Bluestreak Beads Blog » jewellery making

Jewellery Making -Vintage Bracelets

Cathie — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:11:06 +0000

I’m starting to think about Stocking fillers and tree presents. . . . . I know Christmas is still a couple of months away but I might as well use my jewellery making time to add to my stash of gifts. If I make jewellery that I like I can always keep it for myself

I’m starting with bracelets this year, mostly because I like making them but also they are really popular and they can use up lots of odd beads in different shapes, sizes and colours especially if you go for the vintage look which is so fashionable still.

For a pretty handmade vintage beaded bracelet you will need some jewellery making chain, black or copper plated works well and a handful of headpins and spacer-beads. Next you need to choose all your beads and pendants. I like a real good mix of colours and materials to include filligree beads, glass beads, stampings, pendants and pearls. You may prefer to stick to a colourway such as goden browns and autumnal shades in an assortment of bead types, include some swarovski for a bit of sparkle and maybe a special clasp to finish the piece in style.

Bracelets such as these also sell well at fairs and markets. Make a nice collection of them, pop them in pretty boxes with a little “handmade by me” label and you should have a successful day at the craft fair.

Jewellery Making -Vintage Bracelets is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

Using a Jig in your jewellery making

Cathie — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:46:39 +0000

Little bits of curly coloured or silver wire make pretty connectors between beads in your jewellery designs. You can make them using a thing-ma-jig! It’s a solid Aluminium Jig with pegs which you position in the base and then use them to form shapes with the artistic wire! You need to create a template to wrap wire around to make curvy link Our jigs come with sample patterns, comprehensive instructions and a blank template.
Choose from our selection of Artistic Wires to use with the jig.

We sell a beginners jig kit and a deluxe version. Take your poick and enhance your beady designs.

Using a Jig in your jewellery making is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

October Beads! Try a change of Jewellery Making Style.

Cathie — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:45:54 +0000

It’s a new month so how about trying out some new beads. It’s easy to get stuck in a groove with your jewellery making, as you reach for the same beads and spacers. So how about trying something new and bringing a bit of variety to your jewellery making. If you love to use a certain colour pallette, maybe brown glass beads and cream pearls go for a brighter bead collection. Try some of our vibrant acrylic beads maybe. If you design with small beads try out one or two larger pendant bead pieces. Make a necklace long if you normally stick to chokers or how about a bunch of bright beady bracelets if you love to wield your pliers only for earrings! You don’t have to wear them yourself, give them as gifts or even sell them on your jewellery stall. Trying something new will improve your design skills and turn you into a more versatile jewellery maker. So go on have a bash, you can always cut it up and start again! Happy jewellery making beady friends.

October Beads! Try a change of Jewellery Making Style. is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

New Beads for early Autumn

Cathie — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:18:45 +0000

It seems as though Autumn is on its way, so we are going to brighten up our days with some new pieces of jewellery made from our latest collection of beads. We have been adding all sorts of beads to the store over the summer in time for all of you busy jewellery making fanatics to get new beads in your bead boxes and get busy with the pliers. Latest additions include some really lovely glass blown beads in new colourways and shapes, oval beads, heart beads and big fat round but lightweight glass beads.

New Beads for early Autumn is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

Lots of New Beads

Cathie — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:45:12 +0000

We are adding so many new beads at the moment it’s difficult to keep up!

Pretty Foiled Millifiore glass beads

There are new foiled beads, heart shaped and round beads, see the pretty ones on the left!

We will continue to add lots of beads over the next weeks so keep popping by for a look for all your jewellery making inspiration.

Lots of New Beads is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

Large Wooden Beads

Cathie — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:59:55 +0000

Large wooden beads are really handy when making the current big beaded necklaces. They are light, realtively cheap, bright colourful beads.

Wooden carved beads!

These new beads that we have just got in stock come in a variety of colours and patterns. Try them with glass beads or large plastic beads for a fresh look in a spring beady necklace.

The beads are 18mm across

happy beading

cathie

Large Wooden Beads is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

Metallic size 6 miyuki beads

Cathie — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:39:13 +0000

Look at our new galvanised Miyuki beads in tubes. We love these gleamy colours for all sorts of jewellery projects

Metallis Miyuki Beads

They come in apple green, hot pink, silvery pewter, coppery red and many more. Thread them on to stretch magic and add a little charm for an instant bracelet. Try these beads as spacers between your big feature beads and pendants. It’s worth investing in a few tubes, they will come in handy for lots of jewellery making projects.

We sell these beads in individual tubes or as a multi pack.

Metallic size 6 miyuki beads is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

Silver & Purple Bead Necklace

Cathie — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:30:04 +0000

There are lots of new kits going on the site at the moment including this chunky silver and purple bead necklace.

Purple and Silver Necklace kit

We’ve used the lightweight silver spirit beads along with large acrylic and wooden beads for a rich colourmix.

This is an easy project with which to start learning to make jewellery. All you need are basic jewellery making pliers, or crimpers if you prefer a fancier finish.

Silver & Purple Bead Necklace is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

Diamante spacer rondelles

Cathie — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:40:14 +0000

New this week are these cute little shiny sparkly rondelle spacers. They are just perfect to pop between pearls or other beads when you want an extra bit of glamour in your jewellery making creations.

We sell these beads in Crystal AB and 5 other popular colours.

They are made with tiny crystals in silver plated castings and measure 5.5mm across.

Diamante spacer rondelles is a post from: Bluestreak Beads

Cathie — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:27:16 +0000

If you are one of our many jewellery making customers who sells at craft fairs you are probably geeting stock ready for the bank holiday weekend. I know that you are swimming with amazing ideas for beaded jewellery but I always find it useful to see what other makers are creating. Maybe some of our jewellery making kits can inspire you to make up something different for your stall next weekend.

Big Pearl Bead Necklace

This necklace kit uses thonging which means that you can tie it off and fasten it at any length!

Simple Big beads and pendants on thong always sell well thanks to their price points. If you are having a sale over the weekend then I hope you have a really good one.

Cathie

is a post from: Bluestreak Beads