DIY Miguel Ases Style Bead Charm with Crystal Center

Adding Crystal Chatons to Circular Brick Stitch

I decided I should get better at finishing what I've started. Yes - I'm in one of those moods. 

Yesterday, I posted a a free tutorial to make this beaded circle charm with crystal center, which happens to be the same charm that I made to go with the slinky layering ladder stitch bracelet tutorial, which happens to be a charm that is based on the amazing Miguel Ases beaded jewelry.

But, wouldn't you know, I hadn't taken the final step of putting the bracelet and charm all together. It was just waiting in limbo... and was pretty soon destined for the *UFO box.

Making Paddle Headpins with Crimping Pliers

Crimping, my Style

Crimping is my nemesis.  Sometimes I get the hang of it, but it's always hit and miss, and that's never a good feeling when you're making jewelry.  But, that doesn't stop me from using my Bead Crimp Tool... for other things!!

One thing I love to use it for is to make paddle head pins.  They are so easy with this tool! Today, I'll show you how I make and use paddle pins made with my crimp tool.

Making Ladder Stitch Bracelets

Finishing Ladder Stitch

Sheesh - I can't even believe I was worried about how to finish the ladder stitched bracelet I made the other day. Sometimes, it's the easiest things that can elude me.  Luckily I slept on it and...

Ta-da.  My nice little group of ladder stitched projects are all done! Finishing ladder stitch was so easy!

Ladder Stitch: More Than a Beading Foundation Stitch

Ladder Stitch - Beyond the Base Stitch

Do you use ladder stitch?  I've used it often - but always as a starter stitch.  It works great as a the base row for brick stitch.

Oddly enough, this week I took another look at ladder stitch as a real stitch to make something from.  It actually wasn't my intent to use ladder stitch.  I started with peyote - but it just wasn't working... as you'll soon see.

This is a bracelet design I have been wanting to make for a long time - simple beaded links. I can think of a lot of different ways I'd like to use them.

Making Wire Wrap Bead Chains

Do you ever wonder how or why you keep circling back to old favorites? Favorite foods, favorite books, favorite places... favorite bead techniques.

That is me and wire wrapped bead chains.  When I first got hooked on wire jewelry, bead chain bracelets was one of the first things that I made and started selling. They look great stacked together or with other bracelets.  I haven't made any in quite a while, but had to revisit how to make wire wrapped bead chain for the hand chain bracelet tutorial I made last week.

And guess what?