Beading Arts

Carmi's Art/Life World   It is truly wonderful how tools in the papercrafting and sewing world can be used for jewelry making. I have a new leather bird bracelet to share this week!   Resin Crafts Blog   A fast and easy UNICORN ring with pewter miniatures and Jewelry Resin.   Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!  Jean's review of the fabulous book Crystal Play by Anna Elizabeth Draeger, in case you missed it the first time! It is a MUST!  The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton   Check out the Inspired by Reading Book Club blog hop for May's selection, "A Rumor of Gems" by Ellen Steiber!   About.com Jewelry Making   Tammy takes a look at a new book that incorporates epoxy in jewelry making.   Art Bead Scene   June's challenge piece, Jackknife Village by Franklin Carmichael, is revealed!   Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed ...

Eye Sea If you've ever felt you were stuck in a rut, just making pretty jewelry, you owe it to yourself to visit Gail Gorlitzz's   site and see the astonishing sculptures she's making with seed beads.  Not your average everyday beader, for sure! Detail of Eye Sea Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Another excellent beginner's guide from Kalmbach Press!  Exploring Canework in Polymer Clay was written by Patricia Kimle , whose work should be immediately recognizable to those who love mixing polymer and metal clays.  Let me just state again that this is a much more basic book than you may have seen from Patricia before, so take that into account if you decide you want a copy.    This piece is NOT from the book...it's an example  of Patricia's beautiful mixed media work from her website.   But look at those canes!  Cool, huh?   That is what Patricia teaches in the book! Patricia starts off with some basics of working with polymer clay in any technique, which makes it a particularly good book for a beginner who knows that canework is what draws them.  She moves into color lessons, how to do a Skinner blend, and the basics of canework: constructing, reducing, and repeating.  And slicing!  We can't forge...

A guest post by Alan Cairns Originally designed by Danish silversmith Søren Nielsen in Denmark in 1976, Trollbeads are quirky, interchangeable charms that can be strung together on a chain. Since their creation they have grown into a global brand with a reputation for creativity, innovation and beauty. This article explores the history of these fascinating pieces and their popularity today. Originally the beads were only sold in Søren’s father’s jewellery shop in Copenhagen. Søren’s sister Lise later opened a second store in Lyngby in 1987. It was in the 80s that Trollbeads first released a chain with a removable lock, allowing customers to play around with different bead combinations for the first time. Lise Aagaard introduced glass beads to the collection in the 90s. Typical pieces can include silver, 18ct gold, pearl, precious and semi-precious stones and glass. The most popular beads are made from Italian glass, using a technique called lampworking, flameworking or to...

From my series Not Found in Nature  #1, 2013 Mixed media jewelry includes any style that combines two or more different materials.  So whether you like resin or fiber or metal work or polymer clay, there's a place for you during Mixed Media Month.  Just think about how you can combine some of these materials, and please, don't forget about the beads! I have been compiling lists of tutorials, resources, book reviews and the like for well over a year now in the hopes that it would help you quickly and easily find what you're looking for.  By the end of the month, I'll have the lists completely updated and ready to rock.   From my series  Not Found in Nature  #2, 2013 Do you want to help with this project?  How about sharing some of your own mixed media work or tutorials?  Please email me at cyndi @ mazeltovjewelry.com (remove the spaces), and tell me what you've got in mind.  When it comes to mixed media jewelry, we are very ve...

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. ...

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 , b...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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