The Impatient Crafter : beading

Showing posts with label beading. Show all posts

A Touch of Grey for BeadsDirect UK

A Touch of Grey

Margot Potter for BeadsDirectUK

I’m a fan of big, bold, simple, striking jewelry (or if you’re in the UK make that jewellery.) Lots of fussy details and gee-gaws and doo-dads don’t really float my boat. You must make jewelry that floats your boat. So feel free to add more here, more layers, more beads, more mesh! Sometimes more is more, but in this case, less is more. I’ve combined soft jade green chrysotene beads with sponge coral and added some gunmetal mesh bows to keep it from looking to Christmas-y. I’m quite pleased as punch with how this turned out. And you could make a set just like this in under and hour, just in time to wear it out on the town!

And you can find everything you need to make this set at BeadsDirectUK online! Just follow the links.

Finished Length:

Necklace: 18”

Bracelet: 8”

Earrings: 2.5”

Materials

20mm Chrysotene coin beads

15x29mm Sponge coral teardrop beads

15mm width Gunmetal wire mesh tubing

BeadsDirect 19 strand .015 bead stringing wire

2 silver plated lobster clasps

2 6mm silver plated jump rings

4 silver plated size 2 crimp tubes

2 silver plated coiled ear wires

4 silver plated head pins

(Optional GS Hypo Cement jeweler’s glue)

Tools

Round nose pliers

2 pairs chain nose pliers

Flush cutters

Crimp tool

Scissors

1. These are basic designs that are quick and easy to put together. Play with the arrangement of the beads remove the mesh or keep it in the mix, the only rule is that it’s pleasing to your eye! Begin by gathering your materials. Use a bead board to plan out the design!

2. Cut off a 20” segment of beading wire. Attach the wire to a clasp using the crimp tube and crimp tool. To crimp, begin by threading the wire into the tube, through the clasp end and back into the tube. Use the front part of the jaw of your pliers to smash the round tube into an oval. Separate the wires before you crimp them, the crimp creates an indentation between the two wires. Compress the tube in the back part of the jaw creating a heart shape. Move the tube into the front jaw with the indentation facing forward. Fold ends over. Cut off excess wire.

3. Thread beads on the wire in the following order: 5 coral, 3 chrysotene, 1 coral, 8 chrysotene and 5 coral.

4. Keep necklace rounded to allow room for play between beads. Crimp as before attaching wire to a jump ring, cutting off excess.

5. Tie a 3” segment of mesh to the wire at the top top of the first chrysotene bead on the right side of the design. Use fingers to pull mesh gently into a bow shape. If you want to mesh to keep from unraveling, dab a little jeweler’s glue along the ends and allow to dry.

6. To make the bracelet, cut off a 10” segment of beading wire. Attach wire to the clasp and clasp with a crimp tube.

7. Thread beads on the wire alternating between red and green beads, five green beads and four red beads. Adjust length to fit your wrist.

8. Round bracelet before crimping and attaching the jump ring.

9. Tie a 3” mesh bow on the bracelet to the left or right of the center bead.

10. To make earrings thread a coin on a head pin, make a coiled top dangle. Make double loop dangles with a red bead. Attach an ear wire to the top of your red bead. Tie a 3” mesh bow around the center of the earring. Repeat for second earring.

This post was sponsored by BeadsDirectUK, but Madge does not promote anything Madge does not love. So trust me when I saw, this site is fabulous!

Crystal in Bloom Jewellery Set by Margot Potter for BeadsDirect UK

Crystal in Bloom Jewelry Set

Margot Potter for BeadsDirectUK

Lovely Lucite flowers in a panoply of pastels dance and swing around the neck, wrists and ears while prisms of light refract from faceted SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS in this decidedly feminine, flirty and (retro)fabulous design. Inspired by the chain and charm costume jewelry necklaces popular in the 1930s, Author and Designer Margot Potter adds a new twist with copper wire and findings to a lovely effect. All of the components to make this simply stunning jewelry set can be found at BeadsDirectUK.

Materials

15 large multi-color pastel Lucite flowers

63 small multi-color pastel Lucite flowers

63 4mm SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystal rounds or bicones in various coordinating pastel shades

Double link copper tone double loops link chain (cut a 16” length, 7” length, 2 4 double link lengths)

Copper toggle clasp

2 copper earwires

63 copper headpins

35 copper jump rings

Tools

Round nose pliers

2 pairs chain nose pliers

Flush cutters

1. Each large Lucite flower has a headpin threaded into the center with a smaller flower and a 5mm crystal. The colors are arranged as you wish; this is meant to be an intuitive process. Create a coiled and looped dangle at the back of the flower.

2. Grasp wire tail with round nose pliers. Bend to a 90 degree angle. Wrap headpin over pliers until it can’t move further. Bend pliers ½ turn and finish loop. Bend pliers another half turn. Grasp wire tail with chain nose pliers, wrapping tightly around bottom of loop to top of bead, be gentle as you can break the flowers or crystals if you rush. Cut off excess wire and gently tuck tail into bottom of coil with chain nose pliers.

3. Gently press coiled loop flush to back of bead, this will allow the flower to hang flat facing forward when the necklace is worn. Repeat this for all of your large flowers. There are six on the bracelet, seven on the necklace and two matching flowers for earrings.

4. Make coiled top dangles with your small flowers. Thread a crystal on a head pin into the center of your bead. Make a coiled and looped dangle leaving the coil straight up and down so the flower will hang straight down from the chain. These are hung in groups of three. There are three on the earrings, eighteen on the bracelet and twenty four on the necklace.

5. To put it all together, attach a toggle clasp to the necklace ends, bar on one end and toggle on the other using jump rings opened and closed with two chain nose pliers. (Watch the Crafty Quickies Jump Ring video to learn how to properly open and close jump rings with tension, no one likes to lose their dangles.)

6. The dangles are attached every fourth link (three open links between each dangle.) For the necklace, begin from the center. Attach a large flower on the center link using a jump ring. Attach a group of three small flowers on jump rings on both sides of the flower skipping three links. Repeat alternating between large flowers and groups of small flowers until you have seven large flowers and eight groups of three small beads. (When attaching dangles to chains, be sure all dangles are falling from the bottom of each link group. Keep the necklace flat while working to ensure this.)

7. For the bracelet, skip the first four links and add three flower dangles, skip three and add a large flower and repeat alternating between large flowers and small flowers until you reach the sixth large flower.

8. Attach a toggle clasp to the bracelet ends as with the necklace before using jump rings.

9. To make the earrings, hang the smallest chain segments on a jump ring attached to the bottom of each ear wire, thread three beaded small flowers on each jump ring before securing closed. Attach a large flower to the bottom of each small chain segment using a jump ring.

10. Check back through the pieces to be sure all jump rings are properly closed. Toss on a pretty sundress, a cardigan, some espadrilles and head off into the world feeling like the fabulous flower you are, Buttercup.

Something Starfishy Around Here...

Happy Spring! Flowers are popping up all over the Smokies and the trees are starting to sprout leaves, this is my favorite time of year. I LOVE SPRING! Alas and alack, spring does not love me.

Snerg.

I made this jewelry with the plastique beads I bought in Tucson from The Beadin' Path and I've added a judicious smattering of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. I adore working with plastic. It's big and bold and light weight, you can pile it on and it won't weight you down. Try making a necklace with bubble gum sized gemstones, far too heavy!

I am currently loving these saturated colors. Kelly green, bright yellow, orange...very citrusy. Light and summery and fun, yes? I added red to the bracelet which really gives it a vintage vibe. You may remember the bracelet from an earlier post when I mentioned wanting to add one more element, so after some thought I decided on some vintage gum ball machine charm scotty dogs. Let's face it, put a scotty dog on it and it's instant cute!

These are for me to wear to some upcoming events. I would love to make a line of jewelry like this...but I'm not sure who would buy it. Thoughts? Who do you see wearing this big, bold, playful jewelry, well...besides me?

And with that I am back to the grindstone at Studio Madge. Have a craftacular day! Be a Crazy Craft Lady! Hooray! "T'aint nobody's business if you do!"

xoxo

Madge

iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts: Peeps Stenciled Napkin with Jelly Bean Ring

iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts
Peeps Stenciled Napkin with Jelly Bean Ring
Margot Potter for Avalon Potter!

Avalon is on Spring Break and alas she caught a cold. I stepped in to make this easy peasy stenciled napkin and beaded ring. I used cardboard to make the stencil, but it's very important to wipe off the excess seepage under the stencil between each use on all four corners. If you can find 'freezer paper' it makes a much cleaner and easier to use stencil. We LOVE Peeps around here, this is my third Peeps themed Easter craft! I had to buy a few boxes for research purposes, but keeping them from being devoured was quite a feat!

Step away from the Peeps.

Tulip Soft fabric paints and Crafty Chica glitter make quick and easy work of this design and the Glam-it-up metallic crystals are perfection for eyes. Use Aleene's Jewelry Glue to secure the knot on your napkin rings. This is a great way to get teens off of their cell phones and doing something fun. Make some coordinating place mats and you'll have a delightfully cheerful Easter table.

Materials
Fabric Napkin
Thicker cardboard for stencil (thicker than a cereal box, but not too thick!)
Chunky colorful beads to make a 4" ring
Tulip Soft Paint in Petal Pink
Crafty Chica glitter in Frida's Fuchsia
Tulip Glam it Up metallic crystals in black (2 for each rabbit)
.8mm clear elastic cord (I used Elasticity)
Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue
Aleene's Metal and Jewelry Glue

Tools
Chain nose pliers
Paint pouncer
Craft knife
Fine tip marker

Wash napkins to remove sizing. Iron to remove wrinkles. I freehand drew the rabbit, it's very simple. He should be about 2-3" tall. You want him to fit the corner of your napkin. If you need a guide, try using an actual Peep for reference, this also allows you a snack while waiting for the paint to dry. Use a craft knife to carefully cut the shape out and create a stencil. Use pink paint and paint pouncer to stencil on napkin corner. You can also opt to add rabbits along the shorter edge of your napkin, that's up to you. Hold your pouncer straight and hold stencil firmly to prevent paint bleed. Be sure to wipe off stencil front and back after each use.

Before rabbits are dry, pour a small amount of glitter on each rabbit, shake around for full coverage and shake off excess. Do them one at a time! The paint should be tacky enough to grab the glitter.

Add eyes using Glam it Up crystals, I use a pair of chain nose pliers to pick up crystal, dip in glue and attach to rabbits. Allow rabbits to dry before using!

Thread beads on elastic cord. Tie ends and pull tightly. Make a double overhand knot and pull tightly. Add a dab of jewelry glue to your knot and let it dry overnight.

Brown Eyed Susan Necklace

Yup, one more design! There are more, but the lighting and focus gods were not with me. I shall share pics after the shows. This is a fun, simple design featuring FAB vintage reproduction German plastic components from The Beadin' Path. I used those and the bright orange faceted plastic beads as my jump off point for this simple, but striking, design. It's a mix of gemstones, plastic and Beadalon antique brass components. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

xoxo
Madge

Mud Pie Necklace!

Yup, another design for the shows. This was a rework of a design I shared recently on JTV's Jewel School. I decided it needed more color and movement. The faux DZI agate beads I scored for a song in Tucson last year. These are longer rosary style links and I'm pleased as punch with how this came out. I've added serpentine, smoky quartz and a judicious smattering of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. It's all put together with lovely silver plated Beadalon components.

Cheers,
Madge

Cheers Necklace!

Bubbly Necklace Copyright Margot Potter 2012

This is another necklace set I created to wear to the shows. Technically, I re-created it by adding more stuff to my original design. I used vintage faux pearls, SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and Beadalon's fab polyester chain. The pearls are absurdly huge, which makes this a very fun design to wear.

xoxo
Madge

Anchors Away, Dahlings!

Sailing, Sailing Jewelry Set Copyright Margot Potter for Jewelry Television's Jewel School

Christian Dior Spring 2011

Many of you know that I have a long standing affection for nautical themed fashions. I can't say what it is about stripes and sailor pants that makes me so endlessly happy, but perhaps it is tied to my love of the ocean.

Nautical looks are hotter than ever this season and I made this swingy little necklace using QuickLinks, Artistic Wire, freshwater pearls and faceted blue goldstone beads all from Jewel School at Jewelry Television.

You can get the step by step instructions here at the JTV Blog!

Anchors away, dahlings.

(Click on the button to see the FAB projects from a bevy of talented crafters in this month's Fave Crafts Blog Hop!)

xoxo

Madge

Free Jewelry Making Project #4 from Bead Chic

I can't believe this is my final free project from Bead Chic! Where does the time go? This one is a little more complex and a little bit funky. You can refine it or make it funkier as you choose. I love the primitive look of annealed iron wire, you can buy it at hardware stores and some places online. It's a little rusty, so you need to clean it before you wear it!

I enjoy bending and shaping wire and the nice thing about a very stiff wire like iron is that it maintains its shape without too much need for work hardening, yet it takes to being hammered beautifully. These earrings are made from three artfully bent wire segments that swing and sway separately from one another. I added freshwater pearls suspended in some organic wire wrapping with a thin gauge of silver plated wire. These, to me, have a Sundance Catalog appeal.

In fact...when I pitched this book here is how I summed it up:

Banana Republic and Sundance Catalog have a latte at Starbucks.

Chic, modern, upscale with just a little edge!

The variation for this project is created by the lovely Ms. Barbe Saint-John. You'll have to buy the book to get the step by step photos and to see Barbe's gorgeous earrings. You can also leave a comment here to win the last free signed copy of the book!

xoxo
Madge

Bead Chic
Steel City Earrings
Chapter One
Scale

Materials
2 8mm faceted cream freshwater pearls
24 gauge silver plated wire
20 gauge annealed iron wire
Gun metal French clips

Tools
Chasing hammer
Mini anvil
Large round dowel (I used a large marker)
Small dowel (I used a metal end of a rat tail comb)
Memory wire shears
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters

Tip: Play with the wire to get a feel for it, different wires have different levels of malleability. These do not have to be perfect...so don’t sweat it if they aren’t!

1. Cut a 3” segment of steel wire using your memory wire shears.

2. Bend the center around a large marker.

3. Hammer the ‘u’ section flat using the flat end of your chasing hammer.

4. Cut a 1 2/8” section of wire and use the tip of your round nose pliers to create a very small loop in both ends.

5. Cut a 1 ¼” section of wire and bend it over the metal end of a rat tail comb.

6. Use your round nose pliers to create a loop in both wire ends.

7. Wrap a 24 gauge wire tightly to one side of the top section of your ‘u’ shaped component as in photo moving the wire down the core.

8. Wrap wire around core in a free form manner.

9. Thread a pearl on end of wire.

10. Thread wire around opposite side tightly and wrap remaining wire moving up the core in a freeform manner as before.

11. Cut off excess wire and use chain nose pliers to tuck your wire tails in.

12. Connect your segments together as follows: Attach the ‘v’ shaped component to the loops on the end of your bar component. Attach the ‘u’ shaped component to the bar. The loops should all face backwards so the components can swing freely when worn.

13. Attach your ear wires to the top of each ‘v’ section.

Free Jewelry Making Project #3 from Bead Chic by Margot Potter

Did you know how easy it is to create your own findings? Once you master that skill, you'll find it difficult to buy them ready made! This project from my new book Bead Chic shows you how to create some longer bent and curved ear wires. You can opt to use base metal instead of sterling, but definitely use a 20 gauge wire made from stainless or another more sturdy metal and make sure you sand or use a wire rounder on the ends. I used a rat tail comb to create the sharp bend...I'm of the mind that you use what you have at hand!

I called this design 'Effortless Elegance' because it's just a few lovely beads and an artfully bent wire. This is from the chapter on Pattern and the variation is a little more complex with some hammering of the front part of the ear wire and some simple wire wrapping on a QuickLinks component. You could wrap beads on the front part of the ear wire...or add coiled wire...or add a bead or two...see how this keeps shifting if you make small changes? That's what this book is all about! You'll need to buy the book to get the step by step photos.

If you leave a comment here, I will select one of you to win a signed copy of the new book and a bonus swag sample. I'll announce the winner next Saturday August 28th.

Good luck!

Cheers,
Madge

Effortless Elegance Earrings
Bead Chic
Copyright Margot Potter ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Materials
2 12x17m black onyx polished tear drop beads
6 3mm red coral beads
6 24 gauge sterling head pins
2 ball tip sterling head pins
20 gauge sterling wire

Tools
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Thin metal dowel (I used metal end of a rattail comb)

1. Cut off two 3” segments of wire.

2. Bend wire over a thin dowel to create a crease or point, this should be not quite in the center of the wire and in the same spot on both wires.

3. Gently round both wire tails into a matching curve.

4. Sand ends of wire.

5. Bend a loop in one end of wire using round nose pliers.

6. Create wrapped dangles using ball tip head pins and onyx beads. Repeat for coral beads using regular head pins.

7. Attach beads to loop at end of ear wire onyx first followed by three coral beads. Use chain nose pliers to open and close loop.

Madge Goes Global

Imagine my surprise and chagrin while leafing through Make Jewellery magazine from the UK and spotting a full page feature with a project from my new book Bead Chic! I did a double take, a Danny Thomas coffee spit take and let out a gleeful little giggle.

Okay really I just said, "Hmmm...that project looks familiar"...and let out a gleeful little giggle.

The rest was just what you might call, artful embellishment.

I'm a Leo, we like to decorate everything. Yay for international press! Yay for people who buy my new book, I heart you! Yay for my birthday month! Yay for exclamation points!

Yay for too many cups of coffee!

Love
Madge

Update from Studio Madge

Image from Wikimedia Commons by Mathematica Details under a Creative Commons Share Alike 3.0 License

My straw pile has grown exponentially. I am quite certain there is circus music playing in the studio. I have a week to finish the bulk of my book and then a lot of looming travel that is going to keep me away from the studio. It's turning out to be another crazy summer. I am hopeful for a lazy summer next year...

I've completed 28 of the 30 core projects and I need to whip up 2 more. Then I need to create 9 more variation projects (I've completed six), finish the step by step instructions, write the chapter openers, write the tools and materials information and plan the techniques section. Then it's a matter of mapping out and packing up materials for the step by step shoot in August and getting it all to the publisher by July 30th. Plus there's Bead Chic coming out at the end of this month and the PR blitz I need to work out for that and the looming trip to CHA... Ah to have more hands and more hours!

On top of that we have a variety of other wacko things happening behind the scenes here and I know you all know I've been stressed to the max recently. Though folks around me seem convinced it will all work out, I can't be sure of that until I'm sure of that. It's complicated.
Breathing deeply...

I'll be back tomorrow with another fun Teen crafts project for ILoveToCreate. Until then...if you're as hot as we are around these parts...stay cool or if not, take that figuratively!

xoxo
Madge

The Evolution of a Jewelry Design

Almost...but not quite...take one...

Incognito First Strand Copyright Margot Potter

Yesterday I started working on some 'in-use' designs. These are designs created for manufacturers that showcase their products in innovative and interesting ways. This work isn't easy because there are perameters and limitations you have to navigate. I've been working with architectural and sculptural wire designs for many years. My brain likes to think dimensionally, which is why I should really study casting and soldering and jewelry making techniques that would allow me to fully expand on that tendency. For now, I spent a lot of time making wire do what it doesn't want to do naturally and making a lot of glorious messes in the process.

There is value in those glorious messes, because that's where my brain is formulating new pathways. I began with a series of woven wire bits and pieces working on some ideas I had for dimensional designs and eventually I created this pendant, which I really like. It's basically a concave 'cage' in which I've suspended the new CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements disk. It's created from a single core wire wrapped with a thinner gauge of binding wire and crystals. After I finished the pendant I needed to create a foundation. I began with this intuitive beaded design and realized when it was finished that...it wasn't quite gelling. So I put it out there for other folks to see and got some great feedback. In the meantime I began reworking the foundation and came up with this.

I hammered some of the metal components and left others shiny. I created a small hook with the same wire I used in the pendant. I really like how the foundation supports the pendant without detracting from it. Everything leads the eye towards center and this looks really fabulous on a neck.

I know that seems sort of silly to state, but I can't tell you how many times I've created something I think is awesome and then tried it on and realized it didn't work on a body. It's a really good idea to try on your designs or throw them on a jewelry form as you're working just to be sure they're wearable.

I'm using the core beaded necklace for a multi-strand idea. (Forgive the lighting, it's dismal here today and I had a heckuva time getting decent shots!) I added a little felt flower from ArtGirlz I embellished with a sequin and a crystal on a head pin. I'm seeing chains and exposed wire strands layering down from this top strand in a bib effect. I'll show you the final result when I get there.

Back to the bead mines!

xoxo
Madge

Book Review: Jewelry and Beading Designs for Dummies

Book Review
Jewelry and Beading Designs for Dummies
Tammy Powley and Heather H. Dismore
For Dummies
August 2008

Ms. Powley and Ms. Dismore have created a thorough and thoroughly delightful tome on the basics of jewelry making that is a must have for any novice. They cover absolutely everything you need to know to get started and to ensure continued success. This book is designed for the beginner and the projects are totally appropriate for someone ready to dip their toes into the jewelry and beading pool, but there is plenty of information for the more advanced beaded jewelry maker as well.

The illustrations are clear and the directions meticulous and concise. My only wish is that there were more color pictures because the designs are so lovely, but there's a several page glossy color gallery of designs that helps immensely. It begins with the basics and progresses to intermediate and even advanced techniques. You get a taste of mixed media, bead weaving, poly clay, wire work and even learn how to make your own findings. They give good, solid information and show you how to do things properly which will ensure good results. That's the key component to a good how-to book.

As a professional designer and a jewelry book author, I have a discerning eye and a high level of expectation. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for every bead lover's library. Ms. Dismore and Ms. Powley are both competent and respected experts and together they've created an indispensable guide to the many facets of jewelry making and beading.

Margot Potter
Author and Freelance Designer
The Impatient Beader Series
Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed
Beyond the Bead

Mixed Media Jewelry Project Idea L'Africaan Choker

I created this necklace recently for the folks from Beadalon. It’s called L’Africaan. Unfortunately it didn’t really work for their catalog pictures because it’s designed to curve snugly around your neck and not to be flat on a surface. So I got it back, which is actually great because I have to tell you that I’m simply mad for this design! I usually wouldn’t spend this much time on a personal piece...so it was kind of like a surprise gift from me...to me!

Yay me!

Now I wouldn’t want to keep all of this fun for myself...so I’m sharing this with you!

Yay you!

I did a few cool things here. I love designs with color, movement and texture, so this one offers all three. I used rubber tubing segments threaded with a 4mm CRYSTALLIZED™ bead (in padparascha, Indian sapphire, black diamond and pink opal) on a head pin alternated between loops of the fabulous new Beadalon white wire strung over a memory wire base threaded through an 8mm white alabaster bead or an 8mm black vintage plastic bead with 4mm CRYSTALLIZED elements in jet or crystal AB on the wire ends. Size 1 crimp beads secure the wire ends and size 2 crimps attach the top of the wire segments to the base. I just flattened those with chain nose pliers. I used larger vintage faceted plastic beads around the base, but I’m thinking I’ll make another one of these with just the tubes and one with tubes and wire segments. Memory wire makes the perfect foundation for collar, bib and waterfall style designs. It’s tempered steel and it retains its shape no matter how many beads you load on it! You can add a clasp on the ends if your design is heavy like this one.

L'Africaan Detail

I love this exposed wire tendril look originated by the 2002 Saul Bell Design Award winner Nancilee Woodyard. (I believe it’s important to give credit where it is due.) It’s one of those techniques that’s endlessly inspirational. I made u-shapes by threading both wires into a core bead, so it’s a different kind of tendril with a more structured look. Since I have to expose the wire in my designs for Beadalon and I hate to repeat myself endlessly, I’m always trying to come up with new ways to crack the nut.

Madge in L'Africaan Choker

I imagined this as an African tribal collar, interpreted in totally modern materials. When you wear it you feel regal and fierce. You could go even further with this and alternate the lengths of wire and tubing for an even more dramatic effect. I hope this inspires you to explore something new in your work!

I like to think of these ideas I share with you as craft recipes, you make them your own by adding a dash of this and taking out that...tweaking the ingredients to suit your personal taste. Copying someone’s work is...well...boring and frankly, lame. You have it in you to do great things, so don’t be afraid to take risks and on occasion make glorious mistakes. If you do make a design inspired by my work, please email me and I'll post it here with links back to you! I love to see inspiration in action!

Until next time...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

The Balancing Act for Beadalon

Well folks, here it is! It was my distinct honor to appear on The Balancing Act for Beadalon. I love their products and have used them since I owned a bead store 11 years ago. They're good people and they make a good product right here in the USA. They are the only wire company that manufactures and spools their own wire and they have been 'green' since they started making wire thirty years ago. I'm truly honored to be a member of their Design Team.

Enjoy the segment and I'll be back tomorrow!
xoxo, Madge

The Balancing Act for Beadalon

I'll be appearing on Lifetime TV's The Balancing Act on July 2nd. Considering how much juggling I've been doing lately, it's highly appropos. The good folks from Beadalon asked me to film a segment on jewelry making featuring their fabulous products. What fun! I flew to Tampa and had a delightful time on set showing hostess and crafty maven Kathy Peterson a simple double needle ladder stitch bracelet technique that's easy and fun for anyone to recreate.

Here's a press release they sent about the segment! Tune in!

Cheers,

Madge

The Balancing Act On Lifetime Television Offers Creative “Gems” For At-Home Crafters

Learn the Latest Looks in Do-It-Yourself Jewelry

For Immediate Release

(Pompano Beach, FL ) – A great way to display your creative side is through jewelry-making. To learn the latest trends and styles, The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television welcomes Margot Potter, a multi-talented designer for Beadalon, a provider of do-it-yourself jewelry supplies; how-to videos and other instructional aids. The segment airs July 2nd as part of the Tribute to the American Family Special.

“Jewelry-making is a super way to show off your unique personality by making one-of-a-kind pieces,” she says. “Not only is it a great family hobby, but also gives you quality time to spend with your teenager.” The end result is beautiful, wearable art that doesn’t cost a lot of money.

Beadalon provides all the goods you’ll ever need: stringing tools and other supplies for do-it-yourself jewelry fabricators. The firm lends a hand by also offering detailed instructions, animations and streaming videos on its website (www.beadalon.com.)

“If it’s not fun, it’s simply not worth doing,” says Potter, an actress, vocalist and noted author of books that include The Impatient Beader how-to series. She invites people to “think outside of the box” when designing high-quality pieces to either wear or give away as special gifts. “Coordinate the jewelry with your wardrobe as an expression of your own personal style,” she encourages.

Beadalon has been serving the at home jewelry market for the past 33 years. And long before “going green” was the environmental watchword, the firm created stainless steel jewelry parts with 60 percent recycled content. It continues to lead the way with new “green” initiatives.

Potter’s signature approach kick starts the creative process for do it yourself crafters. She invites everyone to the table for a helping of hand-designed fun and family camaraderie with crafting supplies from Beadalon.

“With Beadalon, you get to spend time together making exceptional jewelry designs in a green-friendly atmosphere,” says Doug Campbell, Executive Vice President of Programming, BrandStar Entertainment, the producers of The Balancing Act. “I know our audience will enjoy this segment.”

About Brand Star Entertainment The Balancing Act: The Balancing Act TV show on Lifetime Television is America’s only morning show about women, for women, trusted by women. Celebrating life and all there is to accomplish, The Balancing Act inspires and empowers with entertaining and educational segments, placing women in the best position to achieve success in every area of their lives. The show is produced by BrandStar Entertainment and airs on Lifetime Television 7 a.m. Eastern/Pacific (check local listings). Additional information and each segment can be accessed on the show’s website, www.TheBalancingAct.com. Each episode is also available on www.Google.com/video and www.YouTube.com. Sign up for the show’s newsletter at www.thebalancingact.com/join.php. For more details about BrandStar Entertainment please visit www.brandstarentertainment.com.

Final Free Jewelry Project from Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed by designer Fernando Dasilva

Here's the final free project/sneak peek into the fabulous new book Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed by Fernando Dasilva, Katie Hacker and Margot Potter from FW Media and North Light Books! I'll be giving away one final copy of the book with a set of 2 ocean blue tear drop multi color CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski elements pendants like the ones shown above! Leave a comment and I'll announce the winner here next Tuesday before we head off for our Jamaican getaway! Last week's winner is: Shaiha of Love Romances and More blog. Please email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com with your snail mail address so I can get your prize out to you!

Design by Fernando Dasilva
Golden Glow earrings
Featured items: Satin gold cube bead bumpers, German style wire, pinch bails, modern ear posts
Copyright 2009 Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed for North Light Books by Fernando Dasilva, Katie Hacker and Margot Potter

Fernando says, "My mother never goes out in public without at least a pair of earrings. I know there are many women like her, and that led me to envision a pair of slim and elegant drop earrings suitable for many occasions. I paired polished surfaces with rubber textures. The result, I think, is an updated version of the traditional drop earring. Incorporating the square Crystallized™-Swarovski Elements buttons with teardrop crystals and satin gold bead bumpers™ results in an edgy but wearable design."

Materials
2 14mm light Colorado topaz square crystal buttons
2 24 x 12mm Terrenum long tear drop crystal pendants
14 4mm gold plated light weight jump rings
2 gold plated modern ear post
4 gold plated pinch bails
50 1.7mm satin gold cube bead bumpers
16” 24 gauge gold plated German style wire

Tools
Beadstrom™ chain nose pliers
Beadstrom™ round nose pliers
Beadstrom™ flush cutter
Mighty crimp tool

Instructions
1. Use the outside jaw of the mighty crimper tool to attach 1 pinch bail to each hole of one square button. Be gentle using the crimper tool otherwise the edges of the button will chip.

2. Attach one pinch bail to the long tear drop; use the same techniques applied on step 1.

3. Using chain nose pliers wrap one of the tips of German style wire to the tear drop assembled on step 2; place the tip of wire into the edge of pinch bail and turning around its neck twice; trim excess wire and tuck the tip under the wrapped portion.

4. String 25 gold satin bead bumpers onto the German style wire; wrap around the tear drop on vertical position and finish the same way was done in step 3. Make sure the wire was wrapped tightly around the crystal tear drop and then trim excess wire.

5. Open 1 4mm round jump rings and slide through tear drop’s pinch bail ring and then close gently. Attach a second jump ring following same directions.

6. Open a 6mmm round jump ring and string 4 bead bumpers into it.

7. Repeat step 5 to attach 2 others 4mm round jump rings to square button pinch bail and then attach it to 6mm jump ring;

8. Attach the portion finished on step 7 to 2 round jump rings and then attached to a single jump ring previously attached to modern ear post;

9. Repeat all steps for second earring.

Fernando's Tips
* Use the tip of chain nose pliers to create a subtle kink to the side of the German style wire adding an extra interesting feature around the tear drop crystal. It will end up with a sort of a lightening shaped design.
* Space bead bumpers strung onto the 6mm jump ring to add enhanced texture.
* You are welcome to replace button shape (e.g. round or oval) and also to create a different color contrast.

There are detailed step by step photos in the book!

Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright Choker

Though we all know I freely worship at the temple of kitsch, on the other extreme I love to create stark, simple design. I’m a fan of the organic, striking, naturally inspired work of people like Robert Lee Morris. I like seeing how far I can pare something down to it’s most elemental level. That’s the idea here. I was given these magnetic clasp wire chokers from Rings n Things and these gorgeous Venetian glass beauties from Venetian Bead Shop and I wanted to make a design that allowed the beads to shine without just sliding them on the wire and calling it a day. I love these chokers. They create the perfect form for designs that move out from center because they maintain their round shape even when beaded. The idea here was the wire tendrils look like tiger claw scratches to match the tiger stripe theme in the pendant. Feel free to add a bunch more of the tendrils, this is your basic concept and you can take it where you like! If you get my new book Beyond the Bead, I show you how to hammer metal shaping wire into these funky tendrils on a mini anvil with a chasing hammer. Once you can do that, it’s just a matter of cutting up rubber tubing and sliding tubes, tendrils and a pendant on this wire that already comes with a magnetic clasp.

Why yes indeedy do, it’s another easy peasy lemon squeezy idea from The Impatient Crafter™!

Leave a comment and I’ll select someone to win two Rings n Things wire chokers, a package of Beadalon German gold plated wire and two stunning Venetian glass beads!

Who loves free stuff? I do! I do!

Cheers,
Madge

Free Jewelry Project Cascade Earrings from Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed!

This week's Free Project is from the innovative new book Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed by Margot Potter, Fernando DaSilva and Katie Hacker for North Light Books. Elements that usually play supporting roles take the lead in over 50 fascinating designs by three gifted jewelry designers. From wire designs that defy gravity to innovative uses of everyday findings, there is inspiration for the beginning beader and the experienced jewelry designer on every page.

I'll be selecting someone from the comments here to win a free copy of the book, a 30ft. spool of 19 strand Satin Copper Beadalon wire AND a 28mm CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements starfish pendant. Leave a comment and I'll announce the winner with next Wednesday's free project! Good luck!

Cascade Earrings
Excerpt from Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed
North Light Books
Design Copyright 2009 Margot Potter
(Buy the book for step by step pictures of the project!)

Cones can be used in all sorts of ways and I love exposed wire tendrils exploding out of them like they do in these earrings. This beaded wire fringe is a fun new take on a traditional idea. I wanted to make the colors festive, like a fireworks display. This was a more the merrier situation because the more cones I made, the merrier the earrings became.

Materials
5 4mm padparascha CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
5 4mm Indian sapphire CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
5 4mm light topaz CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
5 4mm black diamond A/B CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
8 gold plated cones
8 gold plated eye pins
8 gold plated kidney ear wires
32 gold plated crimp beads
8 3” lengths .018 Satin Gold wire8 2.75” lengths .018 Satin Gold wire4 5mm gold plated jump rings2 gold plated small toggle circle ends
(*Order from Art Beads before July 31st and use my code to save 10%:SCF10P-POTTER-0112)

ToolsRound nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Nipper tool

1. Cut 8 3” and 8 2.75” segments of Satin Gold wire.
2. Flatten a crimp bead flush to the end of a 3” wire section. Add a light topaz and a padparascha bead to wire.
3. Flatten a crimp bead flush to the open end of wire. Use nippers to cut off any excess.
4. Repeat process making 8 3” light topaz/padparascha and black diamond/Indian sapphire beaded and crimped wire segments then 8 of each color combo using the 2.75” wire.
5. Take a 2.75” and a 3” beaded wire segment each with a different color combo and thread them on to the pre-opened end of an eye pin.
6. Close the eye pin and thread it into a cone.
7. Keep the wires even as you pull the tail of the eye pin inside of the cone. Use round nose pliers to do this.
8. Keep the eye pin secured as you create a coiled loop flush to the top of the cone.
9. Repeat making eight threaded cones.
10. Create coiled dangles with the remaining beads. There should be two of each color.
11. Attach a cone to a jump ring with a light topaz coiled dangle.
12. Attach a second cone to a jump ring with a padparascha coiled dangle and thread it into the bottom of the first, alternating the placement of your cones and coils so they hang on opposite sides of their jump rings.
13. Add a cone with an Indian sapphire dangle and repeat for the final cone with a black diamond coil. There will be four cone and dangle combos on each earring.
14. Attach the small end of a toggle circle to the kidney wires, using pliers to secure. Repeat for second earring.
15. Open and attach the top jump ring of your cascade to the large end of the toggle circle and repeat for second earring.

MaterialsBeads CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements, findings Beadalon