Memory Wire Bracelet Tutorial, DIY



Finished memory wire bracelet by Mylana

Today, we are going to make a memory wire bracelet, which is not only a very easy project to complete, it is easy for anyone to wear. Memory wire bracelets wrap around the wrist and retract back to the original spiral form for a secure fit on any size wrist.

Tools and Materials

What you will need for this project:

Beads
Memory Wire
Flush Cutters (Side Cutters)
Flat Nosed Pliers
Charms (optional)




What is memory wire and where can I buy it?

Memory wire as sold

Memory wire is a special type of coiled wire that snaps back to its original size and shape. you can buy ring, bracelet, and necklace sizes. It is available at most craft and hobby stores or online at major jewelry making supply sites. Here in Murfreesboro, TN, you can purchase memory wire at Hobby Lobby under the brand name "Beadalon". It should cost 5.00 dollars or less.

Step 1:
Using your cutters, snip off 3-4 coils of memory wire. This type of wire is more difficult to cut than average types of wire.

Step 2:

Initial loop to begin project

Firmly grip the end of the coil with the flat nosed pliers and use force to twist the wire into one small, complete loop. Now, turn your pliers and squish the loop horizontally, so that it is flat and even, with no obvious protrusions. This will be the end of your bracelet. You can also opt to buy special end beads for your memory wire. These beads are only half-drilled and can be secured to your wire with special adhesive.

Step 3:
String your beads on the wire, allowing them to descend completely down the spiral to the loop you first formed. Continue until the bracelet is the desired length.

Step 4:
When you achieve your ideal length for the bracelet, slide the beads into place, with as little gap as possible and trim the wire 1/4 inch or a little less than 1 cm from the final bead. Take your flat nosed pliers and grab the end of the wire and twist inward, creating a loop exactly like the one you used to begin the project. Keep twisting until the loop meets the final bead, with a firm, flush finish. The beads should not slide or be loose. Turn the bracelet and apply horizontal force to your end loop, flattening any sharp ends or edges.

Optional:
Adorn the end loops with charms, drops, or dangles.

End loop with decorative dangle

Wear your new creation!!!



Mad Men Treasury From SaiSaiArts Wins Week 2 Team Challenge

TV Style Guide: Mad Men' by SaiSaiArts

Sleek and shiny finds from the Atomic Era.

Vintage Television - Ta... RecordWallets $37.50	Vintage Horn Rim and 12... CollectableSpe... $75.00	Vintage 1950s Hat // Th... FabGabs $54.00	Mad Men Silver Ombre Hi... tippleandsnack $29.99
Rockabilly Mad Men pink... boobookittycou... $100.00	Teal with Brown Polka D... PaperShell $20.00	Mid Century White Lamp ... robynivy $35.00	Cool 'Jake' Sti... HouseofNinesDe... $300.00
AM clock radio and MP3 ... MrERegal $275.00	Layered flower brooch n... PinksDesigns $35.00	Eye Shadow Mineral Make... MadisonStreetB... $2.50	Vintage 1950s Monarch B... rhan $29.00
All Natural Mineral Lip... ErzulieCosmeti... $5.00	Chair. Metal Chairs wit... jrpummel $305.50	Tulle Wedding Dress - B... ouma $840.00	classic graduated pearl... mrsjennifermar... $38.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

This week's winner is Maren Linn from Nashville! She makes hats, fascinators, and all manner of accessories that invoke old Hollywood glamour. Please see her shop here and follow the team discussion boards for the next challenge:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SaiSaiArts

lbdBoutique Is Spreading Holiday Cheer to the Troops

Robin, from Murfreesboro, is having a great new holiday promotion. According to Robin, "From now until December 7, 2011. Whenever anyone purchases anything from my shop, I will create and send a card to the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program, which provides Christmas cards to our troops, wounded soldiers, veterans, etc. Wanted to spread some love around, as the holidays can be especially lonely this time of year!"

Robin has 2 etsy shops:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/robinsnestpaper for cards and paper goods

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lbdboutique gourmet dog treats and pet goods.

Thanks, Robin, for this wonderful idea!

Little Black Dog Handmade Doggie Treats

Team Treasury Challenge Week 2, TV and Radio

Dandedesigns won our first team challenge. The goal of the treasury challenge is to find ways to showcase at least one member of the team and then find amazing content to publish in our blog. If you are interested in playing and having your treasury shown here, please visit the team discussion boards for this week's challenge: http://www.etsy.com/teams/5505/middle-tennessee-etsy-team/discuss/9252364/

Here are the rules for participating:
I will give the first theme and judge the first week. The winner then gets his or her treasury posted in the blog, along with a short bio about that shop.

The honor of thinking of a theme and judging then passes to the previous week's winner. At the end of the week, please notify Mylana who won and I will post the winning treasury in the blog and do a writeup. The challenge will always end on a Sunday.

-please include one team member in your treasury (you can either search the tag teamboro, or scroll through the members here until you find someone with an item you like)

-do not include your own items

-only comment once on the your treasury (the admin will not pick yours for the FP if the curator has multiple comments)

-share your treasury on FB or twitter if you like, and feel free to post it on the team FB

-link you treasury for the weekly challenge here, in this thread

-don't forget to tag your treasury "teamboro"

-have fun!

State of Mind- Weekly Team Treasury Challenge Winner

' State of Mind' by dandedesign

Stamped Location Love y... Serenitystorms $10.95	a word about KENTUCKY, ... hunterandsmile $16.00	Pennsylvania Love poppyandpineco... $20.00	St Louis Arch Plush - C... rileyconstruct... $30.00
AHeirloom's Florida... AHeirloom $40.00	love, new york / state ... hndswrkshp $15.00	2008 Hawaii State Quart... customcoinring... $29.95	CA State Travel Wall Ar... HopSkipJumpPap... $18.00
New Jersey - handmade w... OldNewAgain $42.00	Cake Topper Engraved Wo... braggingbags $24.99	Wood Teether Wisconsin ... littlesaplingt... $12.00	Michigan State Quarter ... customcoinring... $22.95
License Plate 1970'... RedScarfVintag... $24.99	Cincinnati Poster: Cin... birdAve $20.00	I heart Georgia. truche $55.00	Texas - Vintage Map of ... StoriesDivinat... $21.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

A Middle Tennessee Etsy Team Sale

Handmade Charm from TheMonkeyButtons

Becky, owner of TheMonkeyButtons, from Nashville TN, has been kind enough to organize a group of team members who are offering a 15% discount on handmade goods available online at Etsy.com. She makes wineglass charms and kitchen accessories from vintage buttons. Other shops on the list offer other products, such as, candles, jewelry, knit goods, children's hats, and more- all made right here in Middle Tennessee!

So, do your Holiday shopping from home this year, while supporting Middle Tenness artisans. The coupon code is "TEAMBORO". Our team includes members from all over, however, we originated in Murfreesboro, TN. The team mission is to support buying local and share the wonderful treasures of Tennessee. This includes promoting artists, businesses, and farmers.

How does the team coupon work? Simple, you can shop at any of the stores on the list online at Etsy.com and enter the code "TEAMBORO" at the end of the checkout proceedure. Look for a box where you enter a discount code. 15% of your total (before shipping) will then be deducted from your order!

Shopping is easy, too, and you have several options. First, you can identify the stores who are offering the team discount and see if they have an Etsy Mini advertisement on the right sidebar of this blog. Just click and connect to the store you like! You can also go to the Etsy home page and search the handmade category for the keyword "teamboro", if you see an item you like from one of the stores listed in the team coupon, you can proceed to that shop and buy any item from that store and use the discount code.

Happy shopping! Remember, many team members offer custom designed orders and free local pickup. Send a message on Etsy prior to buying to make arrangements. Thank you, Becky, for designing this great printable postcard. She made it in an easy-to-print jpeg format so that participating shops can print out the coupons to include in orders or take to local craft shows. If you are not on the list of participating shops, contact Becky and see her wonderful handmade shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/theMonkeyButtons

No-Measuring Sugar-Free Fruit Dessert in Microwave

Mylana's Sugar-Free Easy Dessert

Today I am going to share with you my super-simple, go-to recipe for a deliciously easy fruit cobbler dessert that is cooks in minutes, with no measuring, in the microwave! I am a type 1 diabetic and I count carbs, so I use artificial sweetners to make mine; however, you can use regular sugar as well. This recipe is great for college students who want homemade taste with microwave speed.

What you need:
Fruit (fresh, frozen, or canned)
Bisquick
Splenda/Sugar/Sweetner
Milk
Oil

First, I take the fruit and put it in a microwave safe dish and fill it up halfway in an even layer. If the fruit is frozen, like the mixed berries I used for the one in the picture, microwave the fruit for 4-6 minutes until you can spread it with a spatuala. Next, sprinkle a layer of sweetner or sugar on top of the fruit. You can go light on the sweetner and add more after serving.

Next, in a separate bowl, pour out an amount of bisquick that looks like about half of the fruit. Add a small splash of milk and stir. Keep adding milk in tiny amounts until the mixture is clumpy, but still dry. Start with a small splash of oil and stir. You want it to form into one large dough ball with the consistency of pie crust. I don't measure when I add the liquid, but it is about 2 parts milk and 1 part oil.

Now, flatten the dough ball into a 1/2 inch thick slab. Break off dumpling sized chunks and drop them on top of the fruit, arranging them evenly around the dish. Do not stir.

Finally, microwave the dish and the pastry dumplings will cook along with the hot fruit layer. When you dish this out into individual portions, you will have flaky dough with warm sweet fruit. Add more sweetner after serving if desired. Allow dessert to cool before covering and storing in the refridgerator, otherwise, condensation will form from steam and make your dumplings soggy.

Microwave times for the dessert after adding duplings:
Large pan: 10 minutes
Med pan: 8 mins
Small pan: 6 mins

If the dessert is not done to your liking after the recommended time, cook in additional 2 minute increments until it is done.

A tasty variation of this for the holidays is to use cranberry sauce as the fruit with some cinnamon and nutmeg. If you use cranberry sauce, it has plenty of sugar added to it during the canning process, so skip the added sweetners.