Beading Arts

Making Bead Flowers and Bouquets by Virginia Nathanson Stitch Workshop: Right-Angle Weave by Editors of Bead&Button magazine Jewelry for the New Romantic: Unexpected Techniques with Crystals and Beading Wire by Nealay Patel The Art of Resin Clay: Techniques and Projects for Creating Jewelry and Decorative Objects by Sherri Haab, Rachel Haab and Michelle Haab Metal Artist's Workbench: Demystifying the Jeweler's Saw by Thomas Mann Stunning Jewelry Made Easy by Svetlana Kunina Fabulous Florals: A Beadweaving Garden by Elizabeth Townes Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Long necklaces are so much fun, and lariats are a perfect style to capitalize on this long, lean line.  Grab a handful of accent beads in ocean colors, and you can put together a fun necklace for a breezy summer day.  Materials & Tools 4 grams 11/0 crystal aurora borealis seed beads 2 grams 4 mm silver glass tube beads 19 6/0 frosted blue seed beads 16  13 x 7 mm blue aurora borealis flat oval beads 19  8 mm crystal aurora borealis lentils, side-drilled 4  2 mm sterling silver rounds 4  4 mm sterling silver daisy spacers 20 mm sterling silver pendant with center hole, fish design Sterling silver seahorse charm with bail 3 size 2 sterling silver crimp tubes 2 sterling silver head pins 70 inches of .014 diameter beading wire Flat nose pliers Round nose pliers Wire cutters Measuring tape 1. String a crimp tube and 19 of the 11/0 crystal ab seed beads onto one end of your beading wire.  Pass it through the bail of the seahorse charm and back up through the crimp tube.  Snug up t

All year long, Beading Arts brings you the best, most innovative, creative, and NICEST bead and jewelry makers for you to drool over! I put out a call to those who have shared their passion and creativity with you in the past, and here are the results: special offers and unique gifts for all! Oh, and there will be more throughout the entire next month :-) Therien Polymer Clay Arts   25% off all orders of Memorial keepsakes placed between now and the end of the year. Calico Juno Designs   20% sale on all jewelry, use the discount code "beading arts", through the end of the year. KELLYM.Jewels   Starting Friday, November 25, 2011, free shipping on all orders and take 10%-20% off our entire collection!  Plus complimentary gift wrapping on all orders! Little Gems Jewelry, LLC   FREE Shipping on all of our eco-conscious jewelry purchased through December 31, 2011.  Use coupon Code: FREESHIPPING ChezChani   Fun gifts for your favourite people, including

  Snap Out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean discovered a very special pendant that expresses the way a person feels in a very special, amazing way! About.com Jewelry Making Combine those jewelry techniques - this time with wire and fused glass.   Art Bead Scene Gaea's ceramics pair up with Vintaj Brass to create some gorgeous Victorian Christmas jewelry inspiration!   Resin Crafts! This week Carmi shares some useful information about resin and cold temperatures.   Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Make your own components or beads Work with asymmetrical designs Use multiple strands Develop a recognizable style Use unusual materials Choose daring color combinations Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends who live in the USA!  Though everyone around here will be lying on the floor and groaning from too much turkey and trimmings, I still wanted to share some more designs with you that I thought might give you some ideas for your own work.  I'm not suggesting that you reproduce these designs exactly, but instead that you think about the elements that we've been talking about (listed above) and see how you might include some of them in your own work.  There aren't even tutorials available for all of these pieces, but most are simple enough to figure out!  Spring Fling The beads are made from fabric, fulfilling the first directive, to make your own components or beads.   Flapper An asymmetrical design, anyone? Egyptian Scarab

  Whether you like industrial chic, mixed media jewelry, or steampunk, Metalwork Jewelry by Linda Peterson has some projects that you will love.  Her techniques section is very helpful, including information on doing simple soldering by either torch or soldering iron, making some simple wire findings, using a dapping block, etching with ferric chloride, and adding a patina with ammonia and salt!   Linda mixes lots of unexpected materials with metal in the projects section of her book.  I particularly liked what she did with Friendly Plastic, wire stitching, alcohol inks, textured and shaped aluminum cans, metal mixed with denim and other fabrics, soda can tabs, resin, and wire with found objects.  My very favorite project is a simple pair of etched and domed earrings that you'll find on page 46...take a look and tell me what you think if you get a copy! This is another winner from Cico Books .  Thanks for all the inspiration, Linda! Technorati Tags: handmade beaded

My friend Eileen Bergen , over at The Artful Crafter , has shared this fabulous tutorial with us!  Isn't this set just perfect for autumn?  All the details for making your own set, including the step-by-steps and a precise materials list can be found at the link above.  Thanks, Eileen!  Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Beautiful toggles just beg to be worn in the front!  This asymmetrical design features large lampwork glass beads that suit the front closure style, and small round beads to keep your neck comfortable. Materials & Tools 8  25mm lampwork glass beads, spirals and bicones 17  8mm fancy jasper beads, round 35  4mm fancy jasper beads, round 4  5mm sterling silver squash beads 1  2mm sterling silver bead, round 2 size 2 sterling silver crimp tubes Heart-shaped sterling silver toggle and bar set 2inch sterling silver head pin 5 mm jump ring 24 inches of  .019 inch diameter beading wire Flat nose pliers Round nose pliers Wire cutters Small file Measuring tape 1. If your lampwork beads are different colors or styles like mine, arrange them into a pleasing pattern, with one group of three beads, one group of four, and one single bead left over for the dangle. 2. Cut a 24 inch piece of beaded wire, and crimp it around the heart-shaped toggle loop.  Slide on a silver squash bead and fou

  Resin Crafts! A brand new resin has been created for jewelers and launched on the Resin Crafts blog this week! Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean reviews the fabulous book, Sharilyn Miller's Arty Jewelry III! Is Sharilyn great, or what?   The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew muses on the importance of having time to think and "tinker".   About.com Jewelry Making Here are some tips and design ideas for picking the right bracelet for the right person.   Art Bead Scene Heather offers a free project: a quick and simple nest necklace that uses wire to elegantly frame an art bead .   Beads & Books Join Michelle's last beading challenge for 2011 with a winter-themed kit featuring handmade porcelain beads by Chinook Jewelry, Czech glass, pearls, and ribbon!   Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Make your own components or beads Work with asymmetrical designs Use multiple strands Develop a recognizable style Use unusual materials Choose daring color combinations Next up in our November series on making your strung jewelry truly unique is my friend Michelle Mach .  You'll know Michelle from Beading Daily , and also from the wonderful blog hops that she sponsors.  Michelle graciously gave me permission to share these terrific projects with you. Celestial Sparkle If you can only afford a single strand of beautiful borosilicate glass beads, what should you do with them?  Michelle chooses to wear them in an asymmetric style, featuring a stunning clasp. Sari Sunrise Multiple strands of relatively inexpensive beads make a wonderful support for a gorgeous pendant!   Sorbet in August Combine some unusual playmates to create a bright, fun, casual design. Introduction Tammy Powley Michelle Mach Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wea

I'm so excited!  The next wonderful volume in Lark Publishing's Master Class series came out in August, and it's a beauty!  Maggie Meister has authored Classical Elegance , a gorgeous set of projects inspired by Maggie's love of classical architecture, mosaics, tiles, and jewelry. It is probably best if you already have some beadweaving experience before you tackle most of Maggie's designs.  Still, there are very clear instructions for many beadweaving stitches included, so an extremely motivated and patient beginner will be able to reproduce some of the projects and work up to the more advanced ones.  Even the most difficult are composed of smaller components joined together. Maggie shows you how to combine the different stitches, flowing from one stitch into another, which may be exactly the step you are missing to take your own beadweaving designs to the next level.  Gorgeous gorgeous projects and solid technical information...this book is inspirationa

My friend Stacey Gibson shared a seed bead pattern with me recently that I think you will enjoy very much.  She has created a flower garland rope pattern which is for sale both at Bead Patterns and in her Etsy shop, Unbridled Design .  She has also come up with a very clever clasp design that she calls a bauble 'n' loop, which is available for free at the Bead Patterns link above!  Pretty, huh?  Is there no end to what can be done with spiral ropes?     Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

This year my friend Lori Greenberg, after having worked with the non-profit Beads of Courage for some time, started their online Artist Gallery, ArtistsGive.com , to help them raise money for their programs.  Beads of Courage provides arts-in-medicine programs in over 100 hospitals around the world for children facing life-threatening illness. The program provides handmade beads for each treatment, procedure and milestone a child experiences in the process of treatment.  Each bead serves to honor their STRENGTH and COURAGE. Kids average 500 beads in the course of a cancer treatment! You'll be able to find the BOC banner in the sidebar of Beading Arts...this link will take you to the ArtistsGive.com , the official online artists gallery for BOC, where you can select from dozens of handmade beads and finished jewelry.  All items on ArtistsGive.com and the Beads of Courage gallery are handmade by supporting artists and proceeds help support Beads of Courage program

My eyes are not quite what they used to be!  Although I don't need glasses full-time yet, there are times when I need a little help.  That is how this project came to be: my drugstore glasses needed a place to hang around where they'd be handy.  I don't like the typical eyeglass holders where the glasses hang from both ear-pieces and get in my way, banging around.  Instead, I was always hooking the glasses down the neckline of my shirt.  How much nicer it would be to have a loop hanging just a bit lower where they could hang without unbuttoning my blouses for me!  This project is for a beginner stringer.  If you already have experience, you could easily substitute any other beads that you choose to make the design as complex as you like.  Just follow the basics proportions given. Following these directions exactly will give you a 24 inch continuous loop that you'll just slip on over your head.  It has a looped toggle or charm hanging from it so you can stash you

  Beads & Books Michelle shares upcoming deadlines for beading & jewelry making contests and challenges. Cindy Gimbrone Beads Cindy is off her loom this week! Come see her new RAW book!   Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie mourns the passing of a furry friend by making a pair of special cuff bracelets to honor her memory . Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean's famous friend, the Great Margot Potter, has some wonderful news! Read all about it on Jean's blog! A Bead A Day Lisa shares her love for the creative community! Connecting with others is what it's all about! About.com Jewelry Making Lifetime has a new TV show that uses Project Runway as a template but the designers are making accessories instead of clothing. What are your thoughts about this new show?   Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene announces its annual Holiday Ornament Blog Hop!   Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art

Make your own components or beads Work with asymmetrical designs Use multiple strands Develop a recognizable style Use unusual materials Choose daring color combinations Last week, I challenged you to think about different tactics that you can use to make your own handmade beaded jewelry unique.  I am so excited to tell you that several of my extremely talented friends have stepped forward and offered to share not only inspiration pictures, which was all I really was expecting from them, but also TUTORIALS to go with almost every design!!!  Wow!  If some of them catch your eye, remember to vary the materials, colors, and exact design in order to make the results truly your own! First up is my friend Tammy Powley .  You'll know Tammy as the About.com guide to jewelry making , and as the author of many many books on beading and jewelry!  Thank you so much for these wonderful projects, Tammy! Endlessly Knotted No Clasp Crystal Necklace Tutorial Tammy shows you

Cherie Burbach , who writes too many things to mention them ALL by name (hit the link, you'll be able to take your choice!) is the winner of the delicious bunch of beads from Vintage Beads from Europe .  I know everyone wishes it coulda been them, but I also know that you'll join me in congratulating Cherie.  You will, won't you?  :-)

Kay , of Kayz Kreationz , sent me this gorgeous picture of a unique bead stringing design she made.  The donut was wire-wrapped and the earrings are lengths of copper chain with beads at the end.  I love the copper loop spacers that she's used!  This set is up for grabs on Kay's etsy shop right now (see the link above). Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

I love all the books that are included in Lark's Beadweaving Master Class series, and Bead Riffs is no exception.  This time it's kind of funny though, because I really don't like jazz at all, and jazz metaphors and imagery is what anchors and inspires this book.  Rachel Nelson-Smith , besides being an amazing bead artist (remember Seed Bead Fusion ?  brilliant!) is also a jazz singer, so it makes perfect sense to me that one passion would end up being the inspiration for another.  I can totally get behind that. With Rachel, you expect that you're going to see wonderful seed bead designs, using peyote or right angle weave, or more frequently a combination of the two.  Combining stitches is what allows her to construct deceptively intricate forms which usually break down to be quite attainable for anyone with some experience in the two stitches.  There are 23 gorgeous projects to challenge you.  One thing that I really like about the approach in this book is th

A guest post by Roman Sharf    In these lean economic times, luxury may seem like the furthest thing from most peoples' minds, and yet luxury jewelry is still a trend for many sophisticates. However, the truth is that you don't need to spend large amounts of money to have elite-looking jewelry; on the contrary, with a bit of creativity and a good sense of style, you can make your own show-stopping jewelry pieces that would look right at home in many boutiques. Just follow these important tips:   Play With Varying Sizes and Shapes   While many think that beads do not go beyond the small white circles that carried initials that you used to spell out your name as a kid, there is in fact a huge diversity of beads available. String beads of varying sizes and shapes together to create an uber-chic and unique look that no one has. Be bold with beads!   Flowing Ribbons   Ribbons are no longer just for ballerinas. A metallic ribbon in a neutral/earthy color like grey

I'll be sharing some new projects throughout this month, but if you can't possibly wait to get started, don't forget about the projects archived on this page: Tutorials to get you started .  You'll find a tab for it up there at the top of the page and it's also over in the sidebar so you'll always be able to find beginner projects.  The newest ones are added to the bottom of the list.  If you're a beginner stringing, try these: Love is a Rose   Summer Flowers Bali Hai Sunlit Seas Fun in the Sun Copper and Bone Ethiopian Crosses Flapper Chinese Fortune Copper Glow The simplest pendant necklace Knotting a continuous necklace Tips for making lariats Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

There's a $100 gift certificate up for grabs at Bumbershoot Supplies !  The deadline for entry is November 23, but don't delay and miss out! Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

  Art Bead Scene The November Monthly Challenge is announced, revealing a historical painting of a beautiful woman in autumn tones. Cindy Gimbrone Beads This week's Minding the Business is about taking care of you. Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean re-reviews a book by Maggie Meister she finds particularly outstanding . About.com Jewelry Making Make a fall patch of pumpkin beads using polymer clay.   Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

What makes strung beaded jewelry unique? How can you set your own work apart from the masses of perfectly nice handmade beaded necklaces out there? Consider some of the following ideas: throughout the month, we're going to look at some of these ideas in more depth! Cluny Grey Use multiple strands and asymmetrical designs   Glam Originals Develop a recognizable style  Cindy Gimbrone Beads Make your own components   Lang Lang Inspiration Use unusual materials Jewelz Studio Be daring with color Introduction Tammy Powley Michelle Mach Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

***Free Stuff Alert*** Do you remember me telling you about a business called Vintage Beads from Europe ?  Well, the owner, Vente Viteikaite has made it possible for us to have a giveaway here on Beading Arts !  The packets of beads that you see above are up for grabs...except for a few of the beads that I've used for projects over the past few weeks.  Just leave me a comment below telling me how crazy you are about vintage beads and you'll automatically be entered to win.  If you tweet or post on Facebook or other social spots about the contest, you can leave a second comment and be entered twice! Please make sure that your link will lead me to an email address, or else I won't be able to contact you.  No contact, no win, and I simply have to go on to the next person.  Deadline: November 9, 2011.    Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading