.

UK based Kathryn Blackmore's design shown on the left features a cluster of pyrite stones on a gold plated necklace.

Trust me. Wire crochet jewelry is actually easier than the yarn variety. The reason is the technique is very forgiving as you don't have to make perfect wire loops.

This Bead Club video tutorial (link no longer available) for a crochet wire filigree ring is just the ticket for a small project.The instructor shows how to easily correct slight flaws.As this is a plain band, knitting with small needles will also work.


Abigail's Crafts Howto Blog has a another tutorial for an informal wire crochet ring (link no longer available). She recommends metal crochet hooks. She uses 3 mm. I suggest trying other sizes to get the look you want. Small beads may also be added.


If you have more experience, then check out Kate Pullen's tutorial for a crochet ring with a cabochon setting (link no longer available). Make it bigger and add a clasp and you've got a bracelet!

Before You Go :

• Awesome Crochet Wire Jewelry by Zircon Jewels
• Knit and Crochet Wire Jewelry Tutorial and Books
• Creative Crochet Jewelry Book Review

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips 

In past centuries, sentimental and mourning jewelry often included real hair. It was a particularly popular craft during the Victorian era.  Even Queen Victoria herself was in on it.

It might seem morbid to us but it was a major way to have a keepsake of a person before photography became more common place.

By Squiggly Twig Designs

Long hair does not suit me. So I am envious of those who can and do use hair clips and combs because they can make and wear hair jewelry!

Debbie who writes the Squiggly Twigs Designs blog does a jewelry makeover with costume jewelry. Her tutorial shows you how to convert rings and earrings into hair jewelry. Via

Earrings are fun to make. Not only are there all kinds of styles (see my Earring Design Ideas hub), there are also different beads you can use to spice up the designs.

Pat knew that and found two kinds of beads in Debbie's (Widget's Beads) collection for the two earrings she made at a workshop.

This tutorial by Upcycling Your Life on Aisle 3 is pure marketing genius.

Faced with the challenge of trying to get potential craft show customers to take a business card and also to increase the chances of them retaining it, she came up with her utterly clever mini-business card rings at one exhibition!

I often work with copper and really like the metal a lot. So when Lois Linquist the artisan and blogger behind A Beaded Affair, became the founding editor of the open publication, Inspirational Copper Wire Jewelers eMagazine I was intrigued and joined her Ning group.

These free eMagazines showcase the work of some awesome jewelry designers as well as include some helpful and fun articles. They are beautifully produced and free.

The Reader Question thread is where I pick a comment or emailed question to answer. I don't claim to know all the answers but I do my best to help.

Roxann from Beadaddict sent me this email : "I was wondering if you had any success in creating a 3 strand pearl necklace (or bracelet) that keeps a very dense twist. 

I am honored to have UK based Kerrie Slade in my Facebook community. She is not only an amazing bead work artisan but her work has been extensively published in magazines and books.

She is largely self taught and the fascination with bead work began when she started to add beads to cross stitching.

It's a little comforting to know jewelry photography or macro photography, often of shiny and reflective metals, is challenging even for professionals.

I'm still learning and experimenting long after I wrote this past post, 13 Things I Learned About Jewelry Photography.

Men's Shadow Box Style Gold Ring by Doug Peterson on Etsy

This guest post is by Jessica Carter, who writes for Zoara, an online jewelry site. Her expertise is in diamonds and wedding rings.

This gorgeous beaded vessel necklace entitled A Well Kept Secret was designed by Laura McCabe. It's from her new book, Laura McCabe's Embellished Beadweaving.

This Lark Crafts publication will suit the more advanced bead workers who are up to the challenge of a master class.

Image by Lisa Lehman

We in the jewelry making community know and understand considerable time, effort and skill go into creating designs you don't see in shops. But do you find many people still do not appreciate hand made crafts?

One artisan in one of my Linkedin groups said, "It's interesting to me how some people will drop $200 every 8 weeks to cut and color their hair, and yet balk at a $100 piece of handcrafted jewelry that is one-of-a-kind, made of valuable semi-precious gemstones and high quality sterling silver, and with care, will last a lifetime."

Recycling unwanted materials and making jewelry out of them is a big trend right now. The ingenuity and creativity of some designers is quite astonishing.

Bead Style magazines are a wonderful source of inspirational designs which are not only attractive and different but relatively easy.

So it was a delight to receive Kalmbach Publishing's Easy Beading Vol. 7 for review. It's a compilation of the best projects from their 7th year.

Zipper jewelry has been really popular in the last few years. If you think you've seen just about all the permutations a zipper can be made into jewelry, then here is another wonderful designer to change your mind.

New York based eco fashion designer, Tara St. James upcycles old zippers so they don't end up in the landfill. Her rolled zipper beads remind me of the paper versions.

Image via Wikipedia
The Reader Question thread is where I pick a comment or emailed question to answer. I don't claim to know all the answers but I do my best to help. 

There are so many jewelry styles to suit many tastes. Contemporary jewelry designs suit those who like clean, simple lines.

Italian artisan Ekaterina, whose Etsy shop is called Katrinshine is certainly a shining example of the aesthetic approach.

There is nothing like crystals especially Swarovski for maximum sparkle! So here are some wonderful tutorials for blingy earrings! The techniques used are varied - bead work, polymer clay and wire work.

First up is Bonnie Clewan's pretty blue Crystal Mandala Earrings which you can whip up in a short while.

Picture Source

Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796 - 1817) was second in line to the British throne after her father, George the Prince of Wales (the future King George IV). But she died suddenly at 21 while he was still Regent standing in for his father,  mad King George III.

Her untimely death changed the course of history. Had she lived, there would have been no Queen Victoria, no Victorian age, no Abdication Crisis, no Queen Elizabeth II and no Prince William for Kate Middleton to marry.

 I just stumbled upon this amazing wire scorpion tutorial which was uploaded to Youtube earlier today.  The tutorial is by Camell Wire Works. It requires working with several lengths of wire but it is not that difficult.
 

Michelle over at the Mich L in LA blog has a mind on permanent creative overdrive!  She comes up with astounding designs from everyday objects (see link below).  It's sometimes difficult to guess what she uses!

This pretty necklace tutorial is no different. It's not immediately obvious the flowers are made from upcycled soda pop tabs.  Michelle got the flower tutorial from Escama Studio and went on to link 3 of them together.

When we mention wire crochet at workshops, some beginners are really hesitant. Most have never done crochet. But when they do try, they end up with the prettiest jewelry ever! It's really easy. No kidding. Just check out the how to link below.

Black Pearl Earrings

One of the best movie franchises has to be Disney's Pirates of the Carribean series. Delightful characters, improbable plots and outrageously funny and action-filled entertainment continues with their upcoming installment, Pirates of the Carribean : On Stranger Tides.

Swarovski's latest pirate jewelry collection takes the movie fun and transfers it into adornment. Their designs showcase many familiar elements from the franchise.

I've come across hollow charms before. What I would do is punch a hole in it so I could hang it with a jump ring. But what if you want to attach it directly to the jewelry? The hollowness means there is not enough surface for glue to hold. Riveting will not work either because the charm is 3 dimensional.

Michelle over at Yesterday's Trash came up with a solution - a mixed media tutorial on how to add a hollow charm embellishment. 

Linking hoops is one way to add circular designs in jewelry making. But grouping multiple hoops together really ups the visual interest especially if you use colorful beads.

Jaimielee over at the Hippopotamuslee blog scored big with her inspired Frenzied State necklace tutorial. It's fun and easy to do. The colorful necklace is dynamic - as it moves when the wearer moves. That's why she named it the way she did!

You know how careful we are not to mar our jewelry pieces while we are working on them?

Well, Autumn Bradley does the opposite! Her Trash Metal Collection is not recycled jewelry but purposely distressed sterling silver and copper designs.

Summer Fun Summer Sandals

Signs of Summer to Come
Part 2 of 2
It hasn't happened yet, but when the weather starts to warm up, socks and shoes disappear! Nowhere does this happen as quickly as in Canada!  That's when we might get to see some pretty jewelry on feet.

Basic anklets are really just larger bracelets. But add a simple toe ring and beaded extensions to join it to the anklet, you get Indian-style foot jewelry! Perfect for pretty bare feet or even at beach weddings. That's why these are also called barefoot or beach sandals.  Other names include toe or foot thongs.

Signs of Summer to Come
Part 1 of 2
Dragonflies are my next favorite insect after butterflies. Some are of the most gorgeous iridescent hues, all are superb fliers AND they eat mosquitoes as well! What's not to like?

Margot Potter's wire work Dragonfly Garden Necklace for Beadalon is just divine! If you love wire wrapping and want to add coiling and clasp making to your repertoire, then this one is for you! 

Most of us cannot afford the kind of jewelry Elizabeth Taylor had (see my past post Elizabeth Taylor : Her Lifelong Love Affair with Jewelry). But sparkle lovers can still achieve that luxury look with Swarovski crystals and beading. Even better, get there as quickly as possible.

Kalmbach Publishing recently sent me a new crystal bead book to me for review.  It's just the kind of book time pressed but hard to please crystal bead workers will enjoy.

Marianne Hopkins is the Tuscon artisan behind Calliope Creations on Artfire. This highly creative individual makes jewelry as well as small sculptures and has been doing so for 15 years.

Her Wellness and Support Stone collection which features beautifully embellished rocks. These beaded medicine rocks are all one of a kind.

This guest post is by Alexis Bonari, a crafter from North Carolina.

Selling crafts on Etsy behind the barrier of a computer screen and a near anonymous contact address is quite a different experience from baring our faces and wares at a crafts show. Although your demeanor at your booth can make or break a sale, vendors must prepare heavily for a crafts show. To maximize our chances of making a profit — and having fun! — let’s keep the following tips in mind.

Bead Sisterhood Jewelry Booth

Weaving cord with chain is a wonderful way to come up with a different look to jewelry design.  Some of my favorite DIY designers are Erica Coffman and Lauren Kolody of Honestly....WTF who have done just that. Shown here is their Woven Chain Bracelet. I must agree it's an awesome "grown-up" friendship bracelet! 

   I first got to know of Heather O'Cain of Seattle when she left a comment and followed me on Twitter. I checked out her Etsy store, BluKatDesign and was totally charmed by her upcycled vintage jewelry. She is also on Facebook.


Although she is a trained professional jewelry designer of high end gold and platinum jewelry, what she repurposes for her Etsy store is pure fun for her.

Brooches are back! No wonder as they are such versatile pieces.They can be used as pins for clothes and scarves or to decorate bags. But if you're not a brooch person, consider making them into pendants instead!

Feminine Jewelry
Part 2 of 2
Some artisans use lace in their jewelry pieces. But it takes a really innovative artisan to do it differently from what others might do.

Los Angeles designer, Amanda White (link no longer available), takes real vintage lace and casts them directly into gold and silver pieces. She also takes the same approach with satin, ribbon and string.