Reader giveaway: Bead Expert DVD from Beads & Beyond!
July 2, 2008 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Designing
I have been given copies of Beads & Beyond’s DVDs to giveaway to readers here! B&B is a British beading magazine that would like to introduce itself beyond the UK and Australia, so I will have to limit this giveaway to my Canadian and United States readers (sorry!). I will be doing another giveaway of a different DVD from this set on my mixed media arts blog, Layers Upon Layers, so please feel free to enter on both sites!
To enter, simply leave me a comment below, telling me your feelings about working with pearls or semi-precious gemstones, or how much you’d like to be working with them!
The description from the Beads & Beyond website:
In Joan’s company we meet Rebecca Hughes and Claire Humpherson – two very talented young artists. Claire and Rebecca discuss their inspiration and original designs, and share their tips and techniques for producing individual and stunningly beautiful pieces.
As well as discussing the materials and tools needed, they each take us step-by-step through several complete projects, showing how a few simple techniques can be combined and adapted to give stunning results.
Learn how to make your own jewellery findings including, clasps, coils and links using wire, a jewellers chase hammer and metal block. See how easy it is to design your own link chains and home décor gifts.
Truly I cannot get enough of pearls and gemstones. In fact it is rarity when I work with anything else.
Right now the exciting things on my beading board are some baroque silver teardrop shaped Tahitians I got at a very good price, some freshwater keshi in silver, and onyx accent beads.
I love gemstone beads, and while I have been working with crystals and stones in other forms for many years, I am a relatively new bead addict. Its amazing to me how many layers of colors and textures I can work with, and I was surprised to discover I can “see” different combinations as I am working on something, and it works beautifully. Just a month ago I discovered pearls, which is a whole new exciting realm! Love your blog, thanks for doing it!
I work the most with gemstones, pearls and silver. Brass by Vintaj would be the the runner up. Both metals look great with pearls and gemstones.
I prefer to work only with pearls and semi-precious gemstones, but I do what I can with what I can afford. My ultimate goal is to create a lapis lazuli necklace with sterling silver findings and accents, or perhaps a rosary.
Right now I’m trying to find perfect homes for some freshwater rice pearl clusters. They seem to be cozying up to my turquoise and howlite. Other pearls seem to keep making their way into anything that needs a satiny look or taking center stage whether or not I wanted them there, and convincing me how good they are!
Years ago, a discussion with my husband led to my disclosing my feelings about diamonds- they are among my least favorite gemstone. I like color. I like texture. As a child a collected rocks… as an adult I collect beads- gemstone, quartz, pearls, wood. He is getting off cheap, but I love my beads!
This is a craft I’ve always wanted to dive into! Would love to win this and learn all I can. Of course I love pearls and semi-precious gemstones! I really could use some new jewelry too, but more than anything else would love to learn this art in time to create gifts for Christmas!
I particularly love gemstones, love their gorgeous colors that really make the difference! Working with gemstones (I like jade and amethyst, mother of pearl and agate) adds quality to my work, and brightness.
I’m all about gemstones! My favorite is turquoise followed by anything else I can get my hands on.
Gemstones mixed with metal beads have been my go-to choice for gifts for several years. I wasn’t into pearls much until I made my wedding necklace 2 years ago. That worked out so well I have started really enjoying the different colors and some of the newer shapes of pearls. More information would be lovely!
I like working with gemstones & pearls, though I haven’t been putting the two together. I like mixing the purples (amethyst) with blue seed beads!
I love to work with semi-precious gemstones. There is a great store in Rockwall, Texas called Bally Beads that has the best selection around here. I have never used pearls yet, but have some and nedd to try them.
Pearls are wonderful. They are my favorite to work with. You can mix texture, shapes, freshwater vs man made and on and on. No other bead in my opnion can look so different in so many ways yet still work in a that is wearable.
I have just started beading with the ladies from church at our local bead shop. I love working with Pearl!!
I love working with all kinds of items, but really like pearls and gemstones because when I wear them, I feel like the piece is elegant and classy and brightens my day! I also love using gem chips – because you get the richness of the gem, plus, I feel, a little funky edge!! I am always looking for fresh ideas and would love to have this!!! (I actually bought the hammer to work with wire but have been a little nervous to try!!) Thanks for being so generous!!
I love working with pearls! I’d love to work with gemstones more, but am addicted to working pearls into my designs. Can’t help it, I’m a June baby!
I love adding pearls to my jewelry, especially colored ones. I am currently working on a project with chain and stick pearls.
I work mainly with gemstones and wooden beads but would like to expand into other areas. I really love long drop earrings an silver chains with gemstone beads
Pearls are lovely and mix with so many other types of beads, from crystals and fire-polished to gemstone chips and more.
It’s so exciting that pearls aren’t just little round balls anymore in cream or white – now they come in specific shapes or irregular rounds and in many colors.
Gemstones are beautiful but some are too expensive for my work. I stick to glass and crystal beads to make my pieces more affordable.
currently crocheting bracelets using a variety of beads and clasps…and different fibers. I am enjoying this and would like to try some pearls and gemstones for more elegance.
I started out with gemstones, especially turquoise and lapis, but have quickly expanded to other stones and especially pearls – they can work their way into just about any project! Would love to win this video to get ideas and learn some new techniques.
I am a nut about pearls! I am very much a Cancer so things that relate to the sea and to the moon are right up my alley. It doesn’t seem to matter how hot or muggy a day is, working with pearls takes me to a breezy, moonlight night walking along the beach.
I love working with pearls. They can be made to look classy and elegant or funky and hip. We’re so lucky to live in a time when so many shapes, colors and sizes of pearls are available.
Last but not least, in my head I smell the ocean when I work with pearls!
Charlene
Making your own piece gives one a sense of accomplishment, appreciation for the effort & time, & a positive self image. Especially when the beads are special, unusual & catch the eye. We (as humans) are naturally drawn to light & that is why we enjoy the facets of gems so. Pearls can bring these facets to the forefront thus they make wonderful companions. I would love to see what the dvd shows regarding both gems & pearls.
i really am looking to start to try to braid horse hair and beads together. but i’m really not good at jewelery making so i’m trying to stretch my talents so i thought your free dvds might assist me in this
Gemstones, the polished rocks given by the Gods … and, pearls, the precious surprise found growing inside of mother natures gifts! I have always enjoyed searching for treasures. As, an adult I still can not pass up what might be a colorful rock or seed on the ground. My jewelry making has been a way for me to express and create something visually and spiritually satisfying to self and others. I have only made jewelry on a small scale and sold to family and classmates in college. One of my dreams was to create original pieces that a person would wear not just as a fashion accessory, but as a statement of who they were ….. Thank you for this opportunity to win a dvd on stones and beading.