Don't Throw Away Those Scraps!

We're always telling you guys to save those little bits of sterling silver you have left over when you cut headpins or links of chain.  After all, that's sterling silver and it has value!  But you know how it is -- those itty bitty pieces of silver don't seem like much.  Most of our clients just throw those bits away, no matter how loudly we protest.  If you save them, though, you can amass quite the pile over time.  I can admit it, I'm cheap, and that pile has a very real monetary value!

We understand that it's a little weird to wander into your local pawn shop with a pile of sterling silver clippings.  Some shops that "Will Buy Your Gold And Silver" don't even want to deal with the small amounts that beaders have.  So we're making it easy for you!  You can bring your sterling silver, gold-filled and gold scrap metal to your local Bead World!  We'll pay you in Bead Bucks (we ALWAYS want more Bead Bucks, right?) and you can turn your "garbage" into more great beads for your collection. 

Exclusive New Findings!

Beaders are always looking for something special to help their designs stand out.  An unusual clasp or ear wire can go a long way toward differentiating your jewelry pieces from every other beader out there.  Let's face it -- locating a great finding can be the biggest challenge in beading! 

Bead World has recently started commissioning a line of exclusive hand made findings in sterling silver, 14K gold filled and copper, to help add a dash of distrinction to your designs.  This artisan line is made in the US (we LOVE that!) by designers who love beads and beading as much as you do!  We absolutely know that these fun findings will be instant classics!

Teri's Knotted Pearl Necklace

Teri’s Knotted Pearl Necklace

Teri’s Knotted Pearl Necklace is a stylish twist on a timeless classic. Everybody loves hand knotted pearls. Teri gives us a great way to freshen them up using sassy colored pearls and fun Vintaj charms.

Necessary Skills:
Cord Knotting
Using clamshells
Jump rings



You Will Need:
3 pieces of brass chain (1/4 inch, ½ inch and ¾ inch)
Size 5 Griffin pearl knotting silk (2 meters)
8mm teal freshwater pearls (1 strand)
Vintaj charm, sunflower charm and teeny lizard charms
5mm Vintaj jump rings (4)
7mm Vintaj jump ring
Size 11 seed beads OR 2mm Swarovski crystals
Clamshells (2)
Trigger clasp
Awl or knotting tweezers

Instructions:

1. Tie a knot in the end of the knotting silk opposite the needle. Thread the needle through the hole in the hinge of one clamshell. Pull the silk all the way through, so the knot sits in the cup of the clamshell. Tie a knot and press it against the outside of the clamshell, using your awl or tweezers.

2. Leave a ¾ inch space. Tie another knot and pull it tight. String on one seed bead, one pearl and another seed bead. Tie a knot and press it against the seed bead, using your awl or tweezers.

3. Repeat this technique until you reach the desired length. Be careful to use an even number of pearls! (Teri’s is 18 inches long.) Add the second clamshell and carefully knot inside the cup. Apply superglue to both knots, trim the silk and press both clamshells closed.

4. Open the loop on one clamshell, string on the trigger clasp and curl the loop closed.

5. Open the loop on the second clamshell, string on the 7mm jump ring and curl the loop closed. You now have a functional necklace!

6. Carefully open one 5mm jump ring. String on the end link of all three pieces of brass chain and the silk in the center open space. Carefully close the jump ring.

7. Carefully open one 5mm jump ring. String on the other end of the longest piece of chain as well as the loop at the top of the butterfly charm. Carefully close the jump ring.

8. Carefully open one 5mm jump ring. String on the other end of the medium piece of chain as well as the loop at the top of the sunflower charm. Carefully close the jump ring.

9. Carefully open the last 5mm jump ring. String on the other end of the shortest piece of chain as well as the loop at the top of the teeny lizard charm. Carefully close the jump ring. Your necklace is finished!

Our Crystal Link Necklace Kit

One of the most fun things about working for a bead store is the opportunity to design beading kits.  After all, sometimes clients just want to grab a quick project that they know will turn out beautifully!  As professional beaders (what a thrilling thing to call ourselves!) we understand the desire for fresh, interesting designs -- not to mention the ease of having all of the required elements pre-assembled.  Of course, as beading teachers, we try to make sure everyone has ample opportunity to practice their new beading skills! 

Sometimes, the perfect seasonal necklace is less about over-the-top design and more about assembling basic elements into a sleek, wearable pendant.  Our new Crystal Link Necklace (featuring stunning quartz crystal and hammered TierraCast links) is just such a piece.  Who knew two links and one bead could become such a lovely counterpoint to a fun summer dress?  In this case, simplicity reigns supreme.

Esther's Butterfly Necklace

Esther’s Butterfly Necklace

This advanced wire wrapping project gives you many opportunities to customize your look. Choose different charms, or various sizes and colors of crystals to create a totally different impression. You’ll love your finished piece, no matter what choices you go with! Enjoy!

Necessary Skills:
Wire wrapping and top drilled wire wrapping
Building wire wrapped chains
Jump rings
You Will Need:
2 pieces of Vintaj brass chain (approx. 4 inches each, to fit)
Silk ribbon (approx. 24 inches)
Vintaj Hammered Ring and Toggle Bar
Vintaj Butterfly pendant, bumblebee charm and two dragonfly charms
4mm Swarovski crystal bicone (3)
Gemstone briolettes OR Swarovski top drilled bicones (2)
7mm Vintaj jump rings (4)
24 gauge brass wire, cut into 3 inch lengths (at least 20)
Size 11 seed beads OR 2mm Swarovski crystals
Instructions:
1. With one of the pieces of brass wire, form wire wrapped loops on each side of a 4mm crystal bicone. Make a wire wrapped loop on another piece of brass wire and attach it to one of the loops before wrapping it closed. Add one seed bead, and then form another closed wire wrap loop. Continue adding in this manner until you reach 3.5 inches in length. Then repeat the process on the other side of the crystal bicone unit, until you reach about 7 inches total.

2. Carefully open one 7mm jump ring. String on the last link of one piece of Vintaj chain, one end of the wire wrapped chain and the opening in the hammered ring. Carefully close the jump ring.

3. Carefully open another 7mm jump ring. String on the other end of the piece of Vintaj chain as well as the top corner of the Filigree butterfly pendant. Carefully close the jump ring.

4. Carefully open the third 7mm jump ring. String on the end link of the second piece of Vintaj chain and the loose end of the wire wrapped chain. Carefully close the jump ring.

5. Carefully open the last 7mm jump ring. String on the other end of the second piece of Vintaj chain as well as the opposite top corner of the Filigree butterfly pendant. Carefully close the jump ring.

6. Pass the silk ribbon through the loop on the toggle bar and tie silk in a knot to hold it in place. The ribbon forms the back of the necklace. Now, pass on side of the same ribbon through the jump ring on the end of the chains on the right side of the butterfly and tie the silk in a bow. It should be starting to look like a necklace!

7. Wire wrap on the Vintaj charms, briolettes and crystals on to the Vintaj chain in a decorative manner. Use the photograph for inspiration. Enjoy!

How to Become a Wholesale Client

One of the questions I get most often is, "How do I get my wholesale license?"  In the state of Arizona, you will need to obtain a state Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) License.  You can accomplish this task online at the Arizona Department of Commerce web site.   You are often also required to have a license from the city in which your business is located.  The state TPT license, however, is the one you need to qualify as a wholesale company.  Once you obtain your state TPT license, here's how you register as a wholesale client at Bead World: bring us a photocopy of your state TPT license and fill out a short worksheet.  That's it!  Once this is done, you qualify for a 20% discount off almost everything in the store and you are sales tax exempt for all resellable jewelry items.

Starting a jewelry business and getting your wholesale license has a lot of great advantages:

• earn extra money doing something you love
• gain entrance into "wholesale only" gem shows
• obtain discounts at many bead stores, including Bead World
• be permitted to order from "wholesale only" web sites or purchase at different prices
• write off expenses at tax time

Of course, there are responsibilities that come with running a beading business, too. In addition to the job of making and selling jewelry, you will also have to handle the business aspects:

• sending monthly sales tax reports to your city and state
• filing income taxes annually as a small business
• keeping track of all of your expenses for tax purposes

Most wholesale clients find that the duties and responsibilities are quite small compared to the benefits of maintaining their wholesale TPT license.

Brittany's Swooping Swallow Bracelet

Brittany’s Swooping Swallow Bracelet

This adorable and very stylish bracelet was designed by Bead World Glendale's Brittany Egidi.  This quick and easy bracelet design has real impact.  Make it your own by varying the colors you dangle from the clasp, or add some charms.  Have fun!

Required Skills:
Wire Wrapping
Jump Rings

You Will Need:
Vintaj Swirl Clasp
Vintaj Swooping Swallow pendant
8mm Swarovski crystal cube (3)
7mm Vintaj brass jump rings (3)
2 inch, 24 gauge Vintaj headpins (3)
6mm freshwater pearls (2)
6mm Swarovski crystal bicone (1)
Size 11 seed beads OR 2mm Swarovski crystals (6)
2 pieces of Vintaj brass chain (approx. 6 inches each, to fit)
Instructions:
1. Carefully open one 7mm jump ring. String on the first link of each piece of chain as well as the loop on the swallow’s tail. Carefully close the jump ring.

2. Carefully open another 7mm jump ring. String on the last link of each piece of chain as well as the loop on the swirl portion of the clasp. Carefully close the jump ring.

3. Carefully open the last 7mm jump ring. String on the large link portion of the clasp as well as the loop on the swallow’s head. Carefully close the jump ring. You should be able to close the clasp now and have a functional bracelet.

4. Thread the following onto a head pin: seed bead, freshwater pearl, seed bead. Form a wire wrapped loop above the beads, making sure to attach the loop to the large link portion of the clasp before wrapping the loop closed. Cut off any extra wire.

5. Thread the following onto a second head pin: seed bead, crystal bicone, seed bead. Form a wire wrapped loop above the beads, making sure to attach the loop to the large link portion of the clasp before wrapping the loop closed. The two dangles will be right next to one another. Cut off any extra wire.

6. Thread the following onto the last head pin: seed bead, freshwater pearl, seed bead. Form a wire wrapped loop above the beads, making sure to attach the loop to the large link portion of the clasp before wrapping the loop closed. The three dangles will be right next to one another. Cut off any extra wire. Ta Da! Your bracelet is complete!

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