ABC's of Creativity - X is eXtra

Whether you are working on a personal project for yourself, a special commission for a customer or a gift for someone special you can create a piece that is just ordinary or give it something eXtra special.

Here are some way in which beaders have added that something eXtra.

The addition of this beautiful heart shaped closure makes this piece a wonderful necklace as an anniversary design for the 25th fall Creativ festival in 2012.

Chic Chevron Collar, beaded by J. Woolverton

Crafting your own closure will ensure that your piece is one of a kind. Here Kathy Foernzler not only added her handcrafted closure but also the added sparkle of Swarovski dangles.

Beaded by K. Foernzler

What to do with those few beads remaining at the end of a design? Here a dangle is add to this fire-polish crystal and pearl Little Black Necklace, it is the finishing touch.

Beaded by J. Woolverton

Here again I had one left over stone ring, the dangle echoes the pattern of the necklace.

Sodalite Necklace, beaded by J. Woolverton

This piece was commissioned by a young lady for her graduation. The classic netted collar has the eXtra special addition of a looped edge and the simple chain (as an extender) with a loop on the end. 

Looped Net Collar, beaded by J. Woolverton

For this project I wanted to have a versatile necklace. It is long enough to use for wear a badge at a show. It can also be wrapped twice around my neck to become chocker length. The Swaroski crystal cubes and focal closure are the star of the design. They are front and centre when wearing as a chocker. They are to one side when wearing a long badge holder.

Diagonal Weave, beaded by J. Woolverton

Here is another eXtra special versatile design. It can worn with or without the pendant. For this vintage lucite project I wanted to use as many of the beads I was given as possible. 

Beaded by J. Woolverton

Another way to add that eXtra something to project to to make it a set, with either earrings or a bracelet.

When my co-worker, Carrie, was leaving our branch I wanted to make her something special. Using Rose Alabaster bicone I made this scalloped lace necklace as seen in the December 2008 Bead & Button magazine. There was no earrings with the original project, but I wanted to have a complete set to give Carrie. A pattern for another designer worked well with the necklace.

Scalloped lace & earrings, beaded by J. Woolverton

Here Maria's Netted X's and O's collar has the added eXtra earrings for a complete set.

Beaded by M. Rypan

I had to resize a necklace I had made a few years earlier for a friend. I remade a smaller String Quartet collar, as designed by Melanie Potter. With the left over beads I made a bracelet that matched the clusters of pearls in the necklace. My friend was surprised by the eXtra bracelet when I returned the necklace.

String Quartet, beaded by J. Woolverton

Quarted bracelet, beaded by J. Woolverton

I hope that you will be inspired to add that eXtra special touch to a project. 

Happy Beading!