Category: Making Something New

1. Cross Weave Bracelet

   Posted on 3:25pm Tuesday 19th Feb 2013

   I've always want to make a cross weave bracelet and I like to read beading magazines in my spare time, which is not very often. They always have jewellery designs that you can try and make yourself and some of the designs are truly amazing. I'm always looking for my next project to work on, at the moment,  I'm fascinated by bead weaving, if your not sure about what beadweaving is, it's creating jewellery, using small seed beads, small beads, thread or nylon cord.

    

   I'm hoping to go to a beadclub in my local area, not far from where I live, after the Easter break. In the mean time I thought I'd try a to make a bracelet, using seed beads and pearls, I'm not ready for the tiny seed beads projects like the ones above yet. I followered a tutorial I found on the internet and took my time to follow it.

   Here is the result

    

   

   

   It's made with pale blue 6 mm glass pearl beads, clear seed beads, which you can see in between the pearls and on the ends. A clear illusion cord was used for the weaving. It took me roughly about an hour to make, it was a bit fiddly to get the hang of the pattern, sequence and tiny beads at first, but ok afterwards. I really enjoyed beadweaving this bracelet, I think I must of held my breath while making, because I was concentrating soo much.

   I am hoping to make something else soon, maybe a pair of earrings, you'll have to wait and see.

   What new projects have you started recently and did it turn out how you thought it would?  

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2. My first Tiara

   Posted on 3:00pm Thursday 7th Feb 2013

   Last summer I bought some tiara bands and bridal combs, with the intention of making tiaras and bridal combs for my online shop. In the end I decided to delay in making them till the spring, so they were put them away, I was already busy at the time, making a new range of bridesmaid jewellery sets. Then I was designing and creating jewellery for the Christmas season, which can be manic, but fun.

    

   After Christmas came and went, I got my tiara bands and combs back out and thought about what colours and designs I wanted to make. I ordered some new bead supplies and got to work. I made three bridal combs, which you can see in my previous blog and I started on the tiara.  Did I want to go simple and elegant or dramatic and colourful for the tiara, well as this was my first tiara creation, I went for the former.

    

   I used 6 mm white glass pearls and  clear crystal bicone beads. I threaded on each bead and attached them to the band, using wire wrapping techniques and using 2 feet of 0.4mm silver plated wire, in stages.

   

   I've just finished adding the bead stalks.

   

   Once the stalks had been added, I started adding 4mm white glass pearl beads to the band.

   

   Here is the completed tiara, I think I did a good job on my first attempt in making a tiara. I'm looking forward to making the next one, not sure of the style or colour theme, but I'm working on it.

   

   This tiara will be added to the wedding and bridal section of my shop in March, together with the new bridal combs, that I have already made. If you would like to see the other bridal items and my handmade jewellery and accessories on my website, click the link above.

   I'm off to do some sketches, bye for now.

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