Posts tagged ‘jewelry’

Here are pictures of the wire-wrapped sea glass jewelry I taught for a private class at Craft Akron this week.  The women were so much fun!  They go to Lake Erie together to collect sea glass & wanted to learn how to make it into jewelry.

My next investment is to buy diamond-tipped drill bits so I can drill holes in sea glass and teach classes on it.  As long as baby doesn’t come early, I’ll be at Monday’s Jewelry Guild meeting where the demonstration is “Drilling Beach Glass”.  And, If you want to learn wire-wrapping, I did a tutorial on how to make the earrings you see in the upper left picture.

Today while getting dressed, I decided none of my necklaces were quite right for my outfit.  So I looked through my beads and came up with this quickie.  It was just what I needed to de-formalize my dressy shirt.

Here’s how I made it:  I put the coral bead & flower bead cap on a head pin and made a wrapped wire loop at the top.  I strung it on the string, then attached the clasp with crimp beads.

In this class, I’ll help you fix your broken jewelry & get it wearable again.  I’m teaching Thursday at Craft Akron.  Here are the details:

Fix your Broken Jewelry Class

$15 plus supplies fee of $5

Bring your broken jewelry stash to class & learn how to restring or resize beaded necklaces and bracelets, reattach missing clasps, or even reconfigure earrings that have lost pieces. Basic supplies included (such as beading wire, thread, ear wires, eye & head pins), but if you have a special clasp you want to use or must have sterling silver ear wires, bring them with you.

Also, if you have a jewelry project you’re stumped on, you’re welcome to bring it to class as well.

Please preregister by at least 24 hours before class at 330-865-1100 or info@craftakron.com.

My good friend Lauren stopped by last week for a beading lesson, and here’s the necklace she made.  It was her first time using beading wire & attaching clasps.  We had so much fun working together, and I think she’s discovered a new hobby!

If you need a beginner’s lesson on necklace making, you can read my tutorial on how to restring a necklace.  It teaches what tools/supplies you need, how to layout your design on a bead board, and how to attach the clasp & use crimp beads.  Or if you live in the Akron area, I teach classes & give private lessons and would be happy to work with you on your project.

tool demo @ jewelry & metal arts guild meeting

Saturday I crammed in an Ohio Jewelry & Metal Arts Guild meeting & a quick stop to Zero Landfill. The Guild meeting was their first anniversary celebration.  They had displays of members’ work, a destash where members could bring tools/beads they don’t need anymore & trade for other items, and the demonstration was about the different types of tools for wireworking.  I’ve done some wireworking, so I was familiar with most of the tools.  But the most valuable part for me was holding all the tools to see how they handle.  I’m trying to learn the differences between, for example, a $10 pair of pliers & $60 pair.  I’m very comfortable & content with my $10 pair and have been wondering what the benefits are for upgrading.

zero landfill finds

At Zero Landfill, I got lots of fabric samples, a few wall covering samples, and a huge roll of textured wall covering, all for free!  The event is every Saturday in February, so there are still some dates to stop by.

I’m getting signs, name tags, & refreshment plans ready for our Art Supplies Swap next Saturday (Feb 20).  And today I made this pair of fringe earrings for the handmade gift exchange which is after the Swap.

The gift exchange part of the event is completely optional, but if you plan on exchanging, you’re welcome to post a sneak peek in our Clever Nesting Flickr pool.  It’d be fun to see who’s coming too.

This is my first seed beaded ring.  It’s inspired by the circular square stitch used in this necklace (from Beadwork Feb/Mar 2009, pg 46-48).

I think I’ll like making rings because they’re fairly quick, and perhaps it’s a good way to try new patterns on a small project.

A week from tonight I’m teaching a Fringe Earrings class at Craft Akron.  You’ll make two pairs of earrings (your choice of bead kits).  Cost is $15 for class & $10 for two bead kits.  Please preregister & prepay for class, as I have a ten space limit.

If you can’t come to class, you can buy a bead kit from me.  It includes beads for two pairs of earrings (tell me which two you’d like-the focal beads on the left pair are fire polished, center are blue/gray shells, and right are Swarovski crystals), step by step color instructions, ear wires (do you want silver-plated, gold-plated, or something else), beading thread, and two beading needles for $17 (includes tax & shipping).  Just email colleen@clevernesting.com & tell me which two sets of earrings you’d like to make, ear wire preference, and your address.  I’ll send you a Paypal invoice.

There are a few different ways to wire-wrap sea glass so it can be used in jewelry, and here’s one of the simplest ways to do it.  Plus, you can use this technique to wrap other items without holes such as wood, shells, tiles, and other found objects.

Supplies:  round nosed pliers, wire cutters, flat nosed pliers, earring wires, sea glass, extra beads (optional), craft wire (I used 24 gauge, but play with different gauges for your project.  If my glass was larger, I’d probably use 22 or 24 gauge wire.) Read more »

This necklace is inspired by a piece my friend Jenn was wearing to Stitch N Bitch a few weeks ago. I loved it. Luckily, I had just bought a chunky black bead necklace at the thrift store to repurpose the beads and hadn’t designated a project for them yet. I also had some teal lace I got in the remnant section at the fabric store. It was a match made in heaven, and I’m passing this simple project on to you!

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