Tutorial: Silk and Fabric Necklace

by Staci Louise Smith

I have always loved fabrics and its a shame I don't sew much.  Imagine how excited I was to try adding them to my jewelry!  I had some reservations, as I know some of you may as well, and I covered some of them here.

http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2015/04/silk-and-fabric-care.html

I almost exclusively use them as the back part of a necklace.  I really tend to "go big" on the front portion of my necklaces, so I don't usually bead all the way around.  I found that fabric can keep that interest of color and texture in the design without competing with the main focal.  Also, its nice to have something light to balance the visually heavy front.  Anyhow, its simple to use silks and fabrics in your pieces, and you don't even need fancy or specialized connectors (though some do like them, so I will link to them at the end).

All you will need is your necklace focal portion
(mine used one of my uber chunky boho carved focals, Suburban Girl Studio's rustic yellow drop bead, amber, agate, picasso jasper)

Starry Road Studio batik strips and Marsha Neal Studio 3mm silk

(you can use sari silk or many different kinds of silks, but this is what I used)

round nose pliers

chain nose pliers

flush cutters

clasp (I prefer an "s" clasp)

 chain

I had fun first laying out the different colors with my beads and figuring out which I liked best.  I really liked the blue added into the purples and yellows, but it just didn't work out when wire wrapping it up, so I switched to a more monochromatic palette.

1.  choose your colors

 2.  Wire together focal

 3.  Take a piece of fabric and a 3mm silk together (like to double them up, especially when I use sari silk, which can be thinner, this just gives a little more color and added support).  Some tips: make sure your fabric has no weak spots by gently pulling on it before using it in your design

 4. Feed both through the wrapped loop on one side and fold over

 5.  Hold them tight together

6.  take a piece of 18g wire, about 3", and hold one end with a tail sticking up, tight against the fabric

7.  begin wrapping the wire around the fabric, pushing it tightly into a coil.  this takes some practice, you need to keep tension on your piece as you wrap, holding each end of the of piece in your hands while still using your fingers

8.  when it is done, make sure you tightly crimp the top and bottom around and into the fabric.  the fact that this is tight is what holds it together

9.  You can trim the little tails off

10. now you have one side halfway done

11.  Time to add the clasp

12.  feed the fabrics through your clasp

13.  Repeat step 7 above

14.  Do the same thing on the other side.  I also added a little seed bead detail to one side, just for some more texture and fun

15. You are done!  

Now, just a word about using silk.  I sometimes like to use it only on one side of the design- as I know others do as well.  Keep in mind, your design MUST be balanced, not just visually, but by weight, or it will slide around on your neck.  I always wear my designs for a day to see how they hang, and make sure the weight is correct!  There is nothing more disappointing to a customer then buying a piece that is made to hang one way and it never does.

I leave you with some other artists who use fibers similar to the way to do, and I just LOVE their work! 

Silk and Fabric Care

by Staci Louise Smith

As we move forward with our Fiber in Jewelry Boot Camp, I wanted to touch on the care of fibers.  

A reader had commented about being hesitant to use fabrics and such because they get dirty, and was concerned about longevity.  I had forgotten that I had those same concerns myself when I first started using silks in my work.

 These are some beautiful Marsha Neal silks on my table just begging to be made into something!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MarshaNealStudio

Because I work mostly with sari silk and other hand dyed silks, like Marsha Neal's, I can really only talk of the care they require.  

Longevity:  When making jewelry, I am really pretty strict about making sure it is made well and will last.  I guarantee my work, so I want it to last forever!  Of course, things happen, and I fix them when needed.  So using fiber was a bit scary to me.  I will share my tricks in a tutorial later for making sure your necklace is secure, and is  not going to break easily.  

these are batik fabrics from Starry Road Studio, still on my desk, also waiting to become something!  I cannot wait to dive in.

http://www.starryroadstudio.com/

After I got that down, there was the care and cleaning of it.  I personally love to wear my sari silk necklaces in the summer.  They are much more comfortable and light on a sweaty neck then chain.  However......there is the sweaty neck thing.

The nice thing is, that they are fabric, and you can gently hand wash it in the sink.  I use a little warm water, along with some hand soap.  I wet the fabric, rub in some soap for a bit and rinse, rinse, rinse.  Allow it to air dry, and its all clean! 

I hope this little post will help to ease your concerns as we move forward and find new ways to use fiber in jewelry.  

There really are times when I tear a piece apart, and replace beading or chain with silks, because it either needed that pop of color they can offer, or it needed something soft for contrast.  Once I started using it, I have not looked back!  

If you have any other concerns or questions about using fabric in jewelry before we start up the boot camp, please feel free to ask!

Boot Camp: Fiber in Jewelry

by Staci Louise Smith

Well, we are finally going to get some boot camps in again!  Boot camp is a time when we, as a group, concentrate on one area of jewelry making or design.  We bring you ideas, tips, resource links and tutorials to help you try out a new area of jewelry making.

This one is on fiber in jewelry or fiber jewelry.

You can see a Boot Camp post the 2nd and 4th Monday of both April and May, as well as scattered through the month on personal posts.  

I first fell in love with fiber for jewelry way back when I was making mainly sea glass jewelry.  I went to a bead show and found Marsha Neal's silks.  I was smitten.  I ended up coming home and ordering from her online.  I was hooked on the variety of colors.  

I have never stopped loving fiber in my jewelry.

I thoroughly enjoy the softness fiber can add to a piece- it adds a softness and contrast against the hard beads.  

We will be sharing lots of ways to use fiber in your jewelry, as well as showing you some of our favorite places to buy it!  Fiber in jewelry is not limited to cording!  That is just what I have always been drawn to.  

We cannot wait to have you join us as we explore this medium.

Here are some teasers of my favorite fabric cording to start you off drooling, or in case you want to get some so you have it to try out as we go along!

I love the rustic look of recycled sari silks.  This is my favorite go to shop

https://www.etsy.com/shop/goldenonetoo?ref=listing-shop-header-item-count

Marsha had me at hello- and I am still a fan

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MarshaNealStudio

And recently, Karen Totten has decided to use BATIK FABRIC to use as cording.  My first batch is on the way.  I have always loved batik fabric- to wear, to drool over, anything......so I am uber excited to use it for some jewelry.  Stay tuned...

http://www.starryroadstudio.com/store

I leave you with some more recent necklaces I have used fiber in......

I started a Fiber in Jewelry Board on Pinterest- you can check out lots of great artists using fiber in many ways in jewelry.

https://www.pinterest.com/stacilouise/fiber-in-jewelry/

Hopefully it brings you some inspiration!
Enjoy!

Tutorials and Boot Camps at your Finger tips

by Staci Louise Smith

We are having a snow day here in Eastern PA today.  I think we are all ready for Spring by now, though this is a "nice" snow.  Fluffy, packs good, there is enough to make it fun and pretty and not just a messy clean up.  It is not covered with an inch of ice.....ect.  So, hopefully it is the last, but its at least a nice pretty and peaceful snowfall.

Anyhow.............................due to tax prep, tax appointment and kids being around, I am just getting to my post.

ring by karen mcgovern

There have been some nice changes to the blog that I want to share with you!

Last year we had a fun time doing Boot Camps, which were composed of many tutorials and posts on one topic of jewelry making.  They were wonderful and packed with information as well.  

earrings by barb bechtel

We have also posted random tutorials as a group through the years.

  Well, MaryAnn has organized them, and if you click on the tabs above, you can either go to tutorials and see what we have to offer- which is everything from basic wire wrapping to soldering bezels!

bezel by staci smith

Or, you can browse through the Boot Camps.  There was A LOT of information in each one, all written by different authors.  That way you not only got different tutorials and tips, but you get them from many different perspectives.

earrings by maryann carroll

Right now we are deciding on some new things for the upcoming year!  So stay tuned from more tutorials, tips and hopefully videos too from us!

Happy Creating!  

Donuts are Good For You

by Staci L. Smith

Well, this kind of donut is not bad for you anyway.  If you know me at all, you know I love using donuts in my designs, and I make a huge amount of them as components as well.  I love the round shape, the negative space the hole creates, and most of all, I love the endless possibilities.

Not everyone shares my passion though.  Some people just don't know what to do with them.  So I thought I'd share some tips and inspiration for using donuts in your work. 

I wish I had pictures of my earliest work.  One of the first things I did with donuts was use it as a toggle clasp.  Alas, I do not.  But I did find this sample online.  I love how she used the flower donut as a toggle clasp!  

Necklace by Karen Grosset Grange
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr%2F2014%2F06%2Fblu-mudd-challenge-4.html&h=LAQHCibI_

Donut by Blue Mud Studio

If you don't do seed beads and can't make that kind of toggle, you can make one out of wire, or even use a center drilled stick pearl as a toggle.

You can also use wire to make a bail on a donut bead.  You can do a simple wrap around look- this one is just wire wrapped around the top a few times, and I make a large wire wrapped loop for a bail.  Then I did the same on the bottom to create place to add a charm.

Staci Louise Smith

Below an old style of pendant I loved making, it involved a wire bail, with a spiral...then I would dangle charms from the spiral.  A great way to dress up and plain donut.

You can also get fancy with the wire work like Dana Hickey did

www.etsy.com/shop/winddancerstudios

or like these pretty little earrings by Stacie Florer

www.stacieflorer.com 


Another options is to bezel them, either in seed beads

Carol Dean Sharpe of Sand Fibers
http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/

Or bezel them in metal

 Staci Louise Smith

Staci Louise Smith

You can even prong set them- this is great especially if they are thick, highly textured, or you just want to leave as much of the donut showing as possible

Collaborative piece by Staci Louise Smith and Lisa Peters Art
www.stacilouiseoriginals.com
www.lisapetersart.com 

Another option is using fiber to tie your donuts into your design.  You can use waxed linen, silk cord and leather, just to name a few.  (ok, leather is not fiber, but I thought I'd group it here)

Waxed Linen Cord used as a bail from the donut onto leather cord
Staci L. Smith

 Plain old leather looped through the hole, through a large hole bead, and as a cord
Staci L. Smith

Silk Cord or something, tied through the donut on these earrings by Marcia Dunne
It really makes them light and dainty, and compliments her wire work and small beads perfectly
https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fuk%2Fshop%2F13Alternatives%3Fref%3Dl2-shop-info-name&h=YAQHYKOtt

Here is a piece I made a couple years ago, called Khaleesi, after my favorite Game of Thrones Character.  I used a large donut, with a smaller donut inside, and linen cord to add the accents to the piece.

www.stacilouiseoriginals.com


Someone who is always SUPER creative when using donuts (or any focal for that matter) is Keirsten Giles

She used wire and sheet metal to make high end bails for her donuts, and it absolutely makes the bail part of the main design of her piece.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fshop%2Flunedesigns&h=xAQGGUlTa

Another design that I adore are these bracelets by Judith Boyer.  I really like how she used the donuts, to make an symmetrical bracelet.....and the genius of it, is that the multiple strands will be heavier, and land on the bottom of the wrist, allowing the donut to be on top as the focal bead.  

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.judithannboyer.com%2F&h=HAQEJ6Nwt

Lastly, I like to use donuts in my pieces, using them among other donuts and beads, either in a choker style or a long dangle.  It is achieved by using wire to wrap them into place.

I figured I'd share this technique with you, since I get asked all the time how I do my wire for the above style pieces.

You begin by taking a nice long piece of wire and a donut.

Make a wire wrapped loop, and go through and around the donut, wrapping back around the base of the loop.

Now take the wire and feed it over the top and through the donut hole again, so it comes out on the bottom of the other side.

 back view

Now make a wire wrapped loop on the other side, wrap the wire around the base, and come back over the top of the donut

Feed the wire through the hole again, it will come out on the other side from the bottom

Wrap the excess around the base of the loop and cut, or, you can continue to go back and forth a couple more times, depending on the look you want.

Wrapping donuts this way allows you to use them in designs, and control how they hang.  By having wire on both sides, your donut will not flip around on you.  It also creates a look of the donut floating in the wire.  Essentially, you are doing a figure 8 through the donut.

I hope this helps to give you some inspiration and encourages you to use donuts in your designs. 

Please be considerate, the examples here are peoples original designs, are are not to be copied, but, merely a jumping point for you try something new.  Be inspired, but give it your own flavor, make it your own.  

Some of the art bead donuts in this post and just some of my favorite places to get art bead donuts are listed below

www.lisapetersart.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MarshaNealStudio

https://www.etsy.com/shop/suburbangirlbeads

www.stacilouiseoriginals.com 

www.starryroadstudio.com