The Beading Gem

I liked this tutorial by Uppuniti Home because it uses short chain lengths to accentuate the plain beads in the design. Nice touch with the graduated bead sizes.  You will have to experiment with both chain and beads to figure out what looks best.

I would never have considered kumihimo for rings!  But Christina Larsen of CSL Designs did!  She is adept at not just wire work but both macrame and kumihimo.  This tutorial of hers covers how to make a kumihimo decorative band with tiny hearts. Then macrame is used to complete the ring band to size.

What is it about owls? They are very popular motifs in jewelry designs.  Perhaps it is because owls represent wisdom and all that. Maybe a touch of Harry Potter fandom?  But I think it is because the wings, large eyes and symmetry all lend themselves to a lot of creative possibilities for jewelry designers.

I really don't know why pearl holes are so small! Such a pain.  So most of us have to ream them to enlarge the holes otherwise they cannot be easily strung. I've tried using a scrap piece of wire with a rough edge before - the usual bead reamers are too large otherwise.  There are also special pearl reaming tools like this fine one which has a double helix flute designed to bore.

Dena Pavone Collection's handmade Swarovski and leather sandals are jewelry for your feet! Glamour and brilliance of the crystals coupled with craftmanship make these footwear much more than something to protect your feet.

I knew some of you are multi-talented. A couple of readers like Sneaky Burrito who entered last week's giveaway for Nunn Design's new embroidery jewelry kits said, "Those are cool. In addition to beading/jewelry making, I do some embroidery. What a fun way to combine both interests."  Some of you mentioned you still have the threads leftover from previous projects.  So using them up in a new creative direction will be fun.

The humble round nose pliers is one of the most essential tools to possess. Yet many beginners only use it for making loops.  It can do more than that!  Think multiple loops!  This tutorial by wire artist, Lythong Art, shows the possibilities.

Sometimes a simple tip will add so much more depth to a design. So it is with Patricia Roberts-Thompson's tutorial. Her layered stamped polymer clay tutorial results in 3D designs.  All she does is simply stamp twice. Elements of the second stamping are then cut out and placed on top of the first stamping!

Tired of using conical beads for earring designs?  Check out this easy chain maille tutorial by Kylie Jones. The round maille portion acts rather like a bead cap only a lot more open!  I like her tip of using a chopstick as a mandrel to help one position the rings during the opening and closing process.

I was delighted when I came across this modern beaded ring tutorial.  Its stacked design had a row of small cube beads as the focal.  Another modern beaded ring tutorial is this one from NBeads.  Like the first one, it is a raised design but only features a single round bead.

Do you have someone who is hard to buy for?  Well, if the men in your life like chain maille, consider making them a cool tie!  Tim Shaw's tutorial shows how you can make one with the European 4-in-1 weave. Doesn't it look smart with a dark shirt!

Isn't it frustrating when you don't have just the right shade of glass beads for designs?  Well, I recently learned you can color clear glass beads including crystals for truly custom designs.  Terry Ricioli shows how you can first etch the glass with just a simple dipping process and then go on to color the beads with paint or inks.