Wild, Weird Jewelry

In celebration of April Fool’s Day, I bring you a selection of some of handmade jewelry’s wildest, weirdest designs. Compiling this list was way more fun than trying to pull a prank like declaring “I’m never blogging again!”. As if that would ever happen.

I started by searching "weird jewelry" on Etsy, and after finding more than a few interesting themes, I ended up going off on a keyword adventure. Artists are super weird.

I think it’s looking at me!
Design By isewcute



The rhinestone details really make this cuff.
Design By Spirale Rouge



Who doesn’t love braaaaains?
By Wooly Topic



Now you can have a laundry day necklace to go with your laundry day undies.
Design By Pikipoka Jewelry



You would not believe how much poop jewelry there is on Etsy.
Design By Clay Creations ForEver



Creepy doll eye earrings are creepy.
Design By Urbex Ashley



It’s angel food cake, and it will haunt my nightmares.
Design By Mythillogical



I want a dead spider leg ring, in black!
Design By Rickson Jewellery



Don’t go in the water. You might tarnish your jewelry.
Design By What A Novel Idea



Food jewelry is always a yes. Especially chicken.
Design By Tiny Ears Shop



Handmade jewelry comes from the heart…
Design By The Spangled Maker



Who knew mummies could be so adorable?
Design By Nodsu



Gaaah!
Design By retroandme

Stay weird, beaders!

Mortira

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading and Friends

Bead Wish List: Spring Candy

With two very kid-friendly holidays to enjoy, this time of year is full of candy and brightly colored treats. There’s a lot of inspiration to be had in spring confections, like the rainbow appeal of a bowl of jelly beans, or the soft pastels of sweet-hearts. I’m really excited about the return of certain chocolate eggs, but the colors are really the best part of spring. With Valentine’s behind us and Easter ahead, I went on a hunt for beads in candy colors, and those that just look good enough to eat. These are my favorites!

These unusual Czech glass ovals from Maya Honey definitely look like they’re made with tasty flavors, with a mix like rock candy or salt water taffy. The pink patina even adds an additional layer of frosted appeal. I’d definitely want to pair these treats with some luminous orange-lined seed beads for an extra pop of color to bring everything together. This shade is a near-perfect match for the filling in fondant eggs. I think the combination would be great in a chunky multistrand necklace.

There’s something really special about the candy-coated look of these epoxy resin charms from Fire Mountain Gems. The mix of colors and the smooth finish can definitely cause a sweet craving. The round shape was absolutely my favorite, which brings to mind all kinds of classic sweets. I also found some delicious glass bead strands, although it was tough to choose just one. I like this jewel tone mix, which looks a bit like gourmet gummies or fancy jelly beans. With a great neutral backdrop, this duo would make a pretty memory bracelet.

More rock candy inspirations can be found in Czech glass, especially when it comes in a gorgeous pastel palette like this Spring Fling rondelle mix from Lima Beads. The Picasso finish is gorgeous anywhere, but in this case I think it makes these beads look a little like malted robin’s eggs. All the rondelles need is a nest, and the sour-sweet of apple green sliced seed beads is perfect for the part. I’d probably want to use this combination in a fringe design, or perhaps something minimalist and asymmetrical.

Pearls of any kind are wonderful when you want to create food themed jewelry. These shiny glass pearls from Fusion Beads have a tasty lustered finish that is perfect for spring jewelry. I particularly like the pink, but they also come in pumpkin, yellow squash, pea green, and light plum. Yummy! Toho seed beads in cotton candy-lined crystal would make a great backdrop for any combination of glass pearls. I’d love to use them in a freeform design or a cluster of circular brick stitch medallions.

Not all treats are candy-colored, so for my next duo I started with lovely chocolate howlite rounds from Auntie’s Beads. The color is delicious, and the perfect companion for sweet hues. To complete this set I picked a pretty mix of pastel Super Duos with hints of pink, green, and blue – all great colors to pair with chocolate. This combo would make a great cuff bracelet or perhaps a chunky collar.

Clearly mixes are so ideal for candy theme, and it was impossible to resist this Carnival Candy seed bead blend from ArtBeads.com. The darker purple really pops with the other soft colors. I finished this duo with some Czech glass coins featuring a cute bird motif. Though they might not look tasty, they’d definitely be at home in a basket of goodies. I think this pair would look great in some simple earrings or a bead embroidered cuff.

Finally, I fell in love with these confetti jade rounds from Beadholique, which look so much like a birthday cake-flavored treat. The hints of pink and blue in the buttery jade is adorable and a great way to add just a bit of color. Since the bird coins had looked so great, I decided to finish this combo with a pretty lavender hummingbird focal in vintage style Lucite. This mix would make a great pendant, perhaps with some white seed beads to match the hummingbird and round out the palette.

Do you have a favorite candy color or tasty bead shape?

Mortira

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Double Winter Bead Palette Ideas

The bead color trio series has been around on Inspirational Beading for a long time, and to keep fresh ideas coming, I’ve changed up the inspiration method many times. Lately I’ve been starting with a single accent bead, then building three palettes around them. For this month’s palettes, I wanted to try out some holiday colors, but I couldn’t decide on just one accent to start with. Instead, I thought it would be fun to come up with the themes first, then choose the perfect accent bead to go with them, followed by some excellent seed bead colors. It turned out to be so much fun that I couldn’t stop at just three!

The very first idea that came to mind, even before I decided to go with a mix of palettes, was snowflakes. There are so many gorgeous decorating ideas that begin with a little glitter in white, silver, and maybe a hint of blue. I started this palette with some shimmery white potato pearls, then added a little backup of opaque white and transparent sea blue. Snowflake Glitter would be lovely in a netted design, or perhaps in a multistrand necklace.

Next I had a vision of a cardinal on an evergreen branch, like something from a classic Christmas card. I started with some dyed horn rondelles for the intense, natural red. Some lustered emerald and a touch of transparent dark topaz complete the woodland look. I think Woodsy Wonderland would work really well in something fringy, or as a chunky double spiral necklace.

For a more lighthearted palette, I couldn’t resist using a strand of multicolored Chrsitmas lights for inspiration. This trio started with a mother of pearl chip mix in tropical colors, with a backdrop of jet black and some transparent mint green. I’d use Deck the Halls for a spiral lariat, or perhaps an embellished cuff.

Of course I had to go with something really classic, so for the next palette I turned to holly sprigs. Big, round, gorgeous red white-hearts provided the perfect pop of red and white. I kept the palette simple with a backdrop of transparent emerald and forest green. Jolly Berries would be great as a light collar, or perhaps a lariat with bead cluster fobs.

I hadn’t yet used a food-themed palette, so I tried to recreate one of my new favorite holiday treats – peppermint bark. First I grabbed a strand of cherry red triangle beads, and some chocolately terra cotta seed beads. Although opaque white would have looked great in this trio, I decided to go with bone white instead, for a hint of eggnog or perhaps toasted marshmallow. Peppermint Latte could definitely make a wonderful spiral rope bracelet, or a pair of tasseled earrings.

Finally, I simply had to do a palette with a hint of gold. I started with some metallic gold freshwater pearls, which have a nice warm look to them. I added some metallic olivine and dragonfly seed beads, creating the perfect trio for a vintage-style glass globe. Heirloom Ornament would be perfect for any earring style, or maybe a pearl-netted statement necklace.

What winter color combinations do you love? Have you ever used them in a design?

Mortira

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Holiday Beading and Craft Tutorials

Whether you like to make all of your own holiday accessories and gifts, or just deck your halls with beads, you just can’t have too many Christmasy tutorials and project ideas! This year I found a few new inspirations that look totally do-able. These are my favorites.

Almost any sewing project can be tweaked with the addition of a few beads!
This easy and adorable ornament project from Bugs and Fishes offers a lot of great design opportunities.




I love the subtle color palette of this Christmas Chainon bracelet from Fusionbeads.com.
The technique uses two-hole SuperDuo beads to create a gorgeous, sparkly bangle. It would look just as good in a darker palette, or in crystal and blue!




Rivolis have been making a comeback this year, with new bezeling techniques and even some ready-made bezel components
creating new design ideas. This Merry and Bright earring project from Artbeads.com could easily be converted to beadwork is you want to use up some of your size 15/o seed beads!




This Holiday Wire Wrap cuff tutorial from Beadaholique looks just like vintage wrapping paper!
The unique structure of the design allows the magatamas to show off their unique shape and still add a little texture.




This easy netted necklace project from FireMountainGems.com and Preciosa is perfect for a snowflake palette!
The pip beads add a playful touch,you’re your favorite drops would work, too.




Need a festive way to use up some leftover accent beads?
This ribbon Christmas tree decoration from BeAFunMum.com is super easy, and it could easily be scaled down
with smaller beads and ribbon. Perhaps even to earring size!




The right palette can turn just about any project into a festive masterpiece,
like this vintage button bracelet from MySoCalledCraftyLife.com.
It would look great with a few crystals and maybe and extra charm or two!




If you love Delica patterns, this project will give you a chance to experiment with lots of colors! No matter what palette you use, this Festive Lights bracelet pattern from Beadaholique is sure to please.

Do you like to make holiday themed jewelry or beading projects? What’s your favorite palette to use?

Mortira

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Tutorial: Holiday Candy Cane Bangle Project

One of the best things about dressing for the holidays is getting the chance to wear kitschy things like ugly Christmas sweaters and incredibly literal jewelry. Though there’s something sort of wonderful about Christmas light earrings and charm bracelets – especially ones that light up – edible inspirations have to be the best. Luckily for beadweavers, there are a lot of stitches and bead shapes the lend themselves well to food themes, especially for the holidays.

This easy to make bangle puts seed beads and herringbone stitch to good use recreating the look of a tasty candy cane. All you need are size 11 seed beads in opaque white and transparent red or green, plus some thread and a clasp of your choice. Although you can use basic twisted tubular herringbone to make this bangle, we’re going to use a variation that creates an even tighter spiral for the classic candy cane stripe look.

Another advantage of this super twisted stitch is that it makes the rope much sturdier, allowing us to add multiple rows of color without losing the tubular shape when the bracelet is brought into a curve. If you want to add even more stability, you could string your herringbone tube over a core of beads or rubber tubing, and add a clasp with crimps. For added strength, I highly recommend weaving this bracelet with Fireline or another braided beading line.

1. On a comfortable length of beading thread, pick up 4 white seed beads. Slide them down to the end, leaving a 10 inch tail. Stitch up through the first 2 seed beads again, and pull snug to form a ladder. Pass down through the second pair of beads.

2. Pick up 2 red seed beads and stitch down through the same 2 white beads again – moving in the same direction as the thread. Pull snug, and stitch up through the 2 red beads. Continue weaving with ladder stitch, adding 2 beads at a time until you have a strip that is 10 beads wide, with the pattern shown.

3. Bring the ends of the ladder together and stitch the first and last rows together twice. Exit from the nearest red row at top of the ring, opposite from the tail thread.

4. Pick up 1 red and 1 white seed bead. Stitch down through the topmost white bead in the ladder below, and pull snug to bring the new beads in place along the ring. Stitch up through the topmost white bead in the next row.

5. Continue adding 2 beads at a time around the ring, matching them to the rows below until you have added 5 pairs total. To step up for the next round, stitch up through the top 2 red beads in the next row and exit from the top of the ring.

6. Repeat step 4 and 5 to add another round of tubular herringbone, but this time, stitch up through 3 beads to step up.

7. Add the first 2 beads of the new round as usual, but stitch up through the top 2 beads of the next row to exit the ring, instead of just one. Continue around the ring, stitch up through 2 beads in each stitch, and stepping up through 3 at the end.

8. Continue weaving with twisted herringbone until your rope is about 1 inch short of the desired length. Be sure to test the fit, as thicker ropes will fit a little bit differently than more flexible bracelets.

9. To close the final stitches and match both end of the beadwork, you’ll need to do a dummy stitch. Work one row of twisted herringbone without picking up any beads, stitching up through 2 beads at a time. Work a second row without any new beads, stitching up through 1 bead in each row. (Look carefully at the beadwork, and follow the natural thread path until all of the beads have the same connections.) Finally, work a round of ladder stitch in the opposite direction, moving 2 beads at a time, to flatten the edge of the rope.

10. Once you’ve woven in all of your tail threads, you can finish your bracelet as desired. My favorite technique is the crown picot finish for herringbone tubes. You could also string the bangle on stretch cord with a focal between the ends for a true bangle look.

Happy holidays!

Mortira

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