Beading Arts

Could you use a pair of earrings that are a snap to put together and that will use up some of the odds and ends of chains that you have lying around?  It took me just over an hour to put these together, but now that I know how to do it, I bet it would be quicker for a second pair! ;-) I have posted an update to this tutorial here . 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.

Woot and Hoot!  Tammy shows off an owl necklace design she has been plotting and planning for some time. Mixed Media Artist Do you love flowers, birds, and happy animals? Check out My Enchanted Garden for an eyeful! Art Bead Scene Check out March's Challenge Monthly Recap - lots of beautiful jewellery made by some of our lovely readers! Spring and Easter Craft Projects for You Crafty Peeps Looking for Easter and Spring crafts? Find directions for everything from unique Easter eggs to holiday table décor and jewelry at The Artful Crafter. Take A Trip to Northern Ireland Andrew shares the latest creations made for the March selection of the Inspired by Reading Book Club, "An Irish Country Doctor" by Patrick Taylor. Carrmi's Art/Life World I have a new kumihimo experiment - a rat tail plus sari yarn braid. Resin Crafts Blog This week I have two special posts showing you how to make truly one of a kind candle holders with EasyCast. Technorati Tag...

There are soooo many different things you can do with seed beads:  string, weave off-loom or on a loom, embroider, glue, embed them in resin...there must be even more!   Here are all the seed bead tutorials and resources from Beading Arts.  Some of these are quick and dirty techniques, and some follow a larger project from beginning to end.  Enjoy! Resources:     Bead embroidery techniques All Beading Arts e-books Free e-book on bead embroidery stitches Every Bead Has a Story e-book Some Assembly Required e-book  Bored By Back Stitch e-book Best of the basics online Arm Candy e-book Seed bead components Beaded beads tutorials Tutorials: An open-centered triangle bail Beadwoven bails for pendants Beadwoven rope necklace wrap-up Piano keys - Russian leaf pattern Russian leaves - diagonal peyote stitch Ruffled peyote stitch rope necklace An indespiral bead rope necklace Pearl spiral rope necklace Chenille stit...

I was introduced to ImpressArt's line of metal stamping products a few years ago, and have been a loyal user ever since.  While I don't do a lot of projects that are heavy into metal fabrication, stamping is a really fun way to personalize almost any project.  In fact, I've used several of my stamps to make metal objects that have ended up embedded in my bead embroidery!  So, look at what they just sent me to play with, and start imagining along with me... Alkeme is the new metal stamping alloy that sits between pewter and aluminum in hardness, as you can see in the chart below.  Softer and easier to get good impressions than with copper or brass, it has the look of silver, but no where near the price!  It is a tin-based alloy, free of lead, nickel, and cadmium, those nasty elements that many folks are allergic to, and that are also just plain unhealthy.  ImpressArt promises that with the softer surface comes deeper impressions and -- you're going...

Phaedra Torres Here are a few of my very favorite stringing artists, who go far beyond the basics, just to knock something loose in your head and get you revved up to try something new: Phaedra Torres Jamee Jones Karen Leslie Tammy Powley  Michelle Mach  Eileen Bergen Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

I told you last month that I was not able to finish the piece that I started for February, so it became my challenge piece for February AND March.  I'd rather do it right than do it fast and sloppy :-) The real challenge was that I wanted to mix together as many of the stitches that I developed for Bored By Back Stitch as possible, without making it look like I was trying too hard.  My decision was to go for symmetry in the middle component, and then to stitch six more that would match each other for size, but would vary in shape, texture, and color.  My three main colors, which you can see a bit better in the detail shots below, are turquoise, purple, and copper.  Each of the smaller components features two of these colors, always with turquoise. I'm pleased, but not thrilled.  I want to make another piece similar to this and see if I can work up some different ways to combine the stitches.  I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm already gettin...

Mixed Media Artist The weaving technique that Cyndi used in an art quilt was successful enough for her to try it again...and see if she can get it right this time! Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Review by jean and GIVEAWAY as well of the stunning book, 1000 BEADS, Kristina Logan, Juror ! see Jean's blog! Eggs in Nest Beaded Charm Bracelet   Three blue-speckled eggs nestled in a wire-wrapped charm make a great focal charm. This bracelet features three nests. Click for directions. There are matching earrings as well. Carmi's Art/Life World I wanted to share this special blog hop I coordinated with 12 different designers. All their projects are so unique and different! They received Neo Chain from Dazzle-it come to play with. Resin Crafts Blog This is part one of a three part post which focuses on containing resin in a flat wire wall. Crochet Kit Giveaway Enter to win an super, uber ad-or-able Wizard of Oz crochet kit! The Writing and Ar...

 Ana, who writes AC Beads, has just won a copy of the new book  Mastering Herringbone Stitch ,  Congratulations Ana! Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

Need some more inspiration?  Any of these books will be welcome additions to your library! Classic Style, Fresh Look by Irina Miech Making Elegant Jewelry   by the Editors of BeadStyle magazine Simply Stylish Crystal Jewelry by the Editors of BeadStyle magazine Multistrand Jewelry by the Editors of BeadStyle magazine Project Necklaces by the Editors of BeadStyle magazine Necklaceology  by Candie Cooper ( review ) Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry  by Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel ( review ) The Venetian Glass Bead  by Kathy Fox ( review ) Jewelry Designs from Nature  by Heather Powers ( review ) Create Jewelry - Glass  by Marlene Blessing and Jamie Hogsett ( review ) Designing Jewelry with Semiprecious Beads  by Kim Gover ( review ) Jewelry & Beading Designs for Dummies  by Heather Dismore and Tammy Powley ( review ) Ancient Modern Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry  by Ronna Sarvas Weltman ( review ) Beading In No Time ...

Small Beads Big Jewelry: 30 Unique Pieces to Make by Jean Power Precious Friendship Bracelets by Di Kim (Mar 6, 2014 Create Three Dimensional Jewelry: Combine Stitching, Embellishing, Layering, and Riveting by Heather DeSimone Twist, Turn & Tie 50 Japanese Kumihimo Braids: A Beginner's Guide to Making Braids for Beautiful Cord Jewelry by Beth Kemp Enameling Made Easy: Torch-Firing Workshop for Beginners & Beyond by Anat Silvera BoHo Chic Jewelry: 25 Timeless Designs Using Soldering, Beading, Wire Wrapping and More by Laura Beth Love How to Make 100 Ribbon Embellishments: Trims, rosettes, sculptures, and baubles for fashion, decor, and crafts  by Elaine Schmidt Stylish Leather Jewelry: Modern Designs for Earrings, Bracelets, Necklaces, and More by Mylene Hillam Technorati Tags: bead embroidery , handmade beaded jewelry , wearable art , beads , jewelry , necklace , mixed media , beading

One of the first beading techniques that most people learn is how to string.  After moving on to bead weaving, bead embroidery, and mixed media techniques, some of us forget about that thrill that we got when we first learned how to string a pleasing necklace..  We forget how exciting it was to learn how to finish off a piece with a polished-looking closure.   Never forget the basics! Making your beading designs unique  - part one Making your beading designs unique  - part two Making your beading designs unique  - part three Another kazuri bead necklace An easy seashell necklace Chandelier-style optical lens pendant Interchangeable Kazuri bead necklaces Sandcast beads Boho necklace Cherry Donut Pink yarrow, Flame, and Greenery pendant necklace Peace on Earth necklace Waves beaded necklace Ametrine & vintage buttons necklace Faerie Bells, revisited Aegean Seas Mental Gears Multi-strand necklace Knotting a continuou...

I'm not a real afficionado of chain maille, but once in awhile it's really fun to dabble in, especially when you can whip up a fast and easy (and super-cute) pair of earrings in almost no time!  I'm not sure exactly what you would call this pattern of linking your jump rings: it is either a simple 1 x 1 chain with extra loops added to every other link, or it's a 3 x 1 chain without the second attachment for the outer rings of each 3. Does anyone know if this pattern has an official name? Anyway, it's easy to do, as I said, and you can be wearing new earrings in an hour. Materials and Tools Pair of silver earring wires 26 Twisted jump rings (20 gauge, 8 mm) 14 drops or charms 2 pair of chain nose pliers 1. For each earring, pick up a drop on 6 jump rings, and close the rings. 2. Starting with 1 open jump ring with an ear wire on it, pick up 3 closed jump rigns, the outer ones with crops and the middle one plain. 3. Use an open jump ring to ...

Ok, big disclaimer...I have a piece in this book, so of course it's going to be hard for me to be objective about it!  So what? 1000 Beads , compiled by juror Kristina Logan for Lark Books , is full of the inspirational work that you've come to expect from this series.  Traditional and alternative materials are both represented here: glass, porcelain, polymer clay, fibers, seed beads, colored pencils, bone, metals, stones, fabric, wood, leather, and in my case, antique plumbing fixtures. Last year, a few months before the call went out from Lark, I had made a series of beads that I called Not Found in Nature , which were built on old plumbing parts that I found in the attic and basement of our Victorian home.  If you visit the link, it will show you three beads from the series, but I'm not going to tell you which one was accepted :-)