Category: Inspiration Projects

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 …

Inspiration Projects

Hat Jewelry

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Well – looks like a nice day outside. Think I’ll go out. I need my toque (or tuque) – it’s still chilly. And it’s bright, so I’ll put on sunglasses. And my mask, of course. Now I’m ready – ready to go rob a bank by the looks of it! By the time we get all our gear on – we’ve become invisible. So why not take back your identity with some fun and fabulous Hat Jewelry! Grab your stash of charms, some jump rings and some odds and ends of chains, an arms length of wire, and some kilt …

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″ …

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 …

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 …

Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week, Tips & Techniques

Project of the Week: Bee’s Knees, part 3

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Welcome back to our Bee’s Knees bead embroidered pin series! In the first two classes we created a design using one of the new Trio of Bees cabochon. Last week, we did the stitching and looked at some design considerations to make our pin more interesting. For a recap, you can see Part 1 here, and Part 2 here. Today in our final series class, we are going to finish our pin by adding an ultra suede backing, the pin back and finish the edge with beads. Let’s get started! Our first task is to cut away the excess foundation …

Inspiration Projects

Mixing Purple – Bracelet & Earrings

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BeadFX Inspiration – January 226th, 2021 – Anne Marie Desaulniers Did you know that if you mix the colours red, plus blue you will get purple? Purple is a very strong colour, very current, and an obvious favourite of many of the customers at BeadFX. I’m more of a blue person myself, but when Dwyn asked me to make a project using some of the stones, how could I resist? We still have a decent selection of the stones in stock, in various shapes. I used the 12 mm squares in this set, but many of the other shapes would …

Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week, Tips & Techniques

Project of the Week: Bee’s Knees Pin, part 2

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Welcome back to our bead embroidered pin series. Last week, we discussed what materials we are using and how to get started. If you need a refresher about last week’s post, click here. We also discussed a bit about designing our pin and the possibilities of what we can do. This week, we’re going to do the bead embroidery portion and use a couple of different – but easy – stitches. We’ll also look at considerations to create an interesting design effect. So, let’s get started! Now that our cabochon is securely glued to the foundation, it’s time to add …

Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week

Project of the Week: Bee’s Knees Pin, part 1

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Have you checked out the new glass cabochons introduced this week? They are stunning! The cabochons are actually buttons without the shank and are perfect as a focal for bead embroidery or bezelling around. They are made in the Czech Republic by pressing hot glass into vintage molds. This week’s project will be the start of a series to create a pin using a Trio of Bees, Celestial Gold, cabochon. We’ll go through the process step-by-step and so you can make your own pin. While I’ll select colours I like, please personalize your own creation using your favourite colours and …

Inspiration Projects, Project of the Week, Tips & Techniques

Project of the Week – Finishing Beadwork using French Wire

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Do you have difficulties finishing off beadwork and trying to attach it to a clasp? Have you tried French Wire? As a seed beader, I sometimes find it challenging to finish off a bracelet in a fine, less ‘rustic’, way. I don’t like stitching a clasp directly to my beadwork; if the thread breaks or I want to change the clasp, I need to cut and restitch the beadwork – something I don’t want to do! Typically I add loops of beads to the beadwork edge and attach the clasp using jump rings. Unfortunately, the finished look can be a …