Removing that Chalky Bead Release, Part II

So this is actually pretty funny.  I wrote a post a while back about using denture tablets to remove bead release.

Recently I received a shipment of beautiful Indian lampworked glass beads, all FULL of that nasty chalk.  But…no denture tablets arounds.  On a scheduled trip to the dentist, I asked for a sample, but they no longer provide them.  So…what to do?  GOOGLE IT, of course!

To my surprise, the very first thing that came up was my own blog!  That didn’t help me one bit – I already knew the denture tablet trick.  I couldn’t find another thing about it!

I gave it a little thought and decided to try a little trick I use to clean my sinks (thank you, Heloise.)  I put the beads in a plastic dishpan, put in some baking soda, and then covered the beads with vinegar!  The combination causes a lot of fierce bubbling.  I let the beads soak for a while, and when I drained off the vinegar solution, the bottom of the pan was thick with bead release.

So there you go…a cheap, eco-friendly way to clean beads.

Are you a “Monochromatic Mary?”

When I began beading, I was a little afraid of color.  I tended to choose beads that were monochromatic.   I still see this with my students, even though I’ve moved on to embrace color combinations that would have made me go running when I first began!

How was I able to branch out to combining coral with purple and smoky topaz with aqua?  The first thing is just experience – the more you work with beads and see the marvelous combinations, the more daring you will become.  The other thing was a concious effort on my part to look at how color combinations worked.  For instance, take a look at fabric.

You might see fabric that combines red, yellow and green.   It’s obvious that they “work” together – but why?  Here is a great resource that explains color theory in a concise way:  http://www.colormatters.com/colortheory.html

The main thing, in my opinion, is the “value” of the hues is compatible – that is, the colors are compatible either in the saturation or intensity of the hue (bright green with bright red, for instance, not bright red with olive green) or the colors are analogous, or in the same color range (pale yellow, yellow-green, green.)  The analogous colors can be monochromatic, but not necessarily so.

Observe your world.  Take a look at how colors combine around you – in nature, in a painting, on a piece of fabric.  You will be surprised to see how beautifully some combinations work – amethyst and citrine for example, turquoise and coral.  Have a little fun!

This necklace was designed by Donna Ryan-Kocun, who teaches color theory.  (And is a close personal friend of mine:))

Vera Wang Says:

“Jewelry allows women to express themselves in a way that clothing sometimes simply cannot.”

Vera Wang Sequin Bead Necklace

Swarovski Crystal Birthstone Equivalent Chart

Let’s face it – you can’t ALWAYS use diamonds in your work, but you want to do something with a birthstone theme. Here is a chart of Austrian crystal equivalents to use in place of real gemstones.

January – Garnet

February – Amethyst

March – Aqua

April – Clear Crystal

May – Emerald

June – Light Amethyst

July – Ruby

August – Peridot

September – Sapphire

October – Rose

November – Topaz

December – Blue Zircon or Light Sapphire or Montana

A Quick and Easy Gift: Wine Glass Charms

I know these hit their peak a while ago, but they are still a fun gift and very easy and inexpensive to make. Also known as wine glass identifiers, they go around the stem of the glass and make every glass unique so that each of your guests knows which glass is his or hers.

Basically, you need hoop-style earring findings (the type you can slide beads on and then turn the end up to close) or ring-size memory wire, some beads, and a charm for each identifier. How plain or fancy is up to you – you can use good crystals and spacers and create your own charms with larger beads on headpins, or use base metal charms and a variety of glass beads.

I recently made a set of these for friends. I decided on a beach theme and used six different beach/sea charms and Czech crystals in blues and greens. Charms can be purchased in all kind of theme groups to make your identifiers personal: sports, holidays, animals, beach and the always popular wine-themed charms.

One really el cheapo idea for the charms is to pick up mis-matched dangle earrings at yard sales and thrift stores. One of my customers says, “the uglier the earring, the easier it is to remember your charm!”

If you are using the ready made earring hoops, you can slide on a few beads, then the charm, then a few more beads, then gently turn up the end that is flattened and has a hole in it. That keeps the beads from falling off and allows the identifier to be opened and closed.

If you are using ring-sized memory wire, cut into loops, then use a lighter to heat the end of the wire (be sure to protect your hands by holding the wire with pliers) and while the wire is hot, bend the last ½” of the wire into a loop with your round-nosed pliers. After it cools, hread on your beads and charm, and then heat and turn the other end of the wire.

To add a little panache to your gift, use a larger hoop for storage of the rings. It can be decorated as well, and it can hang on the wine bottle when the identifiers are in use. Package the group in a nice little silk or brocade pouch and you have a lovely hostess gift.

Below is a picture of martini charms I made for my sister.

Patti Whiteley – Friend and Fellow Beader

On Saturday, January 31st, the bead community lost an active and creative community member in Patti Whiteley. Patti was a long-time member of the Bead Society of New Jersey, a member of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers and other bead and glass beadmaking groups.

Patti was a designer and fused-glass beadmaker. Her work was featured in the book “1000 Glass Beads.” She often attended Bead & Button, taking classes and enjoying the shopping and schmoozing. She was very active in many online bead communities as well.

Beyond all that, Patti was my dear friend.  We often lunched together (Thai being our favorite – Patti was so fond of the mango mousse she would get a plate of that first before getting her entree!  We always laughed about it.)  We gave each other advice and counsel, and commiserated.   I will forever miss her friendship.  I can hear the sound of her voice in my ears even now.

Patti’s work can be seen at http://www.pattiwhiteley.com/.

Patti's Fused Glass Pendant

1000 Glass Beads

Can you restring this for me?

When I get new beading students, one of the first things I tell them is, “decide now whether you are going to charge for restringing beaded jewelry, because everyone you know has a box of broken beads.  And when they find out you know how to do this, they are gonna come a-knockin’ at your door!”

If you have been beading for a while, you know this is true – your family, friends, colleagues at work will approach you with,  “My bracelet broke.  Can you fix it for me?”  Pretty soon you will be spending a lot of time restringing broken items – not a great way to exercise your creative talents.  However, if you choose to charge to do restringing,  it can be some extra money in your pocket.

Should you decide to charge, you must decide how to charge:  by the piece, or by the inch being the usual modes.  You might try calling your local jewelers and finding out what they charge – and base your charges on that.  Being able to say, “Jay’s Jewelers charges $3.00 an inch for knotted jewelry.  My price is $2.00 an inch” may encourage your prospective clients.

I charge by the inch, with one rate for knotted jewelry and another for straight stringing.  I do not charge for stringing material, crimps, or french wire.  I do charge extra for any parts which must be replaced, such as clasps or other components.

Personally, I dislike restringing unless the client has come to me with a piece to be redesigned.  Straight restringing is b-o-r-i-n-g.  So I charge plenty for it!  At least I will be compensated for spending my time doing something I do not enjoy.

At a later date I plan to write more about restringing fine gemstone and pearl jewelry and some caveats to observe should you decide to take this on.

Tim Gunn Sez:

First of all let me say that I adore Project Runway’s “Mother Hen,” Tim Gunn.  In fact, I would become a gay man to be with Tim Gunn.

Tim says:

“Fashion is really having a jewelry moment – statement pieces are back in a big way.”

Have you noticed this trend?  I found this quote in Style Magazine’s January 2009 issue, which was illustrated with big, BIG,  chunky, clunky and oversized jewelry.

Sempione Necklaces

Jeanette’s Wedding Jewelry

When my niece Jeanette got engaged, she came to me for the wedding party jewelry. Jeanette had a little antique boutique, and she had set aside a few vintage faux-pearl necklaces which she originally intended to use as her bridesmaids’ jewelry. She decided instead to do something a little funkier and fun.

She brought the necklaces into my store.  I placed them on a tray and asked her to put everything on the tray that appealed to her.  In the end we had a nice palette of ivory, peach, grey and bronze.  Her picks included some smoky topaz cubes, peach freshwater pearls and coco-colored faux pearls.  I added some Swarovski crystal rondelles and some rhinestone “disco ball” beads.

Using the findings from the vintage pieces, and incorporating the vintage pearls, I made the bridesmaids 3 strand necklaces.  Each strand incorporated a color – peach, white or smoky/bronze, and the necklaces were able to be worn either with the strands laying upon the neck, or twisted.  Each one was completely different.

The maid-of-honor didn’t want a necklace, she wanted a bracelet, so I designed a “porcupine” bracelet of hundreds of drops of stacked beads which were then strung with pearls in between every 3 drops.

I was thrilled that all the bridesmaids (and my niece) liked their jewelry, and with the black dresses they wore, it looked great.  They each had a unique piece which could be worn thereafter without looking like “wedding jewelry!”

How Many Beads Are In That Tube?

So…your directions say, “approximately 1500 size 11 seed beads.” But your bead store sells them by the tube, and can’t tell you how many are in the there – what now? This handy dandy list will help you find the right number of beads.

In a 6″ tube:
Size 8/0 – approximately 1120
Size 6/0 – approximately 315
Size 11/0 – approximately 3080
Size 10/0 Twisted Hex Cut – approximately 2319
#1 Bugles – approximately 2500
#2 Bugles – approximately 1000
10/0 Triangles – approximately 1680
8/0 Triangles – approximately 1100
5/0 Triangles – approximately 390
11/0 triangles – apprx 29.5 grams (about 2105 beads)
8/0 triangles – apprx 28.0 grams (about 714 beads)
4mm Cubes – approximately 336
3mm Cubes – approximately 440
Magatamas – approximately 308
Mini Fringe Drops – approximately 560

3 inch tube:
15/0 approximately 3500

10 Gram Tube:
11/0 Delicas – approximately 1900 delica beads in a 10 gram tube.