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!

The 2009 Metal Clay World Conference will begin with a Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening, July 15th. Hour long lecture/seminars will begin on Thursday morning and run throughout the day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. On Thursday evening there will be an open studio available for those wanting to play around with their new tools and or supplies. The Keynote Speaker will be the internationally renowned metal smith and author, Alan Revere, founder of the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, in California.

The regular conference runs from July 16 to 18, 2009, while the pre-conference classes take place on July 13 to 15.  All information and registration forms can be found at the link above.  One of the teachers will be the talented Lis-el Crowley, whose work is pictured below!

The Bead & Button Show is almost upon us!   Although most people who are going have already made their plans, perhaps this is the first time you’re hearing about it.  Or maybe you have changed your schedule recently, and you’re wondering if it’s too late.

The answer is NO!  You can still go, but you’ve got to make your plans NOW!!  The show starts on May 31, so visit the link above and see what classes are still available.  If you just want to go for the socializing and shopping, there’s all the info you need at that link too.

Anyone going who’d care to share impressions and pictures afterwards?  Email me at cyndi @ b5Media.com (remove the spaces) and we’ll set it up!

Artist: Francisca Bastos
Website: Francisca Bastos Design

For almost 25 years, I have worked with stones in every shape and color, originating in different mines in Brazil and coming straight to my hands. As I receive them, they are transformed into jewelry, handmade with 18kt gold. Pearls, corals, mother of pearl, and amber, to name a few, are all organic in themselves. Pearls have their own light, which has fascinated humanity for thousands of years, amber carries energy within itself, corals bring the sea in their soul, as well as mother of pearl. The gold comes directly from the depths of earth or from rivers. Additionally, my inspiration comes from nature and all the natural wonders that Brazil offers, such as the mountains, leaves, flowers, birds, the sea, the rivers, etc…

JewelryLessons

Let’s not forget that there are some wonderful sources online with instructions to learn specific skills or make specific projects. Not all of them are free, but if you’d like to get the very best instruction and can’t go somewhere to take a class, these might be just the ticket!

On the other side, these are also sites that you might be able to tap into for selling your own projects if you are interested in pursuing that line of business this year.  I just heard from Eni Oken yesterday, and she says that although her site is best known for wire projects, she is very interested and open to having lots of other techniques taught there too!  Think about it 

JewelryLessons
Featuring tutorials by Eni Oken and friends

Beading Daily
Online store of projects

Bead Patterns
Especially helpful for seed bead patterns

Ganoskin
An unbelievable database of jewelry making tutorials

Beaducation
Online classes by nationally known teachers

Polymer Clay Tutor
Videos and much more by Cindy Lietz

As part of our on-going emphasis on education this year, I want to share some previous posts that may help you fill in some gaps! From creativity to color, from design elements to jewelry school, these resources can point you in the right direction.

Do you want to design for yourself?
This is the conclusion of my series of articles, with links to all the previous articles

Beadwork basics online

Dictionaries, glossaries, and encyclopedias of jewelry making info online

Creativity online

Color training and tools online

Jewelry design tools and articles online

Jewelry class listings by geography

Beading shows with classes

Design school directory

Picket Fence Bracelet with Connie Birmingham

The Beadin’ Path in Freeport Maine has a list online of all the wonderful classes that you can take there. You probably already know them as a fabulous supplier of vintage glass and Lucite beads…now get to know them as a great source for education!

From Metal & Color Class

Elaine Luther is teaching this Spring at the Indianapolis Art Center in Indy, IN. She’s teaching a patinas weekend workshop and a PMC/BronzClay weekend workshop.

Elaine also told me about the Metal Clay Academy, which has lists of training opportunities.

Metal & Color
Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. & Sunday 12-3 p.m.
April 26 & 27

Lab Fee (included): $50
Non-Member Price: $234
Member Price: $225

BronzClay + Precious Metal Clay
Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. & Sunday 12-3 p.m.
March 14 & 15
Lab Fee (included): $50
Non-Member Price: $234
Member Price: $225

Jennifer Heynen, aka Jennifer Jangles is teaching both in Miami and at Bead & Button this year!  Visit Jennifer’s site for additional information or to contact her.

Ceramic Vessels and Rattles and an Intro to Raku

Date: Sat and Sun, April 18 - 19, 2009, 10 AM to 4 PM in Miami

Description: We are taking ceramic bead making to the next level to create vessels & rattles. Students will learn basic ceramic bead shapes as well as how to create hollow forms: vessels or rattles. For those who didn’t take the 2008 class, the focus will be on basic bead shapes. But, don’t worry, the 2008 class is not a prerequisite and the required kit includes all materials for bead making! In addition, all students will get an introduction to raku, with an opportunity to complete one pendant.

Here are the Bead and Button Classes…

Making Ceramic Beads, Components, and Findings
Come learn the techniques of ceramic bead making from the author of “Ceramic Bead Jewelry.” In this fun class, you will learn everything you need to know about making, glazing, and firing your own ceramic beads. Students will learn how embedded wire is used for making components and findings as well as beads. Class will focus on making the basic shapes, links, components, hollow beads, and pendants. Different decorating techniques will be discussed. Past students have completed as many as 30-100 beads in class.

Making Ceramic Beads and Vessels
This fun class is taught by the author of “Ceramic Bead Making.” The class will focus on the basics of ceramic bead and vessel making. Learn to make basic ceramic bead shapes and pendants. Also learn vessel-making techniques for making rattle beads, miniature amphoras, and more. Learn to decorate the beads in class using underglazes and glazes.

Ceramic Bead Making
Come learn the technique of ceramic bead making in this class. This fun class is taught by the artist and author of “Ceramic Bead Making.” Students will learn to make basic bead shapes, pendants, and components. Students will decorate the beads in class using underglazes and glazes. Additional session offered Sunday, June 7 (B09325).

Kilns 101
Have a kiln but are afraid to use it? Thinking about buying a kiln and not sure which one to buy? This is the class for you. Many kilns can be used for ceramics, glass, and metal clay. Students will learn which kilns are best for each media. There will be demonstrations on loading and firing ceramic beads, glass fusing, and firing metal clay. We will go over sample firing schedules for all three medias. There will also be an extensive question-and-answer session, so students are encouraged to bring their kiln manuals to class.

Always available, anytime day or night, whatever suits you, even in your jammies!  Don’t forget that there are online ways to learn jewelry skills to improve your techniques this year :-)  My favorite place to start is Tammy’s list of e-courses on About.com’s Jewelry Making site.