Jewelry Weaver

Beading Website

2009-02-06T06:58:00.000-08:00

I came across this website a few months back

around the beading table

It has some really pretty designs, and a lot of them incorporate crystals.

There are 9 free patterns and tutorials, as well as a selection of patterns that you can purchase for $4.

Check it out!

Crystal Tile Bracelets

2009-02-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

More Jewel of India Bracelets

2009-02-04T15:48:00.001-08:00

Here is a photo of another Jewel of India Bracelet that I made with different colors.

Jewel of India Bracelets

2009-02-04T10:47:00.001-08:00

I absolutely love this bracelet pattern. Not only does it use herringbone stitch, which I've always found very satisfying to create, but it looks like something you would find the women in the mountains of Rajasthan wearing.

I got this pattern from the Best of Beadwork compilation 2006. The talented artist's name is Kathleen Kimball-Baker.

Of course, I love crystals, so I used 6 swarovski crystals in the center to add a little more bling. These bracelets would look awesome with 2-3 together on a wrist.

Antique Crystal Earrings

2009-02-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

I made these earrings day before yesterday. I used 20 g square brass wire to create the ear post as well as the links. I like the antique look of this wire, and thought it went well with the brown coloring of the beads. I used 3mm by 6mm faceted rondel glass beads (bought at Michaels)along the chain, and then a cluster of 3 round 4mm swarovski smoked topaz AB crystals (bought from Fire Mountain Gems) at the end of each earring. The earrings are 2 inches long.

Parallel Chain Necklace Tweaked

2009-02-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

Here is another necklace that I made based on the parallel chain necklace design. I modified it, as you can see in the photo. I used stainless steel jump rings- 7mm and 3.6 mm sizes. At the point of the triangle, I attached 3 black glass beads and 3 black diamond swarovski crystals. It is strung on a black silk cord.

I like this necklace because it has a tribal feel to it.

The photo is a little blurry. It was taken on my iphone. I think it's time to invest in a good camera and a photography class ;)

Finally finished!

2009-01-29T07:44:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of the parallel chain necklaces that I created.

I gave this necklace to my friend, Chris, because she fell in love with it the very first time she saw it. It's made out of smaller jump rings than the next necklace, and I used both copper and silver rings. I followed the design pattern from beadingdaily.com exactly to make this pendant. I then strung it on turquoise hand-dyed silk ribbon. I added my own design touch by attaching a piece of turquoise and 3 swarovski crystals at the very end of the pendant. This adds a little more color and shimmer.

For this second necklace, I used larger jump rings, and only silver ones. The pendant is not as intricate looking as the pendant in the first picture. I also added swarovski crystals on both sides of the pendant and then a cluster at the tip. I put this one on a hand-dyed silk cord instead of a ribbon.

Beading Daily

2009-01-28T07:13:00.000-08:00

Beadingdaily.com is a great place to find free jewelry making projects. This is where I found the design for the parallel chain neck drape.

Another design that I really like is Desert Flowers. Check it out on the beadingdaily.com website and look under "free projects".

The natural stones in this necklace are placed on a silk ribbon. The effect is whimsical, yet earthy. I absolutely love this look. The key is to find stones of varying size and shape. I have tried making this necklace with turquoise stones which were all basically the same size and round shape, and the beauty of this design was totally lost.

The other key is to twist the silk ribbon that the stones are placed on.

There are some designs which are so inspiring that they transport me to a different place. This design reminds me both of Santa Fe, New Mexico and of Hawaii- 2 of my favorite places!

Almost done!

2009-01-25T21:41:00.000-08:00

I've almost finished putting all the crystals on the parallel chain neck drape that I posted yesterday. I'll be posting the photo sometime this week!

Parallel Chain Neckdrape

2009-01-24T17:37:00.000-08:00

I made this necklace today. The pendant design is by Barbara Hance, which I got from the BeadingDaily.com website.

I'm not quite finished with it. I love adding crystal to anything that I make, so I'll be putting 4mm bicone swarovski crystals on it as well. Check back tomorrow for the completed project.

This necklace also looks nice left plain, without the crystal.

Attached to the chain pendant is a red-orange dyed silk cord.

Silk Cord

2009-01-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

I just bought this beautiful silk cord from kasbeads on ebay.

Check back soon to see the necklace I make with this silk cord. I'm thinking about making a parallel chain pendant to go with it.

Great Silk Ribbon Retailer

2009-01-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Like I promised, here is the information about the seller on ebay who sells beautifully dyed silk ribbons:

ebay seller name: crafts*things
Etsy store name: kasbeads

I especially like to use these ribbons to make necklaces. Tell us about other creative ways that you use these ribbons!

Artbeads Bronze Pendants

2009-01-22T06:31:00.000-08:00

Artbeads.com is a good online resource for purchasing beads and jewelry making supplies. They just brought in an assortment of beautiful bronze pendants with inspiring inscriptions.

These would be great to give as presents to a loved one or friend, especially someone who may be going through a difficult time and needs some encouragement. I especially like the pendant called "Give in Return".

A nice gift would be to place the pendant on a hand dyed silk ribbon. These come in a variety of colors for you to choose from. Another great place to find these hand dyed silk ribbons is on e-bay. I'll post a blog tomorrow with the information of the ebay seller that sells quality ribbons for a great price.

When placing these pendants on a silk ribbon, the wearer can adjust the size of the necklace to their preference by tying the ribbon in a bow around their neck. I like this style because it is simple to make, but looks very classy when worn.

Bead-tastic!

2009-01-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

How many of you enjoy making jewelry?

I love anything that involves creating something with my hands- from knitting, to drawing, to scrap booking. My ultimate passion is jewelry making. It's like creating your own little work of art that is wearable. The best part is that you can make beautiful jewelry with minimum skill and only a few dollars. And if you use quality material, which doesn't have to be expensive, your pieces can last a lifetime!

One of my favorite places to hang out is my local bead store. It's a great place to get your creativity to flow and to unwind after a hard day of work. Our local bead store is called Beads Etc. Since it's a family owned business I've gotten to know everyone that works there. It's fun to chat with the owners while using my hands to create something special for myself or a friend.

I love rummaging through the different beads. Each is a different color, different shape and different composition. The best part is that you can pick out a variety of beautiful beads without breaking your budget. Usually the staff at bead stores are very helpful and welcome any questions that you have.

Try it out! Find your local bead store and step into a world of color and creativity.

Making jewelry has been a passion of mine for the past 5 years. I started taking classes in a local bead store a few years ago, and I was very inspired by some wonderful teachers. I realized how addictive this hobby can be!

Please feel free to leave any comments or questions. Also, if you have a photo or writing that you would like me to post on this site, feel free to e-mail me.