Jewelry

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show 2016

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February buzzed along with excitement in my corner of the beading world. I can’t believe it was a month ago that I was down in Tucson for the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show. I was at the To Bead True Blue show for two days working with Soft Flex Company.

This an international gem, mineral and fossil showcase and it’s mind-blowing how many vendors are crammed into every corner of Tucson. There isn’t just “one show” there are many shows of varying types in convention halls, hotels, motels and parking lots around the city.

I have lost count as to how many times I have been there however, this is the first year I branched out and purchased some stones and I LOVE them. Since I go to work in Soft Flex Company’s booth, you’ll find me at the beading/jewelry making oriented shows which have a limited range of minerals and stones. I did manage to find a really pretty tanzanite aura quartz, a smooth rose quartz and a small geode slice that I plan to make into a pendant, all shown in the picture above.

Of course, I can’t leave the Soft Flex booth without picking up some much needed jewelry making items. I grabbed a new bead board as mine has seen better days, 4 spools of medium .019 diameter colored Soft Flex beading wire, 2mm silver filled Soft Flex crimp tubes, double density round kumihimo disk and two tubes of superduo beads.

Speaking of superduo beads, I used these little two hole beads for a new jewelry tutorial design that was picked up by a national beading magazine! I’m in the process of writing out the instructions and working on a second color option. I’ll share more about that when the magazine is due to come out!

DIY Bracelet Booklet Co-Author!

Bracelet Projects Booklet
Reg: $11.95 – on sale through the end of the year for just $9.56!
Available for purchase online at SoftFlexCompany.com

I have been providing how-to jewelry tutorials on Soft Flex Company’s beading blog and website for years but, I took it up a notch and teamed up with my friend Sara Oehler to co-author a DIY bracelet project booklet. Inside Soft Flex Company’s Bracelet Projects booklet you will find 8 modern bracelet designs using Soft Flex beading wire. You will learn about beading wire brands, diameters, crimps, crimping pliers, kumihimo boards, macrame boards and knitting on a spool. This is a great book for a beginner or an advanced beader that is looking to take their beading in a new direction.

Handmade Wire Wrapped Brazilian Agate Necklaces

An outfit is never fully put together without some finishing touches – a hand wrapped wire and agate pendant necklace is the perfect finishing touch for the gypsy, goddess, free spirited, bohemian woman.

Brazilian agate balances the four energies: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Worn for protection, centering, healing and strength as well as better concentration, confidence and an overall composure. Protects you from stress and energy drains. These are one of a kind, gift one to a fierce woman in your life or grab one for yourself today. Live in your strength.

Style is saying something without speaking a word. ~ Rachel Zoe.

Hand Wrapped Brazilian Agate Necklaces $25

Shop >> https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeStash

For sales through Saturday, December 5th, I’m offering a 15/10 deal – 15% off discount on handmade jewelry and 10% of the sale will be donated to UMOM New Day Centers. Use the coupon code GOODKARMA at checkout to redeem your discount. Offer is exclusively for my handmade jewelry section.

I was published in Belle Armoire Jewelry!

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Thank you Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine and editors Cynthia Levens and Natalie Way for selecting my macrame bracelet design to feature in the Autumn 2015 issue.  It is really exciting to be published and for it to be in of my favorite magazines, I’m ecstatic! Check out my published design tutorial in Belle Amoire Jewelry magazine on sale through November!

 

Luxe Macrame Bracelets
by Kristen Fagan
Belle Armoire Jewelry
Autumn 2015 Issue

 

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Kristen Fagan - Luxe Macrame4

I adore the texture and shimmer in this design. Soft Flex beading wire colors complement the etched shell donut pendant by Lillypilly Designs perfectly. The gold cubes and button clasp add an elegant touch and the hand wrapped bronze wire crimp covers give the design the hand forged feel I love so much.

The autumn issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry features a must-see Designer Collection by the ICE Resin Queen Susan Lenart Kazmer. Learn how to create textured polymer clay jewelry, embossed pendants, and gorgeous metal manipulations, plus, you won’t want to miss a tribute to turquoise stones. From winding wire in innovative ways to creating colorful clay collaboration bracelets to a pendant necklace that pays homage to leaves and nature, there is something for every jewelry artist to try their hand at. What an honor! I have been a lover of ICE Resin for years and it’s so cool to be in a publication with the ICE Resin Queen! Pick up your copy at a bookstore or the Stampington & Company website and get full instructions on how to create my macrame bracelets on pages 16-19.

Tutorial Tuesday: Swarovski Cosmic Triangle Necklace

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Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

Since I had another one of these beautiful Swarovski cosmic triangle crystals I had to make a matching necklace to this knit bangle tutorial I shared earlier this month. I just love the richness of the champagne color paired with smokey quartz, gold and red wire.

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Materials

Soft Flex .019 Beading Wire Red Coral – 8″
Swarovski 6mm Round Smoked Topaz – 4
Swarovski 20mm Cosmic Triangle Ring Golden Shadow – 1
Gold Spacer Beads – 2
Gold or Brass Colored Chain – 18″
5mm Brass Jump Rings – 4
12mm Antique Brass Lobster Claw Clasp – 1
2x2mm Gold Filled Crimp Tubes -4
Magical Crimping Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Cutters

Instructions

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1. Cut 54″ length of Soft Flex beading wire in red. Wrap the end of your beading wire around one side of the triangle crystal and back through a crimp tube. Leaving one wire tail long enough to string your beads on, crimp using the magical crimping pliers. Trim excess wire on the shorter tail. Click here for magical crimping instructions.

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2.  String 1 crystal round, 1 gold spacer, 1 crystal round and 1 crimp tube. Create a loop with your beading wire feeding the end back through the crimp tube. Crimp using the magical crimping pliers. Trim excess wire and push strand to the one corner of the triangle.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the  other corner of the triangle.

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4. Using your chain nose pliers, open the jump rings and attach a jump ring to each strand loop and to your chain. At the back of your chain attach 2 more jump rings and your lobster claw clasp. 

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Tutorial Tuesday: Swarovski Crystal Knit Bangle

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Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

Check out this beautiful Swarovski cosmic triangle crystal! The richness of the champagne color paired with smokey quartz, gold and red wire gives  the design a feeling of bold elegance.

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Materials

Instructions

1. Knit a 5″ length wire cage with Soft Flex beading wire in red and a 5-pin knitting spool. using using Style 1 in the instructions found on Soft Flex company’s website. Click for instructions on how to knit with beading wire. Leave at least a 2″ tail of wire at the beginning and end of your knitted wire cage. 

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2. Once your knitted wire is approximately 5″ in length, remove the knitted wire from the spool. One by one, drop (12) crystal round beads inside the knitted wire cage unstrung. 

3. Weave your wire tail through the knit loops to close it up. I go through the loops a few times to make sure the end is secure. You will now have a closed knit wire cage with a one strand wire tail coming out each end.

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4. On one tail end of your knitted cage, string 1 crystal round, 1 gold spacer, 1 crystal round and 1 2x2mm gold filled crimp tube.

5. Wrap the end of your beading wire around one side of the triangle crystal and back through your crimp tube. Crimp using the magical crimping pliers. Click here for magical crimping instructions.

6. Repeat steps 4&5 on the other side of your knitted cage. Since the finished design will stretch, you do not need to attach a clasp.

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7. Cut 16″ of craft wire in bronze, thread about 2″ of wire through the knitted cage and wrap around a couple of times to secure. Now, take the longer end and continue to wrap around the cage until you have created a cone that covers up the ends of the knitted cage.  Repeat on the opposite side.

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Brazilian Agate Necklaces

I added a few new wire wrapped agate necklaces for sale in my shop.

AgateCollection-Trio

Brazilian agate takes about 80 million years to form and each slice is an original. Brazilian agate balances the four energies: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Worn for protection, centering, healing and strength as well as better concentration, more confidence and an overall feeling of composure. Protects you from stress and energy drains.

Shop Agate Necklaces.

Handmade Bracelet Bonanza

I have been an a bracelet making kick! I have new designs as well as restocked a few favorites in my shop.

PurpleArtDecoMacrame3

First up are these new art deco + bohemian chic macrame bracelets.

I shared this jewelry tutorial on how to make this design and instantly feel in love with it that I had to make a collection of colors. Beautiful when layered together or with other bracelets. Made with high quality beading wire coated in nylon that will never fade, fray or chip.

Shop Macrame Bracelets.

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Next up are these dainty, delicate modern bar bracelets.

Minimalist elegance on your wrist. Beautiful and simple alone and lots of fun when layered. I made a bunch of these to sell at a local shop and they sold out fast! So naturally, I whipped up a few more. This is the last batch for awhile as I need to replenish my supplies.

Shop Modern Bar Bracelets.

KnittedBracelets

Last but not least I restocked these one-of-a-kind knitted bangle bracelet designs.

I hand knit the bracelet with high quality flexible beading wire and a knitting spool. These bracelets fit like a bangle and are for those of us who like a piece of jewelry that’s bold, one-of-a-kind and makes a statement. Sizes and styles vary.

Shop Knitted Bangle Bracelets.

 

Tutorial Tuesday: Art Deco Macrame Bracelet

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Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

 Although I love the feeling of original Soft Flex beading wire, I decided to give Econoflex hobby beading wire a try for a cheaper option plus, the bright colors of Econoflex wire are so pretty.
Materials
Silver Jump Rings – 2
Instructions

1. Cut two 12″ strands of Econoflex craft beading wire and anchor them into a notch on the top of your mini macrame board.

2. Cut one 50″ strand of Econoflex craft beading wire – this will be your knotting strand.

3.Create 20 knots using the Half Knot Spiral method below.

  • The right wire goes over the two center wires, then under the left wire. 
  • The left wire goes under the two center wires, then comes up through the hole and passes over the right wire. 

4. Pick up one silver cube bead, remove the two center wires anchored at the bottom of your macrame board and string the bead them and up to your last knot.

5. Wrap your knotting wire around the bead and continue your Half Knot Spiral pattern below the bead creating another 20 knots. 

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you reach your desired bracelet length, keeping your clasp size in mind.  

7. Add a 3mm crimp tube and crimp around 1 jump ring using the mighty crimper. Attach one side of the toggle clasp to the jump ring. On the other end of the bracelet, add a 3mm crimp tube and crimp around 1 jump ring using the mighty crimper. Attach the other side of the toggle clasp to the jump ring. Click here for crimping instructions.

Tutorial Tuesday: Soft Flex Kumihimo Bracelet

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Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

Materials

Instructions

You will need 10 strands of beading wire, approximately 20″ length for each strand, in assorted colors. If you have 10ft spools of Soft Flex beading wire you may work directly from the spool otherwise, cut your wire strands. I didn’t feel the need to use bobbins with my cut wire strands.

Gather your wires and slide a 3mm crimp tube on one end of your cut wires or the end not attached to your spool if working from the spool. Slide your crimp up the wire strands leaving a 4″ tail and crimp using your mighty crimping pliers. The crimped wire side will go into the middle of your Kumihimo plate. Click here for crimping instructions.

Set your plate up to have 6 beading wire strands across the top and 4 beading wire strands across the bottom.

Watch Anne Dilker’s Square Kumihimo video for instructions on the braiding technique used
Continue braiding with the technique shown in the video above until you have about 2″ of braided wire and at least 4″ of excess wire left. Remove your wire from the Kumihimo plate. If working from the spools you should now cut the wires free from the spools making sure each strand has about 4″.

Gather the wire and slide on a 3mm crimp tube and crimp using the mighty crimping pliers at the base of your finished braid. Click here for crimping instructions.

Choose one wire strand on each side of your braid to be your stringing wire to complete your bracelet. Trim all other wire strands as close to the crimp tube as possible as shown below.

On one side of your braided centerpiece, string 1 fire polish bead, 1 seed bead, 1 fire polish bead, 1 seed bead and continue to repeat until you have 8 fire polish beads and 8 seed beads. You may need to adjust the number of beads used based on the final design size needed.

Add a 2mm crimp tube and crimp around 1 jump ring using the magical crimper. Attach one side of the toggle clasp to the jump ring. Click here for magical crimping instructions.

Repeat you bead stringing on the other side of the braided centerpiece, 1 fire polish bead, 1 seed bead, 1 fire polish bead, 1 seed bead and continue to repeat until you have 8 fire polish beads and 8 seed beads. You may need to adjust the number of beads used based on the final design size needed.

Add a 2mm crimp tube and crimp around 1 jump ring using the magical crimper. Attach the other side of the toggle clasp to the jump ring. Click here for magical crimping instructions.

Lastly, create a bead dangle using your headpin and 1 fire polish blue bead and attach it to the jump ring connected to your toggle bar. Click here for instructions on how to make a bead dangle.

Note: My design had one strand side longer then the other so, my design turned out slightly asymmetrical with on side having 5 fire polish beads and the other 11 fire polish beads.

Below is another variation you may want to try. This bracelet uses the same braiding pattern on the entire bracelet and introduces beads in the middle.

I followed the kumihimo braid that is shown in the video and when about half the bracelet was braided I strung beads onto the two wires that were held on the sides of the kumihimo board and then continued the braid. Again, I strung beads on the next two wires that were on the side of the kumihimo board and then continued to braid. I repeated that process until I was happy with the center and then continued to braid the second half of the bracelet without adding any beads. Because I used cut wire, I was able to slide a bead on whenever the wires where on the side before braiding them back in.

Tutorial Tuesday: Double Strand Macrame Bracelet

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Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

Materials:
Instructions
Cut the black beading wire into two 12 inch lengths. Fold one 12 inch piece in half, push the looped end through one side of the Swarovski twist link connector, fold it over the connector and pull the rest of the cord through the looped end. Repeat this  on the other side of the twist link connector. These strands will be anchored and remain stationary. Lay the design on your macrame board or table with the strands vertical and tuck the strands into the grooves.Cut the red beading wire into two 36 inch length. Center one 36 inch length of red beading wire under the two anchored black strands. Begin the 1st half of your square knot by fold the right wire over the middle strands and under the left wire. Pull the left wire under the right and middle strands and through the loop on the right side. Slide wire knot close to your connector and pull tightly.

Finish the 2nd half of the square knot by folding the left wire over the middle strands and under the right wire. Pull the right wire under the left and middle strands and through the loop on the left side. Pull tightly and repeat the steps – right, left, right, left, right.

Note: if you feel your bracelet start twisting you may have knotted two right sides or two left sides in a row – simply remove the knot from the wire and fix direction. 

Continue knotting until the desired length for one half of your bracelet is reached keeping your clasp size in mind. Pick up your second 36 inch length of red wire and repeat the square knot on the other of your bracelet.

 Once your strands are at the desired length, string a 3x3mm crimp tube to each of the strands ends and thread through the clasp. Before you crimp, check that the size length is correct and that the strands are straight.  Once your happy, crimp the 3x3mm crimp tubes using the mighty crimping pliers. Click here for standard crimping instructions.
Now, let’s make the second strand of this bracelet. Cut two 8″ strands of black beading wire. Thread one strand through one side of the black crystal connector. String a 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire and even out the tails. Crimp the wire in place using the magical crimper. Click here for magical crimping instructions.
String one red crystal on one wire and one red crystal on the second wire. String a second 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire and crimp about 1/2″ apart from the first crimp.
String one red crystal on one wire and one red crystal on the second wire. String a second 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire and crimp about 1/2″ apart from the first crimp.
String one red crystal on one wire and one red crystal on the second wire. String a second 2x2mm crimp tube onto both ends of the black beading wire, loop one strand of the black wire around the clasp and back through the last crimp tube, crimp and trim excess wire.
 Repeat all the steps on the other half of the bracelet. For added interest, I attached the second strand on opposite sides of the macrame square knot strand.

Tutorial Tuesday: Woven Triangle Necklace

 

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Tutorial Tuesday is a blog series where I share a do-it-yourself jewelry tutorial.

My creative co-worker Sara Oehler originally created this design in Tucson last year. It has been showcased in our booth for the past year and people always love this design – including me! I have wanted to make my own as soon as I laid eyes on it. Since it’s such a popular design, I wanted to share the tutorial with you, our lovely Soft Flex wire fans and hope you’ll give it a try.

 

Materials

 

Instructions

Cut a 20″ piece of Soft Flex beading wire, attach your bead stopper to one end and string 12 SuperDuo beads through one h ole.Now, attach the bead stopper to both ends of wire to hold your beads on the strand.
Cut a second 24″ piece of Soft Flex beading wire – this will be your bead weaving strand of wire. (Note: Using a long strand of wire is key. A short strand of wire will make this design unnecessarily hard. I learned that from trying a shorter wire the first time around.)
String one 2x2mm crimp tube onto the 16″ bead weaving wire strand and crimp near the end of the wire. Use the wire strand side not crimped and string through the bottom hole of the first SuperDuo bead, string through one hole of a new SuperDuo bead, then string through the bottom hole of the second SuperDuo bead. Continue this pattern until you have 11 new SuperDuo beads strung in between the 11 beads in the row above. String through the final SuperDuo bead from the original row 12 beads. String one 2x2mm crimp tube onto the end and crimp as close to the last bead as possible.

Test that your crimp is secure and not slipping then, trim excess wire on both crimp ends.This completes your second row of beads.

Design notes: You will need to manipulate and bend your completed woven SuperDuo rows to allow you to only pass through one bead at a time on the third row and so on. This third row is where the longer beading wire begins to come in handy. After you string a new bead and go through the bottom hole of the next bead your wire will curl in a circle, just wiggle your wire through. The slight wire bend will not affect the final design.  

String one 2x2mm crimp tube onto the bead weaving wire strand and crimp near the end of the wire. Use the wire strand side not crimped and string through the bottom hole of the first SuperDuo bead. Next, string through one hole of a new SuperDuo bead, then string through the bottom hole of the second SuperDuo bead. Continue this pattern until you have 10 new SuperDuo beads strung in between the 11 beads in the row above. String your wire through the final SuperDuo bead from the second row of 11 beads. String one 2x2mm crimp tube onto the end and crimp as close to the last bead as possible. Test that your crimp is secure and not slipping then, trim excess wire on both crimp ends.

Continue with this bead weaving pattern until you have a total of 12 rows and have crimped one final bead at the bottom of the triangle.

Attach a jump ring to each end of your toggle clasp. Remove the bead stopper from each side of your necklace. String a crimp tube onto one end, wrap wire around one jump ring and crimp. String a crimp tube onto the other end, wrap wire around the other jump ring, adjust necklace to your desired size (I chose 18″) and crimp. Trim excess wire.

Using the same pattern, you can create two small triangles and make matching earrings!