Blog

Jangle Dangles

I have been working hard recently to get together some kumihimo designs using the square plate. Over the last year I have had many requests for such designs, but I have been kept so busy with designs for the disk that I just could not find the time. However, it has come clear to me through discussions with fellow designers …

Hedgerow Harvest kumihimo tutorial

The latest issue of Beads & Beyond magazine is now out in the shops and one of my tutorials has found its way between the covers! I thought it might be interesting to talk through the process of getting a design into print. I have been contributing to the magazine since 2010, so I have a good track record, but …

New Facebook Page

I have just created a new facebook page at the request of Jewellery Maker. The name is JM Guest Designer Pru McRae and its purpose is to make it easier for viewers and designers to interact. It was a great opportunity for me to go back through all the designs I have made for the shows since I started in …

Kissing Dragons!

One of the great joys of designing jewellery is seeing what other people make with my designs. Everyone adds their own touch and the design takes on a life of its own. I am seeing this process go one step further with Jamie North’s wonderful Kissing Dragons bracelet. She has sourced some adorable dragon clasps, which not only add character …

Rosary Chain

The technique of making up a chain using small beads and wrapped loops is often known as rosary chain. It is a great technique and not difficult to master. However, it is also possible to buy it ready made, especially with gemstones and sterling silver. The advantage of the ready made chain is that the links tend to be particularly …

Classic Black and Gold

  It has taken me a while for me to get this done, but here it is at last, the instructions for the designs for the first kit from the Jewellery Maker show on 20.8.14. I hope people will find them useful. I have had a lot of interest in the bracelet and I would like to point out that …

Weighty Matter

If you saw the show on Jewellery Maker yesterday you may have heard the presenter, Jenny, asking me about my kumihimo weight. (If you didn’t see it you can catch it on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvycRYQHRN0&list=PLQuBtZVUc_n3ke3HlWItBuZurAw5k5lr1&index=5). I am not allowed to advertise other products on the show, so I thought I would supply the rest of the information here. I would highly recommend …

Amazing Labradorite

This is a little glimpse of one of the stones I have been working with for my next appearance on Jewellery Maker. If you watch the shows you will know that Labradorite is very popular. In fact it has been voted the favourite gemstone by viewers. However, you will also hear the presenters lament how difficult it is to show …

Geometric Kumihimo

  This is the latest issue of Digital Beading and my Geometric Bracelet can be found in it. This is the first time I have had a tutorial published which is made using the Kumihimo square plate. Over the last year I have had lots of requests for tutorials using the plate, but I have found myself busy enough just …

Kumi-cabs 2

Here it is at last! This is the second tutorial in the series of hybrid designs, combining the best of kumihimo, bead embroidery and a hint of soutache. This is the first tutorial I have published which uses the kumihimo square plate instead of the disk. I have been asked many times for some plate tutorials, but I have found …