Welcome to the X99 Jewellery Blog!
Here you can find exclusive content like insight into my design process, things I'm currently working on and the occasional giveaway! I'll also show you things I've made for my family, friends and for myself.
This weekend I've been making these bracelets from Beads Direct's Take A Make Break.
I pretty much had all the components to make the "Blueberry" version - apart from the catseye, but seeing as working with beads with chatoyance gives me a headache - it worked in my favour. It took me a while to get the hang of it, but once I did, I kind of got excited about seeing what else I could create. So I did a "Salsa" and a "Punk Princess" version too.
Which version do you like best?
For the Salsa, I used these multicoloured drawbench beads I bought from one of my trips to Beading Amazing. Instead of the Chinese crystal rondelles, I used 4mm Chinese crystal bicones instead - Amethyst with an AB coating. For the seed bead weave, I used matte rainbow siam Tohos, to match the colours in the drawbench beads.
For the Punk Princess version, I used pink drawbench beads, silver Chinese crystal rondelles and the matte jet Tohos I used for the Blueberry bracelet. Looking at it now, I think maybe silver would have looked better?
I'll definitely be making more of these, I think I want to make a necklace version next time using gemstones. So look out for that maybe later in the week!
Our last bracelet of the week. I've had these packs of really pretty beads mixes from Jilly Beads just sitting in my collection for ages. I keep saying to myself - one of these days I'll make a quick bracelet or a pretty necklace - and nothing happened. Well today is one of those days.
I tried picking up random beads, but the OCD part of my brain didn't
like that, so it's in a repeating pattern that still manages to look
random. I hung a beaded dangle from each end to give it an extra feature.
The beads are in lovely jewel tones - Jade greens, emerald greens, ruby reds, sapphire blues and amethyst purples - with the occasional flash of copper
and bronze, so I can see it being a really good look for the Autumn.
It's on memory wire, so you can just wrap it around your wrist.
Today's bracelet is one I've been meaning to post for a while, but every time I tried to take a photo the lighting was all messed up. Anyway, I think I've finally got some that I'm actually happy with = Perfectionist.
The design is based on this tutorial from Ruby's Beadwork. I used brightly coloured acrylic cubes with an AB coating. They kind of remind me of the Jap sweets you get in Dolly Mixtures - in fact I think I used them in the Dolly Mixture set. I know, I know...more sweet inspired jewellery - I swear I'm not trying to recreate the Sweet Tooth Collection!
It's a basic Daisy stitch, with seed beads lining the cubes. The ones I used are a mix I got from Jilly Beads
called Sugar Sprinkles. I didn't really like the gaps left between the
cubes. In Ruby's design, she added beaded loops, however I didn't
think this would look right on a bracelet, so I added the slightly
bigger version of the Sugar Sprinkles seeds, called Sugared Almonds. I couldn't make this up if I tried - I swear I don't do it on purpose!
I made a toggle clasp from the seeds, so it's another metal-free bracelet. However, I'm not sure if the electroplating on the seed beads counts - so it might not be completely metal-free.
I've been making real progress in moving away from my anxiety and depression. It still fogs up my mind, but I've been going out and I've even found a bead shop (Beading Amazing) near to where I live, which gives me an excuse to get out. I'm using beads that I bought from there in my latest project.
I love learning new stitches, and recently I learned how to do CRAW (Cubic Right-Angle Weave) and I'm currently making this beaded chain necklace. Once I get the length I want, I'm going to tie a ribbon to either end. It's slow going, but here's what I have so far.
The idea is totally not my own - it came from Sage's Cupboard and her tutorial for Right-Angle Weave on Inspirational Beading - although I didn't end up using that tutorial as I actually found the CRAW easier, once I'd got the hang of it. Plus it seemed cumbersome to bead the length you needed and then zip it up, when you could just stitch the whole thing in one go!
I used Preciosa Czech seed beads in the Honey Butter colour mix as I wanted a gold chain look, with a twist. They're size 11/0s, which I really don't recommend using if it's your first time doing CRAW. I'm just stubborn! I had to make a rough piece using fire-polished crystals first so I could get the hang of how the stitch worked. I find I can do it without thinking now. I also have the Pebblestone mix, which I think would look pretty in this stitch too. So I might try that once I finish this one.
I highly recommend watching this YouTube video if you're interested in learning this stitch. This was the only tutorial I came across which clearly explained what to do after you've got that little ball of beads in your fingers and you can't figure out which is the top or the bottom or where the hell you're supposed to make the next stitch:
In the weeks coming up to Christmas, I've been making my own decorations for our little tree. I hoped it would get me back into the habit of making things for fun, and it's been working! I've been inspired to make a great many more things, which I'll share soon.
Making my own Christmas decorations isn't a new thing for me, as I always used to make my own decorations when I was little. It was only things like paper chain rings, or snowflakes that I'd cover in glitter and thread onto string to make curtains that I'd hang from the ceiling or the window frames. Still, they were pretty, and it made me feel like I had a part to play in the celebrations. As I say, I've always been a creative person, so this is just the next step.
These are only the first two decorations that I've created, but I do intend to make more and share them with you as soon as I have. Depending on the reaction they get, I may decide to add handmade decorations to my Etsy shop for next year.
Sorry I've been away for so long, but a combination of myself being ill and my Mom's hospital appointments have left me little time to update the Metallics Collection. I'm back now and ready to show you the rest of the collection! Part 5 of the Metallics Collection is the Chromium Set:
More photos on Etsy.
This used to be the Electro-Shock Set, but I was never entirely happy with it, and it seems to fit in better with the Metallics Collection. Chromium can be tinted many different colours, which I hoped to reflect in this piece. This set is a mixture of glass and metal bugles, crystal and seed beads.I knew what I wanted the focal to look like almost immediately. A graduating fan using small twisted silver bugles contrasted with purple bugles and purple/teal toho seeds hanging from the bottom. The strands took more planning. I alternated the long iris twisted bugles with the wavy silver tubes, book-ended with black fire-polished crystals. Somehow one strand of this pretty mix didn't seem enough, so adding another made it stand out even more. For the earrings, I knew that the graduating fan on its own wouldn't look right, so I simulated the shape of the Americana Earrings and with the chain hanging from the bottom it created this cool trapezium shape. Buy the set on Etsy: £75.00
The Second set in the Metallics Collection. I
love wire coiling, but this is only my second or third time using it in
one of my pieces. I got the design from my favourite jewellery making
magazine (Make Jewellery), however I tweaked it a bit more to my liking.
I got the inspiration from the magnesium coils we used to burn in
school chemistry lessons, where we would often add dyes to make it burn
pretty colours. Also from sparklers at Halloween - remember trying to
write your name in the air as fast as you could.
More photos on Etsy.
The set is just
the necklace and the earrings, but together they make real statement.
I've used "Vivid Green" and "Dark Purple" in the set pictured, but you
can choose which two colours of copper wire you would like.
Colours available...
The
necklace is multiple enamel coated copper wire coils (try saying that
three times fast!) and faceted glass beads, which catch the light
beautifully. They hang from a silver plated cable chain with a silver
plated toggle clasp. It measures about 64cm/25.2in, but I can adjust it
if you would like it longer or shorter - just let me know.
The earrings are wire coils spiralled around a silver wire coil, with another faceted glass bead at the bottom. Please let me know whether you would prefer...
Low Nickel Earwires Nickel Free Earwires OR Clip-on
If you are unsure whether you have a nickel allergy, I recommend choosing the Nickel Free, just to be on the safe side.
Disclaimer:
No copyright infringement is
intended. These are my own interpretations of various sweets
and candy using various beads. Nothing in the Sweet Tooth
collection is edible. Please try to refrain from eating!
I must warn you, that my mom has already reserved one of these sets! The necklace is actually one of my own designs and I hope you like it too.
The "sherbets" are acrylic and hanging between them are firepolished crystals. The colour of the crystals will alternate, the sherbets won't.
Sherbet Set
Feel free to choose which colour sherbets you would like for your earrings. :)
Earwires are nickel free.
Sherbet Earrings
The bracelet I would like your input on...
I only had enough crystal beads to put on the necklace - they were a free gift - but it's no problem getting them. So do you think I should add them to the bracelet in the same manner as the necklace, or leave the bracelet as it is. It's up to you! :)
If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at:kymberligee@gmail.comwith "Sherbet Set" in the subject line.
Disclaimer:
No copyright infringement is
intended. These are my own interpretations of various sweets
and candy using various beads. Nothing in the Sweet Tooth
collection is edible. Please try to refrain from eating!
I'm not actually a fan of Fairy Satins, to me they always looked prettier than they tasted! So I bought some dyed shell nuggets to imitate them. The necklace is then tied up in a pink satin ribbon.
Fairy Satins Set
For the focal, I hung a fairy charm from a connector and then threaded AB (Aurora Borealis/Reflective) acrylic cubes with a few random shell nuggets.
Fairy charm
AB Acrylic Cubes and Shell nuggets
The earrings are similar to the focal on the necklace, except I just hung shell nuggets from the bottom. The earwires are nickel free.
Fairy Satins Earrings
For the bracelet, I alternated shell nuggets and acrylic cubes, then added some chain for length. I may need your wrist measurements to get it the right length.
If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at:kymberligee@gmail.comwith "Fairy Satins Set" in the subject line.
Disclaimer:
No copyright infringement is
intended. These are my own interpretations of various sweets
and candy using various beads. Nothing in the Sweet Tooth
collection is edible. Please try to refrain from eating!
Who doesn't love Jelly Beans? Whether it's the gourmet Jelly Belly's and Jelly Bean Factory or their bigger counterparts, they are a yummy staple of the sweet community.
Jelly Bean Set
Obviously like a real bag of Jelly beans each set is going to vary, but you can be sure you will get a good mix of colours. I've used many different types of glass beads, and also thrown some semi-precious into the mix. In the set pictured there is Amethyst, New Jade, Dyed Cherry Jade, Bowenite and Onyx. Spaced between each bead are silver ball spacers like you get on top of biscuits and cakes. But please note that like the disclaimer says - they are not the edible kind and are made of metal!
Jelly Bean Necklace
Feel free to request a particular colour of "Jelly Bean" for your earrings! And please tell me if you require nickel free earwires as the ones pictured are black plated. (Tip: If you do have a nickel allergy and
still want these earrings, try coating the earwires with clear nail
varnish.)
Jelly Bean Earrings
The bracelet is on a coil of memory wire so it will fit all sized wrists. :)
Jelly Bean Bracelet
I bought some adjustable bling ring blanks and have fallen in love with them.
Jelly Bean Ring
The finished ring becomes a real statement piece - plus it jangles! ;)
If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at:kymberligee@gmail.comwith "Jelly Bean Set" in the subject line.
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended. These are
my own interpretations of various sweets and candy using various
beads. Nothing in the Sweet Tooth collection is edible. Please try to
refrain from eating!
This is the Dolly Mixture Set:
Dolly Mixture Set
This collection is all about interpretation, so forgive me if they don't look EXACTLY like a bag of Dolly Mixtures.
Dolly Mixture Necklace
There's a good mixture of bead types anyhow. You've got resin donuts, glass ovals, cubes and cylinders, acrylic cubes and seed beads, all in a variety of Dolly Mixture colours.
Dolly Mixture Necklace
The earrings are glass "gumdrops" hanging from the resin donuts. Nickel free earwires are used.
Dolly Mixture Earrings
The bracelet is a mixture of all the beads on two coils of memory wire. Please note that each set will be different as in a bag of Dolly Mixture!
If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at:kymberligee@gmail.comwith "Dolly Mixture Set" in the subject line.
