Technique Tuesday!
I found this wonderful vintage rolled-brim felt hat with a built-in scarf in an old musty antique shop a couple of years ago, and it just occurred to me that I’ve never shared the instructions with you for its transformation!

I loved the style and the color, and knew immediately that the structure of the hat would stand up to a lot of altering! Sifting through my collection of vintage buttons and jewelry showed me just what direction to go with this hat. The name, Dreaming of Spring came to me before the hat was completed. I filled the brim, …read more

Make Art Monday!
I’ve started a new handmade beaded necklace, inspired by one of my favorite women, The Lady of Shalott.  She was immortalized in a poem by Tennyson (the 1842 version), loosely based upon the Arthurian legend of Elaine of Astolat.  I’ll be sharing more images of it with you as it progresses.

Image: Cyndi Lavin

Cindy Gimbrone aka the Lampwork Diva:
Not thinking about your holiday gift list yet? Cindy helps get you started with a Knot Ready for Prime Time Lucky Knots and Friends Projects so you can get started now!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shares her final Crystal Week necklace… a piece she calls Woodland Mermaid.
Jean Campbell
Jean celebrates her favorite holiday by showing off her costume and some very cool baubles.
Snap Out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean reviews a delightful book by the editor of BeadStyle: Cathy Jakicic.
Strands of Beads
Melissa shows off her …read more

Christa Weldon has both a blog and an etsy shop, where she shows and sells her jewelry and her scrapbooking supplies.  Christa has figured out a way to stay home with her children and still do the things that she loves!
Scrap3 blog
Doohickies & Such

Christa writes:
Doohickies & Such is exactly what the tag name says…ALL THINGS CRAFTY. I love to be creative starting first with scrapbooking (my first passion) and then venturing out into jewelry making (and soon to other types of crafts…just check out the categories in my store).
The store’s name came from a word my dad would mention …read more

Carmi’s Art/Life World:
Carmi decided to finally use her bead stash from Paris.

Cindy Gimbrone aka the Lampwork Diva
Cindy’s got some new findings from Ornamentea. What’s she going to make with them?
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
The inspiration for Melanie’s Machinery of Nature necklace comes from science, steampunk, and nature.
Jean Campbell
Jean struggles through the creative process while bezeling some unusual crystal shapes
Katie’s Beading Blog
Check out Katie’s ideas on making your old beads new again- and make some affordable gifts along the way!
Lorelei’s Blog: Inside the Studio
Better get on board, Lorelei is having the …read more

Artist: Krystal Backer
Business name: MonkeyBuns
Location: Mason City, Iowa

Websites & Blog:
MonkeyBuns etsy shop
MonkeyBuns facebook
Krystal Backer blog

Krystal, how do you describe your work…and why MonkeyBuns?
MonkeyBuns is my son’s nickname. I started making jewelry when I was up to feed him at night so it seemed only natural to name my business after him. I would describe my work as unique and on the cuff of being outside the box.
What is your creative process like?
I have a few ways of working. Some times I make sketches of projects if they come up at a weird time like just before bed. …read more

Technique Tuesday!
The exact bead counts will depend upon whether you decide to use Delica beads or the rounder Czech seed beads.  Both are size 11/0s, but the difference in shape means that you’ll be able to fit 16 base row beads (and therefore 16 full sized petals) if you use Delicas.  If you chose to use Czech see beads, you’ll only be able to fit 14 around the circumference of the 8mm bead center.

Materials & Tools
8mm crystal beads
Delica or Czech seed beads
Nymo thread, size O
Beading needle
Step-by-step instructions

Make Art Monday!
There are so many different ways to make beaded flowers.  Some of the most intricate and beautiful that I’ve seen have been done on thin wire in the French style.  I decided to figure out a way to do mine with needle and thread instead.
You might remember awhile ago I shared a piece that I made, inspired by my mother’s flower garden.  I thought it might be nice to show you one of the simple ways that I made some of the flowers for this piece.
Gather up your seed beads, thread, beading needle, and some 8mm crystals or …read more

Barbe Saint John – New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts:
Barbe gets a mini artpiece from Artbeads.

Carmi’s Art/Life World
Carmi makes some resin filled embellishments quickly!
Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
There’s a new addition to the Heartz n Skullz Family. Come check out the new Skully Bowz!
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie heats things up with some fire inspired crystal and porcelain beads in her newest necklace from her Art Beads crystal week
Jean Campbell
Jean reviews Wendy Ellsworth’s wonderful new book, Beading–The Creative Spirit.
Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean is …read more

Technique Tuesday!
I made this multi-strand necklace for my friend Sherry. She wanted something that celebrated the fourth day of Creation, and she wanted me to make it for her! I was thrilled and flattered. Sherry is just about the perfect person to work for on a commission such as this: She knows the general style, weight, colors, and images that she wants, but she never crosses the line into micro-managing.
Her necklace became a three-strand affair, but still ended up relatively lightweight. I used a bead embroidered centerpiece, chosing a lovely fused glass bead made by my friend Jeanne Kent (New …read more