Sparkly Crystal Necklace / Bracelet / Earring Set

I have just finished a commission for a sparkly beaded jewellery set.

The brief was a bracelet and matching earrings - not too fussy, no colour, sparkly, on silver.

I got some gorgeous half silvered rondelle crystals from Hobbycraft in 8mm and 6mm sizes along with some silver plated chain and findings.

Each crystal is strung separately onto a headpin, then a loop formed before attaching it to a link in the chain.  As you can imagine, it took a little time  :)  But the result is worth it I think - lightweight dangly earrings, with plenty of sparkle.

The matching bracelet was finished off with a cute heart and arrow shaped toggle clasp.

The recipient must have like it as she came back and ordered a matching necklace to go with them.

I set to work again... pinning and looping.   I only put the crystals some of the way round as the weight of them stops the necklace from spinning and the clasp ending up at the front.

Again this was finished with the heart toggle.

It's a change revisiting old techniques, and putting the yarn down for a while.   ;)

A week of tutorials on "Cut Out & Keep"

A few months ago I was asked if I would be a "superstar" on the "Cut Out & Keep" website.

What this meant was I would write a weeks worth of jewellery making and beading tutorials.  A new one would be published each day.

I did cheat a little and use tutorials I had previously written, as I didn't have time to write fresh ones, this was ok with the website though  :)

And here they are if you would like to have a go at any of them - just click on the links and it will take you to the photo tutorials for you to follow.

Monday - Egyptian Choker

Tuesday - Flower Watch

Wednesday - Sunburst Brooch

Thursday - Candy Wrap Bracelet & Earrings

Friday - Flower Cabochon

Saturday - Twisted Heart Necklace

Sunday - Daisy Chain

Do send me photos to soozintheshed@gmail.com or pop them up on my Facebook page if you have joined in and made something from this week  :)

A Taste Of Crafting - new hobby course at Hobbycraft, Carlisle

I am holding a "Taste of Crafting" course in March in Hobbycraft, Carlisle.

It will be held over four weeks, (4 x 2 hour classes) and will cover a few new hobby's that you might wish to carry on with.  It is a great way of working out what you might like to do with your spare time.  You can, of course, just come to one or two classes if you prefer, but you do get a discount for booking the whole course in one go.

I feel it is always easier to learn when you can see something done and copy, also the opportunity to ask questions can be invaluable

So, why not treat yourself and come along.  There are only a few spaces left at the time of posting this, so you have to be quick  :)

Deposits are required, sadly because some folk book the spaces, fail to attend and someone else who was waiting misses out.  :(

The times and dates are:

• Tuesday 3rd March 2015 - 1.00pm-3.00pm  (Decopatch / Decoupage)
• Tuesday 10th March 2015 - 1.00pm-3.00pm (Patchwork)
• Tuesday 17th March 2015 - 1.00pm-3.00pm (Beaded Coil Bangles)
• Tuesday 24th March 2015 - 1.00pm-3.00pm (Zentangle style art doodling)

The price is £30.00 for this course, for all four weeks, or £10.00 per single session.  The price includes the use of any tools you might need and all materials to finish that weeks project.

You can pay your deposit by popping into Hobbycraft in Carlisle and paying, in cash, at the till point (it doesn't go through their till system so you cannot use a card I am afraid)  Or, alternatively you can pay online using Paypal, or a card  (you don't need a Paypal account) if you click HERE.

It would be nice to meet you if you decide to come along and join us  :)

Beaded Bead Tutorial

These cute little monkeys are fun to do and can look very effective.

You will need:

• 1  x 12mm bead
• Beading Thread & Needle
• 60 Sz 15 Seed Beads
• 40 Sz 11 Seed Beads
• 10 Sz 8 Hex Beads

What you do:

• Anchor a bead onto the end of your thread by sewing into it two or three times.

• Thread onto your thread the following beads (leaving a 4” tail)

·         1 x sz 15   /     1 x sz 11   /       1 x sz 15   /      1 x sz 11   /    1 x z 15  /     1 x hex   /     1 x sz 15  /     1 x sz 11   /     1 x sz 15   /      1 x sz 11   /   1 x sz 15

• Pass your needle back through the beads BUT you must miss out the first bead and the last one.

• Pass your needle BACKWARDS through the top bead so it sits sideways on top of the beads you have just threaded

• String on another lot of beads the same as in Step 2, and pass your thread back through again missing the two end beads.

• Again, as in Step 4, pass your needle BACKWARDS through the last bead.  Now the two strings should sit side-by-side.

• Continue this pattern until you have 9 beaded dangles.

• Holding the strip tightly pass the needle back into the first bead and pull up tight to form a loop.  

• Run through the circle with your thread two or three times to strengthen.

• Pass your needle down through one of the dangles.

• Pick up each end bead, being extra careful to pick them up in order and pull together, at the same time slip the 12mm bead in before you pull tight.

• Take your needle round the hoop two or three times to strengthen as before, doing a couple of half-hitch-knots to secure.

• Your beaded bead is now complete.

• You can add a head pin and make a stem for earrings or you can simply thread them into a design.

© S Simmons,

The Bead Shed, 2007

Waterfall Cake Topper

I originally made these beaded cake toppers for a wedding cake, there was a large one on the top, with smaller ones pushed into the side on an angle.

I have made this one with Gemstones, but you can use any beads that you desire, just make sure they are not too heavy for the wire. This design also looks great as a hairpiece if added to a hair-comb, or as a plant pot decoration.

You will need:

• 75cm of 0.8mm wire 
• 2.5m of 0.5mm wire 
• Selection of beads (approx 40 in total) 
• 1 x Posy Pick )available from Cake Decorators

What you do:

• Cut a piece of the thicker wire -15cm long. 
• Cut a piece of thinner wire 50cm long and hold a piece of thick together with a piece of thin leaving about 3cm loose. 

• Start to twist the thinner wire around the thicker wire in a uniformed coil, make three twists. 

• Take a Gemchip or bead, thread it onto the wire and hold it in position about 3cm from the main thick wire. 

• Holding the thick wire tight in one hand, use your other hand to twist the beaded wire until it forms a tight coil and stands up on its own. 

• Twist the thinner wire around the thicker wire 5 times over the space of 1.5cm and repeat step 5 with another bead or gemchip, this time placing it closer to the main wire. 

• Repeat from Step 5 until you have 7 or 8 beads in various heights along the wire. Twist your wire a few times round to finish. 

• Curl the end of the wires two or three times round a round nose pliers, or knitting needle. 

• Make 5 of these stems. Then bunch them all together, it doesn’t matter about the design at this stage as you can move them about later. 

• Take a piece of the thinner wire and bind all the ends together. 

• Push all ends into a posy pick (from Cake Decorators – this saves the metal touching the cake) using a dab of glue if necessary. 

• Bend the wires to form a pretty waterfall feature.

© Sue Simmons /The Bead Shed 

SEPTEMBER 2007

Tiara making at Hobbycraft

Tonight I held a Tiara making class at Hobbycraft in Carlisle.

Lovely ladies, all playing with pretty beads and wires, making tiaras - which they all had on their heads as they left the store!

Isnt it funny how the person next to you always has a better colour selection than you?  It's like 'pudding envy' when someone gets a pudding in a restaurant and you wish you had chosen that one.

If you would like to join a "Bead & Banter" group in Carlisle, we are going to get together in Hobbycraft on the first Tuesdays of every month, starting May 7th, at 6.00pm - 7.30pm.  the class will be tutored (by me) and cost £5.00 per person.  Feel free to come along or contact me for more details.