Jewelry and Beading » Beading

The easiest necklace of all

Cyndi Lavin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:45 +0000

Consumer Crafts has introduced the Twister Bead Necklace, made from Darice twister beads. This is one of the simplest pieces of jewelry to make that you’ll ever find, and it offers an easy way to customize for your giftee! There is a wide variety of bead colors, plus pendants to dress the necklaces up. You can barely even call this “beading”, but if you’re in a hurry, it could be a lifesaver.

In under four minutes, you can see how to work with them on this Darice youtube video:

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Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!

Cyndi Lavin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:00:20 +0000

A Bead A Day:
Lisa shares a special gift she received from a friend, SHRINKY DINK earrings!! Still a great product after all these years!!

About.com Jewelry Making
Sparkle plenty with this endless knotted red crystal necklace project!

Art Bead Scene
It’s the last ABS monthly challenge of 2009. Are you running out of ideas and inspiration? ABS has just the antidote!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
One shrunk sweater equals felted beaded mitts for me!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy explains why she chose Lee Krasner’s painting “Untitled” for this month’s Art Bead Scene Challenge.

Lorelei’s Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei tested out some cool chain from Rings and Things.

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Would you like to investgate a lyrical book which explores all areas of your imagination and challenges your creativity? Try Lisa Crone’s!

Strands of Beads
Melissa shares a cute find – sterling silver elephant clasps.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Thinking deep thoughts, Andrew offers up a sumptuous bracelet and adds a new bronze charm to his shop.

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Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!

Cyndi Lavin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:00:13 +0000

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton:
Each representing a different spectrum of lampwork glass, Andrew shares the new additions to his bead collection from two different artists.

A Bead A Day
If you find yourself in need of a quick holiday gift, don’t overlook memory wire! With this simple design, you can make one for all your friends.

About.com Jewelry Making
Thinking of making some beaded ornament covers? Then you’ll need to know the size bulb to use too.

Art Bead Scene
It’s the first day of Art Bead Scene’s annual Twelve Days of Free Projects!

Barbe Saint John – New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe gets all steamy over the new Steampunk Style book!

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi wonders if anyone else is working on Spring.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Inspired by Grandma’s necklace, Cindy creates an edgey look with CZ’s.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows a sneak peek of a pair of earrings she made for the upcoming book Steampunk Style by Jean Campbell.

Jean Campbell
Jean shares 3 easy tips for making holiday gift production a little less stressful.

Katie’s Beading Blog
Katie’s making tons of earrings this season. Here are a few fun ideas for your own last-minute gifts!

Lorelei’s Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is saying Thank you and Merry Christmas by giving away a gift certificate to artbeads.com!

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
When you check out this ornament kit which is available for you to make, it will REALLY put you in the spirit!

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Yay for Betsy!

Cyndi Lavin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:49:32 +0000

Betsy is the winner of the Artbeads.com giveaway!

Betsy wrote:

Thank you for blogging! I love to hear about and see what you’re working on. I secretly envy your goody bags from Artbeads. Oh, I have lust in my heart for a stoneware pendant from Artbeads. I’m preparing an order for Artbeads even as I write this… but, unfortunately it’s only for necessary supplies. That pendant keeps trying to sneak its way in..

Her great comment isn’t the reason she won (that is thanks to the randomizer), but it makes me happy to congratulate her!

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Jewelry artist: Harriette Knight

Cyndi Lavin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:15:35 +0000

Harriette Knight is an artist with heart! A desire and a dream showed her the way to create her Charity Clarity Healing Jewelry line. Take a look at her beautiful work, and enjoy her story Harriette writes:In March of 2003, I was looking for a way to raise money for families of U.S. Troops, and literally had a dream that told me what to do. In the dream I saw “Prayer Wheels for Peace,” and realized that I could make bracelets using vintage beads and stones, infuse them with healing energy, and use a portion of the proceeds as a donation. Being an artist and a healer, this was a wonderful outlet to utilize my creativity and healing abilities for a good cause. From there, the designs grew to include one-of-a-kind necklaces, watches, worry bead bracelets, car charms, and other items for what became the Charity Clarity Healing Jewelry line.

I love to mix up textures and styles. This piece is centered around a carnelian pendant and is a double strand of turquoise, carnelian, citrine and inspirational charms that say Dream, Believe, Hope, and Love. Someone once described my pieces as a mixture of elegance and earthiness, a kind of hard and soft, which I believe helps to carry the piece from day to evening wear.This Butterfly Beauty is a combination of a carved Mother of Pearl Butterfly floating amidst a double strand of Abalone, Mother of Pearl, and Silver. When worn, the butterfly can float a bit to the side giving it a different look. The descriptions of each piece come with a story which includes the meanings of the stones and their healing attributes. These definitions are also included in my book CHAKRA POWER! How to Fire Up Your Energy Centers to Live a Fuller Life which offers an bonus section called Abalone to Zircon; The Meanings of the Stones You Wear.Adding a touch of whimsy is nice, too. With this piece, the woven strands of rose quartz look like cotton candy, while the embossed turquoise ceramic pieces look like hard candies. The rose quartz and turquoise pendant transform the piece into something more serious, like going out to a nice restaurant after a day at the amusement park. Rose quartz is calming and soothing and opens the heart, while the turquoise does the same for the throat area.Harriette Knight, Master Healer & PsychicAuthor of “CHAKRA POWER! How to Fire Up Your Energy Centers to Live a Fuller Life” and EASY ART FROM THE HEART, A Rhyming Guidebook for Parents and Teachers with 100+ Art Projects for Kids Ages 2 and UpFor Life Changing Healing Sessions, Healing Jewelry, & WorkshopsHarriette Knight Charity Clarity JewelryHealing Jewelry

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Deco Scarab necklace

Cyndi Lavin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:00:27 +0000

After several false starts, I finally came up with a beaded necklace style that suited the gorgeous Deco Scarab pendant that my friend Melanie Brooks sent me to play with. If I do another of these, I will probably make one change, and that is to look for size 6/0 seed beads for the base strands that are rounder, less cylindrical. The rounder shaped beads generally sit together in a smoother line than the cylinders, oddly enough. Still, the weight of the pendant holds the beads straighter when it is being worn than is shown in the photo above, so I’m satisfied with it for now!

Step by step instructions

Materials & Tools

Deco Scarab pendant from Earthenwood Studio
Black Nymo thread, size O
7 AB red glass rounds, 11 mm
8 AB topaz glass rounds, 7 mm
8 topaz glass rounds, 6 mm
Gold seed beads, 11/0
Matte frosted AB brown seed beads, 8/0
Silver lined rootbeer seed beads, 6/0
2 jump rings, 7 mm
6″ copper wire, 20 g
4 copper bicones, 6 mm
2 textured copper rounds, 4 mm
4″ copper chain and lobster claw clasp

Beading needles, size 12
Scissors
Glue
Flat nose and round nose pliers
Wire cutters
File
Tape measure

As regards FTC disclosure guidelines: I have received the Deco Scarab pendant free of charge from Earthenwood Studio in order to write an honest review and/or create a project free of charge for you. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

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The Lady of Shalott – finished

Cyndi Lavin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:15:36 +0000

Make Art Monday!

All the pieces were finished now, and I just had to decide how everything would be assembled. First, the pieces needed to be edged with 11/0 seed beads and the tear drops. Then I decided on using oval shaped gold vermeil jump rings and a gold vermeil chain to put them together.

Here are some more process photos, and finishing pictures are here.

The Lady of Shalott

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Holiday gifts from the archives

Cyndi Lavin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:15:21 +0000

Just because these ideas are a couple years old doesn’t mean they aren’t still good! If you’re looking for quick and easy, I just might have a link to one of Tammy’s or my projects for you here These are not necessarily holiday-themed pieces, just pieces that I think you’ll like to share.

Sparkling holiday pin

Make Mom an elastic bracelet

Photo keychain for Dad

Net-beaded ornament cover

Wire tie chain

Ruby’s beaded wreath

Holiday kits

Briolette necklace

Heart earrings

Champagne bubbles necklace

Leaf earrings

Bubble earrings

Beaded pendant necklace

Pearl-dangle pendant

Pompom delica earrings

Stamped resin pendant necklace

Optical lens pendant

Hanging the Moon necklace

Fishing for Trout necklace

Beaded bauble necklace

Wired up beach rock

Textured polymer clay pendant

Lots more ideas can be found in our Technique Tuesday posts. Some of these projects are fast and easy, some take more time, but there is plenty there to get you going!

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Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!

Cyndi Lavin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:00:40 +0000

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
The ever breathtaking beadmaker Kim Miles pulls out all the stops for the Holidays and gift giving. But that is not all! If you have the “secret word” on the secret day” every week, you get a fab discount!

About.com Jewelry Making
Give a beaded jewelry gift that gives twice.

Art Bead Scene
Be Inspired! Think about creating jewelry that tells a story.

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi is selling jewelery in a show for the first time and is trying not to “jinx” her favorites!

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Meet the newest addition to the Through the Looking Glass Nugget Charm Family – Alice Blue!

Jean Campbell
Jean discusses how Steampunk jewelry design fits into a larger “Poetic Couture”

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Interesting spiral…just not what I wanted

Cyndi Lavin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:32 +0000

Well, I started working on a beaded strap from which to hang one of Melanie Brooks’s gorgeous new pendants. Once I had a few inches done though, I decided that this spiral was going to be much too thick and ornate to be a good match for the ceramic Deco Scarab.

However, there’s no reason why I can’t explain how to make this spiral, because it might be just perfect for something you’ve got planned

Step by step instructions

Beads needed:
Size 6/0, 8/0, 11/0, and 15/0 seed beads

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