The Heart of the Hive

Hey Crafty Makers! Earrings: the MVP of the jewelry world. Seriously—surveys say they’re the most-bought accessory out there. Why? Well, I’ve got some unscientific guesses: They're easy on the wallet They instantly jazz up whatever you're wearing They show up loud and proud in the mirror (hello, instant face-framing fabulousness) And sometimes, life just needs a new pair—post-haircut, new outfit, random Tuesday… you get it! The good news? You don’t need a shopping spree to get that earring high. With just a few basic tools and  supplies, you can DIY your way to earring heaven. Let’s dive in. Tools You'll Need Making earrings doesn’t require a ton of tools—just a few basics to get started. Here’s what I recommend: Chain nose pliers – great for gripping and opening/closing jump rings and loops Round nose pliers – essential for creating loops in your wire. Flush cutters – to cleanly trim excess wire. If you find yourself getting hooked (pun totally int...

Hey Crafty Friends!  I wanted to share how I organize my bead stash—it's something that comes up a lot in bead groups, especially when folks realize just how fast their collection can grow! After years of trying (and failing) with jars and bags, I finally found a system that’s worked for me for about 15 years now. My main goals were: ✅ To be able to see what I have ✅ To access things quickly—without having to dig through stuff every time I start a project. Here’s what I landed on: clear plastic tubes paired with acrylic makeup chests . It’s simple, affordable, and easy to maintain. The clear drawers and tubes mean I can find what I need at a glance , and labeling makes the process even smoother.  Please note I'm not an affiliate for any of the products listed - I truly love them for my own use! 🗂 How I Sort and Label: I don’t usually label the beads themselves (unless it’s a gemstone I want to remember—then I just slip the tag into the tube). Instead, I label the drawe...