Hook and Eye Bracelet Tutorial

As I was putting away some sewing supplies last week I came across an old card of hooks and eyes, I realized if I made them on a larger scale they would make great links for a necklace or bracelet so I sat down last night and made a fun but simple bracelet on the Now That's A Jig. I figured most of you could easily figure it out but to save you the trouble I have put together a little down and dirty photo tutorial. 

Around The World Links

Last month I was in Tucson teaching for Brenda on the Now That's a Jig I picked up the new Now That's a Plier, available from Reo, all the jig pegs fit this unique plier so it takes the place of many I already have and has the possibility of doing so much more. For my first project I worked on these unusual links with a touch of extra wire wrapping. I'm calling them around the world links because my friend Jamey thought they had the look of world maps. 

                    The bracelet is $85

                       Necklace $125

                     Bracelet $85

New photos of some of my favorite pieces.

I had to take photos for the jury process and I hate the game of just what to say and show to try and get into a show but if your going to get chosen then play the game it is.  Everything here can be made with the help of the amazing Now That's a Jig!  

Below is my winged heart made of recycled copper and a nailed heart handmade by my very talented friend Mac.

This fun bracelet was also made with recycled copper and a ceramic bead made by my friend Diane Hawkey.

This fun skull is another piece from Mac along with recycled wire and tiny solid copper beads.

This bracelet was made from glass beads created by me, some recycled roofing copper with fused silver added for texture

Recycled wire combined with Cleo, my favorite silver glass to work with makes this one of my all time favorites. 

One of my silly skull beads on a hinged recycled copper bracelet. The pattern for this bracelet is available as a video tutorial in my etsy shop, tracybell.etsy.com

More Beads on a Wire Necklaces

I just finished a bunch more Beads on a Wire necklaces and the colors in these are just beautiful. $45.00. If your interested in any of these contact me at Tracy.Bell at usa.com

Beaded Hinged Neck Wires

The hinged neck wires come in two sizes that will fit most neck sizes and are very comfortable to wear.  The beads were made by my friend, the amazing glass artist Sharon Pribble and are priced at $40.00.

Mr. Skull Bracelet

I purchased a skull bead from Laurie Loriola Flanders, she sells her beads under the name Isabel's Rose.  The bracelet was made on the jig and is hinged for comfort and the ease of getting it on and off.    I looked up the skull bracelets I had made in the past and the photo was dated three years ago!  I also made some sugar skull beads two years ago and I'm thinking maybe a cross between the three styles would be fun.

 

Funky Skull Necklace

A fun skull necklace made on the Jig with a handmade chain. This skull was created by Marianne Kasparian of MAKUstudio.

Funky Skull Necklace. $90.00 

Winged Heart

I have several of these amazing Nailed Hearts made by MAKUstudio.com, this is Mak's small heart but either size would work for this design.  I have plans to start publishing my designs as tutorials making they will be available through Etsy as an instant PDF download.  These are also available for sale as finished work if you don't want to make your own.

Winged Heart Necklace $90.00

All recycled copper with a handmade ceramic raku fired heart made by MAKU

Nailed Heart Necklace

Here is a necklace made on the Jig with one of Maku's nailed hearts.

Nailed Heart Necklace $80.00

Word Bead Bracelet

I've been working on getting this bracelet just right off and on since I was in Tucson in February.  It's made on the Now That's A Jig with one of Diane Hawkie's word beads.  I just love how it sits close to the wrist so if you spend a lot of time typing it won't get in your way.  It's also easy to make in any size by adjusting where the pegs on the jig screw in as your making the clasp.

Word Bracelet $50.00

                                 

Word  Bracelets $50.00

Horse Shoe Necklace

This winter I was having trouble posting so over the next few days I'm gong to see if I can get you caught up on the fun I was having with the Now That's A Jig.  Here are two versions of the Horse Shoe Necklace I made with the jig.  It's a very quick necklace to make with the since you thread the beads onto the wire and simply slide them down the wire as you need them. 

Horse Shoe Necklace, not for sale.

This one I made for Brenda the inventor of the NTaJ!

I'm Teaching in Tucson

I'm beyond excited to tell the world about my next adventure.  I was asked by Brenda of the Now That's a Jig to teach a few classes in Tucson this February at the Best Bead Show. In September I posted a little about the jig and how I going to be designing some jewelry patterns that would be made on the jig.  Brenda liked them so much she has scheduled me to teach these designs.  Sign up for these classes HERE.

I'm still having trouble with blogger and am unable to label photos or load all I would like!  This has been going on since September.  This post was done on a combo of computer and iPad.

Now That's a Jig, Peg n Tool Storage

I have been working on some new designs for use with the Now That's a Jig was really getting frustrated chasing the pins after the rolled off my table onto the floor so I came up with an answer.  I had a piece of dollar store florist foam that was still wrapped in plastic so I simply stabbed the screw section through the plastic into the foam and I now have an amazing tool and peg storage cube for all my jig items.  If this works well for a week or so I believe I will make one out of wood with my drill press but this one will be great for now and you all know how I love a quick cheap solution.

Now That's a Jig Peg Storage

Now That's A Jig

Some days I could just kiss my mail lady, I really do love her,  beyond being an excellent mail carrier she is also a great customer.  Today she brought me a very special package, it was shipped from my new friend Brenda Schweder who I met at the Bead Fest in Philly.  If you don't know who Brenda is she is the inventor of the Now That's A Jig and my package contained a whole jig setup including a few extra parts.  If you haven't seen this jig I suggest you take yourself over to her website and check it out, it's amazing, the pegs all screw in instead of just pegs that slide out every time you take your work off the jig. It also screws to the table leaving both hands free to create.

My new toy, Now That's a Jig

I was able to play with her jig for some time at the show since her booth was right beside Diane's, I was able to make up these dragon flies in 3 sizes.  The patterns will be available through Brenda's website along with 10 more I will be creating for her in the next few months.

Dragon Flies made with the new Now That's a Jig

Brenda's bracelet is on the cover of this months Wire Jewelry Magazine.

Brenda's Bracelet