Making Miguel Ases Style Jewelry: Adding a Picot Edge

Finishing up what I started

I like that in my last post on making Miguel Ases Style Jewelry I could show you the reality of how I mess up my projects just like everyone else and how to remove the stitches to fix it.  

I didn't like that I couldn't show you how to finish the final picot round of the beaded component though - so that's what I'll do today.

This is where I should have stopped yesterday, after I completed the second round of brick stitch around the focal bead.

Making Miguel Ases Style Jewelry: Basic Technique

Making Miguel Ases Style Jewelry

There are two main components to making Miguel Ases style jewelry - learning how to stitch the beads to make the various shapes and finding beautiful bead color and finish combinations.

I'm going to try to tackle both of those areas bit by bit - starting with a basic stitch and color combination and gradually varying it over subsequent projects.

 Here's an example: I started with a basic stitch and only one size bead in different colors on the first round component.

Materials to Make Miguel Ases Style Jewelry

I'm obsessed again.  It happens pretty often with me and jewelry making.

Most of last year, my jewelry making exploration has been all about wire wrapping, hammering, shaping spirals, and whatnot.  I bought copper and brass wire by the pound, lots of specialty tools and what do you know...

Suddenly, I can't get small, pretty, shiny, seed beaded jewelry out of my head! In particular, those gorgeous little masterpieces by Miguel Ases.

I've tried to make a earrings in Miguel Ases style a couple of times before - first for a holiday earring swap and a second pair when I was on vacation to Hawaii and it made sense to bring seed beads instead of wire wrapping tools on the airplane.

Now, I'm back at it.

But since then, I've learned more about bead stitching thanks to a couple of books that I highly recommend. First is Seed Bead Stitching and the second is More Seed Bead Stitching: Creative Variations on Traditional Techniques - both by Beth Stone.

Neither book will teach you how to make Miguel Ases Style jewelry - I'm going to do that. (LOL).  But they have great projects that teach you the stitching basics you need.

Wish Bracelet Charms, Card and Poem, DIY

What is a Wish Bracelet?

A wish bracelet is very simple; a nice piece of cord, a couple of beads and, in my case, a handmade wire charm.  This post has a free tutorial  to make a wishbone charm bracelet.

The bracelet is magic.

You make a wish, tie the bracelet on and wear it all the time.  Eventually, the cord will wear thin and the bracelet will fall off.  That is when your wish may come true.

Selling Your Jewelry with Good Packaging

This is one of those products where the packaging and presentation is key to making the sale.  Your customer needs to understand: