Well, the holidays are over and life is returning to a familiar busy pace. We hope you had some time to relax and take a needed break. After sharing warm moments and good fun with our friends and family we are back to work. We are adding wonderful new beading supplies to our site and filming jewelry making videos that are instructive and fun. This blog is loaded with great tips and beading ideas. Make a resolution to make jewelry this year!
Check out our Live Sales! Click the image above to visit our new sales platform. We have an exciting gallery full of amazing gemstones and beads. You can register to shop here - Register. And download our app here - Soft Flex App. If you would like to be notified when a sale is coming, sign up for our texts.
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!
Cute Jewelry For Winter - Snowman Ceramic Beads & Chilly Czech Glass
Snowmen are such a fun and iconic symbol of the coldest season. Clumsily put together by excited children or added with precision by people that have spent their lives perfecting the art of the carrot nose and button eyes. What better way to walk through winter in style than with a cute set of snowman jewelry? Kristen showed us how she made a festive necklace and snowman earrings. You are going to love this episode of Free Spirit Beading if you love Frosty the Snowman.
Snowmen are a great representation of handmade crafts in general. When you create something by hand, it might have bumps and flaws, but it is an act of love. We think handcrafted jewelry should be fun and have an occasional imperfection. It gives the jewelry an organic look and adds character. Free Spirit Beading is a show that celebrates embracing the kinks and bruises of DIY jewelry, but continuing on and enjoying the journey. Kristen shows you how to avoid being a perfectionist and how to overlook an error or possibly add it into the final design. Watch this fun artist in action! You are going to learn a lot!
Small Teeny Tiny Beads, Winter Holiday Ceramic Beads For Playful Jewelry Making
Sparkle and Shine Bead Mix
Soft Flex Beading Wire, .019 Diameter in White Quartz
2x2mm Crimp Tubes
Magical Crimping Pliers
Ear Wires
Cutters
Bead With Me - Kay Goss Countdown To New Years
Note: Facebook has begun removing older videos. You can visit Kay's Facebook to see her current videos.
Kay started the year off with a gorgeous necklace that is perfect for winter. The colorway is on par with the brisk chill in the air. But it can be worn any time if you change up the colors. It looks amazing and Kay is so fun to watch. Check out her online beading classes!
Kay is a good friend of the Soft Flex family. She is a talented jewelry designer and co-owner of Star's Beads. We met Kay on the road. We traveled in similar circles for decades. We set our booth up at the same shows as she did. We got to watch her business grow. And we saw her start a family. When COVID hit, Kay faced the challenge of maintaining a brick and mortar store during the pandemic. She considered her options and decided that moving to the digital realm was the best option. Her store is amazing as ever and you do not even have to live nearby, anymore. Check her out online and support her small business. Small businesses are helmed by passionate people that care about the products they sell. Kay's store is full of exceptional products and she is there to educate you on how best to use the items she sells.
From Kay:
Upcycle from the jewelry jar of Thriftmas and learn more for the New Year's eve upcycle challenge. A quick sneak peek at something new too! See the unboxing here https://fb.watch/aaTzeGpuRL/ If you enjoy this video, make sure you check out Kay's links!
Join Kay for Bead with Me!
Need something to do? Do something creative! Check out Kay’s new series Bead with Me to get you inspired. Get free video tutorials, design tips, and product highlights to keep you creating!
Bead with Me is a LIVE broadcast designed to offer inspiration with free video tutorials, guest artists, project tips, product highlights plus custom kits and care packages to make your designs uniquely you!
Airing Monday thru Thursday on FB Live
Visit Kay's links:
Beadorea
Star's Clasps
Facebook
Pinterest
NYE Stardust & Sparkles Workshop From SilverSilk
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!
NYE Stardust & Sparkles Workshop: Stardust Necklace
The Stardust and Sparkles Kit is no longer available, but you can design this project using these items:
33in • Pearlesque Fuzzy Flat Mesh
3 • 2in Lengths of Pearlesque Gold/Blue Chain
1 • Gold Flat Mesh Crimp
1 • Stardust Pendant
1 • 20mm Faceted Hexagon Bead
1 • 12mm Light Sapphire Faceted Rondelle
1 • 6mm Metallic Blue Round Beads
1 • 6mm Gold Glue-in Bead Cap
3 • 4mm Terminators
15in • 20g OR 22g Gold Soft Flex Craft Wire
Industrial Craft Glue
Clear Nail Polish (Optional)
Stardust & Sparkles Workshop: Glitter Girl Necklace
The Stardust and Sparkles Kit is no longer available, but you can design this project using these items:
2 • 12in lengths of Black Pearlesque Hollow Mesh
Mini Lavendar Pinch Bead Strand
5in • Black Glitter Tube Cord
7 • 3mm Mini Light Pink Rondelle Beads
4 • 5mm Silver Bead Caps
6 • 5mm Frosty White Rondelle Beads
4 • 8mm Blue AB Rondelle Beads
4 • Silver Glitter Beads
1 • 20mm Faceted Hexagon Bead
4 • 3mm Metallic Blue Rondelle Beads
2 • 6mm Metallic Blue Round Beads
2 • 2mm Silver Crimp Tubes
24in • Soft Flex Extreme Silver Beading Wire
Silver Color Clasp
2 • 4mm Silver Color Jump Rings
2ft • 26g OR 24g Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire
5in • 20g Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire
NYE Stardust & Sparkles Workshop: Apoxie Sculpt Pendant
The Stardust and Sparkles Kit is no longer available, but you can design this project using these items:
15-20 • 3mm Metallic Blue Rondelle Beads
Apoxie Sculpt A & B
Sea Blue Metallic Mica Powder
3in • Pearlesque Fuzzy Flat Mesh
1 • Dark Rhodium Flat Mesh Crimp
1 • 6mm Metallic Blue Round Bead
1 • 12mm Light Sapphire Faceted Rondelle
1 • 3mm Mini Light Pink Rondelle Bead
24in • Soft Flex Extreme Silver Beading Wire
2 • 2mm Silver Crimp Tube
Silver Color Clasp
2 • 4mm Silver Color Jump Rings
Latex Gloves (Optional)
NYE Stardust & Sparkles Workshop: Party Girl Earrings
The Stardust and Sparkles Kit is no longer available, but you can design this project using these items:
2 • 4in Lengths of Pearlesque Gold/Blue Chain
2 • Gold Triple-strand End Caps
2 • 6mm Electric Blue Bicone Beads
2 • 8mm Disco Ball Beads
2 • 10mm Clear Faceted Cube Beads
2 • 3mm Mini Light Pink Rondelle Bead
Gold Color Ear Wires
2 • 6in lengths of 26g OR 24g Gold Soft Flex Craft Wire
3in • 20g Soft Flex Craft Wire (Optional)
The Stardust and Sparkles Kit is no longer available, but you can design this project using these items:
2 • 4in Lengths of Sea Foam Pearlesque Chain
10 • 6mm Electric Blue Bicone Beads
6 • 3mm Mini Light Pink Rondelle Bead
Silver Color Ear Wires
2 • 6mm Silver Color Jump Rings
4 • 3mm Silver Color Jump Rings
2 • 8in lengths of 20g Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire
2 • 18in lengths of 26g OR 24g Silver Soft Flex Craft Wire
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