Beading Arts

My brand new e-book is ready to go!!  I am so excited about it, I could scream!  But since you can't hear me, I'll just write about it instead :-) Bored By Back Stitch Would you like to learn to use beadweaving stitches to spice up your bead embroidery designs?   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 in Bored By Back Stitch 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, one of which is shown above.   Bored By Back Stitc

Art Bead Scene   Take our monthly tour of art based upon our challenge piece!  Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!   Giveaway for Kristal Wick's fantastic book, Foxy Epoxy! Sign up on Jean's blog! USA only, thanks!  A Bead A Day   Lisa's got a quick reminder for anyone interested in joining the Cousin Creative Circle. Applications are being accepted through June 17!   About.com Jewelry Making   With the crazy cost of metals, now is a good time to look at preciouse versus base metals.   Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Congratulations to Iveth , who owns Creative Atelier !  She won our copy of  Bewitching Bead & Wire Jewelry !!

Gretchen Hind Along with the new artists that we've met this month, I think you'll be very inspired by visiting some of the talented people we've profiled previously! Elaine Harrison Gretchen Hind Melisa Baker Bonnie Riconda Peggy Li Jean Campbell  Tina Murphy  Andrea Trank  Gem Designs by Lee  Gayle Tillem Benator  Gia Scarano  Jessica Russell  Jelena Louie  Patricia Chauvin  Sandra Merwe  Ruth Borsky  Ann Skydell Harmon  Vanessa Walilko  ( update ) Sunflower  Meg's Crochet Jewels  Nomi Joyrich Wendy Van Camp Kelly Alvarez Mace Penny Purdie Leah Hitchcock-Ybarra Deborah Kwitney Bernadine Stoopman Olivia Competente Puakea Soares-Mercado Paul Bishop Kathy Pine Bonnie Riconda Arriel Goodwin Terry Pugh  ( update ) Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Crystal Play: Fun & Fabulous Designs for Stitched Jewelry by Anna Elizabeth Draeger Bead Meets Metal: Easy Metalwork Techniques to Showcase Gemstone Beads and Other Treasures by Kay Rashka Non-Precious Jewellery: Methods and Techniques (Design and Make) by Kathie Murphy Bangles and Bracelets (Jewellery Handbooks) by Amanda Doughty A Beaded Romance: 26 Beadweaving Patterns and Projects for Gorgeous Jewelry by Kelly Wiese Precious Jewellery from Plastics: Methods and Techniques (Design and Make) by Chris Bond Electroforming (Jewellery Handbooks) by Leslie Curtis Clay So Cute: 21 Polymer Clay Projects for Cool Charms, Itty-Bitty Animals, and Tiny Treasures by Sherri Haab Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Wire bracelet with Maruti beads Some simple tutorials:     Making a wrapped loop     Basic wirework information and supplies     A multi-strand necklace with wrapped loops     A "leftover" toggle necklace     Creating a wire and ribbon necklace     A freeform seed bead necklace on a wire armature     Copper necklace with wire links     A wire wrapped beach rock     A Crocheted wire necklace     A "sea glass" necklace     Circuit breaker necklace     Faerie Bells     Chain maille bead earrings     Freeform peyote on a wire armature     Black Sparkle Ring     Antique Key necklace     Button charm holder     Crocheted Pearls necklace     Chain Drop earrings     My Heart's Chatelaine necklace           Wire link bracelet     Brass and wire flower necklace     Easy wire pendant bail     Twisted wire copper bracelet     Maruti bead linked necklace     Maruti bead wire bracelet     A sparkly button ring     Beaded comb for your hair     Seed bead and w

May Cabochon, finished I enjoyed working up the Russian Spiral  for the  Bead Journal Project   so much last month that I decided to have another go at it.  This time, though, I wanted to add an actual seed bead bezel to the piece.  Most of the beadweaving/bead embroidery pieces I'm making this year can have an added bezel if desired.  I decided that I like the Russian Spiral both ways...with and without!   In progress You can see last month's piece, bezel-less, and all the others at the links below: January plus explanation for the series February  March  April 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

About.com Jewelry Making   Load up with three brand spanking new earring tutorials!   Art Bead Scene   Check out Leah C's gorgeous bracelet, inspired by this month's challenge piece!   Snap out of it, Jean! There's Beading to be done!   Jean got a Beading Pal from Ezel Findings and wants you to know how GREAT it is!   The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton   Have you heard about the Prayers For Richie Fundraiser? Andrew spotlights this very worthwhile cause created by Kathy Van Kleeck.   A Bead A Day   Ever made a one of a kind, intricate piece of jewelry and wished you had a mini version for every day? Why not!? Lisa shares a new "every day" project.   Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

I saw my first piece of wire wrapping by Dan Lomax on the River Queen Artisans gallery site (piece shown above), and I was captivated.  By googling him, I found that he also has an etsy shop (piece shown below).  Stunning pieces, huh? Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Everyone these days seems to want to be able to add wire work to their beading.  Now here's a good place to start!  Suzanne Tourtillott has edited a wonderful book for Lark Books , full of 40 projects by 27 different designers: Bewitching Bead & Wire Jewelry .  There are necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and even rings to choose from! None of the pieces are difficult, and even the ones that are more time-consuming or precise have excellent directions to make them easier! GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! Would you like to win a free copy of Bewitching Bead & Wire Jewelry ?  Here's what you need to do... 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 o

Congratulations to Sharon Linder !  She won the copy of  Weave Wrap Coil  that we were giving away!  You might wonder why it took so long to post this...it's because the first two people I tried to contact did not respond, so lucky Sharon!!

SoftFlex Double Drop Earrings When you think about wire and all the things you can do with it, don't forget about SoftFlex beading wire.  With its amazing drape and plentiful color palette, SoftFlex has become more of a design element than simple a material to hang beads on!   Sara Oehler just posted a list of favorite projects you can find on their blog, including the great earrings up above by Shelley Richey .  Click on the link above to visit her post! Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

So so so easy!  And such a nice way to use a pair of special buttons.  Mine are vintage but yours can be anything, as long as they are shank style! 1. Cut a short length of wire and turn a simple loop on one end.  Thread it through the shank and turn a loop on the other end.   Trim and file as needed.   2. Attach an ear wire at the top and a beaded dangle at the bottom.  I'm not thrilled with the earring fitting, but I can't wear coated wire through my ears, so I'm stuck until I find something different!   Repeat to make a pair.   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

A Bead A Day   What does blogging mean to you? Lisa's sharing her thoughts on the beauty of blogging, check it out! About.com Jewelry Making A new "frame" necklace tutorial up that incorporate some amazing mirror crystal beads. Art Bead Scene-Color Cord Mixes and a Free Bracelet Project   Are you looking for a place to start on a jewelry design to enter into our Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenges? Lorelei has been creating color cord combinations inspired by the art piece chosen by the Art Bead Scene team.  Resin Crafts Blog!   Making textured, coloured and rubberstamped pendants is a breeze with Jewelry Clay!   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!  It it National Children's Book week! Jean has a giveaway on her blog for a children's book written by a famous author, Elizabeth King Gerlach, which Jean herself illustrated! Come over and sign up! It is adorable!  The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton   Using the Now That's a Jig!,

Just check google images for  "tree of life" pendants and you will find hundreds of stunning examples!  There are tutorials available for sale, and several really nice free ones too, like this one from Dana's Jewelry Designs .  Thank you, Dana!  If you want to go beyond pendants, Dana has a book on making  Gem Tree Sculptures too. Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Every year I swear I'm going to work at getting better with wire.  And every year I learn a bit more, but still end up intimidated by my pliers!  Now there is a totally unique book with a brand new take on using wire with beads and cabochons, and I love it.  While I also love traditional wire wrapping, I'm not particularly good at it.  Kimberly Berlin's free form style in Build Your Own Wire Pendants makes me think that just maybe I could actually do this.  This just might be the year! Kimberly starts with all the basic techniques that you'll use, which is especially helpful to have all in one place when you begin to design your own pendants.  Working through Kimberly's projects will have you making a basic frame, creating embellishments, and learning to mix the techniques to suit your own materials and style. Framed projects are the majority of the book, with 14 projects plus multiple variations.  Kimberly then moves on to working with drilled pendants an

Frame-style wire and bead necklace Since I read a lot of blogs, I end up with files of saved links to share with you.  Recently, I culled my list for projects and advice that focused on wire, and found these winners! Fancy wire rivets Fairy Wings from wire and resin Cold Connections, including wire Best wire jewelry-making tips Frame-style wire and bead necklace Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

We used to have a lot of old knob and tube wiring in our house before the electrical system was updated, so on a recent trip to the attic, I discovered a paper bag (which had rotted through) just full of the old insulators!  Very very cool, huh?  I happily dove into figuring out different ways to add color to them, which I'll share in June during Mixed Media month, but I digress. The most important step, really, was to figure out how to hang them.  They have holes clear through the length, but they're a bit ungainly, especially the longer ones.  I wanted to create a wire fitting that would allow me to hang them as pendants.  Here's what I came up with! 1. Cut two pieces of wire and turn a loop at one end of each, with a short tail left over as shown.  I made my wires each 4 inches long so that I would be sure to have plenty of length.  After you've made them once, you'll know how much you actually need, so use cheap wire to practice if you want to end up u

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton   Trying to help out those who want sell their work in stores and galleries, Andrew sheds a little light on the process from the other side of the counter.   Resin Crafts Blog!   It is amazing what a little acrylic paint can do on resin clay pendants. Carmi focussed on creating the look of a ceramic pendant without the kiln!   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!   Jean reviews a great book by Anna Elizabeth Draeger: Crystal Play: Fun & Fabulous Designs for Stitched Jewelry   Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Elaine Harrison  Miselayne's Jewels   On Facebook Elaine writes: It is fun to start with natural stones or handpicked sea glass and watch as they transform into beautiful, original pieces of art. Each piece is uniquely made with different wire techniques and some are enhanced with accentuating beads. They are finished with different chains or handmade cords made with silk strands or Kumihimo. I hope you enjoy my pieces as much as I did creating them! Beautiful colors accentuate these Fire Agate stone necklaces that are wire wrapped and placed on 16" coffee silk cords. The Fire Agate stone consists of layers of iridescent Limonite or Goethite within an individual stone, with some having shades of brownish red, green, blue and orange colors in the stone. This stone has a powerful vibration that sharpens your desire to take action, even when you're not sure what the best course to take should be. It can help you to feel fully grounded and physicall

Wire wrapping is great, but are you ready to go beyond that?  Wire lovers of all skill levels will have something to cheer about with Weave Wrap Coil , written by Jodi Bombardier and published by Interweave Press .  Even if you are a complete beginner, Jodi's book has a good fundamentals and techniques section that will bring you up to speed.  After some practice with inexpensive wire, you'll be ready to pick from many beautiful projects. There are three main sections to the book.  The first covers Beginner Projects, nine in all.  They are strikingly beautiful, and will let you practice and master the basics.  The second section has the Intermediate Projects, where my very favorite piece in the whole book resides.  It's called the Sublime Dreams Bracelet, and is pictured below.  For these projects, you'll need some experience with basic weaving and coiling, which of course you can get by mastering the Beginner Projects! Sublime Dreams Bracelet The third sec

There are so many book reviews in our archives, and these books are still perfectly good guides to working with wire, both for beginners and for more advanced practitioners!  Starting tomorrow, I'll be posting book reviews and giveaways on the newest wire books. Book reviews:      Wire Wrapping     101 Wire Earrings     Contemporary Copper Jewelry     Chain Style     Lacy Wire Jewelry     Classic Chain Mail Jewelry     Beautiful Wire Jewelry for Beaders     Making Beautiful Bead and Wire Jewelry     Handcrafted Wire Findings     New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry     Simply Bead and Wire       Chains Chains Chains     A Bounty of Bead and Wire Earrings     Spotlight on Wire     Absolute Beginners Guide: Making Wire Jewelry     Show Your Colors     Making Wire & Bead Jewelry     Rustic Wrappings     Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop       Unconventional Chain Mail Jewelry     Weave - Wrap - Coil     Bewitching Bead & Wire Jewelry Technorati

Here's a super-easy project that will get you going if you've never worked with wire before!  You might also like it, even if you are an old pro, just to use up some spectacular beads you've got left over.  I was going to use my own lampwork beads, but then I remembered that I had these beauties sitting on my shelf.  They're from Maruti Beads . 1. Cut two pieces of wire and form into an overlapping circle.  It doesn't really matter how big...just size them to be in proportion with the bead you've chosen.  I used 16 gauge sterling silver wire, but you can use craft wire if you'd prefer...just keep it in a heavy gauge. 2. File the ends and turn a loop on each with round nose pliers, with both loops facing up. 3. Using flat nose or chain nose pliers, bend each loop up to a 45 degree angle, more or less and spread the circle to fit the beads. 4. Optional step: texture the wire with a ball peen hammer, avoiding the loops.  Don'

Snap out of it Jean! There's beading to be done!   Jean participates Saturday in a terrifically fun blog hop all about hat jewelry, regarding Sunday's wonderful Kentucky Derby!   The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton   The Inspired by Reading Book Club just finished their first book, "Paris to the Moon" by Adam Gopnik. Check out what all the participants made and find out what the May book is!   About.com Jewelry Making   Three! Count them, three new jewelry book reviews have been posted!   Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading