Beading Arts

6th Annual Halstead Grant Deadline: 06/06/11 Altered Couture Deadline: 06/15/11 Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Lisa , of Fishy Face Designs , just won the fabulous pendant that Cherry Tree Beads made available to us for giveaway! Congratulations Lisa!

You've got to pay a visit to Cherry Tree Beads !  Bill and BeBe Edwards , the owners, sent me so many wonderful beads to share with you that we have decided to give them away in smaller packages, and here comes package #4! *** FREE STUFF ALERT *** Here's what's in package #4 (shown above): Ocean jasper large hole beads with black cord Would you like to win them?  Just leave me a comment below 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: May 17, 2011.  Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

So, here is the tutorial for the piece that I made for Michelle Mach's button-swap party.  I received this terrific bronze-colored button from my fabulous partner, Lody Steward , and I promised you the how-to.  This time it didn't even take me months to write it up! Materials and Tools Large button with pierced shank 10 inches of 20 gauge bronze wire Brass head pins Charms Jump rings Short strand of vintage facetted glass beads 24 inches of medium weight (0.019 in) SoftFlex 4 small brass rounds 2 black crimp beads 4 inches of brass chain Brass lobster claw clasp 1 brass saucer bead Chain nose pliers Round nose pliers Wire cutters File Ball-peen hammer   1. Loop the wire through the shank of the button.  Flatten the charm loop slightly with your hammer. 2. Twist the wire ends together and use round nose pliers to form a double bail. 3. Wrap the shank of the bail with both wires.  Clip the ends close and file them smooth. 4. Ad...

  Art Bead Scene Looking for a challenge? Art Bead Scene has two design contests for you! Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva How 'bout a mini-dip to go with your double dip?   Resin Crafts! Resin Crafts has a great idea for using leftover resin. Snap out of it,Jean! There's music to be done! Jean reviews the stunning book, Vintage Jewelry Design. It's one hundred years of must-see beauty!   The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Celebrate Spring and the return of the weekly Thursday Giveaways with an assortment of components from Beadaholique!   About.com Jewelry Making Even if May 5th passed by you unnoticed, that doesn't mean you can't find an excuse to celebrate.     Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Filomena Laforgia recently launched Filanthropists.com , an online shopping mall where ONLY “Products that Give Back” are showcased and sold. Filomena writes: This wire item is featured on my site.  100% of the proceed goes to support Until There’s a Cure (UTAC.org). It made exclusively for UTAC by Stephanie Hamilton Designs . Each pendant measures approximately 1.5" in diameter and hangs from an adjustable length sterling silver 18" chain. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Bonnie , who owns Calico Juno Designs , is still busily making lovely wire-wrapped jewelry!  We first met Bonnie in this profile from last year, and as you can see here, she has lots of new designs for the spring with bright juicy colors like pink ruby and mandarin garnet and idocrase (a warm olive green), and new techniques like extra wire wrapping and heavy gauge hammered wire. Bonnie has about 200 new designs for spring which can all be seen on her website! Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Mixed metals and resin necklace Do you love working with wire or does it frustrate you?  Wire has never been my primary material, although I love the look of it...especially when someone who really knows what they're doing uses it!  But even a fumble-fingers like me can put together a couple of fun projects that incorporate wire in different ways, and that's what this month is going to be all about.  During this month (and into the next one if we need to), I'm going to share a round-up of information that's in our archives here on Beading Arts , and point you to the fabulous work done by artists we already know, but I also want all of you who love working with wire to join in too. Whatever you do with wire, especially if you combine it with beads, we want to see your work. You don't have to be a pro...you just gotta tell us why you love wire! Please send your artist statement of one to two paragraphs, and up to three images (72dpi res) of your work, along...

You've got to pay a visit to Cherry Tree Beads !  Bill and BeBe Edwards , the owners, sent me so many wonderful beads to share with you that we have decided to give them away in smaller packages, and here comes package #3! *** FREE STUFF ALERT *** Here's what's in package #3 (shown above): Peace sign - this is not online yet. Bill has sent it to the photographer to get professional shots of it. This is made from spent US military brass and cast into the peace sign. Cherry Tree Beads is working on getting this marketed nationwide to benefit our soldiers who are returning home from war with injuries. Would you like to win it?  Just leave me a comment below 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...

Marge of Rock Creek Creations won the beautiful Chinese crystal tumbles from Cherry Tree Beads !  Stay tuned...tomorrow there will be a brand new giveaway :-) Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Don't you love to buy beads when they're on sale?  Even if I don't have any idea what I want to do with them, when my beady little eyes see them, I sometimes pounce.  And then I wait.  I'm glad I pounced and waited this time.  It took another sales purchase before this necklace came together, but I'm really happy with it.  First, I went to Joann's Fabric to look for plain muslin, and I came home with that plus a really neat frog-style closure like you'd use on a sweater that had been sitting all lonely in a clearance bin.  And then there was the chain and the wire and the lovely mixed metals... Yay!  Now the beads have a home! Note: Since the time this tutorial was first posted, the original beads are no longer available, so I have inserted some suggestions for substitutions below.  However, I think this necklace style would look great in many different colors and in different combinations of metals.  Materials 14 - 18 mm bead...

  About.com Jewelry Making Vintage style is mixed with modern alternatives in this new necklace tutorial. Art Bead Scene The Art Bead Scene offers up a few business tips.   Barbe Saint John - Saints & Sinners Barbe reviews Jen Cushman's "Explore Create Resinate" Book.   Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi has some eye candy featuring scarves and a big bauble.   Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva The week, Cindy's tangled up in a re-do of her studio.   Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie uses an unusual find of vintage leather postcards to craft a leather cuff bracelet   Resin Crafts! Carmi turns a feathered butterfly in a pendant with resin.   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! In this A to Z blogging challenge entry, Jean is surprised by "W" for a Wonderful thing which happens to her! The Bead Dreamer Vintage inspired jewelry components and a vintage pin from her grandmother com...

Artist: Sarah Reed Faery Scents Jewelry Sarah writes: My creative process always starts with the beads. I could get lost looking at beads and making my own. The only time I start with a sketch or planned design is when I am using my loom. I then I just go with what strikes me. As for me I am 33 years-old and was found to be disabled almost 2 years ago by my physician. I suffer from a rare liver disease that is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. I have a 2 year old son named Nero. My husband's name is Nakoa. I began making jewelry as an escape from my woes and as a way to help my family make ends meet since I can no longer work. I started by making jewelry as gifts for my mom and mom-in-law. I have sold a few items on etsy but have a growing facebook page for my work. The first piece, Arrows (shown above), was inspired by Native American designs and symbols. My great uncle was a shaman and my husband is Native American. My mother would read Native American le...

  Beading Across America: Jewelry Inspiration from Coast to Coast by Sherry Serafini, Paulette Baron and Amy Katz Sherry Serafini's Sensational Bead Embroidery: 25 Inspiring Jewelry Projects (Beadweaving Master Class) by Sherry Serafini Glass Bead Jewelry Projects by Nelli Rees Creative Beaded Jewelry by Sigal Buzaglo Wire Art Jewelry Workshop: Step-by-Step Techniques and Projects by Sharilyn Miller Jewelry Upcycled!: Techniques and Projects for Reusing Metal, Plastic, Glass, Fiber, and Found Objects by Sherri Haab and Michelle Haab Creative Wire Jewelry by Ariella Nachshon 500 Silver Jewelry Designs: The Powerful Allure of a Precious Metal (500 Series) by Marthe Le Van and Talya Baharal 30-Minute Rings: 60 Quick & Creative Projects for Jewelers by Marthe Le Van Inpsiritu Jewelry: Earrings, Bracelets and Necklaces for the Mind, Body and Spirit by Marie French Jewelry from Found Objects by Heather Skowood Practical Jewellery-Making Techniques (...

Mike and I took our second working vacation to Tzanchaj Atitlan, Guatemala last month.  You won't find Tzanchaj actually on the map at this link; it is located about 5 miles southwest of Santiago Atitlan, and is just a tiny little village right next to Panabaj, the scene of total devastation during the 2005 mudslides caused by Hurricane Stan.  Our first trip was in 2007 when our son decided to stay there for two years to work in an orphanage rather than come home and finish college.  Now he is married and has a three year old daughter, and has been back working there since February 2010.  You can read my travel log, if you are interested, on Mixed Media Artist . We did take an hour or so to go shopping in Santiago Atitlan.  Here are some fabrics that I purchased.  Since I left my clothes at the orphanage when we departed, our suitcase was no heavier than before!    Hand Embroidery   Lightweight scarves   Heavier shawls Han...

Ok, it's not a surprise anymore, but it's still very exciting!  Have you visited Cherry Tree Beads yet?  Bill and BeBe Edwards , the owners, sent me so many wonderful beads to share with you that we have decided to give them away in smaller packages over the next month.  Or more!  So here we go... *** FREE STUFF ALERT *** Here's what's in package #2 (shown above): Three strands of Chinese crystal tumbles Would you like to win them?  Just leave me a comment below 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: May 2, 2011.   Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace ...