How to make a double loop bead bail for a side drilled hole bead

I have had these beautiful sick green colored beads for so long but couldn't figure out how to make a pair of earrings with them because the holes in them went sideways and I don't really like wire wrapping. Well, I finally figured out a way to hang them and I thought I'd share it with you.

Here are some of my first attempts that I didn't like.

1. I tried to use a giant jump ring, I couldn't make it symmetrical and I chipped a bead doing it.
2. I tried the wire wrapping but just convinced myself I didn't like it.
3. I tried a loop on each end and thought maybe I would hang a chain but still thought that would be too big/fancy.
4. My success!

Here is how I made what I am calling a double loop bead bail.

I threaded a piece of wire through the bead.

Then I bent the wire around the top of the bead and bent the two ends up to run next to each other.

 Then I slid a small white bead over both wires and bent them out in opposite directions.
I then formed loops with both wires so that they aligned next to each other.

 I trimmed each wire loop so that it wrapped around twice.
All that was left to do was link them onto the earring wires.

For more great jewelry making inspiration check out one of my all time favorite inspiration books

1000 Jewelry Inspirations
by
Sandra Salamony

A visual catalog for jewelry, bead artists, and crafters for hundreds of ideas at their fingertips to inspire their own projects.

1,000 Jewelry Inspirations is a stunning showcase of contemporary jewelry pieces that will feed the creative appetites of crafters and jewelry makers everywhere. Become inspired by this feast of color, sparkle, texture, dimension, and clever, creative use of materials. From simple and elegant to beautiful and elaborate “bling”styles, over 1,000 full-color images will be at your fingertips to inspire your own creative projects. An exploration of jewelry-making techniques will help even inexperienced jewelry makers on their way to making beautiful jewelry.

What you’ll find:

Beads and Baubles

Paper and Mixed Media

Polymer and Precious Metal Clay

Vintage and Repurposed

Fibers and Fabric

Wire and Metal

How to make a recycled leather St. Patrick's Day shamrock cuff

Shamrocks rock!
And making rockin' cuffs with recycled leather rocks!

It was so easy with the heart die and Sizzix die cutter.
I simply ran a scrap of green leather through the die cutter 3 times to get 3 hearts and free hand cut a stem. I laid out the hearts and stem on a another scrap of leather and crazy top stitched it.
Then I trimmed the scrap to fit on my wrist and sewed Velcro on the ends.
That's all there was to it!

How to make a mini die cut leaf bracelet notebook inspired by Eco Books

I posted a review of the book Eco Books: Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin over at CraftGossip.com and the wonderful publisher Lark is graciously offering up a copy to one lucky commenter. So pop on over to this post at Recycled Crafts at CraftGossip.com and get yourself in the running. But while you are here check out these fun tiny little notebook bracelets I made with the petal remnants leftover after I made another project.
I am always writing ideas and quotes down and finding a bit of paper sometimes, try as I might to always have a notebook with me, can be a challenge. So here is a solution, make it jewelry.
When you die cut something often times there are other shapes you get in one pass on the die. Such is the case here.
When I ran the flower die through to get a three petaled shape I also got all these singles.

I just punched tiny holes and ran a hair elastic through then and then looped one end of the elastic back through the other to bind my mini petal journal. I liked it all closed and fanned out.

If you like making books and journals out of all sorts of things than I bet you will like


Eco Books: Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin

by

Terry Taylor

"Here are projects for the “pages”: 40 innovative book-making ideas using recycled and green materials! More than just earth-friendly, they’re also beautiful, clever, and witty, stitched with traditional binding techniques. Egg cartons, wood, beer cans, and cassette tapes morph into covers, while brown bags, coffee filters, and discarded newspapers are transformed into pages. Create a boxed set of cereal box books, an exposed stitch sketchbook out of cardboard and remnants, and even a faux leather journal made from teabags.

In addition to how-to drawings, close-up detail photographs, and simple stitch diagrams, a gallery of eco-books from an international roster of artists provides inspiration."

Recycled Necklace design inspired by Margot Potter's latest Fabulous book-Bead Chic

Deer, dear bling! Yup that's what I have for you today. The Impatient Crafter's latest book Bead Chic arrived and it rocks! It is organized by design features like scale, color, texture, etc. and I love that! I am partial to off center projects that include lots of different elements and this book is packed full of fun inspiration that features designs using all sorts of textures and proportions.

This is my first necklace I made using some of the inspiration from Bead Chic.
Margot was inspired by Coco Chanel to make the piece on this page and I like how bold and graphic it is. I scored this vintage rhinestone deer recently and I've been wanting to use it in a necklace for a while.
I linked a big metal circle to the pin with some jump rings and linked two different scraps of chain into the pin back (I later took the big one off after it was assembled) Hey I changed my mind, we designers get to do that, ya know!

I linked the side focal deer/ring element to one side of the chain necklace and lengthened the back chain part so the side focal element would hang properly.

So if you like working with all sorts of different jewelry making techniques and styles I bet you too will love:

More about Bead Chic:36 Stylish Jewelry Projects & Inspired Variations

by

Margot Potter

from the publisher North Light Books:

Bead Chic will show you how to take inspiration that you love and forge your own creative path. After learning basic jewelry techniques, you’ll be launched into 36 gorgeous projects. Each project comes with a variation, so you’ll learn how easy it is to adapt virtually any project to suit your individual style, making you your own designer.

• Each of 36 stepped-out projects features an inspiring variation, including some from today’s hottest jewelry makers.

• Clear step-by-step photography and instructions allow beaders of all skill levels create projects exactly “as-is” in the book, while variations show how swapping out just one or two elements can make an entirely different look.

• You’ll get to play with beads, a variety of stringing materials—from coated wire, to shapeable wire to commercial chain—and findings, all easily found at local and online craft retailers.

Let Bead Chic bring out the designer in you!

About the Author

Margot Potter is a designer, author, freelance writer, consultant, public speaker, actor, vocalist and TV host. She creates innovative designs for major manufacturers and magazines, and teaches popular seminars and classes at stores and major craft and jewelry industry events. Margot is the author of five how-to jewelry books, including Beyond the Bead (North Light Books, 2009) and co-author of Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed (North Light Books, 2008).

Chain Soup and Photo necklace inspired by the fab book Chain Style by Jane Dickerson

I love chain and the book Chain Style is positively the most inspiring book on this topic! I combined my love of chain with some of my favorite photos to make this necklace:

I am calling it "chain soup necklace".
Have you ever made "bead soup" necklaces? Where you go to your stash of all your leftovers and just string or link them up and you come out with a cool mixed design?

Well, that's what I felt like doing after flipping through page after page of Chain Style savoring all the chain pieces combined with fun elements.

So here is how I made my chain soup (and photo) necklace:

I cut up a contact sheet of photos into little squares that fit into the little photo links. I used a wide variety of photos, as it turned out there was quite a mixture.

Then I made them into bead links with a piece of 20 gauge wire the same way you would with a bead just using the set of holes on the top side of the photo frame link.

Then all that was left to do is go through the stash of leftover chain and link it all together with a single big link between each photo frame link along with tiny lengths of chain that dripped and swagged.

So if you are like me and love chain you will definitely be super inspired by:

Chain Style: 50 Contemporary Jewelry Designs
by
Jane Dickerson

More about from the publisher Interweave

"Incorporating chain as a key element in jewelry design is becoming increasingly popular, and this handy instructional assists jewelry artists in discovering the ease and affordability of manipulating the medium to produce stunning and fashionable pieces. Using commonly found chain metals, such as brass, copper, sterling silver, gunmetal, aluminum, base metal, and goldtone, this extensive and accessible reference presents 50 fun and creative methods for showcasing chain styles to make even the most inexperienced designer look like a pro. Covering basic essential techniques—including opening and closing jump rings, cutting, oxidizing, and hammering—this informative and engaging manual focuses on simple chain styles that can be constructed to form clean, modern, wearable art."

A Buzzing Beaded Bead Bail using a wonderful tutorial from the book- Seed Bead Fusion by Rachel Nelson-Smith

This is what I made today:
Close up and wide shot.
Ironic since I just had to wipe out a wasp nest under the awning of my front porch. Isn't it buzzzz-arre how things work out like that? I know baaaad.
If you haven't been to your local Michaels, JoAnns or craft store and checked out Blue Moon Beads newest lines of baubles, run, don't walk!
One of my biggest beefs with the big box store's products was they looked nothing like what was being sold in the stores that carried off the rack jewelry.

Well, problem solved. These findings are hot! Armed with some cool beads and things I went to my latest jewelry making book for some inspiration:

Seed Bead Fusion: 18 Projects to Stitch, Wire & String
by
Rachel Nelson-Smith

This book is packed full of amazing projects with great directions, mostly they are intricate bead weaving designs like ones on the cover but there are some great wire-working projects like the beaded bead I made using the great photographed instructions from Seed Bead Fusion.

(I did add my own touch by swirling the remaining wire on the front of the pearl)

All that was left to do was to link up all the fun elements from Blue Moon Beads.

Another two details I want to point out:

I used two hooks instead of a hook and ring for my clasp, I did this on another necklace I made and I kinda like it.

And to further dress up the back of the necklace I linked some scraps of chain off of the big hooks and added a small pearl that was the same color as my focal pearl.

Bee happy and make yourself something new!


More about Seed Bead Fusion:

"Featuring 18 exciting projects presented with detailed step-by-step photography, color variations, and practical illustrations, this fresh approach to seed bead jewelry teaches crafters how to combine materials, techniques, colors, inspiration, and design ideas for jewelry with a contemporary edge. Inspired by a wide range of sources—from Indian Punjabi folk costumes to Native American beading—the designs in this inventive resource fuse materials such as silver, copper wire, seed beads, Czech glass, and crystals into these traditional arts in order to achieve a unique outcome. All of the basic beadweaving stitches, wirework, and stringing techniques are explained and illustrated.

Rachel Nelson-Smith is a teacher and a jewelry designer whose work has been displayed at the Milpitas Museum, Santa Cruz Metro Center, and other locations in the California Bay Area. A number of her original projects have appeared in Bead & Button and Bead Style. She lives in Santa Cruz, California."

Contemporary Copper Jewelry by Sharilyn Miller offers inspiration beyond it's title

Don't let the name fool you! There is so much to this book including what it's name implies:Contemporary Copper Jewelry: Step-by-Step Techniques and Projects
By
Sharilyn Miller

"This eye-opening guide epitomizes the revolution of copper as a rapidly growing trend among designers due to its inexpensive yet stylish nature. Considered to be one of the prettiest and most accessible alternatives to silver and gold, this essential reference details just how simple copper is to work with, offering step-by-step photographic demonstrations on how to craft beautiful and functional pieces with ease. With 17 inspirational projects from top jewelry designers and an extensive exploration of the many varied techniques and styles available, this handbook will help jewelry artists of all skill levels discover exciting new avenues for their craft. Sharilyn Miller is a wire jewelry artist and the author of Bead on a Wire, Rubber Stamped Jewelry, Stamp Art, and The Stamp Artist's Project Book. She is the former editor of Somerset Studio and the launch editor for spin-off titles Art Doll Quarterly and Belle Armoire. She lives in Idyllwild, California."

Well as I stated above there is so much to this book including working with copper.

And here is an example of what I made with a technique from the book:
What I culled from the book was a cool way to do wire wrapping that would allow me to incorporate a large marble into a piece of jewelry. This is not the exact way it was so clearly photographed in the book but it was just the beginning part which was all I needed because up until this point I hadn't figure out how to do it.

It was that light bulb moment! Whoo-hooo!
So I gathered up my supplies.
-Wire, I wasn't sure if I was going to use 26 or 20 gauge but I ended up using 26
-A cool old earring to be my "frame"
-My old big sick green marble that I love
-Ball chain
I cut 2 pieces of the 26 gauge wire about 14 inches long and twisted them together in two places leaving an opening or a "eye" between the two twists for the marble to sit in.

Then I just went nuts(NO personal jokes at this point) and continued to wrap and twist the wire ends randomly around the marble.

When I felt that the marble was secure in it's random wire web I wrapped the 4 ends around the earring and clipped off the excess.

Then I clipped off the wire post on the back of the earring and slipped the ball chain through the top part.

Done-ola!

Can I just say how long that old marble has been sitting on my desk crying to me to be in a piece of jewelry and now it is thanks to Contemporary Copper Jewelry: Step-by-Step Techniques and Projects .

By the way I have an advance copy but you can pre-order it now over at Amazon and you will get it as fast as it comes in!

There is so much more cool ways to wrap and feature beads in this book, I am sure a few other odd elements that I have that aren't an easy fit into new jewelry pieces are sure to find a way in now with the help of this book.

Earrings made with something old, something new and a how-to from the new book- Simply Gemstones by Nancy Alden

So ya wanna make some pretty jewelry with gems, here is the book for you:

Simply Gemstones: Designs for Creating Beaded Gemstone Jewelry
by
Nancy Alden

Celebrities and fashion runways are glittering with gemstones more than ever these days, and chances are that if you’re a lover of jewelry and accessories you’ve lusted after a gem at some point in your life — be it turquoise, emerald, ruby, sapphire, tourmaline, or, of course, a diamond.

Now Nancy Alden returns with her popular Beadworks series, this time introducing readers to what can seem like a daunting project, creating jewelry from gemstones. But in her typical fashion, she takes the anxiety out of the process, showing anyone how to create stunning gemstone earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

Today, precious and semi-precious stones are available in many bead stores and online at a range of price points, making what had once been exclusive, expensive projects completely doable. You’ll also be introduced to stones such as the Peruvian Opal, Pink Sapphire, Rutilated Quartz and Peridot, among a slew of others that you may not be immediately familiar with, but with which it's easy to fall in love.

From humble hematite chips to sparkling sapphires and uncut diamonds, in Simply Gemstones there’s a gem and a corresponding project that is sure to complement your look or make a special gift.

NANCY ALDEN is the author of Simply Pearls, Simply Silver, Simply Gold, and A Touch of Glass. She is a jewelry designer and the cofounder of the Beadworks Group. Visit them online at www.beadworks.com.

I have a small stash of gemstones that I have been collecting over the years and I really like to incorporate them in my jewelry making. I primarily work with recycled elements when I am designing for myself and this book inspired me to put the two together!
The supplies I gathered up:

-An old broken bracelet that had heart shaped links with little rhinestones in each link,
-Some center drilled drops (I tend to like these better than sideways drilled but can be a bit harder to find)
-Oval and round links
-Basic earring parts

This is the design from Simply Gemstones that was my inspiration:

I loved the idea of using the drops (lower right) upside down which I thought would coordinate with the recycled heart shape link from the bracelet. That's one of the really nice parts of this book is the little pretty twists that are used to make the designs.
Pretty Blingy, hu?

One last really cool thing about this book (as if all the pretty designs weren't enough) there is a really cool chart I had never seen before listing the "Hardness" of some of the most common gemstones used in jewelry making. Very interesting!

Drink Mermaid Jewelry inspired by the wonderfully innovative book- A Charming Exchange

I have a theory that there is simply nothing that can't be re-purposed and this wonderful book is lending credence to my theory!
A Charming Exchange: 25 Jewelry Projects To Create & Share
by Kelly Snelling and Ruth Rae

"Readers will be introduced to techniques and inspiration for creating mixed-media charms and other jewelry items from a selection of twenty-five talented contributing artists. Together, these artists have collaborated to create a stunning charm bracelet that demonstrates techniques such as working with wire, beads, solder, fabric, found objects and more which can be applied to other crafts. In addition to reading about each individual artist's inspiration and creative thought process, readers will learn how to organize art swaps or collaborations of their own."

Kelly Snelling is a self-taught mixed-media artist whose work has been published in Artist Trading Cards Workshop, Somerset Memories (Formerly Legacy), Somerset Studio, Somerset Gallery and the 2007 Top Hat Calendar. Kelly holds a master’s degree from Ohio State University in journalism and telecommunications, and spent several years in the Creative Services office of NFL Properties.

Ruth Rae received her artistic training in metalsmithing and lapidary arts, but has also worked in fiber arts, polymer clay and precious metal clay. Her work can be found in retail shops within California and online at www.Belecia.com."

A Charming Exchange is packed with some of the wildest and innovative jewelry made from very unusual things. It also contains excellent how-to photographs and directions for lots of jewelry making techniques. I loved every page for it's complete unexpectedness. It also has a cool concept of making jewelry as a group, something I never thought of and is now on my "to-do" list. But for now I am taking my inspiration for today's jewelry from this page:
It contains a project titled "Tire-swing Babies" it is a very cool necklace made out of tiny plastic babies, the kind you use for decorations at a baby shower. Well, I didn't have those but what I did have that I thought would make some fun jewelry were some drink mermaids. I spray painted them silver and tried two ways of linking them to a necklace.

This first one I linked a jump ring around the waist and then a smaller jump ring to link it to the ball chain. This one is more floaty and the position of the mermaid can move around. More "swimmy"

This one I linked a small jump ring on each arm and then connected the two with a large jump ring. Then I linked the two ends of chain to the large jump ring independently. This pretty much keeps her floating in one spot.

So if you like making jewelry out of unusual things I bet you will really like this book too.

Recycled Sweater Necklace brought to you by the new book-Feltique and the letter "O"

You know how sometimes a book just jumps out at you and you fall in love with the project on the cover and you don't even need to see anymore? (But there is sooooo much more!) That is the case with this book:
Feltique: Techniques and Projects for Wet Felting, Needle Felting, Fulling, and Working with Commercial Felt
by Nikola Davidson
and
Brookelynn Morris

What can you make from felt? What can’t you make from felt! Feltique shows you step by step how to master this versatile material. In one simple guide, you’ll have everything at your fingertips to create charming projects using a variety of felting techniques: wet felting, needle felting, fulling, and sewing commercial felt.

You’ll learn:
•Wet felting, a process involving heat, moisture, and agitation, require only a little soap, hot water, and elbow grease.
•Needle felting, in which you turn wool fiber into needle felt by merely pricking it with a felting needle, is like sculpting with wool.
•Fulling—the process of knitting or crocheting a garment and then agitating it in hot water and soap—creates a strong, durable wool fabric.

More than 45 unique projects offer quick and simple designs for beginners as well as fun and challenging endeavors for experts, and the techniques are perfect for creating everything from warm and fuzzy clothing to useful household items. For limitless inspiration in making all things felt and beautiful—from bauble earring to baby rattles, hats to handbags—you need this definitive guide.

NIKOLA DAVIDSON is the founder of Sticky Wicket Crafts as well as the cofounder and first president of Urban Craft Uprising.

BROOKELYNN MORRIS’s work has been featured on the cover of Craft magazine, where she is also a contributing writer.
OK-so the cover necklace was made with just a bunch of pretty circles of felt. I went to my die cut stash and poked though to see what I had that would work. I found a letter "O" and cut out a whole bunch out of lavender and army green recycled felted wool sweaters.

Here is what I made. I linked the "O"s to a chunky ball chain and the inside of the "O"s I stitched together with a silver bead on the center and then glued to a blank ring.

Whether they are the center of donuts or "O"s, nothing goes to waste!

Old metal makeover with the help of the new book- Chic Metal by Victoria Tillotson

This book has page after page of the coolest designs!Chic Metal: Modern Metal Jewelry to Make at Home
By
Victoria Tillotson

All that glitters is not gold–sometimes it’s copper, silver, or brass. With Chic Metal, you can design and create necklaces, earrings, and even cocktail rings out of metals that sparkle and shine. Crafting with metal is easier than you might think. You can make many of these 30 inspiring projects with simple tools you already own, such as wire cutters, pliers, a hammer, and a file. If you love jewelry making and are seeking a new challenge, look no further–you’re ready for some heavy metals.


VICTORIA TILLOTSON teaches jewelry making at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her collection and work can be seen at victoriatillotson.com and on the pages of fashion magazines like Lucky.

This is the first design I had to try this disk of holes:

So off to the old jewelry stash to see what I could find. After just a bit of searching I found these disk earrings that I thought would work great.

I simply put different size drill bits in the drill press and just drilled away-no planning!

I then as you can see I polished up the metal to a sparkly finish. I put my new drilled hole disk earring on a chain to convert it into a pendant.

So if you're like me and getting adventurous with your Dremel and drill press, you will love this book!

Craft Safely!

Back to School supplies and Jewelry Surgery

These were my "back to school" goodies my mom sent me. I am not officially going to school but I am on a mission to "bring Latin back" hence the Latin books.

I also collect 10 commandment charm bracelets (front lower center)

But, isn't there always a "but" with me?

Lately my life doesn't allow much time for wearing charm bracelets, I'm just always doing something , even if it's just sitting here typing at the computer writing this blog or the Craftside blog.

Solution:
Turn it into a necklace!
I am very much into asymmetrical jewelry at the moment so I worked with a lot of different elements that were different sizes and proportions.

I also want to point out the Eames stamps which one of my favorite bloggers Regarding Design wrote about as well. Love them!

Donum Dei (God's Gift)
In this case:
Donum ex Matris (Gift from Mom)