Bead Exchange, Anyone? - Page 6

[Ms. B. Sprout]

Looks great, bignerpie! Alli's little pewter mama figure is a perfect centerpiece! Thanks Alli for a great bead pick!

[Flopsy]

My beads just got here!!! Wheeeee!

Thanks everyone. I'm excited to put the necklace together.

[wombatclay]

Squeeee!  I can't wait till I can put these together!

[JessiFish]

I'm so excited - but I'm afraid I may have lost a bead. :( There was a bead sized hole in my envelope.

[cparkly]

Oh no! I am so sorry, JessiFish.

[mae14]

I just wanted to let everyone know that the bead I sent was a blue bead that had a gold pattern that resembles the world.  I didn't get a chance to write out a note to send with it.  I chose them because:

Every child born changes the world.  A child born makes a woman a mother, a man a father.  They build families, strengthen a community, and have the potential to conjure the power to make the world a better place for everyone.

[Ms. B. Sprout]

Originally Posted by mae14 

I just wanted to let everyone know that the bead I sent was a blue bead that had a gold pattern that resembles the world.  I didn't get a chance to write out a note to send with it.  I chose them because:

Every child born changes the world.  A child born makes a woman a mother, a man a father.  They build families, strengthen a community, and have the potential to conjure the power to make the world a better place for everyone.

I love that bead! Thanks, Mae!
 

[cparkly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mae14 
Every child born changes the world.  A child born makes a woman a mother, a man a father.  They build families, strengthen a community, and have the potential to conjure the power to make the world a better place for everyone.

That is so beautiful! Thank you.
 

[JessiFish]

DD keeps trying to steal that bead from me. :) She calls it the Earth bead.

 

Originally Posted by mae14 

I just wanted to let everyone know that the bead I sent was a blue bead that had a gold pattern that resembles the world.  I didn't get a chance to write out a note to send with it.  I chose them because:

Every child born changes the world.  A child born makes a woman a mother, a man a father.  They build families, strengthen a community, and have the potential to conjure the power to make the world a better place for everyone.

[ashleypLC]

Love them all!!  Thank you!  I immediately made a necklace, I'll have to post a pic :)

[FarmerCathy]

Got them and can't wait to string them.  Love them all!!!  Being that I'm not big on making necklaces is there a site you can recommend for tying it together after you string them on?

[wombatclay]

What sort of necklace do you want to make?  If you string them on something that is long enough, you can just tie the ends together in a knot And slip it over your head.

If you want a more fitted necklace (something that wont just slip over your head) you have some easy options.

One is to make a loop with one end of the string and tie a large bead on the other end of the string... the loop should be a snug fit for the large bead, so you can push the bead through the loop to hold the necklace shut (kind of like a button).

Another is to buy actual jewelry "closures"... usually a metal ring for one side and a clip of some sort for the other.  You can tie the string to the closures with knots.

And finally, youtube has failed me... there is a way to make an adjustable necklace with only knots, but I'm not finding a video (and it's easier to show than to tell).  I'll give it a try but this may come out all jumbled.

--- Your necklace has two ends, end A and end B.  And if you have the necklace on the table in front of you, end A is attached to side A and end B is attached to side B (with beads hanging between the two sides).  Ok.  So take end A and tie it around string B... the goal is to have end A knotted around side B so that it can slide up and down side B almost like a slip knot (or another bead).  It should look kind of like a lower case b or d with side B being the upright line and side A making the round loop. 

Then take end B and tie it around side A, again so that the knot can slide along the string.  At this point you should have a round necklace with beads in the middle and two knots.... if you pull the loop wide the two knots should slide towards each other as the necklace gets bigger.  Once you've put it on, grab the two knots and slide them apart, which will make the necklace smaller.  Assuming the string is a little rough, the knots wont slide back very far on their own.

[FarmerCathy]

Thank you!!!  I'm a total jewelry novice.  Knitting and sewing I can do, necklaces, not so much.

[wombatclay]

A friend of mine who makes chain mail professionally always describes it as knitting with metal.  :)

There are some wonderful YouTube demos for jewelry making, and most craft stores will have a few books and/or free pamphlets near the beading section.  I picked up a book (Pagan Prayer Beads) about 5 years ago and became a total beading junkie!  I love fiber arts, but with so many little fingers always trying to unkit my work or stick themselves with a crossstitch needle or interupt and make me lose count... beading became the perfect "I can do this for 60 seconds and put the whole tray up out of reach without losing my place or losing my work" craft.  LOL

[bignerpie]

Originally Posted by wombatclay 

A friend of mine who makes chain mail professionally always describes it as knitting with metal.  :)

There are some wonderful YouTube demos for jewelry making, and most craft stores will have a few books and/or free pamphlets near the beading section.  I picked up a book (Pagan Prayer Beads) about 5 years ago and became a total beading junkie!  I love fiber arts, but with so many little fingers always trying to unkit my work or stick themselves with a crossstitch needle or interupt and make me lose count... beading became the perfect "I can do this for 60 seconds and put the whole tray up out of reach without losing my place or losing my work" craft.  LOL

I just discovered this myself. I was a knitter before, but it's just not an easy thing to do with a toddler. It requires too much of my attention, and it's hard to put down and pick back up when I have to chase my son through the house. I started playing with beads in preparation for this necklace, and I'm in love! I was just looking at wire wrapped stuff yesterday, and I really need to learn that.  

[Ms. B. Sprout]

Finally, I found time to take a photo of my beautiful beads! Thank you ladies!

[FarmerCathy]

Originally Posted by Ms. B. Sprout 

Finally, I found time to take a photo of my beautiful beads! Thank you ladies!

That came out really nice. 

[Ms. B. Sprout]

Thanks!

[wombatclay]

love it!  :)