The Beading Gem

Rubber Tubing and Beads Hoop Earrings

There is nothing wrong with plain hoops. But sometimes you just want to jazz them up a little to make them truly your own.

Do you have hoop earrings that have lost their appeal because the plating has worn off? It's another reason to make fun cover up hoop earrrings.  Instead of throwing them away, restyle them with yarn, trimmings, fabric, felt, ribbon and even rubber tubing!

Many people like to make memory wire bracelets which are completely covered with beads.  Nothing wrong with that. But if you prefer just to showcase a few beads and add color to the unbeaded portion, colored tubing is the solution!

I've introduced the use of hollow colored rubber tubing before - see my past tutorial post, How to Make Fun Cover Up Hoop Earrings using small diameter memory wire. The same approach can be made with memory wire bracelets.



Dora over at the ShowTellShare blog has a wonderful tutorial on how to add color to memory wire bracelets without beads by simply feeding the wire through sections of rubber tubing.  If you've never been fond of the typical memory wire designs - you know, the multi-coiled affairs - this might change your mind!

Last week's giveaway for TierraCast's Dulce Vida Collection was a runaway! So many of you were charmed (pun intended) by the beautiful and high quality pieces which easily sparked all sorts of creative ideas. Maria Rosa Sharrow said it for all of you, "I can see why this line is called Dulce Vida - these components are rich and beautiful." And thank you for the kind comments for my design ideas.

PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride. The material is extensively used in construction because it is cheap, easy to use and is very durable. Softer and more flexible types are produced by adding plasticizers in order to make many things including upholstery, flexible tubing, electrical insulation, waterbeds, clothing and - thanks to creative artisans - even jewelry.