Did you catch our appearance on JTV this week? It is National Crafting Month and Sara spread some Joyful Beading ideas on Jewel School. Takeovers began on the official Great Bead Extravaganza Facebook group on Monday - make sure you join the group or you will miss the fun! They will continue until the next big show begins in April. We had our takeover day, on Wednesday, we had fun drinking coffee and making jewelry with Craft Wire. We took a look at the companies that used our wire in their takeover presentations. We also found some wonderful jewelry demos from some of our favorite designers. So much excitement in one little week. Catch up with all of the fun on our weekly recap of jewelry making videos!
The week at a glance:
JTV's Jewel School -
Sara showed up and spread some beading inspiration to the crew at JTV. During her Jewel School segment, she discussed Soft Flex Beading Wire and she had some tips and tricks on how to use our wire.
The Great Bead Extravaganza Spring Fling Takeover -
Sara and Kristen have some wire wrapping and Craft Wire ideas. Learn how to make beaded bracelets and wire wrapped rings. Kellie Sutton taught us how to make a suncatcher with Soft Flex wire and beads. Nealay Patel showed us how to use Craft Wire and Flat Mesh SilverSilk wire to make a unique jewelry component. Tracy Proctor made some spring themed jewelry with our beading wire.
Jewelry Making Demonstrations:
Want to turn your found objects and beads into fun jewelry? Check out Kristen's Free Spirited video. Learn how to make earrings with 2022 Spring/ Summer Pantone colors with Sara. Dahlia Designs has a passion for purple. Sparkle by Monica is celebrating the luck of the Irish with a spring theme. And finally, Nealay Patel showed us how to turn a TierraCast connector into a gorgeous focal with Craft Wire. What a week! Let's take some free beading courses with these amazing jewelry designers!
2022 Spring/Summer Pantone Quad of Beading Wire
Explore the 2022 Pantone Colors of Spring and Summer. The 2022 Pantone Spring/Summer Color Quad of Beading Wire is our color matching collection. This Quad selection of colors was built to complement the colorways of Pantone's Spring and Summer seasonal selections: Snow White, Perfectly Pale, Basil, and Glacier Lake. We color matched with these wires (using a little artistic liberty): White Quartz (Snow White), Bone (Perfectly Pale), Fluorite (Basil) and Tanzanite (Very Peri), all in Soft Flex Beading Wire, .019 Medium diameter. We think you will love this color collection as much as we do.
Pantone knows color!
This Quad Collection is comprised of lead-free beading wire for designers that want to create jewelry with color mixing in mind. Color Wire Sets encapsulate the vivid palette of nature and the glamour of the fashion world. Color Wire Sets are comprised of fun and complementary 10 foot spools of Soft Flex Wire, the wire is constructed of 49 micro woven stainless steel wires. We recommend our 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.
Joyful Beading Challenge Calendar
Download the Full Calendar for March - Click HERE.
Need some inspiration? We brought back Joyful Beading. We wanted to give you a roadmap. Create what our community creates. Post your jewelry on our VIB Facebook Group and you will have a chance to win a ten dollar credit. Read more about Joyful Beading and download the calendar.
Follow along on our Joyful Beading road map. Each day, we begin a new jewelry project. For instance, March 29th is 'Make a Knotted Design'. On that day, every project that is a knotted design (macrame or a pearl necklace might be fun), will be entered to win a $10 credit. Projects must be posted before midnight PST, on that date. If you post a kit project on a different date and it is not applicable to that date's project, you will not be entered to win. Make sure every project you post has this hashtag - #joyfulbeading. If you do not include the hashtag, we may overlook your entry.
Read more about Joyful Beading here!
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 Company On JTV: Sara Oehler's Jewel School Segment
Sara filmed a segment for JTV this week. She was live for an informative episode of Jewel School. She discussed how our colorful wire is a great choice for jewelry designs when parts of the wire are exposed on a design - like an illusion necklace. She discussed how wonderful the wire looks when the color of the wire comes through a translucent bead. If you want to make your next necklace a masterpiece, consider the color of the wire that best complements your beads and gemstones.
We hope you caught the video live. JTV moves at lightening speed. Once the interviews are over, they are only kept for a short time on the Jewel School Facebook page. You can possibly catch a rerun on cable, but the hustle and bustle of an active television studio means the hottest topic is right now! If you caught the interview live, you could have taken part in the sales and discounts at JTV. If not, don't worry, we always have a great sale on our site.
Check out the design Sara shared with the crew at Jewel School. Illusion jewelry is designed to show long lengths of wire. You can use a fine wire with a neutral color to make it appear as if the beads are floating on your neck. You can also go with a bold color that enhances the design. Look how wonderful our wire looks when the color is exposed. It is also great for adding elements to jewelry - the tassels on the earrings look so gorgeous.
We can't wait for Sara's next appearance. She has was on JTV in May of last year and had a lot of fun sharing Soft Flex tips and techniques with the Jewel School audience. In August of 2018, Sara and Kristen both visited the JTV studios for a fun appearance. Make sure you know when we will be on next, sign up for our email in the link at the bottom of the blog.
The Great Bead Extravaganza Spring Fling Takeover
Make sure you join the Official TGBE Facebook Group to take part in the fun.
It is takeover time! TGBE takeovers are events where the Great Bead Extravaganza presenters get a chance to takeover the official Facebook group for a full day. During that time, they can share links, give jewelry demonstrations, and announce their latest sales. If you love an exhibitor from the show, it is your chance to see how their company functions and take part in their special discounts. Many of the presenters also use this time to stage giveaways and give out prizes. Once the takeovers end, the big bead show begins. Try to catch the live events and be a part of the gift giving excitement. You might also find a big discount on a bead or artisan item that you have wanted.
TGBE Takeover - Soft Flex Company: Wire Wrapped Rings And Craft Wire Beaded Bangle Bracelet
Is there a better way to spend an afternoon than with a friend, great conversation, and nice cup of coffee? Sara and Kristen love getting together and exploring creativity over some joe. For our takeover, they decided it was a great time to unspool some Craft Wire and start some fun jewelry projects.
Kristen recently filmed a beading party with Abbi Berta, the owner of The Bead Place. We wanted to spend some time with Abbi so we could learn about her Luna Bracelets. We had included the bracelets in our Supernova Design Kit as an item that would challenge fans of our kits. We love to have something unique or challenging because we think it stimulates a creative brain to overcome an obstacle and think outside the box. Completing a design with an unfamiliar component can be an amazing feeling.
Kristen fell in love with the way you could design a bracelet or cut the Luna Bracelets down and make something smaller - Abbi showed Kristen how to make a ring with the Luna Bracelet and add a button as the centerpiece of the ring. Kristen made her own and felt like the button was not only an amazing look, but a great fidget toy. For Coffee and Craft Wire, Kristen wanted to challenge herself to make Craft Wire rings with buttons. For such a simple design, the end craft looks so elegant.
Sara loves to design jewelry on the spur of the moment. She has filmed surprise jewelry, in front of a live audience for years now. Sometimes she has an idea of what she is going to make, but most often, she enjoys the pressure of a no safety net situation and designs something spontaneously. Not something all of us are comfortable doing, but she excels at it. When this show started, she was still trying to gather her thoughts and get an idea. She opted to make a bangle out of our 16 gauge Craft Wire. She then used a smaller 26 gauge wire to add beads to her bangle. He design leaves a lot of personal creativity to it. If you opt to make a beaded bangle bracelet at home, you can vary the shapes of the beads, the number of wires wrapped around the beads to attach them to the bangle and more. Use her bracelet as a springboard for your own signature bracelet design!
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. Add a skeleton key to a bare copper wire for an instant vintage focal with your own signature wire wrap.
TGBE Takeover - Kellie's Bead Boutique: How To Make A Suncatcher With Soft Flex Beading Wire
To view Kellie's TGBE video, visit the TGBE group main page, click HERE or on the image above.
NOTE: Make sure you are a member of the Official TGBE Facebook Group, the video may not be available if you are not a member and Facebook may reroute you to a different video. We are not responsible for the content Facebook sends you to if you are not a member.
Kellie Sutton is an amazing teacher and we are so glad she is a part of the Great Bead Extravaganza. She is the owner of a lovely brick and mortar bead store in Pitt Meadows, British Colombia. Her shop carries a wide range of jewelry making supplies. You can grab your Soft Flex Beading Wire from her and find some gorgeous beads to string on it. She carries mystery boxes, beading kits, tools, and so much more. If her shop is a little distant from your front door, visit her website and show her some love!
Want to learn how to make a beaded suncatcher? She has some exciting ideas for you. She sells suncatcher kits on her website. Buy one and you can join in on the fun. Make a suncatcher with a moon and star. Go earthy with a lovely tree of life. Or learn how to make a beaded dragonfly. These kits are wonderful and very reasonably priced.
Get your Suncatcher Kit!
Kellie's Links:
Kellie's Bead Boutique
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Subscribe to Kellie's emails
TGBE Takeover - SilverSilk & More: How To Make A Flat Mesh Chain And Craft Wire Jewelry Component
NOTE: Make sure you are a member of the Official TGBE Facebook Group, the video may not be available if you are not a member and Facebook may reroute you to a different video. We are not responsible for the content Facebook sends you to if you are not a member.
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 have been collaborating and joining forces with Nealay for years now. His out of the box designs have elevated beading to a new level. He always has thoughts on how to make a simple design look much more elegant and masterful. For his TGBE takeover, he showed us how Flat Mesh and Craft Wire could pair beautifully with a bead and make a component for a jewelry project. Want to make a focal or a new pair of earrings? This is a great way to stretch your creative muscles and try something new!
If you would like to check out all of Nealay's links, you can find them at the bottom of this blog. We have a second stunning jewelry design from him to share!
TGBE Takeover - TierraCast: Spring Themed Jewelry With Soft Flex Wire
To view Tracy's TGBE video, visit the TGBE group main page, click HERE or on the image above.
NOTE: Make sure you are a member of the Official TGBE Facebook Group, the video may not be available if you are not a member and Facebook may reroute you to a different video. We are not responsible for the content Facebook sends you to if you are not a member.
Tracy Proctor is a jewelry designer and product educator at TierraCast. You can find her tutorials on sites like ArtBeads.com and you can find lots of videos on YouTube. Tracy started at TierraCast in 2006. She did not have a background in jewelry making when she began, her talents lie in fine arts and graphic design. The company found her experience valuable and it lent itself into jewelry design. Tracy handles marketing and creative work at TierraCast. If something from TierraCast caught your eye, she is probably the reason!
Make sure you visit TierraCast on their Facebook page and website. TierraCast is not a retail company, you cannot purchase directly from them if you are not a wholesale buyer. But, you can find their quality components in many local bead stores and online bead shops.
Tracy enjoys having her viewers offer suggestions and ask questions about TierraCast components. If you join her videos live, you can ask her to demonstrate any TierraCast products that you would like to see in a design. For Tracy's presentation, she decided she would go with TGBE's Spring Fling theme and design upbeat floral jewelry to celebrate the season. If you would like to see how wonderfully TierraCast components work with Soft Flex wire and SilverSilk, this is a great watch!
Found Object Jewelry: Czech Glass Beads, Ammonite Fossil And Craft Wire
Got some odds and ends in your beading supplies that you are not sure how to use? Got a knick-knack from a vacation that you would love to add to a necklace? Kristen has you covered. She filmed a found object episode of Free Spirit Beading this week. Learn how to make a necklace with found objects that you love, but might not be in a large enough quantity to string with like objects. If you love asymmetry or challenging yourself to create something out of the box - this is the right video for you to grab a healthy shot of inspiration! We have a list of supplies to get you started, but honestly, this is found objects, we bet you have some amazing components in your toolkit that are perfect for your very own design!
From Kristen:
Love this found object charm necklace! I used lots of Soft Flex Craft Wire in vintage bronze & gold, Czech glass beads from TGBE Tucson kit (ammonite, etched and turbine beads on sale today!), SilverSilk capture chain and a shell piece I thrifted while in Hawaii! Note: I added jump rings between the wire loop beads in the chain, no clasp.
Watch
Make Geometric Head Pins with Soft Flex Craft Wire for DIY Jewelry
Watch
Double Wrapped Loop Bracelet With Soft Flex Craft Wire
Beads
Jump Rings
TierraCast Components (Hammertone Rings)
Czech Glass (Ammonite and Table Cut Beads)
SilverSilk Chain
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Cutters
2022 Spring/Summer Pantone Colors For Joyful Jewelry Making
Sara wanted to show off our fun new 2022 Spring/Summer Pantone Quad of Beading Wire, the Pantone bead mix and bead strands we added to our inventory. We are in love with Pantone's 2022 Color of the Year - Very Peri. It is the first time Pantone has used a color that they invented as the selection. It looks amazing. Very Peri is the serene and calming cradle of blue, mixed with the energy and radiance of red. We love this dynamic periwinkle! We are also celebrating Pantone's Spring and Summer seasonal selections: Snow White, Perfectly Pale, Basil, and Glacier Lake. We think these colors are instant classics. Design your jewelry with iconic color selections and always look fashionable!
TierraCast Charms and Components
Beads
Czech Glass
Ear Wires
2x2mm Crimp Tubes (Necklace)
Magical Crimping Pliers (Necklace)
3x3mm Crimp Tubes (Earrings)
Mighty Crimping Pliers (Earrings)
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Cutters
We recently enjoyed some quality time with Cassandra Spicer, owner of Beads to Live By. We held a fun beading party and learned how to make earrings. Cassandra has a stunning earring design using multiple strands of Soft Flex Beading Wire. Sara decided to make her own for this video. If you would like to learn more about Cassandra and her jewelry designs, make sure you check out the blog linked just below!
Live Beading Party! Meet Jewelry Designer Cassandra Spicer, Owner Of Beads To Live By
Sara lives in the Bay Area now and commutes to the Soft Flex headquarters in Sonoma, California. But she was an Arizona girl for decades. Part of her heart will always belong in the desert. For this video, she used some of our new TierraCast buttons and charms to make a necklace to accompany her new earrings. These components make it easy to design jewelry that is inspired by the flavor of the American Southwest!
Dahlia Designs: Passion For Purple Collab Using Purple Petals 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! I've re-joined Kim over at MetalScrappinChick for her Passion for Purple collab, where we can make Anything purple (not just jewelry) each month on the 15th at Noon. Hope you like what I made this month (mine will be jewelry each month). Please be sure to visit Kim and the other collab participants too!
Visit Dahlia Design's links:
YouTube
Etsy Shop
Facebook Business Page
Sparkle By Monica: Be Creative Irish Spring Craft Collab Finished Jewelry
From Monica:
Here's another fun creative collaboration with Tappingflamingo aka The Bohemian Hippie's Be Creative Irish Spring theme.
Hi, y’all! My name is Monica Dockery of Sparkle by Monica. I’m originally from Tennessee, lived in the deserts of Arizona and Texas, and have now recently moved to a farm in Kentucky. I’ve been on a beading hiatus for 2 years during a nightmare farmhouse remodel. I am getting my sparkly groove back, however, thanks to options like Soft Flex Company’s exciting Mystery Design Kits and beautiful beading wire colors. Although I originally got into jewelry making as a hobbyist in need of uniquely themed party favors, I eventually transitioned over to a business and later expanded into teaching craft classes, providing consultation services to other handmade entrepreneurs, creating digital graphics, and posting YouTube tutorials. My hubby and cats are still my biggest fans (even though they think I’ve developed a SLIGHT bead hoarding addiction). I am grateful to all who become members of my Sparkle Squad along my beaded path. Sparkle on, y’all!
Visit Monica's Links:
Website
Facebook
YouTube
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Pinterest
SilverSilk & More: Turning A TierraCast Connector Link Into A Stunning Focal
Are you ready for a little bit of beading wizardry? Nealay showed us how to turn a TierraCast connector into a gorgeous focal bead. This is truly an elegant way to turn a simple component into a front and center eye catching jewelry element. Wow! To accomplish this, Nealay used SilverSilk, Craft Wire, beads and TierraCast components. Very little beading supplies needed but the end result is amazing. Spruce up your simple findings and turn them into masterpieces!
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