San Francisco Bead and Design Show, Part III

Photo by Larry Sanders

If you have been reading the last few weeks you will be aware that the SF Bead and Design Show is taking place this weekend. To highlight the show, we have been running a series of mini-interviews with exhibitors in the show. You can read the past interviews here and here.

This week’s mini-interview is with Candice Wakumoto a Hawaiian resident who works in silver clay and is greatly inspired by the beauty of her surrounding.

KM – When and how did you start working with silver clay?

CW- I discovered silver clay approximately 10 years ago. My husband noticed an advertisement for a class at our local art academy. The teacher was from Japan and she had a workshop featuring silver clay. I was intrigued. A year later I took the workshop. It gave me an opportunity to check out this new medium. Everything since then has been self taught.

KM – How do your surroundings inspire your work?

CW- Hawaii’s natural beauty defintely influences my work. I love using foliage, insects and flowers as motifs.
KM – What other jewelers to you admire?

CW- One of my favorite jewelers is Barbara Bixby. I really admire her desgins, attention to detail and meticulous workmanship. I own several of her pieces.

KM- Are there any everyday objects or non-typical tools that you find indispensable in your work, and if so, how do you use them?

CW – I do use objects such as straws, dental tools, and clay tools. I find that the best everyday tools are my hands – whether it’s my fingertips to smooth a bump or the back of my fingernails to seal a join.

KM – Are there any new materials that you would like to try and work with?

CW – My next project is to add more color to my pieces. I have some things I found in Tucson that I have yet to try out.

You can visit Candice during the show at booth #B124 or contact her by email at [email protected].

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San Francisco Bead and Design Show, May 21 – 23, at Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market Street, San Francisco. 10-6, Fri-Sun, open to the public. More than 150 artists and merchants showcasing: handmade, antique, vintage and contemporary beads, gemstones, designer components, vintage findings, gold & silver, handmade jewelry, cloisonné, ceramics, wearable art, embellishments, textiles, hand dyed ribbons, art clothing, hand painted silks, millinery, embroideries, accessories, collectibles, antiquities, and objets d’art. Along with workshops in jewelry, clay, mixed media and bead making. For more information visit sfbeadanddesignshow.com.

There is a very fine line between Halloween jewellery that feels fun and festive, and Halloween jewellery that looks like you raided the costume aisle five minutes before leaving the house. I say this with love, because we have all been there. A pair of plastic spider earrings, a glow-in-the-dark necklace from the bottom of the party box, and suddenly we are less “autumnal handmade goddess” and more “school disco chaperone who tried very hard.”

But cute Halloween jewellery? Now that is where the magic happens.

These DIY Halloween jewellery ideas are for those of us who want to enjoy the season without going full haunted house. Think sweet little ghosts, pumpkins, bats, sugar skulls, sparkly beads, handmade pendants and playful pieces you can actually wear to school pickup, work, craft group, lunch with friends, or while handing out lollies at the door.

I love Halloween crafting because it gives us permission to be a little silly with our supplies. You can pull out the orange beads, the black wire, the googly eyes, the air-dry clay, the glittery bits you bought three years ago and absolutely swore you would use. And jewellery is such a lovely way to join in without decorating the entire house or committing to a full costume.

These cute DIY Halloween jewellery tutorials are perfect for beginners, tweens, teens, craft groups, handmade gifts, market makes, and anyone who loves a seasonal accessory with a bit of personality. Nothing too creepy, nothing too gory, just sweet handmade Halloween jewellery with charm.

Cute Ghost Earrings For Halloween

These little ghost earrings are a lovely place to start if you want something recognisably Halloween without being over the top. They are light-hearted, playful and would be sweet for tweens, teens, or anyone who likes a bit of seasonal fun without the fright factor. They would also make cute non-candy Halloween gifts for friends or grandkids.

Project link: Halloween Ghost Earring Tutorial

Tiny Ghost Stud Earrings

If dangling earrings are not your thing, these ghost stud earrings are a softer and more everyday-friendly version of Halloween jewellery. They are affordable, lightweight and cute enough to wear all through October without feeling like you are dressed for a costume party. I love this style for anyone who wants a subtle handmade Halloween accessory.

Project link: DIY Ghosts Halloween Stud Earrings

Pumpkin Wire Earrings

Pumpkin jewellery is my favourite “cute, not creepy” Halloween option because it works for autumn, harvest season and Halloween all at once. These CraftBits pumpkin wire earrings use simple jewellery supplies, including wire, small green beads, jump rings and earring hooks, and the tutorial notes they take about 15 minutes to make. They are cheerful, wearable and a great stash-busting project.

Project link: Jewelry Making – Pumpkin Wire Earrings

Easy Bat Pendant

A bat pendant can go very spooky very quickly, but this one keeps things simple and crafty. It uses cardstock, glue, nail polish, jump rings and a chain, which makes it a clever low-cost Halloween jewellery idea if you do not want to buy special supplies. I would wear this over a plain black top and call that my Halloween outfit sorted.

Project link: Make An Easy Bat Pendant

Googly Eyed Necklace

This googly eyed necklace is wonderfully ridiculous in the best possible way. It is not elegant, and it is not trying to be, which is exactly why it works. This is the sort of Halloween jewellery project that gets comments, makes kids laugh, and gives you a chance to use those googly eyes hiding in the craft drawer.

Project link: Googly Eyed Necklace

Sugar Skull Necklaces From Air Dry Clay

Sugar skull designs bring colour and detail to Halloween jewellery without leaning into anything too scary. This air-dry clay necklace idea is a lovely one for crafters who enjoy painting, decorating and adding their own little flourishes. It would also be a nice family craft if you want everyone to decorate their own pendant in different colours.

Project link: Sugar Skull Necklaces From Air Dry Clay

Hand Drawn Halloween Pendant

If you enjoy doodling, painting or mixed media crafts, this hand drawn Halloween pendant is a sweet way to turn tiny artwork into jewellery. The original project uses vintage paper, wooden shapes and waterproof ink, so it has that handmade storybook feeling rather than a plastic costume-shop look. You could make pumpkins, moons, black cats, stars, candy corn or little haunted houses and keep the colours as soft or bold as you like.

Project link: Hand Drawn Halloween Pendant Tutorial

Sparkly Halloween Crystal Necklace

For a prettier take on Halloween jewellery, this sparkly crystal necklace is a good reminder that seasonal pieces do not have to be novelty-only. A bit of black, orange, purple or smoky crystal can feel festive and still look grown-up. This would be lovely for someone who wants Halloween jewellery that works with a nice blouse rather than a costume cape.

Project link: Sparkly Halloween Necklace

Crochet Ghost Pin

This little crochet ghost pin is adorable, especially if you prefer yarn crafts over beads and wire. The CraftBits pattern uses small amounts of white worsted weight yarn, wiggle eyes, a pin backing and glue, making it a sweet scrap-yarn Halloween project. Pin it to a cardigan, tote bag, scarf or denim jacket for a soft handmade touch.

Project link: Crochet Ghost Pin

A Few Tips For Making Halloween Jewellery Look Cute, Not Creepy

The easiest way to keep DIY Halloween jewellery wearable is to soften the colour palette a little. Instead of only using harsh orange and black, try adding cream, soft gold, lilac, blush pink, pearl, smoky grey, mint green or copper. It still feels seasonal, but it looks more handmade and less party-store.

Scale also makes a big difference. Tiny ghosts, small pumpkins and dainty bats feel charming, while oversized skulls and dripping designs can become costume-heavy very quickly. Of course, if dramatic is your thing, go for it. But for everyday Halloween jewellery, smaller motifs are usually easier to wear.

You can also turn almost any Halloween craft into jewellery by thinking smaller. A tiny crochet ghost becomes a brooch. A mini clay pumpkin becomes a pendant. A painted wooden charm becomes earrings. That is the joy of jewellery making — you only need a small amount of supplies to make something with personality.

And honestly, handmade Halloween jewellery is one of those projects that feels extra satisfying because you can finish it quickly and wear it straight away. No waiting for a big quilt to be bound, no half-finished basket of shame glaring at you from the corner. Just a cute little pair of earrings or a pendant, ready for October.

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