Ornament Thursday...Jennifer's Not-So-Scary Halloween Bracelet

Welcome to Ornament Thursday, this months theme is Brew.

It's almost October and if you haven't already started sporting your Halloween jewelry then now is the time. I noticed today on my morning walk the bats, pumpkins, and scarecrows are making their debut in my neighborhood. I love making my Halloween beads and each year I try to add at least one new style to my website. This year it is the Boo beads. This is a simple bracelet to make, but it packs a lot of color and fun. The supplies and instructions are below.....
Materials:
1 Ceramic toggle
4 Halloween Character beads, bat, skull, ghost, witches hat
7 5 x 10 mm orange round glass beads
4 orange size 6 seed beads
2 crimps
beading wire

Instructions:
1. Attach one end of your beading wire to the loop portion of the toggle.
2. Begin, by stringing a glass bead, followed by a bat bead, and another glass bead. String a Boo bead, a glass, a ghost, and a glass bead. Next add a Boo bead, a glass, a witches hat, a glass, and a Boo bead. Follow this with a glass bead and a skull. Last, add the 4 seed beads and the crimp.
3. String the toggle bar onto the wire and then send the wire back through the crimp. Pull the wire snug and try the bracelet on for size before crimping. If it fits, crimp the bead and trim the excess wire.

Visit the other Ornament Thrusday Participants for more brew-ha-ha!

BeadStyle & Milwaukee's heritage Linda shares her Amber Bock Bracelet

Brew'in up a few Witches Witches born of glass

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva New Beads are Brewing...

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble... Joolz by Lisa has a "Hairy" Twist on OT Brew

It's not easy being green Michelle yearns to be the Wicked Witch of the West - we think she's hit pay dirt here.

Strands of Beads Something wicked is brewing at Melissa's place

Ornament Thursday - Academia

Words of Wisdom for jewelry designers:

1. Don't worry about making mistakes, creativity is really just taking risks.

2. Push past your color safety-net and look for new inspiration. Borrow color palettes from nature, art history or fashion.

3. Overwhelmed with where to start on a new design? Pull out only a few items and challenge yourself to use only what you've selected.

4. Find inspiration from unlikely sources. Love architecture? Have a favorite city? Love to study biology? Use your obscure passions as a source for your next jewelry design.

5. Throw in the kitchen sink! It doesn't have to come from a bead store to be used in your jewelry. Look for components from hardware stores, scrapbooking sections, altered art supplies, fabric or yarn stores, toy stores, antique shops, etc.

Golden Rule Charm Bracelet

I created the dangles for this charm bracelet using a few items to remind me of life lessons I need to remember. This is my project for this month's Ornament Thursday theme, Academia.

1. The ruler charm to remember the golden rule, "Do onto others as you'd like to have done unto you."

2. The acorn turned upside down and filled with beads to remind myself that my cup is overflowing.

3. The owl as a reminder to seek wisdom and understanding.

4. The stained glass charm to remind myself to keep the faith.

5. The colors - green was used to symbolize growth and moving forward. Blue to symbolize that my spirit needs to be refreshed and not to spend too much time working.

Visit the links below to see how the rest of the Ornament Thursday designers interpreted this month's theme.

Back to School-Make your own Pencils

BeadStyle goes back to school

Beading Help Web Wires Up Academia

Check out the "homework" project from Joolz by Lisa

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva

Michelle's Edumacation

Swelldesigner goes crazy over school supplies!

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Blogged by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.

Ornament Thursday Hides Project in the Desperate Neighborhood

August is drawing to an end the Desperate Editor is desperate for a scoop! As she creeps around the neighborhood, she finds the Ornament Thursday Girls up to their monthly round robin of projects. Desperate Editor is trying to peer in between the crowd to see what they're working on.....



...she can't quite make it out. Hmmmm what is it? As she tries to figure out what the OT Girls are up to, take a look at what else is going on in the Bead Blogging World...

About.com Jewelry Making
Art shows and sites like Ebay and Etsy are packed full of jewelry makers. When is enough enough or too much? Are there too many of us?

Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene editors are a busy bunch! Read what they've been up to.

Art Jewelry Magazine
Robert Dancik's work is featured in the September 2008 issue of Art Jewelry magazine. Check out his project in the magazine, then watch the video on the Art Jewelry web site.

Barbe Saint John
Barbe talks about the new Naughty Secretary Club book.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi turns an embroidered hankerchief into a bracelet.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter shares some of the inspiration behind her creativity, and invites you to do the same.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Jennifer's been felting for fun, see what she came up with

Jewelry & Beading
Whip up a simple square stitch bail for that stone donut you want to wear. In fact, whip up a whole batch of them!

Naughty Secretary Club
Take a tour of the Naughty Secretary Club studios to see where the magic happens.

Strands of Beads
Melissa reviews Tammy Powley's new book, Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry

Have you heard any good dirt in the beading world? We'd love for you to share!

Gossiped errr reported by Cindy Gimbrone, Desperate Neighborhood snoop and glass beadmaker.

ABS Editor Cindy Gimbrone Goes Red Hot Crazy!

I've gone crazy. That's the only way to explain it.
That or the heat got to me.
Fried my frontal lobes so I couldn't reason properly.

Seemed like a good idea when I volunteered. Panic started to set in. How was I going to do two projects? I started to surf the 'net to avoid the whole situation. Ah but nothing like another blog to help you out!

Enter Deryn Mentock's Something Sublime and her Jewelry Challenge using Mary Hettmansperger's new book, Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet. I loved Mary's first book and this one is even better! I bought it immediately and decided I had to do "Project 3: Bead Shelf Necklace."



It was perfect for a phrase that's been running through my head lately,

what lies beneath

I wanted to show a little scene where on the surface it looked one way yet under the shelf or beneath it, you'd see something different. I wanted to keep the copper, antiqued and verdigris colors so I incorporated my flameworked glass beads and spirals in copper green, gaia and opal yellow. The spirals represent those things or situations in our lives that haven't been worked out and keep coming back to us - like in a spiral. I've left a hole on the shelf empty as if it's a hole in the ground, a way for those above to look in and see if they can see what's there.





The completed project is supposed to be a necklace but I wanted this to hang on my wall. Perfect for Ornament Thursday, a small wall ornament.

Let's see what the other Ornament Thursday Girls have created for this month...
Art Bead Scene
ABS Editor Cindy Gimbrone Goes Red Hot Crazy!

Beading Help Web is RED HOT!
Lynn Kvigne takes up the torch and shows you how to make a toe ring using fine silver.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Trendy, Popular and Red Hot!

It's Red Hot July in Arizona!
Lisa finally finishes a project from over a year ago. Check out this "hot" take on a changeable necklace.

Katie's Bead Blog
Check out Katie's Red Hot faux coral necklace! It's a punch of color with a summery feel.

Linda Ausburg at BeadStyle Magazine
Linda shares a red-hot card she created.

Michelle is RED HOT!
Well, really, Margot is...

Savvy Crafter
Hotsie Totsie Plexi-glass Flower pendant over on Candie's blog!

Strands of Beads
The heat is rising, and Melissa is making a Red Hot Firecracker necklace!

Swell Designer a.k.a. Alexa Westerfield
The Swelldesigner gets red hot with a Hunka Hunka Burner Necklace!

Too Red Hot
Our own Michelle Zimmerman has been hard at work this month sculpting a devil of a project for your enjoyment.

Ornament Thursday Red Hot Teaser

Art Bead Scene Editor is Red Hot this month creating two projects for Ornament Thursday! One for Art Bead Scene and another for Lampwork Diva!

To give you an hint of what's in store, the OT gang posted a teaser, so until tomorrow, here's a sneaky peeky...

Ornament Thursday - Independence

This month's Ornament Thursday theme was a little tricky for me. I was pretty stumped. So I was making these poppy beads the other day and a random memory from my childhood jumped out at me.

When I was little girl, the local drug store sold these poppy pins next to the register. They fascinated me for some reason. I knew they had something to do with helping soldiers and I remember being thrilled when my grandma had one on her kitchen counter that I could touch and play with.

So I looked up what they were all about and the poppy pins were made by veterans after World War I and the proceeds went back to help them. They were inspired by a poem called "In Flanders Field," you can read about it here. They are more associated with Memorial Day, but they remind me of my childhood 4th of July celebrations, so that's how they came to be part of this month's Ornament Thursday theme.

Poppy Field Bracelet

Supplies

Poppy Field Bead (Humblebeads)

Brass Chain (Hobby Lobby)

3 Brass Spacers

5 Copper seed beads (Charlene's Beads)

24mm filigree ring

15mm jump ring

4 8mm jump rings

Bead pod toggle bar

9 brass headpins

3 8mm flower bead caps

8mm aqua glass bead

8mm amazonite rondell

15mm silver foil glass bead

6mm crystal (ernite)

8mm smoky quartz bead

6mm faceted black glass

8mm faceted red glass

6 3-4mm pearls

Tools: Wire cutters, round and flat nose pliers

(Vintaj Brass from Bello Modo, all other beads from local bead shows)

Directions

1. Cut off the end of two headpins and make a loop at the end of each one with round nose pliers . On the first one, string on a brass spacer, poppy bead and a brass spacer, make a loop at the other end. On the second headpin string a beadcap, silver foil bead, bead cap, close with a loop. (You can press the bead cap on top of the glass bead to flatten it out to fit a little better.)

2. Cut chain to desired length. (I cut mine at 2".) Attach poppy bead to one side of the chain with an 8mm jump ring. At the end of the chain attach the filigree ring with a 15mm jump ring.

3. On the other side of the poppy bead attach the silver foil component with an 8mm jump ring. On the other end of the component attach the other chain length with an 8mm jump ring. Attach the toggle bar to the end of the chain with an 8mm jump ring.

4. Create the dangles using the rest of the beads and headpins. Attach to the jump rings next to the poppy bead. Add one dangle to the 15mm jump ring.

5. Fill up with toggle bar with pearls, close the pod with your thumb.

Bello Modo will be at the Whole Bead Show in Portland this weekend. Stop by and see their wonderful collection of Vintaj Brass, crystal, art beads from Green Girl Studios, Holly Gage, Marsha Neal, and a very nice selection of Humblebeads, including my birds and new sea urchins!

And now on to the other Ornament Thursday designers to see what inspiration and creativity they are sharing for this month's theme:

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Celebrate the Independent Spirit

Hurray for Red, White and Blue
Lisa takes a shot at teeny tiny beads for a change

Linda at BeadStyle Magazine
Childhood memories of Independence Day's past inspired this necklace.

Strands of Beads Melissa sees stars this month while considering the meaning of independence

What is America to Me? Michelle's favorite words on our country...

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Craft some red, white, and blue drink charms from vintage wartime posters. They'll make a big bang at your 4th of July cookout!

Michelle's take on Independence Over at http design, Michelle has sculpted a piece which gives a different perspective on independence.

Ornament Thursday - Insectia

The Flapper's Summer Dragonfly Pendant

Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragonfly
Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky.
~Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Silent Noon

This is a long 1920's inspired necklace that is so easy to make, you can whip it up in just a few minutes. Long and easy, sounds like the perfect summer day to me!

Supplies:
60" Brass Chain (Hobby Lobby)
1 Brass Wheel (Michael's)
2 copper or brass spacers
1 Large brass jump ring
1 2" brass headpin
Lentil art bead (Humblebeads)
Brass Dragonfly Pendant

1. Cut the end off of the headpin, use round nose pliers to form a loop. String on a copper spacer, lentil bead and copper spacer. Form a larger loop on the top.

2. Attach bottom loop to dragonfly pendant and the top loop through on of the spokes of the wheel.

4. Cut the chain into two 30" sections and loop all 4 ends through the jump ring. This will create a double strand chain.

5. Loop the top of the wheel through the jump ring and close the jump ring securely.

6. Go enjoy the start of summer!

This is part of the fun of Ornament Thursday. Our theme this month is Insectia. Click on the links below to see what kind of creativity is swarming around our blogs.

Humblebeads

Beading Help Web's DragonFly Anklet

Katie's Beading Blog

Linda at Make It Mine magazine

Savvy Crafter

Swelldesigner

The Insects are out

Ornament Thursday - Mother's Day Corsage

Moms should be showered with flowers of all kinds.

This one is a needle-felted, art bead, bead embroidered variation.

Ingredients:

felted flower (see below for instruction links)

wafer bead (humblebeads)

12mm bali spacer bead

1 pearl

various seed beads

nymo thread in coordinating colors

beading needle

Directions:

1. Layer the two flower sections together. Thread the needle, tie a knot at the end and bring it up through the middle of the two flower layers.

2. Thread the wafer bead, spacer, pearl and seed bead through the needle and push them down snugly in the middle of the flower. Go back through the pearl, spacer, wafer and flowers with the needle. Repeat this step to make the beads more secure.

3. Bead embroider a row of seed beads around the art beads. Sew on beads in a random pattern around the edges of the flower.

4. Sew a pin back unto the back of the flower.

Felted Flower Directions:

One style by Carol Cypher

A wonderfully organic flower from Fibrespace

To see more Ornament Thursday projects visit these participating blogs:

Candie Cooper
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Katie's Beading Blog
Modern Glass Link Earrings
Strands of Beads

Linda at Make It Mine magazine

Mommy-isms by Michelle
The Swell Life - Swelldesigner's blog

UR Charmed Mother's Necklace

5 Generations of Mothers
Art Bead Scene

Ornament Thursday - Sprouting Up!

The lotus flower is an ancient symbol of enlightenment sprouting from the Eastern myths of creation. The sun itself was once believed to have sprouted from a giant lotus flower that sprang from the muck and mire of primordial ooze. Blooming from the mud, the lotus a symbol of rebirth and mental purity.

When I designed my bracelet, I used purples for the bottom to represent the muddy depths from which the blossoms emerge. The white symbolizes the lotus reaching heavenward for the blue, which I used to represent the goodness that we all strive towards.

Directions for the bracelet can be found online courtesy of Beads, Baubles & Jewels. 6-hole spacer beads from Humblebeads.com.

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This week Ornament Thursday returns with all sorts of craftiness sprouting up from talented bloggers around the world!

Alexa Westerfield - a.k.a. Swelldesigner

Now that's it's time for spring, ideas are "sprouting" all over the place. Alexa creates this eye-catching notebook to keep them in order.

Art Bead Scene

Some good karma is sprouting up at the Art Bead Scene with Heather's Lotus Flower Bracelet

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva

The Brooklyn National Anthem sprouts every year when Cindy's in Spring mode. See what it inspired this year!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Melanie giggles and remembers a furry friend, brings back an old mold, and sprouts up a beaded LOLhammy ceramic ornament

Helen Bradley and Michelle Zimmerman at http design

It's spring and we're sprouting all sorts of wonderful art at http design. Michelle is toting her art to the market and Helen revisits a fun art school assignment for her inspiration.

Humblebeads

Humblebeads celebrates spring with a Berry Good bracelet inspired by some juicy disk beads.

Jennifer Heynen of Jangles

Jennifer has come up with a cute little necklace to remind you of spring.

Katie's Beading Blog

Create some spring flair of your own with this easy bead embroidery idea from Katie's book, Hip to Bead.

Kriss Cramer - Spring Is In The Air

Not much of a horticulturist? Me neither! But I love flowers and I enjoy growing these ones with some paper, paint, and rhinestones.

Linda and Tea at Make It Mine magazine

Tea decided to join the fun this month. Check out her quilt blocks and Linda's purse.

Melissa J. Lee - Strands of Beads

What do Korean playing cards have to do with a sprouting spring? Check out Melissa's blog to find out.

Michelle McGee - S-P-R-O-U-T

Michelle just can't stop creating in green! A little wooden birdhouse becomes a beautiful palace!

Savvy Crafter

Candie shares some happy spring memories with a cheerful felty flower idea!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

Jean tells a touching, poignant tale of some beads who help one another, and after a small amount of sturm and drang they get it together and help each other! In fact, they prettify whatever YOU choose! Go see! It's fun!

Spring is Sprouting for Joolz by Lisa

Even without a green thumb, Lisa managed to "grow" a garden of sorts this month.

Sprouting Up with Beading Help Web

Lynn Kvigne's used wire and a lentil bead to create a "sprouting" pendant for wire workers who want a bit of a challenge!

The Goddess ROCKS!

Inspired by a river rock shaped like an ancient goddess statue, Hali paints, melts crayons and adds glitter to create a sparkley celebration of Spring.

The Impatient Blogger

How does your garden grow? With metal mesh, Czech glass beads and vintage French images all in a row! Margot just returned from Paris where she discovered a treasure trove of vintage paper. This scanned and sized postcard image fit the theme of sprout perfectly and the necklace was in search of a new home...add some teal metal mesh bows and accents and voila...a design sprouts forth!

Vintage Girl Teams Up With Her Vintage Momma!

What does a gal do when she finds herself far from her crafting supplies? Why, she raids her mom's basement and then puts dear old mama to work! Stop by and you'll see why mom's basement is fertile ground for things that sprout!

Ornament Thursday February 28, 2008 - Lucky!

It's Ornament Thursday at Art Bead Scene. February's theme is Lucky. Yesterday ABS editor Cindy Gimbrone posted her Lucky Knots and Lampwork tutorial Part one on her blog and Part two here on ABS.

What have the Ornament Thursday gals been up to this month? With a theme like "Lucky" it's bound to be good!

Art Bead Scene
Lucky ABS! We're part 2 of Lucky Knots!

Cindy Gimbrone
Luck is knotted up in Part 1 of this tutorial!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie is inspired by a lucky Leprechaun to make a fairy tale, treasure filled necklace

Jennifer Heynen of Jangles
Lucky Charms Bracelet...The name says it all. This bracelet has everything to bring you good luck.

Joolz by Lisa
As Luck Would Have It...Lucky Earrings

Katie's Beading Blog
Make your own luck with these fun, swingy earrings!

Labyrinth O' Luck
Hali has created a finger labyrinth journal designed after a 4-leaf clover.

Linda Augsburg at Make It Mine magazine
Lucky doesn't begin to describe the adventure I had making this T-shirt...

Lucky
Lucky to be... based on a coin holder a friend made for me...

http://art-interrupted.blogspot.com"/>Lucky to be Me
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Well, YOU, of course. No matter who you are when you look into this magical mirror, you'll be reminded you're lucky to be you!

Lynn Kvigne - Beading Help Web
Irish Proverb Window Ornament - step by step instructions for making this year-round ornament that may bring luck right through your window!

Melissa J. Lee - Strands of Beads
Good fortune is yours with this cookie-inspired necklace.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
You'll "make Jean's day " if you check out her lucky Pendant with a Clint Eastwood eighties twist

Swell Designer
Swelldesigner gets lucky this month with some super colorful, sparkly painted bangles

The Impatient Blogger
Luck starts with a wish...Margot shares an project she created for Simply Beads last August.

Lucky Knots

Ornament Thursday's February Theme is Lucky. ABS Editor, Cindy Gimbrone has posted her Lucky Knots and Lampwork tutorial in two parts. Part one is on her blog, part two - making the clasp and finishing is here.

Part Two: Making the Clasp and Finishing

Tip: If you have done seed bead work, finishing the bracelet is the same technique as finishing off-loom seed beadwork. The ends of the cord are worked back through the knotting with one side of the cord made into the loop for the button clasp.

18. Thread one side of the cording through the tapestry or child’s needle. This cord will be needle-threaded down one side of the knotting 2 knots at a time for at least 2 inches (See figure with needle below). After about 2 inches, the cording will be needle threaded up the opposite side for at least 2 inches.




19. After you have threaded the cording down one side of the the knotting and up the opposite side, cut any left over cording. You can add a dab of glue inside the knotting on the cord if you are worried it may come loose. I have never used glue on any of the Lucky Knots. Work the end back into the knots.

20. The remaining left over cording will be made into a loop. Check your loop to be sure that it will fit snugly over the lampwork bead. Make sure the loop remains the correct size as you complete the next steps (See figure below).




21. Repeat steps 18-19.


You have completed your bracelet! (See Finished Bracelet picture) Put on your bracelet and enjoy the Ornament Thursday Girls Fabulous Link List below!



Art Bead Scene
Lucky ABS! We're part 2 of Lucky Knots!

Cindy Gimbrone
Luck is knotted up in Part 1 of this tutorial!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie is inspired by a lucky Leprechaun to make a fairy tale, treasure filled necklace

Jennifer Heynen of Jangles
Lucky Charms Bracelet...The name says it all. This bracelet has everything to bring you good luck.

Joolz by Lisa
As Luck Would Have It...Lucky Earrings

Katie's Beading Blog
Make your own luck with these fun, swingy earrings!

Labyrinth O' Luck
Hali has created a finger labyrinth journal designed after a 4-leaf clover.

Linda Augsburg at Make It Mine magazine
Lucky doesn't begin to describe the adventure I had making this T-shirt...

Lucky
Lucky to be... based on a coin holder a friend made for me...

http://art-interrupted.blogspot.com"/>Lucky to be Me
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Well, YOU, of course. No matter who you are when you look into this magical mirror, you'll be reminded you're lucky to be you!

Lynn Kvigne - Beading Help Web
Irish Proverb Window Ornament - step by step instructions for making this year-round ornament that may bring luck right through your window!

Melissa J. Lee - Strands of Beads
Good fortune is yours with this cookie-inspired necklace.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
You'll "make Jean's day " if you check out her lucky Pendant with a Clint Eastwood eighties twist

Swell Designer
Swelldesigner gets lucky this month with some super colorful, sparkly painted bangles

The Impatient Blogger
Luck starts with a wish...Margot shares an project she created for Simply Beads last August.

Ornament Thursday Elaine's Links of Love

On my first day of participating in Ornament Thursday I'd like to share Links of Love with you. This idea has been pacing about in my head for over a year and Ornament Thursday was just the boost I needed to set it free. As you can see the links do not hang perfectly, but as I moved around it didn't matter - only when I stood still and took the picture was it evident.


Supplies:
10 Heart Connectors
1 Diamond Slice bead (or other accent bead)
1 Round Disk bead (used as accent at end of chain - not shown in picture)
44 9mm jump rings
28 6mm jump rings
12 inches chain
1 lobster claw clasp
wire

Instructions:
After attempting several times to write out the pattern in a understandable manner - I gave up and instead give you this chart:

Large circles = 9mm jump rings
Small circles = 6mm jump rings
Triangles = Heart Connectors

After connecting all the jump rings and Heart Connectors in this pattern, add Diamond Slice bead to bottom 9mm jump ring using your favorite wire wrapping technique. Now add 5 inches of chain to the 6mm jump ring on the left of the top row and add 7 inches of chain to the 6mm jump ring on the right of the top row. Finish 5 inch piece of chain with lobster claw. Finish 7 inch piece of chain with Round Disk bead using your favorite wire wrapping technique. When wearing this necklace, the lobster claw can be clipped anywhere along the chain, providing for an adjustable necklace length.



This is another version of Links of Love - using just 6 Heart Connectors and 12mm jump rings in place of the 9mm jump rings.

Thanks for sharing Ornament Thursday with me. If you decide to try any of the project be sure to leave a comment with a link. See you next time on Ornament Thursday!

Don't forget to see Melanie's project here on Art Bead Scene today here

And see our whole list of Ornament Thursday links here

Ornament Thursday Earthenwood's Gothic Garden Necklace

Gothic Garden Necklace

Her lover took her by the hand and they walked together through the rose garden. The scent of roses was heavy upon them as he plucked a blood red stem from a nearby branch. He handed it to her upon bent knee, and as he stood, he noticed her raven black hair flowed beautifully in harmony with her jet black velvet and lace gown in the cool night breeze, lit only by the pale moonlight. Thoroughly smitten, he leaned in for a delicious kiss...

Whew! That's a Love Story...and the inspiration for this necklace...

Materials
1 Porcelain black & white Floral Swirl charm
3 Porcelain charcoal pumpkin beads
4 pewter 7mm Ivy bead cap antique silver
1 pewter 16x15mm Empire Link antique silver
1 pewter 13x16mm Classic Clasp antique pewter
18” 3mm czech glass fire polish bead chain, jet on black
3 2” standard weight gunmetal eyepins
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Ruler

Instructions
Open one eyepin and attach to the loop at the top of the Floral Swirl charm. Close the eyepin.
String a pewter bead cap, a porcelain pumpkin, and another bead cap onto the eyepin. Using your round nose pliers, form a loop at the top of the bead cap. Trim the excess wire.
Open the top eyepin loop and attach to the bottom loop of the Empire Link. Close the loop.
Open the loops of two more eyepins and attach one to each side at the top of the Empire link. Close the loops.
String one Pumpkin bead and one bead cap onto one eyepin and use your round nose pliers to from a loop at the top of the bead cap. Trim the excess wire. Repeat on the other side.
Using a ruler, measure your bead chain and cut two 9 inches lengths. Open the top loop of the eyepin and attach to one chain end. Close the loop. Repeat on other side.

Make sure your chain ends are even and trim if needed. Open the last loop of the chain link and attach to the ring of the toggle clasp. Close the loop. Repeat on the other side with the final clasp piece.

Finished Size 18” necklace

By simply changing the charm color and design or bead colors, you have a whole new look for this necklace! Imagine this design in any of these combinations:

These bead sets are available in the Earthenwood Etsy shop, along with a limited supply of kit findings to make this necklace.

Sources
Porcelain charm and beads
Earthenwood Studio
Pewter
Fusion Beads
Eyepins
Rings & Things
Chain
Rio Grande

Don't forget to see Elaine's project here on Art Bead Scene today here

And see our whole list of Ornament Thursday links here

Ornament Thursday Two Love Stories

Ornament Thursday has returned to become a monthly event and Art Bead Scene is proud to participate again! Each month, one or more of our talented designers will give you a free project or show you a cool idea using art beads, which will fit the theme of the month. It doesn't have to be an ornament this time around, it can be anything crafty, but everyone will be interpreting a theme. This month's theme is Love Story. Here is a little preview of what we will have in store for you, please click to see the full projects...Elaine Ray links together a little love with her ceramic heart components

Melanie from Earthenwood tells a little tale of romance in a Gothic Garden

Check out ALL the Ornament Thursday Links here!

Ornament Thursday Blog January is coming to an end and Valentine's Day is looming on the horizon. Whether you wish to shower the people you love with love or show yourself a little well deserved affection, the Ornament Thursday Gang has a bevy of beautiful ideas to inspire you!

Cindy Gimbrone Beads Cindy's Love Story is about a hook and beads

Earthenwood Studio Bead Blog What is sweeter than a mix CD for your Valentine? A yummy gift box in which to present it, filled with candy themed decorations, including a cute bracelet and cell phone charm!

Hali's Blog Hali's flowers of love in Ancient Bulgarian. Two paintings in stylized Cyrillic spell out L-U-V.

Heart mobile painted paper pulp hearts

Humblebeads Heather shares her favorite bracelet design in a Valentine inspired color scheme.

Jennifer Heynen of Jangles Jennifer has made a fun "Ornament" for her neck that looks good enought to eat.

Joolz by Lisa This "Love Story" will last all year long! Lisa shares how beads and books work together.

Katie's Beading Blog Here's a happy little heart project for you - use it to embellish a bag or your jeans, or as inspiration for a necklace or bracelet.

Kriss Cramer - Art Interrupted Grow Love! Nuture and care for your loved ones every day. Use this heartfelt book, you can make yourself, to remind you of all the love you have to give.

Linda Augsburg at Make It Mine magazine Linda's love story project is a dress she embellished by stenciling dancers and a big band along the hem. Read why and learn how to do it yourself on the Make It Mine blog.

Michelle's Love Story... The band is getting back together again! Ornament Thursday celebrates the story of love...

Savvy Crafter Candie's love affair with big rings continue...she's making her own now! Love Stories and more over at the Savvy Crafter! XOXO!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Ah, Love ! This satirical creation of Jean's immortalizes certain women's profound affecton for their ... handbags!!!

Strands of Beads Love speaks many languages. Learn how to say "I Love You" in an untraditional way with Melissa Lee's whimsical jewelry project.

SwellDesigner Alexa shares with you her truly swell and punny Valentines!

The Impatient Blogger Love is in the air at The Impatient Blogger! Margot shares two vintage inspired jewelry designs that are oozing with romance...in a good way!

The Final 2007 Ornament Thursday

Today is the final Ornament Thursday for 2007. Cindy Gimbrone has created the Spiral Xmas Tree for ABS readers using her handmade glass spirals. Supplies for the Spiral Xmas Ornament: 1 extra long spiral, 1 Siam 6mm Swarovski bicone crystal, 2 crystal Swarovski flower spacers, 20ga silver colored wire. The directions for assembling the Spiral Tree Ornament:



1. Measure the 20 ga wire 2 and a half times the length of the spiral (approximately 5 inches).

2. The spiral is repeated in the wire. Make a spiral at one end of the 20 ga wire. Bend a right angle at the end of the spiral. (See picture).

3. In this order string on the two (2) flower spaces, the glass spiral, and the Siam (red) 6mm bicone.

4. Make a small loop at the end of the remaining wire (directions on Lampwork Diva's blog.

5. Bend the remaining wire using your finger to create the ornament hanger.

You've now created your Spiral Xmas Tree Ornament. Enjoy!

Bonus Ornament Thursday: Party Pixie Ornament

This sassy pixie has put on her party hat, grabbed her magic wand, and is ready to celebrate! She is made from wire, some beads, bead caps, and some cool ceramic beads from Earthenwood Studio and Jangles.

I started by wiring up the arms with black copper wire, 20 gauge. Its nice and pliable so it's easy to work with. I started with a double loop in the center, and then made an arm with alternating black and white seed beads. I wrapped one end around a brass magic wand finding from Art Chix. For the other arm I wrapped the wire end around a brass jump ring that I had attached to an Earthenwood Flutter Heart charm.

Then I beaded the legs onto beading wire, starting with a red ladybug "shoe" with a seed bead as an anchor and a crimp holding it together. The legs are plain size 8 seed beads and yes, they do go all the way up! I folded the beading wire in half and finished the other leg to match the first one. A piece of wire was looped in the center of the leg and pulled up through the Jangles striped cone "skirt". Then I strung onto the wire: a bead cap, pumpkin body, the arms, a spacer, the head, and two caps and a glass bead for the hat. I made a wire wrap at the top onto a big pewter ring and added a ribbon. She's ready to PARTY!

A set of Party Pixie Beads is available in the Earthenwood Esty shop so you can make your own!

*Please visit the links on the Ornament Thursday post to view a whole slew of ornamental craftiness and check out Cindy's Tree ornament post today too!

The Bead Scoop: Ornament Thursday

The ornament projects above were posted in celebration of Ornament Thursday, a fun blogging event happening this holiday season on the blogs of a growing group of popular designers. Jewelry makers, mixed media artists, plush artists, ceramic artists, paper artists, and more have been making ornaments and using their blogs to show how they do it! Check out some of these great blogs today to see more:

Christmas cookie - Jennifer Heynen

Christmas tree finger labyrinth - Hali Chambers

Ring in the New Year - Kriss Cramer

Quilty pieced snowman - Linda Augsburg

Simply striking sparkling spheres - Margot Potter

Beaded memory wire - Elaine Luther

Wire & beaded tree - Lynn Kvigne

Beaded sun catcher - Debba Haupert

Jolly and yummy ceramic candy - Melanie Brooks Lukacs

Polymer snowflake embedded in resin - Melissa Lee

Beaded candy canes - Candie Cooper

Polymer clay gift tag/ornament - Heather Powers

Twisted blues - Lampwork Diva aka Cindy Gimbrone

Holiday spiral tree & party pixie - Art Bead Scene

Wire bird's nest - Rebecca Peck

Plush gingerbread doggie - Jenny Harada

Swell ornament - Alexa Westerfield

Holiday paper crafting - Brandy Lung Gill

Shaving cream & chipboard ornament - Michelle McGee

Easy needle-felted orb - Katie Hacker

Lisa Liddy's Lovely Ornament

On the 8th Day of Christmas: A Flurry of Ornaments

Ornaments abound today! We have a special bonus project from Melanie, scroll down to view the 8.5th day of the Christmas. It's a super sweet project indeed!

This ornament does double duty, once Christmas is over it can be converted to a ceiling fan pull.

Materials:

Long Art Bead

Disk Bead

Large Bali Silver Bead

Fan Pull Kit

Ribbon

Art beads from Humblebeads, all other materials were found at Hobby Lobby.

The fan pull kit comes with the fancy wire work already done, simply string on your beads and form a loop at the top. Add ribbon in desired length.

When the season is over, remove the ribbon and replace it with the ball and chain component from the ceiling fan pull kit. Ta da - a gift that lasts all year round!

*Please visit the links on the Ornament Thursday post to view a whole slew of ornamental craftiness.

On the 8.5 th day of Christmas: Sugar Sweet Shelter Ornament

In celebration of Ornament Thursday, Art Bead Scene has TWO projects to present to you today! Please enjoy:

Sugar Sweet Shelter Ornament

I have always loved gifts within a gift and things that function on several levels. This ornament is not only a pretty festive tree ornament, but it also houses a whole collection of art bead jewelry that can be taken off and worn! A pair of Gingerpeeps earrings, a Sweetheart charm/zipper pull, a beaded necklace, and a Spiral face brooch all find their home within this little gingerbread house! Here is a super quick step by step explanation of what I did to make this.

Paint the house with copper paint, front and back, and let dry. String the jump ring onto a piece of ribbon and wrap around the house through the door, so the jump ring hangs in the door opening. Glue the ribbon down. Glue another ribbon piece onto the house across the top. Decorate using puffy paint and let dry.

Drill holes into the house and embellish with the brads. Drill two holes at the top of the house for the wire hanger. Twist the copper wire pieces together and attach to the holes in top. Attach ribbon for hanging. Drill holes in the house for the earrings to dangle from.

Glue the bottom of the lip balm tin to the center of the cross on the house. Glue the pin back to the inside lid of the tin. Let dry. When dry, cut a round piece of ultrasuede to fit inside the top rim of the tin. Cut a hole in the center of the ultrasuede. Glue down to the tin top. Glue the face stone on top of the ultrasuede hole. Let dry.

Attach earwires to gingerpeeps. String earwires onto the house, using the drilled holes. Attach spring ring, ball charm, and sweet heart charm, with the small jump ring. Clasp charm to center jump ring in the house door. String alternating red and brown beads into a simple beaded necklace and use crimps to attach the clasp. Coil necklace into the tin. Place the tin lid/brooch onto the tin.

Supplies Needed:

1 pair of Earthenwood gingerpeeps charms

1 Earthenwood Sweet heart charm

1 Earthenwood Face Stone

1 large oval jump ring

1 pair of sterling earwires

1 large sterling spring ring and jump ring for bail

1 small sterling clasp and ring

1 tiny sterling ball charm

2 feet .019 beading wire

2 sterling crimps

Red and brown seed beads

Glue on pin back

Flat wooden house (or cut your own out of wood or cardboard)

Lip balm tin

5 heart brads

Coppery acrylic paint

White puffy paint

3 feet of ribbon

2inch square of ultrasuede, dark red

2 feet of 20 gauge copper wire

E6000 glue

Round nose pliers, chain nose pliers and wire cutters

Dremel tool with drill bit and safety glasses

Porcelain art beads by Earthenwood Studio, some of which are available in the Earthenwood Etsy shop. Lipbalm container, Majestic Mountain Sage. Other supplies are readily available from various online bead suppliers. If you have any questions about specific supplies, please leave a comment and I would be happy to share!

*Please visit the links on the Ornament Thursday post to view a whole slew of ornamental craftiness.

Melanie Brooks Lukacs is the ceramic beadmaker of Earthenwood Studio, who blogs from her Metro Detroit, Michigan home.