Blinging Up My Sneakers

I don't profess to be as good as The Crystal Ninja, Kellie Defries, when it comes to gluing, but with her awesome tools, you can do some amazing things!!

I bought a pair of Roxy sneakers in a silver black colour and knew I wanted to add more sparkle to them. Because that's how I roll. The sparklier, the better. And nothing sparkles quite like Swarovski flatbacks. Well, other Swarovski products do!!

Using supplies from Kellie's Professional Glue Kit, I filled a syringe with Gemtac and started laying down glue dots. Not a line of glue, individual dots. Then using her Crystal Katana, I picked up the SS 20 Jet Flatbacks and placed one in each dot. Flipping the Crystal Katana around, I used to chrome end to press each crystal into place. 

Some tips for you:

1. Wear your shoes long enough to have creases appear where they will. This allows you to see where you have to glue the stones a little looser, so that they won't rub up against each other. Heaven forbid that you you glue everything tight and then can't bend your foot in the shoe!

2. Work on even distribution of glue dots and not dispensing too much glue. Easier said than done. But after 1,000 hours of doing this, you'll be a pro. 

3. Work on each shoe evenly. I did the outline on each shoe and then started to fill in each one bit by bit. Why? Because I wanted both shoes to have the same amount of crystals. This way, I have enough crystals for both instead of doing one full shoe and running out of crystals. I know I could just buy more crystals, but I wanted to wear them this weekend!! 

I finished as far as I could last night, Halloween, while watching a horror movie, at home all along. In case of intruders, the Crystal Katana could work as a weapon. Lol. 

I'll be wearing these this weekend at the Toronto Bead Society fall fair. Come by and take a sneak peak at my sneakers! I will have Kellie's Professional Glue Kit, Crystal Katana and the newest Tanto available for sale along with oodles of Swarovski Crystal. 

Crystal Jewelry Inspiration Editor: Karin Van Voorhees

Here's a video by our awesome editor, Karin Van Voorhees! She was amazing to work with on Crystal Jewelry Inspiration.

Source: kalmbach.com via Kalmbach Jewelry Making on Pinterest

Don't forget to see yesterday's blogpost to enter the contest and hear what I have to say about being part of this fantastic book.

http://www.thedixonchick.blogspot.ca/2013/01/crystal-jewelry-inspiration.html

Crystal Bangle

Sometimes you come across a beading pattern that makes your heart sing.

"My Heart Sings" Mixed Media Art by Rachelle Hartley

I found that pattern on Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour's website, www.beadinfinitum.com.

Crystal Bangle made with filled net stitch
 
© 2005 Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour

The pattern for this exquisite bangle is available for FREE on their website.
http://www.beadinfinitum.com/Kits/index.html#Crystal_Bangle

I made a bracelet of this last night using 4mm Swarovski rounds in White Opal AB and size 11/0's and 15/0's in Galvanized Silver. I audibly gasped on row 3 as it all pulled together. It's like a magic trick, you won't believe your eyes. The architecture of this piece is amazing and you will know what I mean when you make it for yourself.

And I encourage you all to make it. This bracelet is deceptively easy to make and you will create an heirloom piece that will be a coveted piece for years to come.

Why does this piece make my heart sing? It's because you can change the beads used in many different ways to achieve endless combinations. You can use 4mm Swarovski crystal bicones, 4mm Swarovski pearls, 4mm Czech Fire Polish or any 4mm round beads. You can use one colour throughout, or how about one row of colour A and another row of colour B? I am currently working on one that has three different 4mm Swarovski bicones per row and they are starting to spiral as I make it. I'm using Crystal, Provence Lavender and Tanzanite with Steel and Antiqued Silver tones of 15/0's and 11/0's.

I'm making mine as bracelets that will have magnetic clasps, as the width of my hand is just too big for a bangle to sit nicely on my wrist. I wonder what it would look like if I used 2.8 mm drops in place of the 11/0's.... I better finish this purple toned one first. And I have all day to play today as it's Thanksgiving here in Canada. My husband is off golfing and my son is coaching football.


Happy Thanksgiving Day to my fellow Canadians! I am thankful for so much in my life: a wonderful husband, the best son in the world, loving family, great friends, a job I love and the opportunities that being a Create Your Style with Swarovski Elements Ambassador has brought to me.

I am thankful that you, gentle reader, took the time to visit my blog today.

Skip The Turkey, Let's Get Out The Beads!!!

This Saturday, October 8, I am thrilled to be teaching two classes at beadFX that are among my most popular. So, if you are a fan, you may have already taken them, but if not, why not bring a friend or relative and join me for a day of laughs, learning and sparkle!

First up from 11-1 is CRYSTALLIZED BLING RINGS. In this class geared to any level of expertise (or not!), you will have a fun time creating three rings with The Dixon Chick.  

Incorporating shapes of Crystallized Swarovski Elements you may not have seen or used before, you will learn how to use a mandrel, wrap wire, learn how to properly size rings to create sparkley rings.   

Materials used are: 22 gauge non tarnish silver wire and a whole lot of fabulous SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS!!

You can end your day then, or you can stay for WIRE BEAD CROCHET BASICS. In this course you will learn the basics of wire bead crochet and create a truly unique necklace that will make you the envy of all your friends!

Using 26 gauge wire, a variety of different sized beads ranging from size 6/0 seed beads to 6mm firepolish and a crochet hook, you will transform the wire using the chain stitch into a unique piece of wearable art. The course will focus on creating a necklace.

Here are some samples of my wire bead crochet necklaces. It's so much fun to use coloured wire and to also further embellish the necklaces with pendants.

So call 416-701-1373 to book your spot today!! See you Saturday!!!

Finally! The Big BSBP Reveal!

Finally, after some technical difficulties, I am available to reveal the pieces I made from the gorgeous bead soup I received from partner, Stephanie LaRosa, in the Bead Soup Blog Party organized by the amazing Lori Anderson.

What were the technical difficulties I encountered? Well, they hit me on two fronts.

1. I have a new camera and am still trying to figure out how the heck to use it to take DECENT pictures of my work. The pictures I took, did not meet my exacting standards for lighting, so I went to Photoshop online to lighten/brighten them. Why is it that at this point, Photoshop does not want to upload my pictures? Poop.

2. I do not profess to be a stringer. My peeps know this. My comfort zone is wire and tools. Crimps scare me. Will they hold? Am I using the right crimp for this size of beading wire? Am I using the right weight of beading wire for these beads? How can I feed this beading wire through that crystal twice? Wire guardian? Crimp covers? Crimp beads or tubes? AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

Not being one to back down from a challenge, I decided that I would string a necklace and a bracelet.



I used the Squama stones, clasp, ceramic and shell beads from the soup I received. I added in an African Turquoise pendant that I have been hoarding and used Crystal Tahitian Look Pearls from the Swarovski Elements as spacers. I also added in two Montana crystal bicones.



For this bracelet, I used the following bead soup ingredients: Carved Nut Beads, handmade ceramic beads from Gaea, cream Czech beads, Squama Stone, ceramic beads, shell beads and those funky angled wood beads. I added in the same Crystal Tahitian Look Pearls and one Mocca Swarovski bicone along with my own clasp. I really like this bracelet, but will have to re-do it because it's a touch too big. I think I'll remove some of the pearls.

As soon as I opened the box of bead soup, I knew immediately that I had to do something special with my little seahorse. For some reason, Zeb comes to mind - so that's his name. I found that for how I work, the connector on the pendant was going the wrong way, so I wired around it and created a centre focal. Zeb needs to feel at home, so I added in some two and three sprig crystal coral from SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. To bring all the components I made together, I added in some chain from Garlan Chain and some crystallized yarn in Pacific Opal/Cotton and some Crystal Golden Shadow and Suede. I am very pleased with how this piece turned out and can't wait to wear it!



This gorgeous clasp was a bit of a challenge. I knew that I wanted to create a circular element to offset it, so I did using the carved nut interspersed with crystal on a piece of 22 gauge Vintage Bronze wire from Parawire. The challenge came when I went to put the toggle together and the jump rings I used wouldn't fit through the hole! LOL. So, I grabbed some chain and it worked just fine.



Here is a close up of the centre component with the side components.



Giveaway Bonus: How could I not make some rings with these gorgeous beads? If you leave a comment between now and September 30th at midnight Toronto time, your name will be entered in a draw to win one of these rings. I will draw three names; one for each ring.

 I really enjoyed participating in this Bead Soup Blog Party. It has made me look at the beads I have in a different light - in a stringing light. I have already started gathering little piles to create more items. Thank you to Stephanie and Lori for your support in my participation and to everyone who hops on by.

Introducing the Fall/Winter 2012/13 SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

Crystal Petrol Pearl

 

Graphic Pendant – Article no. 6685



Oval Bead – Article no. 5050

Wild Heart Bead – Article no. 5743

Large Briolette Pendant – Article no. 6010

Helix Pendant – Article no. 6020

Rhombus Pendant – Article no. 6320





TBS Fall Fair

On Saturday, I handed in samples of the class I'll be teaching at The Toronto Bead Society Fall Fair.

Learn the basics of wire crystal crochet with CREATE YOUR STYLE with Swarovski Elements Ambassador, Stephanie Dixon. You will create two pairs of earrings using 26 gauge non tarnish silver wire and silver ear wires.

Good as Gold: Crystal Golden Shadow Aquiline pendant focal surrounded by the CGS Xilion pendant and Colorado Topaz AB2X bicones.

Bargello: Erinite Briolette focal Pendant surrounded by Xilion bicones in Mocca, Sand Opal and Erinite.

Stay tuned to www.torontobeadsociety.org for more details!


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