Craftside

St. Patrick's Day necklace made with a technique from 101 Tips & Techniques for Making Wire Jewelry

The big green day is fast approaching so I thought it was time to whip up a piece of jewelry for St. Patrick's Day...like I need a reason to make jewelry but sometimes it's nice to have a specific theme to work from.

And I had this way-cool ribbon that had a cute little leprechaun skull on it with what looks to me to be crossed knitting needles with little clovers on the ends. I know that's probably not what they are but regardless I love the ribbon and I wanted to make a pendant with it.

 

I had this tile style place mat which when you cut it apart the pieces make great surfaces for decoupage. You could really use anything.

My Crafting TIP here is to spread the Mod Podge onto the back of the ribbon BEFORE you cut it so that when you do cut the ribbon it doesn't fray.

After this first coat was dry I then cut the ribbon down to size to fit on the tile and attached it with some more Mod Podge.

The other little fun spiral embellished flat bead you see in the necklace was one of the wire techniques from the book/kit:

Wire Jewelry Kit 101 Tips & Techniques
by Stefanie Girard

(Yup me!)

 

Click on the image to enlarge and read how to embellish a flat square bead with a wire coil that also is the head pin.

I also used a few other dangles and beads including these cool acrylic green oval links from Blue Moon Beads Enchanted Planet line.

Well, that my new green bling. Want 100 more cool tips and techniques? Grab yourself a copy of:

Wire Jewelry Kit 101 Tips & Techniques
by Stefanie Girard

Today’s hottest fashion accessory is beaded jewelry. And nothing could be better suited to your taste and personality than jewelry pieces you’ve personally created! The heart of this kit is a 48-page book that reveals 101 insightful tips and techniques—information that will help beginning and intermediate wire beading crafters take their skills to the next level.

You’ll also discover step-by-step instructions for a unique 3-piece jewelry set. And all the materials you need to practice the techniques, make the demonstrated jewelry set, or begin stringing your own original designs are included.

Hardcover 12.25" x 9.625" case includes 48-page paperback book, bead tray and bead organizer, more than 500 glass beads, resin focal beads, round-nose pliers with wire cutters, wire-working jig with pegs, mandrel, 3 gauges of beading wire, clasps, earwires, and other findings.

And want to see another inside peek into Wire Jewelry Kit 101 Tips & Techniques that shares a great way to make a ring? Pop on over to this post.

 

Silver Metal Clay Wing necklace made using a technique from the book Jewelry Arts Workshop: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads by Linda Kaye-Moses

I go out to photograph my new necklace to share with you and who strolls over and simply has to sit right in the shot, why Pumpkin the neighbors' cat. So you get a bonus picture today of some cat cuteness.

Here is a better photo of the art clay silver wing necklace I made using a fab technique from the book Jewelry Arts Workshop: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads.

 

The author Linda Kaye-Moses laid the clay out on a rubber stamp to get a texture so I thought I could make a wing texture by making a mold from an existing wing earring. Well it worked so well I made another in the opposite direction.

 

So now I was off to Cathi Milligan's studio of Beadbrains and I prepared my molds with a bit of olive oil to help the clay come out of the mold.

Here are the molds on top of the kiln helping the silver clay dry.

Once it was dry we very gently removed the wings from the molds and let them dry a bit more.

Then they were fired and then quenched.

 

Last step was to polish them up to make them shine and then onto making a necklace with them.



I landed on using one of the Blue Moon Beads Tokens heart shaped locks in between the wings. I drilled a few holes in the wings and linked it all up.

UPDATE:

 

I had to run to the craft store and check out this cool acorn charm from the Blue Moon Beads Enchanted Planet collection I scored! I will probably put the heart back on after fall is over but for now I am going to be rockin' the acorn!

If all this pure silver clay action is looking cool to you, grab yourself a packed full of ideas and techniques copy of:

Jewelry Arts Workshop: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads

By:

Linda Kaye-Moses

Metal clay is an innovative material that combines the workability of clay with the beautiful finish and durability of precious metals. The material is easy to manipulate and shape by hand to make beads for bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry.

Jewelry Arts Workshop: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads contains 15 projects for creating fine silver beads and a design gallery of 25 additional jewelry pieces. Intro chapters include information about tools and techniques. Projects are organized workshop-style, to build skills cumulatively.

Linda Kaye-Moses’s (Dalton, MA) work and articles have appeared in Lapidary Journal, Step-by-Step Jewelry, The Crafts Report, Metalsmith, Ornament, Art Jewelry, American Craft, American Style, the New York Times, and Craft Art International, among others. Her work has received several awards. She has also participated in numerous juried and invitational shows and is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Craft Council and the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

Vintage looking rosary style necklace inspired by a piece in Rejuvenated Jewels

I was so excited to find this cool vintage looking rosary link by the Blue Moon Beads Royal Boheme line because I had been eying this project from Rejuvenated Jewels and didn't currently have a rosary that I was up for dismantling. Problem solved!

I gathered up a bunch of bits and pieces. I had these white floral filigree and I thought they kind of looked like snowflakes and I thought that might make a kind of cool winter necklace.

After playing around a bit and performing a bit of jewelry surgery I had a necklace I really liked. This might end up being a gift so I wanted a safe place to store it for the moment. I thought since it was a gift I could attach it to a card and what better place than in a Card Album to keep the card!

I cut a length of 24 gauge wire about 3 inches and formed a loop in the middle of it.

Then I punched two holes near the top of the card and one in the center toward the bottom. The placement was so that there was very little if any slack between the three points. The excess chain that would be around the back of the neck dangled freely.

 

There you have it: a new/old combo piece nicely stored and displayed. I was also thinking if I made pieces to sell at a craft fair this Card Album would be an easy way to transport and show off my jewelry.

There is still lots of time to make more pretty jewelry and I don't think there is a project in this book that I don't want to make:

Rejuvenated Jewels:
New Designs from Vintage Treasures
By
Amy Hanna

In Rejuvenated Jewels, you'll learn where to find fabulous vintage jewelry, beads, and artifacts, and how to create stunning one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces using these amazing finds. Rhinestone beads and clasps, mercury glass beads, oxidized metal chains, rosary beads, tiny book charms, and more are retooled into fabulous statement pieces that can be worn every day.

Amy Hanna (Laguna Niguel, CA) has been creating and selling jewelry for nearly a decade. A collector at heart, Amy began haunting flea markets and yard sales more than 20 years ago, and it was always the vintage jewelry, metals, and rosary beads that caught her eye. Her collections lay in drawers and vintage jewelry boxes for years until a friend encouraged her to create. Unable to find jewelry that represented her personal style, Amy began making one-of-a-kind pieces from her beloved collections.

How to use vintage jewelry designs to inspire pieces made with a new element

Another asymmetrical necklace!

This is is a necklace I made inspired by a piece from the book:

Rejuvenated Jewels:
New Designs for Vintage Looks

The specific piece I took my inspiration from I posted here using another aspect of it as the inspiration for the piece I designed in that day's post(very different than today's design).

 

Here is a close up of just the part that I used as my inspiration. It uses a cast or stamped metal horizontal piece that has enough open spaces in it to link chain on the sides and dangle all sorts of fun things off of.

I love how one piece of jewelry can lead you in so many new ways that all look really different.

The stork scissor charm is new from Blue Moon Beads and the charms are salvaged from other pieces of jewelry like single earrings and broken necklaces.

If you liked this and want more you will not be disappointed with all the eye candy in:

Rejuvenated Jewels:
New Designs for Vintage Looks
By
Amy Hanna

In Rejuvenated Jewels, you'll learn where to find fabulous vintage jewelry, beads, and artifacts, and how to create stunning one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces using these amazing finds. Rhinestone beads and clasps, mercury glass beads, oxidized metal chains, rosary beads, tiny book charms, and more are retooled into fabulous statement pieces that can be worn every day.

Amy Hanna (Laguna Niguel, CA) has been creating and selling jewelry for nearly a decade. A collector at heart, Amy began haunting flea markets and yard sales more than 20 years ago, and it was always the vintage jewelry, metals, and rosary beads that caught her eye. Her collections lay in drawers and vintage jewelry boxes for years until a friend encouraged her to create. Unable to find jewelry that represented her personal style, Amy began making one-of-a-kind pieces from her beloved collections.

Today's Q & A

Suella Asked:

My question is to do with money and budgeting for a potentially expensive hobby. Other than the basics:
thrifting for supplies, recycling/reuse, and buying and perhaps sharing larger containers of glue, dyes etc, do you have any good tips for saving money when you craft?

Answer:

Well all the things you listed are great!

A few other thing I can think of

1.Is to try a new craft in a class that the materials are supplied. That way the teacher probably bought the stuff in bulk and you will be getting a good deal along with their expertise thus saving potentially expensive supply consuming mistakes.(Been there, got that t-shirt!)

2. Substitute materials that you already have when "test driving a craft"

3. Start small, I know buying in bulk is tempting but let me just say when starting out on something you may or may not be continuing with, just hook yourself up with just enough so that you can play around and not feel like if you mess up you need to get more.

4. Shop around, I generally hit several websites or stores looking to see what the going rate is for stuff.

5. Coupons! I try to balance out my craft supply dollars with buying the stuff that is only available from local independents with the generally available at the biggies using my coupons. It kind of evens out.

6. OK this one might be just me, but I will share it anyway. I like to space out my "indulgent purchases" We all love getting new tools, supplies, books, shoes, (oops that's off topic) etc. So if I let myself just get one or two new things each week instead of doing it in bulk, I am more likely to use that new thing rather than it getting stuck in a pile to be lost or forgotten. Also this keeps it so that I allow myself to hit the stores regularly and see new things that keep my creativity flowing!

I hope you liked my tips and if any of you have more to add, please do!

This is the last week to leave questions that will qualify you to win not only a free craft book but also a Sidewinder Bobbin winder!

Yarn Cocktails For the Neck-Crochet Style

Are you ready for another tasty treat from Anastasia Blaes and Kelly Wilson?

I think you are!

The Crocheter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails
30 Technique-Expanding Recipes for Tasty Little Projects

is a hip instruction book for needle artists of all types.

The new needle arts enthusiasts are young and hip. Most are either new to needle arts or are crossing over from knitting to crocheting and vice versa. The Crocheter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails presents crochet as a fresh and exciting leisure activity, dispelling any former notions of the hobby as grandmotherly. Each fun project in The Crocheter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails teaches a specific skill so techniques can be learned in easy increments. The simple patterns offer a mixture of techniques which are the ingredients for learning more advanced projects. Angled toward the younger, emerging needle arts enthusiast, each project is inspired in name and attitude by a popular drink. By completing a "Yarn Cocktail" pattern, the reader will have created a beautiful unique accessory or garment and mastered a new crochet skill, and be empowered to tackle a more challenging project. Each pattern is accompanied by a recipe for the drink that inspired it, encouraging needle artists to knit as a social activity. But remember, the authors' motto is: Yarn Over, not Hangover!

Anastasia Blaes was taught to crochet by her grandmother at age six. Too rebellious to follow traditional patterns, she soon began designing for herself. Discovering that others were interested in her original designs, she sold original finished garments locally and in a baby boutique in Chicago. Anastasia has designed for such companies as Lion Brand Yarns and Jeanette Crews Designs. She is a member of TNNA and the Prince William Purlers knitting guild, where she served on the board as publicity chair for the years 2002 and 2003.

Kelly Wilson, a self-taught crocheter, has taught people of all ages to knit and crochet. She is the author of several booklets published by Leisure Arts and Jeanette Crews Designs. A former knitting editor, Kelly has proofed patterns for Leisure Arts, Herrschner's and Jeanette Crews Designs. Kelly is a member of TKGA as well as CGOA, where she serves on the Education committee.

Being a jewelry lover, this project really caught my eye.

(Click images to enlarge)

I had to give this a try so I went to my stash pulled out some Crystal Palace Yarns, Iceland in #7063 Dutch Blue and a size G crochet hook and followed the directions.

Here's my bead after felting.

I then went to my bead stash to see what I thought would go with a crochet felted bead and I thought this flocked heart bead from Blue Moon Beads worked great, they both have a nice soft texture. I strung the beads on a length of suede cord and knotted each end. I simply tie the cord around my neck in a bow and there you have it.

I had so much fun making this project!

But I think it's time for a refreshment-I think I'll whip up this yummy drink that's this project's namesake also included in The Crocheter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails and invite some friends over for some more crocheting and cocktails.

Oh and if you need even more Jewelry Yarn Cocktail style check out this past post with projects from The Knitter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails