Daily Sweetness ~

Get What You Need to Succeed!

This is good directive for many aspects of our lives but I am referring to basic tools and techniques for beaders.  Many people get started in beading by picking up a few supplies and learning as they 
go.  Simple stringing is just that: simple, but what about closing, crimping, tying off, and completing a 
wearable piece? Some people throw up their hands in frustration at this point.  
Still, intrepid beaders plug on and improvise their own techniques.  Either way, whether you learn on 
the fly or are frustrated and stuck, we find that many people benefit from formal teaching of best 
practices. In the shop, even the most experienced beaders still have basic questions and we always get appreciate feedback on how certain tips and techniques help.  In fact, we find that we frequently have full enrollment in our Beading Basic I and II classes.

Here in New  England people get energized in March!  Even though it is barely hinting at spring,  there is more energy, more light, longer days, and time to ignite your muse.  If you love making jewelry consider the following so that you can get what you need to succeed:

Step 1 - Take a class, watch a demonstration, don't be afraid to ask questions, take risks, make mistakes, practice and learn techniques.

Step 2 - Invest in the proper tools - here are the basics Beading design board - a must for laying out your design, accurately measuring the length of your necklace or bracelet, keeping your beads and findings organized while you work while also allowing you to put it away without losing the work you have
done so far.

Flush cutters - for cutting beading wire,  headpins, and craft wire.  Chainnose pliers (ideally two pair!) - for gripping wire, opening and closing jump rings, holding loops when wrapping, etc.

Crimper -  upgrade from pliers and treat yourself to a genuine crimper - your closings will be much more secure, attractive and last longer.

Roundnose pliers - for forming simple and wrapped loops that are essential for earrings, charms, and pendants.

Bead stash - not technically a tool, but essential! When you see beads you love buy them, you may never see them again. After you have a nice selection of colors, sizes texture, swirl them together, 
make patterns, play with them and your creativity will emerge.

Step Three - Get inspiration! Visit your local bead shop, flip through Bead Style, or Stringing magazine, pick up a book with specific projects, or go to a Meet Up......then go back to Step 1!!

Make sure you sign up for beading daily!  This is a great way to get inspired! 

Hard wired for wire….

You would be amazed by how much you can do with wire! It is manna from heaven when it comes to jewelry making not only because you can create so much from it but also because it can step in when you need instant bails, earwires, wrapped loops, pretty much anything.  We all fell in love with the Tree of Life design that Mig Lamire recently taught in the shop.  We so much fun wrapping, looping, bending and twisting (the wire I mean!) that we almost didn't realize what we had created until it was done. 

 

The great thing about this project was that even though there were about 9 of us all making the our trees of life, every single one of them came out unique.  The tree of life pendant can be hung high on a choker length satin cord or on a long chain and no matter how many trees of life there are out there, each expresses the unique style of its wearer.

 

So, a little about wire: we usually recommend using craft wire for practicing and learning wrapping.  It is a silver, gold or copper colored base metal that sells on spools and it’s cheap.   After you have a feel for wire, you can move up to half hard sterling silver.  Although, for many projects that require constant manipulation of the wire,  like wire crochet for example, it is still best to stick with craft wire because unlike silver, it doesn't get brittle and break as quickly.

 

Another factor to think about with wire is the gauge that you will need for your project.  Gauge is a measurement of the thickness of the wire.  Contrary to instinct, the higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire.  Most wire wrapping projects call for 22-26 gauge.  Many people also like 24 gauge for headpins because it is much easier for making wrapped loops on earrings. If your project requires a form, like the ring upon which the tree of life is wrapped, then you'll need a thicker wire such as an 18 gauge to create a solid form.

 

As for projects using wire wrapping?  We make wire wrapped rings, wire wrapped pendants, beaded hair combs, hair pins, wire crochet, hammered spirals, wire twist bracelets...oh my gosh, the sky is the limit!