Learn To Make Leather Links For Jewelry

 Leather Infinity Links Video Workshop

by Tracy Statler

Leather in accessories is hot, hot, hot! I think I've said this before, but it's worth repeating. If you want to make chic jewelry that's in demand now, consider incorporating some leather into your designs. Leather is a wonderful material to work with and pair with your art beads. It adds lots of texture and interest to your jewelry. My stylish friend and book contributor, Tracy Statler is currently offering a video tutorial on how to make these fun leather infinity links. These components are a versatile way to add leather to your jewelry. Incorporate them into bracelets, necklaces and even earrings.

In this video tutorial, Tracy takes you step-by-step through the process of creating her innovative beaded leather infinity links. She also provides you with a handy supply list and helpful tips and tricks to make creating these cool components much easier.  Tracy is available for questions and support, if you need help. She does allow designers to sell jewelry that is created from her tutorial, which in my book is a huge plus and very generous! There's even an option to pin and share your designs on a Pinterest gallery board that Tracy has created specially for those that purchase her tutorial. That's a great way to connect, share and promote your jewelry!

Click Here To Purchase

You can purchase Tracy's video tutorial through her blog, Make Bracelets! I highly recommend that you check it out.

Oh, and as if you needed any more eye candy or convincing, below are more examples of Tracy's work showing the versatility of her leather technique. If there are any jewelry designers to keep your eye on, it's this girl. She's a phenomenal, high-quality designer that enjoys sharing professional tips and tricks, knowledge and supply resources, teaching and writing jewelry-making tutorials and how-tos. What more could you possibly ask for? Do your-jewelry-making-self good and join her on her blog here.

I hope you enjoy her inspiration. I know I do!

Bracelet by Tracy Statler

Tracy Statler Designs

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.  

On the 6th Day of Christmas: On the Rocks Pendants

I wanted to create something trendy for today's project, since many of us have trendsetters on our gift lists.  After a healthy dose of Etsy and Pinterest trend watching I was ready to give this style my spin with geometric shapes, a limited color palette, metallic touches and a fashion forward design.

Supplies
18" gunmetal chain with clasp
6" 22 guage steel wire
2 12mm polymer clay disks
4 10mm faceted black onyx
7 4mm faceted brass beads

1. Cut the chain in half with heavy-duty wire cutters.
2. Create a loop at one end of the wire, open it and slide the chain onto the loop.  Close the loop and wrap it several times to create a messy wrapped looped.

3. String the beads in the following pattern with a faceted brass bead between each: 1 stone bead, 2 disk beads, 3 stone beads, end with a brass bead.  Create a wrapped loop, repeating step 2, adding the chain before you finish the wrap. 

These were so easy to whip up I thought I would try it in a few different variations.  This one uses brass disks with the faceted brass beads and a polymer clay disk bead.  I could see this one going to someone who is more of a minimalist. If you'd like a shorter necklace, cut off an inch or two of chain from both sides. 

And feeling very challenged to create something manly, I used the same stones and paired them up a faceted ceramic bead from Diane Hawkey.  I opted for no metal for this design, but African brass spacers that are simple in style would work on a necklace for guys. 

 

Now we could have added the leather cord to both sides of the pendant, guys like leather necklaces.  But Jess came up with a handcrafted chain from steel wire that we both loved!

He cut 1 1/2" pieces of 19 gauge steel wire and created a simple loop at both ends.  For a few of the links he used 2 1/2" pieces of wire for some interest.   You'll need to wax a steel chain with Renaissance Wax to protect it from rusting.

Resources: Brass beads and disks, gunmetal chain: Rings & Things.  Steel wire: Ace Hardware. Polymer Clay Disks: Humblebeads.  Ceramic Bead: Diane Hawkey. Faceted Stones: A local bead store find.  

Jewelry Trends in Action

Yesterday I shared some spring and summer jewelry trends with you and here are a few examples of the trends paired with art beads.  Fibers, handcrafted buttons and bangles are on the top of my hit list!

First up a bracelet from Jean A. Wells that features a ceramic button and leather cord.

A large button can so easily become a pendant, put thread a silk ribbon through one of  the holes like this example from Designs by Lu.

Love this button necklace turned into a focal with leather as a decorative part of the construction from Lune Designs.

Linda Landig created these earrings with silk threads.  So fun and festive! (You can win a pair on her blog.)

A luscious silk ribbon adds texture and contrast to this copper and ceramic necklace from Staci Louise Design.

A bangle bracelet by Malin de Koning features art beads, natural elements and fibers brass bangle.

Karyn from Plus Size Bangles stacked wooden beads and polymer clay focals for ethnic inspired bangles.

Cindy Wimmer created a wire bangle with art beads and a handmade stamped metal focal have just a touch of sari rbbon.

Kristi Bowman worked up a great summer bangle with one of her copper urchins and stones.

2012 Summer Jewelry Trends

I sent this out to my newsletter list yesterday but thought you might enjoy reading it too.

With the renewal of spring comes a new surge of creativity!  If you are looking ahead to summer shows, gifts for Mother's Days, graduations or just a jump on summer's hottest trends, I have the scoop for you!

1. Mother's Day Gift Ideas - nests are the perfect focals for jewelry for mom.  Mix them with wire nests, tiny bird charms and brass branches.  Nests Charms & Pendants

2. Give mom flowers that won't fade! My dogwood blossom beads were molded from a antique spoon that belongs to my grandmother.  It's filled with sentiment.  Dogwood Pendants

3. Butterflies are the perfect symbol for grads as they begin their metamorphosis into adulthood.  Butterflies Pendants and Kits

4. Owls are another awesome gift for those graduating. Whether it's from kindergarten, middle school or high school, owls are as popular as ever!  Pair them up tiny charms and chain for simple designs that will be a hit.  Owl Beads, Charms & Pendants

5. Summer trends start with the sea, be it a shell, starfish or coral - designers are taking their cues from the deep.  Sea Inspired Beads

6. Bracelets piled on high are still a hot trend for the season.  Add a charm to bangles or on the end of a memory wire bracelet.  Check out my tutorial here and charms here.

7. Feathers, Southwestern and tribal influences with a strong lean towards geometric designs are as hot as the summer sun.  Add jewelry with this geo tribal flare to jeans and a patterned top for a simple nod to this trend. Feather charms & Pendants.

8. Bright pops of color and color blocking are paired with crisp whites for a fresh spring and summer look.  Or try pairing them with neutrals like grays, tans or nudes for a sophisticated take on this youthful trend.  Hibiscus Pendants.

9. Textures and fibers are everywhere in jewelry this season.  Add it in as an accent or use it as the workhorse of a design and hang your favorite pendant from a soft, dyed silk ribbon.  Sari Silk Ribbons.

Bonus:

Place a $50 order from my Etsy shop and receive a free egg bead! No code or note needed.  All qualifying orders from now until Friday 3/31, will automatically have the egg added to their order.  Humblebeads on Etsy

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