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Won't You C'mon In MY Kitchen.....
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This page will be devoted to teaching and learning a new jewelry skill, facts about the craft, and anything you might want to learn regarding jewelry. The very first topics I would like to cover are as follows: jewelry repairs simple enough to do yourself, and instructions on how to make those fabulous urban tiaras in the headgear section. If there is a topic you would like to see covered, please email me with your suggestions. I plan to update and change this page every few months , depending on how often I can get a photographer. STAY TUNED!!! Click on the "Show All" button to begin the 8 simple steps to a beautiful tiara.
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Things you will need...
The stuff Tiaras are made from...
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To start a tiara, you
will need beads,
wire, epoxy glue
(preferably 5 minute
epoxy), scissors, a
pair of pliers, and a
GOOD QUALITY
head comb. I often
use pieces of broken
jewelry, re-claimed
rhinestones and fabric
trimming as well.
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Wire Headcomb and jewelry wire...
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If you cannot get
these items at a
local crafts store,
write to me and I
can send you a
headcomb and some
wire for a nominal fee.
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Step 1
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Begin by cutting a
length of wire, 5 to
7 inches long,
then thread a
very small bead
about halfway up
the wire...
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Step 2
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Fold the wire in
half and slide a
bigger bead (with
a big enough hole)
up to the very small
bead. Repeat with
as many beads
as you would like
the tallest point
(the middle) of the
tiara to be. Start
short for your very
first tiara, as getting
the lengths right on
the tall ones can
require practice.
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Step 3
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Once you have
a few of these
prepared, take
the longest one
for the middle,
find the center
of the comb,
slide the 2 wire
ends over each
side of one of
the tines of the
comb. You can
see I added trim
to the base line
of my tiara. I did
this as a first step,
but since it is
optional, I left
it till here to show
you. I highly
recommend fabric trim
or winding beads
around the base
because it makes
the tiara look better
when finished, but it
IS optional.
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Step 4
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Next, you take
one free end
of the wire,
and wind it
around a tine
near where you
chose to place
your "doubled over"
wire with the beads
on it. Do the same
with the other free
end of wire. It is best
to use pliers for this
so you can pull the
wires tight. When
you have it wired on,
check to make sure the
beads are not able to move.
If they wobble, secure with
a few more turns of the wire
around the base line.
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Step 5
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Once you have
several of your
"doubled over"
strands of wire
(all nicely loaded
with beautiful beads
of course) all in place,
your tiara will start to
look like this. You need
to pay attention to
the lengths of these
strands to make
sure the tallest is
in the middle, with
progressively shorter
ones down the sides.
It's good now to give
some thought to the
shape of your tiara.
Soft, low and rounded?
Pointy at the top with
short sides? Try it on
and note that you
need to do this
frequently to keep
your shape right.
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Step 6
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Once you have all
your doubled over
wires (as many or
few as you want!),
firmly wired in place,
you need to trim the
excess wire to the
desired shape.
Scissors will cut the wire.
Try it on to double check
your shape and handiwork.
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Here is how it looks so far....
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Your tiara will look
something like this
by step 6.
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Step 7
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Mix EQUAL parts of
epoxy glue or follow
the directions if they
specify different
proportions. Mix
well, you have 5
minutes till the
glue sets, so
have a dish of
assorted beads
ready to slide onto
the wires you just
trimmed.
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Step 8
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Coat one wire
at a time with
epoxy, sliding
beads onto the
glue covered
wire.
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Finished!
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When you have
covered all the
wires and let the
glue set, it is
ready to wear!
Congratulations!
You now have your
very own hip, mod,
and totally unique
Urban Tiara!
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