AAUW Interest Group – Beads2Jewelry | Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek (CA)

Group Co-Leaders: Jessica Barrett & Dianne Giacovelli

Beads2Jewelry invites all members interested in learning to make jewelry. Our meetings include sharing our work, bead and finding discussions, and examples of how to make jewelry. We also attend special bead and jewelry functions as a group. Our meeting home rotates, and a materials list will be provided for each meeting.

Projects – We pick projects by group consensus and depend on each other to find and teach new projects. Supply lists for the projects are emailed to members 2-3 weeks before each meeting so that there is adequate time to gather supplies. Everyone is responsible for bringing her own supplies. Most of our projects can be completed at the beading meeting or easily finished at home. We try many different projects including simple stringing, wire crochet, wire-wrapping, seed beading and knotting. If you are not interested in making the project, just bring something else to work on and enjoy the companionship of your fellow beaders.

Supplies – Each member brings her own tools and supplies. A basic tool and supply list is available and the items can be purchased at craft stores or on line. The initial investment in tools and supplies, not including the beads, is about $100. The supplies for most of our monthly projects cost about $20. If you are new to beading, you can take a basic beading class at any bead shop or craft store or view on YouTube to see if you like it well enough to invest in the supplies.

Beading in general – Beading is a fun and relaxing hobby that usually results in an extensive jewelry wardrobe and a ready cache of handcrafted gifts. Beading requires good hand strength and dexterity and adequate eyesight. Most of us use magnifiers or strong reading glasses for close work. Beads can be purchased at craft stores, bead shows and on line. Your inventory will grow quickly!

Meeting Day/Time: 4th Thursday, 1:00 PM
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Samples of projects from meetings:

Earrings: Need 26 gauge wire wrap, 2 1″ hoop ear rings, size 4mm faceted bicom crystals (28 – about 14 per each ear ring), wire cutters. I used 15 each as that is what came in package. A super easy project.

Start at the top of the opened hoop ear ring and using 18″ of cut wire wrap around three times and push them together. Then add a bead and do two wraps around the hoop. Push the wraps together. Continue doing this until all the hoop ear rings is covered. Do three wraps of wire at the end. Trim the wire close to the hoop when done.

Necklace: 20″ chain, clasp, 20 crystal beads (you choose the size you like), 20 head pins. You can use one color or a blended variation of crystals. Find the center of the chain and begin adding the crystal beads on every other chain loop, 10 to the right and 10 to the left. For each one insert the bead on the head pin, then put the head pen through the chain loop and twist it around the stem of the head pin. Add clasp and you are done. (This is the way Dianne taught us.)

April 2014 Attachments