Beads, Baubles & Jewels: Jewelry Workout

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In each episode, we’ll warm up with new techniques. Then, we’ll give metals, leather, wire, enamel and other materials a real workout. And we’ll cool down with clay, resin and other materials.

Episode 1: Vary Your Routine

Mix up your jewelry-making routine. Designer Kate Richbourg warms up by mixing colors and shapes in her bead palettes. She works out her designs with beads of all sorts. Then, she cools things down with techniques for crimping and creatively finishing necklaces.

Episode 2: Clay Workout

Stretch it out with clay. Polymer clay artist Syndee Holt creates a pendant with sparkle clay and adds an artistic touch with transfers and illustrations. To make a necklace, she recreates the Asian art of raku with clay and mica powders. Jewelry artist Anie Piliguian buffs clay elements to a sparkling finish.

Episode 3: Work Out Naturally

Look to nature for design inspiration. Using quartz points, designer Molly Schaller creates stunning necklaces and other jewelry. To work out, she makes jewelry from pearls in all shapes, colors and sizes. Artist Jill MacKay cools down with designs in die-cut leather. Katie Hacker discusses how bead-making can benefit children facing health challenges.

Episode 4: Get in Shape with Leather

Shape up with leather. Mixed media artist Candie Cooper transforms leather into contemporary jewelry designs with paint, tassels and found objects. Then, she works out by painting leather cuffs and adding druzy beads. She cools down with super-simple designs to make an wear anytime – anywhere.

Episode 5: Wired Routines

Wire up your jewelry-making routine. Designer Wyatt White coaches you as he uses braided wire to make a trendy bangle bracelet. In the workout, he adds energy and interest to a stylish cuff with beads. He winds down with a cool tool for weaving colorful wire bracelets.

Episode 6: Mix Up Your Daily Schedule

Get out of the design rut and mix things up. Artist Anne Potter transforms recycled tea tins into fashionable earrings. Then, she gives tips on hosting a jewelry party so you can work out design ideas with friends. Cool down as clay sculptor Syndee Holt creates colorful seascapes on polymer clay pendants.

Episode 7: Enamel Training

Add new materials to your training routine. Teacher and designer Steven James warms up by forming wire into words and coating them with enamel. In the work out, he adds water and salt to traditional enameling techniques for fabulous results. Mixed media artist Susan Lenart ices things down by adding foil and glitter to resin to create druzy designs.

Episode 8: Tool Workout

Add power to your design with new tool techniques. Host and designer Katie Hacker shows how she uses her favorite tools to make cold connections. Teacher Kate Richbourg gives her metalworking skills a work out with saws, shears and hammers. Then, she cools off with the right tools and techniques for professionally finishing metalwork jewelry.

Episode 9: Bodybuilding with Resin

Bulk up your jewelry design skills. Designer Susan Lenart warms up and works out by adding tints, glitter, graphics and bits of nature to layers of resin. She adds feathers, leather, threads and wires to create organic jewelry designs. Ana Piliguian cools downs by polishing resin elements to create high-gloss finishes.

Episode 10: Leather Workout

Give your leather designs a real workout. Jewelry designer Katie Hacker warms up by creating a choker necklace with beads and leather cord. Jewelry-maker Jill MacKay cuts leather shapes and adds stamps, paint and beads. Then, she cools down by adding metallic effects to leather motifs.

Episode 11: Get Connected to Fitness

Connect your designs in new ways. Warm up as host Katie Hacker designs with colorful stones. She adds beads and metal spacers to enhance the stone elements in necklaces. Author Lisa Crone works out with memory wire to create a sparkling necklace. Then, she cools down by making matching earrings.

Episode 12: Shape Up

Bend it, twist it, shape it, wear it. Jewelry designer Sandra Lupo warms up by bending and shaping sheet metal with a tool she invented. Then, she enhances the designs with patterns, texture and color. Host and designer Katie Hacker make a quick and easy charm bracelet to cool down.

Episode 13: Beading Fitness Routine

Check your beading fitness. Jewelry design Molly Schaller jump starts her designs by mixing matte and glossy beads. Polishing expert Anie Piliguian buffs matte beads to a high-gloss finish. Then, designer Katie Hacker cools down with ideas for using different types of leather cord and creates a jewelry bail to customize a pendant.