Beadalon Blog

This easy Bird's Nest pendant works up so quickly and can be customized to your heart's content. In last week's Facebook Live, I showed using 3 different types of wires to use to achieve 3 different looks using the same technique: 1)  22 Gauge Artisic Wire 2) 22 Gauge  Twisted Artistic Wire 3) Wire twisted with the Beadalon Wire Twister or the Professional Coiling Gizmo Instructions for a basic Bird's Nest: Straighten about 24 inches of wire with either Nylon Jaw Pliers or the Artistic Wire Straightener .  Thread beads of your choosing (I like 3 best) onto the end of the wire leaving about a 3 inch tail. Turn the beads into a triangle and twist the wire to secure. Hold the beads in one hand and turn them around so the wire circles around the beads in a nest shape. When your nest is as thick as you'd like, wrap the end of the Wire around it in 3 or 4 places to secure it. Use the end of the Wire to make a wrapped loop on the top. Download step by...

It's National Craft Month, and we're celebrating by featuring crafty projects made with Beadalon and Artistic Wire on Facebook Live! The Really Big Jig is a natural choice for making large garden art like this because of its large design area - 11.25x11.25 inches. The design possibilities are limitless! Our in-house designer extraordinaire, Vlad , designed the template that I used in the video, but you could use any line drawing, or what I really like to use are  connect-the-dot worksheets . Materials: The Really Big Jig Beading Awl 12 Gauge Aluminum Artistic Wire You can download the full instructions here ! In the video, I mentioned some additional tips and tricks that I've discovered while working with the Really Big Jig. You can use the pegs from the 3D Bracelet Jig with the Really Big Jig. Use a Beading Awl to poke the holes through the paper before you add a peg. Put the Really Big Jig on a Lazy Susan to make it easier to spin around. Stand...

For last week's Facebook Live, we hit the road again to visit with Studio 36 Bead Shop  in Pottstown, PA. Lisa is the shop owner and she has developed a beautiful and unique line of painted Lucite Flowers. If you haven't checked them out yet, I highly recommend it! She spent three years developing the painting technique and I for one am so glad she stuck with it. We used the flowers as components in a design made with the  Adjustable Bangle and Ring Findings Form  and the Katie Knotter Tool .  We also talked about different ways to make dangles, and shared tips and techniques for jewelry making. Lisa also gave me a tour of the shop at the end of the video, and I can't wait to go back. Watch the video to see how we made the bracelet, you can also find the full, written instructions  to make the bracelet form on the Findings Form web page. Materials: Adjustable Bangle and Ring Findings Form Katie Knotter Tool 14 Gauge German Style Wire We'll be on Fac...

Today's Facebook Live featured the 4 Holiday Charms Artistic Wire Findings Forms . Findings Forms are great because they are little Jigs that allow you to make the same shape over and over again. You can use 20-24 Gauge Wire, and I used 22 Gauge in the video. Holiday Tree Findings Form Bell Findings Form Snowman Findings Form Star Findings Form There are so many ways that you can use the shapes you make with the Findings Forms! You can make earrings, pendants, ornaments and more! Watch the Facebook Live and each of the videos on the product pages to see how to use the Jigs. Head over to the Jewelry Making with Beadalon Facebook Group for more beading inspiration and join us next time for more holiday ornaments with the Really Big Jig! Happy beading! Meredith

I had the honor of welcoming Sandra Lupo, designer extraordinaire and inventor of the Conetastic Tool , to the Beadalon Facebook Live this week. We made this gorgeous up-cycled necklace together. I love how she took a scarf, added some hand-crafted components, and turned it into a really fun and fashionable necklace! Materials and Tools: Conetastic and Mandrels Tassel Maker Coiling Gizmo 16 Gauge Hexagonal Artistic Wire 20 Gauge Artistic Wire Jump Ring B-Lon Tex 210 Beading Thread Scarf Happy Beading! Meredith

It was a bangle bracelet extravaganza on this week's Facebook Live! We featured the Artistic Wire Artsy Wire , the AW Crimper, the 3D Bracelet Jig and Sizing Drums , Katie's Bracelet Knotter Tool , the Bracelet Bending Pliers , and the Artistic Wire Wire Straightener . The Artsy Wire is currently available in 14 gauge in 4 colors - Artsy Burgundy, Artsy Mauve, Artsy Olive and Artsy Turquoise. It has a wonderful mottled finish that is perfect for a vintage, shabby chic look. The best part is that there are 5 AW Crimp Connectors included in the package for the perfect Cold Connection! AND we developed a new Artistic Wire Crimp Tool perfectly calibrated to work with ALL of the AW Crimp Tubes. Woohoo! The first bracelet is one of my favorites (who am I kidding, they are all my favorites!) and couldn't be easier to make! Use the AW Straightener to straighten the wire, wrap it around the 3D Bracelet Jig 3 or more times, crimp the ends with an AW Crimp Tube, curve the ...

Sometimes we get so excited about a new product, we start talking about it before it's available. While that can be frustrating, it does make it even more exiting when it does come into stock! The Artistic Wire  Flat Pattern Wire is one such product. We debuted it back at the Tucson shows in January, and we finally have some of the SKUs in stock! This Flat Pattern Wire is currently available in 6 patterns in Tarnish Resistant Silver and 2 patterns in Tarnish Resistant Brass in 6 inch lengths. It's about a 21 gauge wire, and the process that it goes through to stamp the design into it means it has a nice, stiff feel to it that holds its shape really well once bent. Some of the tools that I find indispensable for working with this wire are the Triangle Needle File  (for smoothing out the ends),  Bracelet Bending Pliers  (for bending the flat piece into a bangle shape), the Round and Oval Sizing Drums  (for shaping) and the AW Wire Shears  (t...

This week's Facebook Live Video showcased one of our newest colors of Artistic Wire - Iron Color. Available in gauges from 14-28, this Wire has a special finish that gives it a funky, industrial look that I think is perfect for heading into the Fall. I wanted to make a fun, fast project, so I used the 3D Bracelet Jig with all of the additional sizes of pegs. Did you know that you can buy not only an additional set of 30 pegs in the size that comes with the Tool, but we also have pegs in 2 mm, 4 mm, 4.5 mm and 5 mm ? A few of our lovely viewers commented that they had the tool, but hadn't played around with it much. I can totally relate to that sentiment as a professional level hoarder of craft supplies! I hope that today's project inspires you to dust off that 3D Bracelet Jig and start winding some wire. The Cascade Bracelet, designed by Wyatt White, is the perfect jumping off point for all kinds of designs. That's one of the reasons that I love the 3D Bracelet ...

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...

The last two Facebook Live Videos have been bursting with information about designing jewelry! Wyatt took on the biggest challenge - explaining Beadalon Bead Stringing Wire, German Style Wire, and Craft Wire. Lucky for us, he is an expert on all things Wire related. I highly recommend watching his video - it's a primer on jewelry construction like no other. I love how he broke down the approximate cost of using each construction of Wire in making an 18 inch necklace: 7 strand (25 cents), 19 strand (67 cents) and 49 strand (97 cents). You can really see the benefit of using the best wire outweighs the cost. The added flexibility and durability you get for an extra 72 cents is definitely worth it to me! Wyatt also spent time breaking down the Hardness Scale that Beadalon developed to help show the differences between all of the Wire Wrapping Wires. Your designing needs will determine what kind of Wire you'll chose to work with. Beginners should start with Dead Soft Artistic W...

Artistic Wire Knitter Tool and Knitter/Kumihimo Weight Fun techniques always seem to come back around again, and knitting with Wire is no exception. The Artistic Wire Knitter Tools make it fun and easy to make gorgeous Wire ropes to adorn and embellish to your heart's content! In this week's Beadalon Facebook Live Video , I go step by step through everything that you need to know to make a simple knitted rope, add beads, and finish off the ends. It can be a little fiddley at first, but once you've got it down, it works up quickly and effortlessly. One of the challenges that I always have when finishing any kind of beadwork other than Crimping, is how to finish it off to add a clasp. My favorite technique for finishing off the ends is to use a Necklace Cone, and of course I'll make my own cone whenever I get the chance! Sandra Lupo's Conetastic Tool makes it easy to make your own Necklace Cones with any Wire you want to match your design. In preparing for the ...

Beadalon/Artistic Wire Product Manager and Education Director, Wyatt White, took on today's Facebook Live Video and demonstrated how to make a super fun and sassy woven ring made with the Kleshna Ring Weaver Tool. Kleshna's original Bracelet Weaver Tool was recognized as one of the top innovative new products by the Craft and Hobby Association when it debuted in 2016, and it's baby sister is just as fabulous. We kept the best parts of the Bracelet Weaver and shrunk it down to make rings in approximate sizes 4, 6, 9, and 11. This Weaver uses knurled pegs for a much faster assembly which Wyatt shows in detail in the video. You find the written instructions for setting up and weaving rings  here . Materials used in the video: 24 Gauge Artistic Wire Tarnish Resistant Silver Size 16 Silk Kleshna Ring Weaver Too l Wyatt always has the best tips and tricks for making projects easier and more fun. Using the carded cord is great because the attached needle makes for eas...

Being a Mama is hard work, and what better way to show the special mamas in your life how much they mean to you than with a personalized birthstone necklace made with Beadalon's  Quicklinks ? There is a quick video that I made last year on Beadalon's YouTube Channel, but I thought it would be helpful to take a longer walk through of this project on today's  Facebook Live.  Materials: 314B-320  Quick Links 326B-414  Quick Links Connectors AWD-22S-10-08YD   22 Gauge Tarnish Resistant Silver Plated Artistic Wire A314-20S-10-02  20 Gauge Artistic Wire Chain Maille Rings 340B-060  Diamond Cut Ball Chain 338B-201  Ball Chain Ends 322B-012  Tag 315B-032  Lobster Clasp Beads of your choice Instructions: Wrap the beads onto the Quick Links using the 22 Gauge Artistic Wire and link them together with the Quick Link Connectors. Attach the Ball Chain Ends to the Ball Chain with Chain Nose Pliers, then use Jump Rings to attac...

I'm still playing around with the thick gauges of  Artistic Wire  this week, and I love this trendy bangle that's super easy to make. It's a perfect project because it doesn't take too much wire, and you can use any beads that you have lying around - as long as they have holes large enough to fit over the wire. I like wearing a few stacked together when I want to make a bold statement. To make the bangle, wrap the wire around the  Artistic Wire 3D Bracelet  Jig 3 times. Use an  Artistic Wire Crimp Connector  with a  Mighty Jaw Crimping Pliers  to secure the two wires together. (Here's a great  video  Wyatt did that breaks down this technique step by step.) This is my favorite Cold Connection technique. The  Nylon Jaw Bracelet Bending Pliers  are the perfect tool to put a slight bend in the straight Crimp Tube. Use 20-24 gauge wire to wrap beads around the bangle in a symmetrical or random pattern. Its as easy as that!...

It was a beautiful Spring day here in Pennsylvania yesterday, so we had class outside for this week's  Beadalon's Facebook Live Video ! One of the things Beadalon/ Artistic Wire specializes in is Heavy Gauge Wire -  10 ,  12  and  14  Gauges round out the category that spans from 10-34 Gauge. Originally, we were going to demonstrate a cool bangle bracelet (check in next week for that one!), but it was so nice outside that we were inspired to blow some bubbles - and the 14 gauge Artistic Wire is perfect for making a whimsical, beaded bubble wand! I like using  Memory Wire Shears  to cut the thicker gauge wires. Because they are such a heavy duty cutter, they make it much easier to cut - and easy is good! I cut about 2.5 feet of 14 Gauge Tinned Copper Wire and wrapped it around a  3D Bracelet Jig , but any round object in the right size will work. Then, I made a wrapped loop to secure the circle into place. In the video, I used my ha...