Beadalon Blog

Crystal Web Collar Necklace By Margot Potter for Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED™- Swarovski Elements Here’s a special, spooktacular project for your very own fright night. Beadalon Design Team Member Margot Potter created this crystal spider web necklace especially for Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements and gave us permission to share it here with you! This intriguing web of metal and crystal floats around your entire neck in a web of glamour and intrigue. Whether the basis for a Spider Queen costume or a striking seasonal necklace, it’s made from affordable materials that are brought to life with the beauty of CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements and Beadalon wire and findings. Materials 30 6007 7x4mm crystal moonlight CRYSTALLIZED™- Swarovski Elements beads (you can substitute another small crystal bead if you prefer) 66 5000 3mm jet CRYSTALLIZED™- Swarovski Elements rounds 72 5000 5mm jet hematite CRYSTALLIZED™- Swarovski Elemen

Congratulations to “ Moonlitfantaseas ,” the randomly selected winner of a free copy of Katie’s Beading Secrets (Hot Off The Press 2009) . Thanks so much to everyone who left a comment. It’s great to see so much excitement for the new book! Please help spread the word and ask for it at your local bead shop or craft store. Our giveaways have been so popular that we’re going to do one on the first Monday of every month! It will always be easy to enter, so put it on your calendar or subscribe in reader so you never miss out on the fun. Finally, a reason to look forward to Mondays! -Beadalon Blog Team

Twirly Girly Bracelet Are you addicted to wire wrapping? We’ve been watching wire-wrapping increase in popularity in the last few years, with magazines like Step-By-Step Wire Jewelry giving readers ideas and inspiration galore. As a result, Beadalon has added new shaping wires and wire working tools in the latest Product Supplement. Among our favorite new tools are the round nose nylon jaw pliers. Replaceable nylon tips help to avoid wire dings during wrapping and other wire manipulations. We also especially love the new copper German-Style wire and stainless steel shaping wires. We’ve been making a lot of new wire designs lately, too, and you’ll find many of them in the Design Workshop . Check out these fun new wire designs: Fathom Bracelet by Margot Potter Tropical Donuts Necklace by Fernando Dasilva Cirque de les Enfants Necklace by Fernando Dasilva -Beadalon Blog Team

We’re excited to announce that we have our very own YouTube channel ! We’re going to fill it with all of the things you want to learn, like how to attach Crimp Covers or how to get started using a Beadalon Knotter Tool. We take requests, too, so please leave us a comment and tell us what you want to learn! Our new YouTube channel is just one of the many new ways we’re sharing everything we know about beading and jewelry making. You can also check out hundreds of project ideas in our Design Workshop get helpful hints on our Tips & Techniques page make a bracelet with Margot on our beading segment on the Balancing Act watch Katie’s Beading Lessons videos from the public television show Beads, Baubles & Jewels; or search our online beading Glossary . - Beadalon Blog Team

Lilies and Butterflies Necklace Have you added Beadalon® Crinkle wire to your beading stash yet? It's permanently wavy and can be used to add lots of luscious texture to beaded designs. The Beadalon Design Team members have been using it to create layered extravaganzas like this necklace by Fernando Dasilva. Crinkle wire is available in a variety of finishes, including the standard bright color, silver color, gold color, satin silver, satin gold and satin copper. It's perfect for exposed wire designs – you get a little bit of extra texture with your color! Check out more design ideas using Crinkle wire: Crinkled Aristocracy Necklace Fiesta Necklace Casually Chic Necklace

Make a big statement this fall with Fernando's dramatic necklace design! The combination of glass, gemstones and satin cord creates a luxurious look that's sure to draw compliments. Gold Swirl Eye Necklace Materials & Tools • Two medium size red jasper nuggets • Two 12mm coin shape gold stone beads • Two medium flat oval tiger eye nuggets • Ten 14mm large hole melon shape horn beads • One large gold swirl Chinese bull eye lamp work glass pendant • 36” beige satin cord - 134R-031 • 8” silver-plated 24-gauge German style wire - 180B-024 • Six silver-plated ball head pins –312B- 111 • Thirtyfour silver-plated solid oval rings – 314B-520 • Two silver-plated flat oval rings – 314B-121 • Two silver-plated medium quick links connectors – 326B-414 • One silver-plated badge clip – 337B-008 • Stringing glue – 215A-020 • Beadstrom™ semi-flush cutters – 202P-015 • Beadstrom™ round nose pliers – 201P-014 • Beadstrom™ chain nose pliers – 201P-011 Instructions 1. Start making all the dang

Last weekend, I taught classes at Bead Fest Portland and promoted my new book, Katie’s Beading Secrets . This book is packed with over 100 projects, including necklaces, earrings and bracelets, all created with readily available beads and findings. Necklaces are shown with the clasps so you know exactly how to recreate the piece; necklaces are also shown with alternates done in different bead combinations to get your creativity going! You’ll learn the basics of beading, plus the most versatile beading techniques. Full-color, with step-by-step instructions—and tips on every page! Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a free, signed copy of the book! Include your email address so we can contact you if you win. We’ll collect comments for one week, then we’ll hold a random drawing. - Katie Hacker for Beadalon