Beadalon Blog

  As 2021 comes to a close, I think we can all agree it wasn't quite what we expected. Nevertheless, we persisted, we kept pivoting, and I am so very grateful for each and every one of my beady friends who helped me get through the year with inspiration, community, and lots of fun.  I finally, after much prodding and encouragement, tackled a project that has been on my list for years. Lesson learned, it was so much fun, much easier than anticipated, and a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit!  There are so many variations to make, but here are the basic instructions for making a Beaded Christmas Tree.  Materials: Spin-N-Bead 14 Gauge Artistic Wire 24 Gauge Artistic Wire 30 Gauge Artistic Wire Jump Rings Nylon Jaw Pliers Artistic Wire Wire Straightener Flush Cutters Stepped Bail Making Pliers Floral Tape Size 11 seed beads Jingle Bells, drops and Christmas Tree Light beads from Jesse James Beads Step 1 Use the Spin-N-Bead to string up several feet of seed beads onto the 24 g

  When it comes to joining jewelry items together, it can sometimes get confusing, but with Beadalon Adhesives in your jewelry making toolbox, you'll be prepared for most sticky situations. Whenever you are working with glue, we advise using both safety gloves and safety glasses and working in a well ventilated space. Use caution to make sure you do not get any glue on your skin, clothing, or elsewhere and be sure to keep away from children and pets.  ~ Beadalon G-S Hypo Cement Traditionally used in the watch making industry, G-S Hypo Cement has become the "go-to" adhesive to use when making knotted jewelry with silk cord. The pinpoint precision tip allows for getting just the right amount of glue onto the silk to secure the first and last three knots. Check out this handy PDF on pearl knotting to see how it's done. Another great use for Beadalon GS-Hypo is creating illusion necklaces without crimp beads. Make a knot in Supplemax™ Monofilament Illusion Cord , use the

Whether we're ready for it or not, the holiday season is officially upon us! Beadalon has you covered with these functional, versatile Wire Forms. Whether you are making ornaments for your tree, gifts, or decorations for your home or office, there are so many ways to use them. The Wire Forms are made of Stainless Steel and are available in 4 sizes - 3.75", 4.5", 6", and 9" (and in a variety pack with all sizes!). Here are some designs from Wyatt White to spark your creativity. You don't need symmetry for a beautiful design! Give those leftover beads some spotlight time. Using a similar pattern helps create a visually pleasing design. The Wire Forms are a great structure for wire wrapping. Work from the spool and wrap the wire in the same direction around the spokes each time.  I love this beach themed design to keep the spirit of the sand in my toes all year round. To create the bends, grab the wire in the jaws of your pliers - I would chose flat nosed plie

  I love creating jewelry with wire, and I'm so glad that Artistic Wire offers so many different colors, gauges, tempers, spool lengths and finishes to choose from. No matter what kind of project I'm creating - from a simple clasp to a wire tree, I can always find what wire I need.  Artistic Wire is a dead soft wire made from either a copper or brass core which is then coated with enamel color, silver plating, or both. All but 5 of the wires then have a tarnish resistant coating on top. If a natural patina is what you're after, Tinned Copper, Stainless Steel, Bare Phosphorous Bronze, Bare Copper, and Bare Brass are all uncoated and will patina over time. Otherwise, that tarnish resistant coating will keep your wire bright and shiny under normal conditions. We recommend not wearing jewelry made with Artistic Wire in the ocean, shower, or exposing it to body sprays, perfumes, etc. Wires come in different tempers (how malleable the wire is), and Artistic Wire falls on the &quo

Needles are some of the most important tools in my Jewelry Making Toolbox, and just like with tools, I always use the right needle for the job at hand. Luckily, Beadalon has all of the different needles I need to make my beadwork as efficient, professional, and accessible as possible. Which needle is right for your project? Here's the breakdown of each type of Beadalon needle and what they are best for. And the best news? You don't have to chose just one needle - we now offer three variety packs - one with an assortment of Big Eye Beading Needle s, one with an assortment of Collapsible Eye Needles , and one with an assortment of 4 different needles - #10, #12, Big Eye and Collapsible Eye. We've also added more sizes and diameters of needles, so you'll always be able to find one that works best for you and your project. Collapsible Eye Needles A collapsible eye needle saves you time and effort when you are stringing beads onto wire or thread. The specially designed eye

We were so excited to get back to our first in-person bead show since the pandemic started! The last time we were able to be live with our beady friends was at the To Bead True Blue Show in Tucson February of 2020 - right before everything locked down. The world has changed a lot since then, but our love of beads and making jewelry is as strong as ever!  I always say that I love bead shows because I get to hang out with people who love doing what I love doing, and the Whole Bead Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center last weekend was a perfect opportunity to do just that! There were beads and supplies and inspiration everywhere. It was just what I needed to get my head back into the beady game.  At the Beadalon booth, we were selling Mystery Bead Boxes filled with all kinds of beady goodness. Everyone who bought one was so excited about the plethora of beading supplies - tools, beading wire, artistic wire, findings, and more - so much more than the $25 price tag! AND….you asked,