Grinning Geisha Bracelet

What a doll!

For this tutorial, I took inspiration from this little Geisha bead from Beadmixer.

The clean whites but pops of contrasting red/pinks and greens.

I decided to mix materials by weaving cotton and a mix of glass and porcelain beads through flat silver cable chain from Cousin.

How perfect are these porcelain flower print beads, also by Beadmixer?

I am in love with Beadmixer's selection of porcelain beads. They are all a little different and in all different colors and shapes. I knew I wanted to feature them in this design!

I love the fun, "lightness" to the design, while still using a chunky chain and larger beads. Taking hues of pink and red directly from the geisha charm, as well as the floral element makes for a perfect combo.

Usually pinks and reds are not paired together. I say why not?? Last year, fashion runways showed color blocking in a new way, with similar hues like orange/red, pink/red and a mix of blues/purples paired with each other. I am still lovin' the trend a year later. 

If you make your own, find a color combination that works for you! 

Be sure to check out the Beadmixer site, ESPECIALLY if you love to use vintage rhinestones.

You can also connect with Beadmixer through their:

Blog

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Pinterest 

Subscribe to their Newsletter

Are we ready? Let's get started!

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are:

-6mm or 8mm glass beads (I used pink)

-Embroidery floss

-Large link flat chain- mine from Cousin-you can buy from the link or at AC Moore stores 

-Porcelain flower print beads. I used Beadmixer beads

-A large porcelain charm. Mine was a geisha charm from Beadmixer

You will also need a clasp and some jump rings, as well as pliers and headpins.

Step 2: Cut two 1.5 foot pieces of embroidery floss. 

Starting somewhere in the middle of the length of chain (you could also start at the end), thread the floss up through a link. Make sure there is about 4" of thread to the left of where you started threading, you will need to knot this later. Add on a porcelain bead, then thread down through the fourth link next to it. add on a bead, and thread up the fourth link from that chain. They should lay next to another.

Repeat this process unit you have enough porcelain beads threaded on to make your bracelet long enough for your wrist.

Take off the extra links on either side of your porcelain beads to secure the length of the bracelet. If you started at the end, only take off the long excess on the other side of your beads.

Step 3: Then, thread through the end link. Add a glass bead, and thread down two links over. Thread up through the next link. Thread on another bead, and thread down two links over. Thread up through the next link.

Keep repeating this process. It helps to lay the bracelet on your knee instead of a table because it will curve and be easier to weave with. I kept going until the pink beads reached the end of my chain.

Then, take both ends of the floss and tie in knots, incorporate the red floss from the porcelain beads. Make sure the are woven in opposite directions on the end link of chain so that the knot stays put.

Add your extender chain with jump rings to the end of the chain, and add your charms here with looped headpins. That's all there is to it!

Try out all different bead and color combos! Gold chain would look sweet with bright blue and white for a Grecian look, while copper chain would pair with turquoise and silver. 

As for the geisha charm, Beadmixer has all different colors and styles, and even has little russian doll charms and owls! They are totally unique and quirky which I love.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial! If you make this bracelet, be sure to post on Instagram and tag @quietlioncreations!! I'll repost it!

All photos and text copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do not post/use tutorial without linking back to me.

Marrakesh Earrings-Full Tutorial

Bright colors, bold textures, sparkle and shine. I was in need of some serious pop of color, and I had some bead odds and ends laying around. Plus, the Anthropologie March 2014 catalogue's theme is Morocco--delicate patterns merge with excess saturation to create a totally exotic-looking lookbook!

I love the bohemian, gypsy-like theme of the Moroccan style, so that's what I modeled these easy drop earrings after.

Most of my materials were Cousin brand, which you can find at Walmart, AC Moore stores, Beverly Fabrics stores (California), JoAnn or Michaels. Even Meijer. 

The small evil eye beads I found on Ebay.

I kept my color palette electric and complimentary, using blue and orange hues throughout for extra contrast. You don't have to go with my color scheme; other Moroccan-esque colors include magenta, reds, emeralds and even black. Choose from these colors to really push the boho vibe.

I combined the delicate cut crystals with a large gemstone bead, embroidery floss tassel for variation and finished with a cute little "evil eye" bead for a very trendy but authentically free-spirited look. 

Let's get started.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are pliers (round nose and wire cutters), jump rings, embroidery floss, large kidney ear wires, a mix of gemstone beads and crystals and ball-end headpins.

I specifically used:

Yellow embroidery floss

Gold ball end headpins, Cousin brand

Artistic Wire non-tarnish chainmaille jump rings from Cousin

Cousin large gold kidney ear wires

Two yellow 4mm evil eye glass beads

Two orange 4mm roundelle crystals

Two Cousin brown gemstone beads

Two 6mm gold crystal roundelles from Cousin

Two vertical drilled blue briolettes from Cousin

Two 4mm silver round metal beads

Of course, feel free to mix whatever beads you have to make a unique bohemian look! I went with a blue/orange/yellow theme. The mix of crystals, gemstones, metal and thread really give a "worldly" look that reminds me of something you'd find at Anthropologie or Free People!

Step 2: Add on a 4mm gemstone roundelle, then jumpring, then your gemstone bead. Make sure you pick two gemstones which match size and shape pretty well!

Make a wrapped top loop and use the wire cutters to cut the wire flush.

Step 3: Add these to your kidney ear wires. Then make two charms with the vertical-drilled briolettes and add these to each ear wire as well.

Step 4: Make two small tassels. I wrapped the string 5 times around my index and pointer finger. For more info, check out my Dainty Crystal Bracelet Tutorial for instructions! Add a jumpring on top of each tassel.

Step 5: Make your evil eye beads into charms and add one to each jumpring that the tassel is on. Finally, add this jumpring onto the ear wire. I finished off by adding on a 6mm roundelle then 4mm silver round to the actual ear wire (you may have to unbend the hook gently so that the beads slide to the rest of the charms.  

Finished!  

As you can see, these are quick and easy to make. The only technique needed is a wrapped loop. 

These are also great because they can match a variety of outfits, as their whole point is to look a bit eclectic and fun!

I love the evil eye beads; I literally just found them in my stash! I have more colors, so expect more tutorials with them soon.

Again, I'm mixing gold and silver here (mixed metals are some of my favorite looks!) to give a beatnik vibe and to break the rules a bit. 

You can make these on fishhooks instead of large kidneys if you prefer shorter drop earrings.

All photos and instructions copyright Allison Beth Cooling. Do NOT post pictures without crediting and linking to me.

Vanities-Tiny Skull Bracelet

This Vanities Skull Bracelet is a super-easy DIY that doesn't even take 10 minutes! 

Use up your cool colors of embroidery floss to make different looks. Not into skulls? 

Use different character beads for different themes! I found these skull beads at a local beadstore.

This DIY makes a bracelet that ties once around your wrist. The Vanities bracelet is a bit longer and wraps a couple of times. If you want yours longer, use longer lengths of thread.

Bright and fun! Use as many or as little colors as you want. My tutorial uses 3, but you can alter that amount.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are scissors, embroidery floss, and a skull bead. You will also need tape.

Step 2: Cut about 4 times the length you want your final bracelet to be; fold this piece in half. Repeat with 2 other colors. Tie overhand knots about 1" from the end. Tape these three flosses together on your table. Take the leftmost color; twist this thread towards the left, really tight (but not too tight that it bunches up). Repeat with the center color, and the right color. You may need to either hold the ends in your teeth or tape down to keep the twist tight while twisting the other threads!

Step 3: Now, take all of the threads together, and twist them to the right; a spiral should form and hold tight. You can stop twisting when the bracelet holds itself in the pattern.

Step 4: Add your skull bead to the middle and knot. Knot the ends as well and cut.

Tie these on like friendship bracelets!

Frieda and Nellie Friendship Ring

These are my kind of friendship bracelets; they've got major sparkle! I love how Frieda and Nellie incorporate gems into their designs, which adds another dimension to these bracelets; it instantly makes them more elegant!

I knew I could make a tutorial for these. However, I didn't want to spend hours knotting to make a bracelet, so I made a ring! What's great about making rings is that they come together way quicker than a bracelet, which means you have time to make more!

The contrast between the soft cotton thread and shiny gem is sure to catch eyes! All of your friends will want one.

This tutorial is a bit more tedious, but it's all about getting the knot pattern. Once you've got it, it'll get much easier!

Let's begin.

Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are scissors, four colors of embroidery floss, tape, and a gemstone with a setting; I got mine from a broken necklace. 

Step 2: You will need to cut two 3' lengths of each color of thread. This should be enough thread for you, I had some left over at the end. If you have a bigger ring size use a little more thread though.

Tie all the lengths together at the top with an overhand knot. Tape down.

For the sake of this tutorial, I will label threads R (red thread) G (green thread) Y (yellow thread) and B (blue thread). If you are using different colors, just assign these names to them as well to not confuse yourself!

 Arrange the threads: R, G, Y, B, 2B, 2Y, 2G, 2R.

Step 2.5: Take R, bring over G, then behind G and through that loop to the left and front (second pic). Pull tight to make a knot. Now, take R, bring over G but bring thread to the right and front (third pic). Pull tight again. It should look like the last pic, with the thread naturally ending up on the left side of G again.

Step 3: Now, you will be doing this same sequence but with 2R and 2G. Take 2R, bring over then behind 2G but bring thread to the right and front. Pull tight. Take 2R, bring over then behind 2G but bring thread to the left and front (second pic). This is the exact same thing you did in the last step, but the directions are reversed. Pull tight. You should have the last pic, with 2R naturally falling to the right of 2G. 

Step 4: Take G, bring over and then behind Y, through that loop to the left and front. Repeat.

Take 2G, bring over and behind and through the loop 2Y to the right and front. Repeat.

Take G, bring over and behind and through the loop B to the left and front. Repeat.

Take 2G, bring over and behind and through 2B to the right and front. Repeat.

Step 5: You should have something that looks like this first pic. Then, take G, bring over and behind 2G to the left and front. Repeat.

You should have one complete chevron, looking like a V-shape. See the last pic?

Step 6: Now, we will repeat steps 2.5 through 5. However, instead of knotting the G's all the way across the other threads, since the yellows are next to the outer red thread (you will NEVER knot reds across any other threads than the one next to them; they are your outlines for your ring), we will knot across the threads with yellows. Start by knotting R and 2R in the way of step 2.5, but knotting on the yellows next to them instead of greens. Continue with the steps, but use Y and 2Y in place of G and 2G. 

You will be knotting both Y's over blues first, then greens. Remember to finish the yellow chevron in the manner of Step 5. Your completed chevron should look like the first pic.

Keep repeating steps 2.5 through 5, changing out the color names as needed. Your next chevron will use the reds to outline (as always), then the blues to knot the chevron (second pic).

Then, it will be back to reds for outline and green for the chevron. 

Keep with the pattern until you are at about halfway of the length you need for the ring.

Take the two center threads (in this case, it's greens) and thread on your gem, through the bottom of the setting. Look at the last pic for reference.

Step 7: Take R, bring over and behind Y to the left and font, pull tight to make a knot. Bring R over and behind Y to the right and front, pull tight. 

Take Y, bring over and behind B then thru loop to left and front. Repeat.

Take R again, but now over and behind B to the left and font, pull tight to make a knot. Bring R over and behind B and thru loop to the right and front, pull tight. 

Take B, bring over and behind Y then thru loop to left and front. Repeat. You should have something looking like the last pic.

Step 8: Now repeat step 7, but working with 2R, 2Y and 2B. This is how the knots will go.

Take 2R, bring over and behind 2Y to the right and font, pull tight to make a knot. Bring 2R over and behind 2Y to the left and front, pull tight. 

Take 2Y, bring over and behind B then thru loop to right and front. Repeat.

Take 2R again, but now over and behind 2B to the right and font, pull tight to make a knot. Bring 2R over and behind 2B and thru loop to the left and front, pull tight. 

Take 2B, bring over and behind 2Y then thru loop to right and front. Repeat. 

Yours should look like the first pic.

Repeat steps 7 and 8 until you have long enough knotted pieces so that the gem can be encased (second pic.) 

Now, to close in the gem, continue with our original chevron knotting pattern, which starts back in Step 2.5. Remember, you may have to substitute the color names depending on what thread you end up re-beginning the chevron with, but always knot the thread to the one directly next to it.You will be back to knotting chevrons just like before, which will hold the gem in place (pic 3 and 4).

Keep with the chevron pattern till the ring is long enough to fit around your finger. Once long enough, overhand knot all threads to secure.

Step 9: Finishing. Tie both ends together, cut, and glue this knot.

The finished ring!

If you share/use/post this tutorial, please link back to me. It is much appreciated!