Blog for Beaders

We love hearing from our customers about the success they have had turning their passion for jewelry making into a successful business. Kirsten Ann Ryan e-mailed us a photo of a necklace she designed, and was pleased to share her story about getting into beading, and how she’s turned her passion into profit. This passion has been a lifelong hobby for Kirsten, sparking from her creative imagination as a child. Here’s her story:

From a young age I had always been creative and interested in making things with my hands. I loved anything that was pretty and caught my eye! I grew up near the beach and I loved collecting shells and admiring all their beautiful colours and patterns. I studied all the arty subjects at school –studio arts, fashion, visual design etc and also business management. I had always wanted to run my own business.

When I was about 14 I started experimenting with jewellery making, using little tiny seed beads to make small earrings and then progressed to tigertail necklaces. I just continued through trial and error over the years and developed my own personal style.

Over the years, Kirsten had created many glamorous designs that kept her collection growing. She soon made the decision to begin selling her jewelry so that others could take advantage of her talent. In 2009 Kirsten starting selling online, and has since sold to customers all over the world. In describing her style, Kirsten writes:

My designs are mostly statement pieces with a modern, vintage style—they are feminine and dramatic but also have a softness and strength about them. Most of my designs are one-off pieces, [but] I also do custom designs. I have an interest in fashion and design so I love to use fabrics in my designs such as laces, ribbons and tulle. I love working with pearls as I think they are timeless and elegant but can also be very modern when put with layers of chains.

We love Kirsten’s pieces and know you will, too! If you want to shop Kristy’s collection, check out her Etsy jewelry store and her label, Kirsten Ann Design. If you’re just starting out and looking for a way to sell your designs, check out our Seller’s Secrets page where we share helpful ways to develop your jewelry-making business.

We want to hear your story, too! Send us your jewelry design to our blog for beaders e-mail to be featured as one of our customer success stories. Share your stories and inspire others to get creative! Mail them to artbeadsblog@gmail.com.

-Marissa

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Check out our cool new Découpage beads! These lovely beads are each made by the designer using a crafting technique called décopuage. Never heard of it? Well, we’re here to explain to you how it’s made!

To create these beads, the designer uses a wood casing as a base for each piece. Then, the designer glues layers of different colored paper over the wood base to give it more depth. The result is often a vintage feel, depending on the types of paper used. To give the beads a smooth, shiny surface, they are finished with a glaze. This keeps the paper safe from the elements and allows the beads to rest nicely against skin in a jewelry design.

This designer also creates beads using resin and recycled wood particles, more specifically sawdust. The process for these beads is pretty cool, too! Once the designer has a look and pattern in mind, the bead is decorated with silver wire that is shaped into patterns to create separate stations. Each station is then filled with colored sawdust or resin, making the beads dramatic yet lightweight. These beads are finished by laminating the design to keep everything in place.

You truly have to see these beads in person to appreciate them, so go explore our new collection of découpage beads and get your favorites today!

-Marissa

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Learn how to make jewelry that your bridesmaids will be proud to wear again and again! Here’s what I made for my big day back in October. I chose colors that were complementing to an autumn backdrop—chocolate brown and cream—for their dresses.

For the jewelry I wanted to keep it classy but a little more fun, so I went with Swarovski round crystal pearlsin cream and dark brown matched with warm gold jewelry components. Each bridesmaid received a necklace, bracelet and pair of earrings with matching patterns.

You can easily make your own bridesmaid jewelry and present it as your bridal gift to them on the night of your rehearsal! The best part about making your own bridesmaid jewelry is that it can look exactly how you want. Get other great bridal jewelry ideas by visiting our Learning Center, available with free instructions and a list of components.

-Marissa

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Imagine walking in the woods on a sunny, crisp Northwest autumn day. New layers of slick mud sink around your shoes as you pass by a cool riverbed, sprinkled with floating maple leaves that gently glide across the surface. That is what our designer thought of when she made this beautiful resin pendant necklace. The look comes full of warm fall colors and a unique pendant made with the help of ICE Resin. Learn how to make this Maple Forest necklace, including free step-by-step instructions, by visiting our Learning Center.

-Marissa

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Photo Source: The Vancouver Sun.

We’re going to highlight Twilight by bringing you some cool ideas inspired by the upcoming movie. This film includes the epic wedding scene, where Bella and Edward finally profess their undying (…or undead…) love for one another. Much like our anticipation and excitement over Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding jewelry, thousands of fans can’t wait to discover what Bella will wear to match her bridal gown. Our designers were so excited about this movie’s release that they created a replica of her ring and head piece, and we’re going to share it with you! We took advantage of our Pacific Northwest location to give our pieces a real Twilight wedding feel.

Photo Source: style.mtv.com.

We replicated Bella’s headpiece using a Kabela filigree link, Gilders Paste and some Swarovski flatback rhinestones. Then, we glued a simple barrette clip to the back of the filigree. You could attach a piece of white tulle and attach it to the headpiece for a veil and walk down the aisle like a vampire princess!

Photo Source: AceShowbiz.com.

Making Bella’s ring was just as quick and easy as her head piece! We used a silver-plated blank ring, filled it with white DeCoRé clay and decorated it with Crystal Swarovski flatbacks. This ring will sparkle just as bright as Bella’s!

Check out more Twilight-themed jewelry and craft ideas available in our Learning Center, including free step-by-step instructions. You can get ready for the premiere in style!

-Marissa

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Now you can create cool jewelry designs that have a professional polish with 925/10 silver-filled jewelry wire! You may be wondering what 925/10 silver-filled is, and why it’s so special. Let’s take a look.

Much like gold-filled, 925/10 silver-filled is sterling silver that is mechanically bonded to a base metal like brass or copper. This is a physical bonding, rather than an electroplating bond, which is much weaker. In order for a product to be considered silver-filled, it must have at least 1/20 of its weight in silver. This equals out to 5% silver. So, when you read that a material is .925/20 or 925/20, this means the material meets the minimum standards for being silver-filled by containing 5% silver.

Our new line of silver-filled wire is 925/10, meaning ours contains 10% sterling silver or double the amount of many other silver-filled wires. This means you get a higher quality product to create with, giving you jewelry that is sturdy and yet has the delicate look and feel of sterling silver. Start designing professional looking jewelry with just the right amount of shine with our incredible new line! Check it out by shopping for 925/10 silver-filled wire available now!

-Marissa

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We here at Artbeads want to wish you all a happy Veteran’s Day. Not many people may realize the history behind this special day, and what is so special about its November 11th date. It started with WWI. Known as “the Great War,” it officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles signing on June 28, 1919 in France. However, fighting had stopped months before between Germany and the allied nations. This cessation was enacted on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. This is why we celebrate and pay tribute to our veterans on this special day every year. This day is dedicated to veterans joining together with citizens in a shared cause for finding world peace.

We want to help you celebrate by sharing with you some of our favorite jewelry and craft ideas with a patriotic theme. Take a look to get free step-by-step instructions, including a list of products used, to make your own. Our ideas are free for you to discover and replicate, so choose your favorite to design or get inspired to make your own interpretation. Maybe your effort to spread the word on your wrist, neck or ears will be just enough to inspire someone else to share the same desire.

Streaming Glory Earrings

Americana Craft Bucket

Memorial Day Charm Bracelet

A Hero’s Place Necklace

-Marissa

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We asked and you answered! Thanks to all of your wonderful comments, we were able to compile the top ten items on your holiday wish list. You may be surprised to see what made the list–and maybe get an idea of what to get your jewelry making friends!

SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Crystals

Seed Beads

Jewelry Making Tools

Russian Artist Pendants

SilverSilk

Sterling Silver Jewelry Findings

Swarovski Pendants

Freshwater Pearls AND Metal Stamping Tools and Supplies (tied for 8th place)

Resin Components AND Gold Jewelry Findings (tied for 9th place)

Hill Tribe Silver AND Chain (tied for 10th place)

Artbeads.com Gift Cards—always a good choice!

Hopefully Santa sees this list and gets you what you’re craving for this Christmas!

-Marissa

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There’s a reason gemstones are still around and continue to be a symbol of beauty. Most ancient cultures have given gemstones special meanings, or even special powers, that carry over to today’s beliefs. Sometimes it’s fun to wear a stone that is said to hold magic, even if you don’t believe it, because it gives you a bit of hope for better health and well being. Let’s take a look at some cool characteristics given to some of our favorite gemstones.

Agate
Agates are identical in chemical structure to jasper, flint, bloodstone and tiger-eye, and are often found in association with opal. Agate was highly valued by ancient civilizations, believed to render the wearer invisible. It was even used by the Egyptians. Agate is known as a cooling stone, used for reducing fever and quenching thirst. It quiets the pulse and heart beats, and ensures good health and a long, prosperous life. This stone also guards against danger. Wearing agate is also believed to cure insomnia and promote pleasant dreams.

Citrine
Citrine is transparent, coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz. It is a semiprecious gem that is valued for its yellow to brownish color and its resemblance to the rarer stone topaz. Citrine is valuable in the treatment of depression as it eliminates self-destructive tendencies. Symbolizing light-heartedness, joy and happiness, citrine is said to stimulate memory. Citrine is a good healing stone, especially for heart, kidney and liver. It is also believed to aid in digestion and removing toxins from the body. As the signature of wisdom and peace, citrine stimulates the mental body and aids the opening of higher intuitional levels.

Lapis Lazuli
Lapis lazuli is a semiprecious stone valued for its deep, blue color. The source of the pigment ultramarine, lapis lazuli is not a mineral but a rock colored by lazurite. In addition to the sodalite minerals in lapis lazuli, small amounts of white calcite and pyrite crystals are usually present. Of its many uses, it was widely used by Egyptians for cosmetics and painting. Lapis lazuli was believed to be a sacred stone, being buried with the dead to protect and guide them in the afterlife. This stone is said to increase psychic abilities and to be a cure for melancholy and for certain types of fever. Lapis lazuli eliminates negative emotions as well.

Quartz
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s continental crust, after feldspar. Varieties of quartz are the most commonly used minerals in the making of jewelry and hardstone carvings, especially in Europe and the Middle East. It has been called the “Universal Crystal,” and is the most recognized type of crystal. In fact, it’s what many people envision when they think of crystals. Quartz is thought of as a power stone. Quartz is a stone of clarity which dispels negativity and clears away negative energy. It can be used to purify and clarify on the spiritual, mental, and physical planes. It is also powerfully protective. Quartz enhances spiritual growth, spirituality and wisdom. It is used for protection because it counters black magic and protects from negative energy.

Find the right power stone for your personality to design a look to match your mood. We will continue to bring you more fun facts about gemstones in the future!

-Marissa

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This contest is now closed. Thank you all for participating! Click here to view our Dark Romance Giveaway winner!

When the wind at your back feels like more than a whisper of air, and the leaves shutter at dusk as the beating sun retreats into the shadows, you may just come across a vampire out for a stroll. Vampires have held a place in our culture for many years and have altered their roles over time. Some are scary and some will show us the greatest love we’ve ever known. With anticipation of the release of the newest Twilight film, Breaking Dawn Part I, our latest contest urges you to fantasize about your favorite vampire date. Do you dream about being whisked away in the arms of Edward Cullen, or are you drawn to the dangerous bite of Lestat de Lioncourt? From books to theater characters, we want to know who you think is the best. Leave a comment below telling us who your dream date vampire would be. Then, click on the official contest link to be entered to for a chance to win a darkly-romantic goody bag, which includes a hand-painted Russian artist pendant. You’ll also get a sparkling red Swarovski crystal heart pendant, lovely lampwork beads and a copy of the beadweaving book Bead Romantique: Elegant Beadweaving Designs so you can create your own Victorian-style jewelry. All this and so much more! We will randomly select one winner to receive the prize. Hurry, before this contest disappears.

This contest begins today, November 8, 2011, and ends Sunday, November 20th, 2011 at 11:59PM PT. Only one entry per person; must be 18 or older to enter. This contest is void where prohibited by law and open to US and Canada residents only excluding Quebec. Odds of winning depend on number of entries. Prize valued at $125. No purchase necessary. Winner will be announced Monday, November 21st. Please only one comment per person.

To officially enter this contest you must click this link and follow the instructions on the site.

-Marissa

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