New Swarovski Colors!

Swarovski has done it again! Their Spring/Summer 2010 Launch included two brilliant new crystal colors and a fantastic new crystal pearl shade to compliment their wide range of beautiful materials. "Fern Green" is a bright, sassy shade of green, reminiscent of fresh grass and summertime. It really fills a gap in the Swarovski line up, as a true Kelly green.

"Provence Lavender" is a crystal that is pale but not wimpy. This new addition to the purple range could easily have been called "Light Tanzanite," as the colors fit nicely together.

"Lavender Pearl" is exactly what it sounds like -- a match to our new Provence Lavender crystal in pearl form. The super cute earrings at left pair the new pearls with Vintaj natural brass findings.  We can't wait to see the amazing pieces you guys create utilize these gorgeous new shades!

Swarovski and Cane Glass Bracelet designed by Judy Corning

With spring and lovely weather filling our thoughts, it's the perfect time to make a fun new bracelet!  If you can string, crimp and wire wrap (the trifecta of basic beading skills) you can make this colorful bracelet!

Swarovski and Cane Glass Bracelet, designed by Judy Corning
You Will Need:
5mm square Bali sterling silver spacers (12)
10mm sterling silver round beads (4)
12mm Swarovski crystal cube (1)
8mm Swarovski crystal cube (3)
6mm Swarovski crystal cube (2)
Cane glass beads in mixed colors, approx. 10mm (5)
3mm sterling silver round beads (4)
5mm Swarovski crystal bicones (12)
6mm Swarovski crystal bicones (4)
Sterling silver toggle clasp
SoftFlex beading wire in medium (12 inches)
2x2mm crimp beads (2)
2 inch 24 gauge sterling silver headpin (2)



Instructions:
1. String beads onto SoftFlex in the following order: 5mm bicone, Bali square, 6mm crystal cube, Bali square, 5mm bicone, cane glass, 5mm bicone, 10mm silver bead, 6mm bicone, Bali square, 8mm crystal cube, Bali square, 5mm bicone, cane glass, 5mm bicone, 10mm silver bead, 6mm bicone, Bali square, 12mm crystal cube, Bali square, 5mm bicone, 6mm bicone, 10mm silver bead, 5mm bicone, cane glass, 5mm bicone, Bali square, 8mm crystal cube, Bali square, 6mm bicone, 10mm silver bead, 5mm bicone, cane glass, 5mm bicone, Bali Square, 6mm crystal cube, Bali square, 5mm bicone.

2. Crimp one side of the SoftFlex to the toggle ring, and crimp the other side of the SoftFlex to the toggle bar. Be sure to check the fit and remove any slack in the wire before crimping. Cut off any extra wire.

3. Thread the following beading onto one head pin: 3mm silver bead, Bali square, 8mm crystal cube, Bali square, 3mm bead. Form a wire wrapped loop above the beads, making sure to attach the loop to the base of the toggle ring before wrapping the loop closed. Cut off any extra wire.

4. Thread the following onto the second head pin: 3mm silver bead, cane glass, 3mm silver bead. Form a wire wrapped loop above the beads, making sure to attach the loop to the base of the toggle ring before wrapping the loop closed. The two dangles will be right next to one another. Cut off any extra wire.

For more great project ideas, Check Out Our FREE Downloadable Projects!

Karen Sugarman, "A Delectable Confection"

Karen Sugarman is a long time client and good friend of the Bead World family.  A gifted interior designer as well as jeweler, she peppers her blog entries with references to film, literature, fine cuisine, home decor and, of course, jewelry.  I thought I'd share a bit of her latest entry, so you can share in the fun.  For more, visit Karen Sugarman Designs.

"A Delectable Confection"

The first time I heard these words was from my DH not long after we were married. It was to me (and still is), the cutest term of endearment I had ever heard. My hubby has an adorable sense of humor and this little phrase has been passed back and forth for many years.

Pastel colors have long been a favorite of mine when designing interiors. There is a serene and comforting quality to the whisper of the diffused colors. Dramatic and dark rooms are always sophisticated, but much like a “diva friend”, they can be exhausting and numbing after too much drama. (Princess and the Pea bedroom, Karen Sugarman Interiors)

With all these beautiful Easter/Spring colors in my head, I just completed a new bracelet design called Marie’s Folly. It is a magnificent combination of pastel tourmaline briolettes flanked by gorgeously organic aquamarine/beryl pastel slices. Pastel tourmaline is actually in short supply as it is found in Afghanistan in remote and very dangerous regions.  (Marie's Folly Bracelet, Karen Sugarman)

Knowing that Marie Antoinette had a great fondness for all things pastel, I feel certain that she would have approved of this “delectable confection”.

New Chain Maille Book!

Bead World has a new book!  Advanced Chain Maille is the newest instructional book to be published by the team at Bead World.  Written by Brittany Egidi, our resident chain maille goddess, this is the third installment in our ongoing chain maille series.  (Brittany's previous books include Beginning Chain Maille and Intermediate Chain Maille.)  In this new book, Brittany tackles challenging traditional patterns as well as chains with captured crystals and Czech glass cheerios.  (A helm bracelet, one of the included patterns, is shown above left.)  Advanced Chain Maille is perfect for the experienced chain maille artist who is looking for fun new ideas and wants to take their skills to the next level. 

Advanced Chain Maille includes:

• Helm (Parallel) Chain
• Japanese Diamond Earrings
• Captive Inverted Round (with 4mm round beads)
• Cheerio Byzantine Variation
• Elfweave

2010 Spring/Summer Jewelry Trends

Hot off the fashion presses, we have news about the Spring/Summer 2010 Jewelry Trends!  It's going to be a fun one, folks!  The powers that be are a little schizophrenic this year, showing super bright tropical colors in half of the runway shows and sleek neutrals in the others.  What's a girl to do?  I say pick your favorites from the colors at left and roll with it!  (Coral and turquoise, by the way, look gorgeous on everyone.)

Jewelry this spring and summer is all about BIG, bold shapes.  We're seeing the return of the big earring (yea!) and keeping last season's statement necklaces and stacked, chunky bracelets as well.  Choose ONE large piece per outfit, please.  Any more than that may just overwhelm you.  Actress Kate Hudson works this look perfectly here, with shoulder dusting chain earrings and no necklace at all.  No matchy-matchy if you want to look up to date this season!

Rock star looks are holding strong, too.  Returning with a vengence is, my all-time favorite, silver chain!  Layered, messy, knotted, mixed with other metals... any way you can pile that silver chain in there will work this season.  Other rock and roll elements are looking fresh this year as well: leather, studs, crystal.  Just keep it a little bit rough, and you're good to go.

One hot new trend that I KNOW you will all love is funky ethnic inspired pieces.  Mix together some wood, rough cut gemstones and African trade beads.   Maybe throw in some fabric elements or leather.  Keep the overall design big and a little bit random.  Voila!  Your own personal masterpiece!

Have fun, guys.  Use up all of your left over beads and bits of chain in super fun, messy masterpieces.  And send me pictures!  Lots and lots of pictures!  I'll post them and give you guys credit.

Happy creating!

How to Make a Rosary

In honor of Easter, we're posting our Traditional Rosary instructions!  This is a classic Catholic prayer bead pattern that has been popular for hundreds of years.  Every Easter, Catholic beaders make literally millions of rosaries, which are then used in religious services and in prayer throughout the year.  From a beading perspective, a wire wrapped rosary is ideal for practicing your wire wrapping skills.  If you're not Catholic, you can give one as a treasured gift to a friend, or to a child at First Communion.  (As an alternative pattern, you can wire wrap 108 beads for a Buddhist prayer mala.)  You can find this Traditional Rosary pattern, as well as lots of other free downloadable projects, on our web site http://www.beadworldinc.com/

Materials needed:


53 beads for “Hail Mary” (A Bead)
6 beads for “Our Father” (B Bead)
1 crucifix
1 three loop connector or Rosary center
14 short lengths of chain (approx. ½ inch long)
24 gauge wire for wrapping, cut into 59 3 inch pieces
4 jump rings, 5mm 19 gauge


Traditional Rosary Instructions:
1. Using the 24 gauge wire, make a long wire wrapped strand following this pattern: chain, 10 of the A beads, chain, one B bead, chain, 10 of the A beads, chain, one B bead, chain, 10 of the A beads, chain, one B bead, chain, 10 of the A beads, chain, one B bead, chain, 10 of the A beads, chain. Each bead is its own wire wrapped unit, so you’re looking at 118 wire wrapped loops altogether in this project! It’s great wire wrapping practice!
2. Using jump rings, connect each end of the strand to the three loop connector.

3. Using the 24 gauge wire, make a short wire wrapped strand following this pattern: chain, one B bead, chain, 3 of the A beads, chain, one B bead, chain.

4. Using jump rings, connect one end of the short strand to the bottom loop of the three loop connector. Connect the other end to the crucifix.

Spring Dragonfly Earrings

Spring has sprung, the weather is beautiful and I am wearing a tank top!  This time of the year, I am always so grateful to live in the glorious Valley of the Sun.  While most of my friends are still shoveling snow out of their driveways, I'm watching hummingbirds hover over my blossoming honeysuckle.  This cute (and easy!) pair of earrings really reflect my sassy, springy mood.  Our dragonfly is made out of Swarovski crystal in sapphire, but you can use any color you prefer. 

Dragonfly Earrings:
Required Skills: Wire Wrapping
You will need:

• 2 4mm Swarovski Crystal bicones
• 6 5mm Swarovski Crystal bicones
• 2 5mm Swarovski Crystal rounds
• 2 TierraCast silver plated dragonfly wings
• 6 sterling silver daisy spacers
• 2 3 inch sterling silver headpins
• 2 sterling silver ear wires

Instructions:
• Stack beads onto a headpin in the following order: 4mm bicone crystal, daisy spacer, 5mm bicone crystal, daisy, 5mm bicone crystal, daisy, 5mm bicone crystal, wings, 5mm round crystal.

• Make a wire wrapped loop above the beads and wrap it closed.

• Bend the headpin gently to create a curve.

• Open the ring at the bottom of the ear wire and string the wire wrapped loop. Close the ring.

• Repeat all steps for the other earring.