Wow! We had an incredible week. How about you? We started off with a jewelry making presentation during the Great Bead Extravaganza. We hope you were able to join us live during the world's biggest virtual bead show! If not, you can catch all of the exhibitors on the TGBE Facebook group. We also celebrated Kit Day. Kit Day is a Soft Flex Company holiday. It is a day where we unbox our latest mystery themed kit. On Kit Day we also reveal our newest kit and post images of finished jewelry from our last kit. It is a day full of explosive creativity! Check out the fun. You are sure to find a jewelry design you love!
Did you see Sara and Kristen at the Great Bead Extravaganza Tucson 2022? They designed some lovely jewelry. Learn how to macrame with Soft Flex Beading Wire or get inspired to make a bracelet with charms. We celebrated an otherworldly Kit Day with our Supernova Design Kit. If you hurry, there are still some kits in our inventory. See what this mix of beading supplies has to offer! Sam Siegel got to enjoy some time with Danielle Wickes. She made a gorgeous necklace with one of Sam's Bead Boxes. Deb Houck, from Dahlia Designs - Jewelry and More, opened our Tucson Great Bead Extravaganza Design Kit and gave her thoughts on the contents. She then showed us the jewelry she made with the kit. Brittany Chavers opened Sam's Bead Box February 2022 and showed us how to make a bracelet. Rosanna Brafford showed us how to make earrings with our Supernova kit. And finally, we checked out the lovely leather bracelet that Nealay Patel, from SilverSilk, made. Whew! What a jam packed week of jewelry!
Trios Supernova Beading Wire Pack (Black Onyx, Dark Blue Lapis, Purple Amethyst)
Supernova is a once in a lifetime event. The death of a massive star. The star expands and then buckles. The orb blasts into glittering nebula and dust. The remains cradle and nurse new celestial life. Share the joy of the unknown with us. Be the most radiant star in your sky with a design kit that is explosively unique. Create a constellation of jewelry. Pay homage to the mystery of the darkness above. Make jewelry that is brilliant and captures the imagination.
Trios Color Wire Sets let you apply color theory to your next design.
Trios Color Wire is a lead-free beading wire for designers that want to create jewelry with color mixing in mind. Trios Color Wire Sets encapsulate the vivid palette of nature and the glamour of the fashion world. Trios Color Wire Sets are comprised of three 10 foot spools of Soft Flex .019 (Medium), the wire is constructed of 49 micro woven stainless steel wires. We recommend Trios Color Wire Sets for designers that want to design with a motif or gemstone in mind.
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. Soft Flex Wire is also available in 30, 100 and 1000 foot spools.
Basic Usage: Ideal all purpose wire. Great with glass, mineral, and metal beads. We suggest finishing with 2x2mm crimps.
Length: 10 ft. / 3.048m (each color)
Diameter: .019 (Medium)
Made in the U.S.A.
Jewelry Making Videos
Follow Us On TikTok And Instagram - Learn How To Craft And Make Jewelry In Just Minutes
Follow us on the web! Our social media sites are loaded with instructional jewelry making videos YouTube and Facebook have a ton of long form videos that will teach you how to make jewelry. You will find in depth discussions on how to use your tools and finish your jewelry on those channels. Our Instagram page and SoftFlexWire@TikTok will teach you how to make jewelry in under a minute. Smash that learning curve and learn a new technique at lightning speed. Instagram Reels and TikTok are great tools for learning something new or finding quick inspiration. If your creativity needs a quick cup of coffee, make sure you visit us for a much needed jolt of crafting caffeine!
Check out our 30 second jewelry tutorials on Soft Flex Company's Instagram Reels! Master a new technique in minutes. These videos move quick but are easy to follow. You will get a sense of how to use your tools and finish your crimps securely. If you need more assistance, make sure you check out our YouTube catalog for deeper dives into jewelry making education. Stand on the shoulders of giants and enhance your jewelry making knowledge in a flash!
Got a minute? Follow us on the Soft Flex TikTok Page! Learn how to make jewelry with a fun soundtrack. Sara is here to show you how to make something amazing in just a minute. This is a great quickie if you need the basics. You can always follow up with more in depth videos on our YouTube channel if you need extra help. Sara has ideas for bead stringing, wire wrapping, and so much more. Learn from a jewelry designer pro at the pace you choose!
Soft Flex Jewelry Making Demonstration - Great Bead Extravaganza Tucson 2022
The Great Bead Extravaganza is back! This time the event was an homage to Tucson. Every January and February, the entire town of Tucson becomes a massive bead store. Tucson gem shows are spread all across the desert city. Beads are sold in arenas, conference rooms, and even out of hotel rooms. It is a bucket list event. If you love beads and gemstones, you need to try and make the trip at least once. If traveling is not in the cards, the Great Bead Extravaganza is the next best thing.
Don't you just love a fun 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.
Sara has some great ideas for color beading wire. Think out of the box and show your wire. We have gemstone colors that pair wonderfully with stones and a rainbow of tones for any design. Sara shows how you can string a bracelet and make the wire a part of the design, rather than a beading element that is concealed by beads. Want to string jewelry that shows the wire in new and wonderful ways? Check out this video for some great ideas!
Sara and Kristen used a mini macrame board to complete their jewelry creations. This self healing board 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.
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!
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.
Supernova Jewelry Making Kit Reveal And Beading Tutorial
Sara unboxed our Supernova Design Kit this week. This kit was the perfect fit for Sara. She is a stargazer and loves the mystery of the inky canvas above. Plus, this design kit is full of mystical colors - purples, blacks and radiant blues. Even if you are not a space jockey, you will still adore the colorway. For her unboxing and jewelry making video, she was inspired to make earrings that had a little bit of a comet's tail and a dash of starry symbols. Make cosmic jewelry for yourself or a gift for your favorite astronaut.
Supernova Design Kit
Soft Flex Beading Wire, .019 Diameter in Black Onyx
2x2mm Crimp Tubes
Magical Crimping Pliers
Cutters
Sam's Bead Shop: Danielle Wickes Makes Jewelry With Sam's Bead Box
If you have never visited Sam's Bead Shop, make sure you check it out! He has a gorgeous collection of beads. You will find a striking collection of gemstones and a delicious mix of Czech Glass. If you need to restock your beading supplies, you can do that too! It is a fun little one stop shop. If you would like to subscribe to his Monthly Bead Box, that is an easy way to save money on a bundle of beads and goodies.
Learn a more about this young business owner from our first beading party with him. We think he is going to be a creative force in this industry for decades to come! Catch this rising star early.
Sam's links:
Website
Bead Box
Join our text list for LIVE alerts!
Gem Chat
VIP group
YouTube
Don't miss our Beading party with Danielle Wickes of John Bead. Danielle found her calling with beading and jewelry making around 2006. A friend at a local bead store taught her wire working and knotting. This start was the foundation for her love of jewelry making.
Danielle Wickes is an incredible artisan. Her jewelry is imaginative and wonderful. She is the kind of designer that shows us how to innovate and stretch our imagination. Danielle is a jewelry designer and a content creator for John Bead. She is also a teacher for Michael's, you can find her weekly classes on Michael's website.
Visit Danielle's links:
DanielleWickesJewelry.com
DanielleWickes.Etsy.com
Blog.JohnBead.com
Michaels.com/classes
Dahlia Designs: Unboxing The Soft Flex TGBE Design Kit
Deb Houck always has fun design ideas and her videos are great soul food. If you enjoy unboxing videos as much as we do, check out her video library on YouTube. She has hauls and unboxing videos that you will really enjoy - especially if you like the companies she features. Unboxing videos are a great way to do your due diligence before you purchase. Don't take a company's words as truth, listen to what a customer has to say when they unwrap their goodies and put the products to the test! You can also catch the crafty side of Deb on her second YouTube channel. Check her videos out, we promise you will learn something new and have fun doing it!
From Deb Houck:
Hi everyone! Today I am unboxing a mini haul and a kit for The Great Bead Extravaganza (TGBE) event hosted by Soft Flex Company but with roughly a dozen jewelry business vendors participating. Although I filmed this in January, it will publish on February 19, 2022, just after Soft Flex discloses the kit contents. Also, I quoted prices from my receipt, but I do not know whether any of the items shown will still be available by or on February 19, 2022, nor am I affiliated with Soft Flex Company. Please visit their website to check if you are interested in the products shown, or to see what else they have to offer. Thank you!
Dahlia Designs: Finished Jewelry From The Tucson Great Bead Extravaganza Kit
From Deb Houck:
This month, Soft Flex had two kits - there regular monthly one (coming soon on my channel), and this special Tucson Love kit for The Great Bead Extravaganza Event hosted by Soft Flex (2/18, 19, and 20). I am sharing my makes from the Tucson Love kit after sharing the unboxing (which is right after Soft Flex revealed it too). I had a Lot of fun with this kit and used it mostly all up, but I did also bring in things I've had and tell you where I got those as well.
If you enjoy Deb's presentation, you can learn more about her here:
Spotlight On Our VIB Jewelry Making Community: Designer Deb Houck
Find Deb at these links:
YouTube channel: Dahlia Designs - Jewelry and More
YouTube channel: Deb Houck's Crafty Cottage
Etsy shop: Dahlia Jewelry Designs
Turquoise.Street: Sam's Bead Box February 2022 Unboxing And Bracelet Tutorial
Brittany Chavers is a kindred spirit if you enjoy a mix of jewelry styles. She joined us for the Trick Or Treat Jewelry Making Party with JJB and we were hooked on her jewelry! She mixed a little Halloween haunts with her Christmas jewelry and made some designs that made our hearts happy in December. We love her videos featuring Sam’s Bead Box. We cannot get enough of this up and coming YouTube designer. Follow along for a spirited journey!
From Brittany Chavers:
Check out this fun, sweet box from Sam's Bead Shop and make a necklace with me! Sign up at Sam's Bead Box and use code TURQUOISE to receive $5 off your first box!!!! The box is $45/month, plus shipping, and they ship Internationally.
Brittany's links:
Facebook Bead Group
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
Turquoise.Street Instagram
Etsy
DashingDeStash Etsy
Twitter
In Rose's Garden: Making Earrings With Soft Flex Company's Supernova Design Kit
Rosanna Brafford is a talented designer and exciting artist. She has been a part of the Soft Flex Facebook group – VIB for years. We have watched her create a staggering number of new and beautiful jewelry designs over the years. She is always innovating and always trying something unique. We were excited to hear that she is a new Jesse James Beads Design Ambassador and that she is making videos on YouTube. If you are not familiar with her work, you owe it to yourself to subscribe to her channel and follow along on our community. She is sure to inspire you to try a new technique or two!
From Rosanna Brafford:
These adorable earrings are made from the beads from my Soft Flex Company Supernova Design kit. The Czech glass Moons are adorable and go just beautifully with the little silver star charms. They will make a lovely addition to your ears!
You will need:
Beads from the Supernova kit
20 gauge wire, 2 pieces, cut approx. 5-6 inches
earwires
flush cutters
bail-making pliers, 2 sizes
chain nose pliers, 2 pair
Check out Rosanna's Links:
SilverSilk and More: Easy Leather Bracelet And Custom Clasp
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!
From Nealay:
Create a fabulous bracelet with an unusual, but easy, closure using SilverSilk Pearlesque Chain.
Materials List:
2in •
SilverSilk Pearlesque Chain
2 •
Single-strand End Caps
2 •
Double-strand End Caps
1 • 5mm Decorative Bead
2in • 20ga
Soft Flex Craft Wire
4-6in •
3mm Leather Cord
3 •
Jump Rings
2 •
TierraCast Charms or beads
1 •
10-15mm Button
Headpins (optional if you choose beads instead of charms)
Be sure to mark your calendars for every Tuesday, 5:30pm CST and hop over to facebook.com/groups/silversilk to watch Nealay's videos live and ask questions.
Nealay's channel is dedicated to learning how to make high quality jewelry with SilverSilk with an emphasis on design. You can follow his journey here:
www.instagram.com/silversilkandmore
www.facebook.com/silversilkandmore
Or join his Silkies group and be a part of the conversation www.facebook.com/groups/silversilk
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