Corfu Blue:Free Necklace Tutorial from MaryHardingJewelry

Last month I promised a tutorial using the above components and that is what we will be doing today.  Since then I have given the necklace a name.   My inspiration came from watching  The Durrels in Corfu (streaming on Netflix)  and then reading Gerald Durrel's Corfu Trilogy.  Upon arriving in Corfu for the first time, Gerald describes the sea surrounding Corfu as "butterfly blue."  Feeling sure that these crackle glazed porcelain beads must be that color, I was inspired to name my necklace Corfu Blue.
I have made some changes in my original plan.  What follows  is a picture of it laid out before I actually put it together.

And then I made some more changes and here is  how it looks now.

                                                     Photograph of the full necklace

                                   close up of the Leaf Pendant and the Large bail

Supplies
8 feet of 20 gauge sterling silver wire (patina before using.)
5 Corfu blue porcelain beads --ranging in size from 8mm-14mm
1 porcelain Corfu blue bird bead
2  10mm golden bronze stoneware beads
1 small porcelain flower charm
8 10 mm dark brass or steel jump rings
2 dark brass or steel 11mm jump rings
3 7mm dark brass jump rings
11  6mm dark brass jump rings
1 dark brass  eye pin
5-6 inches eclectic handmade chain
3 pieces of 6 inch chain (one teal and 2 gray)
1 Copper and Wire Toggle clasp
1 Zola Elements Patina Green Brass Scrolled Focal Link 64mm x 56mm
11 size 6 antique gold color seed beads
1 Queen Ann's Lace Ceramic Leaf Pendant

Directions
1. Using the 6 mm jump rings attach the #6 seed beads to the 8 loops on the Zola Elements Bail
2.  Wire wrap both ends of the golden bronze 10mm beads  each with a 6 inch piece of the sterling silver wire.  Enough wire has been allowed to double wrap them if you wish.
3.  Attach the golden bronze beads to each end of the bail with an 8 mm jump ring.
4.  Attach an 11mm jump ring to each end of the group of  three strands of 6 inch chain (one teal and 2 gray)
4.  Make a wire wrapped chain with 2 Corfu blue beads and 1 bird bead.  Position the bird bead between the two other beads.
5.  Make another wire wrapped chain with the three more of the Corfu blue beads
6.   Attach one chain of beads on each side of the necklace to the golden bronze beads with an 8mm jump ring.
7.  Then attach the last wrapped loop of chain on the left to the eclectic handmade chain and on the right side to the three chain strands.
8.  Use an 11mm jump ring to attach the eclectic chain to the copper toggle clasp
9.  Chain together 3 of the 5mm jump rings and add them to the toggle bar
10.  Attach the above  chain to the group of 3 chains 10mm jump ring
11.  Make a wrapped loop on the small flower with the eye pin making sure to attach it to a ring in the chain before you closed it.
12. Add the Ceramic Leaf Pendant to the loop at the center of your Zola Elements Bail with an 11 mm jump ring  Attach 3  # 6 seed beads on the 6mm jump rings to the 11mm jump ring as seen in the picture above.

Your necklace is finished.  Since this necklace is composed of many handmade elements, I encourage you to substitute beads and chain from your own stash or search on Etsy and other places for handmade components and art beads.  General Sources for supplies follow.

Sources
Art beads, Ceramic Leaf Pendant,  handmade chain, toggle clasp and are made by me. I have listed the leaf pendant and a set of the corfu blue beads and bird as Made To Order  in my Etsy shop  www.maryhardingjewelry.etsy.com    I also encourage you to seek out substitutions or beads from your own stash to make this necklace.   I have checked Lima beads and you should be able to get one of the Zola Elements Bails. Here is the link 
Chain          Michaels.com
Teal Patinated chain  MissFickleMedia.etsy.com
Zola Elements Bail  at this link:https://www.limabeads.com/Zola-Elements-Patina-Green-Brass-Scrolling-Focal-Link-64x56mm-P42144
Jump rings and eye pins  Michaels.com
Golden Bronze ceramic beads Firefly Design Studio   https://www.etsy.com/shop/fireflydesignstudio

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I enjoyed making this necklace and sharing its progress and development with you.  Look forward to seeing  you next month.
Mary
www.maryhardingjewelry.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/MaryHardingJewelry/

Bead Table Wednesday - Wire Flower Wreath Pendant

Today on Bead Table Wednesday I share some of my Bead & Button loot and a fun new project featuring wire wreaths embellished with glass leaves and flowers. Watch the video below.

Resources featured in the video:

Polymer clay leaves and disk beads: Humblebeads.com (There are a few kits on my website too!)

Glass leaves, flowers, wire and butterflies: Limabeads.com

Raw brass chain and jump rings: Yadana Beads

Supplies used in the pendant:
30" 20 gauge Antique Bronze Parawire
Vintaj brass butterfly
Humblebeads leaf pendant and disk
4 Czech glass leaves and 4 flowers
25" raw brass chain
1 6mm brass jump ring
2 8mm brass jump ring

The Earring Whisperer - Chain Tassel Earrings

Hello, 2017 Greetings! I am new to the Art Bead Scene team, my name is Loralee Kolton. I wish you all a wonderful, bright and creative New Year!

I was delighted to find that Chinese New Year falls in January this year, so I thought, how lovely for my first monthly feature to have an Asian touch!

I have to say, I'm pretty crazy about these; they have lovely movement and shimmer! Sexy stuff! They are bold and yet easy on the ear. Comfort and balance is always important.

Supplies:

1 pair, ceramic artisan charms with multiple connectors .

8, 3 mm vermeil  seed beads.

4, 4mm oxidized jump rings.

20 pcs., .75" black and gold chain.

6 pcs. of 2.5" - 3" 26g. oxidized copper or brass wire.

2 oxidized brass or copper earwires.

Charms:  www.josephinebeads.etsy.com

Wire: www.artwearelements.etsy.com

Earwires and jump rings by Vintaj.

Vermeil seed beads and chain: Many shops on Etsy carry these items.

Directions:

1. Taking the ceramic charm and one piece of 26g wire, thread it through a connector loop, leaving a small tail to hold down with your thumb. 

2. Begin to coil the wire around the loop,  going up as high or as low as you'd like. Snip the wire with cutters and press the end tail with your chain nose pliers until smooth. Repeat on all connector loops.

*Small vermeil seed beads were added to the top loop by slipping them on one at a time as you coil the wire.

3. Take two open jump-rings and add 5 pcs. of chain to each. Attach the jump-rings to the connector to form a tassel.

4. Add earwire to the top connector. 

1st Day of Christmas: Victorian Ornament

This year we are bringing back our popular 12 Days of Christmas series! This is 12 free projects from our stellar Art Bead Scene contributors with jewelry and craft projects featuring art beads.

Some will be holiday or winter themed and others are just great gift ideas or projects you'll want to try. Our series will run between our regular features from now until Christmas day. 

We hope you enjoy them. Happy Holidays!

A simple wrapping of the bonbon bead onto a piece of filigree gives your bead instant Victorian charm. Makes these as holiday ornaments or on a longer chain as a pendant. Use a bead in floral colors for a necklace that can be worn year around. 

Skill Level: beginner, wire work

Supply List:

Bonbon bead

40mm Garden Trellis brass filigree

2 7mm brass jump rings

2” brass ball headpin

10mm pearl

7” brass cable chain

4” 22 gauge brass colored wire

Necklace option: 3 7mm brass jump rings and 24” brass cable chain

1. String the bonbon bead on the center of the wire, string the wire through the filigree. Twist the two ends of the wire tightly several times to secure the bead to the filigree, trim wire and bend flush to the filigree.

Necklace option: tuck the wire so that it’s inside the open area of the filigree and not sticking out at all.

2. Position the filigree so the long center pieces are vertical. Add the pearl to the headpin, form a simple loop. Add to the bottom of filigree with the jump ring.

3. Attach the chain to the top of the filigree with the jump ring.

Necklace option: Attach one end of the chain just off center with the 4mm jump ring, repeat on the other side of the chain.

Supply List:

Bonbon Beads: Humblebeads. Filigree: Vintaj. All other materials: Hobby Lobby. 

Tutorial Tuesday: Earthy Momma Multi-Strand Bracelet

Supplies

- 1 polymer bird or nest charm (www.Humblebeads.com)

- 1 pewter nest or bird charm (www.Greengirlstudios.com)

- 7 Rich Kibbons wood beads, petite (www.Stinkydogbeads.com)

- 23 6mm Picasso luster finish Czech glass rounds

- 25 brass colored seed beads, size 11/0

- 8 thin brass heishi spacers and 2 thick brass heishi spacers, both 6 mm

- 2 8”x1” batik ribbon, one blue or green, and one brown

- 1 8” piece of leather lace

- 2 brass swivel lobster clasps 9x17 mm

- 4” of 6x9mm open link cable chain

- 2 long brass headpins

- 20” of 3 or 4 ply waxed linen cord, brown

Finished bracelet is 7" long with a 1" tail. 

Steps

Braided Bracelet:

1.  Insert headpin through the bottom of one czech glass flower. Make a wrapped loop on top. Do the same with the other flower and headpin, set aside.

2.  Separate your chain into, after opening the rings you need to do not close them, set them aside:

two 1” sections

two single links

one section of 3 links

3. Roll all three ends of the ribbon and leather together tightly and attach one of an end clamps.

4. Braid the ribbon and leather until it's 6” long. Trim the end, roll your ribbon and leather together again and attach the other clamp.

5. Attach one of the single chain links to a clasp and also one end of the clamped braid, close the link. Attach the open end of one of the 1” chain sections to the other end and close it, opening the last link on the section, add one of the Czech glass flowers you wrapped, close the link. This bracelet is done, set aside

Beaded Bracelet:

1. Attach the other clasp to the other single link and close it. Fold your waxed linen in half, thread the looped end through the link about 3/4” and slide the two cord ends through the loop, connecting the cord to the link by pulling firmly to tighten.

2. Add one of the thick brass heishi, make a overhand knot and begin stringing the seed beads and 6mm rounds alternately on ONE of the cord strands, beginning with a seed bead and about half way through add 2 seed beads just once and continue the pattern. Do not tie off, set down.

3. Begin the other strand with a thin brass heishi spacer and then alternate them with the wood beads. 

4. When finished stringing them, bring both strands together and make an overhand knot. Add the second thick brass heishi and using a slip knot, tie the ends of the linen to the closed end of your other 1” chain section. Pull each strand tightly individually, this will help to ensure your knot is good and tight. 

5. Add your other wrapped flower to the open end, close link.

6.   Attach the open end of the 3 link chain section first to the 2 seed beaded section of the bracelet, then slide on the polymer charm, close the link. Open the other end of the chain section and add your pewter charm, close the link.

7.   ENJOY!

Resources:

Waxed linen cord and batik ribbon: Jewelry Accord, www.jewelryaccord.etsy.com. 

Czech glass flowers, round beads, seed beads, findings, and chain : ShipwreckBeads,  www.shipwreckbeads.com. 

Leather lace: www.classicelements.etsy.com.

Today's guest designer is Mary DeTray of Brass Rabbit Studios. Visit her website to see more of her amazing work. Join Mary tonight for a fun supply destash event in her Etsy shop, she'll have batik ribbon along with other goodies! 

5 Free Art Bead Jewelry Projects

Today I'm bringing you a preview of the projects featured in the 2015 Bead Cruise Program. We celebrated our 10th anniversary of the Bead Cruise when we set sail in February. One of the highlights of the cruise every year is the awesome gift bags with items donated be our fab sponsors. I love using their beads in our projects for the booklet year after year.

Briny Sea Bracelet

• Lampwork: www.suebeads.etsy.com
• 15mm ceramic beads: www.suburbangirlbeads.etsy.com
• 10mm ceramic beads: www.whitecloverkiln.com
• Pewter octopus: www.greengirlstudios.com
• Pewter button: www.mamacitabeadworks.etsy.com
• Faceted ceramic beads: www.potterybeads.com
• Peanut seed beads: www.whimbeads.com
• Waxed linen: www.ornamentea.com

Fiesta Bangle

• Cord: www.stinkydogbeads.com
• Czech flower bead:www.thecuriousbeadshop.etsy.com
• Bead caps: www.rings-things.com
• House charms: www.claybuttons.com
• Steel wire: www.acehardware.com

Did you know our very own Tari Sasser makes theses adorable house charms - I think you need one right now! 

Island Life Pendant

• Starfish charm: www.tesoritrovati.com
• Beach house: www.humblebeads.com
• Ceramic bead: www.whitecloverkiln.com 

Sail Away Bracelet

• Ceramic charm: www.suburbangirlbeads.etsy.com 
• Ceramic bead: www.whitecloverkiln.com
• Rizo beads: www.whimbeads.com

My favorite project in the Bead Cruise Program this year is this super fun cuff bracelet featuring stamped Vintaj blanks and one of Bandana Girl's new multi-strand leather bracelet clasps. These clasps are the bomb!!! I have another one that is calling my name, I love a component that just offers unlimited possibilities.

Drink the Wild Air Bracelet

• Leather clasp: www.bandana-girl.com 
• Metal blanks, Patina paints, jump rings and heapdins: www.vintaj.com 
• Glass beads: www.fusionbeads.com 

• Download your free copy! You can find the step-by-step directions for all these projects and several earring ideas in the 2015 Bead Cruise Program.

• A handy list of our sponsors can be seen here. Great place to bookmark and visit the next time you are in the need for beads! 

• Our 2016 Bead Cruise details will be out later this month. Until then feel free to join the Bead Cruise Facebook group. 

Lighthearted Valentine Necklace

This playful pendant from Andrew Thornton is the perfect focal for a Valentine theme that can be worn all year long. Opting for an earthy, darker color palette gives the design more versatility and let's the heart focal take center stage. 

Supplies

Ceramic pendant

4 8-10mm ceramic beads

2 Czech bell flowers

2 Czech flowers

6 6x9mm Czech glass rondelles

2 4mm crystals

15mm brass jump ring

10 7.25mm brass jump rings

10mm brass jump rings

30mm brass leaf creative bar (toggle)

22mm brass hammered ring

12" 5.5mm Arte Metal elongated oval brass chain

6 1" brass headpins

2 7mm black jump rings

12" 19 gauge steel wire

Necklace length: 18"

1. Add a glass flower to a headpin, create a wrapped loop (optional, if your headpins are thicker create simple loops). Repeat with each glass flower and crystal beads. Set aside.

2. Cut a 1" length of steel wire, create a simple loop on one end, add a glass rondelle, create a simple loop on top. Repeat with the other 5 glass rondelles. Set aside.

3. Cut a 1.5" length of steel wire, create a simple loop on one end, add a ceramic bead, create a simple loop on top. Repeat with the other 3 ceramic beads. Set aside.

4. Attach the 10mm jump ring to the pendant.

5. Open the 15mm jump ring, string on one rondelle link, the pendant and another rondelle link, close jump ring.

6. Open a 7.5mm jump ring, attach to the ceramic bead link, string on the small glass flower dangle and a glass rondelle link, close jump ring. 

7. Repeat step 6 alternating the beaded links, add the bellflower dangle. Repeat again adding crystal between beads.

8. Attach glass rondelle link with 7.5mm jump ring. Divide chain into two 6" lengths. Attach one length to the last rondelle link with a 7.5mm jump ring.

9. Repeat the pattern on the other side of the necklace.

10 Attach the clasp to the end of the chain with 7mm black jump rings.

Resources: Ceramic pendant: www.allegorygallery.com. Ceramic beads: www.whitecloverkiln.com. Brass findings, clasp and chain: www.vintaj.com. Black jump rings and crystals: www.michaels.com. Steel wire: www.acehardware.com.

Growing Garden Earring Tutorial - Free Project

I created these fun matchstick charms for a quick and easy earring option.  What I didn't know when I made them is how adorable they are as flower stems paired up with Czech glass beads. This simple wire project can be made in just a few minutes.

Supplies:

2 matchstick charms

2 14mm Czech glass coin flowers

8" 20 gauge brass colored wire

2 brass kidney wires

10 2mm copper beads

Directions:
1. Cut 4" of wire, center the wire in the middle of the matchstick charm and pull both ends up and around the top of the charm.

2. Bend one wire straight up, above the matchstick charm and wrap the other wire several times around the first wire.

3. String on the flower bead, create a wrapped loop above the flower, trim the wire and tuck in the end of the wire using needle nose pliers..

4. String the earring onto the earwire, add 5 copper beads. Underneath the last bead add a tiny drop of glue applying it with a piece of scrap wire to the earwire.
.

Resources: 
Matchstick Charms: Humblebeads. Flowers: Nirvana Beads (wholesale only, here is an alternative retail source.) Wire, earwires and copper beads: Rings & Things.

Adjustable Leather Knot Necklace Tutorial

I shared this project on my blog recently and thought the ABS readers would love it too. I've been wearing the ones I made almost every day.  They are perfect for those hot days when you don't want to wear anything heavy or have metal sticking to you!

Materials:

Blooms & Birds set from Humblebeads

Ceramic round bead from Firefly Designs

Pewter nest from Green Girl Studios

36" 1mm leather cord from Primitive Earth Beads

Use any round beads for the project, just make sure the holes are at least 1mm.

Directions:

1. Find the center of the cord. 2.5" from the center tie a knot, add the bird bead, tie a knot, add a bead, tie knot. Repeat adding a bead and tying a knot for the remaining 6 beads.

2. Adjustable knots: overlap the two ends of the cord with about 6" of cord on each side of the necklace. Create a loop with one end of the cord, leaving a 2-3" tail. Wrap the end of the cord around both strands of leather and around the loop, keep wrapping the cord around all three cords two more times. Slide the end of the cord into the loop and pull tightly. 

This is a budget friendly version with a raven and round art bead from Humblebeads and wood, ceramic, bone and metal beads from the arts & crafts store. 

Here is a video tutorial so you can see how to make the adjustable knots on this necklace.

Tutorial Tuesday: Totem Earrings

I found Tari's Inside the Studio post on Friday super inspiring.  She shared her pin board of ceramic totems and that got my brain whirling around totem jewelry which led to these springing to life on my bead table.

Supplies:
4 polymer clay spacers
2 pewter bird beads
2 6mm pyrite beads
2 faceted brass beads
2 15mm brass jump rings
2 brass earwires
2 2" copper headpins
6 11/0 copper seed beads

Directions:
1. On a headpin string one pyrite bead, seed bead, polymer clay bead, seed bead, polymer clay bead, seed bead, bird and faceted bead.  Trim wire and create a simple loop.
2. Open jump ring, string beaded dangle and earwire on, close jump ring.

Resources:
Polymer clay beads: Humblebeads. Birds: Green Girl Studios. Seed beads: Fusion Beads. All other materials: Rings & Things.

Tutorial Tuesday: Harvest Owl Earrings

 

Inspired by this month's Art Bead Scene challenge I created these Harvest Owl Earrings for today's tutorial. These simple earrings use a petal headpin as the backdrop for a tiny charm.  

Supplies: 2 Petal Headpins, 2 Vintaj Arte Metal Owl Charms, 2 Copper Earwires
Tools: A pencil, buffing block, round and chain nose pliers, bench block, ball peen hammer

Directions:
1. Use a buffing block on the owl charms to highlight the metal details.
2. With the chain nose pliers bend the headpin to the right at an angle.
3. Wrap the headpin around a pencil to form a large loop.
4. Hold the loop with the chain nose pliers and wrap the wire under the loop several times.
5. With the wire in the front, slide on the owl charm.
6. Wrap the rest of the wire at the base of the loop, above the charm.
7. Hammer the loop with the ball peen hammer.
8. Add the earwire.

Special Offer: 
As a gift to our readers and to celebrate our new changes here at the ABS, I'm offering a special Art Bead Scene discount for Humblebeads.com from now until Friday.  Use discount code ABS20 for 20% off your order.

Thank you for following along and supporting our fun blog!  We so appreciate you!!!

Fall Color Trends

Summer is giving us her last farwell this weekend and my thoughts are rushing ahead to fall and all the inspiration and beauty that autumn has to offer. Along with being inspired by the color expert Mother Nature proves to be, I'm also seriously inspired by the Fall 2013 Pantone Color Trend Report.

The image above is from Brandi Hussey's amazing blog post on color palettes using this season's trendy colors. Run over there right now to check it out!

I was inspired this weekend to create a few bracelets featuring a few color trend palettes. You can find the tutorial to this Hidden Clasp Bracelet here.

Are you digging the fall Pantone colors? Does one jump out at you as a must have for your fall designs? I have to say, I'm in love with all of them!

Studio Saturday with Erin Siegel

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard.
The following week we choose a random winner.

This week's winner is Erin S. Congratulations, Erin! You have won a hydrangea pendant from Heather Powers of Humble Beads.
  Send Heather an email with your address and she will get your prize out to you soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week we visit the studio of
Erin Siegel of Erin Siegel Jewelry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Next weekend I'm taking my 2 1/2 year old daughter to her first Native American Pow Wow. I hope she enjoys the flute music, drumming, dancing, storytelling and crafts. She's already familiar with dream catchers. Before she was born, I was gifted a beautiful dream catcher handmade by a Native American woman I know. It hangs above her bed now.

As long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by the Native American culture. From their deep respect and reverence for nature, to their great spiritual teachings, to their beautiful handcrafts and beadwork. One Native American tradition I have always loved and gravitated towards is the dream catcher.

Today, I’m going to be sharing with you how to make your own dream catcher-inspired pendant to capture the dreams, goals and positivity you want to bring into your life! You will learn the traditional weave to make the web of the dream catcher, then you can embellish your pendant with a variety of beads, feathers and/or charms to represent those dreams, hopes and wishes you want to catch. The finished pendant can be worn on it's own or you can incorporate it into your own beaded jewelry design. The act of making this pendant is a hands-on, creative way to realize your dreams, while making a keepsake with special meaning that you can wear and keep as a reminder of the things that are important to you. But, before I get into showing you how to make your pendant, I want to share with you a little bit about the origins of the dream catcher and a Native American dream catcher legend. I hope you will find this to be fun, informative and inspiring!

Origins of the Dream Catcher:

The Ojibaway or Chippewa were the first to design these decorations to protect their babies against bad dreams that might come along in the night. Both good and bad dreams would be caught by the web, but only good dreams could find their way through the hole and slide down the feather to the baby’s head. The bad dreams, not knowing the way, would get caught in the web and dissipate with the first rays of morning light.

Since the beginning, many Native American tribes have adopted the dream catcher and incorporated it into their heritage. The Lakota are one such group that have done this. The following is their story of the dream catcher:

Legend of the Dream Catcher (Lakota)

Long ago an old spiritual leader was high on a mountain and had a vision. A teacher of wisdom appeared in the form of a spider. The spider picked up the elder’s willow hoop and began to spin a web. She spoke to the elder about the cycles of life. She said, “In each time of life there are many forces, some positive and some negative. If you listen to the positive forces, they will steer you in the right direction. If you listen to the negative forces, they will lead you astray.”

When the spider finished speaking, she gave the elder the web and said. “The web is a perfect circle with a hole in the center. Use the web to help your people reach their goals, making good use of their ideas, dreams and visions. If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will catch your good ideas, let them float through the hole and down the feather upon you.” The elder passed on the vision to the people. Now, many hang a dream catcher above their bed to sift their dreams and visions. The good thoughts are captured in the web of life and dropped down to the person, the negative thoughts are caught in the web and perish at daybreak, never to be a part of their lives.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I would really like to adopt this concept! Who’s with me? Okay, let’s make some dream catcher pendants to wear to catch those good dreams from the air and let them float down into our hearts!

Materials needed:

 1 metal 25mm ring
(I use handcrafted copper rings by Miss Fickle Media)
1 gemstone 4mm round

3 size 8 seed beads in assorted colors

1 feather charm

2 metal 4mm jump rings

18” of 4ply Irish waxed linen cord (color of your choice)

A kit containing all the materials needed and instructions can be found in my Etsy shop here.

Tools:

 Scissors

A pair of chain nose pliers (to attach the jump rings)

Instructions:
1. Use the cord to make a 1” fold at one end. Use the folded end to form a lark’s head knot around the copper ring as shown in photo 1.

 2. Using the long end of the cord, form a half-hitch knot around the copper ring and the 1” tail as shown in photo 2.

3. Trim the tail. Pull the cord down so that it sits on the inside of the copper ring as shown in photo3.

 

4. Bring the cord around the copper ring and through the loop as shown in photo 4. This is called looping. Continue making loops around the ring 5 more times. Add seed beads as desired.

5. Bring the cord around the first loop created in step 4 and through the loop as shown in photo 5.

 6. Continue looping in the same matter adding seed beads as shown in photo 6. Loop around the inner diameter of the ring twice.

7. Use the cord to string one 4mm bead; tie and overhand knot and trim cord as shown in photo 7.

 

8. Use 1 jump ring to attach a feather charm to the pendant. Use another jump ring to attach a chain or necklace cord to the pendant and enjoy!

How about you?
Do you feel inspired by the dream catcher? or Do you find inspiration in the traditions of another culture other than your own?

Please share and tell me all about it. I want to know!

 Leave a comment answering any of the above questions and you will be entered for a chance to win one of my Dream Catcher Pendant Kits!

Thanks for joining me today!

Erin Siegel is a jewelry designer, beading instructor and co-author of the jewelry book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon and Cords. To find out more, visit her blog: Erin Siegel Jewelry.

Color Cord Mixes and a Free Bracelet Project

Color Cord Mixes from the Jewelry Accord Shop 

Need a jumping off point for your next jewelry design? Try a color cord mix from the Jewelry Accord Shop on Etsy. Lori Eurto does a fantastic job of creating pretty bundles of inspiration with her colorful Irish waxed linen cord palettes. I love the alluring combinations she puts together and I enjoy the fun names she dons them, too!

"Vase with Flowers in Window" Color Cord Mix

Are you looking for a place to start on a jewelry design to enter into our Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenges? Lori has been creating color cord combinations inspired by the art piece chosen by the Art Bead Scene team. Look to the Jewelry Accord shop each month to be inspired and pick up a few cord bundles to get creating. You can also request a custom color cord mix to be made in any palette you choose. She may even name a new color mix in her shop after you!

"Fortuneteller's" Color Cord Mix

My friend Lori and I share a passion for Irish waxed linen cord. It's one of our favorite materials to work with. She invited me to design a special jewelry project and tutorial to post on her blog highlighting our beloved waxed linen cording. I'm thrilled to share the project here. I created a simple bracelet. The materials may be humble, but the design is one I would wear on a daily basis. Those are the kind of pieces I love to make the most. The everyday jewelry. I love the texture and look of the knotted multiple gemstone strands, the joyful colors of the waxed linen cord and the gorgeous, hand-crafted copper button by Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf Studio on Etsy. The techniques are easy. These simple, tried and true knotting techniques I use over and over in my jewelry. This basic bracelet project is a great example of how easy it is to incorporate Lori's color cord mixes featured in her Jewelry Accord Shop in a jewelry design!
 
Fortuneteller’s Bracelet

Erin Siegel

Sodalite is said to be the stone of “insight”. The bright, colorful threads of waxed linen cord remind me of a long, flowing gypsy skirt that a fortuneteller might wear.

Materials

72 Sodalite 6mm rounds

1 copper 20mm artisan button by Second Surf Studio

4’feet EACH of 4ply Irish waxed linen cord in the following colors: Plum, Fuchsia, Red and Sage

Tools

Scissors

Ruler

Finished size: 7 ½”

 

1: Hold the four pieces of linen cord together at their centers. Tightly twist the centers of the 4 cords together for 2”. Fold the cords in half and form an overhand knot, leaving a ¾” loop of twisted cord.

2: Separate 2 cords. Use 1 cord to string 1 Sodalite round. Use both cords to form an overhand knot after the bead. Repeat 17 times. Repeat entire step for remaining cords.

3: Use all 8 cords to form an overhand knot. Separate cords in half and form 3 square knots.

4: Use 4 cords to string one buttonhole. Repeat for the other buttonhole. Form a square knot on top of the button. Trim cords to ¼”.

Resources:

Sodalite rounds: FireMountain Gems. Waxed linen cord: Jewelry Accord on Etsy. Copper button: Second SurfStudio on Etsy.

Erin Siegel is a jewelry designer, beading instructor and co-author of the jewelry book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon and Cords. To find out more, visit her blog: Erin Siegel Jewelry.