New copper bangles!

I got some inspiration from Karen of Artful Crafts addition to the Artbeads.com's Photos - Colors of Fall Design Partners Gallery I, copper bangle.



Isn't this the GREATEST!!! I fell in love with this design and I had to try and make one myself.





I used 12 ga wire and wrapped it around a spray paint can. That makes about a 7 1/2 inch bangle. Made loops at the ends of the wire and hammered them. Then I took 22 ga wire and wrapped all the way around the bangle to hold the wire in shape. Next took more 22 ga wire and started to wrap and add beads - alternating with seed beads and gemstones.





Loads of fun and really quick to make. I was surprised I could make one in about an hour.

Going crazy with vintage lucite from Beadin Path

Yesterday, home from work, bored with sleeping and disgusted with t.v. I tried reading. My mind kept wandering to my work table and what I could be doing. I put the book down and sat at my work table.

Nothing.

I pushed some beads around on the table with my finger and hummed a ditty to myself.

Nothing.

I have some compartmentalized storage boxes I have been putting my beads and supplies in, so I picked up on that project to see if I ran across anything that would get me going. I sat in the floor with baggies all around me, sorting and piling and pushing things around. My cat, who loves plastic baggies and to play fetch, trotted in with a baggie in his mouth. He dropped it in front of me, mewed to get my attention and pushed up against me, his way of saying, 'Mom, throw it!' I picked up the baggie and noticed it was my lucite beads from Beadin Path. That pesky cat!

Oh wait, that glorious cat! I got an idea as soon as I touched that bag. My daughter had been on me about making too many necklaces, and challenged me to step out and try making bracelets and earrings. I did just that!

I have talked about the memory wire bracelets before. How they are a great alternative to elastic, especially if you are knot challenged like I am. They are also great bracelets for people who have a difficult time with clasps due to arthritis, or who may have larger wrists and have trouble finding something to fit. The other thing too about memory wire, it is a great unisex option, open up that customer base!

Vintage lucite beads are light, so you can bulk up a design and not have to worry about the weight. The colors are so vivid, whereas you are limited by natural stone. The lucite is so sturdy, it can take the wear on your wrist for a worry free fashion accessory.

So, memory wire bracelets -



LUC3737OR Twist Tube Beads 10 x 12mm Orange Moonglow *

Glass pearls

Sterling disks






LUC646GR - Vintage Lucite Matte Marbled Moss Green - 10 mm rounds *
Glass pearls




But don't stop there - how about memory wire earrings? These are great fun wire loop earrings packed with lucite. Lucite beads are so light weight you can wear some really daring designs and combinations and not have to worry about them being uncomfortable.





LUC4869OR Transparent Hyacinth Barrel Bead 12 x 14 mm *
Glass pearls







LUC461YL Opaque Jonquil Round 8 mm *
LUC4458YL Pale Jonquil Round beads 16mm *
LUC4759RD - Vintage Italian Lucie Marbled Red w/ White - 12mm rounds *
Seed beads
(My favorite)







LUC646GR - Vintage Lucite Matte Marbled Moss Green - 10 mm rounds *
Glass pearls





There are so many things to do with memory wire and vintage lucite, what about wine glass charms? What else do you make with memory wire?

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes.

Still playin with vintage lucite from Beadin Path!

I had to get some necklaces done to do an inventory swap with one of the art stores that has my designs.

I like to keep my displays fresh, and I swap out my inventory every six weeks or so. Lately it hasn't been difficult at all to be creative with the generous promotional strands of vintage lucite I received from Beadin Path. Being a design partner with Beadin Path means that Heather picks several promotional strands of beads from the inventory at Beadin Path and sends them to me about once a month or so. I am sent the beads to review and also to help promote through my blog. I don't receive any pay for these beads, and none is needed. The creative challenge that is posed to me each month is more than enough!

Of the necklaces I made this morning, this one I really like. I almost didn't take it in, and kept it for myself. Luckily, I held back enuff of the vintage lucite beads to make one for myself!

I used Antiqued brass 5x3mm chain from Firemountain Gems
Vintage lucite cube beads, 10mm Smoky Quartz from Beadin Path
Facted magnesite nuggets, a gift from a friend of mine
22 ga copper wire from Rings & Things
Hammered copper link from Cherry Tree Beads







It just feels like November to me. It is the perfect length and weight. Would look great over a light sweater peaking out from under a blazer on a casual nite out.

Beadin Path Design Partner - What a haul!!!

What a thrill I had yesterday when I got home from work and found a package in my mail box from Beadin Path! Heather at Beadin Path had given me a heads up there was a package in the mail, but I did not expect this! Imagine my surprise to find so much stuffed into that padded envelope. A squeal escaped me as I dumped them onto the table, and I will admit, I slobbered a little in my glee.


Beadin Path is so generous to their Design Partners and for that I am forever grateful. The vintage lucite beads are too much fun. You can go crazy with big bulky designs and not have to worry about the weight. The textures, colors and patterns of the beads are so much fun to combine in a piece, it allows you to work outside your creative comfort zone and find new ways to express yourself.

There were no inventory tags on these strands and I had to go to the site to poke around (hurt my feelings!) and find out what each one was.

Vintage Lucite beads - going from left to right:
LUC4274BR Matte Dark Bark Tube beads, 6 x 26 mm
LUC2185BR Cube Beads 10mm Smoky Quartz
LUC2485OR Dark Rust Moonglow Heishi Rondells 4 x 8mm



LUC4830OR Light Orange Marbled Rice 12 x 22 mm ( I love these!)
LUC461YL Opaque Jonquil Round 8 mm
LUC4458YL Pale Jonquil Round beads 16mm



LUC3737OR Twist Tube Beads 10 x 12mm Orange Moonglow
LUC4869OR Transparent Hyacinth Barrel Bead 12 x 14 mm
LUC4759RD Marbled Red w/ White Rounds 12mm (my favorite ones)





LUC2503OR Side Drilled Button Round Beads 11mm Transparent Orange
LUC4640RD German Lucite Matte Garnet Flower Pendant 28mm
LUC3900RD German Lucite Matte Deep Red 3-Petal Flowers 39mm



Now that you know where to find them, go and see for yourself how much fun it is to work with vintage lucite!!

Hello Tiffany - Beadin Path Design Partner

I received a great selection of vintage lucite beads from Beadin Path as part of the design partner program. What to do? What to do!

I wanted to do a look that was inspired by a vintage look, but that would also be hot with todays jewelry trends.

I used the LUC4809YL - Vintage Lucite Topaz Quad Cut Cube - 12mm for this necklace and added pearls, lampwork, and faux pearls from my supplies. I tied this all together with hand wound links of brass and copper and hung it all on a brass chain.

I love breaking the rules and pushing the envelope with my styles. Mixing the metals and the pearls to some is a huge no-no, but for me, it sets the necklace in a category all it's own.

Stunning.

Beadin' Path Design Partner

Heather from Beadin' Path asked me if I would like to be one of their design partners. I squealed and danced and calmly sed

YES!!!

I got my first set of beads for review in the mail and I am stupid with excitement. The beads are a mix of beautiful fall colors, great shapes and awesome finishes.

Well see for yourself!

This is a stunning group of vintage lucite beads.
The red one on my wrist - LUC4759RD - I am gonna be hard pressed to unstring them. I love it as is for a bracelet. Oh the decisions!

Let me break down what I got cuz I know you are itching to get your own - these are truly lovely.

Moving from left to right:



LUC3448GR - Vinage Lucite Dark Green, Black & Green Swirled - 8mm rounds

LUC32470R - Vintage Lucite Tangerine Moonglow Teardrops (i love the name moonglow)

LUC4525OR - Vintage Lucite Tangerine Moonglow - 7mm rounds

LUC4809YL - Vintage Lucite Topaz Quad Cut Cube - 12mm

LUC4759RD - Vintage Italian Lucie Marbled Red w/ White - 12mm rounds

LUC3134YL - Vintage Lucite Mustard Moonglow Side Drilled Round Buttons - 9mm

LUC4725RD - Vintage Lucite Transparent Siam Ovals - 10 x 12mm

LUC646GR - Vintage Lucite Matte Marbled Moss Green - 10 mm rounds

I linked back to the ones I could find on the site, which is not easy, the search options does not work. The categories are broke down by bead type, and color which is brilliant - making searching easier. I can't complain to much about doing a manual search, I got to browse their awesome products and found these!!!



Sea Glass Square Spacer Matte Fire Opal Red 6x10mm approx. 19-23pc.

They look like candy, like those peach flavored gummie candies...I must have them!


After seeing these I am sure you have your own ideas floating around in your head - Stop on over and see the team at Beadin' Path - I know you will find what you are looking for!