The biggest bead show on the planet has arrived! The Tucson gem and mineral show is a city wide extravaganza. The city itself becomes one massive bead store as vendors from all over the world descend on the town to show their wares and sell to smiling faces. If you are not planning to make a trip this year, follow along as we take a virtual look at the beads and products you would find in the crowded halls and ballrooms. We are offering big sales on our website and we have some fun jewelry ideas for you. Let's binge a jam packed week of bead stringing fun!
This was a hectic week of videos. This recap will be heavy on content and light on text. Who wants to read a wall of information when you can watch an exciting and educational video? Consider this a free online beading course. All of your favorites made an appearance this week to film exciting jewelry making videos. Sara, Kristen, James, and Nealay - the gang is all here! Learn how to make beaded bracelets, beaded necklaces, kumihimo jewelry, Craft Wire hearts for Valentine's Day and so much more!
Sara will also be premiering a new video on our YouTube channel on Saturday, February 8th. You won't want to miss it. She will be showing you how to customize the heart she made on Tuesday, this week. She offers a new way to make a special heart for Valentine's Day. This heart is perfect for a focal for Valentine's. Catch her show at 8am PST. You can set a reminder in the link below and see a sneak preview of the hearts in the blog.
Don't miss Sara's Valentine's Day Craft Wire Hearts. Premiering Saturday, February 8th at 8am, PST.
Send a heartfelt message on your next name necklace. Gift a friend a piece of handcrafted jewelry for Valentine's Day. Or just use your metal stamping tools to make designs for yourself. A keepsake, like a focal plate with your children's names, is a great way to spoil yourself and keep those you love close to your heart. Let your voice be heard in your handmade jewelry.
Jewelry Making Videos
Facebook Live: Beaded Macrame Bracelet
Kristen started the week off with an early video on Monday morning. She made a beaded bracelet with our Dark Heart Bead Mix. She our Dark Hearts Trios Beading Wire collection to string her design. She wanted to do something unique and made her jewelry on a macrame board. Soft Flex Beading Wire is perfect for micro macrame and now is the time to try it! We have big Tucson savings on our Soft Flex Craft Wire, Beading Wire, and beads!
Be adventurous and check it out. Macrame is super easy to learn. The Mini Macrame Board is great at holding the wire while you work and making things even easier!
Supplies:
Soft Flex Dark Heart Trios
Dark Heart Bead Mix
Mini Macrame Board
2x2mm Crimp Tubes in Sterling Silver Black Oxidized
Anna's Clasp Set
Cutters
Crimping Pliers
YouTube Live: Free Spirit Beading - Beaded Macrame Bracelet Variation
There was no stopping Kristen on Monday. She filmed another exciting episode of Free Spirit Beading a couple of hours after her morning video. This time, she designs another beaded macrame bracelet, but with different color variations. The wire looks incredible on these bracelets. The black wire used as a base line give the core a muted tone and the vibrant pink knotting really stands out. Change up the colors and beads on your design. Glass beads, wooden beads, stones, or silver - get creative. These bracelets are electric!
Don't miss Free Spirit Beading Mondays at 12pm PST.on Monday.
Supplies:
Soft Flex Dark Heart Trios
Dark Heart Bead Mix
Mini Macrame Board
2x2mm Crimp Tubes in Sterling Silver Black Oxidized
Anna's Clasp Set
Cutters
Crimping Pliers
Facebook Live: Valentine's Day Jewelry With WigJig Jig Boards And Craft Wire
Sara jumped on Facebook on Tuesday to show us how to use a WigJig jig board. She wanted to make some fun Valentine's Day jewelry and thought some red Craft Wire would make an amazing choice for a gorgeous focal. If you would like to learn more about using Craft Wire on a jig board, this is a fun and instructive video. You are sure to fall in love with the design and learn a lot in the process. Make sure you check out our Tucson savings on our Craft Wire category!
Supplies:
18g Soft Flex Craft Wire
26g Soft Flex Craft Wire
WigJig Delphi Acrylic Wire Jig
WigJig Delphi Small Super Pegs
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Bead Nippers (Cutters)
Chain Nose Pliers (or similar pliers)
Round Nose Pliers
She has some fun variations to make this flirty heart flutter.
Facebook Live: Gemstones And Beads - Warehouse Showcase
One of the main reasons Tucson reigns supreme for big shows is the staggering volume and variety of beads for sale. Bead Stores from all over the world meet and sell the finest gemstones, fossils, artisan lampwork, and more.
Sara took us behind the scenes this week. She showed off our secret stash in our warehouse.
If you love gemstones and beads, this is a fun video. Sometimes it can be hard to judge a stone from a picture on a website. Sara gives us an intimate look at the quality of stones and beads you can find in our gallery and in our warehouse. If you love sparkly stuff, but are hesitant to purchase a stone from a picture, this will give you a better idea of what is on our shelves.
Facebook Live: Metal Stamped Jewelry
Kristen discussed one of our favorite new items on our shelves - metal stamping tools.
Would you like to know more about metal stamping and how to use metal stamping tools? This video will give you some insight into what kind of fun you can expect with a hammer and stamps. Metal stamping is an amazing way to personalize your jewelry. It is truly one of a kind if it has your name on it, right? Making name necklaces and handmade jewelry with these tools is fun and a great way to make something really personal and near to your heart.
Supplies:
22g Soft Flex Craft Wire (for connector)
ImpressArt Multi-Function Hammer Kit
ImpressArt Premium Stamping Blank - Crescent 1pc
ImpressArt Letter Stamps - Basic Typewriter 3mm font. Uppercase set
SilverSilk Pearlesque Chain
ImpressArt Brass Texture Stamper Head for Metal Stamping Jewelry
ImpressArt Enamel Marker - Black
ImpressArt Large Steel Bench Block
Chain Nose Pliers
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Bead Nippers (Cutters)
Facebook Live: Kumihimo Braided Jewelry With Craft Wire
Sara had an exciting idea for a jewelry project. She wanted to see how a thicker gauge of Soft Flex Craft Wire would flow and look using a round kumihimo disk. James has used a sqaure Kumihimo plate for a design. But he used a much finer gauge of wire. Kumihimo is super easy to learn and master. Once you have the hang of how to braid, you can use Beading Wire, silk, thread, and combinations of cord. Each stringing material will lend its own shape and color.
Join our Facebook group – VIB. to see how the finished design looks!
Supplies:
Kumihimo Disk
20g Soft Flex Craft Wire
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Bead Nippers (Cutters)
YouTube Video Premiere: Beaded Dreamcatchers Made With Craft Wire
James Browning is Soft Flex Company's master of Craft Wire. You can catch his series, Conversations in Wire, on YouTube every other Thursday. James is a patient designer and promotes the idea that working slowly will allow a wire artist to correct mistakes as they go. Take it easy and your designs will be amazing.
This week, James made a follow up video of sorts. His viewers had been asking for a Craft Wire dream catcher. He obliged with a gorgeous design.
Supplies:
18g Soft Flex Craft Wire
26g Soft Flex Craft Wire
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Bead Nippers (Cutters)
Chain Nose Pliers (or similar pliers)
LoopRite Looping Pliers or Round Nose Pliers
Facebook Live: Wire Working With Lazee Daizee Viking Knit Wire Weaving Tool
James filmed a live jewelry demonstration on Friday morning. James is a perfectionist and prefers to upload his shows, so he can make sure they are highly polished. But he took a risk and gave us a live demo. We think he did a fantastic job. One fun part of live videos is watching the designer make a mistake or two and work to correct it. It becomes a learning experience for everybody. It is also a great way to watch the process in action. Live shows are also a unique way to interact with a jewelry designer and pick their brain as they work. We hope you caught this live, but if you did not, make sure you watch this instructive video.
Supplies:
Lazee Daizee Viking Knit Wire Weaving Tool 1/2"
Lazee Daizee Viking Knit Wire Weaving Tool 1/4"
26g Soft Flex Craft Wire
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Bead Nippers (Cutters)
Chain Nose Pliers (or similar pliers)
Nealay's Final Stop on the SilverSilk Paris in the Rain Facebook Bead Tour
Nealay's third and final stop on the Paris in the Rain Facebook Bead Tour landed on the Jesse James Beads Facebook Page. The Paris in the Rain Design Kit contains a delicious little ten foot spool of Soft Flex Beading Wire in Tanzanite color. He had Jesse James Beads add a selection of beautiful tassels. He put together a stunning collection of goodies from SilverSilk - periwinkle flowers, minty green pendants, light blue crystals, and hints of yellow. Finally, he topped it off with some luscious Pearlesque Chain from his store. It is a fantastic mix for spring!
If you like SilverSilk, Soft Flex Beading Wire, and Jesse James Beads - you are going to love this mystery kit.
Supplies:
Paris in the Rain Deluxe Mystery Kit
Soft Flex .019/Medium Diameter Wire in Tanzanite
2x2mm Soft Flex Crimp Tubes
SilverSilk Pearlesque Chain
SilverSilk End Caps
SilverSilk Lobster Claw Clasp
Jesse James Beads
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Magical Crimping Pliers
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