Beaded Jewelry Making with Wit

Moving the blog...

2007-12-19T07:12:00.001-05:00

Hi all,

I simply do not have the time to do all of the blogs I would like to do. so, I'm combining to one blog for all of my crafting fun. What does this mean for my scrapbooking blog fans? It means you'll get to tread about digital scrapbooking and paper scrapbooking on my Crafts Blog, along with other fun craft stuff that I am doing.

See you all there....

Jewelry Projects for May's Birthstone: Emerald

2007-05-14T11:50:00.000-05:00

Emeralds are pricey, which makes Swarovski's emerald colored crystals a very beautiful alternative. Here are three projects I have for this month's birthstone - I know you will love them!

Heart Pendant and Earring Set
http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/jewelry/beadcrystal_pendant2.html

Simple Focal Choker
http://www.wittyliving.com/crafts/jewelry/beaded_necklace15.html

Portable Jeweler's Cart

2007-05-07T06:04:00.000-05:00

Did you see this article on the Step by Step Beads website? It is how to use a laundry cart for bead organization. Which, I get if you want to flit from room to room, but I'm looking for ideas how to organize what stays put in my craft room, you know what I mean? If your a beader and/or crafter, I'm sure you do!

I'm using divided plastic containers that you can use for cross stitch threads too. But my seed beads are all on vials in a box... got any ideas??

Beading and Jewelry Making Contest

2007-05-06T05:44:00.000-05:00

Have you fleshed out what you want to make for Fire Mountain Gems Beading and Jewelry Making contest? Here are a few details

Closing Date August 31, 2007
You can enter as many pieces as you want and in as many categories as you want
You have to send the picture on CD or DVD or as an 8x10, no email submissions
For all of the contest info, go here.

I think I may enter one or two pieces and see what happens. There are a lot of different prizes and I can always use more beads ;-)

Newsletter with Free Jewelry Making and Beading Projects

2007-05-03T06:22:00.000-05:00

Milestone moment: I have published my first making beaded jewelry newsletter. Yippeee! As it was planned out and took an entire month to complete, I am very proud of myself. And I realize that I’ll need to get started on June, right now.

The monthly newsletter has 20 new bead making projects and a new basic wire technique, these are free to my readers – aka you. Let me know if you enjoy it!

Beaded Bridal Necklaces and Earrings

2007-04-22T06:12:00.000-05:00

I started a new section while working on some necklaces for a display at a bridal shop. I hope you like the designs, only one is more advanced, the others are straight stringing with pearls and crystals - of course!

These are simple rhinestones and pearls, but they are swarovski pearls and wow! do they sparkle - almost more than the rhinstones!

Prom Jewelry: Choker with Dangles

2007-04-09T07:45:00.000-05:00

The facets on the small czech crystals catch the light on this choker, making it a perfect bead for prom and formal jewelry. Dangles are the way to go with this years lower cut styles. Simple techniques and a great look make this a prom jewelry necklace and earrings favorite to make.

Cheery Heart Bead Necklace

2007-02-14T08:48:00.000-05:00

I’ve stepped away from the traditional read and pink heart beads to make the point that there are many types of heart beads and they all say LOVE. This is a lamp work with fun cheery colors. It was very easy to turn into a pendent and it strung up so beautifully with these Czech two tone fire polished beads.

Silver Round Beaded Ring

2007-02-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

Geometric looking for the trendy. I designed this ring two nights ago when I had some left over silver from a Bali necklace project. I made a pinky ring and it is smooth to wear because of the seed beads I used on the ends of the tubes, which can tend to be sharper on the edge.

Make Beaded Earrings

2007-02-07T11:44:00.000-05:00

I have place so many new beaded earring projects up on the site within the last week. I just got the urge to start making them. Now, coding, getting pictures and writing the directions up weren’t as much fun as beading the earrings and then wearing them – but I lived !

I think my favorite new pair is the Lampwork Hoop Beaded Earrings I got those beads on Ebay – which is a wonderful place to find lampwork artists. These aren't complicated, but they look great.

Make Beaded Earrings: Rose Quartz and Red Jade

2007-01-12T19:00:00.000-05:00

Got some extra chain, just a few links? Cuz that is all it takes to take this basic three bead earring and turn it into a layered and dementional piece. I used Rose Quartz and Red Jade in honor of Valentine's Day. This is such a cute pair of beaded earrings and I love how the chain adds to the play when you wear them. Here are the directions.

Attention Bead Style Magazine Subscribers!

2007-01-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

Did you know you can download and print shopping lists for the projects in the monthly mag? This is a wonderful feature if you see a piece you want to make and you're heading out to shop at a show or bead store.
Check it out!

Make this Garnet and Pearl Bead Bracelet

2007-01-05T14:11:00.000-05:00

Such an elegant look for January's Birthstone, Garnet. Pearls tend to do that to a piece - and I always take advantage of that ;-) This simple stringing project can be made up quickly. Enjoy!

How to Make a Bead Link

2007-01-03T09:39:00.000-05:00

It's back to the basics for wire wrappers ;-) This basic tutorial is for those who want to start wire wrapping or maybe just adding a few pieces of wire wrapped beads into their multi-media jewelry. It's an art and you can go in all directions, that's the fun.

Beaded Bracelet Projects - Matching Earrings

2006-12-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

This fun bracelet is perfect for a night out on the town... Make it up and New Year's Eve in NY here you come! the other great thing about it is the price, it looks very pricey but looks can be deceiving!

Bracelet Fun and Beaded Projects

2006-12-08T15:34:00.000-05:00

I'm getting some more bracelet stuff done and thought I would write a little about this type of jewelry.

The origin of the term 'bracelet' is from the Latin 'brachile' meaning 'of the arm', via the Old French 'barcel'. I have found that people are either avid bracelet wearers or don't like to wear them - not too many are inbetween. You can make them out of metal, leather, string, wire and stretch cord. Beaded bracelets are always in style, although some different types enjoy being the 'fad'.

A charm bracelet is an item of jewelry worn around the wrist. It carries personal charms: decorative pendants or trinkets which are signifiers of important things in the wearer's life.

Bracelets that are in solid form, usually some metal, are referred to as bangles or bangle bracelets. They can be smooth, textured or set with stones.

Some of my new bracelet projects:

Tigers Eye and Pearl Beaded Bracelet
Bali and Green Onyx Bead Bracelet

Christmas Jewelry You Can Make

2006-11-27T06:26:00.000-05:00

I have a couple of Christmas related projects listed here including some easy to stitch seed bead earrings. My favorite piece I have on this list now is a stringing piece with pearls, garnet and peridot. It is a classic look and looks great at work or dress up to go out during the holiday season. If you want to make any one piece for yourself or someone you love, this is a good choice.

Peyote Seed Bead Pattern for Thanksgiving: Turkey Tracks

2006-11-20T13:06:00.000-05:00

At Thanksgiving we are express the thigs we are grateful for - and we eat lots of turkey! I'm grateful for my beading, my ability to make things and for those who like my designs. I hope you enjoy this one, it's a cute peyote stitch bracelet and the pattern is free, as usual.

KISS Method for Designing Beaded Jewelry

2006-11-12T19:50:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when I'm running design ideas through my head I realize that trying too hard will really hurt your desire to design anything... not exactly a revelation, but it hit hard this past week when I was trying very hard to think up some Christmas designs and well, summer things came popping out at me. Needless to say, I'm going to be employing the KISS(Keep It Simple Stupid) method more often. Take these new earrings I posted, in which I have a GREAT necklace to post with this coming week, they are a very simple design. But I can take that design and make it classic with black, white and clear beads, or I can make it bling with metallic beads or I can make it Christmas with red and green crystals.

See how easy it is to KISS...

Chocolate Stripe Bead Bracelet Peyote Pattern

2006-11-07T08:34:00.000-05:00

Quick and easy to make peyote pattern bracelets in chocolate colors, something I'm graving with my diet!

Beaded Cinnabar Earrings to Make

2006-11-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

Here are the earrings that match that necklace down there. Very simple beaded set that you will love - or make it for someone this Christmas... college age and older teens are LOVIN' the long necklaces.

Make this Cinnabar Beaded Necklace

2006-11-03T12:55:00.000-05:00

Black and red, or black and any color is always usable in winter... black also gives most pieces a classic look. I mixed up some media in this piece and added chain with the beaded links. I love wearing it. It is long enough to forgo the clasp if you wish. Cinnabar Beaded Necklace. I have some matching earrings that I need to code up and get online, along with a dragonfly necklace. Lots to do, so come back and check-in.

Free Seed Bead Patterns: Winter Panel in Peyote

2006-11-02T07:48:00.000-05:00

Greet the winter season with this cute snowflake winter panel. Peyote stitch pattern that I think would look great on a handbag. I also have the rest of the seasons available! Winter Panel.

Seed Bead Patterns: Winter Panel
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Fire Mountain Gems New Assortability!

2006-11-01T20:12:00.000-05:00

Wow, Fire Mountain has a new sale policy taht sound great! I'm going to be shopping soon and I'll see how great it is ;-) It seems that everything now counts for the quantity discount. Check it out on their site:
http://www.firemountaingems.com/customerservice/csdocs.asp?docid=ALLA&WT.svl=AS

PROJECTS: Rectangle Bangle

2006-10-14T18:02:00.000-05:00

What a great intermediate project by Step by Step Wire... this bangle has rectangular beads that give it a symmetrical shape - luv it! I have to say of the Step by Step mags, the wire one is the best with projects. I'm not sure why I feel that way, but they have got a great editor(or editors) for that part of their publication.

Check it out here.

And don't forget my Wire Jewelry Projects!