jewelllery making for 2010

shiprob195

I make the second ( end ) loop using some pliers from my Ex H tool box.
They are stronger...I leave about 2 cm wire at the end and "hold" the beads in place with my jewellery pliers, I then make the loop with the heavy duty ones.

I find it doesn't really matter if the beads don't fill the wire compleatly, because the beads need room to move around so you can see the facets sparkle....I use fire polish and chech crystal in mine.


HTH

princesspoppypop

thistledome wrote: »

I've been reading this thread with great interest (thanks to all those posting pics of their inspirational jewellery) and today was my first attempt at making a memory wire bracelet.

I can't seem to make the loop at the end of the wire. I made the loop OK when I started the bracelet, but I'm finding the end impossible. Two reasons:

1. I can't stop the beads sliding around and moving toward the end of the wire, thus making the spare wire at the end shorter (iyswim).

2. Suspect I'm trying to make the loop too near the last bead, but not sure how to do this so there's no empty wire near the end loop ('cos then the beads will be sliding around - or is this OK?)

I've had about 4 attempts so far and the bracelet's getting shorter and shorter!

Also, I'm quite surprised at how many beads I've used. I thought it might be a very cheap thing to make, but it's cost about £15 in beads just for one bracelet.

How do you make your end loops? TIA

Hello there, how much wire are you leaving at the end? If I`m doing a single loop I look at leaving just over 1cm of wire and always create your loop in the opp direction from where the wire is bending round.

You can put a small piece of tape after your last bead to stop them slipping around while you create your loop too.

It can work out quite expensive to fill up a 4/5 coil of memory wire. If you can pick up some acrylic spacers these are great to fill up the bracelets between your more focal beads.
Hobbycraft do some bags of red 6mm acrylic rounds for £1.99
http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=72632
and black 8mm rounds for £1.89
http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=241626

Poppy x

sunshine01

I bought some packs of bracelets (on elastic) from Primark yesterday for £1 each. They had cream, pink, grey, purple and a lovely greeny blue colour. They are all colour coordinated, and had between 8 and 10 bracelets depending on the colour, and a good variety of beads and sizes. I had a go at making a memory wire bracelet today. After I had cut the elastic on each , I had plenty of beads in the pot to fill the wire. I thought for a beginner they were very good value, as it was nice to have all the same colour, and the beads seem to be of a good quality.

They also had a pack of bracelets for £2, and these included some lovely glass beads

princesspoppypop

I was in Primark today but it was awful so busy and I got all flustered.
Did see some lovely jewellery to take apart but I`ll go back during the week when its less manic!

Poppy x

thistledome

shipr!!!95 wrote: »

I leave about 2 cm wire at the end and "hold" the beads in place with my jewellery pliers, I then make the loop with the heavy duty ones.

I find it doesn't really matter if the beads don't fill the wire compleatly, because the beads need room to move around so you can see the facets sparkle....I use fire polish and chech crystal in mine.

HTH

Yes it did help, thank you . Don't know why I didn't think of using a second pair of pliers myself. Duh.:o Those are the beads that I used, too.

princesspoppypop wrote: »

It can work out quite expensive to fill up a 4/5 coil of memory wire. If you can pick up some acrylic spacers these are great to fill up the bracelets between your more focal beads.
Hobbycraft do some bags of red 6mm acrylic rounds for £1.99
http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=72632
and black 8mm rounds for £1.89
http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=241626

Poppy x

Never thought of looking at Hobbycraft, they look great value. Very good idea, thank you too!

princesspoppypop

Eeek just ordered some new beading supplies! I`m going to have a go with some soft flex wire which is a new one to me!
Ive also ordered some swarovski mixes. Much cheaper from USA than my local art shop where a bag of 10 4mm bicones was £2:eek:
Even the glass crystals in Boyes were quite pricey compared to the internet.

I`m impatient tho... I hate waiting but don`t really have much choice with internet orders!

Poppy x

jollymummy

Thanks Princesspop and Yukkibear I'm a complete novice but its fun. I got one of those bracelet bundles for a pound in Primark, in teal, my fave colour, loads of beads to play with !!!

sethsgran

Sunshine a great idea, a visit to Primark now on my to do list this week

thistledome

princesspoppypop wrote: »

Ive also ordered some swarovski mixes. Much cheaper from USA than my local art shop where a bag of 10 4mm bicones was £2:eek:

This site sells 4mm bicones from 30p for 5. Haven't bought any swarovski, but I bought my crystal beads here and they were sent very quickly.

http://www.tiddlybeads.co.uk/en/p00327/4mm-crystal-swarovski-bicone-beads.html

yukkibear

jollymummy wrote: »

Thanks Princesspop and Yukkibear I'm a complete novice but its fun. I got one of those bracelet bundles for a pound in Primark, in teal, my fave colour, loads of beads to play with !!!

I got those a while ago too. Haven't played with them yet though.