We're So Sari

If you haven't yet discovered the sari silk ribbon, let me introduce you to its versatility and the vibrancy it can add to your designs.

It's  just perfect for wrapping and and the fringy edges only add a bit of fun texture.

Here I have wrapped a silver choker that I bought in Bali several years ago when I was visiting my brother.  Yes, I'm am pretty lucky to have a brother living in the center of one of the most artistic paradises on earth!

After wrapping the sari silk ribbon you simply secure it by wrapping the wire of your choice over your fabric wrap.

I've used a ScorchedEarthOnEtsy ceramic piece by Petra as a focal piece here.

The beauty of some of these silk ribbons is that they can be multicolored or "color shift" all in one ribbon. This was made with a single ribbon and wrapped with oxidized silver fill wire.

The focal piece is a nice polymer paisley by Heather Powers of HumbleBeads.

I wrapped some of my double ended copper wire lampwork that I call "baubles"

(I hope to return to making some more of these as it's been a long while since I have had any in my inventory)

You can dress up some earrings and it lends some softness to your design as  LoveRoot did here.

Here's just a sample of a sari silk ribbon search on Etsy.

Guess who just earned how to take a screen shot this week!

I first got my taste of sari silk ribbon from MudhoundStudio shop but you can find larger amounts at Darn Good Yarn. She has a great and reasonably priced selection

I was dabbling in the fabric realm last week and this wrap is made with some sari trim that I picked up on my visit to India as well as some vintage lace and fringy linen from a thrift shop and some other trim I got from a trade with Lorna from Artymess.

Can't Get Enough Headpins

Headpins

I think most of us know what headpins are for in designing jewelry. 

It seems to be a source of confusion when I'm trying to sell them to the general public, however.

Hatpins? Hairpins?  What are these for? How do you stick them in your head?

I even show examples of how I use them in my own work but I still get blank looks at times.

I'm going to go with the assumption that you have an idea of how to use them "to stop the beads from falling off" but I'm not sure if anyone realizes the scope of how many wonderful handmade artisan headpins are being made and sold. If you are a designer or even a bead maker it seems that a little imagination and creativity can bring a new dynamic to your designing with this versatile component.

These are my crusty rustic line of headpins which are being used in any number of ways to accent earring designs 

I think I could make these all day every day to meet the recent demand but of course a person gets a little weary of making the same thing all the time so I try different things like these crustified millefiore orbs.

Throw in a little crazy color once in awhile

Crubbly paddle shaped headpins which can serve as a dominant element.

Lightweight polymer clay leaf headpins by BeadyEyedBunny on Etsy

or more traditional copper balled headpins also by BeadyEyedBunny

Here are some headpins made by Jiorji out of Utee inspired by fancifuldevices' tutorial

orange rustic flowers out of polymer clay by BeadyEyedBunny

 Here is a button shaped headpin that I have in my NuminosityBeads Etsy shop

I frequently make these long "oober" lampwork headpins which make quite a statement

You can see how Nikki from LoveRoot likes to incorporate them

And how Beatnheart has artfully wired them into her design.

You can find many other example of how my headpins have been incorporated on my Pinterest board

designers using numinositybeads

KristiBowmanDesigns makes some beautiful copper headpins out of metal clay

Here's what I did with a pair. These earrings "First Snow" just made their debut in this issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry!

Here's where you can purchase fancifuldevices Utee headpin tutorial.

You don't need a torch!

I like how fancifuldevices has used my mismatched paddle headpins to great effect on these earrings.

Some amazing artisan lampwork headpins by LoriLochner that could stand alone

 (figuratively, that is)

These are only a few examples of the array of headpins you can find on Etsy. You only have to do a search for handmade headpins and you will find so many more to lend that extra something to your designs.

I almost forgot to include some of the headpins the headpins that inspired me to write this post. These are by Ginger Davis Allman  from Blue Bottle Tree who also has a tutorial for making rustic beads and components out of polymer clay.

and she was featured in Polymer Clay Daily with these rustic beauties