Beading Arts

  Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi takes classes with Swarovski Elements Ambassadors and finally learns how to crochet. Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva It's fall and along with it comes a gray sky in the form of jewelry.   Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Rotting veggies and over ripe fruit makes for bead inspiration and a delicious muffin recipe! Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio A little antiquing adventure, and Lorelei's got some cool new props for an upcoming craft show!   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean reviewed a unique and very beautiful book: Metal Clay Origami Jewelry, by Sarah Jayne Cole. Please come and see the review on Jean's blog!   The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Beadaholique has generously donated a leafy assortment of autumn-inspired beads and components. Find out how you can win this Thursday Giveaway!   About.com Jewelry Making Tammy has a few new projects incorporating pewt...

Transcendence Artist: Holly Kline Business name: Irrepressible Styles Location: Marlton, NJ Website: Irrepressible Styles Child's Play Holly, how do you describe your work? I'm often told that my pieces push the edge without becoming gaudy or being overdone. I design from a natural, organic perspective and really take a lot of inspiration from the elements, the earth around me, different times, Goddesses, and historical figures I admire. I like colors to catch the eye and keep it moving. I want you to feel the piece you're wearing, to keep seeing more in it as time goes on. Jewelry should be an expression of the spirit. What is your creative process like? I keep all my beads out in clear containers so I can see them, and I keep searching for color combinations that speak to me. Often I find the focal piece and just build around it until I've reached "the end". I keep track of fashion magazines and decorating magazines to trac...

  Helen Breil We've seen some really wonderful polymer clay artists this month, and I don't want you to forget about some of our old favorites!  There are full-length artist profiles with each of these fabulous people: Amy E Fraser Heather Powers CA Therien Helen Breil Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

The 2011 Bead Journal Project will run from January 2011 through December 2011. Registration will begin November 8, 2010 and close on December 8, 2010. All the project information is available on the BJP website .  If you’d like to register, please send a request to our registration angel at beadjournalreg11 @ gmail.com (remove the spaces). The brain child of internationally known bead artist Robin Atkins, the first Bead Journal Project, which began in June of 2007, included 241 women and 1 man from 13 different countries, who were dedicated and committed to creating 12 bead journal "pages", one per month, for a year. The BJP is about your personal development through visual journaling using any media and techniques you desire, providing each journal piece includes some beading (usually bead embroidery) and all 12 pieces are the same size. Rules are minimal: the commitment you are making is to yourself and your personal growth through art. Special BJP blogs are used a...

  Julia Pretl's Big Book of Beadwork: 32 Projects for Adventurous Beaders by Julia S Pretl Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders 2 by Irina Miech Beading: 200 Q&A: Questions Answered on Everything from Basic Stitches to Finishing Touches by Dorothy Wood and Ashley Wood Making Jewelry from Polymer Clay by Sophie Arzalier Classic Chain Mail Jewelry: A treasury of weaves by Sue Ripsch Lark Studio Series: Pendants by Ray Hemachandra 30-Minute Necklaces: 60 Quick & Creative Projects for Jeweler s by Marthe Le Van Twentieth-century Jewellery: From Art Nouveau to Comtemporary Design in Europe and the United States by Alba Cappellieri The New Encyclopedia of Jewelry-Making Techniques: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques by Jinks McGrath Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

I finished this piece by first adding the needed hardware (two hammered silver loops) and then stitching on the backing fabric.  I used the edging brick stitch that you'll find in the free first chapter of my e-book, Every Bead Has a Story .  I alternated jet-colored glass beads with picots around the outside.  At first I thought the black beads might be real jet, but alas, they are glass.  Still nice, though, and vintage! Finally, I salvaged the chain from the falling-apart purse that Jean gave me, the same one that the steel seed beads came from.  I added a Bali silver clasp set to either end. Part one Part two Part three FREE e-BOOK CHAPTER Copyright 2010 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry...

A carpet of leaves covers everything!  Because of our hot dry summer, the leaves are turning brilliant colors and immediately falling off the trees.  I'm afraid that we just won't get our usual scarlet - orange - yellow display that we live for each year here in New England.  My Bead Journal Project cuff bracelet attempts to celebrate the gorgeous leaves underfoot, even though I'd rather have them overhead!   Previous pieces: January February March April May June July August September Here are the instructions for how I am making these bracelets. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

You all know Cindy Lietz as the Polymer Clay Tutor .   Well, Cindy has shared about her journey to artistry and mastery over this fabulous jewelry-making material! Way back about 15 yrs ago, I found myself very frustrated with the process of learning how to work with polymer clay. There were few books or classes available, and nothing on the Internet to learn from. So I did what most everyone else did at the time, and used trial and error to guide me. Having been a Mixed Media Art Instructor for many years, I knew that if I was finding it tricky to make professional looking polymer clay beads, then there were probably many others who were having trouble as well. Having seen some beatuiful beads done by one of the pioneers of polymer clay, Donna Kato, I knew it could be done. It was just a matter of figuring things out. After making my fair share of mistakes, I discovered that it really is not that difficult to work with polymer clay. There are just a few secrets you nee...

  Barbe Saint John Barbe 's finally a Cover Girl! Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi whips up a new necklace with a "Day of the Dead" theme. Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva It's time to get educated and Cindy provides some stats along with rainbows. Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Check out the goodies Melanie found at an antique mall...What would you craft with these items that are full of history?   Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei is teaming up with designer Erin Siegel, to write their first beading book! Come on over and learn how you can sign up to submit work for the book!   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean has contributed a one of a kind jewelry piece which she made to help raise funds for Andrew Thornton's medical bills. She is delighted to help, on behalf of her family. Please come and see the piece and consider bidding. Thanks so much! The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton ...

I was so thrilled that Ann was able to share her work with us.  Not only does she make gorgeous wearables, but she has also pushed the boundaries of polymer clay in other mixed media art pursuits.  Wait till you read just what Ann does with her artwork:   Art connects me to my spiritual center, and the greater Mystery of the universe. I treasure beauty (in nature and art and all it’s forms) as a gift that infuses my life with meaning, joy, wonder and gratitude. By creating art, I work to bring more beauty into the world, in hopes of sharing these gifts with others. I created Mystic Dreamer: Art for the Earth as a service project, to donate 100% of proceeds to the World Land Trust as a way of giving back to the Earth. My deepest hope is that my art will inspire others to bring their gifts of service into the world. I discovered polymer clay in early 2008, and have found it a compelling and amazingly versatile medium. I have created well over 200 pieces in the la...

Virtuous Adornment is a fun-filled and colorful etsy shop run by Kristin Hipple .  You just can't help but smile when you see Kristin's work.  She explains why that is: I have a love for sculpting with polymer clay.  I also make non clay jewelry, but I have to say my clay work represents me more accurately. I make lots of different items but mostly miniature food themed beads and sculptures. I like this media because I can offer my customers a custom item and not just a pre-made idea, their own ideas. And it helps me to broaden my skills to make something I didn't imagine myself.    I have been doing this kind of work for about 10 yrs and hope I will have my own shop someday. Making clay beads in the forms of donuts and cakes and chocolate is so whimsical and fun and really makes everyone giggle when then stop to stare at them. I think it is a compliment when people have a laugh at my work. It just means they like what I do. I have always had a hard tim...

I get a lot out of reading the blog All Freelance Writing .  Ringleader Jenn Mattern is the one who inspired me to finally get going on the e-book, Every Bead Has a Story , that I'd been thinking about for years.  Except that I hadn't really been considering doing it as an e-book until I started reading her blog regularly. Jenn has a whole stable of brilliant (and funny) friends who write with her.  One of the topics that they cover is writing for magazines.  I've previously posted a list (which may need some updating at this point) of submission guidelines for many beading and jewelry magazines .  Before you launch into pitching your new project to any of the magazines on this list, I would suggest that you read through these posts on All Freelance Writing first!  While you're there, subscribe to the blog if you are serious about writing. When it comes to magazines, guidelines are rules by Catherine L Tully A sample query letter - that works! by...

Not everyone who makes artisan jewelry bothers to follow the fashion trends, but a number of us do.  Even if it's just to keep up with what are the hot colors or what shape necklines are coming up, paying attention to fashion can greatly increase your sales. But I'm not here to convince you to do it, just to report on what I've found ;-) Fashion Trendsetter has lots of articles about fashion trends.  Here are two I specifically found helpful: where they come from and how the magazines decide which to cover .  Both posts are interesting reading if you like to keep up with the catwalk. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

I finished up the embroidery.  The outline changed somewhat from the original, so I picked the stitches out as I went.  Part one Part two Part three Copyright 2010 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading