My Dear Bead Readers,  This isn’t necessarily good-bye to the blogosphere because I still have my About.com Jewelry Making site as well as Fat and 40, but unfortunately, I have to say good-bye to blogging over here at b5media’s Jewelry and Beading blog. This was my very first blog, started over 2 years ago when I was blogging with About Weblogs, which eventually merged with b5media, so this was not an easy decision to make at all. I’ve been stressing over it for a good long time. However, I have so many other exciting opportunities as far as my writing and teaching career right now, that I really need to focus on those and I know that would mean I could not provide the right amount of time required to keep this blog up to... [Read more]

I always feel inspired when I wear my Can’t Touch That Earrings. Made with gold-filled beads and findings and Venetian glass beads, these have a rich look and feel to them. The beads are so gorgeous you barely have to accent them with anything else, which is why I opted for a very simple design. [Read more]

It’s pink. It’s powerful. It’s inspirational. It’s a necklace made by a bead buddy of mine, Judy, and then she let me photograph and write up the directions so she could share: Pink Power Lampwork & Wire Necklace. [Read more]

Who doesn’t love glass beads from Italy? And, then there’s sterling beads, pink crystals, and pearls to boot in this bracelet: From Venice with Love Bracelet. [Read more]

Add some pizzaz to your beads by wrapping them with wire. In this project, Wrap and Curl Earrings, you start with some simple beads and a little wire and end up with some earrings so inspiring you’ll want to make a matching bracelet and necklace as well. [Read more]