beading Archives - FaveCrafts

Take a Trip: 11 Jewelry Patterns From Around The World

October 5, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 2 Comments

Have you ever longed to just get on a plane and go places? Let’s face it: A world trip, as wonderful as it would be, isn’t possible for everyone. But there’s no reason you can’t bring various corners of the world right into your home. Jewelry making is a universal craft, and with the help of some choice patterns and techniques, you can take a world tour without ever leaving the comfort of your craft room. Your beads will be the only passport you need to take this trip, so gather your supplies and get ready to see the world from home!

Start the tour with a stop in Canada! These Marvelous Maple Leaf Earrings bring the north to you, and when you’re making these gorgeously colored DIY earrings, you’ll practically see the forests they evoke. With the dark amber tones and mesmerizing design, you’ll be turning heads when you wear these fabulous earrings.

Next, head across the Atlantic to Ireland with the help of the Simple Celtic Heart Knot Necklace. This lovely knotted DIY jewelry piece evokes all the charm and mystery of the Emerald Isle. With this DIY necklace, you’ll capture the heart of everyone you see.

Take in the wonders of Rome when you make the Gladiator Necklace. This stunning DIY necklace will grab everyone’s attention. This project is a great introduction to metal jewelry, and there’s no limit to the shapes you can use when assembling the necklace.

With the African Bead Loom Bracelet, you’ll get a taste of the rich culture and atmosphere of South Africa. Learn bead loom weaving with the help of this tutorial and make yourself a spectacularly designed DIY bracelet. Everyone who sees it will love the vibrant color scheme and weaving technique.

Learn a skill that opens all kinds of jewelry possibilities when you discover How to Make a Russian Spiral. This beaded cord is enchanting to look at and allows your necklaces and bracelets to be twice as stunning. With this technique, your jewelry can be simplistic and stunning all at once.

Before you head home, make one final stop, this time in the mountains of Nepal. The Nepal Chain Stitch Bracelet is a delicate bead stitching pattern that makes for incredible jewelry. The color possibilities for this beading design are endless, and once you’ve learned this skill, you’ll be ready to stitch up any and every bead that crosses your path.

Do you want to book the Deluxe Tour? Check out these stunning jewelry designs!

Which beading destination would you like to visit?

3 Free Bead Loom Patterns + How to Make a Bead Loom

September 25, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 14 Comments

On-loom beadwork is some of the most beautiful beading of all, but loomwork can be a bit intimidating to those who have never tried it. Between the bulky looms themselves and all those threads, loom beading can seem a bit scary, and many of us might have shied away from it–but not anymore! We’ve rounded up three simple bead loom patterns so you can finally tackle your fears and learn how to loom bead. Plus, not only will you find free bead loom patterns here, but you’ll also find a tutorial for an easy and budget-friendly way to make your own bead loom. No more excuses! Here’s everything you need to start learning how to loom bead today.

If you want to try loom beading but can’t afford to splurge for a fancy loom, learn how to make a bead loom yourself with this tutorial! Making Your Own Bead Loom is easier (and thriftier) than you might think. All you need is a cardboard box, a ruler, and a few other common household items, and before you know it you’ll have your very own handmade, budget-friendly beading loom.

Once you have your loom ready to go, start off easy with these Simple and Colorful Seed Bead Loom Bracelets. These basic beaded bracelets don’t follow any kind of uniform or symmetrical pattern, so you can throw on any beads you like, no counting required! The organic shapes and assorted colors make these bracelets perfect for beginners, or just any beaders looking for a stash-buster project to clean out their seed bead stash. (Plus, this tutorial also includes instructions for how to make a bead loom, so if you’re having trouble with the first tutorial, try this one!)

After you make some simple bracelets, you’ll be ready to take on this Sizzling Zigzag Beaded Ring pattern. This bold seed bead loom ring lets you get some practice with an actual design (as opposed to the free-form style of the bracelets above) but still keeps it simple with just two colors, so it’s a the perfect “next step” in your loomwork lessons. Plus, since it’s a ring, it’s a smaller loom beading project that won’t be too overwhelming for your first try.

Now that you’ve gotten some practice working with different colors and patterns, you’re ready to tackle this amazing African Bead Loom Bracelet! The bold colors and design of this bead loom bracelet pattern make it a real show-stopper, but don’t be intimidated. All it takes is careful counting and planning to weave this beautiful beaded bracelet for yourself. Everyone will be so impressed when you tell them you wove this bracelet yourself!

This giveaway is now over.

Enter to Win a Bead Loom!

Don’t want to make your own bead loom and can’t afford to buy one? Enter our Jewel Loom Giveaway! We’re giving away a Beadalon Jewel Loom to one lucky winner, and it could be you!

The Jewel Loom, designed by Julianna Hudgins, is making loom beading easier, more accessible, and more affordable than ever before. Light, portable, and handheld, this basic beading loom eliminates all those complicated threading mechanisms, making loom beading totally stress-free.

The deadline to enter is October 7, 2013, at 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Time. You can enter up to once a day, so keep coming back to improve your chances of winning!

Tell us, do you like off-loom beading or on-loom beading better?

FaveCrafts Giveaway: Bead Bugs!

July 9, 2013 by FaveCrafts 4 Comments

It may be hard to believe, but the creepy crawly bugs that feather our backyards are true wonders of the animal kingdom. From the pesky mosquito to the stunning dragonfly, these bugs that crawl, fly, scamper, and slither are truly magnificent and can inspire some really creative and fun jewelry projects!

In Bead Bugs, author Amy Kopperude uses the kingdom of insects and arachnids to inspire some really unique and fun beaded jewelry projects. Broken down into 23 tutorials, this book offers readers lots of fun ways to use beads to create spiders, flys, mosquitoes, and lady bugs that you’ll be proud to have in your home.

The great thing about the projects in Bead Bugs is that you only need a few simple beading tools to get started. Pliers, wire cutters, wire and cord, and a colorful assortment of beads are really all you need to make all the projects in this book. You can also add more life to your bugs by decorating them with markers, Mod Podge, paint, or marbles.

What I love the most about the projects featured in Bead Bugs is that each one is broken down step-by-step, with easy to follow photos that show you every step of the process. The Honeybee Tea Infuser is my favorite project. With cute vintage beads and an easy-to-make honeybee that hangs off the side of your mug, this infuser would make a wonderful gift for a tea lover and is a project you can easily whip up on a rainy afternoon. Each step of the project is presented in a way that’s easy to follow and, with full color step-by-step photos, I’m able to ensure that I get the best result the first time.

If you’re a crafter who loves a challenge and you’re looking for some fun and clever ways to work through your bead stash, be sure to check out the projects in Bead Bugs. You’ll never look at a spider the same way again!

Wanna win this book?

We’re giving away a copy of Bead Bugs to one lucky winner! Head on over to the giveaway page and register to win today. You have until July 23rd to enter, and you can enter to win once a day…so the more you return, the greater your chances of winning this awesome giveaway. You can also gain additional entries by blogging about this giveaway or talking about it on Facebook and Twitter. Head on over to the giveaway page for all the information. Good luck!

And don’t forget to enter our other weekly giveaways, going on now!:

June 25th through July 9th: Lacework for Adventurous Crocheters
Read our review of Lacework for Adventurous Crocheters

June 28th through July 12th: Butterfly Feeder Kit
Read our review of the Butterfly Feeder Kit

July 2nd through July 16th: How to Make 100 Paper Flowers
Read our review of How to Make 100 Paper Flowers

July 5th through July 19th: Choo Choo Organizer Drawers
Read our review of the Choo Choo Organizer Drawers

Bead&Button Show 2013 Recap + Swag Bag Giveaway!

June 24, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 459 Comments

From loom weaving to chainmaille, wirework to lampwork, resin to clay, every jewelry-making medium and technique imaginable was represented on the the exhibitor floor at the 2013 Bead&Button Show. Held over the course of two weeks at the Delta Center in Milwaukee, Wisc., this year’s Bead&Button Show was another amazing event that drew jewelry designers, companies, hobbyists, and more from all across the country to talk beads, share techniques, and interact with others who share their jewelry-making passion.

As the editor of AllFreeJewelryMaking.com, I wouldn’t have missed the show for all the seed beads in the world, and though I had just one day to attend, I managed to walk the entire show floor and see everything these amazingly savvy and passionate jewelry companies and designers had to offer. With camera in hand, I made my rounds of the Bead&Button 2013 show floor, taking note of the hot new products, trends, and tools, and I’m recapping it all here for you so that even if you weren’t able to attend, you can get up to speed on what’s new in the beading world right now.

(Plus, I collected all kinds of free goodies and samples from the jewelry-making and beading companies at the show. Find details on how to enter the Bead&Button Swag Bag Giveaway at the bottom of this blog post!)

At the Fire Mountain Gems booth, I got to see these neat wire-twisting pliers in action. They allow you to twist two pieces of wire together for a surprisingly clean and uniform final result, and they’re much more accessible than using a drill.

One of the most buzzed about products at the Bead&Button Show was the relatively new Jewel Loom by Julianna Hudgins for Beadalon. Easy to use, affordable, and transportable, the Jewel Loom makes loom beading more accessible than ever before. If you hoped to buy one on the floor, you were out of luck; by the time I got there, they were all sold out!

Those looking for a more traditional loom option, however, would have been enamored of the Clover USA Beading Loom. Just look at the amazing pieces that were created with this durable and easy-to-use loom!

One of my personal favorites was the Micro Engraver tool at the Beaducation booth. I’d never seen anything like it, and it was so easy to use! Like drawing with a pen, this neat tool is perfect for personalizing metal blanks.

I got to have some fun playing with the Sizzix BIGkick roller machine at the Vintaj booth, embossing metal blanks and then painting them with the fun and colorful Vintaj-Ranger Patinas. I couldn’t believe how fast the patinas dried; you could touch the blanks and sand them for a vintage look in a matter of a minute or two!

In the Xuron booth, the hot new item was the 4-in-1 Bead Crimping Plier, which eliminates the need for multiple tools by including folding stations for 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm crimp beads. Plus, the ends are designed like chain nose pliers so you can give your crimps that extra squeeze for security.

I’m always excited to see what’s new in the Nunn Design booth, and she certainly didn’t disappoint. The newest line has that same vintage elegance and industrial edge that we’ve come to expect from Nunn Design, but to the usual suspects she’s added bezel button shanks and interchangeable and screw-in bezels for customizing cuffs, among other new additions.

The Alacarte Clasps and WireLace booth was in full bloom with beautiful flowers made of WireLuxe, demonstrating even more ways that this luxurious knit wire product can be used. Plus, the Bead&Button Show 2013 commemorative bead was on display, hanging elegantly from a WireLuxe necklace. Stunning!

Wirework fans would have been drooling over the new Wubbers designer mandrel pliers. The range of tools offers the possibility to form wire jewelry into a variety of stunning shapes.

A new exhibitor at Bead&Button Show, DeeBeads was demonstrating her new beadable rings. The grid-like design of the ring base provides a perfect foundation for all kinds of statement-making bead ring creations.

There was even something for beginner beaders at the show. These Quick Start Peyote Cards by Deb Moffett-Hall make it easy to start off your beading pattern, keeping your stitches straight and uniform.

So with all of these awesome products and supplies already on the market, is there anything left to look forward to? You bet! There’s always something new and exciting on the horizon in the beading world…

This doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all there was to see at the Bead&Button Show; it’s truly a must-make trip for all beading enthusiasts! But if you weren’t able to make it this year, you’re in luck! We collected some free “swag” at the show that we’re giving away to one lucky reader.

Bead&Button Show Swag Bag Giveaway

Enter our Bead&Button Show Swag Bag Giveaway for your chance to win a whole bag full of free goodies from the show. This sampling of jewelry-making “swag” will make you feel like you were right there with us!

The Bead&Button Show Swag Bag prize pack includes a large Bead&Button Show tote bag, an assortment of Quick Start Peyote beading cards, a seed bead sample pack from Toho Beads, Color Me Beads from the Urban Beader, Vintaj Arte Metal chain, Beadalon bead stringing wire, Teeny-Tiny Wubbers round nose pliers, a free bead loom pattern from Clover USA, a free earring pattern from Soft Flex, a Bead&Button Show 2013 commemorative pin, and more!

Want to win this amazing collection of jewelry-making products?

Simply leave a comment on this blog post answering our question below and be entered to win! You have until July 2nd, 2013, to enter, so comment now to ensure you’re in the running to win this exclusive one-of-a-kind “swag bag” from the Bead&Button Show!

Giveaway Rules:

Contest open to U.S. and Canada residents 18+
One comment/entry per person
Contest closes July 2nd at 11:59p CST.
Leave a comment on this blog post answering the question below to be entered to win.
Winners will be posted on FaveCraftsBlog.com and notified by e-mail.

Leave a comment answering this question for your chance to win the Bead&Button Show Swag Bag Giveaway:

What is your favorite jewelry-making technique?

Win an Easy Knotter from AllFreeJewelryMaking

April 9, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 7 Comments

Have you ever struggled to measure out the spaces between beads while making a simple knotted necklace, only to end up with all different lengths? Have you ever been making a knotted bead bracelet and had the knot slip out of place at the last second, leaving you with an unsightly gap? Then the Easy Knotter is the answer to your jewelry making prayers. This handy tablet tool is designed to make creating uniform knotted bead jewelry an absolute cinch, and AllFreeJewelryMaking is giving away an Easy Knotter to one lucky winner!

You won’t believe how easy it is to make beautiful knotted bead jewelry with this simple device. Made by Designs by Reenie, the Easy Knotter is an easy-to-use, affordable tool that every jewelry designer should have in their collection of supplies. The device itself is merely a small board with a peg placed in the center and measurements marked in half-inch increments on either side. The thin peg allows you to effortlessly tie tight, neat knots in your thread or cord, and the measurements allow you to evenly space your knots along your cord for a clean, uniform appearance. The final result is a professional-looking piece of knotted bead jewelry that you created yourself in a matter of minutes.

The Easy Knotter itself is merely 6 inches long by 4 inches wide and very light, so it can be easily manipulated and then tucked away for storage. The marks on either side of the peg mean that both right- and left-handed individuals can use the board comfortably. I saw the Easy Knotter in action at the To Bead True Blue show in Tucson this past February and marveled at the ease and simplicity of the design. It’s a no-brainer; you need this tool in your collection.

You can enter to win the AllFreeJewelryMaking Easy Knotter giveaway every day from now until April 22, 2013. Entries are limited to one a day, but you can earn extra entries by opting to share your entry on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Google+. Learn more and enter to win here. Good luck!

Tell us, could you see yourself using the Easy Knotter in your jewelry designs?

Gold Rush Necklace: National Craft Month Project & Giveaway

March 24, 2013 by FaveCrafts 1,266 Comments

Here’s to another day of our National Craft Month celebration! Today is day 24, and we’re ready to share yet another prize pack and exclusive project tutorial with you. Remember to visit our blog every day to enter to win a different prize of the day. Find the contest rules and enter below.

We’re ready to share another exclusive project tutorial with you in honor of National Craft Month; compliments of our friends at Michaels. They’re sharing a Gold Rush Necklace with you today. This DIY jewelry project will have you dressed for success in no time at all. Using multistrand beading, this jewelry design from Michaels is an easy way to give your handmade jewelry the perfect amount of volume.

Gold Rush Necklace

Fancy up any outfit with this simple DIY jewelry design from Michaels. If you’re looking for a gorgeous necklace fit for a goddess, you’ll find that the Gold Rush Necklace is a simple and inexpensive option for you.

This pattern is included in our free eBook, The Ultimate Craft Guide: 25 Free Craft Projects for Every Crafter. Celebrate National Craft Month with us by crafting the great projects in this free downloadable eBook written just for you!

ENTER TO WIN TODAY’S PRIZE

Today’s prize is a $100 gift card from Michaels. In order to win today’s prize, all you need to do is:

* Like the AllFreeJewelryMaking Facebook page here, AND

* Like the Michaels Faceboook page here, AND

*Leave a comment on this blog post below telling us:

What’s your favorite type of beaded jewelry to make?

OFFICIAL RULES FOR DAILY CONTEST

There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
You must “like” both the AllFreeJewelryMaking and the Michaels Faceboook page to be eligible.
Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
Winner will be announced here on the blog tomorrow as well as contacted by the email address provided.
You have until tonight, March 24th, 2013 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.

SUPER BONUS – WIN $1000 Gift Card!

Don’t miss your chance to stock up your craft stash and win a $1000 Michael’s gift card. You can enter each day to win this amazing $1000 Shopping Spree at Michaels. You have 7 more days to enjoy National Craft Month, so take some time out of your day to come to the FaveCrafts blog each day to hear about the latest prize.

Good Luck!

Update: A Look at Our DIY Jewelry Drive Donations So Far!

March 11, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 7 Comments

Bead for those in need!

All month long, we here at AllFreeJewelryMaking have been asking our readers (and anyone else who wants to get involved) to use their gift of creativity to give back. We have been collecting handmade jewelry donations on behalf of The Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project to help bring a glimmer of hope to the lives of underprivileged women residing in domestic violence shelters and various other shelters. And we’re not done yet!

We are still collecting handmade jewelry donations until March 28th, 2013, at which time we will send all the donated pieces to The Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project to be distributed among various women’s shelters. So far, we have been blown away by the generosity of our amazing readers! We have received a number of packages already, ranging in size from a few pieces to dozens of donated DIY accessories! We cannot thank those of you enough who have already sent in your handmade pieces. We appreciate your generosity, and we know the women who receive your beautiful handmade jewelry will too.

We thought it would be nice to give a little update on the progress of the DIY jewelry drive and let everyone have a look at some of the stunning pieces we’ve received so far. These will certainly bring a bit of light to the lives of these women!

A big thanks to Hattie of SC, Pina of NJ, Adeline of IL, Susan of NY, Joni of SC, L. of KY, Katherine of ID, Susan of MI, Sharon of TX, Janis of SC, Ruthe of NJ, Tracey of MN, and Wendy of RI (whose donations are pictured here in respective order) for their lovely donations! You have each earned your chance to win an ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit!

Do you want a chance to win an ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit too? Then send in your handmade jewelry donation by March 28, 2013! All who donate a minimum of one piece of handmade jewelry to the charity drive will be given one entry in the ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit giveaway; the winner is to be chosen at random. Find additional details and contest rules here.

All donations can be sent to the following address:

Prime Publishing
Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project
3400 Dundee Rd. #220
Northbrook, IL 60062

Please check out this blog post to find additional details, guidelines, and other important information.

Making jewelry brings joy to your own life; use it to bring joy to the lives of others as well by creating for a good cause! We can’t wait to see what you make!

Will you be donating a piece to the DIY jewelry drive?

Win an Assorted Bead Storage Tray from AllFreeJewelryMaking!

February 26, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 55 Comments

Sick of storing your beads in a hodgepodge assortment of mismatched jars, bags, and containers? Then the new Assorted Bead Storage Tray from Bead Storage Solutions is the answer you’ve been waiting for! The latest and greatest in organizing solutions for jewelry hobbyists and designers, this efficient bead storage system is designed by beaders, for beaders, so you can spend less time searching for supplies and more time making fabulous jewelry. And it’s your lucky day, bead hoarders, because we’re giving away an Assorted Bead Storage Tray to one lucky winner!

The Assorted Bead Storage Tray comes equipped with 45 transparent boxes of various sizes, so there are containers small enough to hold your seed beads and large enough to contain your chunky gemstones. Both the tray lid and the individual boxes are transparent, thus saving time in searching for the items you need and saving money by avoiding duplicate purchases. Plus, this convenient kit also comes equipped with removable bonus labels so that you can easily mark containers to track purchases.

The 45 individual boxes are all designed to fit neatly and snugly in the larger containing tray, so you save space and stress by keeping all your materials organized in one compact container, and each compartment has been designed with special concave finger grips for easy accessibility, so getting the individual boxes out is no problem. And since cleanup is so quick and easy, you’ll be that much more likely to actually sit down and spend some quality time doing what you love—making beautiful beaded jewelry!

Enter for your chance to win the Assorted Bead Storage Tray and kiss runaway beads goodbye! The contest ends March 11, 2013, and you can enter once daily, so return often to improve your chances of winning!

How do you keep your beads and craft supplies organized?

To Bead True Blue Recap: Trends, What’s New, and More

February 12, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking Leave a Comment

In Tucson, Ariz., the past week, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the beads were glinting as more than 500 artisans, manufacturers, and others gathered to show off their stuff at To Bead True Blue. I had the great privilege to attend the show this year (for the first time!) on behalf of AllFreeJewelryMaking and was blown away by the breadth and abundance of exhibitions the show had to offer. From artisans and designers displaying their hand-crafted creations to manufacturers and distributors demonstrating the latest products on the jewelry-making scene, there was much to take in at To Bead True Blue.

I had only two days to try to cover as much ground as possible at the show, but I could have easily spent an entire week surveying the shiny spectacle of all the beads and baubles on display at To Bead True Blue as well as The Tucson Bead Show and all the other various gem shows going on across the city. If you are a lover of beads, jewelry, gemstones, and all things sparkly, you truly must put To Bead True Blue on your bucket list.

First off, I had to make sure I checked out what was new at the Alacarte Clasps & WireLace booth where the talented Linda Hartung was demonstrating her latest brainchild, WireLuxe. A luxury, metallic knit wire product, WireLuxe is at once structured and soft, making it light and comfortable to wear, but also sturdy enough to hold its shape and allow embellishment. I was so impressed by the way it could bend to form elegant, undulating designs as well as provide a sturdy foundation for beadwork and other components.

Another of my favorite exhibits was Starman, where the very accommodating Jennifer Schroeder showed me their latest bead products. One of the biggest trends and hottest new items I noticed while at To Bead True Blue were two-hole beads. These seemed to be the “big new thing,” and when I visited the Starman booth, I could see why. Their cleverly named CzechMates are a two-hole bead system that allows for more dynamic, dimensional beadwork than is possible with your typical single-hole beads. Available in Tiles, Bricks, Lentils, and Daggers, these beads are all designed to be used together seamlessly, and I was in awe at some of the structural, layered beadwork pieces they had on display. (I was also a big fan of the new mini Rose Petal bead, a daintier version of an old favorite!

There were also some notable new tools I got to see in action (and even try for myself!) to help you put all those beads and goodies you accumulated at the show to good use. At The BeadSmith booth, the big new item on display was the exclusive Ricks Beading Loom. If you’ve ever seen loomwork done before, you’ll know that the number of loose strings you’re left with on the end can be a bit…confusing. Well the patented Ricks Beading Loom eliminates all that stringy mess and leaves you with just two simple strings to work with. I tried it out for myself, and it couldn’t have been easier to use. It definitely makes loom beading accessible to beginners.

Another favorite was the Easy Knotter which I got to see in action at the Designs by Reenie booth. I know from experience, making knotted bead necklaces as not as easy as it seems, which is why Reenie Oliveto came up with this nifty little tool to make knotting a piece of cake. The Easy Knotter helps you keep a tight knot while also allowing you to keep uniform spacing in your design.

I also got a quick demo of the Xuron Brand Micro-Shear Flush Cutters in The Beadin’ Path booth which make a nice clean, close cut and even retain the clipped wire end. And for all your bedazzling needs, the Crystal Katana by Kelly DeFries of Crystal Ninja is a hot new little tool that picks up rhinestones, and even beads, completely effortlessly, avoiding the trouble of having them stick to your fingers.

Other hot trends at this year’s To Bead True Blue? Spike beads were everywhere, and were one of my favorite new trends. These cone-shaped beads make for elegantly edgy bracelets, cuffs, and other accessories, and hopefully AllFreeJewelryMaking can find some patterns utilizing these new beads soon! Miyuki was debuting its new Long Drop Beads and “Luminous Color” seed beads; the elongated version of the seed bead seems to be a popular trend right now, and neon colors have finally hit the beading world!

I’ve hardly scratched the surface of this gem of a show with the products and trends I’ve highlighted here, but there was so much to do and see, I couldn’t possibly touch on it all! I ran into people from all over the country (and even from other parts of the world) at this show, so if this is any indication of the size and influence of To Bead True Blue, I expect next year to be even bigger and better, and I definitely won’t be missing it!

Were you at To Bead True Blue this year, or have you ever attended?

What are your favorite beading and jewelry trends, tools, and products right now?

Beading for Charity! Donate to Our DIY Jewelry Drive

February 7, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 15 Comments

So you love to spend your time beading, but you’re already up to your elbows in bracelets, and all your family and friends are drowning in the DIY jewelry you’ve gifted them over the years? Use your creativity for a good cause by beading for charity! During the months of February and March, 2013, AllFreeJewelryMaking will be collecting finished DIY jewelry creations from beaders like you who want to use their gift to give back. Help us to help others by donating your hand-crafted jewelry creations!

By contributing your finished pieces to our jewelry drive, you’ll be helping bring a bit of joy to the lives of women in need. We will be sending all the DIY jewelry we collect to The Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project, a program sponsored by the Seattle Metals Guild that has been donating to those who need it most for almost 15 years now. The Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project collects old jewelry that is not being worn and then sorts, cleans, and fixes the jewelry to make wearable new pieces for underprivileged women. They then distribute these upcycled pieces to various women’s shelters, such as the Catherine Booth House, a Salvation Army domestic violence shelter, where they are given to women in need. For these women, who often arrive to the shelters with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, the jewelry provides a much needed glimmer of hope.

As jewelry artists and crafters, we know how special a piece of jewelry can make a woman feel. Imagine the satisfaction of knowing your handmade piece was given to one of these less fortunate woman on her birthday, on Christmas, or to be worn to a crucial job interview. Your hand-crafted jewelry can make a difference in someone’s life!

The AllFreeJewelryMaking DIY jewelry drive will run from February 7, 2013, to March 28, 2013. Please send your donated pieces to the address below any time during those dates; be sure to provide your e-mail address along with your donation so that we can get in touch with you if you are our randomly selected winner. Also, please keep in mind we are looking for finished pieces of quality – something these women would be proud to wear.

Please ship your finished jewelry creations to:

Prime Publishing
Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project
3400 Dundee Rd. #220
Northbrook, IL 60062

But wait…

What You Can Win:

All those who donate a handmade piece to the jewelry drive will be entered for a chance to receive an ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit! Gifted by ImpressArt, the Metal Stamping Kit includes everything you need to get started creating your own gorgeous metal stamped jewelry and other stamped craft creations.

Learn more about the ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit here.

Important Rules/Guidelines:

Only participants located in the U.S. and/or Canada are eligible to win the prize. Participants from other countries may donate but will not be eligible to win the prize.
One entry per participant, not per donation. Donating multiple pieces does not secure multiple entries.
All eligible donations must be handmade. Store-bought donations will not earn an entry in the prize drawing.
Donations must be in by March 28, 2013, to be eligible for an entry in the prize drawing.

So start sending in those pieces! We can’t wait to see what you create!

Need some inspiration to get started? Try one of these jewelry projects (or check out any of the ideas on AllFreeJewelryMaking.com)!