Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Shows!
Hi folks! Now you can see our show schedule posted on the left sidebar under "Tweets!" as well as read our other Twitter posts. I'll be in Fishkill, NY this weekend and Bev will be in Indianapolis. Hope to see you all!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Shows!
Sharonville, OH - Gem Street USA show Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Join LuAnn at the Innovative Bead Show at the NJ Convention & Exposition Center 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837
Intergalactic Bead show in Niles, IL
Upcoming projects: Wire wrap bead ring
Join LuAnn at the Innovative Bead Show at the NJ Convention & Exposition Center 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837
Intergalactic Bead show in Niles, IL
Upcoming projects: Wire wrap bead ring
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Absence and new projects!
Hello everyone! Sorry for my absence. I've been ill. I'm also getting ready to move and sell our house on short notice. Good move, but creates some very intense, time-sensitive work, which I am now happily avoiding, but posting to this blog :)
I've been making the trendy wrap-bracelet for weeks, trying to perfect my technique and use the correct size of leather or lace (ie waxed cotton) with the correct sized beads. I only use the word correct because I seem unable to get an even distribution of beads without a magical formula, which I will share with you soon.
In making these wrap bracelets, I suddenly find myself absentmindedly wrapping strands of beads around my wrists as I sort my kit, getting ready for my show in Fishkill, NY in July, and for the big show in September, in Marlboro, MA. So I have another kind of wrap bracelet to show you, which I will do in photos since it is so easy. The leather wrap I should do in a video, because it can be tricky. Guess I had better get at cleaning my front porch so I can shoot the video out there soon.
This is such a loose project- you can really do this a million ways. I started with some 2mm leather cord. Be careful buying leather cord in bulk in the craft store. Often it is spliced together halfway through the roll. If that is what you are using, unwrap a length, and without cutting it, take hold of it every foot or so and give it a good pull between your hands. If it is spliced it will break, and better it breaks before you use it than in the middle of your bracelet. The length is really going to depend on how many times you want it to wrap around. The trend is wrap bracelets of different stones and/or metals, and you just stack them. I have some that wrap 2x or 3x and I pair them with one or two traditional chain or plain bead bracelets.
For the 2mm cord any large hole bead will do, but for wrapping purposes, you do not want this bead to be bulky. I chose this silver pewter bead:
To start, I always make my closure first. In this case I am using a button with a shank large enough for the 2mm leather to fit through. Thread the leather through the button shank and leaving about a 1/2" of tail, wind some wire around to hold the two pieces together. You could also use thread for this, binding it tightly and finishing your knot with a drop of glue to secure it.
Next, thread however many beads on that you like. I didn't want a solid silver bracelet so I just covered about 3/4 of the cord.
Check to see how many times it comfortably wraps around your wrist, and then loop the loose end around the button. I don't have a hard and fast rule about how big to make the loop. I just wrap it around and wiggle it back over the button. You can make a loop smaller but you can't make it bigger. Next take hold of the loose end of the leather where the base of it touches the other side forming the loop. Again, I wrapped fine wire around and around the two pieces, and I tried to make it somewhat the same length as the other side, however, his is not about perfection so don't get caught up in trying to be all matchy matchy. Trim the wire and tuck the little sharp end back up between the two pieces of leather. Trim the excess leather. Now you have your wrap bracelet!
You can leave it as is, or, you might decide to do what I did- I noticed all the beads congregating in once place, leaving the raw leather exposed in one chunk on the other side, so, noticing one of my beads was a little tighter than all the others, I randomly grouped beads along the leather and squished some here and there with my bent nose pliers. That way, they are still loosely distributed on the length of the bracelet but there are not large blank areas.
Below you can see the bracelet stacked with others that I have made, including the simple thread bracelet.
Here it is again with the beaded leather wrap bracelets that are so trendy right now:
I'll be back with at tutorial for the beaded leather wraps (I am actually more fond of cotton cord for these, as they are more forgiving of the stitch) and also I have an idea for a simple stone wrap bracelet with no leather at all.
Wrap bracelets are addicting! These work up really fast and look great with just about everything. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
I've been making the trendy wrap-bracelet for weeks, trying to perfect my technique and use the correct size of leather or lace (ie waxed cotton) with the correct sized beads. I only use the word correct because I seem unable to get an even distribution of beads without a magical formula, which I will share with you soon.
In making these wrap bracelets, I suddenly find myself absentmindedly wrapping strands of beads around my wrists as I sort my kit, getting ready for my show in Fishkill, NY in July, and for the big show in September, in Marlboro, MA. So I have another kind of wrap bracelet to show you, which I will do in photos since it is so easy. The leather wrap I should do in a video, because it can be tricky. Guess I had better get at cleaning my front porch so I can shoot the video out there soon.
This is such a loose project- you can really do this a million ways. I started with some 2mm leather cord. Be careful buying leather cord in bulk in the craft store. Often it is spliced together halfway through the roll. If that is what you are using, unwrap a length, and without cutting it, take hold of it every foot or so and give it a good pull between your hands. If it is spliced it will break, and better it breaks before you use it than in the middle of your bracelet. The length is really going to depend on how many times you want it to wrap around. The trend is wrap bracelets of different stones and/or metals, and you just stack them. I have some that wrap 2x or 3x and I pair them with one or two traditional chain or plain bead bracelets.
For the 2mm cord any large hole bead will do, but for wrapping purposes, you do not want this bead to be bulky. I chose this silver pewter bead:
To start, I always make my closure first. In this case I am using a button with a shank large enough for the 2mm leather to fit through. Thread the leather through the button shank and leaving about a 1/2" of tail, wind some wire around to hold the two pieces together. You could also use thread for this, binding it tightly and finishing your knot with a drop of glue to secure it.
Next, thread however many beads on that you like. I didn't want a solid silver bracelet so I just covered about 3/4 of the cord.
Check to see how many times it comfortably wraps around your wrist, and then loop the loose end around the button. I don't have a hard and fast rule about how big to make the loop. I just wrap it around and wiggle it back over the button. You can make a loop smaller but you can't make it bigger. Next take hold of the loose end of the leather where the base of it touches the other side forming the loop. Again, I wrapped fine wire around and around the two pieces, and I tried to make it somewhat the same length as the other side, however, his is not about perfection so don't get caught up in trying to be all matchy matchy. Trim the wire and tuck the little sharp end back up between the two pieces of leather. Trim the excess leather. Now you have your wrap bracelet!
You can leave it as is, or, you might decide to do what I did- I noticed all the beads congregating in once place, leaving the raw leather exposed in one chunk on the other side, so, noticing one of my beads was a little tighter than all the others, I randomly grouped beads along the leather and squished some here and there with my bent nose pliers. That way, they are still loosely distributed on the length of the bracelet but there are not large blank areas.
Below you can see the bracelet stacked with others that I have made, including the simple thread bracelet.
Here it is again with the beaded leather wrap bracelets that are so trendy right now:
I'll be back with at tutorial for the beaded leather wraps (I am actually more fond of cotton cord for these, as they are more forgiving of the stitch) and also I have an idea for a simple stone wrap bracelet with no leather at all.
Wrap bracelets are addicting! These work up really fast and look great with just about everything. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Shows this weekend!
Sorry I am late in posting these!
Bev is at the 42nd Annual NQA Quilt Show in Columbus Ohio- Click here for details.
We're in Newark, DE for the NorthEast Bead Extravaganza!
And last but certainly not least, Ruth will be at the Bead Mercantile show in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Have fun out at the shows!
Bev is at the 42nd Annual NQA Quilt Show in Columbus Ohio- Click here for details.
We're in Newark, DE for the NorthEast Bead Extravaganza!
And last but certainly not least, Ruth will be at the Bead Mercantile show in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Have fun out at the shows!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Upcoming Bead Shows - Month of June
Bead & Button Show / Milwaukee, WI - June 9-12th, Booths: #925/1026; #317 & #822
Fredericksburg, VA / Innovative Beads Expo - June 11-12th
Columbus, OH / 42nd Annual NQA Quilt Show - June 16-18th
Newark, DE / North East Bead Extravaganza - June 18-19th
Ft Lauderdale, FL / Bead Mercantile - June 18-19th
Grayslake, IL / MidwestFiber Folk Art Fair - June 24-25th
Pompano Beach, FL / Intergalactic - June 25-26th
Hope to see you all there!
Fredericksburg, VA / Innovative Beads Expo - June 11-12th
Columbus, OH / 42nd Annual NQA Quilt Show - June 16-18th
Newark, DE / North East Bead Extravaganza - June 18-19th
Ft Lauderdale, FL / Bead Mercantile - June 18-19th
Grayslake, IL / MidwestFiber Folk Art Fair - June 24-25th
Pompano Beach, FL / Intergalactic - June 25-26th
Hope to see you all there!
Contest!
Make a piece of jewelry, or any item that floats your boat, with Talisman product. Submit a photo of your creation, with your name and a brief description of your inspiration. Next month, we will feature the artist and the submitted item in our monthly newsletter and prominently display your design on our website. The winner will receive a collection of pewter findings and a strand of pearl and stone!
So it's time for you to knock our socks off! All designs will be pictured in new category customer designs.
So it's time for you to knock our socks off! All designs will be pictured in new category customer designs.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Bead And Button Show --- and Innovative Bead Expo - Fredericksburg, VA
Hello! We will be at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee in booths 317,822,925 & 1026. Be sure to go say hi to Beverly and the gang!
Shopping hours for the show:
Private Shopping Hours - REGISTRANTS ONLY
First evening exhibit halls open for shopping for registrants.
Thursday, June 9: 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Public Shopping Hours
Friday, June 10: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 11: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 12: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Also on Sat and Sun, go see LuAnn at the Innovative Bead Expo in Fredericksburg, VA. Follow that link for a coupon!
I am sick this weekend so I didn't come up with a project. I promise one soon. Have fun at the shows! Hopefully next year I'll go to Bead and Button!
Shopping hours for the show:
Private Shopping Hours - REGISTRANTS ONLY
First evening exhibit halls open for shopping for registrants.
Thursday, June 9: 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Public Shopping Hours
Friday, June 10: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 11: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 12: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Also on Sat and Sun, go see LuAnn at the Innovative Bead Expo in Fredericksburg, VA. Follow that link for a coupon!
I am sick this weekend so I didn't come up with a project. I promise one soon. Have fun at the shows! Hopefully next year I'll go to Bead and Button!
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