Memory Wire - A Recommendation?

Memory Wire - which do you use for bracelets? My mom loves memory wire bracelets, and I wanted to make her a couple.

I have used Bead-a-lon, and I am not a fan of it. It pulls out of shape way too easily, and cannot hold much weight.

I bought a generic brand at Wal-Mart several years ago - just on a whim, it was cheap and I thought why not. I loved it, and I haven't been able to find it since.

What would you recommend?

Memory Wire Choker

Leigh sent me a picture of a bracelet that she wanted me to try and make -



So cute with that little ribbon tied onto it. It is from Old Navy. It is an elastic bracelet

*insert Psycho theme* *We we we we we we we we we*

I can't tie a knot!!!

So I thought, I'll do it with memory wire. I used some Bead a Lon memory wire I had (I don't recommend this brand for memory wire, it stretches and will not hold it's shape) and for the sake of the experiment, I thought I would give it a try.

The agate beads were too heavy and it would hang off the wrist. There was no way you could functional wear this as a bracelet.

*think* *think*

What about a choker. I tried it on - IT FIT PERFECT!!!


Front view


Back veiw


This is a real fun design, and so easy to wear!

There never is a real failure is there - always an opportunity to learn something new!!!

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.

Not Knots!! or How memory wire saved my life

I am going into a busy busy time. I have something every weekend from now till the week before Christmas. On top of that I have product in five stores and have to get them ramped up for their holiday shopping.

I don't have enough time!!

I need something quick that will bulk out my inventory, give my customers a choice and work in a retail setting as well.

Something that I can crank out without looking like it came off of an assembly line.

*think* *think*

One thing I get quite a call for and haven't been able to provide to my customers are elastic bracelets. I cant' tie a knot to save my life. I have gotten some great tips from my readers when I reached out for advice on just this very problem a while back, sadly, my fear of elastic has kept me from trying any.

While at Walmart yesterday, I did a quick stroll thru the craft department (one of the few Walmarts that still has a craft dept.) and I saw memory wire. Me and memory wire don't have the greatest history. I used it years ago, when I first started making jewelry, and didn't understand the principles of it and became very frustrated. I thought I would try it again. I got a 5' coil for $2.67. It was worth the risk.

This morning I played around with a couple ideas when the flood gates opened. Out of that 5' length of memory wire, I got six bracelets! They are fun and versatile. No clasp to worry about and no knots!

Here's what I used:

Vintage Italian Lucite Marbled Red w/ White Rounds 12mm 20pc *- A Beadin Path
Glass pearls- Walmart
Bright Sterling Silver Twisted Jump Rings, approx 8mm - Sedona Stones
Round banded agate
Square banded agate
Czech Fire Polished Bead Jet 6mm - Art Beads
Faceted jasper roundelle
Sterling beads
Faceted AB Czech crystal
Repurposed black crystal
Black seed beads

Spice jasper round beads approx.12mm -Sedona Stones
Sterling daisy spacers
Glass pearls - Walmart

Coral
Dyed Magnesite
Sterling daisy spacers


Re purposed wood beads
Sterling barrels
6mm howlite - Rings & Things



Round Snowman Head (Limited Stock) (White) Glass Bead *- Rings & Things
Re purposed plastic beads
Seed Beads

Thanks for stoppin by!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things and Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program