Beadalon Blog

Q . I'm hosting a bridal shower and we want to make an easy jewelry project. What do you recommend? A . Stretchy bracelets are fun beginner projects and they make great party favors for bridal showers, birthday parties and other girly gatherings because they don't require any expertise. You can offer a variety of beads and charms that your guests can choose and string, and then show everyone how to tie the ends in a square or figure-eight knot. I always recommend that people add a drop of jeweler's cement to the knot, let it dry, then tuck it inside the nearest bead if possible. Remember that stretchy bracelets aren't meant to last forever, but they're fun while they last! -Katie Hacker for Beadalon Katiedids™ www.KatieHacker.com

The June issue of Crafts 'n Things is hitting newsstands and mailboxes now! Dive inside for a variety of fun, crafty ideas including my Jitterbug Necklace. It features a whimsical, wire-wrapped crystal bug at the center of braided beading wire from the Metallic Colors Variety Pack . Other projects in this garden-themed issue include vintage style jewelry, sumptuous floral arrangements, chic pillows, creative clay pots, knit and crochet accessories, gourmet and spa gift sets and much more! Whether you need a quick gift, budget-friendly spruce-ups, or ideas for repurposing flea market finds, you’ll find oodles of inspiration in this issue. -Katie Hacker for Beadalon Katiedids™ www.KatieHacker.com

Tupperware parties maybe a thing of the past, but nowadays, beading parties are becoming more popular in American households. Beading parties are a great inexpensive way to get a group of friends together to create something personal and wearable. Hosting a party doesn't take too much effort, as many beading supplies can be purchased in large quantities. What makes a beading party unique, is the ability to create jewelry for the novice who thought making jewelry was very intricate and difficult and at the same time sharing some laughs and having fun. Heidi Boyd, an avid crafter and author of numerous crafting titles such as Simply Beaded Bliss and Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry, helped contribute to an article on beading parties featured in this month's Woman's World magazine. The article features some great ideas on how to host a party with essential supplies including Beadalon wire, and some personal touches. Thanks Heidi! Yvette Rodriguez Event Manager/Marketing Co...

A simple chainmaille-inspired pattern using twisted jump rings in cool colors makes for a striking bracelet that will take you from blue jeans to silk charmeuse. The flower pattern is a well-known, simple chainmaille technique. Using the Beadalon Wire Twister and Jump Ring Maker will make quick work of these stunning jump rings and the stylish hook clasp. • Materials • 6 6mm Indian Sapphire Create Your Style with Crystallized Swarovski Elements™ rounds 20 Gauge Silver Plated Artistic Wire 20 Gauge Blue Clear Colors Artistic Wire • Tools • 228A-051 Jump Ring Maker Tool (Round Large) 228A-100 Wire Twister 201P-014 Beadstrom Round Nose Pliers 201P-011 2 Pairs Beadstrom Chain Nose Pliers 202P-015 Beadstrom Semi-Flush Cutters JTNJ1 Nylon Jaw Pliers • Instructions • Attach two silver plated wire lengths of about 3’ to the Wire Twister Tool. Attach the opposite ends of the wire to a sturdy base. Turn tool until wire is tightly twisted toget...

Here's a peek at my necklace that appears in a Beadalon-sponsored Michael's ad in this month's People Style Watch . I combined a lot of Spring trends (see Monday's post) in one with this piece that's "luxe for less." I took my inspiration from the layered chain looks that are everywhere in fashion and focused on a gray and silver palette that could turn a simple daytime outfit into a dressy evening ensemble. To create the design, I started with the connected hematite rings as the foundation of the necklace. From there, it was all about building texture and layers from the center toward the ends. I'd usually be tempted to scale it back, but in this case, more is more! I kept adding lengths of chain, beaded strands and beaded eye pins until the design looked really dense and drapey. -Katie Hacker for Beadalon Katiedids™ www.KatieHacker.com

We just finished exhibiting at the Wire Fest Show this weekend in the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA. It was a great show for us since we were so excited to debut Artistic Wire under our wings! We showcased all the colors and gauges and had tons of beautiful wire-wrapped, crocheted, and chain maille designs on display. Our Designer, Fernando Dasilva and Product Manager, Wyatt White, won the hearts over of all the people that stopped by our booth to view their demonstrations. It was amazing to see people's eagerness to learn every technique and tool we offered to make wire-wrapping and jewelry making easier and more fun. We loved seeing peoples' anxiousness to buy some Beadalon products and go home to create something that we helped inspire. We held a raffle giveaway worth over $250 filled with Beadalon and Artistic Wire Products. The lucky winner will be announced this week, so stay tuned! Yvette Rodriguez Event Manager/Marketing Coordinator

Gray for Day, Silver for Night is a popular trend for Spring and we expect it to continue through the entire year. New Kink Free Ti™ Titanium Beading Wire and Gunmetal Findings perfectly complement gray and silver jewelry designs, while Stainless Steel Shaping Wire allows you to make wire-wrapped jewelry in this hot hue. Layered Chains add edge to simpler outfits for spring and summer. It's easy to create this look with mixtures of silver, polyester, and new gunmetal chain . Add ribbon or satin cord to soften the effect. Vintage Style Jewelry was everywhere at the Oscars and will continue to stay strong in the trend department. Try adding Beadalon's premium European-made Upper Clasps or delicate Filigree Connectors to your next jewelry design. Turquoise is the Color of the Year for 2010 , according to the Pantone Color Institute. Expect customers to want beads in every material and shade of this popular color. Combine turquoise beads with Quick Links™ ...

Bead Master is an innovative teaching tool for learning or teaching beading. If you haven't checked it out, there are some sample tutorials in the Design Workshop . The animated illustrations make it possible to see the thread or wire path through the beads, while the flashing beads really clarify difficult patterns. If you teach classes, you'll be interested in the Bead Master CD/DVD that's full of copyright-free tutorials. These projects make great workshops and our Design Team can attest that Bead Master animation really makes the teacher's job easier! -Beadalon Blog Team

New Design Team Member Lauren Andersen is a chainmaille expert who uses Artistic Wire to create her signature colorful chainmaille jewelry. She says, "I love taking a raw material, like wire, and turning it into a gorgeous new creation." Lauren's favorite chainmaille pattern is the Dragonscale, as seen here. She says, "I love to see people's faces when I explain how my chainmaille is created. They always have wonderful suggestions for new creations!" Watch for more of Lauren's intricate designs coming soon to the Design Workshop. My Baby Pink Dragon's Scales -Beadalon Blog Team

Artistic Wire and Quick Links come together in this absolutely fabulous multi-textured and modern bracelet design. The pink and white tones jump off of the sleek silver links. This design is a great way to practice your wire wrapping skills using two different gauges of wire on a hard base. I was thinking of wheels and water when I designed this piece and I love how the wire has so much movement. Use any colors you like and any beads that capture your fancy, just secure wires around the bases and wrap and tighten with your pliers, then connect it all with jump rings and attach a clasp. Make it your own and make it fabulous with Artistic Wire and Beadalon. - Margot Potter T h e I m p a t i e n t C r a f t e r ™ www.margotpotter.com