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Showing posts from August, 2014

Recent publications: August 2014

Chain and Bead Jewelry Geometric Connections: A New Angle on Creating Dimensional Earrings, Bracelets, and Necklaces ... by Scott David Plumlee The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making, 2nd Edition: 15 New Projects, New Gallery - More than 700 Large Color ... by Tammy Powley Beading All-Stars: 20 Jewelry Projects from Your Favorite Designers by Lark Crafts Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Bead Journal Project: August 2014

I am still stuck on working with pleated shibori silk ribbon, and this month for my Bead Journal Project piece, I took a minimalist approach to the beads and maximized the ribbon!  I know, I know...it doesn't seem quite right to me either, but we can't always get our way, now can we?  I'm happy with how this piece came out, I learned something, and I'll be able to share that something in the future.  What could be wrong with that?  :-) Here is a link to part one of my two part series on making the shibori silk flowers and leaves . January February March April May June July Copyright 2014 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

heART beats from other blogs!

The Artful Crafter Website Re-Launch Party We're so excited that we're throwing a BIG party with BIG prizes. Come see our new home! There Is No Can't Doing whatever you want in the whole wide world. Mixed Media Anniversary Quilt: Finished! Cherie finishes the quilt she made to celebrate her wedding anniversary. Resin Crafts Blog How to make paperweights in bangle molds with resin. Trials and triumphs.

Jewelry calculator available at Auntie's Beads

Clint Henderson from Auntie's Beads recently contacted me about a jewelry pricing calculator that he is continuing to tweak, to attempt to make it the most useful tool you'll find anywhere for plugging in your materials and hourly rate, and ending up with a suggested retail or wholesale price.  It's super easy to use, and it even has a handy timer that you can use if you're not really sure how long it takes you to do a task! Give it a look, and see if it would help you to keep better records! Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Fall/Winter 2014-2015 color and style forecast!

Pantone Fashion Color Report for Fall 2014 The current colors, as seen above Lenzing Color Trends Palettes within the palettes that you might like Best Fall Trends for Back to School By College Fashion Fall Fashion Trends for 2014 Huffington Post Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Bittersweet Wrap-sody cuff

You saw my heat-textured candy bag last week, and now here is the fruit of my labor! The center-piece is a stamping that I did with a washer from Alkeme ( ImpressArt ), the rivolis and their settings are from Fire Mountain Gems .  The fabulous buttons on each end are vintage plastic buttons that I picked up in New Jersey the last time I went to visit my cousin.  I also used some over-sized jump rings, links from a chain, and some seed beads (size 11/0s and 15/0s) to finish it off.  There is a metal cuff inside to provide support.  Here are a few of my process photos for you: Copyright 2014 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.

heART beats from other blogs!

How to Repair Beaded Fringe Here's how to DIY bead fringe repair or find a pro. BTW, craft repair is a very nice niche especially as a supplement to selling items you make from scratch. Resin Crafts Blog Super easy coasters with resin and glitter! Craft Organizing Tips for organizing or not organizing depending on how things go! The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew shares the Reveal for the latest design challenge, Dark Bloom. A Bead A Day Are you wearing sparkle today? Would you give up your exercise time to make something sparkly?

Metal mesh ribbon sources

I am extremely happy to say that metal mesh ribbon has become one of my favorite new materials to work with.  In the beginning, I had a hard time locating it, but now it seems to be easier to find.  Aria Design Studio Specialty Beads

Textured candy bags!

Thanks to my recent obsession with all things textured, I ended up heat-shrinking a bag of Dove chocolates.  NO, the chocolates were not IN the bag, silly.  Of course I had already scarfed them all down, because that's another thing I'm obsessed with! What I did was to open up the bag completely, take it outside in case of fumes, and shrink it with my trusty heat gun.  If you don't have one, you might even be able to use a hair dryer if you can get it hot enough.  What happens is that these bags are layers of both metal and plastic.  The plastic shrinks and wrinkles, and takes the pretty bag colors with it. I'm thinking that this would be a great base layer for something steampunk, with gears and other metal bits.  And beads, of course!  What do you think? Copyright 2014 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...

heART beats from other blogs!

Podcast Pilot The princess puts herself out there in her pilot podcast! Carmi's Art A closer look at my resin projects published in Tammy Powley's "The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making." Resin Crafts Blog Learn to make the Charming Charlie Keepsake Bracelet - Created for Scrapbooking.Com Magazine How to Add an Antique Finish to Decoupage Antiquing a decoupage project is very simple; but it's important to do steps in the proper order. A Bead A Day Lisa shares her love for tiny little jewelry making elements. It doesn't take much for her inner child to make an appearance! Beading Arts Buttons make a wonderful accent on a bead embroidered bracelet!

Book review: Finding Style

Designer Irina Miech presents 27 new jewelry projects that showcase the newest, and most fun, components now widely available.  In Finding Style , you will find how to use these new toys, and you'll definitely be inspired to move forward with them.  The projects are fairly basic, so if you are a beginner, this may be the book for you. There is a bike chain bracelet on page 40 that I really want to make, and I also love the way Irina uses leather bracelets with rivets to attach interesting buttons and other pieces.  There are five sections: Bezels and settings, Gears and jump rings, Metal buttons and rivets, Beach stones and metal stampings, and Filigree and chain. Each chapter begins with an overview of the materials, tools, and techniques needed.  You will find that many of these ideas will help your designs to go 3D, so if additional dimension, texture,  height, or just excitement is what you're looking for, look inside this book! Technorati Tags...

A bead embroidered soft cuff with BUTTONS!!

Do you remember a few weeks ago when I showed you the buttons that I received from The Bead & Button Company , UK?  Well, the beautiful beautiful buttons inspired me to make another bracelet, but this time, instead of a cuff with a metal blank in it to make it rigid, I wanted to make it soft, a complete wrap with a button closure. Here it is! There are layers of fabric, soft leather, lace, and pleated silk shibori ribbon, and of course, buttons and beads.  You can find all those lovely buttons and the seed beads at The Bead & Button Company , UK Copyright 2014 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.

heART beats from other blogs

Take a Free Private Class with Lia Griffith to Learn Unique Paper Rose Making Techniques A friend and I took a free private class from Lia Griffith and made some gorgeous paper roses. What fun! Resin Crafts Blog This is a fun how-to showing you how I remake a switch plate with Jewelry Clay! Books Clubs Inspires Artistic Creations "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot prompts artists from across the country to create! Beading Arts Cyndi has written up a little tutorial for her postcard-sized bead quilt!