Thursday, December 10, 2020

Multi Strand Linen Necklaces with Fresh Water Pearls

Multi Strand Linen Necklaces with Fresh Water Pearls

Natural Fil de Lin Necklace with White Freshwater Pearls


The next part of the Multi Strand Linen Bracelet, Necklace and More...  tutorial show how to make multi strand necklaces with freshwater pearls and linen. The tutorial includes detailed instructions on how to create the setup for necklaces and how to distribute the pearls in the linen yarn. 

Several other design options are shown including an option with Linen Tape.  It adds texture to the linen yarn. 

Multi Strand Linen Necklaces with Fresh Water Pearls

Natural Fil de Lin and Linen Tape Necklace with White Freshwater Pearls


Another option is for a necklace using smaller freshwater pearls.  It is shown here on top stacked with 2 other necklaces. 

Multi Strand Linen Necklaces with Fresh Water Pearls

Necklace Stack - Shadow, Painted Desert, and Pink Champagne  Fil de Lin Necklace with Pink Champagne Freshwater Pearls


Another option shown is to make a necklace with 6 and 10 mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls. 

Multi Strand Linen Necklaces with Fresh Water Pearls

Grey Fil de Lin Necklace with Grey Swarovski Crystal Pearls


You can also twist the strands...

Multi Strand Linen Necklaces with Fresh Water Pearls

Painted Desert Fil de Lin Necklace with Pink Champagne Freshwater Pearls


 ... and stack the necklaces. 

Multi Strand Linen Necklaces with Fresh Water Pearls

Necklace Stack with Peacock Freshwater Pearls
Marina Variations and Light Peacock Fil de Lin
 
As to freshwater pearls, one of the choices is these luscious grey ones.   

Multi Strand Linen Necklaces with Fresh Water Pearls

Necklace Stack with Grey Freshwater Pearls
Grey, Snowberry, and Painted Desert Fil de Lin

A what ifs section concludes the tutorial. It includes how to care for your linen jewelry.  Linen is incredibly strong, long lasting, natural, and easy to clean. It dries quickly and does not retain moisture, making it a cool choice for jewelry for hot weather. Linen becomes softer with wash and wear, but rest assured that the linen yarns selected HERE are already incredibly soft. It is the high fashion natural alternative to hemp cord.

See previous post on this tutorial HERE.


Solitaire Fresh Water Pearl Pendant with Linen Cords Tutorial

Solitaire Fresh Water Pearl Pendant with Linen Cords

Natural Fil de Lin Solitaire Pendant with White Freshwater Pearl

The next part of the Multi Strand Linen Bracelet, Pendant, and Necklace Tutorial shows how to make a Solitaire Fresh Water Pearl Pendant with Linen Cords with a very modern minimalist look.



Solitaire Fresh Water Pearl Pendant with Linen Cords

Shadow Fil de Lin Solitaire Pendant with Pink Champagne Freshwater Pearl

You can choose a magnetic clap or a sterling silver clasp. 

Solitaire Fresh Water Pearl Pendant with Linen Cords


Light Peacock Fil de Lin Solitaire Pendant with Peacock Freshwater Pearl


Multiple Strand Linen Necklaces with Freshwater Pearls are next in the tutorial and see photos in the next post HERE.

The previous part of the tutorial is shown in the previous post HERE




Multi Strand Linen Bracelets with Fresh Water Pearls

Freshwater Pearl Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial
Stack of Bracelets: Top - Pink Champagne Fil de Lin and Freshwater Pearls,  
 Center - Marina Variations Fil de Lin and Peacock Freshwater Pearls, 
Bottom - Natural Fil de Lin and White Freshwater Pearls, 


The next part of the Multi Strand Linen Bracelet, Pendant, and Necklace Tutorial shows how to make bracelets with the addition of freshwater pearls. Two methods are shown, and the pros and cons each are explained. 

As to color choices, there are lots of them...


Freshwater Pearl Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial
Some of the Fil de Lin and Freshwater Pearl Color Choices

Choose the Fil de Lin linen yarn color. And the color of the Freshwater Pearls: Peacock, Pink Champagne, White, or Grey...


Freshwater Pearl Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial
Bracelet Stack - Grey, Snowberry, and Painted Desert Fil de Lin with Grey Freshwater Pearls
 

Then finally choose the Magnetic End Clasps metal finish colors...

Freshwater Pearl Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial
Clasps Color Choices - Top Left to Bottom Right
Silver Tone, Antique Silver, Antique Copper, and Black Oxide


For the Natural and White linen, you can also add Linen Tape...

Freshwater Pearl Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial
Natural Fil de Lin and Linen Tape Bracelet with White Freshwater Pearls


The linen tape adds texture.

Freshwater Pearl Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial

White Fil de Lin and Linen Tape Bracelet with White Freshwater Pearls


Making Multiple Strand Linen Solitaire Pearl Pendants is the next part of the tutorial. See photos in next post HERE

The previous parts of the tutorial are shown in the previous post HERE. 

Multi Strand Linen Bracelets - First Options


 When I started out writing the step by step tutorial for the Multi Strand Linen Bracelet, Necklace and More... I thought it was going to be a simple tutorial... but it grew into a 27 page document. 

The basic steps are shown with the first multi strand linen bracelet made with Fil de Lin linen yarn and a magnetic clasp... 



Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial
Light Peacock Fil de Lin Bracelet with Black Oxide Magnetic Clasp


The next part of the tutorial shows a multi strand bracelet made with the addition of metallic twisted cord available Rich Gold and Silver, Light and Dark Aurora Borealis.


Multi Strand Linen Bracelets, Necklaces, and Pendants - Kits and Tutorial

Light Peacock Fil de Lin and Light Aurora Borealis Twisted Metallic Cord Bracelet with Black Oxide Magnetic Clasp 


Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial

Aqua Blues Fil de Lin and Rich Silver Twisted Metallic Cord Bracelet with Antique Silver Magnetic Clasp


The third model has the addition of  Linen Tape, available in Natural or White...

Multi Strand Linen Bracelet Tutorial

Natural 2 and Umber Fil de Lin Bracelet with Black Oxide Magnetic Clasp



Or Silk Tape available in 12 colors.  


Multi Strand Linen Bracelet with Silk Tape Tutorial

Fil de Lin and Silver Silk Tape Bracelet with Antique Silver Magnetic Clasp


Or you can add both Silk Tape and Metallic Accents...


Multi Strand Linen Bracelets with Metallic Accents

Cha Cha Fil de Lin with Silk Tape and Dark Aura Borealis Metallic Cord Bracelets with Black Oxide Magnetic Clasp


The next parts of the tutorial are shown in the next post HERE!

Monday, October 19, 2020

Updates on Colors for the Dancing Skeleton Jewelry

Dancing Skeleton DIY Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

If you prefer to shy away from the brighter colors, try a combo with Natural Calavera and White Wood Beads
 

Wodd Beads for Dancing Skeleton DIY Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

The White Wood beads are made from natural pangantuon wood, a light weight wood with a light color and even texture, sometimes bleached for more even tone. The color gets a bit darker when worn or can be darken with a light application of a natural oil or wax such as micro crystalline or beeswax.


Dancing Skeleton DIY Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

For the Chinese Knotting Cord, I chose Beige Fine Weight for the legs and Black Extra Fine for the arms and body, and for the neck cord.


Dancing Skeleton DIY Tutorial with Calavera Skull Beads

I added extra overhand knots for the shoulders and buttocks for the earrings, but omitted the knots for the buttocks for the amulet. I also omitted the overhand knot above the Calavera beads for the amulet. I used the Beige Fine Weight for the square knot closure, even though it is a bit bulky, but no other thinner Chinese Knotting Cord had an exact color match.

 




Dancing Skeleton DIY Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

For this next piece, I made the skeleton fully with the Beige Fine Weight and chose the Beige Medium Weight for a thicker neck cord. A 1.5 mm sterling silver clasp was added to the neck cord.  


Shambhala Bracelet with Calavera Skull Beads for Day of the Dead or Halloween

For the shambhala bracelet, I chose Beige Fine Weight for the cord that goes through the beads, and Beige Medium Weight for the knotting cord. These white wood beads were rubbed with a light coat of micro crystalline wax to darken them, but just regular wear will darken the white wood a bit over time. Check the previous post for the step by step tutorial to make the Dancing Skeletons. 



Sunday, October 18, 2020

Dancing Skeletons DIY Jewelry Tutorial with Calavera "Skull" Beads for Dia De Los Muertos or Halloween

Dancing Skeleton DIY Jewelry Tutorial

I made many "Huesos Bailando" Dancing Skeleton or Bones earrings, amulets, and bracelets with "Calavera" Skull beads and sold them at the Chico Art Center in conjunction with Dia De Los Muertos exhibits. 
So here is the tutorial with step by step picture. I hope you will enjoy it.


Dancing skeletons are probably the most iconic and playful symbols of Day of the Dead. They represent a life after death and those who have died engaging in their favorite activities. Since Dia De Los Muertos is now celebrated worldwide, why not make an amulet, or a pair of earrings celebrating this Mexican holiday. Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 2, but festivities in the USA usually starts on October 31 on Halloween.  


Calavera Skull Beads for Day of the Dead or Halloween
Calavera (Skull) Beads
For this project you will need skull beads. The ones I have for sale are made of out of magnesite an off-white soft gemstone with little vein lines often used to imitate turquoise and they are about 13.5 mm long. The magnesite beads are carved, dyed, and stranded on an elastic cord. The strands have 15 beads each and can be worn as bracelets as is. Each strand has 7 beads paired by color, and 1 unique colored bead. The color of the single bead changes from strand to strand. For an amulet, you will need 1 Calavera Skull Bead. 

Preliminary Step
Prior to working with these beads, enlarge the bead hole with a reamer. A large fine point reamer used by hand works well for a few beads, but if you go into production an electric reamer is a nice tool to have on hand. Choices for reamers can be found HERE. Use water as a lubricant and let the diamond reamer enlarge the hole without pushing or forcing the tip in. Doing so will overheat and damage the reamer, and it will loose all of its diamonds. 


Ebony Wood Beads for Dancing Skeleton DIY Jewelry

Wood Beads
You will also need 6mm round Black Wood or Black Ebony Wood Beads for the amulets and earrings, and 10mm ones for the bracelets. Black Ebony is a bit heavier than the dyed wood beads, but is currently hard to get due to the typhon that just affected the Philipines. For this piece you will need four 6mm wood beads, or two 6mm and two 8mm ones if you would like the boots to be bigger than the hands. Your choice. Get all the beads HERE



Dancing Skeleton DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween


TOOLS
You will need a macrame board, T-pins, a tapestry needle size 18, a bead reamer, and a thread burner. You can get these tools HERE.

CORD & THREAD
For this piece, you will need about 18 inch of Chinese Knotting Cord New Fine (966 Neon Orange for this example), and about 18 inch of of Chinese Knotting Cord Extra Fine (101 Black for this example), and 12 inch of C-Lon Micro Bead Cord in any color. 


Why 2 different sizes Chinese Knotting Cord? I like the arms to be a bit thinner than the legs... and I have all the choices on hand. However, if you prefer using one size only, go for the New Fine and Fine sizes. 


STEP BY STEP


Dancing Skeleton Calavera Skull Bead Jewelry DIY Tutorial


Step 1. Make a self needle with the Micro cord with beeswax. Join both end of the Micro cord and pull along the Chinese Knotting Cord though the hole. Self needle instructions can be found HERE


Dancing Skeleton Calavera Skull Bead Jewelry DIY Tutorial

Step 2. Pull the cord though the bead. If it does not go through easily, ream the bead hole again with bead reamer. 


Dancing Skeleton Calavera Skull Bead Jewelry DIY Tutorial

Step 3. Make an overhand knot for the amulet. An overhand knot is when you fold a cord over itself and go through the loop. Skip this step for the earrings and attach the earring finding here.


Dancing Skull Calavera Skull DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

Step 4. Pull the bead up. 



Dancing Skull Calavera Skull DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

Step 5. With T-pins, attach the loop to the bottom of the macrame board, and the cord ends at the top using a slip knot, or if it reaches insert it into one of the slots. 



Dancing Skull Calavera Skull DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

Step 6. With the tapestry needles attached to one of the black cord end, start a square knot. This shows the first half of the square knot. 



Dancing Skull Calavera Skull DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

Step 7. Tie 3 square knots with the black cord over the orange cord. 



Dancing Skull Calavera Skull DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

Step 8. Melt the ends of the cords with the thread burner into points and string the 6mm beads onto the cords. Or if you prefer you can use 6mm ones for the hands/gloves and 8mm ones for the boots. Clear the bead holes if needed with the large T-pin or the tapestry needle.

About thread burners: They are safer and more precise than lighters, and as lighters, they are not intended for use by children.


Dancing Skull Calavera Skull DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

Step 9. Tie an overhand knots. 

About the next two steps: If this is the very first time you do these steps, practice first on a spare cord. 


Dancing Skull Calavera Skull DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

Step 10. With a thread burner, cut the cord 1 to 2 mm away for the overhand knot. 

Dancing Skull Calavera Skull DIY Jewelry Tutorial for Day of the Dead or Halloween

Step 11. Melt the end right into the knot. Smooth the melted end either with your fingers if they are heat resistant, or with the cap of the burner.  

Dancing Skeleton Calavera Skull Bead Amulet or Earring - DIY Tutorial

Step 12. Repeat Steps 10 and 11 for the 3 other cords. 

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

Add a necklace cord: Check this video.

Dancing Skull Dia de loss Muertos Calavera Skull Bead DIY Jewelry


Add an extra overhand knots... for the shoulders... and for the buttocks too at Step 7. See neckpiece below for all the extra knots. As I made more and more pieces last year, I found myself adding little touches... 


Dancing Skeleton Calavera skull bead earrings - DIY Tutorial


Make earrings: At Step 3, add the earring findings using pliers to open the loop and close it back once the cord in inserted into the earring loop. Skip the overhand knot. At Step 4, pull the bead up leaving a small loop. The Chinese Knotting Cord colors are 546 Cyan in New Fine Weight and Black Extra Fine.

Earring Findings

I really like leverbacks made out of sterling silver, or gold filled for these earrings. Many lower quality findings have nickel in them and bother my ears. You can find these leverbacks HERE


Calavera Skull Beads Shambhala Bracelet

Make Shambhala bracelets: Use 10mm and 6mm Black Ebony Wood Beads. I have also made them as shown here with 5 Calavera Beads, and 6 x 10mm and 2 x 6mm Black Ebony  Beads, or with 3 Calavera beads and 8 x 10mm beads, with 2 x 6mm beads at the end of the slide pulls. 

Calavera Skull beads shambhala bracelet - DIY Tutorial

If you need instructions on how to make Shambala bracelets, go HERE


Dancing Skeleton Calavera Skull Bead Necklace

Try a neckpiece... like this one, if you are more ambitious, with 9 hanging skeletons in the front strung in between 10mm ebony beads, plus 2 more as back drops. 

I had fun with the Chinese Knotting Cord colors for this neckpiece, alternating colors such as a green torso for the orange skull. I made it last year especially for the Dia De Los Muertos exhibit at the Chico Art Center. It sold at the show and I have not made another one since...  so it is a one-of-a-kind. 

Upon request I just made kit bags with all the supplies to make the neckpiece and a pair of earring, plus a few charms with leftover supplies. A 19 page tutorial for this necklace comes with the kit and is also available by itself. I thought I would just write a one page printed set of directions, but truly I did not have the words to explain all the steps, so now it is a full step by step tutorial HERE

Check the next post for more color suggestions and combinations with White Wood Beads.