Embellished with Czech and Japanese seed beads, bugle beads, silver and bronze beads, vintage buttons, embroidery,sequins, tulle, fabric scraps and couching in acrylic yarn and lots of hand quilting. Batting is 1/4" thick and backed with purple and white gingham.
Posted by theartofmegan on 2008-04-25 13:08:16
Post Subject: Rhumba Earrings with Tutorial
I made a whole bunch of these great little earring sets when I was hanging out at home the other night. I had my husband snap some photos as I was putting them together so I could throw together a little tutorial as well. I'll give you guys the abridged version.
Here's the earrings, one of my favorite designs.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2240/2440532690_1afddff473.jpg
For a pair of earrings, you'll need the following supplies:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2440279870_9db90e1cf3.jpg
2 pairs of pliers, i have flat nose and needle nose here
10 small jump rings, I used 4mm here
18 large jump rings, I used 6mm here
Seed beads large enough to fit on the large jump rings
2 wire ear hooks
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2439456739_01659a8a0e.jpg
Link together 5 small jump rings for each earring. Attach these chains to an ear hook. Add beads to opened larger jump rings.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/2439456197_ab25bae7b7.jpg
Attach one beaded jump ring to the bottom link of the chain by twisting closed tightly and cleanly. Add two beaded rings to each remaining bead going up, on either side of link as shown in photo.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/2440282132_50140bf5aa.jpg
Make lots of pairs. Wear them with everything!
Let me see your rhumba earrings everyone! Bonus points for action shots!
For anyone who needs more detailed instructions, I have a more in-depth tutorial on my blog at http://www.theartofmegan.com/rhumba_earrings_tutorial. I can't wait to be getting more jewelry making tutorials up there soon!
Posted by Craftasaurus Rex on 2006-08-07 17:24:54
Post Subject: speaking of jewelry making:
I'm conflicted on something. Well, two things, actually:
1. When I was younger and starting to play with beads, I took the fishing line from my fishing rod which have never been used, and made jewelry with it. Now that I work in a bead store and I've read a ton of beading magazines / books, it says that monofilament always gets brittle and breaks and is generally a bad thing to put beads on.
I still have bracelets that I made with fishing line when I was 11 (I'm 23 now), and they're not brittle, they haven't broken, and I can wear them when I go swimming.
So I ask: why is everyone so anti-monofilament?
2. When I make necklaces that are mostly seed beads (size 11, size 8), and only a few larger glass / semi-precious stones, should I be feeling antsy that I put them on thread and not on beading wire? When I first started using beading wire, I put everything on it. But now I'm realizing that somethings are simply overkill to put on beading wire.
The thread I use C-lon, which is kind of like Nymo, but I find it doesn't fray as much as nymo. I double it, of course, and I use clamshells (knot cups) at the end of the necklace to attach my clasp. I have a necklace that I made 2 years ago that I put on thread, and it hasn't broken / stretched yet. and I sometimes forgot to take it off when I go swimming.
My question is: Can I sell these necklaces that I put on thread in good conscience? Even though I've never had any problems with the thread, I want to make sure that if someone buys a necklace from me that it won't break under normal wear. Maybe I should consider using Power-Pro, or Fireline, or some other kind of heavy-duty thread that's cheaper than beading wire, more expensive than normal beading thread, but seems to have a higher tensile strength?
Posted by acebeader on 2004-11-02 15:41:25
Post Subject:
I have made one using coins just on regular seed beads, and twisting the wire/cord through them to hang. I thought this looked nice, because the seed beads didn't take away form the coins.
Posted by karenmc on 2007-10-18 13:45:42
Post Subject: Spider Web Earrings Tutorial
Hi Everyone,
I''m new to the forums and thought I''d begin by sharing with you a new craft I made this month. These are little spider web earrings, they are made using a wine charm ring (found in crafts stores by the jewelry section). The rings are threaded with seed beads, and the web is created using black embroidery floss. The little spider that dangles is made from two tiny pom poms and the legs are made out of staples. A complete tutorial can be found at: http://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/spider-web-earrings.html
Posted by smachel on 2004-06-17 20:25:53
Post Subject:
i would take the pony beads and fruit beads if they're still up for grabs. i can offer seed beads and glass and clay beads that have holes that are too small for my projects. what other projects do you do? i have tons of stuff.
Posted by Craftasaurus Rex on 2007-03-08 00:48:09
Post Subject:
http://www.osirisbeads.com/: czech seed beads by the hank. Awesome prices.
http://www.artbeads.com: Not the best pricing, but they offer free shipping, so it's great for the last minute "oh crap I forgot to get a clasp!!" order.
http://www.rings-things.com: Good resource for general bead stuff, awesome resource for semi-precious stones.
Posted by TrashyNiki on 2004-06-17 10:45:46
Post Subject: wanna SWAP? I have beads, sewing machine, leather cord...
My cousin was into hemp stuff, but got out of it. So she gave me a HUGE copier paper box FULL of beads. Mostly pony beads in every imaginable color, some odd fruit shaped beads, and other funky beads thrown in, along with some of that plastic brading lace stuff. I have no use for this stuff, so though I would offer them here.
I am open to trades on it. What I could use is seed beads, LARGE focal beads, felt, stiff stuff, chopsticks or hair sticks, other beads... OR anything really that I might be able to use... So let me know if anyone wants some stuff. I also have a couple of rolls of leather string/lace in black and tan, plus an extra sewing machine that I can not figure out how to work... Newer model, i got without instructions, but I cant use any sewing machine, so I am clueless on that actually.
Ok edited to add, the fruit beads are plastic. I also am getting rid of cake decorating stuff, pans, tips, letters... On OLD cookie press with attachements, a book about selling anything on ebay, and various other crafting books. Will also sell this stuff outright to someone who can use them!
i made these this week with crafter's pick ultimate glue and mini seashells. I love them!! the trick is to use glue that is thick and gooey and that dries flexible so you can wear them without having the seashells fly off...
i also overhauled a pair of red canvas slide ons by sewing on glass seed beads in all different colors.
do you have any shoe re-dos? post pics! (we'll dedicate them all to kate spade!)
Posted by jenavira on 2005-08-07 19:31:41
Post Subject:
You can get Czech seed beads by the hank at firemountaingems.com, but their shipping is kind of expensive (moreso than the beads). You can usually get a hank of seed beads for $5 at the local bead store; http://www.beadshopfinder.com has usually been up-to-date for me. :)
Posted by delqc on 2005-01-13 11:17:09
Post Subject:
Hey there,
I think what you mean by "cocktail rings" are the rings that go around the stems of wine glasses?
We made some of these for Christmas presents in 2003. We bought 1" steel memory wire, some seed beads, some fancier beads, a pair of needle-nose pliers, and some wire cutters.
We cut the wire in "circles" to go around the stems of the wine glasses, turned one end in with the needle nose pliers to keep the beads from coming off, strung on some seed beads and a fancy bead in the middle, then turned in the other end to make it permanent.
They looked great! Some problems we had were that some of the seed beads we purchased were too small to go over the wire. Also, some of the fancy beads were too wide for the curve of the wire, making them really hard to get on, and some of them broke from the wire with the pressure from the curve of the wire. We found much more narrow beads worked way better.
Posted by thunder05 on 2004-12-05 22:55:51
Post Subject: Easy Christmas ornaments
Hi, just wanted to share my Christmas ornament idea. I had bought some cookie cutters at a yard sale, Christmas themed. I also bought some Christmas colored felt. I traced the cookie cutters (tree, star, gingerbread man, angel) onto index cards, cut those out, then traced those unto the felt, making two copies of each. Then I used a beading needle, thread and some nice seed beads. I whip stitched the two felt pieces together with two beads at each stitch. For hanging, I used some decorative trim, which I tied into a knot then sewed into the top of the ornament. Before closing, I stuffed the ornaments with cotton balls.
Posted by mrs_stroozi on 2005-11-22 14:28:32
Post Subject:
For beading - if you have masses of odd seed beads you may like to glue them on plain wooden frames. I did this for a few frames when I needed something to occupy myself during a particularly stress-ridden season. It was an extremely OCD project, as I placed each seed bead hole-side-up with tweezers onto the glue, but I realized that if I kept my hands busy like this my mind would shut up, so it worked for me.
Posted by deborahthecraft on 2004-05-20 15:02:32
Post Subject:
I also love doing loomwork with seed beads. It's time-consuming, but in a relaxing Zenlike way. A big part of the fun with that is calculating and plotting out the design, if you like that kind of thing.
So pretty!I gave up on looming.
Posted by moon_lemming on 2004-11-30 10:49:29
Post Subject:
felt ornaments (two shapes whip-stitched together and stuffed) decorated with seed beads (if you have patience, I don't), or glitter, or more felt.
disco ornaments (foam shapes with sequins attached with straight pins). not sure how cheap those would be, though.
those paper mache ornaments decorated with paint and little scraps of stuff (last year I bought a few of the stars and painted them silver or gold, then accented them with bright paints, glitter, fake craft gems, etc.; I did a few of them and they were fast, easy and used up extra stuff I had around the house).
Posted by Katrin on 2004-05-20 11:40:06
Post Subject:
I agree that the buying and sorting, etc. is part of the fun. I have to keep reminding myself that my miscellaneous stash of beads is huge enough, so I manage to avoid bead shopping unless I need something specific. I am starting to run low on some colors, though, so it may be time to look for another big assorted bag...
I've only made a few pieces of beaded jewelry, but it's all been self-taught and very easy. I met a woman who had this gorgeous elaborate necklace—two strands with alternating segments of chain and beads, with little charms and a pendant at the bottom. I thought, I could make that! And so I did.
I used all materials that I already had on hand—my bead stash and various broken jewelry parts. It took some trial and error, fixing it after each wearing, to figure out how to secure the threads and chains to keep them from breaking. Other than that, it turned out great! Later I needed one in a different color to go with an outfit, so I sat down and cranked out another. The biggest drawback (other than quickly depleting my broken-jewelry supply) is that each necklace is so full of little sentimental personal items, I wouldn't want to sell them.
Recently I also bought a package of headpins, a package of earring wires (both ridiculously cheap from Michaels), and some little beading pliers (an investment), and have been making dangly earrings in colors to match every outfit. They're ridiculously fast and easy.
I also love doing loomwork with seed beads. It's time-consuming, but in a relaxing Zenlike way. A big part of the fun with that is calculating and plotting out the design, if you like that kind of thing.
Posted by acebeader on 2004-06-01 12:52:24
Post Subject:
This is not a stupid question at all! I am helping some friends get into beading right now. There are many ways to save money too!
You can use clear stretchy elastic, that is only $2 a spool. You can also use the clear fish line, or nylon coated steel. I use the stetchy for bracelets and necklaces, especially ones with lighter weight beads. I love the nylon coated steel, it is very strong (and I am a klutz), and about $6.99/spool. When using the nylon coated steel, I use the .014 or .019 diameter, and crimp beads. For a little while, I put off buying a cimping pliers ($13 or so), and just used a flat pliers ($1 at harware store) and that worked pretty good.
There are so many colors of seed beads, in round, triangle and cube shapes, and they will lend themselves to many projects. They also work very well if you add just a few funky glass beads.
Michael's has an ok bead selection, and they are usually on sale. Hobby Lobby has a better selection, and every month or two they are 1/2 price. I really enjoy bead stores, and the staff is usually very helpful in finding what you might need.
Posted by cosmosgrrl on 2005-01-13 20:26:26
Post Subject:
Try this website -- Hachimitsu-- from Japan. When you get to the site, look for the link called HANA-AMI in the left column. There's a pattern there for a flower motif ring using swarovski crystals and seed beads. Below the HANA-AMI link is another one called "rings" which has more patterns in a similar style. The owner of the site, Hatsumi Oshitani, was featured in an article in the December 2004 issues of Jewelry Crafts magazine.
Posted by deborahthecraft on 2005-01-14 11:50:04
Post Subject:
Try this website -- Hachimitsu-- from Japan. When you get to the site, look for the link called HANA-AMI in the left column. There's a pattern there for a flower motif ring using swarovski crystals and seed beads. Below the HANA-AMI link is another one called "rings" which has more patterns in a similar style. The owner of the site, Hatsumi Oshitani, was featured in an article in the December 2004 issues of Jewelry Crafts magazine.
Posted by textile_fetish on 2004-08-31 14:28:22
Post Subject:
it is fuji that makes the white-clearish ones? if so, I keep seed beads, charms, jewelry findings, eyelets, snaps and little card-making embellishments in them, which I then keep in a shoe box and then I can kind-of guess what each is without having to open it
Sorry 'bout posting twice, but if you did this, you could glue the tops to the bottoms and make a long wand sort of thing. That would hold all your stuff AND keep it all together. :)
Posted by udandi on 2004-08-30 14:23:49
Post Subject:
it is fuji that makes the white-clearish ones? if so, I keep seed beads, charms, jewelry findings, eyelets, snaps and little card-making embellishments in them, which I then keep in a shoe box and then I can kind-of guess what each is without having to open it
I want to say there was a web site/blog with a craft challenge and someone made her own rubber stamps afixed to the top of a flim canister...though the site URL escapes me at the moment, but maybe someone else knows what I'm talking about.
Posted by tinstarmerchant on 2005-03-07 17:46:26
Post Subject: Bead Loom!
My bead loom just arrived today! It's just your basic metal loom complete with a gazillion seed beads. I'm going to google for patterns but does anyone here have any loom patterns they'd share? Thanks!
Posted by delqc on 2004-11-02 15:03:27
Post Subject:
I am so broke this year - everything will be minimalistic
I am making sets of dinner napkins from leftover fabric I got by hemming a set of curtains for free for a friend. That will give me 18 napkins so I will do 3 sets of six ...
I am making polar fleece socks for my sisters, mom, and for some aunts, uncles, and friends. They are pretty comfy, and one metre of fleece which makes about 4 pairs is only $6 from the fabric store around the corner.
Some books that I have had in my possion long enough to love over and over will be passed along as gifts to the literary inclined.
I am *supposed* to be making an embroidered stocking for the BF but I just can't get inspired enough.
Last year we made wine charms from seed beads, some fancy beads, and memory wire from an art store. That was fun, but the beads ended up costing almost as much as bought presents.
Posted by MonaMew on 2005-08-04 18:01:18
Post Subject:
If your test tubes have a 'neck' to them you could wrap them in tiny beaded daisies and add a magnet. I made a tutorial up a couple of years ago for mini magnetic vases.
Or, again if the tubes have a 'neck', wrap thin wire around them and hang them from suction cup hooks on your window then add small flowers or maybe coloured water for a stained glass effect.
If the test tubes came with caps or corks, you could use them to store seed beads.
Posted by acebeader on 2004-05-21 11:36:21
Post Subject:
If you want to stick with stretchy cord, Hobby Lobby carries some geat coconut shell and other very natural, and very lightweight beads. Otherwise, you can even go with some plain or striped seed beads, and add a few silver rondelles...they always add a nice touch, without being too fancy. I have always loved African trading beads too, vibrant colors but fairly casual. Fire Mountain carries a really neat set called African Christmas Beads (on their website www.firemountaingems.com , item #50928gb). They are gorgeous, I wear mine frequently.
These could all be done on wire, with crimp beads and clasps also.
Posted by sckaye on 2007-09-30 18:34:06
Post Subject:
what a perfect thread - I just cut my wedding dress up last week-end and have been trying to decide what to do with it. I really like the tree skirt idea, as well as the matting.
This isn''t exactly crafty, but I wore mine again the Halloween after my wedding and went as the bride of Frankenstein. It got a bit dirty, which made it easier to come to terms with the idea of cutting it up. And honestly, I can''t let a heavy satin and all those beads just sit there!
I cut a row of seed beads off the bottom of the bodice and used them to bead the comb and veil for a friend that is getting married shortly.
Posted by deborahthecraft on 2004-11-08 18:35:49
Post Subject:
My favorit:When my Mom was dying we brought her home and set her hospital bed up in the sewing room (most room so we could take care of her) and the week before she died she was walking me thru the pattern/instructions to make a purple polkadot 16 gored skirt.I still have the skirt,instructions and the memory.
Fun ones:
Cutting out clippings and makeing 'cities' for my little brothers' Micro Minis cars out of paper,cardboard,nails,wood,glitter,neads,lincoln logs and more.
Beading 'daisy chains' when they were the hot thing at the end of the 80's with 50cent bags of seed beads from Ace Hardware.
Posted by sarikat on 2004-10-12 10:57:10
Post Subject:
I like beading ornament hangers themselves with seed beads and crimp beads on the ends. It looks really cool, especially when you match the bead colors to the ornament.
Posted by smachel on 2004-10-07 19:25:04
Post Subject:
i agree with the seed beads.
you know, i want to learn how to knit because i succumb easily to peer pressure, but i'm not really into it. maybe because i have this fear of poking my eye out with a needle.
Posted by redheadedali on 2004-10-07 21:34:43
Post Subject:
So sad to see that my beloved seed beads are making such a poor showing, but I have to agree with the scrapbooking. I love paper crafts and stickers and all that stuff that's in the scrapbooking section, but much of the actual scrapbooking I've seen is too cutesy for my tastes.
Also, I love looking at lampwork beads, but I can't see myself ever making them. My coordination is such that anything involving a butane torch is probably something I should steer clear of.
Posted by kindarana on 2004-10-13 16:17:06
Post Subject:
Here's what I don't like about scrapbooking:
-expensive
-too cookie-cutter
-too focused on babies
So I got around that by doing digital scrapbooking - I scan paraphernalia and use my pictures, then I can print it out myself. I already had photoshop elements so no expense except ink, which I already had and never use, so I'd just be happy to run out of ink before it gets old and dried out.
My anti-craft right now is making ornaments for the swap :( But other than that everything has appealed to me at one time or another - I even wove seed beads into a panel using a cross-stitch pattern once.
Posted by nicegirl512 on 2004-10-13 15:37:16
Post Subject:
Knitting. My evil grandmother knits, my mother (her daughter) crochets. My evil grandmother is always talking about how knitting is so much better than crochet, etc. As a sign of solidarity with my mother, I will only crochet (though I do it sporadically and badly and can only make scarves or wire crochet jewelry).
Seed beads. Love the effect, too impatient. Like the relatively instant gratification of working with regular-sized beads--though I never just string them on a string, I do wire work.
Quilting. I sew clothes. I like clothes.
Ditto on Scrapbooking. My sister scrapbooks, I acknowledge that it makes really nice meaningful albums, but it's too time consuming and not rewarding enough for me. Most of my crafts end up as something to wear (jewelry, sewing, embroidery) or at the very least display (mosaic, watercolor). I'm too much of a show off to put it away in an album. Plus, I'm not great in two dimensions, I like working in three.
Don't have the talent for collage or really most paper crafts.
Posted by Anonymous on 2004-07-07 22:59:12
Post Subject:
I fully expected to be the only Brit replying to this, and then I see Beatee who probably helped me fulfill my Lush addiction in Manchester !
The name came about after friends of mine comparing me to Marcie from Peanuts, the kind of girl who will let you copy her maths homework and then take the rap for copying. Obviously these friends don't know me too well.
I am 24, and live in a suburb of Manchester. I live with my utterly non crafty boyfriend of 5 years who is becoming very used to find seed beads on every surface and bits of clipped beading wire embedded in the carpet. I like beading, paper crafts (although I am bad at most of them, I have fun which is what counts) customising clothes, and am a beginner knitter. I am also a feminist and very proud of the puzzled looks I get when I am knitting on the bus with a copy of the Beauty Myth peeking out of my bag. I also love cooking and baking, almost more than I love eating the end product. In a perfect world I would have a shop where I sold my handmade crafty things and cakes.
As it is not a perfect world I am starting a new job on Monday as a credit controller in an insurance company, but this is just until I finish my BA and start my teacher training. I want to teach high school English and drama. I have taught sex ed before and I guess if I can put a condom on a carrot in front of a class of 15 year olds I can do pretty much anything.
