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.

Third Free Jewelry Making Project from New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry

Magnoliophyta Copyright 2011 by Margot Potter from New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry

Hey Boys and Girls!

I am unpacking and exhaling from my trip...but I will announce the winners in this blog next Friday, for both posts, so add another comment here if you want to double your chances of winning a signed copy of my new book! Two winners from each post will be selected!

Here is this weeks FREE project from my new book New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry! This is the last one, hopefully you've enjoyed. The vintage plastic beads are from Beadin' Path, I have a small dragon hoard of them. These are the beads I use on my personal, oversized, plastic jewelry I wear at shows. Fabulous! This is (IMHO) a fun book filled with great new techniques and creative inspiration. If you'd like a free copy, leave a comment below. I will announce two winners from this post and two from last week's this Saturday! Don't forget to comment on both to maximize your chances of winning!

xoxo
Madge

Magnoliophyta
New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry
Margot Potter

I love flowers, but they don’t love me. I’m highly allergic to pollen. I brave the outdoors and when I can’t do it further, I drape myself with floral themed accessories and clothing. These lovely Lucite flowers came to life with the addition of brown Artistic wire stamens and tendrils. I love the unexpected combination of frosted plastic, sparkling crystals and shiny wire. Making the tendrils is so much fun you might even find it a bit addicting. I can’t stop looking for ways to integrate them into projects.

Finished length (from top of ear wire to bottom stem): 3”

Materials
2 45mm wide frosted Lucite green 3-petal flowers
2 20mm orange Lucite flowers
2 15mm golden yellow Lucite flowers
2 burnt red Lucite floers
6 6mm light topaz SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS rounds
20 gauge brown Artistic Wire

Tools
Jump ring maker tool w/4mm mandrel
12mm oval bead to form ear wires (or a 12mm dowel)
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Wire rounder tool

1. Wrap the wire tightly around the jump ring maker tool mandrel working up to the top of the mandrel.

2. Cut wire coil from mandrel and gently pull apart.

3. Cut 1.5” segments from wire. Use round nose pliers to form a large loop in one end and a small loop in the other.

4. Wrap the wire tightly around the jump ring maker tool mandrel again, working up about halfway to the center of the mandrel. Remove coil.

5. Use wire cutters to create jump rings, go back and make a flush cut on every ring.

6. Cut a 2 2.5” sections of wire and create a large loop in one end of each segment.

7. Cut 2 1”, 2 1.25” and 2 1.5” segments of wire. Thread a 1” segment into the top of a red flower bead and add a crystal. Use round nose pliers to gently turn a small loop at the end of the wire and a larger loop at the top of the wire. Repeat.

8. Thread an orange flower followed by a crystal on the 1.25” wire segment. Loop ends as before and repeat for second orange flower.

9. Thread a golden yellow flower followed by a crystal on the 1.5” wire segment. Loop both ends and repeat for second golden yellow flower.

10. Thread the orange flower wire segment and a coil on a jump ring. Secure jump ring.

11. Thread a second jump ring with the red flower wire segment and a coil into the first jump ring and secure. Keep coils on the outside.

12. Repeat for the golden hello flower segment and a coil on a third jump ring threaded into the second and secured.

13. Thread the top jump ring into the large loop on the end of your 2.5” wire segment and thread this into the large green flower bead.

14. Use round nose pliers to coil the wire flush to the top of the green flower bead.

15 .Repeat process for second earring.

16. Create earwires using a large oval bead as your form upon which you will wrap a 1.5” segment of wire.

17. Use round nose pliers to form a loop in one end of the wire while it’s still wrapped around the oval bead.

18. Gently bend end of wire and use tool to remove any sharp edges on exposed end.

19. Attach ear wire to top of each green flower earring using chain nose pliers.

Second FREE project from New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry!

Atlantis COPYRIGHT 2011 Margot Potter from New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry

Hey Howdy Hey, Boys and Girls! It's time for your second of THREE FREE projects from my new book New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry. This is a book about dimensional, architectural designs featuring both beading and shaping wire. I really think it provides a fresh take on looking at ways to play with wire. If you'd like a FREE signed copy of my new book, leave a comment here and I will randomly select TWO winners! I'll announce them next week with the third and final free project. Atlantis Necklace

New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry by Margot Potter

I began with the idea of hammered wired flat half circles creating a scale like effect as they cascaded from the neck. My initial vision was all metal, but as I began to problem solve I realized that a beading wire base with pretty blue beads would create a fabulous foundation for the links. Then I started thinking on a larger scale and added beaded accents to mimic the half circle motif. Finally I added swingy beads at the bottom of each half circle to give the design some movement and interest. Then I tried this on and gasped. Wow. I felt like a mer-queen!

Materials

18 gauge gun metal Artistic Wire

129 7x8mm aquatic blue AB Czech glass pillow rectangles

Gun metal spring ring clasp

2 8mm gun metal jump rings

16 size 2 gun metal crimp beads

.018 49 strand Beadalon Wire

Tools

Chasing hammer

Steel bench block

Bench block pad

2 pairs chain nose pliers

Round nose pliers

Crimp tool

Flush cutters

1. Create the wire elements first. Each of the half circles starts with a 5.5” segment of Artistic Wire. You can wrap this around a dowel or free wrap it into the half circle shape. The opening should be 2” wide on each. You need to create 13 total.
2. Use your round nose pliers to form loops at the top of each half circle that face towards the back of the circle as in photo.
3. Flat hammer the curved portion of your half circle.
4. Use the round end of the chasing hammer to add texture to the front of each half circle.
5. Attach an 18” segment of beading wire to a jump ring using a crimp bead. Thread on a bead, one end of a half circle, six more beads and the other end.
6. Add your one end of another half circle, six more beads and the other end.
7. Repeat this process seven times. Add a final bead and attach the wire to a second jump ring using a crimp bead, leaving some play between the beads by rounding the design before you crimp.
8. Attach a 4” segment of wire after the first bead in your first beaded segment on the necklace using a crimp tube and chain nose pliers. Slide on seven beads, attach to the space before the last bead in the first beaded segment using a crimp tube. Repeat this process, adding beaded half circles inside of every wire half circle.
9. Attach the second row of six wire half circles to the bottom of every two main half circles on the top row. ‘
10. Create 36 loop topped head pin dangles using 36 of the beads. Attach these to the bottom of each bottom row half circle.
11. Attach the clasp to one of your jump rings at the end of the necklace.

Free Jewelry Making Project #1: New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry Dragonmoon Choker

Dragonmoon Copyright 2010 Margot Potter From New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry
North Light Books July 2011

Well, it's here. My seventh book is out! It all started with an idea, which I turned into a formal query with sample designs, sold the book and then fine tuned the concept over the course of several months. I turned in my final designs last March. We shot the book last August. And now here we are, from concept to finished product.

I'm thrilled, of course, to see my idea come to fruition. It's a satisfying feeling.

I'm proud of this book and I think you will enjoy it thoroughly. There are some very different, yet simple to recreate techniques and inspirations. The pieces are sculptural and architectural in nature. It's a fresh take on both beading and shaping wire. Honestly, I had a different aesthetic vision for this book, far more stark and simple. The photo above is one of my shots. I want you to see that vision and the pictures I took of the designs. Stay tuned.

So without further blather, here is the first free project from my new book New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry! I will share THREE free projects here over the next three weeks, so stay tuned! I am quite fond of this design and of course, those who know me well know this little dragonfly was the start of my career, so I have essentially flown full circle.

Dragonmoon
Chapter 4
New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry
Margot Potter for North Light Books

This little dragonfly has become a recurring motif in my work. I have always been fascinated by dragonflies. This incarnation has a decidedly Asian feel. The pattern was an organic experience, I wanted to use the coral beads, but I wanted them to be removed from the neck where they might prove scratchy. I wrapped a second wire around the beaded core adding some blue glass rondelles which created a wave like effect. As I wrapped, I began to visualize a dragon’s tail and when I reached the end, I knew I had to make a little dragonfly to conceal the clasp and give this design a sculptural feel.

Finished Length: 16”

Materials
115 4mm pea green opaque Czech glass rondelles
133 small red coral fringes
101 4mm lt. topaz blue translucent Czech glass rondelles
8mm citrus green Lucite moonglow round
18 gauge non-tarnish silver Artistic Wire
24 gauge silver plated German style wire

Tools
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
Chasing hammer
Anvil or steel bench block
Bench block pad

1. Remove a 20” segment of 18 gauge wire. Turn a loop in one end. Slide on 115 green rondelles. Create a second loop in the end to secure beads.

2. Use the hammer and anvil or steel block to hammer the loops at each end of your beaded segment.

3. Wrap the 24 gauge wire in between the first and second green bead tightly.

4. String on 5 coral beads and 4 blue beads. Wrap wire tightly around the base between the sixth and seventh bead. Make sure the beaded segment is wrapping up and over the top of the wire. You will need to maintain that as you work, the idea is to keep the raised beaded segment from touching your neck.

5. Continue wrapping the coral and blue beaded segments between every sixth and seventh green bead on the core wire. Each beaded segment has six green beads beneath it.

6. When you reach the final beaded segment, secure the wire tightly around the end of your core wire. Cut off excess wire and tuck the tail flush.

7. Create your dragonfly by removing a 7” segment of 24 gauge wire. Slide the Lucite bead on the wire to the center.

8. Bend wire flush to each side of Lucite bead. Grasp the bead between your thumb and forefinger and hold the bottom of the wire tails in your opposite hand. Twist the bead one time.

9. Thread 18 coral beads on each wire tail followed by 8 blue beads. Wrap the wire tails around and over the top of the opposite wire tail as in picture. Repeat for both wings.

10. Thread one wire with 9 blue beads. Wrap the wire end back over the tail at the fourth bead and the third bead. Cut off excess and tuck wire into underside of tail.

11. Use the other wire to securely wrap dragonfly to the end of the core necklace.

12. Remove a 9”segment of wire. Thread a blue bead on the wire to 1.5” from the end. Fold the wire and grasp the bead in your thumb and forefinger. Twist the wire holding the wire ends securely as you work. Repeat this process two more times, each twisted segment should be slightly longer than the first. This is called the 'pinch and twist' technique.

13. Gently curl your twisted wires as in photo. Attach to the base under the dragonfly. Cut off excess wire and tuck tail under with pliers.

Fall Stringing Issue Projects!

Fashionista Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

I have been meaning to share here and with all of the balls I've been juggling, I'm afraid this one got left out of the circus. I'm so excited to have a necklace in the Fall issue of Stringing Magazine. The focal pendant is from Auntie's Beads, isn't it fab?! I'm really happy with how this design turned out.

Hootenanny Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

There's a second necklace I created which is featured as a web project and it's perfect for Fall and of course, for Halloween! This is available as a free download on Beading Daily! I'm a fan of vintage plastic beads and these owls from The Beadin' Path make me so happy I can hardly stand it!

You can follow this link for instructions for the Hootenanny Necklace and find the instructions for Fashionista in the issue that is on newsstands right now!

xoxo
Madge

Free Jewelry Making Project #4 from Bead Chic

Steel City Earrings from Bead Chic by Margot Potter ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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 Copyright Margot Potter 2009

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.

Free Jewelry Project #2 from Bead Chic by Margot Potter

It's Week #2 of the four week bonus Free Projects from my new book Bead Chic! Here's the one from the Make Jewellery feature I showed you last week. You'll need to get the book for the step by step photos.

Enjoy!

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free signed copy of the book!

If you left a comment last week, stop in on Saturday to see if you won, I'll announce this week's winner next Saturday!

Cheers,
Madge

(Image copyright Margot Potter 2009)

Chaos in Pearls Necklace
Bead Chic
Chapter One: Scale
Copyright Margot Potter and North Light Books
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Crystal pearls, faceted plastic rounds and gun metal chains are clustered in a chaotic mass at the front of this daring, delightful and decidedly different necklace design. The less you map this one out, the better. You can opt to vary the chain lengths even more dramatically to give this an ‘haute couture’ design flavor.

Materials
13 8mm black plastic faceted rounds
14 12mm SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS cream pearls
39 1.5-3” lengths small gun metal curb chain
18.5” section gun metal oval rolo chain
27 gun metal head pins
1 large silver plated swivel lobster clasp
15 4mm gun metal jump rings

Tools
Round nose pliers
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Wire cutters

1. Cut 39 1.5-3” sections of small gun metal chain.

2. Create looped dangles for every pearl and faceted round.

3. Cut an 18.5” section of rolo chain. Attach a pearl to one end using a jump ring.

4. Attach the lobster clasp to the other end using a jump ring.

5. Starting on the 32nd link in your chain, attach a pearl, a faceted round and three varied lengths of small chain with a jump ring to the link.

6. Move down every link and continue attaching a pearl, a round and three varied lengths of chain on a jump ring. There are 13 pearl, round and chain combos.

Free Jewelry Making Project from Bead Chic Week #1

Click on image to view close up. Copyright Margot Potter for North Light Books ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Leave a comment and I'll select TWO people to get signed copies of the book on next Thursday.

This is the first of four free projects I'll be sharing from my new book Bead Chic. For photo step by steps, you'll need to get a copy of the book. It's a really great book, trust me. There are 15 gorgeous variation projects from 13 well known designers in the craft and jewelry making industry and a lot of variety in terms of style and techniques. I give you a bit of everything, including stringing, exposed wire weaving, wire wrapping, metal stamping and hammering, making your own findings...but the focus of the book is on design. You'll explore how you take a design that inspires your creativity and make it your own through small changes in color, scale, pattern, texture, focal elements and foundations.

This is the project we did at my Beadalon make it and take its at CHA and it's very easy and satisfying. I don't know why, but to me, taking some wire and bending, coiling and hammering it into a pair of earrings never fails to blow my mind. It's just a copper wire, until you forge it into something fabulous. Like every project in the book, this is all about making it your own, so think about what you might change to make this project suit your design style.

Bead Chic
Curlicue Earrings
Chapter Three-Texture
Copyright Margot Potter

When coiling wire around a jump ring maker tool I pulled the coil off and gently tugged it apart and got these great little curlicues! They add just the right touch of whimsy to simple hammered copper earrings. You can take this idea so many places...so what are you waiting for?!

Materials
20 gauge copper Artistic Wire

Tools
Jump ring maker tool with ¼” dowel
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Chasing hammer
Mini anvil or steel bench block
Bench block pad

(Tools and materials courtesy Beadalon)

1. Cut off a 3” segment of wire. Round over a large dowel or use fingers to create a hoop shape.

2. Create a small loop at one end of the wire.

3. Bend the other end up at a 90 degree angle.

4. Use rounded end of hammer on a mini anvil to add texture to both sides of your ear wires.

5. Adjust shape after hammering.

6. Wrap wire around a jump ring maker with a ¼” dowel.

7. Remove coil and gently pull apart.

8. Move down every four coils and cut off coiled segments.

9. Use round nose pliers to make a small loop in one end and a larger loop in the opposite end. Make fourteen coils.

10. Thread larger end of 7 looped wires on earring. (Be sure coils are all facing the same direction.) Repeat for second earring.

Free Jewelry Making Project!

This project from my new book Beyond the Bead is available as a free download at the MyCraftivity site until April 24th! Learn how to turn poly clay into faux metal with a fun and simple technique. I still need to make a necklace for this set...hmmm...better get on that!

I've got a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes here and hopefully soon some of it will be solidified for announcement status. At least it's keeping me out of trouble! Tom Petty was so right when he said the waiting is the hardest part!

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

xoxo
Madge

Final Free Mixed Media Jewelry Project from Beyond the Bead

Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms Copyright 2009 Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter
Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms Variation Copyright 2009 Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter

(Click on images to view close up!)

It's time for the final free project from my fabulous new mixed media techniques for the beader book...Beyond the Bead! Insert cries of unfettered glee and joyous abandon here.
This 'charming' project has a tale to tell. Originally these little flappers were a little more...shall we say...naughty. I was asked to consider covering them up just a skootch more and I agreed. It was never my intention to offend, I just have an affection for vintage pin up art. But only if it's naughty...and nice. It looks as if the Dover book I used is no longer in print, so I've provided a link to a fashion illustration title from the same period with less risque images. I've also included some variations I made using colored pencils and vintage Vogue pattern images from the 1940s. This is a pretty straightforward idea, you pick bold pen and ink images and you trace them on the shrink plastic. I'm all about make it easy and make it fun...this is a great project to do with kids (using kid appropriate images...of course!)

So without further drivel...here's your free project! Leave a comment and I'll randomly select a winner to be announced on April 1st. No fooling, tee hee. I'll be sending you a signed copy of the book, a jaunty Beyond the Bead promo button and a stash of CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements sparklies for your collection! Good luck! Oh and if you're on Facebook, would you consider joining my Fan Page? I'll announce upcoming events and airings on QVC there, share project debuts and links to what's new in Madge's world. Pretty please?

Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter
Beyond the Bead for North Light Books
Are you a naughty girl? Do you love to dance on the edge of decency? Do you ‘rouge your knees and roll your stockings down’? Well, my little flapper girl, these nifty little shrink art charms are certain to suit your style. Vo dee oh doh!

*Any clean and simple black and white inked illustrations will work here. The bigger the better so you can really get the detail in before it shrinks! It’s important to use a very, very fine tipped market so you can really get the lines clean or the finished result could be lacking in definition. You can add more or less color depending on your mood.

Supplies
Dover Spot Illustrations Book
Rough and Ready shrink plastic
Ranger Adirondack pen red pepper
Ranger Archival Ink black
Micron 005 fine tipped black marker
4mm gun metal jump rings
Krylon silver leafing pen
Sheet of brown kraft paper cut to fit oven tray

ToolsHole punch
Craft dedicated Toaster oven
Metal spatula
2 pairs chain nose pliers

1. Select images from book. Remember that they shrink a lot, so pick large detailed images for best results.
2. Trace images on rough side of plastic using a fine tipped marker.
3. Accent images with red marker.
4. Cut out images with sharp scissors making interesting shapes.
5. Create hole in top of image with hole punch.
6. Place images in preheated toaster oven on top of precut brown paper bag liner on oven tray.
7. Allow to shrink, use spatula to flatten any still curled images before cooling.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
9. Use metal leaf pen to edge images. Allow to dry.
10. Attach jump rings to charms.

Supplies
Rough and Ready Shrink Art Plastic Shrinky Dinks, Spot Illustrations Dover Books, Adirondack pen and Archival Ink Ranger, Micron pen Kuretake, Silver leafing pen Krylon, gun metal jump rings Rings n’ Things.

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!

Free Jewelry Making Project from Design Secrets Exposed 'Connections'!

Here's a free jewelry project from beading Goddess Katie Hacker to whet your appetite for Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed co-written by Katie Hacker, Fernando DaSilva and yours truly (F+W Pubs 2009). 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.

Congratulations to Sheila from Halo Hill Blog for winning last week's Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed book giveaway! Email me your snail mail address Sheila and I'll get that prize out to you ASAP! This week's prize is another copy of the book, a spool of Beadalon purple Clear Colors wire, a pack of star tipped headpins, a pack of crimp covers, a pack of textured solid rings AND a small stash of Swarovski crystals! Leave a comment and I'll select a winner next Wednesday! Stay tuned for more contests from this book and my other new book Beyond the Bead in the next few weeks!

Connections
Excerpt from Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed
Design Copyright 2009 Katie Hacker

This week's free project from Exposed is a design that Katie created using toggle rings in an unusual way. Can you spot them? The toggle rings act as links and echo the geometric channel-set crystals.

Materials
18mm crystal twist sew-on stone
3 14mm cosmic rings
5 8mm Siam round double-loop channel set crystals (these are sold at JewelrySupply.com see link)
3 6mm clear round single-loop channel set crystals
small silver curb chain
17 4mm round silver jump rings
9 8mm round silver jump rings
10 silver toggle rings
silver toggle clasp
(Order from Art Beads before July 31st and use my code to save 10%:SCF10P-POTTER-0112)

Tools
chain-nose pliers
wire cutters

Instructions
1. Cut the chain into the following lengths:
2. Pass one 8mm jump ring through the lower hole on the sew-on stone and use it to connect a toggle ring.
3. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the loop on the toggle and use it to connect a Siam crystal channel.
4. Pass one 8mm jump ring through the lower loop on the Siam crystal channel and use it to connect a cosmic ring.
5. Attach another 8mm jump ring to the cosmic ring and use it to connect a toggle ring.
6. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach the three 2" chain lengths to the lower loop on the toggle. Cut the chains so they're slightly uneven in length.
7. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach a clear crystal channel to the end of each chain.
8. Pass one 8mm jump ring through the upper hole on the sew-on stone and use it to connect a toggle ring.
9. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the loop on the toggle and use it to connect a Siam crystal channel.
10. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the other loop on the Siam crystal channel and use it to connect the loop on a toggle ring.
11. Pass one 8mm jump ring through the toggle ring and use it to connect a cosmic ring.
12. Pass another 8mm jump ring through the cosmic ring and use it to connect a toggle ring.
13. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the loop on the toggle ring and use it to connect a Siam crystal channel.
14. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the other loop on the Siam crystal channel and use it to connect the loop on the toggle ring.
15. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach three 4" lengths of chain to the toggle ring.
16. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach half of a clasp to the end of the necklace.
17. Repeat Steps 8-16 to complete the other side of the necklace.

All crystals are from Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements; chain and findings are from Beadalon.