The story on MailOnline about Hilary Duff is about her engagement.  Our purpose is to highlight her wearing layered necklace chains.  One looks like a long silvery necklace with some beads/charms wire wrapped on.  Second is a shorter chain with a small pendant.  With the blurry picture, you can't quite tell if the choker section is a third necklace or if its part of the second double-wrapped around her neck.

Are you inspired to wear more neck chains yet?  See shiny bulk silver-plated chains here.  See bulk sterling silver chains here.

Here's to your creativity!

Cynthia
OhioBeads.com

"Celebrities Wearing Layered Necklaces"

"The perfect way to complete your outfit is a great piece of jewelry. And the hottest look du jour is layered necklaces. Piling on a bunch of necklaces—no matter what the style—produces a cute and interesting style. Need proof? These starlets show no matter what the occasion, this look is hot."

You can see that these ladies are wearing lots of metal chain. See pictures of:

• Rosario Dawson
• Mena Suvari
• Lindsay Lohan
• Kate Moss

You can find a style like theirs for less with bulk jewelry chain from OhioBeads.com.

Here's to your creativity!

Cynthia
OhioBeads.com

Quoting a recent Beadalon blog: "When I was in California for CHA a few weeks ago, I spent some time looking for trends in downtown Los Angeles. Chain remains the strongest component in the jewelry making market." (emphasis mine)

Of course, if you are reading this blog, there is a good chance you knew that already.  And know that we know that.  We have been developing the niche of bulk jewelry chains online for three years and in a bricks-and-mortar store before that.

Yes, jewelry chains are hot and OhioBeads.com intends to show you a good collection of well-priced jewelry chains.

If you want to read more of Fernando Dasilva's blog entry, try here.

If you want to see bulk jewelry chains, then look here at OhioBeads.com online.

Here's to your jewelry creativity!

Cynthia
OhioBeads.com

Love This Chain. Excellent for layering and stand alone. Solid brass plated with antique brass and black gunmetal finish. The connector links open and make this chain easy to mix into other components. Separate the chain and use the round links for all sorts of interesting attachments.

Also freshening up stock in Rounded Diamond Link.

This chain comes in antique brass, black gunmetal, antique copper and Now… new antique silver!

Thanks for looking,

Cynthia

ohiobeads.com

Really liked working with some new chain to make this funky bracelet. I loaded it with pressed glass and seed beads in bold bright colors that made a great contrast with black gunmetal chain #36.

This new black chain has plenty to offer:

• Soldered links..your trinkets won't slip out and great to use for chain extension
• Flat wire for modern and dressy look.. and
• 3 ring sizes which adds to versatility, more to work with!

It took about 2.5 hours to make..(actually made while watching FoodNetwork TV dramas) and had plenty of fun arranging color.

More than enough possibilites to keep ya busy I'd say..

Cynthia

ohiobeads.com

In my shop days this bracelet was an instant copycat bracelet. What's not to like..bright colors to celebrate the arrival of a new season. Plus, what I discovered through my time helping customers with color choices was this combo always… always… finished at the top the class.

Some Color Theory

When considering color, most of us have been exposed to basic terms like primary, secondary, complimentary, monochromatic, and probably references to warm and cool colors.

The above bracelet color scheme is based on the use of analogous and monochromatic color.

Analogous colors are simply 3 neighbors on the color wheel. Using 3 neighboring colors on the color wheel makes it easy to create a pleasing color combo because of similar undertones. In this case blue-green, green, and  green-yellow.

Monochromatic describes 1 color in various values and intensities. Think about variations of lightness and saturation. Using monochromatic colors is very clean and easy on the eye. One of my favorite schemes, that never fails me.

Using this silver chain as the base helps create a simple, clean, and fresh design just perfect for Spring. 

Snake Chain

This sterling silver snake chain is ready to wear with soldered lobster clasp attached and measures 18 inches long. A smidgen larger than 1mm, 1.2mm in fact, it's an excellent choice if you need a simple chain with excellent drape. I would categorize this in a delicate chain category, but it is capable of hanging favorite charms and smaller pendants. In the pix above I hung a pretty cross charm on it which measures 1.5 inches long. Honestly this chain is pretty enough to wear without any extra additions.

Box Chain

Love This Chain.

Just like the name states this box chain is made up of tiny box-like links catching light on the flat services giving it a nice shimmer. Delicate, measuring 1mm in width, I'd hang light weight trinkets and charms and call it done. This has a spring closure and we carry these in 16 and 18 inch lengths.

How About A Flat Link Cable

Small,with slightly flattened links, this cable chain has lots of versatility. In this example I wire wrapped a stone to a slide on bail for a simple everyday look. The links in this chain are large enough to attach wire wrapped beads to or again, can be worn on its own.

Last , But Not Least..Twist Wire Cable

Although we put this in the finished chain category, it's technically a cable. This cable keeps it rounded shape and has a lobster closure in the back. I have seen customers slide larger hole beads on them along with charms and letter cubes spelling out names of loved ones. Here, I've hung a cubic zirconian in pink and love the fact that I can switch things on off with ease. Currently we carry this pretty neck wire in 16 inches and will add more sizes soon.

Click to here to see all the finished sterling silver chains with fabulous pricing info and further details.

Cynthia last wrote about Curved (Scalloped) Bar Link Chain and hinted at the gold-plated version being available soon.

Its here: in stock and posted online:

http://www.ohiobeads.com/catalog/goldplated-chain-round-curved-scalloped-chain-p-850.html

Paul
OhioBeads.com

Love these new antique brass pieces that arrived this week. 

• Pinch Bail- makes hanging pendants and drops easy.

• The 10 petal filigrees are light as air, try them for earrings or hook together with jumps and make a bracelet.

• The new braided frames are ready for your favorite photo. Great for charm bracelets, centerpieces on necklaces and heck why not funky little wine glass charms!

• The medallion is beautiful vintage like addition used as a stand alone on leather, ribbon, chain, or a compliment to your beadwork.

Check out the growing antique brass findings, caps, rings and filigrees here.

Stay Tuned!!

Cynthia 

Antique Copper Chain 

Antique Silver Chain 

Cable chains are versatile staples for your beading designs. Use these as your primary focus in necklaces and bracelets. These cable chains are excellent choices for chain extensions. Affordabley priced, with a new price break offered at 50ft amounts. Ohiobeads.com carries a large variety of unique chains in many different metals and finishes.

All the Best,

Cynthia 

Vintage with a modern flair!   and…

No wire wrapping skills needed! These lovely filigree and chain earrings are made with pieces of chain attached to the gunmetal filigree with petite size jumprings. Lightweight for measuring 2 and 1/2 inches long.

Tips to follow: 

1. Determine how long you want the earrings to be. Hey they're your creations you decide length.The longest piece of chain used in the sample above measures 4 inches.
2. Start with the longest chain first, then add the shortest section next. From here you can fill in the spaces with chain sections you think look best.
3. You connect the fine gunmetal chain to the filigree with small jumprings . In this case I used 2 sterling silver jumpring to each ring of the filigree. The silver adds a whisper of light to the earrings.
4. I also connected a 3mm sterling silver round bead on the single strand with a gunmetal headpin looped to the chain link.
5. Connect the leverback earwire directly to the top loop of the filigree. The ring on the leverback opens easily using a slight twist of the wrist while holding a needle nose plier. 

The most important advice I can give you is to cut lengths of chain for each filigree at the same time. This helps you have earrings looking like a matched pair, while avoiding frustration and wasting chain.

Ingredients list: 

1 package gunmetal filigree 

Sterling silver jumprings

3 mm sterling silver beads

Gunmetal leverbacks

Gunmetal headpins

1-2 feet of gunmetal double rollo chain #28 

All the Best,

Cynthia 

I like how she used the fine double rollo gunmetal chain as the support for the heart locket. You will notice in the second shot that she attached the locket with a matching gunmetal headpin and made two wire wraps with the added sparkle of vitrail color crystal. In this case the top loop slides freely on the chain. But you could easily attach directly to the link of the chain. Another thing I like about this is the use of the the larger link chain in the back as the chain extension. This simple gunmetal cable chain is still light weight, which does not over power the delicate rollo chain. It ads interest and and gives the wearer the option to lengthen their necklace with ease.

Below I've listed the components used in this necklace design. Oh by the way…The lockets our currently on sale. Hint, Hint!! They are sterling silver plate over brass, and they look fantastic mixed with gunmetal chain.

• 16 inches of gunmetal chain #28 double rollo
• 3-4 inches of gunmetal chain #29 plain cable
• 1 medium size lobster claw 
• 1 package of thin 2 inch gunmetal headpins 
• 1 sterling silver plated locket
• 3 4mm crystals or other beads you like

Stay Tuned for Part II

I've been busy creating earrings this week. Monday through Friday I have and continue to post a new earring design on Brandolina.typepad.com. I liked this pair so much I thought to share it here also. I worked in a monochromatic color scheme using various values and intensities of blue glass beads. The copper findings are complimentary in color and brighten the overall look. The big ring used is a link from a chain customers have named Hippie Chain. The paddle findings are light weight and these earrings can move. If you sell your jewelry at shows these are impressive looking, especially if you had several color versions. Gunmetal components would alos look great, making them a little dressier. Next time around I plan to make these in gunmetal mixed with iridescent colored glass, with a splash of gold and silver.

Thumbing through many jewelry magazines, you'll quickly notice that chain is used as the foundation of jewelry design. Adding centerpieces further personalizes your look. Many jewelry components can be used and look great as center pieces in necklaces. Here's another visual solution for you using this new pretty filigree with gunmetal finish. These are packaged in pairs, which also makes them great choice for creating earrings. Possibilities are endless with the kinds and colors of beads you mix together. Pearls add to the Victorian look , however you could use crystals, glass, or gemstones.

In this necklace I mixed gunmetal and copper chain and findings.

Here's a list of components I used:

• Jumprings- to add clasp to chain and attach filigree components to chain
• Headpins (24 gauge)- to wire wrap the beads to the filigree and in this piece adding pearls to the chain body
• 3 different chain styles and finishes
• 1 pack of gunmetal filigree
• Pearls, 4mm rounds and 6mm oval/teardrop
• Clasp 

Nothing looks better than multiple colors of crystal mixed with antique brass chain. A little of this color and a little of that shape is all it takes to make this pretty necklace dripping with crystals in all your favorite colors.

A little undecided about color choices for your next beading project?

No worries this necklace has it all. I can't think of anyone I know who doesn't have a collection of swarvoski crystals or fire polish czech glass in vast arrays of color.

This necklace mixes those leftovers in a pleasing combination of peridot, pinks, sapphires, emerald, citrine, and whatever color appeals to you. Most if not all these beads were leftovers on my bead tray from past projects. After picking out a variety of color, shapes and sizes, antique brass bead caps were added randomly for texture and interest. All attached with headpins and jumprings in antique brass.

Making it come together.

After choosing your beads lay them out on your bead tray or mat so that colors, sizes and shapes are spread apart. Don't take too much time on this … you just want to separate lights and darks and keep like colors spread around the necklace. Wire wrap each bead, then cluster in groups of three and slide onto a jumpring. After working through this, attach these rings to your chain links with a heavy concentration of clusters in the center of the necklace. I spaced clusters farther apart with smaller beads around the sides and back of necklace. Set aside about an hour and half to complete this necklace design. (this depends on how wire wrapping skill level) Of course numerous variations exist. Add other trinkets, charms or centerpieces. A monochromatic color combination would be very dramatic. I think I'll try this next. Give it a try and put those leftovers to good use.

Another addition to ohiobeads ever growing jewelry chain supply, this lightweight chain is excellent to use for necklaces and earrings. Layering this chain (like the picture) looks nice. You could mix and layer with beaded strands. Also, this chain would work well in many earring ideas. The antique copper finish will be a big hit for fall jewelry designs. And the silver gives a bright fresh look without the price tag of sterling silver. You can't go wrong at $1.97 per foot. Click here to see other new additions to our store.