Bead Necklace on wire

I've done Bead Crochet for some time now, but I haven't been brave enough to try straight, simple bead-on-wire necklaces. The wire was just too intimidating and ...final.

Well, I purchased the supplies, and it was time to dive in.

It's far from perfect but acceptable for a first attempt.

The whole concept opens up so many possibilities, though!

Creative Corner

A little glimpse at my afternoon of creativity.

Here's hoping all goes well!

Quick Earrings

I'm still not sure if the pictures will be working on my computer, but here's an attempt anyway. =)

Here's a pair of earrings I put together tonight.

"Pearl" Bracelet

Our son has been in an Ocean Odyssey class this semester. Each week, the students were given a list of homework assignments that would help them earn points. One week, he chose to use beads to make a 'pearl' bracelet for someone (the lesson that week was about shells, univalves/bivalves, pearls, etc.).

Even though this blog is mostly my crafty creations, it's time to show off a little highlight of a kiddo craft.

He started with the simple pearls, and then he decided that he wanted some extra color added into the mix.

For the 'clasp' part, he added a large bead to one end and a loop of elastic to the other end.

Unfortunately, we could have used one or two more beads because this ended up just a bit tight (you can sort of see the impression from where it was sitting a little higher on my wrist earlier), but that's ok! Maybe I'll have to try to undo that knot and add a couple at some point so it's a little easier to wear. I'm proud of him!

Lavender Butterfly

I loved this one so much, I almost had a little trouble parting with it when I sold it! In fact, I've considered buying another packet to make myself my own set to create a combo with a dress that I'd someday like to alter/adapt so it might actually look OK on me... hmmm, lots of qualifiers, so maybe it's not worth it yet. We'll see. It's not like there aren't 372 other projects that should get done first anyway.

Size 6/0 Seed Beads. Peaceful colors or something, but I just love it. Is the green a bizarre addition?

Purple, Pink, and Pearl

...with a touch of gold, but that doesn't start with 'P.'

"Never underestimate the power of alliteration, my friend."

10 points if you can identify that line.

And now I'm off track, before even really getting on track! I blame it on a lack of sleep.

Size 6/0 Seed Beads purchased in individual tubes. Try as I might, I couldn't get the picture to translate the real colors. But that is definitely a purple and not brown. I guess you'll have to trust me that it's prettier in real life (if you can trust me to have an unbiased opinion!).

Turquoise and Pearl Bead Crochet Necklace

These Size 10/0 beads were purchased in a tube. Usually, that's plenty to get a necklace and a bracelet, but for some reason, the turquoise just didn't have enough. So it became a longer necklace!

I've also started adding bead caps to the ends of my necklaces and bracelets. I love the finishing touch (even though I broke one of my great-grandmother's crochet hooks doing it a few days ago...).

Northern Lights Necklace and Bracelet

This Bead Crochet Necklace was a bit of an experiment. I've found many color packets of beads that I really like, but I know it just wouldn't make sense to separate out the colors of the Size 10/0 beads. So I thought I'd try to do something different with this one. I kept 2 rows of silver and one row of black together, and then randomly strung the aqua-variety beads.

I mostly like how it turned out. Next time, I wouldn't keep the black ones in the 'random' threading. It seems a bit too 'chicken pox' for me. I'd like to see how it would turn out with softer colors sometime, too.

Bib Necklace

There are tons of projects on my list that are completed or in-process that are just waiting to be posted!

Here's my most current 'in-process' project.

I was asked to make a bib necklace, and since I'm not 100% certain what she'd like, I'm trying several varieties and patterns until one pops out as perfectly adaptable to how I want to create it.

This went much faster than I expected. It's an unknown yarn/thread that was given to me. I used a Size F hook, and it was finished (minus assembly, clearly...) in one afternoon. Love it! I found the pattern here.

Blue and Silver Bead Crochet Set

It's been a while since I've posted any of my Bead Crochet work, but I've been doing a lot of it lately!

Here's a necklace and bracelet set that is done with Size 10/0 Seed Beads, Blue and Silver.

I was happy with the finished product, though I've not had opportunity to wear it yet! I have a couple great summer shirts that should match. Maybe I'll get to wear it soon.

Remember to check out my tutorial if you're interested in doing this yourself.

Kindness and a Giveaway

I was extended a very generous kindness today with the explanation being that it was "Random Act of Kindness Day." Whether it is official or just celebrated by that person, it was a wonderful surprise!

In an effort to share the love, I'm going to give away one of my Bead Crochet necklaces or bracelets.

15" Necklace with Size 6/0 Seed Beads

18" Necklace with Size 8/0 Seed Beads

20" Necklace with Size 6/0 Seed Beads -The Silver Beads have a more 'pewter' look rather than so shiny as it appears.

9" Bracelet with Size 8/0 Seed Beads

9" Bracelet with Size 6/0 Seed Beads

How to enter: Leave a comment telling me about one of the nicest things someone has done for you, and you'll be entered to win!

Open to US residents. Contest ends on Wednesday evening, and the winner will be announced and contacted on Thursday. You'll have until Saturday to respond or a new winner will be announced.

Necklace and Earrings

More Crafty Sisters Teamwork ahead:

My darling sister made the necklace for me (aww!), and I made the earrings by sort of following Rachel's tutorial here. (I didn't make them into a ring like Rachel did--the two sides just dangle freely, and I used a different earring hook that had to be thread onto the jump ring right along with the beads. Tedious! But they were on sale, so I went for it.)

Now I realize that the only-showing-the-smile-and-not-the-whole-face thing is pretty creepy, but here's the sad fact: I had a headache that day. I could force myself to smile for the camera anyway, but somehow my eyes turned into creepy-wide-open look. I suspect it had something to do with the flash. So I've spared you from being creeped out for the rest of the day.

Candy Cane Masterpiece

This Candy Cane Set was created with Size 11 Seed Beads. It takes a very long time to thread everything. I had a dickens of a time the first night I started because my hands were very dry, and I couldn't manipulate the beads for anything! Grrr. It quickly became much easier by the next couple days.

Materials:
Size 30 Crochet Thread
Twisted Wire Needle
Size 11/0 Seed Beads (a tube of each color was plenty for us, surprisingly enough)
Size 12 Crochet Hook
Clasp

For peace of mind, it's best to start by making the bracelet. That way you can just keep going with whatever is left for the necklace. In our case, we were pretty sure we thread more than necessary, so the necklace would just be longer. This is better than having to take off any extra beads because a bracelet is getting too big.

All this boring talk. All you want to see is the finished product! Here they are:

(The bracelet is spread out so it will fit nicely on the display.)

What do you think? I'm pretty sure she was pleased with it. She kept saying, "I was just going to thread a bunch of beads and twist them together!"

Later she added the little charm:

Once again, if you want to try this, it's easiest to start with a larger bead for your first project. And let me know how it turns out!

Sisterly Creativity and Crafts

During Christmas, we traveled south to visit with my sister and her family. What a blast!

My sister is the truly creative and crafty one. It's rather sickening. Anyone else have that in your family? The one member that so effortlessly creates masterpieces? Well, the beauty I find in it is that it allows me to try to steal adapt some of her projects and ideas. =D

To make a hilariously long and crafty week summed up, here's what happened. She pulled out some tiny beads and mentioned that she wanted to make a candy cane necklace. She was going to thread them all and then twist them together. I suggested crocheting it like the necklace I made for her last year. Her response: "You MADE that?" Ha ha!! She never knew and had never worn it. We got lots of laughs out of this.

Our projects for the week were quickly determined. We ran out to Hobby Lobby, picked up some Size 30 Crochet Thread, additional beads, and Twisted Wire Needles for threading all those tiny Size 11 beads. Since we knew it would take a while to thread all the tiny beads, we picked up some Size 6 beads for the 'in the meantime' project.

First project completed:

A beautiful Christmas Necklace!

And to add to the disgustingness of her creativity and natural talent, my sister, the non-crocheter, picked this up SO fast, she's already made several of her own and for friends!

So, I'm telling you, try it! You'll love it.

(The Candy Cane Masterpiece will be posted soon...)

This was SO much more fun than working on all the orders for headbands. I had plenty of time to finish those after we got back home.

Sneak Peek

I've taken scads of pictures of a necklace I made in May, but it won't seem to work in the lighting despite all my best efforts. So here's a sneak peek until I can get a good picture.

In other news, I'm still working on that Mystery Afghan--thanks for all the ideas you're sending!!! I hope to update soon!

Bead Crochet Necklace with Bone Charm

I've been really excited to complete this most recent Bead Crochet Necklace.

My inspiration came because the recipient looks amazing in black, white, yellow. I wanted to add the charm because we share a love of the show Bones.

This will be her graduation gift tonight. I hope she likes it!

I used Size 8/0 Seed Beads in a rotation of white, yellow, white, black. It's a little more dainty than the Size 6/0 Seed Beads in a 6-color rotation which should work well because she's more daintily structured.

(Thanks again, dearest friend, for sharing your amazing jewelry-making tools with me so I could finish the job well!)

Secret projects...for now

After all the crazy April posting, I've had a wonderful time catching up on other projects!

I have several items to show you and some that need to stay hidden for a bit longer. Mixed in will be some crochet, some paper crafts, some bead jewelry, and maybe a few more if I'm feeling brave.

It's a crazy week ahead for us! Today begins a flurry of activities that will die down sometime on Sunday afternoon.

Tutorials

Tutorials are one of the best things about sharing craft ideas and recipes in the blogosphere, right? T is for Tutorials.

There aren't many here at In the Loop, but here's a compilation of what I have:

Chain Link Scarf

Curly-Q or Curlicue Scarf

Iris Folding - Paper Craft

Bead Crochet Rope Step-By-Step Tutorial

Refried Beans

Chicago Style Deep Dish Stuffed Pizza

Oreo Truffles, known around here as Bloodshot Eyeballs (2nd attempt was much prettier)

I think that's all I have. Did I miss any?

Let me know if you've tried any of these things! I'd love to see pictures.

Square Beads

This was in my mind's eye for a couple weeks (or more) before I finally got around to making it.

When I was determined to go pick up square beads from the store, there were none left! Last week, they were restocked. Yeah for little wooden cube beads!

I used some inherited thread (seems slightly thicker than Size 10) and a Size 7 hook. There are 5 chains between each bead and just under 100 beads for my 3-layer necklace. Not bad for $2.

I wore this on Sunday with a cream-colored sweater (forgot to take the picture that day...), and I was a little nervous that the wooden beads would discolor the sweater, but there were no issues. My only caution to you is to move them around as little as possible before you crochet it. The rough inside of the bead tends to "grab" at the thread a little bit, and you occasionally get some brown bits coming out.

Rope and Results

If you're paying attention, you're probably wondering why I haven't announced the winner of my G is for Giveaway yet.

Wait no longer.

...not much anyway.

As stated, I prepared a new Bead Crochet Necklace as one of the prize options. Here (for R=Rope) it is in all its turquoise and pink glory:

What do you think of the color combo? The orange is an interesting addition, isn't it?

Well, moving on with the important matter (R=Results): the winner is Marie Anne, and she picked vinyl wall art for her prize!

Congratulations, Marie Anne!

If you haven't had the pleasure of checking out one of Marie Anne's blog, you need to do it!
Just read her profile, and you'll want to know her better.
Her crocheting blog, Every Day Crochet
Various thoughts blog, Marie Anne's Missives
Gardening blog, In the Garden With Sow-n-Sow
Writing blog, Write, Wrong or Indifferent

I'll be contacting you shortly to find out what you'd like, Marie Anne.

If you're terribly disappointed that you didn't win, feel free to stop by our ArtFire shop anytime!