Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas to all!
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Bye for awhile!
I'm taking a week off to spend with these people...can you blame me? :-) Be good while I'm gone, and get all your New Year's art resolutions in order!
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Monday, December 23, 2013
Yay for Barbara!
Congratulations to Barbara, who won the three strands of large glass pearls for herself and her daughter! Yay Barbara!!
Bead Journal Project: December 2013
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Single St Petersburg Chain, in progress |
So last month, I showed you the Double St Petersburg Chain Stitch in its embroidered form. I was really happy with it, and decided to see if I could come up with a way to add the Single St Petersburg Chain Stitch to embroidered pieces as well for the last month of the 2013 Bead Journal Project. By adding a bezel to the central cabochon and keeping the stitch fairly small and tight, it ended up being a very cool type of fringe. Since the pieces were small, I ended up making two of them with month:
The central bead cabochon came from The Best Beads.
Bored By Back Stitch will teach you how to create twelve different bead embroidery motifs, using nine different beadweaving stitches. Learn how beadweaving stitches can be morphed into beautiful bead embroidered motifs, created to surround and enhance your cabochons or accent beads.
The specific motifs you will learn are designs that use embroidered forms of basic peyote, Cellini spiral peyote, brick, Russian spiral, herringbone, chevron chain, right angle weave, square, African helix, and double or single St Petersburg chain. In addition, there are step-by-step instructions for three projects to help you use your motifs. The e-book is available now, 127 pages, $3.00 US.
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Copyright 2013 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. 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.
Labels:
Bead embroidery,
Bead Journal Project,
Bead weaving,
e-Books
Friday, December 20, 2013
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
A Bead A Day
Have lots of beads, but no new ideas? How about making a sparkly beaded pendant and finish it with a simple ribbon?
Resin Crafts Blog
Pop by to see the famous "A Christmas Story" leg lamp turned into a pendant made of resin!
About.com
Make some adorable wine charms that you can also add to your Christmas tree.
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Do you remember the old TV ad, "Time to make the donuts"? Jean had that running through her head when she wrote this piece on making the jewelry and photographing it !
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Super-fast and easy jewelry projects to the rescue (because you waited too long again!)
So here are the fastest and easiest project tutorials that I've posted over the years. Each one will take you under 20 minutes if you've got all the right materials and tools handy. If not...well, I can't help you there!
The world's easiest earrings
Large bead necklace with pendant
A sparkling pin
Kidney wire earrings
Wire-wrapped beach rock
The simplest pendant necklace
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Recent publications: December 2013
The Jewelry Maker's Design Book: An Alchemy of Objects: Techniques and Design Notes for One-of-a-kind Jewelry... by Deryn Mentock
How to Make 100 Bead Embroidery Motifs: Inspiration and Instructions for Plant, Animal, Abstract, and Icon Designs... by Genevieve Crabe
Bead Embroidery (Essential Stitch Guide) by Shelley Cox
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Holiday tutorials from SoftFlex
Beaded holiday ornament using bead wire
Craft wire Christmas tree
Beaded ornament cover
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Monday, December 16, 2013
Snowflake pendant or ornament
Snowflake ornament wire forms are a lot
of fun to bead up and hang on a tree at Christmas time, but they’re
also fun to bead up and wear! To make a snowflake pendant rather
than an ornament, I chose the smallest size forms available, but you
can easily use the larger ones and clip off the excess length with
wire cutters.
This pendant looks equally good hanging
from a matching beaded necklace or from a plain silver chain. Try
different color combinations too: who says that snowflakes have to be
blue and white? The step by step photos that I've included use a
different color combination, mostly so that the beads would show up
better in the photographs, but wouldn't it be fun to have snowflake
pendants in lots of different colors?
Materials & Tools
4 ½ inch snowflake wire forms
28 gauge silver-toned craft wire, about 3 ft
6 each of 6 different beads, graduating from 2mm to 12 mm (36 beads total)
Size 11/0 seed beads in matching colors
6 silver-toned metal rounds, 2mm
E6000
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
File
Measuring tape
1. Cut a manageable piece of 28 gauge
wire. I found 2 ½ to 3 feet to be enough, and still to be easy
enough to handle. If your wire breaks or isn't long enough, it’s
easy to add an extra piece, so don’t cut this piece too long.
Anchor one end of the wire to the center of the snowflake wire form
by wrapping it around several of the spokes.
2. Starting with the smallest set of 6
beads, slide one down the 28 gauge wire and also down the first spoke
(the red beads in figure 1). Push the bead down to the bottom of the
spoke and make sure that all of the thinner wire has been pulled
through. String one 11/0 bead (the gold beads in figure 1) on the 28
gauge working wire, and slide another of the set of 6 down the next
spoke. Wrap the working wire over and around the second spoke.
Continue adding beads in this fashion, wrapping your way all around
the wire form until you get back to the beginning. Wrap the working
wire over and around the first spoke to finish the row.
3. “Step up” to start the next row
by sliding a bead from the next set of 6 (the green bead in figure 2)
down the 28 gauge wire and also down the first spoke. Repeat the
wrapping from spoke to spoke, adding as many 11/0 seed beads as
necessary between spokes. The wire wraps will hold each new spoke
bead in place (figure 3, below). When you reach the beginning again, wrap
around the first spoke and “step up” to the next row.
4. If you ever find that the beads you
have chosen for the spokes have holes that are too small to
accommodate both wires, simply wrap the 28 gauge wire around the
spoke well, clip it off, and re-anchor it above the new spoke bead.
5. When you've wrapped your last set
of beads into place, add a dab of E6000 glue and a silver-toned metal
round bead above each final wrap. Push the metal beads snugly into
place and let the glue dry. Clip the spokes off even with the tops
of the beads and file the rough spots, except for one spoke. Turn a
loop from the remaining spoke, using your round nose pliers (figure
4).
Copyright 2013 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. 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: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Friday, December 13, 2013
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
Resin Crafts Blog
If you want to know how you can wear a beautiful paper package...come see the Mariage Frere Tea necklace!
Carmi's Art/Life World
Organizing a blog hop is a big job. When you have fabulous results like this one...you are excited to share! Come see the Dazzle-it Tassels blog hop for inspiration!
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean explores what's new at one of her fave sites, Beaducation!
About.com Jewelry Making
Are you ready for Santa? Get ready with these cute holiday earrings.
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Gift books for the holidays
Last year I shared a list of books with you that I still think is pretty stellar (as in, "I worked really hard on it!"). I would still recommend all of last year's picks if you don't already have the ones you want, so what I'm going to do this year is just list out the books that are new this year in the various categories that everyone seems to like!
My top pick for everyone:
Suzanne Golden Presents: Interviews with 36 Artists Who Innovate with Beads
For Beginners: Do you know someone who wants to get started with beading and jewelry making? These are all good books which teach the basics of their various media.
I Can Right Angle Weave by Mabeline Gidez
I Can Herringbone by Melissa Grakowsky
Simply Stylish Crystal Jewelry by the Editors of BeadStyle magazine
Project: Earrings by Kalmbach Press
Multistrand Jewelry by the Editors of BeadStyle magazine
Bewitching Bead & Wire Jewelry by Suzanne Tourtillott
The Missing Link by Cindy Wimmer
Foxy Epoxy by Kristal Wick
Bead Meets Metal by Kay Rashka
Metallic Seed Bead Splendor by Nancy Zellers
Artisan Filigree by Jodi Bombardier
Metal Clay 101 for Beaders by Kristal Wick
Project: Necklaces by Kalmbach Publishing
Making Chain Mail Jewelry by Lauren Andersen
Advanced topics:
Stonesetting for Contemporary Jewelry Makers by Melissa Hunt
Vintage Revised Jewelry by Co-Co Nicole Bush
Weave Wrap Coil by Jodi Bombardier
Build Your Own Wire Pendants by Kimberly Berlin
Bored By Back Stitch by Cyndi Lavin (me!)
Exploring Canework in Polymer Clay by Patricia Kimle
Metal Jewelry in Bloom by Melissa Cable
Soutache by Anneta Valious
Marcia DeCoster's Beads in Motion
Resin Alchemy by Susan Lenart Kazmer
Bead Embroidery Jewelry Projects by Jamie Cloud Eakin
Shaped Beadwork and Beyond by Diane Fitzgerald
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Book review: The Missing Link
May I just say...this book is awesome! If you've gotten bored with adding the same old links over and over again to all of your jewelry projects, you're going to be amazed and thrilled with Cindy Wimmer's new book, The Missing Link. Published by Interweave/F+W Media, and listing for $22.95, this is the book that both non-wireworkers and beginner wireworkers have been waiting for. The focus is on the 30 original and beautiful links that you'll learn how to make in ascending order of difficulty. And then the fun really begins! But first, the basics...
The first section of the book contains the necessary and important information needed on types of wire. Since people are using many more metals these days, both for cost-cutting and for looks, it's important to know the properties of the metals that you may not have used before. Cindy has information on metals, wire gauges, shapes, and hardness. Then she follows with the low down on the minimal basic tools, the additional fun and make-your-life-easier tools, and the basic techniques for wirework.
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Corona Link by Cindy Wimmer |
The last section of the book includes 15 beautiful full projects by Cindy and other wire greats like Lori Anderson and Kerry Bogert. My favorite of the finished pieces is actually the cover shot, which is called Sojourn By the Sea. The designers show how the links can be used not just as chains, wonderful chains, but also as decorative elements, bails, and even as focals. Each project features one or more already taught links, and the designers give the tips for customizing, so you could easily sub in your favorite links.
Season of Savings at Interweave Store
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Book review: Shaped Beadwork and Beyond
Diane Fitzgerald has been very prolific this year, and each volume has been better than the last! My previous favorite is Shaped Beadwork, so I was thrilled to receive the new Shaped Beadwork and Beyond, published by Lark Books. Forty new projects, not to mention variations too numerous to even count.
Diane again focuses on three-dimensional geometric peyote stitched shapes, taking basic shapes introduced in book one in lots of exciting new directions. No matter how complex the projects seem, they are made up from component parts that are clearly illustrated and explained.
Look at that gorgeous star on the front cover...wouldn't you LOVE to have some of those on your Christmas tree this year? There's still time...
After a chapter on the basics, Diane covers triangles, teardrops, beaded beads, bezels, pointed ovals, and concludes with a chapter full of miscellaneous three-dimensional projects for good measure!
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Yay for Alicia!
Congratulations to Alicia! She is the winner of the box of acrylic display pieces from Achieve Display!!
Book review: Jewelry Photography
My friend Elaine Luther is a woman of many many talents. You've seen her work featured here when we've devoted a month to metal clay. In fact, her resource list is one of my most oft-consulted links that I return to time and again since metal clay is something that I only occasionally play with.
Well, Elaine has also compiled a wonderful resource for anyone who is dissatisfied with the state of their own jewelry photography. We all know it's tough to photograph those small shiny objects, but we hate to think about putting out big bucks to hire a professional. Elaine has advice for you to do it right all by yourself, and she even lists where you can get the materials you need. And...I think she's nuts...her booklet is only 99 cents! It is designed for a Kindle, but you can use the free version of the Cloud Reader and read it right on your desktop. Check out Jewelry Photography: You Can Do It! by Elaine Luther.
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Giveaway: Glass pearls in bright red and green
I've got three strands of big, brightly colored glass pearls that I just know I am never going to use. But maybe one of you would! These came from Auntie's Beads a few years ago, and the Christmas colors caught my eye recently. It's time to release them back into the world and see what happens!
***Giveaway Alert!!!***
What I've got is a strand of 16mm beads in green, a strand of 14mm beads also in green, and a strand of 14mm beads in red. These are BIG beads...so who would like to have them? Please read this carefully! Leave me a comment here and include your email address. If I don't see your email address, I won't be able to contact you. No contact, no win, and I simply have to go on to the next person. You are welcome to spell it out if you'd prefer, for example, cyndi at mazeltovjewelry dot com. If you tweet or post on Facebook or other social spots about the contest, you can leave a second comment and be entered twice! Deadline: December 17, 2013
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Monday, December 09, 2013
"Christmas Memories" pendants
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"Christmas Memories" pendant, larger than life size to show detail |
The great thing about green computer
circuit board is that there’s still so much of it sitting around,
out of date and useless, just waiting to be made into something else.
And since it’s already green, why not use it as the base for
Christmas Trees? If you don’t happen to have any old circuit
boards lying around your house, just ask your friends ~ you’ll
probably have boards coming out your ears by the end of the week!
Materials & Tools
Green circuit board
Broken rhinestone and other jewelry, charms
Two-part epoxy
Hang tag with single hole
Jump ring
Sharpie pen
Jig saw or coping saw
File
Heavy-duty wire cutters
Mixing cup and stick for epoxy
Chain nose pliers
1. Cut a classic Christmas tree shaped
triangle from the circuit board. You can create a paper pattern,
draw the shape on the circuit board or just cut freehand. I like to
gently round the bottom edge of my tree, but it’s slightly easier
to cut it out straight. To cut these out, I have used both a jig saw
and a hand-held coping saw with equal success. You might have to cut
and pry off a few components to avoid dulling your saw, but it’s
possible to cut right through just about everything if you have the
right saw blade. Or if you’re willing to sacrifice it!
2. File all the cut edges of the circuit
board.
3. Cut apart and file the edges of your
broken jewelry. Rhinestones are particularly effective in creating
sparkle, but don’t overlook more classic styles, including plain
metal and thermoset plastic. Look for a piece that will simulate a
tree trunk if you desire one, and be particularly careful in choosing
the piece you use for the star on the top of your tree.
4. Move your pieces around until you
achieve the layout that you want. You might want to do this on a
paper pattern of your tree to make placement easier when it’s time
to glue them.
5. You have a couple of options for
adhering your jewelry pieces. Circuit board is very difficult to get
most glues to stick to. They will seem to at first, but crack off a
few days later. Two-part epoxy resin creates by far the most
permanent bond. Mix up a small amount and use it to stick the
jewelry bits onto the surface. Let it dry thoroughly overnight.
E6000 can be used instead, but it is not as secure in the long term
6. After the front is dry, flip the tree
over and epoxy a hangtag to the top of the back, with the hole
extending up just over the top. Let it dry thoroughly. Slip a jump
ring through the hole, a chain through the jump ring, and start
thinking about what to do with all the rest of that circuit board!
This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique
Copyright 2013 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. 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.
Friday, December 06, 2013
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Here's a collection of recent "beautiful losers" by Andrew.
Carmi's Art/Life World
Phoomph. Not just for sewers. It is an ideal product for jewelers too!
Resin Crafts
A set of quilting themed rubber stamps create interesting jewels when you stamp them into resin clay!
Art Bead Scene
Check out this month's challenge piece - the vibrant Winter Landscape from Wassily Kandinsky. Brandi leads us through it's rich and saturated hues with her Palette post.
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Interested in a beautiful jewelry design technique? Jean reviews Rebecca Ann Combs' book, Kumihimo. Basics & Beyond
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Thursday, December 05, 2013
It's not too early to start...
Leaf and vine earrings by Rena Klingenberg
Kidney wire earrings by Rings&Things
Copper bangels by Monsters Circus
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Book review: Making Chain Mail
I have really fallen in love with Kalmbach's "The Absolute Beginners Guide" series, and the most recent addition is no exception. Lauren Andersen has written Making Chain Mail Jewelry for the series, and if you've got chain maille on your list of techniques to master in 2014, this book is a great place to start. Check out this statement by Kalmbach: "Open. Close. It's that easy!" It is, yes, they are right. But in Lauren's capable hands, you see how opening and closing jump rings can become an art form!
Crystal Cross bracelet |
So pick up your jump rings and two pair of pliers, and you'll be making chain maille jewelry in absolutely no time!
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Giveaway: Acrylic pieces from Achieve Display
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1059 Acrylic Risers |
In late October, I introduced you to a company that specializes in display pieces for jewelry businesses (as well as other industries), Achieve Display.
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1338 Winged Earring Display Holder |
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1339 Slant back Earring Stand |
***Giveaway Alert!!!***
Would you like to win this selection of display pieces? Please read this carefully! What we want to know from you is what jewelry or bead display piece you've looked for and have been unable to find. Maybe it doesn't even exist yet. Leave me your answer here and include your email address. If I don't see your email address, I won't be able to contact you. No contact, no win, and I simply have to go on to the next person. You are welcome to spell it out if you'd prefer, for example, cyndi at mazeltovjewelry dot com. If you tweet or post on Facebook or other social spots about the contest, you can leave a second comment and be entered twice! Deadline: December 10, 2013
Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
Monday, December 02, 2013
Hanukkah earrings
This pair of earrings is made in the traditional blues of Hanukkah, but when you see how easy they are to make, you might just want a pair in every color! The major materials you’ll need for these are paper and a disposable plate. You can choose scrapbooking paper, wrapping paper, or plain printer paper that you paint ~ I just recommend that you keep it lightweight. Your disposable plate can be either plastic (no foam) or the paper kind with the waxed finish.
Materials & Tools
Lightweight decorative paper
Acrylic paints (optional)
Paper or plastic disposable plate
Waxed paper
Liquid Laminate by Beacon
Silver leafing pen
Charms
Ear wires and jump rings
Sharpie pen
Scissors
Cosmetic sponge
Awl or nail
Chain nose pliers
1. Gather all your materials and tools.
If you are going to paint your own papers, do that now, or else
gather three coordinated colored papers that you wish to use. I used
a single sheet of scrapbook paper and added thin washes of acrylic
paint to change the colors. The lightest colored piece was used for
the backs, the darkest was used for the middles, and the medium
colored piece for the tops.
2. Draw your shapes onto the backs of
the papers. Cut them out.
3. Cut out the flat middle section of
your plate. Place it on a piece of waxed paper with the waxy side of
the plate down if it’s a paper plate. If it’s a plastic plate,
it won’t matter which side is which. Spread a thin layer of Liquid
Laminate onto the plate with a cosmetic sponge, and quickly stick
down all your cut paper pieces, painted sides up. Let them dry and
coat right over top of all your pieces with another thin layer. Let
them dry thoroughly. The Liquid Laminate seals the papers with a
crystal clear coating. Paint the back of the plate too if you wish,
and once everything is dry, cut all the pieces out.
4. Use an awl or a nail to make a small
hole at the top of each earring piece.
5. Run a silver leafing pen around the
cut edges of each paper piece to give them a finished look.
6. Open your jump rings and slip on the
papers in the proper order. Top with a charm. Attach the jump ring
to the ear wires.
Copyright 2013 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. 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: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading
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