Welcome! If you came here searching for some beading ideas, then this site is for you. From now on, I'll be writing my personal experience on this new hobby thatI started about a month ago. I hope that through this site, you'll learn something about beading and encourage you to start designing projects of your own.
A little history here. I love handmade jewelries and trinkets or "abubots" as we call it in Filipino. When I was a teenager, which I swear was not that long a time ago, I would wear plain shirts and jeans without accessories. I was what you would call the wash-and-wear type. People accused me of being a tomboy. Maybe I was. But the real reason behind my "plainness" was that I just couldn't afford to buy accessories of my own. During my student days, I have barely enough money to get me to school I couldn't afford to buy jewelries and other stuffs even if I wanted to. Heck, if not for the scholarship, I wouldn't have been able to finish my study in college. And even with the scholarship grant I got, I still had to work part time to support my parents and siblings financially. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Geology, I was lucky to have landed a job immediately. But I digress. With the extra money from my first job, I could already afford a few accessories. I would go to some kiosks and purchase some necklace, a few pairs of earrings and bangles I liked. Even so, I only owned a few because accessories are very expensive at that time.
It wasn't until just recently when I realized that making your own accessories is way cheaper and more exciting! With beading hobby, you have total control of your money and the designs that will fit you and your budget. Let me tell you a short story on how I developed my interest on beading.
The day before my dad's flight back to Manila after a three-week long visit here in Mindanao, he decided to buy my mom a few strands of freshwater pearls which the island is famous for. When we got to the shop (since I offered to pay for the pearls), my attention was instantly caught by the brilliance of Swarovski crystals displayed with the pearls and colorful glass beads. I also remember watching a girl in the shop make colorful bracelets out of gold wires, small pliers and Swarovski crystals. I realized then that I too, can make handmade jewelries. That same day I bought a few strands of pearls for myself and my mom, a few Swarovski crystals, wires and pliers. I admit, my first few attempts at making earrings and necklaces resulted to lousy ones. The pearls in one of my necklaces were loosely tied because the clasps broke twice and the earrings were not identical. I tell you, it was hilarious. They were so lousy that I will never post the photos of them here, even if you pay me.. :P
So I tried searching the internet for a few tutorials, bought some beading magazines and asked around for some ideas. I also checked out a few kiosks and shops selling jewelries to check on how clasps and jump rings were used. I learned quite a lot through my bead shop forays and research on the net. Now I knew the difference between wrapped loops and unwrapped loops, jump rings, clasps, etc. I also found out that before you splurge and spend a lot of moolah for beads in one shop, you really have to scout for other shops which sell the same stuffs at lower price.
I could tell you more but I can see that this is long enough already. I will tell you more on my next blog. For now, let me show you a few jewelries and flip flop designs I had made since I started beading about a month ago:
A little history here. I love handmade jewelries and trinkets or "abubots" as we call it in Filipino. When I was a teenager, which I swear was not that long a time ago, I would wear plain shirts and jeans without accessories. I was what you would call the wash-and-wear type. People accused me of being a tomboy. Maybe I was. But the real reason behind my "plainness" was that I just couldn't afford to buy accessories of my own. During my student days, I have barely enough money to get me to school I couldn't afford to buy jewelries and other stuffs even if I wanted to. Heck, if not for the scholarship, I wouldn't have been able to finish my study in college. And even with the scholarship grant I got, I still had to work part time to support my parents and siblings financially. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Geology, I was lucky to have landed a job immediately. But I digress. With the extra money from my first job, I could already afford a few accessories. I would go to some kiosks and purchase some necklace, a few pairs of earrings and bangles I liked. Even so, I only owned a few because accessories are very expensive at that time.
It wasn't until just recently when I realized that making your own accessories is way cheaper and more exciting! With beading hobby, you have total control of your money and the designs that will fit you and your budget. Let me tell you a short story on how I developed my interest on beading.
The day before my dad's flight back to Manila after a three-week long visit here in Mindanao, he decided to buy my mom a few strands of freshwater pearls which the island is famous for. When we got to the shop (since I offered to pay for the pearls), my attention was instantly caught by the brilliance of Swarovski crystals displayed with the pearls and colorful glass beads. I also remember watching a girl in the shop make colorful bracelets out of gold wires, small pliers and Swarovski crystals. I realized then that I too, can make handmade jewelries. That same day I bought a few strands of pearls for myself and my mom, a few Swarovski crystals, wires and pliers. I admit, my first few attempts at making earrings and necklaces resulted to lousy ones. The pearls in one of my necklaces were loosely tied because the clasps broke twice and the earrings were not identical. I tell you, it was hilarious. They were so lousy that I will never post the photos of them here, even if you pay me.. :P
So I tried searching the internet for a few tutorials, bought some beading magazines and asked around for some ideas. I also checked out a few kiosks and shops selling jewelries to check on how clasps and jump rings were used. I learned quite a lot through my bead shop forays and research on the net. Now I knew the difference between wrapped loops and unwrapped loops, jump rings, clasps, etc. I also found out that before you splurge and spend a lot of moolah for beads in one shop, you really have to scout for other shops which sell the same stuffs at lower price.
I could tell you more but I can see that this is long enough already. I will tell you more on my next blog. For now, let me show you a few jewelries and flip flop designs I had made since I started beading about a month ago:
This "I Heart U" summer flip flops is a banana Peel flip flops with white, heart-shaped shell beads, pink-colored mother-of-pearl (i know, it sounds weird to me too) and colorless seed beads. I used a jelly nylon string for this pair. This comes with a matching bracelet (or anklet, if you like).. :-)
Rainbow bracelets: I used 9 colors of bicone Swarovski crystals and connected them using simple and wrapped loops. Wire used is 10K gold. The circular lock and jump ring used is 14 K gold. :-)
A simple pearl hoops made of freshwater pearls, small and red bicone Swarovski crystals and 10 K gold wire. The stringing medium I used is nylon coated gold plated wire, similar to Beadalon wires, only this one is from China.. :-)
Rainbow necklace: I made this necklace using 38 bicone Swarovski crystals (9 colors to match the rainbow bracelet); three faceted medium-size faceted Swarovski crystals; black glasswork etched with pink roses and 10 K gold wire.
This bracelet and earrings set is the cheapest I made in this batch. I used freshwater pearls, violet cubic beads; gold spherical spacers; gold wire for the earrings and jelly elastic nylon size 7 for the bracelet. :-)
To match the pearl hoops I made, I used gold wire, freshwater pearls and red faceted Swarovski crystals to make this bracelet. This is perfect for girls with thin arms.
Capiz shell earrings: I used red, heart-shaped coral beads, freshwater pearls and gold wire for this pair. This pair is perfect for girls with queenly necks. :-)
*pink flip flops adorned with colorful beads and comes with matching bracelet*
*overloaded summer flip flop*
*Queen Abigail Dangling Earrings: Freshwater pearls, pink bicone Swarovski crystals, blue octagonal Swarovski crystals and 10 K gold wires*
*Princess Beverly Dangling Earrings: 10 K gold wire; Rainbow Black Bicone Swarovski Crystals; Red faceted Swarovski Crystals*
*Princess Sandra Dangling Earrings: Blue bicone Swarovski crystals; Blue glasswork bead designed with rose and 10 K gold wires*
*Under the Sea Dangling Earrings: Blue faceted rounded Swarovski crystals, transparent bicone Swarovski crystals, metal clay daisy spacers, metal clay dolphins and 10 K gold wires*
Cheers everyone! :-)
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