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Showing posts from 2007

Book review: Celtic knot jewelry

Celtic Knots for Beaded Jewellery Suzen Millodot is the author of this gorgeous book. She has created jewelry from real three-dimensional Celtic knots, embellished with beads and pendants. Suzen demonstrates techniques such as button and braid knots, plaits and Turk’s Head knots and shows how to use them to make eighteen different projects, including necklaces, bracelets, rings, brooches and earrings. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Book Review: The Art of Jewelry ~ Wood

The Art of Jewelry: Wood I made this necklace all the way back in February, specifically for Terry Taylor’s new book on wood jewelry, published by Lark. It features vintage rulers and yardsticks, and little wood-related images and definitions from a vintage dictionary. When I received my contributor’s copy of this book, I was mesmerized…I never would have imagined all the different styles of wearables that can be achieved with wood. Carved wood, turned, inlaid, found objects, just on and on. The book is gorgeous, and I am extremely proud to have a project included in it! Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Artist Profile: Leah Hitchcock-Ybarra

  Artist: Leah Hitchcock-Ybarra Business name: Michon Location: Berkeley, CA Website & Blogs: Michon Designs Michon Design blog LeahMichon on myspace 365 Pendants Michon on Etsy How do you describe your work, Leah? My work is very freeform and has often been described as “organic”. I love pearls and flowing designs that have a natural looking assymetry. I would say my signature style is freeform pendants made from silver and pearls, but I also like to experiment with different materials and techniques. Besides pearls, I use a variety of semiprecious stones in my work, and I have a line of resin pendants with found objects embedded in them, as well as a line of picture pendants that incorporate images from my husband, Chris Ybarra’s, acrylic paintings. I chose Michon as my business name because it’s my middle name, and I’ve always liked it. I think I had named my business before I was even sure I wanted to have a jewelry business. What is your creative process like

Making a sparkling pin for the holidays

The pin shown below, Elegant Sparkles , is really easy to make, especially if you start with a pre-formed pin with drop loops. It’s certainly possible to fabricate your own pin, or to twist one up with sterling silver wire, but if time is limied and you’d like to make some fast a easy gifts for the holidays, starting with a pre-made pin form is NOT cheating. Really. It isn’t. I got my pin form from Rings & Things . Besides that, I used a couple of Bali silver beads, vintage rhinestone ball beads, and several different sizes of vintage crystals with an aurora borealis finish. You will also need silver-colored beading wire, size #1 and #2 silver crimps, and a couple of tools: wire cutters, flat nose pliers, and a ruler. That’s about it! 1. Cut 2 pieces of wire to 2 inches long each. Cut 2 pieces to 3 inches long each. Cut 1 piece to 4 inches long. 2. Attach each piece of wire to a drop loop using a #2 crimp. Fold the wire in half (or into unequal “halves” if you prefer), feed it

Artist Profile: Penny Purdie

My Name is Penny Mae Purdie and I live in Mackay, Queensland….Australia. At present I have one website,  Penny Purdie . My eldest son is working on another site for me, he is at Griffith University studying this very subject in Brisbane. Family and friends ask is there anything I haven’t tried when it comes to being creative with your hands. I have done alot of different things but the ones that have really clicked with me are Jewellery Making and Silk Painting. It started with Sewing then came Fabric Painting, Folk Art Painting, Decoupage, Paper Tole, Mosaic, Silk Painting (which is so stunning with its colours and feel), Glass and Ceramic Painting, then the greatest Jewellery. Never thought I would be a teacher though, after learning with my Silk Painting Teacher for more than a year she announced she was leaving town and wanted to know if I would take over the classes. My answer was no, that I could not see myself ever teaching, I just wasn’t confident enough. Then our kid

Book review: The Art of Bead Embroidery

The Art of Bead Embroidery I received my copy of The Art of Bead Embroidery , co-written by Heidi Kummli and Sherry Serafini, and I just immediately fell right into it. Honestly, I did not learn as much from this book as I have from several other embroidery books, but it was highly inspiring. I was intrigued by how much variation in looks can be achieved by the use of only a few different stitches. I was also inspired to think about adding fringe to some of my pieces…ok, well, probably not. I love the way Heidi and Sherry’s pieces look with all the fringe, but I am just not a fringe type of girl. I add fringe to almost nothing, and it’s pretty likely to stay that way. But boy, is it ever pretty! Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Making your own beads

Often times, the jewelry pieces that I admire most are the ones that use the artist’s own handmade beads. Nothing else will ever be exactly like that piece. If you want to make true one-of-a-kinds, you should probably think about learning to make your own beads and findings. We’ll just cover the beads today. Here’s a list of links to sites that cover lampworking, clay, paper, wire, and much more! Lampworking ~ the allure of the flame Schermobeads An excellently photographed introduction to the steps involved in making lampworked beads. Frequently Asked Questions All kinds of information about hot glass. Making Glass Beads by Cindy Jenkins Beads that are multicolored, grooved, feathered or foiled, and decorated with spots, dots, eyes, and stripes: no matter which of these designs in glass you choose, the results will be beautiful. Detailed instructions and magnificent photos, along with scores of valuable tips and tricks, guide you through an awesome array of techniques, making th

My favorite bead & jewelry forums

Here are a couple of wonderful online places to gather with other jewelry artists! You will find like-minded, similarly obsessed people to hang out with, trade tips, share sources, and swap stories. You have to register to participate at each one, but it is well worth it! It’s great to have lots and lots of bead and jewelry lovers to schmooze with! Jewelry Making at About.Com Friendly and knowledgeable, Tammy Powley guides this lively forum. Bead Art Forum Very personable and talented group. Lots of off-topic community building discussions. Bead and Button Forum Well organized forum with lots of talented and helpful members. Wet Canvas Wearable Art Forum Wonderful community with on-going projects, daily show and tell, and “wear” it’s at threads. Beadwork at About.com Nice community with some serious beaders! All About Beads Forum A friendly forum with lots of lively discussions. Creative Wire Jewelry Forum Learn how to give your designs that “extra something” here. Bead Collect

Artist Profile: Amy E Fraser

Artist: Amy E. Fraser Business Name: Exalted Beauty Website and blog: Amy E. Fraser Exalted Beauty How do you describe your work, Amy? I would describe the Exalted Beauty Medallions as exuberant, fun and funky, boldly beautiful with a charismatic personality, just like the Exalted Beauties who wear them!The name of my business was inspired by the beautiful women in my painting series entitled EXALTED BEAUTY. Each Exalted Beauty Medallion is an Amy E. Fraser One-Of-A-Kind Original sculpture. The medallions range in a wide variety of styles and techniques. They are hand painted with acrylic glazes or made with colored polymer clays that have been specially mixed with my *secret* formula, creating gorgeous luminescent color. Some medallions also contain added materials such as Swarovski crystals, glass, metal and seed beads, as well as archival prints (of my own work) and resin. Each Exalted Beauty Medallion collection has its own unique theme and style. The primary goal of

Making Champagne Bubbles

Champagne Bubbles Exactly how many strands and dangles you’ll put into your necklace will depend upon what type of beads you choose. Since my Lucite beads are from a vintage necklace, I can’t give you an exact count. But what I’d recommend is that you find a strand with graduated sizes, and use that as your base. To the base beads, add some sparkling facetted rounds or even Swarovski crystals if you’ve got the budget for them. I bought some clear facetted Czech glass rounds in 6mm and 3mm sizes. Here are the rest of the basics: 1. Cut as many stands of gold-colored beading wire as you desire. I used three. Crimp them to a soldered or split ring on one end, and hide the crimps under a gold crimp-cover . 2. Space the base beads out along the wires with a size #1 crimp on each side. Once you've got your beads spread out in a pleasing fashion, flatten each crimp with chain nose pliers to hold the beads in place. 3. Cut short strands of beading wire, from 3 to 4 inches

Seed bead suppliers

WhimBeads My favorite on-line sources… WhimBeads Delicas and other Japanese seed beads in all sizes, fancy shapes Empyrean Beads Many antique and vintage seed beads Kawahara Seed beads with dichroic coating ~ fantastic! FusionBeads Great selection of Japanese seed beads with quantity discounts. …and my favorite catalogs Rings and Things A huge selection of larger seed beads and mixtures Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Hi again!

I have enjoyed writing Beading Arts since 2005! If you're a new visitor, welcome! Come travel with me through a bead and jewelry wonderland, where no item is considered too strange to use in making something! Especially if that item has a hole in it. My constant cry as a young child was, “Please Mommy! Don’t throw that out. I can make something out of that!” No surprise that years later, it became the cry of my daughter as well (pictured above). It’s wonderful having a kindred spirit to share with. I hope that you each have someone in your life to share your passions with, and I hope that you’ll come and share them with me as well. If you enjoy Beading Arts, please feel free to also visit my other websites and blogs: Mazel Tov! Jewelry Treasures Wildest Dreams Designs Why Not Art Mixed Media Artist Real Food Fast!

Artist Profile: Kelly Alvarez Mace

Artist: Kelly Alvarez Mace Business Name: K. A. Mace Jewelry Location: Southern California Websites: K. A. Mace Jewelry Online store K. A. Mace Jewelry blog Etsy Shop Mindt Shop Indiepublic Profile How do you describe your work, Kelly? I focus on fine, handmade jewelry that is inspired by nature. My designs incorporate colors and textures from the beach, from local vineyards, from my hikes in the foothills. I love to work with colorful gemstones, and love to bring colors together in unexpected ways. I create thematic collections around specific inspirations, so my Ocean Treasures Collection focuses on lampwork sea creatures on strands of colorful gemstones and freshwater pearls. I want my jewelry to be fun, to be something that can be worn at work, for a speical event or at play, and my work transcends trends or demographics. I have teenage girls who wear my anklets, I have grandmothers who order my huge cocktail rings! I love that so many different kinds of people con

Artist Profile: Wendy Van Camp

Artist: Wendy Van Camp Location: Yorba Linda, CA Website & Blog: Indigoskye Bead Fashions Wendy, how do you describe your work? I am a jewelry artist. I wire wrap semi-precious stones and handmade art glass into women’s jewelry. My designs are unique but simple, jewelry that everyone can wear. When I was searching for a business name, I knew that I wanted to include the word “bead” in it since back then the search engines put much weight in the name of a webpage or a business. I also wanted a word that would be unique to me so that if people were googling me, it would be easy to find me. So I took two email handles that I was using at the time, indigo and skye, and put them together. The blue skies connotation seems to put a smile on my customer’s faces and the name stuck. I even answer to indigo or indigoskye on occasion! What is your creative process like? I start by going through my stash of stones and picking out combinations that appeal to me. Then I just put t

Book review: Enameling on Metal Clay

Enameling on Metal Clay My friend Pam East has written a new book on combining two great media into stunning jewelry pieces! I have to be honest here and tell you that I don’t work much with either medium, so I’m not really in a position to tell you whether or not this is a good book. But from the reviews that Pam has received, I’d have to say that people who do know what they’re talking about agree: Pam’s book is a good ‘un! So if you’re looking for the next step in jewelry making, this might just be it. From the publisher: Enameling adds a whole new dimension to metal-clay jewelry. The striking, exciting projects in this book range in skill level from beginner to advanced and include earrings, pendants, pins, beads, and a ring. A tools and materials section, as well as metal clay and enameling basics, introduces key supplies and techniques. Easy-to-follow step-by-step directions are illustrated with detailed photos, and tips, tricks, and troubleshooting help ensure success. Some proj

I'm baaaaaack!

Sleep deprived, pumped up, full of hope for the younger generation! And now I have two announcements instead of just one. First, the business announcement: I have accepted a position with b5Media to write their Jewelry & Beading blog ! I am extremely excited about this, because it will enable me to continue what I've been doing on this blog, but also to be able to do so much more. Artist profiles. More tutorials. Compile a library of basic techniques. Yay!! I hope that all of you who read this blog regularly (or even just from time to time) will visit and subscribe to the new blog. It will take me awhile to transfer content, and for the foreseeable future this blog will not be going anywhere. But I also won't be posting many new things to it either. Eventually, everything here which is worthwhile will be transferred to the new digs. And now for the second announcement, which I wasn't expecting to make just now: My son is getting married!!! Not that I'm particularl

A long weekend away

Once more, a small handful of crazy adults and a not-so-small handful of even crazier teens will be leaving the frozen northeast to travel to Ocean City Maryland, where it's not quite so frozen. But it's not exactly warm either! We're going to Winterfest, our annual youth conference. My daughter is coming home from college tonight to go as well, as a chaperone. Her second year in this position :-) When I get back, early next week, I expect to be making a HUGE announcement! Stay tuned...

Close up of "Dreaming of Spring"

I sent "Dreaming of Spring" off yesterday as a submission for the new Altered Couture special issue that Belle Armoire is planning. The deadline for entries isn't until June 15, so you've got plenty of time to think about it and plan your entry! Don't let me do this all alone :-) Anyway, when I finished embellishing the brim of this vintage hat, it still seemed to be missing something. And there it was, sitting right on my work table, waiting...this cute little vintage rhinestone bee pin. I had already come up with the name I wanted to use, "Dreaming of Spring". Obviously the name was referring to the bee...I just hadn't quite figured it out yet! Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , mixed media

"Native Dance" has come home

Native Dance Native Dance was in my mailbox yesterday. This piece is supposedly going to be in the "Altered Couture" section of the next issue of Belle Armoire Magazine . Publishing schedules can change rapidly, however, so I can't swear to it! When I think about the logistics of putting together issue after issue of a popular magazine, it makes me so happy that I just write for them instead of edit or publish them :-) Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media

Shows sponsored by BeadWork & Lapidary Journal

Many new shows have been added to the powerhouse lineup of shows sponsored by BeadWork, Lapidary Journal, and Step by Step. Check out the locations and dates here .

Call for entries: Altered Couture

"Dreaming of Spring" I finished embellishing a vintage hat last night that I'm going to send off to Belle Armoire Magazine . Maybe I'll wear it for awhile first! From their website: Altered Couture (Volume 3!) (Newsstand Date: November 1, 2007) A hand-me-down sweater … a raggedy old skirt from the thrift store … a plain T-shirt … Using just a few tools coupled with your creativity, all of these items can be transformed into fantastic works of wearable art! The publisher of Belle Armoire and Somerset Studio invites you to submit your own altered and embellished clothing and accessories to be considered for the third volume of this exciting publication. Chapters will include Skirts & Dresses, Pants & Overalls, Jackets & Vests, Shirts & Tops, Children’s Wear, Sassy Shoes, and Accessories. Deadline for artwork to be received: June 15, 2007. Please read submission guidelines before sending your submissions to: Stampington &

The Enamelist Society

I haven't done any work with enamels since those little projects that we used to do in Girl Scouts so many years ago. Do you remember the little copper shapes and how you'd lay some enamel frit on them and they'd be fired for you? It was fun, but it never captured my imagination. However, seeing works like this by David C Freda , leaves me in awe! You can find a link to David's site on the website of the Enamelist Society . Enjoy browsing some or all of the members' galleries! Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media