Autumn Arbor has left the building
July 4, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Bead Weaving, Beading, Call For Entries & Submissions, Contests, Wearable Art
I received word recently that Autumn Arbor has made the first cut in the Fire Mountain Gems 2009 beading contest. Now I have to send it in for the next round of judging.
Sometime later this summer I’ll see if I can write up a basic tutorial for the piece. I didn’t take process shots like I normally do, so it’ll be a little sketchy. Still, those who have some bead weaving experience will probably find it easy enough to follow.
Last year, my over-the-top piece called Andromeda’s Pearls won first place in the pearls category. I don’t really think I’m going to have a repeat with Autumn Arbor in the seed beads category, but I guess you never know!
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
July 3, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Mixed Media, Other Bead & Jewelry Sites, Wearable Art
Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva:
Cindy learns to make murrini and deals with mud.
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Even without a lot of time on her hands, Melanie finishes a clockwork themed bracelet using Swarovski faceted rings from ArtBeads.com
Humblebeads
Bead & Button stash and Heather’s inspired creations
Jean Campbell
Jean gives a sneak peek of her next Beadwork magazine piece
Lorelei’s Blog: Inside the Studio
Instead of continuing on with the tried and true techniques of jewelry design, Lorelei is finally ready to take the leap and try something new.
Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean gets her cool stash from Use the Muse II, and muses about it
Strands of Beads
Melissa wants to know what outrageous materials are in your beading stash?
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Stop by and say hello to Andrew in Charlotte, NC this weekend. Check out his new designs and some delicious new metal clay coins!
A Bead A Day
Do you love Swarovski Crystals? Inspired by talented jewelry designer, Lillian Chen, Lisa creates a Swarovski “sculpture” ring.
About.com Jewelry Making
Heard about copper clay or coppr clay? Find out more about this great new metal clay product and check out some new metal clay projects too.
Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene gets creative with the “Best of ABS.”
Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Sometimes you need to have a jewelry makeover
Beading Arts
A report on firing and finishing CopprClay pieces. This stuff rocks!
Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi tries Ice Resin and upcycles a greeting card into a necklace.
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
June 26, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Other Bead & Jewelry Sites, Wearable Art
A Bead A Day:
Lisa shares her selection of summery pink beads and crystals. The “Watermelon Crawl” bead mix is sure to conjure up visions of a family picnic on a warm summer day!
About.com Jewelry Making
Take these quick polls about wearing and making jewelry. Which are your favorite pieces?
Art Bead Scene
The Trendy Bead shows off wood filigree pendants.
Barbe Saint John
Read Barbe’s interview on the Objects and Elements blog
Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi hand felts a pretty bead from wool roving.
Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
A trip to glass city doesn’t go as well as planned. Yet Cindy finds inspiration and few new tools!
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie mixes up gunmetal chains and components with brass to make a necklace with one of her Toolbox Treasure pendants
Humblebeads
Heather sketches out some new designs using this summer’s hottest color.
Jean Campbell Ink: Eureka!
Beading in the fresh air clears the mind, bringing fresh creativity
Lorelei’s Blog: Inside the Studio
Searching for some new inspiration? Lorelei’s got just the place for you to find it!
Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean reviews Wirework, a new book by the famous Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off her new lunar phases and compass rose designs
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
While traveling in Florida, Andrew shares a new variation on a favorite skull bracelet.
Book review: Custom Cool Jewelry
June 22, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Book & Magazine Reviews, Classes, Events & Shows, Interweave Projects, Metal Fabrication, Mixed Media, Other Bead & Jewelry Sites, Polymer Clay, Tutorials & Techniques, Wearable Art
Custom Cool Jewelry
by Melinda Barta
Melinda Barta came up with a brilliant idea for this fun book. Instead of spreading her many talents out too thinly, she concentrated on just three areas: pendants, charms, and clasps.
It’s often hard to find exactly that perfect piece to customize your jewelry, and if you can make your own pendants, charms, and clasps, you can add them to readily available lain beads to create a masterpiece that is distinctively yours. Melinda includes over 275 quick and easy ideas for mixed media components as well as 7 full stringing projects. Once you start making these components, you’ll never run out of ideas about what to do with them!
Custom Cool Jewelry teaches you how to create personalized, affordable, and unique alternatives to store-bought beading components using a wide range of jewelry and basic crafting materials including embossing powder, collage papers, wire, fibers, glass etching cream, patinas, found objects, fabric, memorabilia and more.
Check out The Bookshop for lots more links to books about jewelry-making in addition to this fine guide!
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
June 19, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Other Bead & Jewelry Sites, Wearable Art
Carmi’s Art/Life World:
A vintage comic book becomes the inspiration for a necklace.
Barbe Saint John
Barbe reviews Ancient Modern Polymer Clay book
About.com Jewelry Making
Summer time is affecting Tammy’s jewelry designs. How about yours? Check out her summer jewelry plans so far.
Art Bead Scene
Kandinsky inspires this month’s challenge. The ABS editors suggest a selection of their handmade art beads for a Kandinsky inspired jewelry piece.
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
A new shipment of copper blanks has Melanie plotting for some metal playtime!
Snap out of it,Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Pink, gold,and cream! Jean creates a lovely necklace and earring set featuring a beautiful Russian hand painted focal from Artbeads.com
Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off her work in progress - an eerie lock and key design
Making a necklace with copper
June 16, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Mixed Media, Technique Tuesday, Tutorials & Techniques, Wearable Art, Wire
Technique Tuesday!
Yesterday I showed you the necklace that I made using the copper findings and beads that I received from Auntie’s Beads.
You’ll need copper colored wire, some stone rounds and chips (I used turquoise and coral), and lots of cool copper stuff!
Materials:
Copper colored wire (20 gauge)
Turquoise and coral rounds, 4mm and 6mm
Turquoise and coral chips
Copper colored or red beading wire
Copper chain, hook, crimps, jump rings, and head pins
Copper round bead, floral patterned, 7mm
Copper 2mm rounds, daisy spacers, bead caps, and hammered round links
Tools:
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
File
Measuring tape
Copper findings and beads
June 15, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Make Art Monday, Mixed Media, Wearable Art
Make Art Monday!
I received a wonderful package of copper beads and do-dads from Auntie’s Beads a short while back. My mission was to see what they wanted to become 
I don’t have a name for this piece yet, but tomorrow I’ll show you how to make it!
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
June 12, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Other Bead & Jewelry Sites, Wearable Art
Strands of Beads:
Melissa shows off new jewelry designs using Soft Flex Trios wire.
Art Bead Scene
In this economy, everyone is asking the advice of economists - ABS has brought in The Bead Economist with advice on how to get art beads on the cheap.
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew announces a NEW design competition to celebrate Cynthia’s new book, Enchanted Adornments.
Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean has a sparkly Swarovski bracelet in July’s BeadStyle magazine! Check it oooout!
Carmi’s Art/Life World
A little wood, paint and stickers helps Carmi to recreate a native art inspired pendant.
About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy’s got the scoop and a link to a free issue of The Crafts Report. They’ve gone digital! What do you think? Is this a good thing or a bad thing when craft magazines go totally electronic?
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
June 5, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Other Bead & Jewelry Sites, Wearable Art
Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
How simply sunny! A focal Celestial Crystal will encourage your love of the summer sun!
Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off beads by Andrew Thornton and plays tag this week
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Last month’s Art Bead Scene’s theme, Monet’s Water Lilies, inspires Andrew to create a new necklace.
About.com Jewelry Making
Are you a Tweep? Do you Tweet? Find out about the fun of networking with other jewelry folks via Twitter.
Art Bead Scene
Trying to figure out how to use those swatches of trendy colors? Check out The Color Report for Beaders for help.
Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe opens up about a new venture
Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi recycles the images of an old calender for her new gold bezel necklace.
Bead & jewelry blogging round-up!
May 29, 2009 by Cyndi Lavin
Filed under Beading, Other Bead & Jewelry Sites, Wearable Art
About.com Jewelry Making:
Silver Threads Web Videos - Watch Jeanne Rhodes-Moen make some gorgeous filigree jewelry.
Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene’s The Bead Biz offers up a “less is more” philosophy to selling your work.
Carmi’s Art/Life
Carmi’s newest pendant is inspired by the forest floor.
Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Easy Beading volume number 5 is out this month and is as great as always–check it out on Jean’s blog!
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew discovers the online jewelry supply store, Auntie’s Beads, and was inspired to create a summery pair of earrings.
Jewelry & Beading
More spring cleaning tips to get your jewelry business in tip-top shape this season!
