Beadalon Blog

This week's Facebook Live focused on this innovative gem - the Bracelet Knotter Tool designed by the amazingly talented Katie Hacker . Katie joined us for this Video and it was so fun to have her back working with the Beadalon Team! The tool works by holding a bangle bracelet in the foam pad secured to your work space with the acrylic C clamp. If your desk is too thick or doesn't hold the tool as you'd like, you can use a Tacky Bead Mat (another great use found!) to hold it in place. The foam pad holds your bangle tight enough to knot around it, but gently enough that it won't mar the wire or crack any beads that you have added. Katie originally designed the Knotter Tool to help her hold Cup Chain Bangles in place while she did macrame knots around them. I love discovering other, new ways to use it! The Katie Knotter Tool is definitely one of those tools that you didn't know you needed, and once you have it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it...

Last weekend we reunited with all our beady friends, and met new ones at the Bead Fest Philly Show . This one is one of our favorite shows we exhibit because it's in our neck of the woods, only a short drive from our office in West Chester, PA. We had so much fun this year, had the opportunity to demonstrate techniques, answer questions, and offer our most newest products. We sponsored the Inspiration Playground, where Meredith held a make & take project using the new Elastic Cord Needle , Elonga stretch cord and gorgeous beads donated by Jesse James Beads . People had a fun time also creating an adjustable beaded ring with the Findings Forms Ring Jig . At the booth, Wyatt and Meredith were busy teaching and talking everything beading. It was refreshing to meet people who were new to jewelry making and we loved showing them the basics! Saturday morning was a Tailgating Party that Candie Cooper organized, that couldn't have been more fun! Although there wer...

This week's Facebook Live Video was all about the (adorable) new Triangle Needle File . A file is a silent workhorse addition to your beading tool box, but one that you'll definitely get good use out of you do any kind of wire working. This file is the perfect size to both get into tight corners and smooth out any rough edges. To show how the Triangle Needle File works, Wyatt demonstrated how to make a twisted cuff bracelet with Flat Artistic Wire . Because it will shrink up when you twist it, to make about a 6 1/2" cuff (a good size for most women), start with a piece of Flat Artistic Wire about 7 3/8". Wyatt uses the Chuck from the Professional Deluxe Coiling Gizmo to do the twisting. And he likes to use the Snub Nose Pliers to grab a hold of the other end of the wire. Slowly crank the crank and watch the wire twist right up! Pro tip: Make sure that the ends are even so that when you make the bracelet, your ends will match. When you take the bracele...

Hey beading friends! Yesterday on Facebook Live , I made a super fun and fast Bar Necklace with Swarovski Crystals and Beadalon Wire and Chain. Everywhere I look, I'm seeing people wearing multiple layered necklaces, and one of them is usually a Bar Necklace. I love how easily this necklace works up. I've made them to match almost everything I wear! We posted a step by step YouTube Video  that has all of the part numbers and instructions. This is one of my favorite projects and it uses some of my favorite Beadalon Findings!  All you need to add is a few beads from your stash and you're ready to get started. Materials: Diamond Cut Ball Chain  340B-060 Ball Chain End  338B-201 Chain Maille Jump Ring   A314-20S-10-02 Lobster Clasp  315B-032 Open Circle Tag  322B-014 Tools: Chain Nose Pliers Round Nose Pliers Cutters Instructions: To get started, Cut 2x 8" lengths of Diamond Cut Ball Chain . Attach a Ball Chain End  to all fo...

The Team at Beadalon is so excited to be able to present our newest color of Artistic Wire..... Antique Copper Color ! Wyatt White explains and demonstrates all of the information in this week's Facebook Live Video . The wire comes in 12, 14 and 16 gauge and even has Artistic Wire Crimp Tubes in the corresponding sizes to finish off the ends. Those Crimp Tubes are a game changer when it comes to finishing off large gauges of Artistic Wire. You can make a neat and tidy cold connection to finish off your designs by using the Mighty Crimping Pliers (for 12 and 14 Gauge, Regular Crimping Pliers for 16 Gauge) and the Nylon Jaw Bending Pliers. Wyatt is such a wealth of information and tips and tricks for working with Wire. Make sure you watch the video to see how he puts it all together! Wyatt shared some innovative and deceptively easy to make designs he made with the new Wires. The 3D Bracelet Jig is a great tool to use, as is the Professional Deluxe Coiling Gizmo (look for an u...