Vintage Christmas Necklace, Holiday Project #8

Supplies:

4 ceramic holiday beads
14-18 assorted glass holiday beads
30 inch brass chain with clasp
brass headpins, eyepins, bead caps, and assorted findings

Instructions:
1. Start by making 10-12 assorted charms. Have fun combining the holiday beads in different ways.
2. Lay out the brass necklace in a straight line on your bead table. Start in the middle and arrange the charms so they are visually spaced along the chain. It's up to you whether you want charms all of the way up the necklace.
3. Start in the middle and open the wire loop of the charm and attach it to the necklace chain. Close the wire loop. Continue up each side adding you charms according to the layout.
4. Trim any excess wires before wearing.

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Weekend Sale

Hey, Hey, Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you're all having loads of fun and food today. My Turkey Thursday thru Cyber Monday sale starts today! Here's the scoop....

Free shipping at the Etsy shop and the Website and 10 percent off your order.

The shipping has already been removed at both shops, all you have to do is apply the cyber10 coupon code to receieve the discount. Easy Peasy. Both shops are stocked up and ready!

Have a great weekend!

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Holiday Open House

Hope you can come!

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Poinsettia Ornament Project

Poinsettia Ornament Supplies:

• Ceramic Poinsettia Pendant
• 24 inches red ctaft wire 24 gauge
• 5 white glass beads
• 5 green glass leaves
• 8 size 6 red glass seed beads

Instructions: It has a loop on each side for stringing. I took advantage of these loops for the arched hanger. I used 24 gauge red craft wire and some assorted red, white, and green beads. I started at one loop and twisted the wire to secure it. From there I started weaving, twisting, and adding beads. I used a couple of pieces of wire so I could get some cute spirals along the way. You could make the wire arch a bit larger and hang the ornament on a door.

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Holiday Pendant Tutorial, Holiday Project #7

Holly Pendant

Supplies:
Ceramic Holly Pendant
4 assorted red and green accent beads
2 brass 2 inch headpins
1 10mm brass jump ring
1 brass chain necklace

Instructions:
1. String a red and a green bead onto a headpin. Just above the bead make a simple wire loop, trim excess wire and set aside.
2. Repeat step one to make a second beaded dangle.
3. Open up the jump ring and string the pendant, the two beaded dangles, and the chain on. Close the jump ring.

25% off all Etsy shop and Website purchases this weekend. Enter thankful25 in the coupon box. Sale ends midnight, Sunday Nov. 20th.



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Ornament How-To

Hello, Hello,

I wanted to show you an easy ornament that I love to make using my holiday pendants. I used 18 gauge silver craft wire and made a spiral at one end. I sent the wire through the pendant hole so the spiral is on top, bent the wire upwards, and slid a bead on. I could then use my round nose pliers to make a larger spiral at the other end for the hanger.

Can't be a five minute project, eh? I just added a hole bunch of holiday pendants to the Etsy shop this morning. You can find them in the Jennifer Jangles web store as well.

Happy Holidays,
Jennifer
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Christmas Things

Hey, Hey!

How did it become mid November? I am in the full swing of Christmas here. I have been making lots of Christmas gifts. I can't show you anything because my family reads my blog, so I was thinking I would photograph all of my gifts and then do a post Christmas post. I might be getting close to having everything made. I had also thought about banning the family from reading my blog until after the holidays. Not sure which one I will go with.

I snapped a few photos of last weeks Holiday Project hanging on my trees at the studio. I need to string up another garland for my mantle at home. I might start on it this weekend. I will be working on my outdoor light display this weekend as well. Now I don't turn it on until after Thanksgiving, but I like to get it all hooked up before. every year we try to make it look big but our front yard is down in a valley in the woods so when you drive by on the street it always looks small. We freak my dad out because he can't believe we have some many plugs going into one socket, yes, I am a bit like Clark Griswald. 

"Is your house on fire, Clark? No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights."

I'm still trying to talk Nik into the 15 foot tall blow up Santa for our yard that I saw at Lowes last week. I really think that would make the yard look better. I also want one of those old plastic blow mold Santa and reindeer sets. I just keep thinking that I will come across some one willing to give me theirs that's been in their attic for years. They used to be really popular.

Okay, enough dreaming of Christmas lights. What's on your list today?


I will be painting more mugs and some beads for an upcoming project.

Have a great day,
Jennifer


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Holiday Project #6, Bead Garland

Materials Needed:
1.5cm-2cm felt balls in assorted colors
1.5cm-2cm wood beads in assorted colors
Size 6 seed beads in assorted colors
Upholstery thread
Needle
12" 18 gauge craft wire

Instructions:
1. Cut the craft wire in to two 6 inch pieces.  Make two wire scrolls with a pair of needle nose pliers.These     will be the hooks to attach the garland to the tree. Once made, set them aside.
2. Leaving your thread on the spool, thread the needle and pull about 12" of excess thread through the hole.
3. Begin by stringing a felt ball onto the thread. Next string approximately 7 inches of seed beads.
4. Continue by string a wood bead, follow with another seven inches of seed beads, and then a felt ball.
5. As the thread fills up with beads, unroll a little more thread and slide the beads further down the thread. Follow the previous pattern to string as long of a garland as you would like.
6. Tie the needle end of the thread to the end of a wire scroll. Slide the strung beads up so they are snug against the wire. Tie the remaining end of the garland to the second scroll. Trim any lose threads.

Holiday Tree Garland

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Ask Me Anything

This weeks question comes from Teri at S&T Creations

How do smaller jewelry makers locate and develop relationships for wholesale purchases?  I know some places where I can get good "deals" and we do have a Tax ID for wholesale, which helps.

But I'd love to find those unusual, out of the way, different sources for the unusual beads that are so striking.  I see them at bead shows. I know companies can source for wholesale vendors who can buy 100 strands of the same bead, but what about us little guys????


 Hi Teri! Thanks for the great question, here's what I know about buying beads for wholesale prices for designing and reselling.

First of all, you can usually buy artist made beads at wholesale prices pretty easily. Most artists will have a wholesale policy that varies a little. There is usually an initial amount that you need to purchase for the discount. It might seem like a large amount of money at first, but if you are designing and selling jewelry, you want to make a statement with what you are selling. So buying a larger amount should be better for your sales. I know with my wholesale policy, you only have to spend the larger amount once and then you can buy smaller amounts to fill in when you sell what you have.

As for strands of glass, wood etc beads. The people who get the best prices actually travel to India, China, or where ever the beads are manufactured. They buy direct from the manufacturers. You have to buy a lot of beads to make a trip to India pay off. Your next best bet is a wholesale only show. Sometimes there are minimum quantities and other times there are no minimums. You must register with the show to attend. This means providing resale information. The Atlanta gift mart has a supply section for retailers and other marts around the country. There are also shows like the Gem and Lapidary Wholesale Shows. These are held at certain times of the year all over the country.

You can find Teri's blog here, 
Borntobewornjewelry.wordpress.com



I am taking questions for next weeks and future posts. If you have a question you would like answered by me, e-mail me (jennifer (at) jangles (dot) net) with the subject line, "Ask Me Anything". Leave me a link in the message as well if you have a blog, website, or Etsy shop.

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Christmas

Is it just me or do the holidays seem to be coming on really fast this year? I know I am always an early celebrator, but I am usually the only one. I've seen houses with lights up already, sales are starting at the stores... Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it, I just am concerned people will loose their enthusiasm by the time the actual holiday rolls around. What if no one is out shopping on the day before the night before Christmas? It's tradition in my family to go shopping on that day whether you need anything or not. We, well I, like to be out in all of the crazy-ness that day.

If you haven't wrapped your gifts yet....ha ha....you haven't have you? Here is the link to print out gift cards for your presents.

And for me, please save a little to do at the last minute...

Jennifer



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Inside The Creative Studio Interview with Mark Lipinski

Exciting News! I told you about the book Inside The Creative Studio awhile ago, well it comes out this month. My home studio is in the book. Mark Lipinski is dedicating one of his Creative Mojo podcasts to this book. He's got a line up of artists that I am pretty honored to be included with. You can got here and find out more about the show. You can listen live from 3-5pm EST tomorrow Wednesday the 9th. If you can't listen then, you can always listen at a later date at his site.

I have to admit I am a little nervous, the show is live,...forgive me if I say something stupid.

 Here are a few more photos from my home studio.

I don't show this studio much because I have my new studio. I still work in this one, this is where I sew, design, and paint. My new studio is where I make and glaze all of my buttons, beads, and pottery. For some of my new blog readers, here are some photos of studio number two.

And if you're thinking you've seen Mark Lipinski on my blog before... you're right, here he is with my mom at Quilt Market.....well kind of.

Have a great day!
Jennifer
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Stuffed Christmas Trees Tutorial, Holiday Project #5

Supplies needed for tree:
2 7" x 7" squares of fabric
ceramic star button
6-8 wood disc beads approximately 8-10mm
6-8 size 6 seed beads
needle and thread
fiber fill

Instructions:
1. With your free Jennifer Jangles tree pattern, cut out two trees from the fabric.
2. With right sides facing sew around the outside of the tree, leaving a 2 inch opening at the bottom for turning. (1/4" seam allowance is included in pattern piece.)
3. Clip the edges up to the seam on all of the curves. Turn the tree right side out.
4. Fill the tree with fiberfill.
5. At this point you will need to decide if you are making an ornament or a standing tree. If the tree will become an ornament, then fold a piece of ribbon in half and insert it into the opening for the trunk. Handstitch the opening closed, making sure to attach the trunk as well. If the tree will be standing, insert the dowel into the fiberfill approximately three inches. (See below for base instructions.) Hand stitch the opening closed with a needle and thread, taking care that the dowel stays in the center of the tree.
6. Sew the star button to the top of the tree and an ornament loop of the tree will be an ornament.
7. Sew the "ornaments" onto the tree by bringing your needle up from the back of the tree to the front. Thread a disc onto the needle and then a seed bead. Go back through the disc with the needle and into the stuffed tree. Sew on all of the beads with this method.

 Bases for the standing trees could be made from just about anything heavy. Here I used a childs wood block and a dowel rod that I painted. I drilled a hole approximately half way down the center of the block. The hole was just a bit bigger than the dowel. I used my hot glue gun to secure the rod into place.  A tiny flower pot with clay would be another easy way to secure the dowel.

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Free Gift Cards

  I know you most likely haven't started wrapping your holiday gifts. If you're like me you want until the trees up so you have somewhere to put the presents once they are wrapped. I thought I would put up my free printable gift card pdf now so just in case there are any early birds out there, you get a chance to use the gifts cards as well. If you click here the pdf file will pop up and you can print these cards on a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock. Cut them apart and you've got cards and for free, yipee!

Happy Holidays!
Jennifer
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