Lately, my eye has been drawn to colorful beaded jewelry that evokes Native American themes and patterns. I find the geometry in the patterns and the spirituality it represents very provocative. My inspiration boards and favorites on Etsy have been filling up quickly with beaded beauties. That’s why when Leah designed the chubby infinity jewelry link I couldn’t wait to try insetting it with colorful gemstone beads. I’ve been wire wrapping stones along the outside edge of circle links, but this was my first time wrapping to the inside. My beaded pendant is not exactly the way I envisioned it. I will definitely practice my technique to get this perfected. But, for my first time, I’m pleased with the result.
Though really . . . I’m not quite sure if it’s finished. What do you think? Would you add a ruffle of beads along the lower bottom edge? If so, what color?
Beadaholic. Yes it is true, most of us at Nina Designs are hopeless bead addicts. For some, like Juanita, the condition is relatively new. She only started beading a few years ago when she came to work with us, but she has developed a fierce case nonetheless. Clara claims that she, “has been beading since birth.” When I asked Ana about it she blushed as only a red head can blush, then admitted to stealing beads from her kindergarten class. Her mother found the beads and forced her to confess to the principal, a trauma from which she has yet to recover.
Erin’s mother served up trips to the bead store as an annual Christmas treat. When Emily was 12, she moved up from beading to metal-smithing, both skills she still employs on a regular basis. Leah’s love for African beads was honed when she lived in Zimbabwe but her bead roots dig deep into childhood. Personally, I have always loved to bead. My favorite childhood memory from driving cross country was a stop in Sante Fe where I spent my meager life savings on “liquid silver” beads and turquoise. Are you a Beadaholic? How did it begin?
An Early Nina Designs Original!
Young Leah's first jewelry creations
With so many silver beads and charms around me, sometimes I feel silly for wanting more. I often make requests for a shape or image I want and hope that customers call and email saying they would like the same thing so that it might get produced. I’ve learned, however, that the easiest way for me to satisfy my craving for new and exciting items is to gold plate them. I also love oxidizing silver for a less expensive alteration. It is amazing how much the feel of an item can change by switching up the color of the metal.
Recently a customer had the small elephant bead gold plated. I loved it so much I sent some out with our next gold plate order even though I didn’t know how I was going to work with them. When my elephant beads returned from the platers it was a Friday and I rushed home with a couple feet of silver chain to make something special to wear that night. I was going to just space the five elephants out on the chain and oxidize the chain to make them pop. I realized after I cut the chain to the spacing I liked that I didn’t want my middle elephant to lay on his side so I dug through my bead collection to work around not having any headpins handy. I found a small green teardrop agate, a discontinued Nina Designs bead and with a few small gemstones made one of my most favorite necklaces to date.
To read more on how you can have any of our silver items plated in 24K gold, please see our Gold Special Order Policy.
Inspired Elephant Necklace
Detail of Elephant Drop
Detail of Elephant Beads
Pandora™ style customizable bracelets and necklaces created with unique “moment” beads are the latest trend sweeping the jewelry world. In Style magazine has ads from Pandora™, Troll™ and Chamilia™ featuring beads to commemorate memorable events and milestones; Italian Vogue Jewelery has ads from Italian companies Tedora™, Piroppo™ and MaVi™ featuring “celebration” beads; and Elle Magazine has a four page promotional spread of Pandora™ customizable jewelry.
We couldn’t be more thrilled with this trend! It has provided an opportunity for us to select some of our most special beads and rework them with larger holes so they can easily slide onto Pandora™ style chain, leather or silk cord. The timing is great: over the last few years, we’ve seen a decline in bead purchases as interest has shifted towards pendants and charms. While we have become accustomed to items trending in and out, it was especially disappointing to see the beads diminish in popularity because beads are the ideal canvas for highlighting the meticulous and precise craftsmanship of the Balinese silversmiths. These gorgeous new large hole “slider” beads are a great way to bring the incredible skill of the Balinese silversmiths back to the forefront. Click here to see our entire collection of large hole slider beads. Gold plate versions of some of these beads will be available shortly.
Gorgeous large hole slider beads slide easily onto chain, leather or silk cords.
Create your unique Pandora™ style bracelet with these large hole slider beads.
Silver Charms took me to Ohio recently to tape a segment for the PBS Show: Beads, Baubles and Jewels. It was my first time in front of a TV camera but fortunately, I had just finished taping several how-to videos for our website so I had some practice trying to sound and act normal under the lights. I won’t say I wasn’t nervous (Yikes!) but the silver charms looked gorgeous and our segment went smoothly. I even made and presented the host, Katina Forte, with a charm necklace of her own. She chose the charms and I slipped them onto one of our popular charm holders.
One of the best parts of being invited to participate in the TV show was the opportunity to hang out with a gaggle of marvelous women. Producer Kathy Stull was a power house, talking us newbies through every step, filming enough episodes for an entire season in just a few days and making it all look easy! Editor in Chief of Beadwork Magazine, Marlene Blessing, and Editor in Chief of Step by Step Beads, Leslie Rogalski, were at the studio filming a marathon. Each one had multiple projects they were demonstrating for the show. I can’t believe how much these ladies pack into their professional suitcase! They do Television, travel to shows, create online content AND edit their magazines. I met up with them toward the end of their week and they were still laughing and having fun. What great role models!
Nina & Host of Beads, Baubles & Jewels TV
This Necklace is a Star on TV!
