Beads in Wire Woven Bangle Tutorial

This tutorial shows how to make a Wire Woven Bangle.
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Buy this tutorial here

Button Rings

How much fun it is to be able to use round craft wire and a few "found" items to make a fashionable item! Instead of using buttons, you can substitute large flat beads, add your own flair with a few accent beads, use colored craft wire, and you're making a new ring in just a few minutes.  
This is a great crafts project for young girls at a party or on a rainy afternoon, too!

Materials:
20ga round read soft wire - 2ft
2.5mm round metal beads - 8 (your button may require more beads, depending on its size)
4-hole button 

Tools:
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Ring mandrel
Ruler

Instructions

Cut the necessary wire. Place the center of the wire on the ring mandrel, at ¼ size larger than the desired finished size. Wrap both ends of the wire very tightly around the mandrel until you have 3 or 4 full wraps around it.

 

Tree of Life Wirewrapped Agate Sterling Silver Pendant

The Tree of Life is an esoteric philosophy common to many cultures and mythologies, and the Ancients envisioned the entire cosmos in the form of a tree whose roots grow deep in the ground, branches reaching high into the heavens. 

 This Tree of Life pendant is made of sterling silver filled wire and natural agate cabochon.
The pendant's size: 1 1/2" x 2 3/4" (4cm x7cm)

 Agate is an excellent stone for re-balancing and harmonizing body, mind and spirit. It cleanses and stabilizes the aura, eliminating and transforming negativity. Agate enhances mental function, improving concentration, perception and analytical abilities. It soothes and calms, healing inner anger or tension and creates a sense of security and safety.

Buy it here

Green Summer Beaded Necklace with Tassel

Last time when I was crocheting with beads was long ago. Looking at small boxes with Matsuno Japanese seed beads, I took leftover green beads and a small amount of brown beads - just enough to make a necklace. Checking for some matching beads to make a focal piece, I found 4 leaf-shaped Czech beads.
So, sitting in front of my computer, I watched a movie and crocheted :) 

I used all the beads. I was surprised that I had exactly enough beads to make this neckalce, no more no less, not even a tiny pinch of beads left :)

Tassel is made of a large dragon jasper bead, unakite and Czech faceted and leaf-shaped glass beads. S-hook clasp that attached to the large jump-ring by the tassel.

 You can buy this truly one-of-a-kind necklace here

Druzy Cabochon Pendants

About three years ago, at the Tucson Gem show I bought beautiful druzy cabochons. Druzy cabochon, also known as drusy cabs, are cabochons named for having a druse, or an area filled with small quartz crystals within or on the surface of the stone. Each stone is hand-cut to best display the druse. Each drusy gem is unique and unlike any other. 
Last week I found a good way to frame the cabs into pendants showing the beauty of the natural stone.

This was the first pendant. The color and structure of this stone reminds me caramel sprinkled with sugar. So sweet!  

Total length of the pendant is 3" (7.5 cm), wight 1 1/2" (3.5 cm)

Surface of this large cabochon has also "sweet" color of hot cocoa. 
Total length of this pendant is 2 3/4" (7 cm), wight 1 1/2" (4 cm).

This cab (below) is a little smaller. This pendant was made with sterling silver filled wire; I oxidized and polished it for antiqued look.
Total length of the pendant is 2 3/8" (6 cm), wight 1 7/16" (35mm).

You can buy these pendants and other jewelry here

Birthday Sale

In honor of my daughter's and my Birthdays, I am holding an annual sale this week that will let you save 30% on all jewelry. The sale starts on Friday, May 23rd (Anya's Birthday) and ends on Friday, May 30th (my BD). Prices are already reduced! (click on the banner):

So if you've been thinking about picking up a hand made jewelry, gift for your friend or for yourself, now is the time to celebrate with us and take advantage of savings.

Plus, first three buyers will get a free gift from me (value up to $15).

UPD. After this sale, use coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off. 

Ear Sweeps

Ear sweeps are earrings that are like a bobby-pin type earrings made to fit the lobes and the outside ridge of your ear.

 You will have a multiple-pierced look without the extra holes :-)

Putting on Ear Sweeps:
Thread the back wire of the Ear Sweep through an existing pierced ear hole in a downward position. Pull through as far as it will go. Rotate the Ear Sweep upward. Continue rotating while pulling the outer ear in-between the back and front portions of the Ear Sweep.

Ear Sweeps may be adjusted to fit most ears.
- DO NOT make any adjustments while the Ear Sweep is on the ear.
- To tighten or loosen, do so a little at a time until it is comfortable yet snug.
- The ends of the wire should cross each other or almost touch. 

You can buy Ear Sweeps here

Hammered Fringe Copper Necklace and Earrings

Last weekend, I made a lot of noise. Hope, my neighbors (and my husband) are not mad at me :)  
I cut a lot of pieces of 14ga copper wire- this part was quiet, and then hammered all of them. That was fun :)
This necklace catches the light beautifully and reminds me of a cascading waterfall.

 

 Center piece is approximately 3.5" (9cm)long.

Matching chandelier  earrings hang on a copper chain.

You can buy this jewelry here

Rose Bud Earrings Studs

You will love these cuties! These little rose posts made out of one continuous piece wire.

The size of buds is about 7 mm (5/16").

For those who likes copper:

For gold lovers- gold rose buds

More Earrings see at my shop here

Earrings in Argentium Sterling Silver

I love to work with Argentium sterling silver wire! To make some of my jewelry I use a torch to make a ball on the end of the wire. Working with copper or regular sterling silver you got a fire scale and the ball  is moderately pitted (sterling silver) or slightly pitted (copper). With Argentium  sterling silver wire the ball is smooth!

This pair of Orbital earrings is made with argentium sterling silver wire and green faceted malachite (imitation) beads.

Pretty and delicate, these earrings are made with green goldstone beads.

Argentium sterling silver wire replaces some of the copper with the element germanium, and by definition, Argentium never contains less than 93% true silver. The germanium, coupled with the silver and copper, creates a fine piece of anti-tarnish silver wire that you will love to wear! 

You can buy these earrings here

Wire from Wire-Sculpture.com

Amethyst 14k Gold Zigzag Earrings

Usually, I work with copper ( I love copper) and sterling silver (or SS filled) wire. When I've got these hand-cut flat rectangle amethyst beads... I knew,  they wanted to be framed in gold! 

So, I ordered 14Kgold filled wire from Wire-Sculpture and made this pair :)
They look simple and elegant.
They go with just about everything!

 You can order them here

Pink Coral Sterling Silver Pendant

Do you have some single unusual beads and do not know what to do with them?
I had a pink coral beads for 5 years or so. I even do not remember where I got it. Today, finally, it happened! :)
I made a pendant out of it. 

I used sterling silver filled wire, sterling silver beads and this pink free-form coral bead. 

The pendant measures about 2"(5 cm).
Comes with sterling silver filled 18" chain (46cm)

The pendant is very unusual and will make a nice conversation piece! 

You can buy it here (only one available).

Christmas Earrings from Recycled Garland

Last week we were decorating out Christmas tree, and I found a broken garland with red shiny beds and Santas' heads.

I did not want to restring or fix it, but could not throw 3 yards of this garland also.

 So, I decided to make easy earrings as a little gift to my colleagues. Just added some silver beads, string on the head pin (I used eye pins since the bead hole was too large)

Lark's Head Knot Wire Earrings

 The Larks Head Knot is one of the most frequently used Macrame knots in existence. Today, I wanted to "tie" this knot with wire.
I love this simple and elegant design with small Swarovski crystals.

 

The ends are hammered, so the crystal will stay in place.  

These earrings are lightweight

You can buy them here

"Whiskered" Jasper Necklace

I made this necklace a year or two ago, but did not get a chance to show it here :)
Made of a big beautiful jasper bead, this choker  is a truly statement necklace.

The bead has nice colors- from pink to dark green. the "whiskers"  and all wraps are made of argentium sterling silver wire and will not tarnish  like sterling silver. The natural tan hemp cord is a perfect match for this focal stone.

Buy here

Autumn Red Aventurine Necklace

Yesterday I made this necklace. I really love this bright autumn colors.

The red aventurine gem chips are combined with mix of black seed beads, agate and crystal beads.

Total length is 19" (48cm).
Closure- silver button.
This necklace comes a pair of matching earrings with sterling silver ear wire.

Buy it here

My First Bead Crochet :)

I am addicted now:) I do not know for how long I will do this, but every day I hold a crocheting hook in my hands. And this is not my fault, but my friend's Lena :) I spent my vacation in New Hampshire where Lena lives , and she taught my how to crochet with beads. To tell the truth, it was not easy for me. I was fighting with all the beads on the thread, they seemed to me wanted to  be in some bead mess, but not in the nice tube. Finally, I won! Here is that my the very first bracelet that I wear with proud!

My colleagues were jealous :) OK, not  jealous, but they loved my bracelet and one of them asked to teach her to crochet with beads too! Another girl asked to make her two bracelets . I used inside-color beads for pink bracelet, so this bracelet looks like sugar candy :)

I am working on  a long lariat now and do not not how it will look when I finish it, but I will show the result . My husband calls this unfinished (yet) piece "a snake":)

To see more Lena's crochet jewelry visit her  Etsy shop

Wire Woven Bangle

If you want to learn how to make this cool, contemporary wire bangle bracelet, I have a tutorial for you! Perfect for any age, this fun bangle stands on its own.

Supplies you will need: seed beads #6 (or 8 with a large hole) and, of course, wire! The main tools are your hands, but it's good to have a pair of chain nose pliers, round nose pliers, and wire cutters handy :) This tutorial has 6 printer-friendly pages with 18 steps and 20 step-by step color photos.
Click HERE  to get tutorial.