Hooked on Leather

Hooked On Leather

(new bracelet)

 

 

One of my favorite on-line suppliers is Jamie North of Glitz 'n Kitz.  She has great supplies of seed beads, magatamas and leather.

 

 

 

 

I've shown several bracelets I've made from her magatamas before. (Available on-line)

 

Very popular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This time I tried one of her "Hooked on Leather" kits. It is hard to find things to make for guys. (I have 4 grandsons and two sons-in-law - I know)

 

 

 

 

So, when I saw these, I had to try them. Here is one in Blue leather with a nice open star slider.

 

 

 

 

And one in an orange/brown multi color leather with a dome slider.

 

 

 

There are many choices of leather (some more masculine than these) Black, brown, green, etc and different slider shapes.Stars, buttons, X's, skulls, butterflies and many more.

 

 

I've added these to the website and you can see/purchase them there.

 

 

If you are interested in different colors please send me an email so we can choose a bracelet you will love.

 

 

Need a quick gift?

Need a quick gift?

(I have them!)

 

The other day I had a call from a friend. She needed a quick gift for a co-worker. Did I have any thing that would fill the bill? I asked her price range and when she came over, I had two drawers of suggestions.

 

 

We decided on earrings. I asked her the color she would like. Blue. So, I pulled out any that had blue in them or would go with blue.

 

Success! My customer liked the earrings and I was told later, that her friend did too.

 

 

 

 

I've posted about earrings before. You can see the "Lots of Earrings" post here.

 

 

Of course, there are other things available for quick gifts. One of my favorites is the Glass Dome Pendant collection.These can be a very personal gift. The person's initial or a specific favorite flower, location, sport, hobby etc. The music G-Clef is a popular choice.

 

 

Note: these pendants do have a glass dome that doesn't show in the picture due to the extreme shininess and glare. See more in the video on the right hand column or on the website.

 

If you live close enough to come over, that is a great way to choose that special gift. Not only can you see items in person, you can walk out with your purchase.

If not, email me your request and I can send pictures that will fill the bill.

 

 

 

 

 

An other idea Pendants

 

There are many styles to choose from.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For other gift ideas check out the other videos on the right or the Ring by Ring Designs' shop on line.

 

 

New Leather Bracelets

Leather Bracelets

Single wrap

 

You may remember the Frog leather bracelet I made last fall and gave to my granddaughter for Christmas. It is a favorite of hers, I'm told.

 

I had a request from a customer to make one that was similar but with a Turtle button instead. Always up to a challenge, I started looking for a Turtle button. After a few emails back and forth we found a cute one that would both work for my customer and work for the bracelet design.

Here is a close up of the cute Turtle. I hope her friend likes it too. (It was for a gift)

You can see more information on the website by clicking here or on the pictures

 

Then while on a roll, I made another turtle bracelet and one with some round Fire Polish beads with a gold and pearl button. Just another look in a single wrap leather bracelet.

You can see more information and pictures by clicking here or on the picture.

I have a violet leather bracelet started but I ran into a snag when I discovered that the thread I tried to use looks awful with the color of the leather. "Invisible" thread is not always invisible. So, it is on hold until I can get to a bead store.

No problem since there are lots of things to do. We are moving the living room "forest" outside this weekend. That means vacuuming under places that have been hidden all winter. I'm finding some formerly lost beads and jump rings. It amazes me how far those little things can travel!

So the Bird of Paradise plants (plus) will be outside to get ready for another blossoming season next winter.

You can find all these new bracelets on the Ring by Ring Designs' website.

 

More Leather Wrap Bracelets

Several of you wanted more information about the Purple three wrap leather bracelet featured in a recent post.

 

Since then I've made more of the three wrap bracelets and samples of a single wrap size. I've looked at many You Tube videos on the subject and first got very confused but have now settled on a good method for making these bracelets.

 

Here is a collage of the different bracelets. There are three made with Fire Polish beads (like the Purple one); one with Hematite (shiny black) and two short ones using larger variegated beads.

 

Part of the fun is choosing the materials. First the leather (Greek leather is best and what is used in these bracelets) Then the beads, the button/clasps and last the wrapping cord. Should it match, be invisible, or contrast? Then, how long should the bracelet be?

 

 

 

Here is a bigger picture of the hematite bracelet.

 

I plan to make several of these in a one wrap version. Many seem to like just a single wrap.

 

 

 

 

 

I mentioned the fun of choosing the button/clasp. At a bead show recently, I was lucky to find some fun buttons. Two frogs and two vintage silver and one copper button. My friend, Marcia, who went with me, found them hiding on a table.

 

 

 

Now, what to make with them? What colors would you like to see used? What kinds of beads would go with the frog? How long should the bracelets be?  Oh, the decisions!

 

Until next time.

Bev

A little housekeeping announcement:  When I changed my URL to RingbyRing (instead of Bevsjewelry) in this blog, I lost the links to my old posts in the  "You might also like"  lists below.  You can still see them all but you need to change letters "bevsjewelry" to read "ringbyring" in the address line of your browser.

Better than loosing them all, I guess.

 

Leather Wrap Bracelet

New Bracelet

Purple Passion

I have lots of fun learning new techniques. I went to pflora Beads in Canton, MA and learned how to make a leather wrap bracelet. This one wraps around your wrist three times.

If you haven't seen these, some sell for $100 plus.Well, I now know how that can be, because they take lots of time to make, but still think that is a bit steep. They are lots of fun to make, however. Choosing the leather color, the bead color and then the cord to attach the beads to the leather. Will it match or contrast? I used Greek Leather since it is nice and soft and very easy to work with plus there are lots of colors to choose. Fun picking materials that go together.

The color choices are endless but my favorite is purple. So, I chose purple beads and leather then I named this "Purple Passion"  I'll have more coming soon.

Should you have any special color choices you might like, just send me an email at info@ringbyringdesigns.com  or if you would like to order one you may here: Purple Passion

Bev

A little housekeeping announcement:  When I changed my URL to RingbyRing (instead of Bevsjewelry) in this blog, I lost the links to my old posts in the  "You might also like"  lists below.  You can still see them all but you need to change letters "bevsjewelry" to read "ringbyring" in the address line of your browser.

Better than loosing them all, I guess.
 

Memory Wire Bracelet

Memory wire, in this case, really has another meaning beside the bracelet having "memory" to hold its shape. When I first started making jewelry, memory wire bracelets were almost the first type I made.

They are great in that, one size fits all and they don't require a clasp. Simple stringing is all. Once you have chosen your beads and pattern, just string, turn the ends and you're done. Choosing the beads and deciding on the pattern is the fun part. The possibilities are endless.

You can make just one coil, three coils or in this case five. In looking over some of my older inventory, I found several that I still have. Not sure why they did not sell but that is for another time and discussion.




Here is one that I really like. (Hmm... I've gotten better at taking pictures too. This one seems out of focus)

I think I'll get out some of my stash and see what I can come up with. I'm really liking this technique again.

What do you think?

More Swarovski component bracelets

After I posted the Swarovski crystal necklace and bracelets the other day, I remembered I used the Swarovski components with pearls too. The first one contains white round pearls with the blue sapphire stones.




The second one with shaped light peach pearls and peach colored Swarovski components. Now, those color names are rather arbitrary. Change the light and the color changes and therefore the color name. Peach, apricot, light pink??? Not really sure what the color is.

I've always admired people who can "name" their pieces. I'm not good at it at all.

So, help me out here. What would you name these pieces??


B

Reorganized 1000 Markets Shop

I spent some time recently thinking about how my web sites should be organized. It finally occurred to me that when people shop, they are not looking for Chain Maille or Kumihimo or what ever other technique I might have. They are looking for a bracelet or necklace or set. Well, that is the conclusion I came to.


What do you all think? Agree ? Disagree ?


How do you shop for jewelry? Do you shop for jewelry? Now that is an important question.


Anyhow, I made some new "collections" in my 1000 Markets shop; bracelets and necklaces. Now, I can put each piece in the appropriate collection. They can go into more than one collection and therefore stay in the Kumihimo or Chain Maille group.

So all that set me thinking even more. (Getting tired here) So, I made one more collection. New items. That will be a revolving group of new items that will be removed as newer items come up.


Well, after all that thinking we'll see what effect it might have on sales.

You can click on the logo at the top of this post to go to my shop or click here:

http://www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

B

Swarovski Crystals

When my son was young, he was an avid reader (still is) He read words that he had never heard pronounced. Once in awhile he would try to use them. He usually knew how to use them, just not always how to pronounce them. My favorite was his use of "ka-hee-kee". It took us long time to figure it out. We maybe even asked him to show us the word written. It was Khaki. Looking at it, he certainly should not have been criticized.

His other pronunciation problem came from hearing a word mispronounced, thanks to Popeye. That was "animal" but Popeye said "am-in-al" He admits that he had a hard time unlearning that one.

Well, in making jewelry, Swarovski is my problem word. At least it was until I asked for help. Now, it isn't easy to tell someone, in writing, how to pronounce a written word. Dictionaries do that but it is their job! I tried the online dictionaries since they will verbally pronounce the word. No luck. Not found.

I tried on the jewelrymaking forum at About.com awhile back. Very helpful group and several people helped me out. The most helpful suggestion was:

"Swore - off - ski" Much like the person who had just had a skiing accident and had sworn off skis. I still have trouble with it rolling off my tongue but if I slow down, "Swore - off - ski" works for me.

However it is pronounced, Swarovski crystals make beautiful bracelets.

B

New Kumihimo Bracelet

While we were on vacation I made a few pieces. I just finished putting on the clasp to finish a bracelet this morning. My picture doesn't show the subtle colors very well. The focus bead has streaks of peridot with the black and silver. So I added some peridot seed beads with the black in the Kumihimo. Seems to add a bit of sparkle.

I really enjoy making pieces using the Kumihimo technique since it is so versatile. I have another unfinished Kumihimo necklace made with fall colored fibers. Right now I'm searching for a focal pendant to go with it. When I find one I'll post it.

B

Chain Maille Favorites

I have a few favorites in the bracelets I've made in Chain Maille. Here are two:

This pattern is Euro 4 in 1 - 5 wide. It is made with Argentium Sterling Silver. All sterling silver is required to have 92.5 % silver. What the rest is determines the characteristics of the silver. Usually copper and some other metals are added. Copper makes the material harder. In Argentium Silver, the element Germanium is added. The result is a silver that tarnishes very slowly. You can read more about Argentium Sterling Silver on my web site at www.bevsjewelry.com/argentiumsilver.html

I really like the sunflower clasp.

This pattern is Half Persian. It is also made with Argenitum Sterling Silver with the Sunflower clasp.

Here is a close up of the Sunflower Clasp.

Hope you like these selections.

B