A good friend invited me to a beading party, which started off at a bead and gem show. I wasn't really interested in it, so I bought some cheapie basic supplies to not be a party pooper and planned to buy maybe one or two strands at the show. Well, I found some neat stuff for $1 a strand, and decided to make some bracelets for the upcoming craft fair. I have no idea what I am doing yet, but I figure I can manage some basic stretchy bracelets.
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
I know I am neither dexterous nor creative enough to take up jewelry making of any kind, but I do find displays of beads very appealing.
There's a block in Manhattan with several little stores jammed with every sort and size of bead you can imagine, from clay to semi-precious stones. It's like Aladdin's cave.
LOL. I got in to beading this year too. It can be an expensive endeavor though. I started going to garage sales and buying broken and cheap jewelry, taking it apart, and making new bracelets and basic necklaces.
The best thing about it is when you get tired of your jewelry you can just take it apart and redo it in a different configuration. It is also nice to have the basic knowledge to fix your own broken stuff.
I enjoy it but will probably keep it pretty simple (your basic strand of beads either on a stretchy band or with lobster claw clasp). I am not very good at wrapping and twisting tiny metal pieces and didn't really enjoy it anyway. I don't have the patience for that.
Those are great! I wish I could get the wire wrapping thing down. It seems like my hands turn in to bumbling idiots when I try to do delicate work like that and the end result looks like a 1st grade project. lol!
I finally sat down with my supplies last night and in about 2 1/2 hours, managed to turn out 4 bracelets. The first couple went quickly, since the designs were simple, but then I tried some color combinations and couldn't decide which ones I liked best. I had a ton of trouble with the lobster claw closure attempt; I could NOT get it tied in place properly. I also have some toggle closures that I want to work with, too, but I will likely do a majority of stretchy pieces.
I will post pictures later, when I have some more finished. So far, I have one made completely of square, red glass beads, one with the red squares with some multi-faceted clear crystals mixed in, an aqua and blue hogans alternated with tiny pale blue squares, and one with pale pink and a purplish pink hogans alternated with tiny squares in the same colors. The pink mix has the lobster claw closure on a very thin fishing line.
After my first attempt, it's clear that I won't be working with beading wire for a very long time, if ever. I like making bracelets and will try some necklaces as well, but I won't be more than just a casual crafter. I might be tempted to make myself some sparkly earrings, though.
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
Aardvark, I had trouble with fishing line too. I found that working with the wire was a ton easier. Don't get the thick, stiff kind, (I tore the label off of mine so I can't see what gauge it is:( get the thinner, bendy kind.
Basically, you run the wire and a crimp tube thru the toggle or lobster clasp, crimp the tube, add your beads, then do the same at the other end. You can pull the wire taut with small pliers then crimp the tube. I run the wire back thru the beads a bit then cut it. It is super easy! I have a small pair of wire cutters that can crimp too. You can find them pretty cheap at walmart, I think it is called an all-in-one or 4-in-one tool. Supposedly you can also wrap wire with it, lol - not that I have done that with any success.
You can find great how to videos on youtube. That is how I started.
I'm having success with the fishing line today. I was really tired last night, plus I was working on the floor. Today, I worked while I was wide awake and sitting at the dining room table.
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
I have a LOT more bracelets than I thought I would! I have almost 30 right now, and I still have supplies. I'm going to make as many as I can to use up the beads, since I'll likely only be a casual crafter. I've taken some apart to redo them, because I had a few duplicates from lack of creativity, but inspiration struck and I've come up with some new designs. I hope they all sell, so we can make a nice donation to our chosen mission project, but if they don't, I'll give them to my fellow committee members.
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"I never understood why blessings wore disguises. If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked." - Sophia Petrillo
