Unique Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Crafty Friends & Family
The holiday gift giving season is soon upon us! I thought I would share a list of beady projects that might inspire a few gift ideas. With an early order, you can begin crossing names off your gifting list!
Let me get philosophical for a moment. Working with one’s hands is critical to humans – for dexterity and flexibility, but also because the act of creating is within each of us. It’s human creativity that has spurred the arts, as well as faculties of engineering, architecture, and so on. This YouTube interview of Renate Hiller, as co-director of the Fiber Craft Studio at the Threefold Educational Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY., conveys the capacity of the act of creating, so humbly, so beautifully. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
TierraCast – closing its doors so shop soon!
The TierraCast Collection is a premium line of metal findings, buttons, toggle closures, beads/spacers, and charms. As the manufacturer will be closing its doors soon, it’s worth a look for that special, one-of-a-kind piece.
The TierraCast lotus flower is sweet, and with only a split ring and earring wires, voila, once again a lovely kit for gift giving. (The lotus shape also comes in a bead.)
It is stocked in gold, silver plated, and brass oxide.
Speaking of buttons, the 16.5mm, 1 ¼” Amor antique silver button by TierraCast is lovely and perfect for the seamstress or sweater knitter in your circle. A collection of six would be a lovely gift!
Around $10 - $15
Pair antique, plated brass bead caps with brass ear wires (or choose copper, silver, or gold bead cap and ear wire varieties) for a make-it-yourself gift that is sure to be treasured for years. Add a top-quality round bead from a wide range of choices!
To put a kit together you’d need to add a small bead from your stash, head pins or eye pins, and a jump ring. If it’s for a special young person who doesn’t yet own jewellery pliers, you could select from our selection for a fabulous gift that might just jump start a lifelong hobby!
Around $20 - $35
The Sunshine Dreams bracelet kit features TierraCast toggles and comes with instructions and everything needed (other than tools) to complete this project. Choose from Tranquil Turquoise, Relaxed Red, and Serene Sunshine
This antique silver TierraCast bail, “Legend,” is a perfect start to a necklace.
Pair it with a faceted Swarowski drop, rattail or leather cording and clasp (you’ll also need a jump ring, and wow! A stunning – and easy – necklace for that special someone to make.
Miyuki, a top quality Japanese bead supplier, offers amazing ring kits.
We also stock a couple of Miyuki brand’s super cute cell phone charm straps.
$40 and up
Beading looms and loom kits – a perennial favourite – find them at these links:
Rick’s Beading Loom ($43 - $70) and looming kits (~ $27)
LoomEEZ Japanese loom and kit, all in one for under $30!
The Beading Room has tons of kits – check out the link to find earrings, bracelets, necklaces, beaded charms, kumihimo braiding, and soutache work!! Prices range between an affordable $7 and $44.
Ideas Abound!!
Necklaces, bracelets, neck collars, earrings, brooches…even beaded rings – the variety of projects available today are astounding. To help you narrow down options, or to get super inspired by possibility, check out these complimentary resources, courtesy of our bead wholesalers, as well as the patterns offered for sale by the world’s top bead designers.
Check out John Bead Corporation’s free patterns, or join the company FB page to see what other beaders are up to.
Check out Preciosa Ornela’s complimentary project pages too.
And then there are the many bead designers featured on our blog. If you’d love to gift a unique pattern, from one of the top bead designers in the world, check out the blogs and the profiled artists’ websites, Etsy shops, or FB page to source a tutorial for that discriminating person on your list…they will be so impressed by your astute gift giving skills!
And when imagination fails us, or choices confuse us, gift cards are always appreciated for a personalized shopping experience!
Until next month, my beady buddies, Cathy