Famous Jewelry Collections: THE BEADING GEM'S JOURNAL

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

THE BEADING GEM'S JOURNAL

Posted: 30 May 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Leather has been really popular these days for jewelry making. There are a number of good reasons why leather is so cool to use for jewelry making. Firstly, it's not too blingy like crystals. It's also comfortable to wear and best of all, you could also consider recycling unloved leather belts, jackets and bags for some designs.

The leather cut-out statement necklace by Love Maegan is just stunning and yet easy to do. If you don't like the ribbon ties at the back, you could punch holes for jump rings and a regular clasp.

Precision cutting so not you? Then hop over to Erica's inkblot inspired leather and chain necklace tutorial over at Honestly WTF. It's her take on a Sachin + Babi design.

Even if you only have scraps of leather, you could still put together some of them as Kolleen did for her leather earrings tutorial. Using a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and textures is very effective.

The use of large crimp beads and strips of leather in Ornamentea's Leather Duster Earrings tutorial is highly imaginative.

The leather from old belts can be really thick so you could just make simple shapes from them as this jewelry set tutorial from Craftbits. Textured leather ones will make eye-catching focals. Also check out my own tutorial on how to make recycled jewelry from a leather belt.

Lauren at The Perfect Pear came up with this clever leather wrapped ring tutorial. It reminds me of the armature wire bangle design that I wrote about a while back. The leather will make wearing the ring very comfortable indeed.

If you are at your wits end trying to find a unisex style that guys like, try the easy leather and thread wrap bracelet tutorial by Flax and Twine. Anne made them for her nephew and sons.

Anne also has the beaded version with a leather core.

This super easy leather or really any kind of cord tutorial featuring a double length of chain is by Studs and Pearl. It was inspired by a high end bracelet - her way is simplified and quicker to do.