Madcowbeads - Casual in Pearls..

This necklace was an accident really - I was experimenting to see how I could join 2mm rat tail to 0.3mm copper craft wire. Anyway, I managed the join (see below for my method!)

I love our Jolie Vache pearls, they're flattering and reflect a soft light upwards whether in 'natural' colours like ivory or white, or something a bit more funky! (like spearmint green!). I wanted to see what I could make that made pearls 'informal' and this piece works really well.

Tie a sliding knot in the rat tail (check youtube for a video clip) and you're done! This design would also work well as a bracelet.

Alternative stringing materials - you need to use something soft that knots tight - so grosgrain ribbon, suede wax cord or a thicker velvet would work, but leather thonging probably won't.

To make this you need:

10 8mm Jolie Vache pearls
9 8mm crystal rondelles
20cm fine silver plated copper wire
2 cone ends
Rat tail - around 40cm cut into 2 lengths

Tools:

Sharp scissors.
Chain nose pliers

Method:

Take one end of rat tail
Tie the rat tail to the wire, about 25mm down from the end and pull as tight as you can
Using pliers, wrap the 25mm wire round and round the knot - as if you were finishing a wrapped loop
When you're out of wire, squash the wrapped knot with the pliers & snip off any ends
Thread on a cone and hide the knot inside the cone

Thread on one pearl and one rondelle. Repeat for all pearls and rondelles.
Fix the wire to the rat tail using the same method.
Thread on the cone to hide the knot

Tie a sliding knot and knot or melt the rat tail ends. (There are lots of sliding knot tutorials on You tube - much better than me trying to explain!)

This would also make a nice bracelet - just shorten the rat tail and use 6 beads and 5 rondelles.

More Interchangeables..

Another 'interchangeable' - like the button and ring ones, this is a short length designed to clip onto a leather thong. I thought pearls and leather sounded a bit odd, but the look great together! Not a twin set in sight..

This is an easy make - the only fiddly bits are the last 2 crimp and loop pieces, and I think that would have been a lot easier if I had 2 fully functioning arms today!

Supplies:

• 1 Leather thong
• 2 10mm lobster clasps
• 15 8mm Jolie Vache pearls - 8 in one colour and 7 in another. (I used teal and parma violet)
• 2 17mm textured connectors
• Acculon tigertail - about 12"
• 12 crimp beads

Tools:

• Chain Nose Pliers. Sharp scissors or snippers

Method:

• Cut the tigertail into 3 equal pieces
• Make a loop of tigertail around one connector and secure with 2 crimps
• Repeat on another piece of tigertail

• Loop the third piece of tigertail through one of the connectors and secure with 2 crimps - this is the middle section of the necklace
• Thread on 5 8mm beads and loop through the other connector. Secure with 2 crimps
• Thread 5 8mm beads onto each of the 2 tigertail lengths, fold the tigertail round to form a loop and then secure with 2 crimps. This final loop needs to be large enough for the lobster clasp to clip on to
• Remove the existing lobster clasp from the leather thong
• Attach a 10mm clasp to each spring end
• Attach the centre section
• Wear and enjoy!

Exchangeable, Interchangeable Button Necklaces

Today I went to the doctor's with a sore wrist and came out with a splint and strict instructions to rest it... luckily I made some things last night!

Summer necklaces made of giant buttons and 16mm jumprings are quirky and fun! They're also satisfying to make - quick but wiggly(!) (you need to wiggle the jump rings about so that the buttons hang nicely)

By attaching a lobster clasp to each end of a leather thong, you can make different 'centres' and match your mood :-)

Here's the project instructions:

To make the top necklace you need:

•  3 large flower buttons
• 1 leather thong
• 8 16mm jump rings
• 2 7mm jump rings
• 2 10mm lobster clasps

Tools:

Chain Nose Pliers & Flat Nose Pliers

Method:

• Open 6 16mm jump rings and thread two rings onto each flower button
• With the right sides facing, join the 3 buttons together by interlinking the jump rings
• Hold up and adjust if necessary - you may find that putting the jumprings above, or below a petal will help it sit nicely
• Add a 16mm jump ring at each end, and then a 7mm jump ring
• Remove the lobster clasp from the leather thong (too big!)  and attach a 10mm lobster to each end of the spring
• Attach the middle part and wear :-D

Funky Loops - a fun FREE project from the cows..

This beautiful loopy bracelet was made for madcowbeads.com by Claire Pearcy of www.elderberryarts.co.uk
It's really satisfying to make, and suitable for beginners / improvers.

It's easy to make co ordinating earrings and a necklace using this simple but effective technique

Ring the changes by making one with gold rings and neutral tones!

View and print off your totally FREE project here

Happy beading!

New Beady Projects for Instant Viewing!

Well, first I must apologise for my absence.. Sorry!

I've been putting 2012 beady plans together, and in the meantime - forgot to update this blog for 6 weeks. Oops! I hope I am forgiven.

As promised, we've assembled some great designers for our new free bead projects, and also a really convenient way for you to receive them. Gone are the days of emails with attachments, or trying to read instructions off the blog while you bead - you can now access the project instantly, and download, or print off at your leisure!

So.. with no further ado - here's the first project. Designed by the lovely Janet Sherret and called...

Heart of Ice necklace

This multi strand design is suitable for beginners / improvers and shows off a great technique to make any large focal bead work as a pendant! Using a mix of 4mm Czech fire polish beads, spring cone caps and a matte frosted focal heart. All materials are available from www.madcowbeads.com

This design would also look amazing with a 20mm round flat focal  and a mix of amber toned Czech beads.

You can view and print off this project here - 

This is the first in an ongoing series, drawing from the wealth of talent amongst our customers and friends. 

Please let me know what you think :-)