New Year's Resolutions

Do you make them? I do. I really do want to be a better person each year. You know, neater, kinder, less scattered. I don't ever make big resolutions because I figure that would just be too much to handle. I like small, manageable resolutions. Among this year's are:

Write more neatly on my calendars. Usually my calendars look like this picture. Messy, messy, messy. Now, I do know how to write neatly. And I could erase instead of crossing out items. So this year, I will. I will be neat on my calendar. At least until about March or when I forget.

Give random crafty gifts to friends and family. I did this a few times last year and folks got so excited I decided to do it more this year. Just make something I love and then give it away to someone I love. Random gifts are always nice, I know I love them. This year I will make a few more surprises for girlfriends, my sister, even my hubby. Shh, I am not going to say what I am working on for this resolution right now!

And finally do things in a more timely manner. Yeah, right. It's what, January 11th?

Art Bead Scene Blog: ABS' Monthly Challenge - January

It's time for the monthly challenge at the Art Bead Scene. The theme this month is Ice Storm. You can send them a picture of your icey jewelry made with art beads and you may win an great collection of beady goodies. A few of the folks that work or shop at Ornamentea have won - this is one on line contest that is for real!

Art Bead Scene Blog: ABS' Monthly Challenge - January

Maybe it's because my house lies in the shade of an enormous pecan tree, but the words 'Ice Storm' make me think of wintery trees. I like these four-hole pendants or spacers by Elaine Ray to add a bit of winter forest to an icey design.

So what are you waiting for? Go make a jewelry already!

Ribbon-tied Pearl necklaces

This is one of those projects that we get questions on every spring. It seems like a trendy 'that's so last year' thing but then someone walks in with the new issue of InStyle or Glamour and there it is. I think that the feminine bow and shimmer of pearls never goes out of style. You can make this type of necklace with any beads, really. Try it with colored stone beads and a patterned ribbon or with metal beads and a metallic ribbon. The directions are for a 16 inch tied necklace.

You'll need the following materials:
24 glass pearl beads, 20 mm
22" bead stringing material (we like the .024 Softflex)
2 crimp beads
2 sterling toggle rings or soldered jump rings, 12 mm
36" ribbon (we used double-faced 3/4 inch satin but I do recommend a nice organza)

Thread one end of the stringing material with a crimp bead and one toggle end. Thread the stringing material back through the crimp bead and flatten the crimp with your crimping tool. See this link for a how-to on that technique or visit your local bead store.

Thread all glass pearls onto the stringing material. Feed on the remaining crimp and the remaining toggle ring. Thread the stringing material back through the crimp bead and flatten the crimp with your crimping tool.

Trim the ends of your ribbon to 45 degree angles to prevent fraying and thread them through the toggle rings. Loop the necklace over your head and tie to desired length to wear.

Here is a printable PDF of a similar project you can download for free.