Beadalon Blog

Hey Beady Friends! Last week's Facebook Live featured my good beady friend, Sarah James from Jesse James Beads. We always have so much fun when she visits, and I get to play with so many goodies! This time, she brought me the June Magical Mystery Bead Box and I got to open it up and go through it Live. It was a little different for me, since usually I spend a lot of time preparing projects for Facebook Live. But I love a good challenge, and designing under pressure is definitely a challenge for me! The MMBB is a subscription box of beads and a featured project, and this month's JJB box included Beadalon findings and Suede Cord! To learn more about it and to sign up, check it out the JBB Site . I love the project that Sarah included in the box this month. It's a Cowgirl Leather Choker Necklace , and I can't wait to make it! Of course, the first thing that I needed to do after opening up the box was to sort out the beads and findings and put like items together

Earrings are a great go-to project when you need to get the creative juices flowing, and these Pear Drop Dangle Earrings are a great base for all kinds of creative adornments! I love them because they make use of a whole bunch of tools that I have in my workshop, need less than 2 feet of Wire, and use just a few beads from my stash. I could even make them asymmetrical (if I was mentally able to do that!). I made the Earrings in this Facebook Live especially for the 4th of July, but the technique can be used for any holiday color scheme, to match any outfit, or in anyone's favorite color for a gift! Tools: Ring Mandrel Round Earring Findings Form Nylon Jaw Pliers Nippers Battery Operated Bead Reamer Wire Rounder Burr Attachments for the Bead Reamer Bench Block Leather Block Pad Nylon Hammer Memory Wire Bending Pliers Materials: Square Bead Bumpers 20 Gauge Artistic Wire Jesse James Beads Small Jump Rings Medium Jump Rings Follow along in the live video, and

ILLUSION NECKLACE I love when classic styles come back around again - the Illusion Necklace is one of those designs that always seems to be in fashion! A few weeks ago, we did a Facebook Live project featuring Swarovski Crystals in birthstone colors, Supplemax , Size 1 Crimp Tubes, and Beadalon Loop Crimps with Lobster Claw Clasps .  Written step by step instructions are now available !  We have a quick and dirty video here  so you can follow along and make the project your own! And if you'd like to watch the whole fun Facebook Live  with lots of extra tips and tricks, you can do that also.  Don't forget to join the discussion over at the Jewelry Making with Beadalon Facebook Group , and hang out every Thursday at 2:00pm EST on the Beadalon Facebook Page for a Live.  Until next time.....happy beading! Meredith