Wednesday's Wear It Or Frog It

A little different from the usual WWIOFI post as I found this choker in my 'for sale' box rather than in my personal jewellery stash. I made it quite a while ago with the intention of selling it, but as the flower was made from a pattern in The Beader's Floral book I wasn't comfortable doing this without the designer's permission. Sadly I never received a reply to my email so it's been sat in the box ever since.

Well as black and red is my favourite colour combination, I've decided that rather than taking it apart, I'm going keep it all for me and will wear it when I go out shopping tomorrow :)

Monday Moodboard Reveal - Rainbow

Welcome to our Monday Moodboard Reveal! Before I show you what the team made, here's a recap of the mosaic I posted last week.

Clockwise from top-left: Taste The Rainbow, Urban Rainbow, Rainbow, Rainbow eyeshadow ben nye and m.a.c.

Two offerings from the team this time and both of them rings! Sarah made this beautiful Fiesta ring in circular peyote...


Strangely enough, I used circular peyote for my ring too! I made lots of tiny beaded beads and attached them to a looped ring with headpins...


If you've been inspired to create something, either by this or previous moodboards, why not send us a photo of your creation? It's easy, either add them to our Flickr group pool or email them to me at liz@thecrimsonmoon.co.uk and I'll show them on the blog :)

Stocking Fillers from Stash, Pearl Dangle Earrings Tutorial

I think we have probably established the fact that I love long earrings and this week's Stocking Filler from Stash tutorial is no exception. I am also continuing my new obsession with using chain.


You will need:
1 pair of earwires
1 pair of headpins
2 length's of chain (mine are each 2.5 inches long)
2 10mm pearls

Tools: wire snips to cut the chain, flat nosed & round nosed Pliers.

1. using your flat nosed pliers, open the loop one an earwire.

2. Thread through the end of a piece of chain.

3. Close the loop.

4. Thread 1 pearl on a headpin and use your round nose pliers to create the 1st part of a wire wrapped loop.

5. Thread the bottom end of the chain through the loop and finish of your wire wrapped loop and trim the end with your wire snips.

6. Repeat for a second earring.

I have assumed a knowledge of basic jewellery making skills, if you are new to jewellery making you can find instructions here http://www.beadstylemag.com/How%20To/Basics.aspx

Happy Christmas Beading!

Sarahx

Wednesday's Wear It or Frog It.

I had originally planned to feature another piece for this weeks WWIOFI but this morning I was looking for something to wear with a grey/black outfit and came across this necklace that I had not worn for at least a year. This necklace is made using 2 netted tubes at the side with 3 strands of pearls at the front, I added some short fringes at the connection points. This necklace was perfect for my outfit today and I think I will probably wear it a lot from now on.

Monday Moodboard - Rainbow

Welcome to this week's Monday Moodboard! I hope you're all enjoying the moodboards that we've had so far. Summer is definitely over in the UK but that doesn't mean we can't have a splash of fun colour here on Operation Tackle That Bead Stash. I've chosen Rainbow as our colour scheme this week, which can be as vibrant or as subtle as you like. Go for bold bright primary colours or delicate pastels, the choice is yours! Don't forget that you can also take inspiration from the shapes and textures in the photos, although I wouldn't advice beading with cake ;)

Clockwise from top-left: Taste The Rainbow, Urban Rainbow, Rainbow, Rainbow eyeshadow ben nye and m.a.c.

As always, we love to see your work. If you make anything in rainbow colours this week please send your photos to me a liz@thecrimsonmoon.co.uk, or you can add them to our Flickr group pool and I'll post them in next week's reveal. Happy beading!

Stocking Fillers from Stash. Chain Swing Earrings Tutorial.

This weeks Stocking Fillers from Stash Tutorial is for these incredibly simple but fun to wear chain swing earrings. I first made this design after I bought some lovely donut shaped ceramic flowers at the Chepstow Bead & Gem Fair last January, I got them home & realised that I had no idea how to use them! After trying all sorts of ridiculously complicated techniques I finally decided that simple is best, threaded them on some chain and added an earwire. Since then these quick and simple earrings have become a great emergency gift standby, so I thought I would share them as I think they will make great little stocking fillers for Christmas.
You will need,
2 x equal lengths of small linked chain (I used a length of 3 inches)
Note: Trace chain is probably too small, check that your earwire will go through the links before cutting.
2 x 15mm donut shaped beads (I used MOP shell's which I got from the lovely Nicole from Beadwright)
1 pair of earwires

Tools: Wire snips to cut the chain and flat nosed pliers.

First decide how long you want the chain to dangle, double that measurement and cut 2 equal length pieces.

Using your flat nosed pliers, open the earwire loop by twisting sideways.

Thread one end of the chain through the earwire loop.

Thread the chain through your donut bead, taking care not to pull the chain off the earwire.

Thread the other end up over the outside of the donut and onto the earwire loop (try not to twist the chain).

Using your flat nosed pliers, twist the loop back sideways to close.

Repeat for 2nd earring.

I have assumed a knowledge of basic jewellery making techniques, if you are new to jewellery making you can find instructions here http://www.beadstylemag.com/How%20To/Basics.aspx

Happy Christmas Beading!

Sarahx

Wednesday's Wear It Or Frog It

Today I found this pretty peacock feather bracelet that I made several years ago. The design was in an early issue of Beads & Beyond magazine, I fell in love with it straight away and just had to make it!

The pattern used cylinder beads and tiny size 15 seeds and although I'd already started my obsession with beadweaving by then, I only had size 11 beads in my stash. So that was the one and only time that I bought all the beads in the exact colours needed.

The cost of the beads plus the fact that I'd used a sterling silver clasp for the first time meant that I never wore it because I was afraid I'd lose it!! Of course I'll happily spend all my money on beads now, how times change! Definitely not one to frog, I'm going to be wearing this piece from now on ;)