Abigails Crafts bookstore

undersea

"Undersea Tawashi Collection"

6 patterns, $4.50

flowers

"3 Flower Tawashi"

3 patterns, $3.50

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How to make striped or patterned friendship bands

In a recent post, we learned how to fingerweave friendship bands in diagonal stripe and chevron patterns. Today, lets look at how we can make lengthwise stripes, checks, and other designs.

To make diagonal stripes and chevrons, each strand in the design took a turn at being the ‘working’ strand, which the other strands were [...]

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How to fingerweave friendship bracelets

I remember making tons of these when I was in secondary school! The technique for making these colourful friendship bands is called fingerweaving, although more accurately it is a form of macrame as the fabric is formed by tying knots. A variety of different designs can be made using just two basic knots (well technically [...]

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How to make a 4-strand round leather braid

Hurrah, I have air conditioning! Now that my flat is actually cool enough to live in, it’s back to business as usual

Today I’d like to show you how to make a four-strand round braid. This braid can be worked in one colour, or you can use up to four colours and change the [...]

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How to wire-wrap stones

Wire-wrapping is the technique of using wire to make decorative mounts for gemstones, beads, shells, and so on, to make jewelry. Not only does this mean you can make jewelry from non-drilled items, but the wrap itself can be a very attractive part of the finished object. Using different wraps, different metals and shapes of [...]

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How to do hana-ami Japanese beading – Sunflower charm

Japanese beadwork uses two main techniques to make 3d objects from beads, popular as charms, pendants, and rings. Hachinoji-ami, named because the thread forms figure eights (hachi=eight), is closely related to Right Angle Weave. Hana-ami (flower weave) is a form of triangular weave used to make bead flowers and to start and finish spherical or [...]

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How to make terrarium jewellery – plants you can wear!

The other day I came across a feature on a jewellery maker who makes miniature models of terrariums as jewellery, which got me thinking, wouldn’t it be cool to make some real terrarium jewellery?

I have whole lot of plastic ‘test tubes’ which the 100-yen shop sells glass beads in, and lots and lots of [...]

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Wire-wrapping feathers – necklace and hairband fascinator

Today I’d like to show you a simple wire-wrap technique you can use to make stunning feather earrings, feather necklaces, and dramatic feather fascinators.

You can work with feathers bought inexpensively – dyed duck eye feathers can look particularly dramatic – or work with found feathers or feathers shed by a pet bird. The feathers [...]

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Making polyclay canes – Hydrangea Brooch

A couple of weeks ago, we looked at the basics of making polyclay canes, and made spiral beads. Today, I’d like to show you how to construct a somewhat more complex cane, and put the slices together to make a hydrangea brooch.

Ajisai, or hydrangea, are a symbol of early summer here in Japan, coming [...]

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One way to get lots of interesting effects with polyclay, to make small patterns, lots of similar beads, or many small designs you can put together for a millefiori effect, is to make polyclay canes.

Polyclay canes are made in the same way as seaside rock – strips, tubes and shapes of clay are laid [...]

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How to Make Beaded Flowers - Violet

On Monday, we learned how to make beaded rings. Today, lets embellish those rings by making beaded flowers. Beaded flowers are very pretty and delicate, and can also be used for all kinds of jewelry, or as ornaments. I’ve chosen a violet for this bead flower tutorial, as it involves teaching you two different techniques [...]

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