Introducing Belle

Belle is a new shape in my line of pottery cuff beads.  Why Belle? Much like a Southern Belle, this shape of pottery cuff bead is beautiful, with a flirtatious curve to hug your wrist.  She is also flamboyant in size much like the Southern Belles' hooped skirts and wide brimmed hats.  The bead is approx. 1 inch by 2 and 1/2 inches.  Available in many colors and textures. 

Aqua Fresca

Purple

Blueberry

TuTu Tango

Tamale Red

This design is by MagpieARTicles on Etsy, she used a 3 piece set for the pendant designs below. and added accent beads and antique brass chain.  Send me photos of what you create using my beads and I will post them on an upcoming blog. 

Beautiful Designs using Captured Moments Pottery Beads

Just wanted to share with you some beautiful designs that have been sent to me recently by my customers.  I hope you enjoy seeing their beautiful handiwork. I also want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, I have so many things to be thankful for and among my many blessings are my wonderful customers and the ability to do something I love to do.  I am thankful that my beads bring you joy and for some readers additional income and I wish you health and happiness always.

These designs are from Susan Love.  Susie’s earliest creative memory was when she got into terrible trouble from her mother for cutting up some curtains and making each of her friends a bikini.  She has always been involved in crafts, from sewing, pottery, stained glass and for many years now making jewelry. Recently she got interested in precious metal clay, silver, bronze and copper; so expect to see a bit more of this appearing in her shop soon. 

 With a nack for western flair, Cameron Zimpelman has an Interior Design degree and yet she has always been designing and making jewelry, accessories and clothing since she can remember. You will find a wide range of different styles in her shop, she loves diversity and has thousands of ideas that she is working on creating. 

 I hope you enjoy looking at these lovely designs created using my pottery beads.

Recycled Blue Jeans Wrap Bracelet Tutorial

I love denim, so comfy and casual.  I recycled part of a leg of jeans and made a cute wrap bracelet and wanted to share the process.  I started by ripping a one inch strip of denim from an old pants leg.  The strip is approx. 16 inches, you may need more or less depending on your wrist size.  I frayed the edges by removing some of the threads from the sides of the denim.  Be sure and rip the length of the jean leg, the part that goes up and down. Then gather your supplies, I have scissors, needle and thread, jump rings, a 4 inch piece of 8 gauge copper, a hammer, some pliers, a metal block and one of my oval pottery links.

 Fold over approx. a 1/2 inch of the denim and stitch with a running stitch to make a loop.

 Knot the thread to finish and then add one heavy duty copper jump ring in thru the denim loop.

 Add a 2nd copper jump ring.  Repeat with the other side of the denim.

 Attach one of my pottery oval links.  This one is in stormy blue.

 Take about 4 inches of 8 gauge copper wire and form a circle with your round nose pliers.

 Flatten the link with your hammer and metal block.  Cut the ends so they are the same size and hang over the opening of the pottery link about a 1/4 of an inch.  This is a simple toggle but you could make a fancier one if you wanted to.  Attach the toggle to the other side of the denim. 
One side now has a toggle and one side the pottery link.

 Wrap the denim around your wrist, and secure with the link and toggle.  Easy Peasy, and ready for wearing.  Mine is going to be a Christmas gift, and as easy as these are you might want to make several of these. You could use ribbon, sari silk, embellish the denim strip, extend the length of the denim and wrap multiple times.....endless combinations.  Enjoy!

One of my beads in Jewelry Stringing Magazine

I opened up this the latest issue (Fall 2012) of Jewelry Stringing Magazine and found that Kathleen Lange Klik submitted a beautiful necklace using one of my beads and it was published this month. Her design is called coffee addiction and it is a great pieces done in Java colors. A great design with Autumn just around the corner. 

Here is an easy bracelet design to use with my beads.  Add a few jump rings to each side of the bead, then take 17-19 inches of cord or chain (depending on your wrist size) attach a lobster claw to each side of the leather or chain.  Hook the lobster claw clasp to one side of your bead thru the jump rings and then wrap it twice around your wrist. Attach the other lobster claw clasp to the other side of the bead thru the jump rings for a great wrapped look.  I like to attach two chains or cords to change the look.  Here are a few examples.

Blessed Bead with Leather Cord

If the boot fits buy every color

I now have leather and chain available in my shop if you would like to have a bracelet like this visit my shop.

Lots of pretty colors in real leather to match my beads

3 shades of browns

A great silver gray and nice neutrals

Sterling chain in a fun oval link

My favorite a touch of bling this is sterling that has been oxidized so the rhinestones look great.