Recent publications: April 2015

Beaded Chains & Ropes: Create Easy-to-Wear Jewelry Using Popular Stitches by Karin Van Voorhees

Easy Jewelry Making: 50+ projects from the 11th year of Bead Style magazine by BeadStyle magazine

Freeform Wire Art Jewelry: Techniques for Designing With Wire, Beads and Gems by Gayle Bird

The Jewelry Recipe Book: Transforming Ordinary Materials into Stylish and Distinctive Earrings, Bracelets, Necklaces by Nancy Soriano



Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading

Bead Journal Project: April 2015

A number of years ago, I made my first experimental felt pyramid.  Since I wrote up all the instructions at that time, I'm going to just send you there to see the details of how its done.  However, I've got a couple of tips to add...

I decided not to use a stiff felt liner on all the faces of my current pyramid, only on the bottom.  Now I wish that I had taken the time to add them to each face.  See how it sort of sags?  Live and learn.

On my original, I wish that I had added beadwork to the side faces before assembling.  This time I did.  At least that part turned out better, but it is partly the weight of these additions that caused the sagging!

Here are my process shots.  Please visit the link above for the instructions, but remember to add the side decorations before assembling the sides!

January 2015: Wavy raised circle form
February 2015: Crescent form
March 2015: Orb form
April 2015: Pyramid form

Copyright 2015 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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Book review: Beaded Chains & Ropes

You all know that bead embroidery is my thing, not so much beadweaving.  Although I enjoy beadweaving from time to time, it just never enthralls me the way embroidery does.  Except...

Except for beadweaving ropes.  I could spend time almost everyday weaving ropes, and I'd be happy (as long as I still had time to embroider).  There is something hypnotic, mind-freeing, and relaxing about beading a rope.  Sometimes they are tricky to get started, but once you've got the first few rows done, the rhythm kicks in and the zen descends!

I also love ropes because they're a great way to feature favorite pendants or art beads.  Now Karin Van Voorhees has put together a collection of really nice chains and ropes by a talented collection of designers, called appropriately Beaded Chains & Ropes.  All the major stitches are represented, including herringbone, brick, peyote, square, ladder, RAW and cubic RAW, crossweave, spiral, circular netting, Russian spiral, St Petersburg chain, daisy chain, bead crochet, and kumihimo.

For a quick refresher on the stitches, just turn to the back!  This is Kalmbach publication, so you know the quality of the illustrations and photos is excellent, and the instructions are easy to follow.  Some of the projects have been previously published in Bead & Button magazine, but quite a bit is new specifically for this book.

As for me, I'm inspired to maybe try some new spirals!


Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading

Black + copper bead embroidered pendant

I've had this beautiful black and copper swirl dichroic glass pendant for a long time, and it is certainly large enough to just wear on its own by adding a large jump ring, but I wanted to do a bit more.  Not too much more, though!  I'm very happy with the compromise I came up with.

If you are new to bead embroidery or to making pendants, step-by-step instructions for putting together a bead embroidered piece, including back stitch, edging brick stitch, and stack stitch can be found in the free first chapter of Every Bead Has a Story.  Chapter two has instructions for stitching a peyote stitch bezel, and Chapter three teaches the square stitch bail.

1. I decided to stick with only the colors already found in the pendant.  I used some double stick tape to hold the pendant down temporarily while I bezeled it with size 11/0 seed beads, topped by a row of size 15/0 seed beads to cinch it in.  I used a Swarovski marguerite to hide the pendant hole and to secure it to the foundation fabric even more securely.

2. Cut a piece of backing fabric to match the top and add edging brick stitch in size 11/0 seed beads around the outside, trapping a large jump ring at the center of the bottom.

3. Use size 15/0 seed beads to add stack stitches to each edging bead. I alternated colors and height.

4. Stitch a square stitch bail to the back of your pendant.

5. Add a chain or cord to the bail, and use a bead pin to add a couple of beads to dangle at the bottom.  I used another Swarovski marguerite and a Swarovski crystal pearl.

Copyright 2015 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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Book review: Advanced Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop

Advanced Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop: 

Weaving with Rings and Scale Maille 

By Karen Karon 

Interweave/F+W; $26.99

It's hard to believe that it was three years ago that Karen Karon's first book on chain maille jewelry was published by Interweave (my review at the link).  It is by far my favorite book on the subject. And now, chain maille enthusiasts, take heart!  At long last, Karen's sequel, Advanced Chain Maille Jewelry Workshop, is available!

One of the most important things for me when I'm learning a new skill or trying to improve one is that the instructional source I use is well-organized.  Just like the first book, Advanced Chain Maille is amazing in how thoughtfully it is laid out.  There is a quick review of tools, materials, and techniques in the beginning, including chain maille math.  Then Karon moves right into fabulous new weaves, each more complicated than those in the first book, and progressing in difficulty throughout each section so that you can stack your skills as you move along.

The new weaves are divided into 4 chapters: Persian weaves (7), Elf weaves (3), Hybrid weaves (4), and Scale maille weaves (2).  The Scale maille techniques and projects are completely new to me, and I've included one of Karen's pieces above.  If you'd like to read a bit more about it, Karen has an article on Jewelry Making Daily.

Each chapter culminates in a couple of projects, plus tips for moving beyond what has been included.  There is a final chapter which covers attachments, terminations, and finishing touches, all designed to make your pieces as professional as possible.  There are also charts and resource lists, the charts covering aspect ratios and conversions from imperial to metric measures.


Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading

Seed bead components

Square stitch bail for a donut

It's so much fun to master a little piece of beadwork, and then be able to use it over and over for different purposes in your designs.  I gathered up a bunch of easy little multi-use seed bead components that I've taught here over the years, all in one place so you can find the one you want easily!

Cellini spiral tube

Square stitch bail for a donut

RAW bezel and bail

Two-drop peyote stitch beaded beads

Peyote stitch beaded beads

An interesting spiral

Beaded flowers

Beaded cabochon pendants

Spiral square stitch

Barnacles

Floral chain

Bezel for a lampwork bead




Copyright 2015 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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Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading

Bead embroidery pendant with a multi-ribbon background

I am still inspired by the beautiful springtime colors of the ribbons that I received from Offray Ribbons, which included wild berry, violet, and a textured gold ribbon.  For this project, I wanted to use some polymer clay cabochons that I made quite a while ago, featuring the very same colors!

Materials & Tools

Arabesque wire edged ribbon, Wild Berry, 1 1/2 inch wide
Arabesque wire edged ribbon, Violet, 5/8 inch wide
Galena wire edged ribbon, Gold, 1 1/2 inch wide
Foundation fabric (non-woven fabric like ultra suede)
Focal cabochons of your choice
Double stick tape or glue
Size 11/0 and size 15/0 seed beads
Pearls, 6 - 8 mm
Beading thread (I used black Nymo O)

Tools:
Silk pins
Beading needles
Scissors

1. Play with your ribbons on a background of foundation fabric until you like the arrangment.  Use silk pins or double stick tape to hold down the ends for the next few steps.

2. Choose the placement for your focal pieces and adhere them lightly with a drop of glue or double stick tape.

3. Using peyote stitch, create a bezel for your focals.  I back stitched a row of beads around the focals with size 11/0 seed beads, added two or three rows of peyote stitch with the same size 11/0s, and finished with a row of size 15/0 seed beads to cinch the bezel in at the top.

4. Add some accent pearls and stitch another row of back stitch around each shape.

5. I didn't have a stencil or form that was exactly the right size for my pendant, so I printed out a pattern of nested concentric ovals, and cut them out one at a time until I reached the size I thought looked best.

6. Pin the paper pattern down and cut out your pendant.

7. Using the pendant itself as a pattern, cut a piece of backing foundation fabric to match.

8. Stick them together with double stick tape or a few drops of glue, and stitch around the outside with size 11/0 seed beads in edging brick stitch (see note below).

9. Add some size 15/0 seed beads to each edging bead using stack stitch.

10. Add a square stitch bail to the back of your pendant, and slide it onto a chain or cord with a clasp.

Note:
If you are a bead embroidery beginner, step-by-step instructions for the stitches used in putting together a bead embroidered piece, including back stitch, edging brick stitch, and stack stitch can be found in the free first chapter of Every Bead Has a Story.

This post is sponsored by Offray, from whom I have received some of the products in order to create this project for you.  There are also some affiliate links: Beadaholique

Copyright 2015 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.

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