Miriam Haskell Inspiration Part 1

Sometimes when you are searching online for something, serendipity hits and you end up discovering something new and amazing and suddenly your obsessed.  Okay, maybe that last part is just me but I can not get enough of Mariam Haskell jewelry.  Tomorrow I will share resources and lots of links for making these awesome bead collages.  Today I will share some tips for how I made this Haskell-inspired necklace.

The bouquet is worn to the side in this asymmetrical design, inspired by this piece by Mariam Haskell!

The necklace focal is actually the clasp and starts off as a screened surface that you sew and wire-wrap the beads onto and then attach it back to the base of the clasp.  I had one of these in my bead box from years ago and had no idea what to do with it until yesterday!  I attached all of the beads with either long headpins that were wrapped through the screen, back up and around the base of the bead.  Or sewed/attached the beads on with a thin flexible beading wire.

Plan out your design before you start.  Think about how you will layer elements so they will be secure and strike a good balance for the overall design.  I started with the large leaves first and then worked from the center outward to make the wire wrapping easier, adding the bead clusters with headpins.  You'll need your pliers to pull and maneuver your wire.  Bent nose pliers can be a big help! The darker leaf is a Vintaj blank that has a texture stamped onto it.

The art beads: vintage inspired or not, I have to add in some artist created pieces.  This bouquet is actually brimming with art beads.  I have one of my polymer clay disks in teal.  A lampwork bead from Sea of Glass.  One of Nadin's headpins and the handpainted lucite flowers and a leaf from Vintage Meadow.

After I had my larger elements securely attached I filled in any empty spaces with Czech glass teardrops that are attached with a thin bead stringing wire that knotted easily.  This always covered up some of my messier wire work.

When I was done with the top, the screen fit back on the clasp with prongs to hold it in place. The last step was stringing the necklace, that was the easy part.  And I tried crimp covers for the first time ever. 

Here is a hint if you are going to use this style of clasp with crimp covers. Start on the side of the box clasp where it doesn't detach, add your wires and crimps and then do the crimp covers on that side. And then add the covers to the other side while it's removed from the box part of the clasp.  I put the crimp covers on after I was done stringing the entire necklace, swear words were muttered.  It was not a pretty picture.

I'm not 100% crazy about using box clasps. They are hard to find and it's a little fidgety to take on and off.  For my next creation I will probably work with a Vintaj filigree for the base and add a toggle clasp to the design like I did with the leaves.  Just make sure it's really secured to the filigree!

Join me tomorrow for part 2 of my Miriam Haskell obsession for a little history, design lessons and online resources. 

Memory Wire Cuff Bracelets - Free Project

Want a fast, easy, affordable and completely trendy item for your summer shows?  Pull out that spool of memory wire that you have stashed away in your supplies and create some fun memory wire bracelets.  Here is an updated version of one of the simplest designs you can whip up. 

What you'll need:
Memory Wire - 3-5 loops depending on how big you want the cuff
Seed Beads - I used 4x2mm peanut seed beads and 11/0 copper seed beads
Decorative headpin - Humblebeads
Pewter charm - Green Girl Studios
3 7.5mm copper jump rings

Tools:
Round and chain nose pliers,  heavy duty wire cutters or memory wire cutters and a Spin-N-Bead bead spinner.

Directions:

1. Form a loop on one end of the memory wire. Use the chain nose pliers to press the end of the loop, so that it is completely flush - you don't want your charms falling off!

2. Add the seed beads to the bead spinner and position the end of the wire to catch the beads as they spin around. (Watch the video below and use the end of the memory wire instead of the needle.)  You should be able to bead the bracelet within a few minutes.

3. Add on your charms to the end of the wires with the jump rings or by opening and closing the loop.  For the headpin, I created a wrapped loop and kept wrapping the extra wire to create that entwined texture. 

4. Add the 3 peanut beads to a jump ring and attach to the loop.  Repeat.

Peanut seed beads can be found at WhimBeads.com, FusionBeads.com or BelloModo.com.

A design alternative using a tiny nest charm, Vintaj brass bird and 3 amazonite rondelles.

Word of caution: Don't use your good flush cutters to cut memory wire - memory wire is harder than normal wire and will destroy them.  Use an old pair of heavy duty hardware wire cutters or pick up a memory wire cutters.

What the heck is a bead spinner?  This is!  Watch the video below to see how it works.  If you hated working with seed beads before because stringing them is so time consuming - well you are just going to love me for sharing this handy little tool.  It took just a few minutes to whip up the bracelets using the Spin-n-Bead from Beadalon.  You can find them at craft stores or online bead shops.

Cuff Bracelets

Cuff bracelets will be everywhere this summer.  Give them the art bead treatment to turn them from a trend into a treasure. 

Try a curved connector beads by Captured Moments. 

Or look for beads with two holes like this fun set by Gaea. 

Chinook Jewelry has a collection of beautiful curved ceramic connectors in her Architectural Collection. 

More Skye Jewels offers vintage images on wood, Marie will drill them any way you'd like.  You could do two holes or create a double strand beaded cuff with 4 holes on this component.

Let the clasp become the focal by using a cuff style toggle like these ones by Higher Chakra.

Or look for resin and metal pendants with 4 holes like this one by Gardanne Beads.

Lorelei Eurto curved a copper and resin pendant into a cuff focal bead for her bracelet. 

Jean A. Wells combines a ceramic connector with leather and large chunky ceramic beads.

Staci Louise has layered a ceramic pendant on top of a leather cuff.  I love how the wire mimics the line work of the the quilting.

I created a bracelet using one of my 3-hole spacer beads with 3 Vintaj bangles to create a cuff. 

I could also see a cuff made from memory wire that wraps around the wrist several times with metal seed beads and an art bead charm at the end of the loops.

Kick off summer and whip up a cuff bracelet design of your own using beads from your favorite artists.

Easy Summer Link Pendants

I'm so smitten with this pendant by Kylie Parry.  I've seen numerous variations of pendants using a link as a frame for your beads, but this one is perfect.  So art bead delicious!  I love the play of the ring as the blue sky as the frame for her tiny cloud charm.  She kept it simple with just a touch of color and a delicate 18" chain.

And this design is from Balanced and features a Kylie Parry house pendant, a lampwork glass bead and a hand-stamped tag.  I love the idea of layering the beads as sort of a little story.  These are all attached to a brass ring and chain.

One of my own designs using a Vintaj 15mm jump ring and a collection of glass & resin beads to create a garden for this little fox to frolic in.  The pendant dangles from a lightweight gunmetal chain.

I love the simplicity of Shannon LeVart's design featuring one of her hammered rings and a fine silver charm that she created.  Easy going and so summery!  She used a fun ball chain to complete the design.

(These 4 examples are shown for inspiration only, please respect the designers' copyrights.)

So there you have it, 4 ways with the same basic formula: Link + Art Bead + Chain = the perfect summer necklace! Each of the designers used chain that measured from 16-19 1/2 inches, a great length to show off your framed art. See how creative you can get with these basic elements and what you have in your stash! 

Or if you need a little retail therapy - above are a few of my favorite links from different artisans. The first two are from NeSHEnJewelry, they remind me of tree bark.  The white washed and colorful patina links are from MissFickleMedia.  Those organic silver links are from OakhillSilverSupply.  And finally, the rich dark silver links are from AtlantisGlassandBeads.

Asymmetrical Design Tips

If you are more comfortable with symmetry and order in your jewelry design, branching off into asymmetrical design can seem overwhelming and a little scary. Asymmetrical design can seem deceivingly effortless. But it actually takes quite a bit of planning to balance an asymmetrical design.

Don’t fear! Here are 5 simple tips to successful asymmetrical design.

1.  Layout your beads and arrange them before stringing them, this will help you see any unbalanced areas or where you may need to add in more color.

2.  Balance is the key to asymmetrical design. Each part of your design should be counterbalanced by another element on the other side.

3.  Mix up the colors. Mix in lights and darks along with an accent color so that your creation pops and to avoid the blah coloring that can happen with monochromatic designs. Value is the term in color theory for lights and darks, watch your values and make sure you have a good mix of both.

4.  Alternative the size and shape of the beads to add visual interest to your design. Play with the balance of the beads until everything evens out and no part of the design looks out of place.

5.  Play with texture. A good asymmetrical design will use a variety of finishes and textures as part of the design elements. Mix shiny with matte, rough with smooth, faceted with curved.

There are no right and wrong answers with asymmetrical design; it’s whatever pleases your eye. Remember these 5 tips when taking that leap and you’ll soon be confident in beading without a pattern and mixing up those basic design elements.

Urban Nest Necklace - Free Project

Inspired by a walk in Central Park, this necklace combines urban elements with earthy themes.  The necklace features birds, nests and trees stamped on resin beads, a Modern Forest Toggle and disk beads from Humblebeads, building connectors from Earthenwood Studios and a lampwork bead from Sea of Glass Beads.  Visit here for directions on stamping resin beads.

Supplies:

Modern Forest Toggle Clasp

9 12mm polymer clay disk beads

14mm lampwork disk bead

2 12mm faceted brecciated jasper beads

2 20mm ceramic building connectors

2 19mm resin beads

1 25mm resin bead

32mm copper ring

2" headpin

4mm copper spacer

14 2" copper eyepins

13 7.5mm copper jump rings

7" copper chain

3 8mm copper chain links

Directions

1. Create a wrapped loop dangle with the flat spacer and lampwork bead on the headpin.  Attach to the bottom loop of the toggle clasp with a jump ring.

2. Attach the 3 jump ring loops to the bar of the toggle.  Use links that open and close or use a small jump ring to attach the bar.

3. Create looped links with each of the beads, one bead per eyepin.

4. Attach one of the small resin beads to the copper link with jump rings (in photo 4)

5. Attach the beaded links and components, working from the right side to the left:

• Attach jasper bead with jump ring to the 3 chain links. 
• Use jump rings to attach the building connector.
• Attach a disk bead to the jump rings on the building connector and copper ring.
• Attach 3 disks beads and jasper bead together by opening and closing their loops.
• Attach the chain to the last bead with a jump ring.
• Attach a disk bead to the other side of the chain with a jump ring.
• Attach 2 more disk beads together.
• Attach a building connector to the disk beads with a jump ring.
• Attach a small resin bead to the building connector with a jump ring.  Attach a disk bead to the resin bead.
• Attach the large resin bead to the disk bead with a jump ring.
• Attach another disk bead to the resin bead with a jump ring.
• Attach the clasp to the disk bead with a jump ring.

Resources:

Toggle & disk beads: Humblebeads

Lampwork glass: Sea of Glass

Ceramic connectors: Earthenwood Studios

Resin: Natural Touch Beads

Copper findings & stones: Rings & Things

Copper Ring: Bello Modo

Chain: Michael's

Color of the Year: Honeysuckle

Pantone has picked Honeysuckle as the 2011 Color of the Year.  They state, "Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life."

What can I say, who knew the power of color could be so, um powerful.  Need a shot of elevating, confidence-instilling pink in your creations but really not a 'pink' kind of gal?  Let me break it down into a few manageable color palettes and show you how I have added in some of this potent honeysuckle to my designs.

First up, a sugary sweet mix of honeysuckle and teal are tempered by neutrals with the brown lotus pod beads and matte silver components.  Even though pink is the dominant color, the intensity of the teal takes away some of it's thunder, offering more of a Spring color scheme rather than screaming "I'm wearing a pink heart!".

Diane Hawkey pendant, Humblebeads disk beads and egg.

This design uses the honeysuckle as an accent to the navy, melon and cream palette.  The pink rhodonite beads are combined with peach aventurine and gunmetal findings. 

The flower connectors are Arte Metal from Vintaj.  The pendant is from Gaea and the navy blue disk beads are Humblebeads.

The pink beads above, left to right: Jubilee, Spirited Earth, Humblebeads, Diane Hawkey and Lynn Davis.

Want more color inspiration? Check out Kuler where you can find color palettes based on honeysuckle and create your own.  Warning - don't click this link unless you have time to spare, it's too much fun!

Tie One On

Looking for a new twist in your jewelry designs?  Add texture with silk ribbon, leather or crepe cording and  crystal chain.  All of these can be found at Ornamentea along with a collection of innovative tutorials showing different ways to incorporate these items into your work.  Check them out!

Art Bead Spiral Bracelet

If you've never worked with seed beads or bead weaving, even the smallest projects can seem a little daunting. All those teeny tiny beads, where do you begin?! Today, I'd like to introduce you to bead weaving by starting with one of the most basic and easy-to-do stitches, Spiral Stitch. And, of course, in true Art Bead Scene fashion, we're gonna jazz it up by adding a few handmade art beads to the mix! If you follow the instructions below, you'll be able to create this one-of-a-kind bead woven bracelet in about an hour and a half. I call it Art Bead Spiral.
Oh, and if you don't have the exact materials that I've used, please feel free to swap out any color seed bead and any kind of art bead you have on hand. Let's get started!

Materials:- 3 Elaine Ray 7mm cube beads in Patina color.
- 5 grams size 11 matte brown Japanese glass seed beads. (A)
- 3 grams size 11 galvanized dark blue gray Czech glass seed beads (B)
- 3 grams size 11 opaque cream Czech glass seed beads (C)
- 1 small antique brass lobster clasp
- 2 6mm closed antique brass jump rings
- 3-5 6mm open antique brass jump rings
- 1 larger seed bead in a contrasting color (this will serve as your stop bead)
- Wildfire or Fireline beading thread (5 feet length)
- Size 12 beading needle

Terms: (these will help you as you follow the instructions)
Pass Through: to move the needle through the bead in one direction (i.e. from left to right)
Pass Back Through: to move the needle back through the bead in the opposite direction (i.e. from right to left)

Spiral Rope:1. Begin by threading your needle and pulling about 2' of thread through the eye. String the larger seed bead onto your thread and pass your needle through the bead again. Pull the thread tight and slide the bead towards your needle leaving a 6" tail. (Fig.1)

Fig.1

2. String 3A, 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1A. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2

3. Pass your needle through the first 3A that you added and pull tight to form a loop. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3

4. Add 2A, 1B, 1C and 1A and slide those beads down to meet the loop. (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4

5. Pass your needle through the last 2A of the original 3A that you started with and also the first A that you just added. (Fig.5) You will be passing through three beads all together. Pull tight, allowing the new loop that you just created to sit on top of the first loop. (Fig. 6)

Fig. 5


Fig. 6

6. Complete steps 4-5 as many times as you need to reach the desired length. For the purpose of this bracelet, you will make 2 1/4" of spiral rope using this method. Make sure that as you add each new spiral you are allowing the loop that you just created to sit on top of the previous loop.

Note: As you work, notice the trend. You are constantly adding one bead to the main body of your rope as you add four beads to the outside spiral. In Figure 7, you can see how the spiral rope is starting to take shape as I continue to add four beads to the spiral for every three beads that I pass through of the main rope.

Fig. 7

Art Bead Add-ins:1. Once you've completed 2 1/4" of spiral rope, string one Elaine Ray cube bead. (Fig. 8)

Fig. 8

2. Repeat steps 2-6 of the Spiral Rope instructions until you have 3/4" of spiral rope. Make sure to pull tight after each loop you make in order to keep the beadwork close together.
3. Add another cube bead and another 3/4" of spiral rope.
4. Add your final cube bead.
5. Add another 2 1/4" of spiral rope. This will complete the beadwoven portion of your bracelet.

Adding the Clasp:1. Once you've added your last 2 1/4" of spiral rope, string 7A onto the thread along with a closed jump ring. (Fig. 9)

Fig. 9

2. Pass back through the three beads that you just exited. (Fig. 10)

Fig.10

3. Pull tight to form a loop of beads which will be holding the jump ring. (Fig. 11)

Fig. 11

4. Tie a knot by passing your needle around the thread that creates the body of the rope and then through the loop. Pull tight. (Fig. 12)

Fig. 12

5. Pass your needle back through three more beads in the main body of the rope and tie another knot.
6. Complete step 5 again. Pass back through three more beads, pull through and trim the thread.

7. To attach the jump ring on the other end of the bracelet, simply string your needle onto your tail thread and complete steps 1-6 again.

8. Add the open jump ring with the lobster clasp to one end, and to the other end add as many open jump rings as you would like to make the bracelet adjustable.

Congratulations! You have your first Spiral Rope bracelet with some pretty cool art beads added in! From here, the variations are endless. Try using larger beads or beads in different colors. Add larger art beads, add more art beads, or complete more spiral rope to create a necklace.

This is a variation on the technique you just learned. This bracelet features two spiral ropes and Elaine Ray's almond shaped art beads. I added a copper leaf toggle to mimic the shape of the almond beads.

So, what are you waiting for? Try your own Spiral Art Bracelet and post a comment with a link to your creation! We'd love to see your original beadwoven design!

Today's post is written by guest author Marcie Abney. To view more of Marcie's work visit her blog, La Bella Joya and etsy shop.

Vintaj Inspiration

Somethings just go together and Vintaj brass findings and art beads are definitely a match made in heaven.  The Vintaj design team has released their Spring 2010 inspirations for jewelry and quite a few art beads are being featured this season.  Here are a few of my favorite picks.

Design by Megan Sharkey

Polymer clay flower handmade by Barbara Fajardo

available at Desert Designs

Glass lampwork boro bead handmade by Melissa Rediger

available at Sea of Glass

Designer: Jess Italia Lincoln

Handmade glass lampwork beads made by Melissa Rediger

available at Sea of Glass

Design by Jess Italia Lincoln

Lampwork flower from Lisa Kan

Designer: Jess Italia Lincoln

Lampwork Beads by Melissa Rediger
available at Sea of Glass
Polymer Clay Teal Bird from Heather Powers
available at Humblebeads

You can see more design inspirations in the Vintaj Idea Gallery and on their Facebook Fan Page.

(All photographs courtesy of the Vintaj website.)