Handmade Gifts For Him

Paracord Survival Bracelets

I wanted to share with you a few of the gifts I made for the guys this holiday. Now, I don't usually make them anything. Let's face it. It's kinda tough to make a guy a gift he might actually want, use or need. I don't know about you, but the boys in my life are a tough crowd. I like to make things. I like to give handmade gifts. I make jewelry, so the ladies in my life are all too easy, but the men are...well, not so easy. Until now, that is. Enter the Paracord Survival Bracelet. Hallelujah! Yep, I made those babies up there with a little help from this Etsy shop and this tutorial. I'm pretty excited about it. Finally, an accessory the guys might actually wear. What is Paracord, you ask? It's a parachute cord that is very strong and lightweight. The cord can hold up to 550 pounds and can be used for all sorts of outdoor activities and survival situations in the wilderness. It's long been used by military personnel and adventurer, outdoorsy types. The macrame-style bracelet allows one to carry several feet of this useful cord on their person at all times. If the cord is needed, simply take the bracelet apart to use it. These are all the rage right now and I'm on the bandwagon. A guy's accessory that's rough and rugged, multi-fuctional, looks cool, AND I can MAKE IT. Umm...Yes, Please!!! Oh, and they aren't just for the guys, either. I would totally sport one of these, too. Hopefully, for fashion reasons only.

 Dark Chocolate Pistachio Bark

Next up, dark chocolate pistachio bark with sea salt. YUM. This one's another all-around gift. Everyone on my list is getting some, but my guy inspired the idea. Josh LOVES pistachios and he loves dark chocolate. Put the two together and this is what you get. Super duper easy to make and package up to give. Who doesn't love an edible gift? And besides, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, anyways. Right? ;)

What are you giving the guys on your list this year? Are you giving handmade?

Rhinestone Leather Wrap Tutorial

I'm really excited to share my latest tutorial for Ornamentea.com! The Rhinestone Leather Wrap is my design for December. This is a great versatile piece that can be worn multiple ways. First, it can wrap 5 times around the wrist. Second, it can be worn as a long necklace and third, it can be worn as a double strand necklace. It's red and sparkly and perfect for the holiday season. A perfect accessory to wear to a party. There's still time to order supplies and this project whips up quickly. Click the photos or the link above to be taken to the free project on the Ornamentea website.

Rhinestone Leather Wrap

Erin Siegel

Ingredients:

24 Swarovski crystal dangles

1 yard of red 3/16” deerskinleather lace

2 brass fold-over ends

33 brass 5mm jump rings

1 brass 9mm spring clasp

Tools:

Scissors

Ruler

Pen

Chain nose pliers

Hole punch

1: Insert the leather lace into one fold over end and close with chain nose pliers. Attach the spring clasp to the fold over end as shown.

2: Lay the leather lace on the ruler. Use the pen to mark the center of the leather ¾” from the end of the fold over end. Mark the remaining leather every 1 ½”. Punch holes through all the marked places in the leather as shown.

3: Use 1 jump ring to string 1 crystal dangle and attach it to one hole in the leather lace as shown. Repeat 22 more times.

4: Trim the leather lace ¾” from the end. Insert the leather into one fold over end and close. Link 9 jump rings together to create a chain extender. Attach one end to the fold over end and attach the last crystal dangle to the other end as shown.

Resources: All materials and supplies from www.ornamentea.com

The Year In Jewelry 2012

The Year in Jewelry 2012

A collection of my favorite designs for each month of the year. The majority of these I have offered as online tutorials or free projects throughout the year. Enjoy the links!

January

Vintage Seed Bead Leather Bracelet

February

Sweet Slide Bracelet

March

Suddenly Spring Bracelet

April

Butterfly Bohemian Earrings

May

Wrapped, Stacked and Layered Bracelets

June

Gypsy Ways Necklace

July

Bohemian Knotted Earrings

August

Macrame Flower Bracelet

September

Knotted Friendship Bracelets

October

Crystal Blossom Necklace and Earrings

November

Bodhi Day Necklace

December

Fringy Pearls and Leather Earrings

Win Your Wish

 Ornamentea Win Your Wish Contest

Ornamentea started a fun contest called "Win Your Wish".  All you have to do is create a Wish List board on Pinterest.  Pin the image above, and tag it with #WinMyWish.  Visit www.ornamentea.com and start pinning classes, tutorials, tools and ingredients to your Wish List board and you could win one of your pins! Don't forget to tag all your pins with #WinMyWish so they can enter you to win! Visit www.ornamentea.com/WinMyWish.html to read all the rules and details. Good Luck and Get pinning! It's really fun to pin all the supplies and tools you wish you could put in your shopping cart.

Wanna see my wish list? Visit my Ornamentea Wish List Board to see what I've been pinning!

Spice Of Life Bracelet - Free Project

Spice Of Life Bracelet

Color is the spice of life! Use a rainbow of colorful Keith O'Connor ceramic beads to create an exciting bracelet full of fun.

Spice of Life Bracelet

Erin Siegel

 

Materials:

9 ceramic 12mm rounds (2 orange, 2 turquoise, 2 green, 2 purple and 1 pink)

9 Thai silver 7x10mm spiral charms

1 silver Greek ceramic 14mm flat chip bead

5 yards of charcoal grey 4ply Irish waxed linen cord

Tools:

Scissors

Ruler

Instructions:

1: Cut the cord in half. Find the center of the 2 pieces of linen cord and tie the 2 pieces together at the center point with a square knot. Continue tying square knots, one right after the other, until you have a knotted section 1½” long. Fold the knotted section in half and make an over hand knot at the base of the knotted section, creating a loop. You will now have 4 cords after the knot. Trim the ends of the cord even.

2: String the following, onto all four cords, tying an overhand knot after each: 1 green ceramic round, 1 spiral charm, 1 turquoise ceramic round, 1 spiral charm, 1 pink ceramic round, 1 spiral charm, 1 purple ceramic round, 1 spiral charm, 1 orange ceramic round, 1 spiral charm, 1 green ceramic round, 1 spiral charm, 1 turquoise ceramic round, 1 spiral charm, 1 orange ceramic round, 1 spiral charm, 1 purple ceramic round, 1 spiral charm.

3: Separate the cords in half and tie 3 square knots in a row. Bring the cords back together and string the Greek ceramic flat chip bead onto all four cords. Tie an overhand knot with all four cords together after the flat chip bead. Trim ends to ¼” and fray ends.

Resources:

Keith O'Connor ceramic rounds: The Beadin’Path. Thai silver spiral charms: Artbeads.com. Waxed linen cord: Ornamentea. Greek ceramic flat chip bead: Fire and Fibers.

Fringy Pearls and Leather Earrings - Free Project

Happy December, my friends!
Over the next couple of weeks, I will be posting some free jewelry projects. I hope you will enjoy them.

Fringy Pearls and Leather Earrings

I love the look of pearls and leather together. These earrings are quick and easy to make for gifts or for yourself. I also love how this earring project uses crimp cord ends in a unique way!

Fringy Pearls and Leather Earrings 

Erin Siegel 

Materials:  

12 silver 6mm potato fresh-water pearls 

2 copper 7x6mm rice fresh-water pearls 

2 antique silver-plated 12x6.5mm pewter crimp cord ends 

14 sterling silver 2” headpins 

6” of Black 2mm leather cord 

1 pair of sterling silver ear wires 

Tools:  

Wire cutters 

Chain nose pliers 

Round nose pliers 

Scissors

Instructions:  

1: Use 1 headpin to string 1 silver pearl; make a double wrapped loop, making sure to make a loop large enough to string onto the leather. Repeat 5 more times. Use 1 headpin to string 1 copper pearl; make a double wrapped loop, again, making sure that your loop in large enough to fit on the leather.  

2: Cut the leather piece in half. Using one 3” piece of leather, string 3 silver pearl dangles, the copper pearl dangle and 3 silver pearl dangles. 

3: Bring the leather ends together and insert them into the crimp end finding. Crimp the crimp end with chain nose pliers. Attach an ear wire to the loop of the crimp end finding. Repeat steps to make the second earring. 

Resources: 

Ear wires: Miss Fickle Media. Leather and crimp ends: Artbeads.com.

Belle Armoire Jewelry

"Bohemian Knotted Jewelry"

Belle Armoire Jewelry Winter 2012

I am so excited and thankful to have my work featured in Belle Armoire Jewelry. It's a real honor to be among the pages of this esteemed magazine! Belle Armoire is known for high quality, high-end art jewelry. Amazingly talented, distinguished jewelry artists have graced the pages of this publication. Some of them are fellow jewelry friends I have had the pleasure of meeting. Even though I am a published author of a successful jewelry-making book, I never thought I would see my work in Belle Armoire. I like to stay humble. It keeps me grounded :) Seriously, I just didn't consider what I do to be a "fit" for the magazine...I'm still not sure. I can imagine other jewelry designers may feel the same way as well. Don't be afraid to submit your creations, you may be surprised!

 

African-Inspired Cuff and Del Sol Bracelet

I thank editor, Cynthia Levens, from the bottom of my heart for extending out an invitation to me to submit my jewelry and giving me this opportunity. My article in the Winter issue entitled "Bohemian Knotted Jewelry" looks so beautiful. It's a very proud moment for me. I even had the photographer inquire about buying one of my pieces that appears in the article as well. I'm absolutely flattered. That is the first time a publishing staffer has ever wanted to purchase my work. She must see so, so many incredible pieces through her lens. To want one of my pieces? Well, that feels really great. She did a fantastic job with the photos of my jewelry in the magazine and the rest of the staff did a wonderful job putting it all together!

Bohemian Knotted Earrings Collection

 

For all those interested in learning more about my knot work, pick up a copy of the latest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry. You'll find step-by-step instructions for my Modern Bohemian Necklace, African-Inspired Cuff, Del Sol Bracelet and three pairs of earrings from my Bohemian Knotted Earrings Collection.

My friend and book co-author Lorelei also has a few jewelry pieces in this same issue. I'm so glad we are both a part of it together! Her pieces appear in the Boutique Gallery of Jewelry and they look awesome. Congrats, L!

 

  Belle Armoire Jewelry Winter 2012

On newsstands now!