The Great Bead Extravaganza returned in February. Did you join us for the world's biggest virtual bead show? This edition of TGBE was a celebration of Tucson. Every year, the bustling desert city becomes a massive bead show as vendors from all over the world descend on the town to sell their gemstones, beads, and supplies. If you want more information about the Great Bead Extravaganza, make sure you check out our blog. Today, we are looking at exhibitors that used Soft Flex Craft Wire, tools, and beading wire during their TGBE presentations. There was some extraordinary jewelry created during the show and we love that our friends used our products to make their creative designs.
We are looking at seven TGBE presentations. Each of these aired during the Great Bead Extravaganza. The designers all selected our wire or beading supplies as a component or tool for their jewelry designs. Soft Flex Company designers, Sara and Kristen, showed us how to macrame with Soft Flex Beading Wire. Our wire is constructed out of marine quality stainless steel, but it is flexible enough to knot or braid. Candie Cooper showed us how to make some lovely southwestern jewelry. Abbi Berta made a lively bracelet that is sure to turn heads. Kay Goss showed us how to work with head pins. Say aloha to Jamie Yoshida and learn some wire wrapping techniques. Nealay Patel showed us how wonderfully SilverSilk pairs with Soft Flex wire. You are going to learn something new today - let's make some jewelry!
7 Great Bead Extravaganza Videos Featuring Soft Flex Products
Soft Flex Company: Learn How To Macrame With Beading Wire
Sara and Kristen used a mini macrame board to complete the jewelry they made during their presentation. The macrame board is self healing and is wonderful for anchoring your wire in place while you work. The board grips the wire so you can focus on knotting or weaving your work. If the wire bites too hard into the board, it will restore itself when you put it down. This is a great tool for braiders and knotters that want an extra hand while they work.
Sara showed us how to make a charm bracelet. We have southwestern style charms from TierraCast that are perfect for Tucson jewelry. Cowboy hats, horseshoes, boots, and more. If the wild west is not your style, we also have holiday charms and others in our inventory. We have something for every occasion. Give your jewelry some intention. Tell a story with your next bracelet. Give a gift that is full of personality.
Kristen loves to make beautiful macrame bracelets. If you loved the look of macrame jewelry in the 70s, bring it back with a contemporary micro macrame look with Soft Flex wire. You can add beads or just knot the wire by itself. It is much easier than it looks. Follow Kristen's gentle instructions and make your own macrame jewelry.
Size: 7.5in x 10.5in
Can be used with any Soft Flex Wire
Great with .019 for the color selection
Macrame is likely derived from Arabic or Turkish words describing fringes and weaving techniques. It is a form of crafting textiles using knots - rather than knitting, crocheting or weaving.
Early macrame was used as a decorative fringe. It later fell into favor with sailors and was used for hammocks, fringe work on railing and bells and decorative finishes to knife handles and bottles. Macrame exploded in popularity during the 1970s and was used for wall hangings, jewelry, and clothing.
On into the 21st century, we have found macrame especially fun to use with Soft Flex Wire. Explore jewelry making with our colored wire and a macrame board!
Candie Cooper: Learn How To Use Head Pins And Make A Clasp With A Button And Beading Wire
We love Candie Cooper. Her videos are loaded with creative designs and discussions about the hobby and craft industry. You are sure to learn something new and get inspired to make amazing jewelry. Her Great Bead Extravaganza presentation was full of great tips and techniques. Using her TGBE Tucson Project Kit, she created a stunning pair of earrings. This video will show you how to use head pins to add beads to chain. You will learn how to open and close jump rings. She gives a lot of great advice on dealing with customers that are looking for a bargain and undervaluing your jewelry. Learn how to take charge of your beading business and price your designs accordingly. Don't sell yourself short but find agreeable compromises when it comes to discounts. Finally, she shows how to use Soft Flex Beading Wire to create a clasp for a bracelet.
Make sure you visit her Etsy shop. She has beading supplies, classes, finished jewelry and more!
Visit Candie's Links:
Candie started a bracelet during her TGBE presentation. She showed how to use Soft Flex wire and a button to make a clasp. This video aired a day after the Great Bead Extravaganza ended, but she shows you how to finish the bracelet design. So, consider it a bonus TGBE video. Using turquoise color beading wire, she makes a beautiful bracelet that is full of Tucson style. If you love jewelry that evokes the romance of the American Southwest, this bracelet is going to be an instant favorite!
Soft Flex Wire is the designer's choice in bead stringing wire.
Soft Flex Wire is a lead-free beading wire for designers that demand strength and durability. Soft Flex Wire is a superior beading wire, created by beaders for beaders. Soft Flex Wire is constructed of either 21 or 49 micro woven stainless steel wires. It is supple enough that it can be knotted and comes in a wide variety of colors. It is available in 3 diameters: .014, .019, and .024. We recommend Soft Flex Wire for designers that want their pieces to last and eliminate the frustration of restringing.
Basic Usage:
.010 Very Fine - Ideal for embellishing, weaving, crocheting and stringing very small beads. We suggest finishing with 1x1mm crimps.
.014 Fine - Ideal for soft materials, seed beads and fresh water pearls. We suggest finishing with 2x2mm crimps.
.019 Medium - Ideal all purpose wire. Great with glass, mineral, and metal beads. We suggest finishing with 2x2mm crimps.
.024 Heavy - Ideal for abrasive materials, large stones, lamp work and bracelets. We suggest finishing with 2x3mm crimps.
Recycle us! Our empty spools can be repurposed as bead trays. Before stringing your next design, place your beads into an upside down spool. They are perfect for containing your beads for each project. Or, tear off the label and toss your unwanted spools in a recycle bin. All stainless steel used in the construction of Soft Flex products is 100% recyclable. Our nylon coating is derived from renewable resources and can be recycled. Think green!
The Bead Place: Use A Bead Stopper To Design A Multi-Strand Bracelet
If Abbi Berta, owner of The Bead Place, is giving a jewelry making demonstration, you can bet that the finished design is going to be gorgeous. You are also guaranteed a good laugh while watching her work. Abbi's videos are always fun, she is an incredible teacher and she has a jubilant personality. She makes amazing designs that are as colorful as her personality.
In this fun jewelry demo, Abbi calls Soft Flex Beading Wire her hero. We are always flattered when people praise our wire, especially when the compliments come from such a talented designer. Abbi has some great techniques and tips in this video. Learn how to crimp using Magical Crimping Pliers. Learn how to use a Bead Stopper to secure your wire while you work. Learn how to make a stunning design with Soft Flex wire. And you will have a blast listening to Abbi and her husband have fun. Conversations bounce from beading to dinosaur poop. Expect the unexpected when you watch a video with Abbi in it!
Make sure you visit The Bead Place. You will find kits, beading supplies, yarn, DIY jewelry videos, and so much more. The Bead Place is online and a brick and mortar store in Illinois. If you happen to live or visit the area, check in and attend a beading class or schedule a party. There is always something exciting going on at this local bead store!
Visit Abbi's Links:
Bead Stoppers are one of our favorite stringing tools. Bead Stoppers are easy to use. They clip on the end of an unfinished jewelry design so you do not lose your strung beads before the piece is crimped and finished. Bead Stoppers can hold multiple wires and cords. Being the innovators that we are, we helped to create Bead Stoppers with Soft Flex Exclusive Grip Tips to make this product even easier to handle. The grip tips also make it is easy to spot a Bead Stopper if you drop it and the colors allow you to personalize your collection.
Star's Beads: Everything You Need To Know About Head Pins
Master your head pins! Kay Goss has all of the info you need on how to handle this beading component. Learn how to make head pins from scratch using Soft Flex Craft Wire. Kay shows you how to turn a 22 gauge wire into a decorative head pin with spirals. Want to make your style really stand out? She shows you how to use 24 gauge Craft Wire to add an interesting coil to your head pin. Come out ahead with this fun video!
Kay Goss is taking the headache out of head pins. There are a variety of findings out there that might seem confusing or difficult to figure out. Kay is going to tell you all about how to use head pins in this instructive video. Learn how head pins can add a decorative accent to a bead. Learn how a head pin can turn an interesting bead into a focal using a head pin. Learn how to loop the end to finish the design. Head pins are great for earrings, adding dangles. and more. Master your findings with Kay!
Kay Goss is a fantastic designer. Her jewelry videos are loaded with fascinating techniques and interesting jewelry designs. She got her beading education as a child as she traveled the world with her mother. She learned how to find the best components and supplies at an early age. Star's Beads has been in business since 1996. At one time, her business was a brick and mortar operation. The pandemic forced her to make changes or close up shop. Her store is now a thriving online business.
Support small business! Kay offers a wide assortment of jewelry making supplies and high end findings. You can also find plenty of informative videos and beading classes on her site. Do you need custom jewelry for an event? Kay offers custom finished designs for all occasions - homecoming, weddings, interviews - get a signature jewelry design for an important moment. Need a repair on a broken necklace? Kay can take care of that for you, too.
Visit Kay's links:
Star's Beads
Star's Clasps
Facebook
Perfect for handcrafted head pins!
Soft Flex Craft Wire is a high quality, permanently colored copper wire. It is resistant to scratching, peeling and marring. This is due to the special enameling process used to coat the wire to produce the wide spectrum of colors we offer. After the enamel is applied, the wire is then clear coated to prevent tarnishing. Bare Copper is the only wire in the line that is not treated. If antiques and old findings are your medium, Bare Copper will patina - perfect for making that new project look like an heirloom.
Quality Soft Flex Craft Wire is 100% lead and nickel free. There are no other metals used in the wire production other than copper and fine silver. The temper of the wire is soft. It can be tempered to half hard. If you need to harden up your wire for ear wires or other findings, you may use a nylon hammer or wire whacker to work harden your project. Using a nylon hammer or wire whacker will allow the wire to work harden without marring or flattening the wire. An exceptional design idea deserves a professional craft wire.
The Bead Gallery: Tucson Gem Show Discussion And Learn How To Make Jump Rings
Jamie Yoshida is an entertaining conversationalist and skilled jewelry maker. This is a great video to check out if you want to learn more about Tucson. A good deal of the presenters on TGBE have been traveling to Tucson for years, sometimes even decades. Jamie shares some of her Tucson stories and hauls. This video is long on industry talk. If you are curious about the jewelry side of the craft and hobby business, Jamie has lots of great pointers and tips. Along the way you can also learn how to make homemade jump rings using Craft Wire and a wire looping tool. One great way of saving money and becoming a better jewelry maker is learning how to make your own findings. Plus, if you are designing you own findings, you can create any color or stylized accents you want.
Check out The Bead Gallery online! Jamie stocks her store with a little bit of festive (Lunar New Year), a little bit of fashion (Pantone's Very Peri Color of the Year beads), and a lot of Hawaiian spirit. Indulge in a little aloha with their jewelry supplies. You can find kits, beads, tools, finished jewelry, and more! Check out their kit little Mochi kits, make a delicious treat for your ears! Bring some Honolulu spirit to your home with the fun supplies you will find here.
Live. Love. Create.
Visit Jamie's links:
Multi-Size Mandrel Wire Wrapping and Wire Looping Jewelry Tool
Size: handle - 3.25in
Size: head - 1.12in
Size: mandrels on head (approximate) - 2mm, 3mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 9mm
This amazing tool is a must have for anybody that works with Craft Wire. The multi-level loops on the head allow for a variety of projects. Whether you are making jump rings, connectors, s hooks, interlocking chain, ear wire, and more - this single tool has you covered. The variety of mandrel sizes on the head means you can have loops of varying sizes. Every loop you finish with this tool will be consistent and professional. If you are designing a piece of jewelry with repeating loops, this tool is going to be your new best friend.
If you work with WigJig jig boards, you are going to love these pliers. The smallest step matches the Olympus Lite peg size. Now you can work your wire after it comes off the board without mismatching your loops!
SilverSilk: Pairing SilverSilk Chain With Soft Flex Craft Wire And Beading Wire
Nealay Patel showed off his wonderful new SilverSilk Pipe Chain. He showed us how to use 20 gauge Craft Wire with the Pipe Chain to give it some body and firmness by inserting the Craft Wire inside the Pipe Chain. You can make bracelets, rings, and focals with this pairing. He showed how to finish the Craft Wire with decorative spirals to enhance the piece. He also string his Soft Flex Beading Wire through the Pipe Chain. The pairing of our wire and his chain is just gorgeous! Nealay's techniques are easy if you have the right tools on hand. Make sure you invest in some basic wire wrapping tools, like Chain Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers and Nylon Jaw Pliers - you will be a pro in no time!
Nealay Patel is the owner of SilverSilk & More. SilverSilk is a knitted wire jewelry chain. But, it is like no other jewelry chain out in the craft market. SilverSilk is made by many tiny latch-hook needles that spin around with wire, intricately machine-stitching the wire into an elegant yet strong and supple knitted wire chain. This knitted wire stitchwork offers the crafter new and unusual ways to use it. You can string large-hole beads on it, sew through it, wire-wrap it, glue it, put it in resin or just leave it as a draped jewelry chain. We love SilverSilk chain, it is the perfect complement to Soft Flex Craft Wire or beading wire. These beading elements can be interwoven and wire wrapped into exciting new jewelry. Design something elegant and rich today with these two stringing options. Your finished jewelry will look like you bought it from a high end gallery!
We think Nealay is incredibly talented. We have followed him, with keen interest, as a designer and then a business owner. If you are not familiar with his jewelry designs, make sure you visit his website and social media. You will fall in love with the rich look of his wonderful jewelry. Each design is so captivating and full of eye catching detail, you will be staring for minutes, just to drink it all in.
Visit Nealay's links:
Make your life easier with Tools!
Beading tools are a huge quality of life improvement if you are a beader that is just learning the ways of the craft. Make sure you grab the right tool for the right job. Working with Craft Wire is incredibly easy if you have the right beading supplies. Check out our catalog of beading and wire wrapping tools. Working with Soft Flex Craft Wire or beading wire will be a snap when pairing our wire with SilverSilk chain mesh. Make something magical today!
Join our Facebook group – VIB. Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!
Visit the Soft Flex Company YouTube Channel!
Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com