From Kids Earrings to Sophisticated Necklaces to Wedding Jewelry...

Knowing that I start work in a little over a month (I AM LOVING THIS SUMMER-off STUFF!), I have been spending whatever minute I am not busy at church or with the house on, you guessed it, making jewelry :) Ah, this is the life. Where to being?


A few weeks ago a girl from my church was wearing some super cute earrings. I told her that I liked them... her mom told me that she loves wearing glamorous earrings...  but not the price tag. I told them I could teach her how to make them herself for free. Next think you knew, I had two 11-year old gals (the first brought a friend) and her mom at my kitchen table ready to learn! Making dangle earrings really is quite easy (and after this whole teaching lesson I am going to make a tutorial and start selling DIY earrings kits for kids - not sure why I didn't think of that before!), and these kids (and adult) got it with little instruction! Here is what they created in less than 2 hours!:

Needless to say, I was quite proud :)

Next on the list was several sets of bridal jewelry. Someone contacted me on Etsy awhile back and asked if I could make several sets of my pearl ball necklaces with matching earrings, though change up the color a bit to include white pearl ball rather than a salmon one. Consider it done!

After I sent Laura her earrings and necklaces (I threw in a set for the bride, too!), she wrote:
"I just got them- they are beautiful!!!!!!  I love how everything turned out- thank you so much!!  Thank you for including an extra for myself :) I put it on immediately haha (figure it has to go away till the wedding, but couldn't help myself)- they are so beautiful!!! Thank you so much for working with me on this- was a pleasure!! :) would def recommend to anyone who asks. Thanks again!!!!!!"


I also got a last-minute phone call from a few friends at church stating the need for a mother-of-the-bride necklace for a wedding a few days away! The gals brought the dress that the MOtB planned to wear and we collaborated to make a necklace/earring set of pearls and crystals - my favorite! Best of all, I spotted the MOtB at church the next weekend wearing the pearl and crystal earrings with white jeans and a blue shirt - it was an unexpected match made in heaven! I have since duplicated and posted the earrings on Etsy - thanks for the inspiration, ladies!

Last but most certainly NOT least, one of my most favorite customers turned dear friend (whom we met via this blog, actually!) commissioned me to make a necklace with a rather unique source of inspiration - the colors and art she plans to use for her baby's nursery! Nilsa plans to wear the necklace at her maternity photo shoot in a few weeks, and asked that we focus on turquoise, lime, and orange based on these pieces of art she is loving from Etsy (check out Nilsa's blog for the link to each piece!):

Focusing on the vibrant orange, turquoise, and lime color scheme Nilsa requested, I started by sending her a picture of some beads I had on hand that might work:

From there we agreed on these beads:

Now for the actual layout. I had some lofty ideas for this project, but after a few failed attempts, I knew I could easily do something like this as seen on Michael's.com:

Nilsa and I agreed on making the necklace 3-strands and measuring right above the bust... so I went to work and sent her these pictures along the way to make sure we were on the same page:

After getting her OK, I finished the wire strands off and put it all together on the toggle clasp!

This project was a great way to use some of the more upscale beads I have been collecting but too afraid to use up :) The turquoise, jade, and crystal beads make for one mighty fine statement necklace, if you ask me, and it's not made of plastic! Can't wait to see your maternity shots, Nilsa! Congrats on your pregnancy and thanks for allowing me to be a part of the celebration!

Oh, and I almost forgot. Bead Up has some VERY exciting news! Not only am I now an official business in the State of Missouri (it only took me 2 hours total to get it done - amen for the Midwest!), but I have set a date for the Second Annual Cupcakes, Cocktails, and Creations party! I have been working with local artists and bakers to get some other vendors in on the party, which will be held in my house (again, hooray for Midwest suburban super sizes!). Buckle up, Kansas City, and start saving your spare change!

So save the date for August 28th from 2-5! I couldn't be more excited!

I love you, Wednesdays.

Love it or hate it, fall is nearing. Yellow school buses are circling the streets, the air has a little bite to it (well, not here in LA, the air lately has had ash and smoke in it), and football season is taking our men ransom (bleck!). The love it part includes new FALL LINES that are launching right and left! Since I am still rather new in this whole jewelry business thing, I am trying to approach my Etsy site and products from a professional and business-model point of view. Thanks to my little trip to LA's Jewelry District over the weekend and some of the sweet products I found, I have been working on many new items with materials I have never used before. In the past I have been so rushed to put up products that I never gave myself the chance to do anything thoroughly or with real cohesion. Rather than posting my new items on Etsy piece by piece, I am trying to do the whole "Fall Line" thing and hope to present them officially within the next few weeks (it's actually the Hubs who came up with the idea. We were shopping a few weeks ago and he came up to me with a new jewelry component and said "This would be great in your Fall Line!" He's a thinker, yes-sir-e!). I am especially working for cohesion in my pieces (something that my creative, smorgusboard tendancies often prevent). I keep hearing the judges from Project Runway in the back of my mind stress "Where is the cohesion? How are these pieces part of a 'line?'" "But Christyn!" you declare! "I can't wait a few weeks to see your new stuff! Oh the humanity!" No worries, friends! I have, and will continue to, post new items as amuse-bouch's for your Bead Up-Lovin' eyes :) Here are the first few pieces:

Pretty Green Shrubbery Gemstone Necklace

I love the color of this crazy little rectangular bead. I used black beads as accent pieces to match these itty bitty little black speckles on each very unique bead. It's defiantly a statement necklace, that's for sure!

Double Luck Brass Necklace

I bought these wishbone charms long before I even knew where I would find coordinating brass components. Now I have exploded with brass items and can't get enough! If I were to summarize this "Fall Line" of mine, I would characterize it with earthy colors (bronze, brass, browns) along side bright colors (magenta, lime, emerald, purples) and hammered and brushed textures. While browsing through Etsy, here are a few inspiring pieces I stumbled across that I think act as a perfect amuse-bouch for my Fall Line!

DecemberLeaHandbags, RibbonsAndLace, E2SSupplies, TheaCphotography

ShySiren, rosalba, ogdenarthaus, carrieWdesigns stilettoheights, lovelytallulah, lilliannamarie, tandscreations Make sure you visit these Etsy shops for more color inspiration!

So, what inspires you today?

The anatomy of a Cluster Bracelet

One day I was looking at all the beads that were accumulating in my craft room and noticed that I had ALOT of lime green beads. I originally bought them for this project, but never really sold enough of the item to justify having as many green beads as I (optimistically) purchased! Looking at my massive supply, I got an idea for a bracelet that would not only look fun, but also help me use up the daunting supply of beads! The result: my Green with Envy Cluster Bracelet. Though I was happy with the end product, I was even more happy with it's reception! The item sold right away, and soon thereafter people were asking me to post it again! I was hesitant at first since it took me 2 full nights to make the cluster bracelet, but, seeing how many of these beads I still had laying around, I caved and listed it again. And again. And again. This time around, I figured it would be a good opportunity to show the steps behind the bracelet, since I think it looks more complicated than it really it! Hopefully this can inspire you to make something new with materials laying around your craft space, too! First I had to empty out my Beadsmith design board (it's amazing how I allow stray beads to accumulate on this thing!). I really like this extra long felted workspace as it allows me to see all my supplies for any given project while keeping them organized. It also works as a tape measure and ruler, which I will admit I don't use as often as I just eye things :) I bought all these green beads from a variety of sources, including a flea market in Beijing, Michael's, Beadnicks, and Ritual Adornments in Santa Monica... 5 types of seed beads, several shell beads, glass beads, and even some green pearl beads. I wired each bead on bright silver Beadalion stringing wire. All each of these tools (crimp tool, nose pliers, cutting pliers, bent chain nose pliers, flat nose pliers) came in handy, too, as you will see below!

I first cut a 7" piece of Beadalion wire. To secure its end, I put a 2mm crimp bead (image 1) on one end and looped in through itself (image 2). Then I took my crimp pliers (image 3) and flattened the crimp bead until it was secure and tight on the wire. The loop will later serve as a means to connect the strand to the ending clasp. (sorry about the blurry images - I was working on my ottoman in my poorly-lit living room!) Next was the most tedious part - beading (image 5) 15 of these strands! Thankfully my husband was close at hand to help me pick up many of the beads I accidentally dropped - those little seed beeds can be frisky! I ended each strand the same way I started them with a loop and a crimp bead (image 6).

Next I needed to create a means to hold all the strands together. Since I was going to use a long bead cap at the end, I couldn't just end with a standard jump ring. I therefore decided to make my own jump ring with some 22 gauge silver wire. I started by taking my nose pliers and clasping the wire toward the bottom of the head.

Next I turned the pliers 360 degrees until I had a bit of a circle at the end of the wire.

Nice, smooth end - but I needed to even the remaining wire out.

I took the same pliers and forced the remaining wire to turn 90 degrees. The result: a perfect eyepin (these things can sell for $.25 each - how much more fun to just make them yourself!

Next I took the 15 strands of green assorted beads and strategically (in terms of texture and color) ordered and strung them on the headpin.

I took my nose pliers and smushed the end of the eye pin together so the strands can't go anywhere. Stay put, little guys!

After repeating the process on the other end, I was ready to attach the bead caps and toggle clasp.

I got these filigree bead caps at Michael's for $.50 each. Bead Caps are great for covering up ugly finishings and ends!

I cut off the extra wire I didn't need, leaving about 3/4 an inch of wire in which I would create my end loop.

My nose pliers finished the eye loop.

After making the eye loop, I opened it up with my flat nose pliers in order to get the toggle clasp on.

I used the same flat nose pliers to smush both sides of the eye loop back together and thus secure the toggle clasp.

Repeat on the other end. Viola! The super fun finished product! I might just have to wear it for the day before I send it to it's buyer, my buddy Nilsa! (Thanks again for your patience with this product, friend, you're the best!)