Bead Basics -glass

        So you have chosen your base chain and your correct size.. now the fun begins! There is such a huge variety of bead styles available, your choices are almost unlimited. There are several basic types. Lets talk about the lampglass beads first. These are made of glass in a wide array of colors and patterns. They have the large hole to fit the chains, and have  a metal core inside the hole. This core can be made of silver, plated silver or gold. The European style lampglass beads are a basic element to creating your jewelry, adding color, pattern  and form. I often choose a glass bead I like, and design the entire piece around it. Check out the glass beads category in my store for a great selection of glass beads! http://stores.ebay.com/Kimbalina-Charms/Glass-/_i.html?_fsub=363050011&_sid=8249671&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Size Does Matter

When you buy a chain, it is important to get the right size..not too tight, not too loose..just right. Here is how to decide on your size: Take a string and place it snugly around your wrist, then measure the string for your wrist size. Add about an inch to that measure. Your beads will take up some of the inside diameter of the bracelet so it is important not to go too small. So now you have a measure in inches, but thats no help when they are sized in metric- centimeters.  Here is the basic conversion.

6.25 inch=16cm
6.50-6.75inch =17cm
7 -7.5inch =19cm
7.75-8.0 inch=20cm
8.25inch=21cm
8.5 -8.75inch=22cm
9-9.25=inch23cm

These are approximate. Just pick the closest to your size and it shoud fit fine. My store has a variety of sizes, so you might check out the chain section in my store at http://stores.ebay.com/Kimbalina-Charms?_rdc=1

 
     I have a funny story about these chains, which i keep in small bowls in my studio. Each morning my husband and i wake up to find several shiny silver chains in our pathway and on the floor right where we sit in the living room for morning coffee. It was a few weeks of this, when one night we spotted our cat Milo dragging a shiney silver chain out the door of my bead room and we finally figured out how these chains mysteriously kept finding their way out the door of my bead room and onto the living room floor. Our kitty was bringing us gifts!  She has great taste too.

How to choose your European Style Chain





   

     The standard European Style Chain is a 3mm thick snake chain. If you are not familiar with the European style clip it can be a big mystery as to how to open the clasp. The clasp is designed to look just like a bead with rounded edges, so the finished bracelet will appear seamless. You will see that the clip has a hinge with a groove which you simply pry apart with your thumbnail. Once open you will see a rounded groove on the inside edge. The other end of the chain is narrow, with a tip which sits in that groove, and then the chain will easily snap closed around it.  And that's it.. a very simple design. So what about those two little strategically placed raised "bumps" on the chain, what are they there for? Those are useful for dividing the bracelet into sections. You can use the hinged clips which are designed to stop the beads from sliding around on the chain. If you use 2 clips, one on each raised area, it creates 3 sections on the chain. You can place beads in all 3 sections, or just in the middle section, and the clips provide a stop which will keep all of the beads centered in the middle. However it is not necessary to use these stops at all. So how do you stop beads from sliding off the end when you go to open the bracelet? Simply place a clip on the chain right after your last bead, and this keeps the beads on. Or... if you like a really big lobster clasp that is super easy to get on and off, and requires no clips at all,  I also sell these in my store, just click on the pic for details. These have a double clasp so you can open the narrow end for getting the beads on and off. The big end is just for opening or closing the bracelet. You can also use a bangle specially designed to hold these beads. So now you will need to choose a size..You will find they are all in metric. That may be a complication for some folks but it is not that difficult to find your size. I will explain that next week, meanwhile you might check out my store and see the different style chains. If you get 15 beads from my store you will even get a chain for free! Check it out at http://stores.ebay.com/Kimbalina-Charms?_rdc=1

  









How to make an inexpensive Pandora style Bracelet

    Have you seen those gorgeous European style bracelets like Pandora? Did you know that you do not need to spend hundreds of dollars to create one for yourself ? You could even own one of every color or one for each outfit you wear, or to represent a hobby, sport, interest, family, pets, holiday, theme, or just about anything that defines who you are and what you enjoy. The ones in the jewelry stores are untouchable, with each bead sometimes costing over $100.00.  Heres a better idea... visit my site and look around. See what some of my finished bracelets look like. Scan through hundreds of beads to choose from. You will not believe the low price. Email me for design advice, special projects, or just to say hey, and let me know what you would like to see. I am here to learn too.  I will be back to share some of  my items here and hope to hear about your ideas too. Trust me when I tell you this is highly addictive business and once you see what you can create, it is just too hard to stop..
So check out my store at http://stores.ebay.com/kimbalinacharms  .. by the way, you will get a free chain when you buy 15 beads!  And most of the  beads are only a dollar! Many of my customers use these free chains to make gifts for Christmas, birthdays, wedding parties, ect.  Others are avid bead collectors and have one chain and an endless supply of beads to interchange. I will be back in the weeks to come to share some tips, ideas and tutorials to help you create your own designs!
*BTW if you want a closer look and some details or if you want to purchase
any of the items pictured, just click on the photo.  Check back next week for more!