Memory Wire Bracelet

When I was younger I worked a lot with memory wire. Its an inexpensive and quick way to make a stacked bracelet but as I got more experienced and had access to more beads and componants I just sort of stopped using it. But I've always had a supply of it sitting there waiting to be used. And today seemed like a good day to get back to it.

I recently received a pack of beads and charms from The Spellbound Bead Co after Bead Magazine published a picture of my jewellery in their 'Indian Summer' Readers Challenge. The beads are beautiful and it has taken me a while to decide what to use them for (I had too many ideas really). But this bracelet seemed like the perfect use of them. Click here to see my post about the Indian Summer Challenge.

One of the things I love about memory wire is that if you don't like how the beads are looking or sitting you can very easily just take the beads off the wire and bead them on again. I did this about 4 or 5 times while putting this bracelet together. Sometimes the beads just sit wrong on top of each other. There's no waste or major time delays with memory wire. Its exactly why I liked using it years ago that I had forgotten about. I can see myself using it again a lot over the next while.

So I have used a bit of each of the beads sent to me and one of each of the charms. The only thing I have used in this bracelet out of my stash of beads and bits is the memory wire and the pewter daisy spacers. I love the colour combination here and the charms suit the colours and give the bracelet a lovely theme. Its a simple bracelet but I'm loving it.

Designer Challenge in Beads & Beyond Magazine

Beads & Beyond magazine (that I love and get every month!) was asking a while back for applications to take part in a Designer Challenge that they run in every issue. This is normally only open to their regular designers so when I saw that they where opening it to readers I jumped at the chance and applied. I was asked why I wanted to take part and had to submit a few pictures of my work and a few weeks later I received an email telling me that I was successful.

I was sent a package containing different types of beads from Jilly Beads which is a great bead shop based in Morecambe in the UK. They have a huge range of products at great prices and they picked some lovely things to send me for the challenge. I love the beads that I was sent. There was such a variety of different types of beads in the package.

I had to make three different pieces and write up the instructions. I love the pieces I made and cant wait to wear them.

Today I went and picked up my copy of Septembers issue of Beads & Beyond Magazine and I was so happy when I saw he pieces photographed so well. (I'm not a great photographer so its lovely to see my pieces photographed so well). The other three designers Claire Holbrook, Sue Rennie and Claire Wolfe's pieces are stunning and show just how different four people can work with the same package of beads.

So don't forget to pick up Septembers issue of Beads & Beyond Magazine (my pieces are page 66) and see the challenge pieces for yourself.

20,000 Hits Thank You

So my blog has had 20,000 hits already in only 8 months. I've had plenty of feedback from everyone and lovely comments along the way. Hopefully you will all continue to like what I post and follow me along as the blog grows.

Oh Pretty New Beads

I got a lovely package in the post this morning from The Spellbound Bead Co. and Bead Magazine that I wasn't expecting for another little while. This is the prize I was sent for having my piece chosen for the Readers Challenge in issue 48 of Bead Magazine. The theme was Indian Summer so the beads sent to me have the same theme. 

I love them especially the little charms. I can't wait to make something with them. So thank you to Bead Magazine and The Spellbound Bead Co. 

My Bracelets Where In Bead Magazine

Thank you to Bead Magazine for choosing my bracelets as part of the Issue 48's Readers Challenge. The theme was 'Indian Summer' and I chose these bracelets to submit because of the variety of colours reminded me of the summer colours. I love that these bracelets can be stacked up and worn differently everytime.

I have submitted a few pieces before for the Readers Challenge but this is the first time my pieces has been published in the magazine so I'm very happy. See the album of all pieces submitted here.

Oh Look What I Got

I entered into a giveaway run by Toltec Jewels a while back and was told I had won one of the beautiful pieces made by Blu Mudd. I wasn't sure what piece I was getting so it was a lovely surprise to open the pack and see this beautiful piece of work. I haven't done anything with it just yet because it is so nice I need to think of a special piece to incorporate it into.

Thank you to Toltec Jewels and Blu Mudd for this amazing piece of art. Below the picture you will find all of the links you need to contact both Blu Mudd and Toltec Jewels.

Toltec Jewels: Etsy shop, Blog, Facebook
Blu Mudd: Online Shop

A 5 Year Olds Style

My little cousin is 5 now and has been asking me for a while to make her own necklace so I decided to bring her to the bead shop this week and let her pick her own beads. I was really suprised by her sense of style. She knew exactly what she was after and was describing how she was going to make it as she walked around picking out her beads.

Somwhere along the way a bracelet design was being talked about as well so she wanted to make sure she had enough beads to make her set. As soon as she had the beads in her backpack she was wanting to go straight home to make her pieces.

I set her up at the table and gave her my bead mat to stop everything rolling away and was about to start helping her but I wasn't exactly needed. She laid her beads out in the order she wanted to string them and I cut her elastic and away she went. I was only there to tell her when the pieces where long enough I think. When she was done she put them straight on and hasn't taken them off since. She is so proud of herself and so am I. It had never occured to me that she was watching me as closely as she was that she was so capable to make her pieces by herself.

I've now been told about our next trip to the bead shop and what she will be adding to the left over beads she has in her pink box to make her next few pieces. I think I have created a monster. Now I just have to decide what techniques to teach her next.

I Won

I entered my Batman Bracelet into the Funky Laser competition on facebook about a week ago and today I won. So thank you to everyone who voted and to Funky Laser for allowing us all to enter. Please click here to visit their site and see what you could buy. They have a wide range of items and can be customised too. Happy shopping.

Triple Wrap Kumihimo Bracelet

I had been wanting to make this bracelet for a while and finally got around to it this week. I used black and metallic silver embroidery thread and silver findings and worked a 16 strand Kumihimo weave on a round Kumihimo disc.

I'm going to try working the same design in a gold colouring next, I think it will be just as nice as the silver. There are so many colour options to try and I can't wait to try a  few more.

Funky Laser Compeition

Funky Laser are running a competition this week on their Facebook page. To enter all you have to do it send them a picture of a piece you got from them. Weather its a fully made piece of jewellery or cake topper or a piece you used to make jewellery, it doesn't matter.

I have entered in my Batman Bracelet. They where so great making the batman piece for me. I only had to sent a sketch and the dimensions and I'm so happy with what I got. Click here to see the album of all the entries so far and for details on how to enter. If you don't have a piece to enter maybe vote for your favourite piece. The competition will run for the week and the photo with the most likes will win.