Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week

Project of the Week: Spring Leaves

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Last week we celebrated the start the coming Spring by creating a Sun Pendant. This week we celebrate the leaves and budding flowers with a fun and colourful pair of earrings! These earrings feature the new Monstera Leaf charms. Normally these charms are antique silver but we are adding colour using nail polish, giving them an enameled look. A short length of fine curb chain dangles with lots of spring colour using 4mm beads. I used some leftover Swarovski crystals in colours from my stash but 4mm fire-polish beads, pearls or druks would be just as fun. Let’s get started! …

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Learning has nothing to do with Luck

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Patience. Perseverance. Practise. While St. Patrick’s Day is coming up soon, a leprechaun’s luck isn’t going to help us learn new skills (although his pot of gold would pay for a lot of classes). We all learn and process information in different ways. For myself, I learn best by seeing a technique done, and then trying it myself. I need visual reference, whether it be illustrations, viewing a video or seeing the instructor’s hands as s/he demonstrates it. Others require written explanations that go with the illustrations with step-by-step guidelines to do a new technique. Still others need to hear …

Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week

Sun Pendant

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Spring is coming so let’s celebrate by bringing the Sun into our wardrobe! This week’s project features brick stitch using the 42mm Wire Hoop and cube beads in two sizes: Miyuki 4mm cubes and 1.8mm cube. The finished pendant measures 2 3/4″ across; you can make it smaller by using a smaller hoop and/or smaller beads. With this technique, you will see the thread; choose a thread colour that blends with the hoop colour if you don’t want it to stand out too much. Pull a wingspan of thread and thread your needle. Tie the thread with a double knot …

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March into Spring classes

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The first day of Spring isn’t quite here yet (circle March 20 on your calendar!), but the sense of expectation is ramping up toward a new season. We’re also ramping up to a new season of creativity with new classes – including three exciting classes with Betty Stephan! BeadFX’s March classes feature lots of beading, chainmaille and bead embroidery! Our virtual classes mean that you don’t need to live near BeadFX to enjoy taking our classes. Virtual classes are your opportunity to join the wider jewellery-making world. We have enjoyed having students join us from across Canada and the United …

Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week

Project of the Week: Wire and Stone Bracelet

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I love stones and easy-to-wear bracelets. While I’m not a wire worker, I do like to make simple projects. This is one of those projects! The bracelet is done using one piece of wire. I find 22 gauge ParaWire works very well; it is pliable enough to easily wrap yet has enough hardness to maintain a shape. I’ve used 10mm round stone beads, but you can also use the same size pearls, druks, fire-polish or regular glass beads. Make it longer, for a collar-length necklace. Let’s get started! This project takes a surprising amount of wire. I have a 6.25″ …

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Schedule a shot of colour and creativity into a winter world

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Yes, Spring is coming and I, for one, am looking forward to warmer weather. I’m sure you are too! Our late-February and early-March classes will stir your creative soul with a variety of jewellery-making techniques including pearl knotting, seed beading, and chainmaille. Keep in mind that the majority of our classes continue to be virtual, so you can join our instructors from anywhere in the world! In-studio classes are dependent on local opening restrictions mandated by the Provincial government. Here are our classes and open sessions starting February 18:

Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week

Project of the Week: Turquoise and Copper Chainmaille Bracelet and Earrings

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Have you tried chainmaille? It is the art of joining jump rings to create beautiful jewellery. It also makes you an expert in opening and closing jump rings! This week’s project features the turquoise colour of the recently introduced 10mm bighole rondelle beads. There are several colours available, but I love turquoise. I also like to combine turquoise with copper! The chainmaille necklace is reminiscent of Japanese patterns, but not quite as intricate and much more approachable if this is your first foray into this interesting technique. Although not made or sized for chainmaille, I’ll be using two sizes of …

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Beat the February Blues!

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Why does the shortest month last so long? By now, you’ve shoveled enough snow, repeatedly bundled up, and are so tired of grey skies. February is known for those times when we just had ENOUGH! There are some recommended ways to help beat the blues that are realistic and workable: Get some colour in your life. Pull out those colourful tops that remind you of an island getaway. Toss about a few bright cushions in your living room or bedroom. Work with beads in primary colours – anything to erase grey! Get outside. I’m very bad at this. I’ve never …

Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week

Project of the Week: Beading down the Centre

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Every so often, a finding comes along and looks interesting, but we really don’t know what to do with it. Centreline findings are like that; they look interesting but what do you do with them? Centreline findings are easy to use and make quick and interesting jewellery for yourself or for gifts. Today I’ll be using a bright silver cuff. Notably the findings have an open space down the centre (hence the name) with holes on both sides that accept stitching. The space fits both three size 11/0 Delica beads and three size 11/0 Miyuki seed beads (Toho seed beads …

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Look for the shine in February Classes

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Each season has it’s own palette. In February, colours are trying to break through January grays helped by days that are getting progressively longer. The sun is shining a little bit brighter but there is still a bite in the air that reminds us that spring is not for a while yet. So close and yet so far! Let’s shrug off any mid-winter blues by playing with colour. Our mid-February classes are an idea time to shake off the cobwebs and get our creativity rolling. Gillian Clarke and Pamela Kearns have virtual classes for you in a variety of techniques …