Crystal Charm Earrings – Free Project with Michaels Classroom

Let’s get ready to catch the sun with some crystal!
Statement earrings will be in again this Spring and Summer season. Get the sparkle with these fast and gorgeous wire wraps. In class we will learn a technique that will work with many size hoops and any beads. In class we will work 6mm Czech bicone crystals on the largest, oval hoops from the pack of Bead Landing Connectors. The bigger hoops are the most beginner-friendly for pulling the wire through as we wrap. Learn on the bigger hoops with consistent size beads, then try this design on the smaller hoops and with other beads.

The Recorded Class

About our Instructor Danielle Wickes
Danielle Wickes is the Creative Director for John Bead. She specializes in working with seed beads, bead-weaving, and looming, creating hand-knotted mala and yoga jewelry, crochet, and jewelry made with leather and wire.

Danielle on Instagram linked here.
Danielle on Facebook linked here.

All of our classes for Michaels with links to patterns and recorded class on this blog are here.

If you would like to try more advanced projects, we have a Facebook group you can join where we post all our project PDFS.

Bead Projects and PDFs from John Bead

Destined to Dazzle Preciosa Spring Summer 2024

Destined to Dazzle

Preciosa Spring Summer 2024

New Color: BLUE VIOLET

Unlike its namesake blossom, there is nothing common or basic about Blue Violet. A mystical blend of electric purple and ultramarine, this sensorial shade evokes serenity, self-assurance and optimism. Blue Violet’s hyper-saturated sheen packs plenty of trans-seasonal staying power, guaranteed to add a touch of elusive je ne sais quoi to even the haute-st of couture catwalks.

INDIAN PINK & PURPLE VELVET

Previously only available in other sizes, ultra-sweet Indian Pink and opulent Purple Velvet now come in nail-artist approved sizes ss5, ss7 and ss9 in no-hotfix version for prettier and post-worthier mani’s and pedi’s.

BAGUETTE MAXIMA 4 x 2mm

Simple yet sleek, our Baguette flatback now comes in an additional smaller size in all the same luminous shades, generating brand-new possibilities for complex crystal embellishment.

We added Crystal, Crystal AB, Crystal Aurum, Jet and Jet Hematite

NAVETTE MAXIMA 4 x 2mm

Exactly half the size of its larger twin, our newer, smaller Navette flatback is ideal for intricate detailing and comes in the same classic colors and coatings for seamless size combination.

We added Crystal, Crystal AB, Jet and Jet Hematite

Introducing Ukrainian Beader Marta!

We would like to introduce you to our special friend, Ukrainian beader Marta.

Marta has always been a very popular beader from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Her handwoven, beaded and macramé jewelry are coveted and her patterns and tutorials have been purchased by many. Her Instagram page is filled daily with bright colorful imagery of her work.

Then, a year ago, her posts stopped.

As war began in Ukraine, Danielle Wickes and I tried to think of what we could do to help. Our first plan was to urge all our friends to purchase her Etsy patterns. This way she would not need to do anything, as mailing parcels was not going to be easy. More time passed and we urged people to support her shop for finished pieces.

We all have the opportunity to do something small which can help.

It is impossible not to worry about her as she lives in Kyiv, a city in the news almost daily. We also recognize that Marta isn’t the only beader in Ukraine, she just happens to be the one Danielle and I followed online the most. We kept asking ourselves, what could we do next?

So we asked Marta if she would allow us to release a pattern that she designed so that it would be available to anyone in the world.

We also wanted to teach a pattern for our Michaels students that would be unique and allow us to put a positive spotlight on a fellow beader living and working in a war zone.

We are honored to announce that Marta created three new projects PDFs for us. We are also grateful that John Bead sponsored this initiative.

Today we are giving you a links to the first two patterns along with a link to the special class next month for Michaels.

We hope that you will enjoy Danielle’s classes teaching you how to make these earrings and while beading, send your most positive thoughts to Marta, so she knows we are thinking about her and her country.

Danielle and Carmi

Instagram: @martajewelry

Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/MartaJewelry

A quote from Marta: “Creating patterns and jewelry is one of the ways to express myself, what I feel and see. It’s interesting how we put together little beads to create something new, cute, beautiful, meaningful for us. The beading process could be challenging, but definitely joyful!”

Special Free Class #1 from John Bead

Project PDF is here: YellowFlowersOnGreen_FringeEarrings_JohnBead

BONUS Pattern PDF: Floral_FringeEarrings_JohnBead

Special Free Class #2 from John Bead for Michaels Store in March

Daisy Flower Earrings

Class for Michaels linked here.

Friday March 10, 2023

We are so proud to present to you a third beautiful pattern from Marta Andrusenko, owner of Marta Jewelry. In this class, we will walk you through the creation of one of Marta’s designs, a beautiful, springtime floral fringe earring.

Class for Michaels linked here.

Project PDF MartadaisyflowerPDF-final

Seed Bead Braided Bracelet – Free Project with Michaels Classroom

The project PDF

Seed Beaded, Braided Bracelet

In this class we will demo a technique to create a braided bracelet design using strands of seed beads. The design starts with a laddered base to build off where long strands are strung and joined in a five-stranded braid design. The finished bracelet features a button and loop closure shared in the previous class: Seed Beaded Button Closures. We will use the button we made in that class to finish this design.

The Recorded Class

Danielle on Instagram linked here.
Danielle on Facebook linked here.

All of our classes for Michaels with links to patterns and recorded class on this blog are here.

If you would like to try more advanced projects, we have a Facebook group you can join where we post all our project PDFS.

Bead Projects and PDFs from John Bead

Crocheted Heart Project PDF from Preciosa Ornela

Project PDF is here Crocheted heart 2023

Pendant with a crocheted heart project!

Make a little crocheted heart out of PRECIOSA PermaLux seed beads hung on a pendant and celebrate the day of lovers in style! You can use the heart as a pendant on a chain, on a handbag or as a gift from the heart.

Designer: Alexandra Lysenko – Snow Mirna

Seed Beaded Buttons – Free Project with Michaels Classroom

The project PDF Seed Beaded Buttons

Handmade closures are a staple technique to finish any design. Achieve a made-for-it look in your bead-weaving by making your own seed beaded buttons! In class we will make a small (14mm) and large (20mm) button using 11/0 or 10/0 seed beads combined with 6/0 seed beads.

The Recorded Class