Beading Table Wednesday: 07/09/2014

How can it be Wednesday already? This week is flying by! Here's what the Beadaholique designers are up to:

Julie's Table

On my table this week is one of my absolute favorite designs. This necklace was a labor of love to create and combines both bead weaving and bead embroidery techniques. When I started the design I had planned it to just be a small focal hanging from a strand of beads, but as I really got into it I was having so much fun that the design kept growing and growing. This necklace is truly an example of what happens when you let your creativity flow. 



Megan's Table

These awesome little adjustable wire bangle bracelets are stacked up on wrists everywhere this summer, and soon they're coming to Beadaholique.  I've pulled together a few charms and beads to hang from the bangles - I can't wait to make a whole set of them!  Maybe I'll pull together a bunch of beach themed charms and dangles to celebrate the season.  What will you decorate yours with?

Kat's Table

I find that it is easy to get inspired by something that brings up a wonderful memory.  I love to go wine tasting with my friends and family, and when I saw this wine opener charm with our new pewter components, I went straight for it.  So naturally, I couldn't resist making the Wine Lovers Bracelet.  It reminds me of the fun jewelry I have seen in the Sonoma and Santa Barbara tasting rooms on my trips to wine country.

 Karlin's Table

With summer in full swing, what better way to capture the essence of warm days at the beach than by creating matte gold jewelry using components from the new Nunn Design 2014 collection? I love the elegant boutique style look these brass stampings offer when strung on matte gold rolo chain and paired with matte gold findings. I especially love the starfish and the sand dollar. Which one is your favorite?

Beading Table Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Karlin's Table

With fall right around the corner, I've been incorporating some fall-inspired color into my projects. This week I've been using connectors, jump rings and chain in a pretty copper tone. These round copper pewter connector links have a lovely textured look and are quite versatile. I've been using open copper jump rings to link them together to make a simple yet modern necklace. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

 
Kat's Table

I am testing out a new technique this week. I am doing a two drop peyote stitch bracelet using our metallic miyuki delicas. When I was looking for a color palette to use, I thought about what would be seasonally appropriate but different. I wanted to stay away from your typical red, orange, and yellow fall colors. The blue iris, raspberry, and olive metallics have a shine to them in just the right light but still have the dark and saturated feel I was going for. The two drop peyote is a great way to show more of each color side by side than your traditional peyote stitch. Hopefully that will come through in the finished design. 

Beading Table Wednesday July 24, 2013

Kat's Table

This week I am going retro!  I found these great Sea Green Acrylic Beads.  I am not sure how they are going to play into my project but I just couldn't resist how great they look with the black beads.  I just love when I find a product that I am inexplicably drawn to.  This one is a challenge but I am looking forward to just playing around today.

Karlin's Table

I love the shiny, pretty Czech beads that are being incorporated into my projects this week.  I ended up pairing my sapphire beads with some cool metallic silver spikes which I think gives my necklace a feminine, yet edgy look. This should be a fun, busy week full of new, colorful pieces.

Beading Table Wednesday: 07/10/13

This week Megan has been kind enough to teach the newbies, Kat and Karlin, how to do some basic bead weaving and peyote using Miyuki Seed Beads.  Check out what they have been working on!


Kat

I love this color combo.  This is a great example of what peyote looks like when you alternate every row to be a different color.  I find this is the easiest when you are starting out; it's very easy to keep track of where you are.  Megan showed me how to properly start and tie off the thread as I continue weaving.  Megan's such a great teacher! The possibilities for color combinations are endless.

Karlin 

This was so much fun! It was my first time bead weaving and I really enjoyed the process. It was so relaxing. I used some of my favorite colors (light pink, black and cream) in a striped pattern. This will eventually be a peyote stitch bracelet & I can't wait to see the finished product. I loved learning this new technique and I can't wait to bead weave some more.

Beading Table Wednesday: 6/26/13

Julie's Table 

My beading table is a bit messy, but then again, when is it not? The necklace you see propped up against the spools of ribbon was made using memory frames and collage artwork. The artwork is actually one of my favorite new products, it's a book of assorted ephemera papers! The book is filled with vintage looking images of stamps, photos, prints, and more.


 
Kat's Table 

This week I have been working on a few different pieces. Have you seen Downton Abbey? Those ladies have some great jewelry! I was inspired by their style when I began working on this piece featuring different shades of purple SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Pearls. And up top you can see my little apple ring. Just something fun!







 
Karlin's Table

Yay, it's my first beading table post! Today I'm working on a fun black and white necklace that incorporates chunky beads. It has shiny multi-faceted acrylic black beads and it kinda' has a mod 60s inspired look to it. I am loving the contrasting look of the black and white. I guess I've been watching too much Mad Men lately...

Beading Table Wednesday - 03/27/13

Megan's Table 

I have a couple of fun projects on my table this week, and the one that I'm really excited about is a bead woven wrap bracelet. I'm weaving it out of some of our gorgeous new Miyuki Delica beads, and I'll finish it off using these great new end findings from Tierra Cast. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Julie's Table 

So many ideas and never enough time! We have been getting lots of new fun products into our warehouse lately and I just can't help myself from pulling some of them from inventory to make projects with. On my table right now are some really chunky and gorgeous gemstone rough nuggets, vintage watch faces, a Vintaj stamping blank embossed with the new DecoEmboss India Archway die, a Nunn Designs bangle cuff wrapped in silk, and some other its and bits.

Bead Table Wednesday: March 20, 2013

Julie's Table

This week has been full of designing but today was all about getting a magazine ad staged. The theme was "wire" and it was fun to go pull all sorts of wire related products from our warehouse. The bin pictured in this post was just 1 of 3 bins filled with wire, pliers, cutters and more. Of course I had to throw some beads into the ad too :)

Beading Table Wednesday: 2/21/13

Julie's Table

This design started out simply with the desire to coat some Lillypilly copper sheets in resin. I had seen this technique done in Tucson and I knew I had to try it out for myself. I chose a pretty embossed copper sheet with red wine patina, set it down into a rectangular bezel, and then poured a nice layer of resin on top. Then I just stared at it for a couple days until the design came to me. I went with an Chinese theme and played off the bamboo design in the copper sheet and the bamboo design in the Vintaj stamping. To pull it all together I added Palace Green SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS flat backs and a Nunn Design bee. The name of the necklace is Taikang Road which is a little artist street in Shanghai that I thoroughly enjoyed shopping this past December.

Beading Table Wednesday: 1/30/13

Julie's Table

Apparently I am feeling very sparkly this week! I just finished a Pandora style bracelet using the new SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystal BeCharmed rondelles and also completed two vintage-inspired rings using our new glue-on ring findings. A video on how to make the rings is coming soon!




Megan's Table

I too, have sparkles on the brain this week.  But then, that's pretty normal for me!  I love the new jewel tone gunmetal Beadelle pave bead collection, so I'm playing with our different waxed cotton cord options to make some new varieties of Shambhala bracelets.  They're such a nice showcase for these blingtastic beads.  (Yes, I just said blingtastic.)

Beading Table Wednesday: October 17th, 2012

Julie's Table

I finished my long magatama beaded kumihimo bracelet this week - yay! I had such fun making it and now I am about to start another kumihimo project using one of our new satin cord mixes. Also on my table this week is the Deco Drops Bracelet featuring Czech Glass beads and an experiment in crocheting using Griffin Silk and 15/0 seed beads. 

Megan's Table

There are the beginnings of a couple of different projects on my beading table this week, and they both use new products that are coming soon to Beadaholique! I'm super excited about the new Czech glass spike beads and can't wait to incorporate them into some bead embroidered pieces. I'm also playing with some of the great new waxed cotton cord that comes in beautiful colors - it's going to be perfect for noodle beads!

Beading Table Wednesday: July 4th, 2012

Julie's Table 

On my table today I have magnets made with Lillypilly aluminum stampings and glass domes, a paperweight made from a large glass dome and collage images, and also a flat braid Kumihimo bracelet. Outside of the photo is also a wire working project. Whew, feels like a busy week!  

Megan's Table 

I've been thinking about using one of the gorgeous Golem Studio cabochons as the focal in a big bead embroidered piece for a long time. This week, I finally got this project underway. On my table, you will find the beginnings of a lovely, intricate cuff bracelet all in teals and turquoises. I sketched out a rough design onto my foundation material, and now it's time to play!

BTW: Beading Table Wednesday 3/28/12

Julie's Table

Mixed Media! Woohoo! YAY!! Yippiee! Can you tell that I am excited? This week I am playing with my absolute favorite design themes - mixed media, Steampunk, Victorian, and vintage inspired. I could not be happier. We recently started carrying Art Mechanique bezels (they are gorgeous) and we also just received in, and will soon have on our website, mica sheets. I am one very happy, and very messy, designer over here :) 

Megan's Table 

I'm experimenting with beaded bezels this week. I love the look of surrounding Swarovski rivolis with intricate bead weaving! I found that once the basic beaded bezel is in place, it's easy to experiment with different ways of embellishing the piece and making it grand. I think I'll make a spiral rope beaded necklace and use this piece as a focal pendant, so pretty!

BTW: Beading Table Wednesday 3/21/12

Julie's Table 

On my table this week is a romantic Gemstone and Vintaj necklace. I love the way the pink tones, greens, and brass blend together and even added a touch of green to the brass with African Bronze Gilders Paste. I am now just trying to figure out how to add some pink behind the main brass pendant and also figure out how to finish the stringing. So much fun! 

Megan's Table  

I am smitten with beaded micro-macrame! I've been playing with nylon cord and friendship bracelets lately, and have decided to try my hand at a little bit of simple micro-macrame. On my table today is an assortment of Swarovski Crystal bicone beads in a rainbow of colors, just waiting to be woven into a black cord and black seed bead bracelet to provide a bright pop of color. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

BTW: Beading Table Wednesday 2/22/12

Julie's Table

The project in the forefront of my table is a whimsical double square pendant necklace featuring storybook images of Alice In Wonderland. The fun secret to this necklace is that it is reversible and there is another set of images on the backside. The ingredients next to the necklace are for a St. Patty's Day themed project. I just love the large olive jade serpentine four leaf clovers yet I can't decide if they should me made into a bracelet or a necklace. 

Megan's Table

On my table today are some of the fantastic new components from Tierra Cast. I love their black finish, so I've been playing around with some of the new items that are available to see what I can come up with. I love the way that colors stand out against the dark metal, really showcasing the accents that I'm using. I especially love the way that resort colors like coral and turquoise look with the black finish. These are colors that are huge right now, so I love finding new ways to make them stand out.

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 11/16/11

Julie's Table
Experimenting! My table is an absolute mess this week and I love it! We are always looking for new products to offer here at Beadaholique and I have the fun job of trying them out first. There are at least 10 different projects and product tests going on on my table right now. I definitely have my favorites, I hope you like what we choose! 

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 11/9/11

Julie's Table
The holiday theme continues on my work table this week. We have started making a new series of videos called "Just Bead It!" where each video will focus on a simple jewelry making technique with a wide range of applications and pretty instant results. On Monday I taped the "charms" one, and then yesterday I realized that I forgot to show a charm bracelet! What was I thinking! So today on my table I am making a holiday inspired charm bracelet using TierraCast charms which I am connecting using our new lock-in jump rings (available soon). When this project is done, time to re-tape the video - again, what was I thinking! 

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 11/2/11

Julie's Table


Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Ok, so I am in Los Angeles and that is not likely to happen, but my mind is filled with Winter scenes of snow covered tree tops, holiday lights, and brightly colored ornaments as I begin to make jewelry for the holidays. It is such fun to play with TierraCast charms in shapes of rocking horses, nutcrackers, and angels. The colors of the season are so cheerful that I can't help but smile when working with bright golds, antique brasses, reds, and greens. My next project is to make an ornament using a Swarovski pendant; I can already envision how pretty it will look hanging on a tree! 

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 10/26/11

Julie's Table
This week on my table is a bead woven toggle clasp I just created. I always have a hard time finding the right clasp for my bead weaving projects, so this week I was inspired to make one! The base is a 20mm quick links round and I am using size 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads. It's a technique which combines brick and peyote stitches. I am taping a video right now showing how to make this, it's so much fun I think I will make a bead weaving project which somehow uses two toggles in the design!

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 10/19/11

Julie's Table

Crystal Clay! Have you tried this stuff? It is a two-part epoxy clay which is so easy to use and comes in 17 different colors. No firing, baking, or sealing is needed as the clay cures on its own in less then a day. I like that the Crystal Clay actually comes with a pair of gloves to use as this stuff tends to be pretty sticky. So far this week I have made compacts, rings, purse hangers, and more. I keep trying to think of new ways to use the clay - some free-form shapes, beads, and bails are coming to mind! 

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 10/12/11

Andrea's Table
On my bead table today is a strand of Czech seed beads, spelling out the word "bye", accompanied by a glass cabochon in the shape of a heart, and a sad face of Miyuki cubes with a chalcedony briolette for a nose.  It is with a very heavy heart that I have to announce my departure from Beadaholique.  Due to health issues, I have had to make the difficult decision to move back to my home state of Michigan so that I may be closer to my family.  However, I will very greatly miss my "family" here.  The past two years have been incredible; not only did I get to have my dream job, designing jewelry for a fantastic bead company, but also I have made SO many friends in the beading community.  I plan to continue beading wherever life takes me, and I will most certainly keep in touch!  Thank you, everyone, for two years of fun, inspiration, and camaraderie.  And thank you, Sarah, Chris, Julie, and everyone here at Beadaholique... for everything, from the bottom of my heart.  Love Always, Andrea

Julie's Table
On my bead table is the brand new Vintaj special edition Big Kick machine by Sizzix along with some of the stamping blanks I have already embossed and etched. I am having such fun playing with this new gizmo, I feel like a kid again and am constantly smiling in amazement at how easy it is to use and how great the results are. Tomorrow I will be making a series of 4 videos showing how to use the machine itself, how to etch, how to emboss, and how to add finishing touches to your pieces to really make the designs "pop". As happy as I am to be trying out the long awaited Vintaj Big Kick, I am so sorry to see Andrea leave. It has been such a delight to work with her and to learn from her awesome beading skills. We plan to stay in touch and I can't wait to see where her journey takes her! Lots of love and happy wishes to Andrea!