Beading Arts

Artist: Paul Bishop Bishop Wire & Bead Bishop Wire & Bead shop Paul has been writing and sharing wire tutorials with us for several years now.  I am more grateful than I can ever tell you, because wire is just not my primary thing, and I think that in order to be really good at it, it has to be your thing!  Paul did an artist profile for us too, which you can read to get even more insight into his creative process.  And if you drop his name into the little google searchbox in the sidebar on the right of this blog, the links to all his wonderful tutorials will pop up for you!  Stay tuned, because Paul has a BRAND NEW tutorial for us that you're not going to want to miss that will post next Tuesday, June 14! Paul writes:  Several visitors to my booths in the last year loved the elegant and creative swirls of my wrapped cabochons and heart stones. However, they did not purchase them. These people desired a more simple style with less coverag...

In the April 2011 issue of Bead&Button , Kimberly Berlin ("Can't-beat-copper earrings") demonstrated a clever way to decorate copper tube beads by using a hammer to strike in some texture. I decided to use my torch instead. I'd been wanting to experiment a bit with copper tubing, so this seemed like a great opportunity. Materials and Tools Copper tubing Tube cutter or coping saw Ruler Pencil Emery board Liver of sulfur (optional) Ammonia (optional) Salt (optional) Torch (optional) 1. Mark lengths with a pencil on your tubing and use a tube cutter to carefully twist off the pieces. Only tighten the cutter a little bit with each twist so that you don't collapse and distort your tubing. 2. Use an emery board or jeweler's file to clean up the edges and smooth them out. 3. Mix up liver of sulfur according to the package directions. I like to use a patination method that I learned to use with CopprClay.   4. ...

  Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva Look what's sprung up underneath one of Cindy's Red Lotus Pods! Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Summer is just days away. Come on over to check out the latest installtion from the Earthenwood Design Team. Resin Crafts! Carmi has a four part series on mold making on Resin Crafts blog this week.     Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean reviews the third in a fine series of books by Marthe Le Van. This one is expressly about rings which you can make in 30 minute or less! And they are OUTRAGEOUSLY gorgeous. Come see!   The Bead Dreamer Charlene creates a book and an alphabet stepping way outside the box. Don't we all need to from time to time?   The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew hosts another great Thursday Giveaway! This time ceramic beads from Golem Studio are up for grabs!   About.com Jewelry Making There are lots of recent graduates out there...

Artist: Kay Murphy Website: Retrosplurge Beaded jewelry on sterling silver wire is my favorite form of self expression besides gardening, so I feel my designs reflect my love of nature. When I lost my job almost 2 years ago now, I began my online presence which I hope will lead to my retirement income in the future. My shop called Retrosplurge is on Etsy, where I also sell vintage, costume jewelry and fun finds. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

500 Beaded Jewelry Deadline: 07/15/11       Belle Armoire Jewelry Deadline: 07/15/11      Stringing challenge: Winter Wonderland Deadline: 07/27/11      Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

KJ, who writes KJ's Beadacious Beads , is the winner of our last giveaway package from Cherry Tree Beads!  Congratulations, KJ!! Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Basic Wirework informational and suppliers links 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 Some simple tutorials:    Making a wrapped loop    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...

A guest tutorial by Beads Direct To make this sensational Black Sparkle Ring , you will need Silver plated beading wire , 0.5mm (W38) Aluminum silver beading wire , 2mm (W203) Czech 8mm glass beads ,hematite (BG529) Czech 8mm glass beads ,jet (BG407) Crystal glass heart beads , black (BG1289) Crystal glass twisted coin beads , smoky (BG1262) In three easy steps... STEP 1 Wrap your aluminum wire 3 times around your chosen ring shaper (you can use anything tubular that is the right size for your finger) leaving an end of approx. 3cm at one end, and the coiled wire at the other. Wrap the end of wire around 2-3 times to hold everything together. Snip off any excess wire if necessary. STEP 2 Snip around 10cm of silver wire and thread on a bead. Holding the bead close to the wire ring base, wrap each end of silver wire around the base. Position the bead where you would like it on the ring, and then start to wrap the thick wire around it. STEP 3 After a ...

  Carmi's Art/Life World Resin + chocolate = great new bezels! Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva It's a Tangle Tutorial. Come make a pair of "Well-Loved" earrings!   Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Lumber everywhere! Melanie's wood-grain components are popping up in Beads 2011, on the Vintaj blog as the Art Bead Partner of the month, and at Art Bead Scene in a huge giveaway!   Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei's birthday brought big changes to her jewelry studio this week, come on over and watch her vlog.   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean had a wonderful time creating a necklace set using both Artbeads and Earthenwood Studio components together, as she a blogging and design partner for each! See what she designed ! You might think the end result is as as yummy as she does !!!   The Bead Dreamer Stick beads, gemstones and wood earring findings inspire a necklace and matching earri...

Artist: Gia Scarano Website: Earth Art Fire Earth Art Fire is the creation of Gia Scarano , who currently lives in Oakland, California. Her style of wirework is the result of traveling, meeting great teachers, and the independent study of ancient traditions from all over the world. Since graduating Boston University in 2003 with a degree in anthropology, she spent most of her time between Hawaii and South America farming and making art. The influence of two years learning in South America is evident in her style of wirework, as is the heartsong of four years of Pele's influence. Manning a chipper shredder, hauling fertilizer and moving boulders of lava by day, going to yoga, and twisting sterling silver with other metals to elegantly frame gems and crystals by night, she passed her time gathering strength living off the grid before heeding the call to California. Earth Art Fire Jewelry can be found in the Bay at Yeah Baby in Fairfax, Gioia in San Anselmo, Pkok on Hi...

  Three Owls by Terry Pugh 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! 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 Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

  Easy Beading Vol. 7 by Editors of BeadStyle magazine Metal Style: 20 Jewelry Designs with Cold Join Techniques by Karen Dougherty Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Laura Thykeson, writer of Taz's Corner , is the winner of the wonderful package of Cherry Hill Beads from last week.  Congratulations to Laura!  One more package to go, boys and girls...enter today! 

This is the last fabulous giveaway package from 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 lots, so here comes the final one, package #6! *** FREE STUFF ALERT *** Here's what's in package #6 (shown above): Base-metal beads, rondelles with floral design Base-metal beads, barrels with double circles Base-metal silver-colored toggles 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 31, 2011.  Technorati Tags: handmade ...

Artist: Jessica Russell Website: Tumbleweed Bead Co Our pieces are handcrafted in the United States using all recycled metals featuring natural stones. Our jewelry is versatile, feminine, and eco-friendly. I started Tumbleweed in 2003 and love being able to express my creativity in fun, wearable designs. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Nautilus Artist: Jelena Louie Website: Change of hART Change of hART is a small jewelry and wedding flower design studio based in Wichita, KS. It is owned and operated by Jelena Louie, a Textile Design graduate of FIDM, Los Angeles, CA who, after attempting to make a name for herself in the realm of fine art (painting) and wearable art, had a change of heart and decided it was time to change the art form as well. She then apprenticed with a jeweler in Sitka, AK for two years. Jelena's branching into beaded and wire wrapped jewelry began in 2003, and she has drawn her inspiration from nature's bounty ever since. Techniques Jelena most frequently uses in her jewelry design are wire wrapping and wire knitting, metal stamping, knotting, and stringing. In her wedding floral designs, she combines fabric, feathers, beads, crystals, and rhinestones to mimic natural flowers "with a twist." Knit and Pearl Jelena was an active member of California Silk Artists group ...

  Beads & Books If you're in a creative rut, you might want to read what Michelle learned from interviewing bead artist Betsy Youngquist. Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi tests a package of Shrinky Dink for ink jet printers in order to make a new bracelet. Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva Bright Colors are everywhere - here's a rewind on how to put some color into your designs!   Resin Crafts! Carmi creates a ring combining Envirotex Lite resin and resin clay!   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean received the most wonderful email from Pasty Evins! You must read it --it will make you, as an artist, think! The Bead Dreamer Charlene shares a bracelet made with moon beads, owl charms and thoughts on how we are more alike than different   A Bead A Day It's Bead Mix week on A Bead A Day! Do you have a favorite bead mix you'd like to share? Stop on over!   About.com Jewelry Making It's hot, a...

Artist: Patricia Chauvin Website: MightCat Creations I make all types of jewelry from wirework to basic stringing, metal stamping, handmade clay beads, crystal and mostly glass beads. I have been designing as a hobby for over 10 yrs now. The bracelet up above is my popular spiral end cuff bracelet using black and white spiral beads, I have done a few of these and have entered one of these cuffs in a competition for beadaholique website and won in the top ten winners, a lifetime website with Artfire.com. The second picture (above) is a herringbone weave wire work making a necklace. The third picture (below) is my wirework earrings using Turquiose beads. I do a few vendor shows here and there when I can. Would love to make this my full time job some day. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Artist: Sandra Merwe Website: Sandra My inspiration is taken from a multitude of sources; fashion runway, interior and furniture design, travel, diverse cultures, current events, historical accounts, fine art, to name a few. The images featured are from a collection entitled "delicate". The materials are a mix of 14 KT gold, sterling silver, raw cut pyrite and Swarovski crystals. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Artist: Ruth Borsky Website: Beads-on-a-Wire I have been making beaded Kipot (plural for Kipah) for about 4 years. A Kipah is a head covering or hat. In the case of my creations, I make colorful hats for women to wear to Jewish religious services. However, I have made kipot for brides as well as women attending special occasions who want to complete their outfits. Technorati Tags: handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading