Beading

August 6th, that is the day that Amazon is set to release Beads in Motion.However, wonderfully, the Look Inside feature is enabled and you can have a rather extensive look at some of the interior pages.On the left is one of my favorite pair of earrings to wear and the center is a stacked set of components with a center rivoli all of which slide up and down on a mesh chain. The Contents pages include each project and page number which I think is an excellent feature. Here you see six pairs of earrings from long and dangly, my favorite to slight more subdued and elegant. The bottom right is a Victorian slide bracelet that I adore.I'm on the fence about selling the book, although I know many of you have expressed an interest in buying it from the author. I will keep you posted on my decision, but in the meantime please ask your local bead store to consider carrying it. I do hope our paths will cross at which point I will be happy to sign your copy!

Yes, I did! I am no longer a Bead & Button Show virgin.BOY! Is that an event, the show, that is. So many people wearing so many amazing pieces of beaded art, people wheeling craft carts, displays of the most gorgeous pieces designed to make your chin hit the carpet.Of course, idiot me had phone and camera and took one solitary photo!And not even of jewelry....not even a good photo! Which only goes to show how overwhelmed I was!There used to be a time I didn't go anywhere without a camera....methinks I need to get back into that habit!Anyway....the show got off to a bit of a rough start for me....there was some not so pleasant stuff going on my first night that could have completely ruined my trip if I had let it.....but that seemed to be the idea. The next day my suspicions were confirmed by a few people...lol, it isn't paranoia if it's actually happening...I was met with it as soon as I walked into the showroom. But you can't let these things get you down and my work shone through it all and I had a brilliant time.It is rather un-nerving to be stood in line at Starbucks and have someone suddenly scream your name, and to have people wanting to have their picture taken with you. Freakish...lol! Also an incredibly rewarding feeling that my designs are giving people joy. I feel so lucky to be able to make a living from doing something that brings me joy and then to know for sure, in my face, that my work is appreciated. I am now able to put so many faces/voices/laughs to the names on my Facebook friends list and include some people as firm real life friends. I met some of the most amazing designers...the icons of beading and you could have picked me up off the floor when they knew my work....and even 'admired' or 'loved' it! On the health front I did extremely well at the show, I had lots of energy and was literally running around at some points....barefoot jogging through the skywalks. The food issue was a little troublesome at first...I swear if someone else had suggested a gluten free soup and salad I would have rammed it. My first day of GF food while travelling sucked however I got myself over to Millertime and found GF beer and bunless burgers...yay!I did chance the fries....and they were a bit of a problem....next day I asked if they used the same oil for fries as he chicken nuggets and sure enough they do....bread crumb cross contamination! So, I felt the effects of cross contamination each day but nothing that ruined anything. Story got a little different when I got home and a week later I'm still recovering from the horrible effects of gluten build-up. But...it shall pass!The whole trip made me do a lot of soul searching and thinking. Yesterday I posted pics of my art on Facebook, something I tend to keep hidden because that was what I was taught to do. I learned to hide my work/talent because a few people get all pissy about it...and sometimes take their frustrations out on my work by ruining it or stealing it. My first year's work at college at the end of year display was splashed with paint and every piece ruined. My second year someone went into the pottery studio and smashed a set of figurines I'd worked all year on. It has been explained to me, sometimes years later by the people who did these things that they didn't like that I was always top of my classes. *sigh*So I've decided to not hide in a corner anymore, there will always be the haters who try to intimidate you out of existence and they can only do that if we let them. I have some interesting things coming up, some new things, some reincarnated things. Watch this space :)So....a big thank you to all the wonderful people I met at B&B with a special thank you to Shelley Gross, Suzanne Golden, Jill and June Wiseman, Jennifer Erlichs, Leora Mattila, Mandie Ainsworth, Amy Royster, Perry Bookstein, Kelly Stevenson, Lisa Kan and a myriad of others. Also a big thank you to the not so nice bunch as you gave me the push I needed to get out of the co

Awhile back I was browsing through Cloth Paper Scissors, one of my favorite mixed media magazines, and I saw something that made me sit up and say, HUH. Pretty loudly too. It was the May/June 2013 issue, and there was an article by Shayna Butler about making faux lampwork head pins from acrylic paints and UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel). Brilliant! But I don't have any UTEE and I really didn't want to go buy some just to do this one project. What could I use instead? How about nail polish? So, credit to Shayna, and here is my warped method: 1. I used 4 inch pieces of brass wire to form these shapes. The loop at the top is turned with a slight overlap, and the bottom just has a small hook. 2. I decided to make all the head pins about the same size, so I rolled out a log of polymer clay and used a ruler to get semi-accurate cuts, not worrying too much about perfection. The color of the clay is not important, but it did turn out that I used a similar color of nail polish. Use whatever color you have scraps of. 3. I formed fresh water pearl shapes on each loop and hung the clay to bake according to the manufacturer's direction. When they were fully baked, I left them suspended to paint. 4. Paint first with nail polish (multiple coats may be needed with some brands), and after they have dried, dip them into Future Floor Finish (two coats for mine) to protect the finish. These look a lot like iris peacock pearls in person, and I made half a dozen additional colors as well. What can I say...I've got a lot of nail polish colors! At some point in the future, I'm sure there will be a project that features these! Copyright 2013 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact. Technorati Tags: bead embroidery,handmade beaded jewelry,wearable art,beads,jewelry,necklace,mixed media,beading © copyright 2012 – All rights reserved Beading Arts

Leather is always popular but a hot trend these days is the stylish European leather bracelet. Think Regaliz™ and you'll know what I mean. Need a supplier? Then check out the German based international supplier, Endless Leather. They have a huge range of leather types and styles - flat, round, stitched, braided and in many different colors - as well as fabulous leather lace. They supply individual crafters and artisans as well as small and large businesses. They offer graduated discounted prices for larger orders. They ship worldwide and cater to 3 different currencies - US$, £ and €. Endless Leather sent me some of their strass (crystal) embellished lace leather and assorted findings for review. I made a couple of bracelets and a pair of earrings. The first thing I did was to prepare the leather lace for a simple bracelet much like I did with the Regaliz™ bracelets I made before. The end strass had to be removed so that the flat leather could fit snugly inside the leather findings. That's when I realized how well made these are. These crystals really stay put! It took a sharp awl and some manouvering to lever out a crystal. The rivet cup it sat in was extremely difficult to remove so I left it and just flattened it down with my pliers. After that, it was simply a case of adding some Super New Glue (not the kind you get in the store) to the leather ends and inserting firmly into the cord ends. Super New Glue is amazingly good and my glue of choice now. I added some Swarvoski crystals as charms and the bracelet is done! The downside is the strass leather lace is expensive compared to regular leather lace. The approximate cost of the length I used is $7. But on the plus side, the technique is really easy so where you will save is time. I also made a matching pair of earrings and an adjustable multi-strand bracelet (I just had to use that gold tone clasp!). The tutorials for these will appear later this week. Giveaway The folks over at Endless Leather are also sponsoring a $50 gift certificate giveaway for one lucky reader! If you'd like to win some lovely leather, please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info if you do not have an online shop or blog. Subscribers need to click on the post title to come to my actual blog. Scroll down and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank. This giveaway is international.Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments.It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday, June 24, 2013. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck! Disclosure Before You Go: How To Make Leather Jewelry Tutorials More Great Leather and Suede Jewelry Inspirations and Tutorials More Easy Leather Jewelry Tutorials to Love ______________________________ Original Post by THE BEADING GEM Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips

1-A: Vetch 2-A: Fetching 3-A: Coastal Breeze 4-A: Pastoral This lovely photo of some Vetch blossoms among the grasses, was taken by Doug just as the sun was beginning to set.  It was on top of a large sand dune overlooking the mighty Pacific Ocean. We were at Shipwreck Beach in Seaside, Oregon during our first PcT RoadTrip (last year, Summer 2012). You’ve seen several pictures, videos and color recipes already, that were inspired by that first PcT Roadtrip through Washington and Oregon. But this is what the trip looked like from up close. The picture reminds me of the peace and tranquility that floated in the air along the Oregon shoreline, on that particular day. This close up photo captures the simplicity of the soft, pretty colors and shapes of the small vetch flowers. Vetch is a wild flower in the legume family. It looks much like a tiny Sweet Pea. Often it is considered a weed… something that gets yanked from the gardens of ‘real flower’s. But to me… like most wild flowers really… (except for the wretched Morning Glories and Buttercups that choke out my garden)… Vetch is a darling and beautiful flower that deserves to have the spotlight turned onto its face. May it shine in the warmth and glory, even if only for a brief moment, as you kneel down close to get a better look. Since we can all use some warmth and glory in our lives, I have decided to honor this sweet little flower, with its own set of polymer clay color recipes… just for itself! I hope you enjoy this fun Summer 2013 color palette for the Vol-062-A recipe series! The following Vol-062 A-series Fetching Vetch color palette will be added to the Polymer Clay Members Library at the beginning of July 2013: Vetch (Recipe 062-1A) Fetching (Recipe 062-2A) Coastal Breeze (Recipe 062-3A) Pastoral (Recipe 062-4A) … Vetch is a soft blue lavender found on the petal of the Vetch Flower. Fetching is the name given to the muted fuchsia pink, that graces the center of the flower. Coastal Breeze is the dusted blue of the surrounding background that opens to the ocean. Pastoral is the softest gray green of the grasses, that peacefully accompany the tiny Vetch blossoms, as they sway and dance in the salty air. You must be so thrilled your husband shares in your talent. The two of you must inspire each other and together comes such beauty. I am looking so forward to spending more time with you and my clay family in the new year. It is going to be a great year with breath taking colors, thanks to you and your hubby. ~Peggy-B I love how you share these photos that give you your inspiration… like the one you shared of the Mighty Madrone tree. It is a gorgeous tree, can be a messy one, very much like the peppercorn tree of California. I live south of you in Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula. ~Illaya-B Thanks so much, Cindy, for all the hard work you do creating these palettes. And thanks for the beautiful and inspirational photo, Doug! ~Phaedrakat *********************************************************************************************** If you would like more information about the Members Library, here are some direct links: Library Member Benefits and What Others Are Saying Order Page for Color Recipe and Video Back Issue Packages Become A Full Member at the Library

While there is definitely something magical about the look of crystals, my personal style means that I prefer to have crystals play a supporting role, instead of the lead, in most of my beading projects. The good news is that even when crystals take a backseat to other kinds of beads, they can still have maximum impact when it comes to adding sparkle and style to your favorite beaded jewelry designs! Tiny Crystals = Subtle Sparkle Above: Balance the sparkle of crystals with the glow of natural freshwater pearls in the Shiloh necklace. Below: Just a single crystal drop on each earring adds a lot of glamor to the Can Can earrings. Case in point: the first time I opened a copy of Rachel Nelson-Smith's Seed Bead Fusion, I was completely captivated by her Ootheca Cuff. Reading over the instructions, it's a miracle that I ever finished this beaded bracelet project -- wirework AND hundreds of tiny 3mm crystals? If it hadn't been for the intriguing right-angle weave and peyote stitch structure, I might not have been motivated to make this project, and in doing so, fall in love with wire jewelry making and develop a new appreciation for using crystals in my beading projects. Get Maximum Impact From Just a Couple of Crystals Using just a couple of crystals in a beading project, like in Rachel's Cancan Earrings, is also a money-saver: just two beautiful, dramatic black crystal drops are enough to make these earrings into statement jewelry. When using larger crystal drops and pendants in your beading projects, you can play up the dramatic shine of the crystals by accenting them with equally brilliant seed beads and glass beads. Above: A single O Bersten component makes a beautiful statement with a strand of natural freshwater pearls. Below: Another example of using a single crystal in a complex design, my Samudra Lakshmi necklace. Take a look at the O. Bersten Component in the book, too. It's a single crystal rivoli, surrounded by beautiful seed beads and glass drops, and not a single other crystal bead! Still don't believe me? My recent creation, Samudra Lakshmi, is one giant 35mm crystal stone surrounded by things like Czech glass gumdrops, seed beads, plain glass round druks, and even rudraksha beads. Sometimes you really only need one great crystal component to make a necklace spectacular! Balance the Sparkle With a Glow When the crystal beads do take center stage, they are well-balanced with other seed beads, and even natural pearls, like in the Shiloh necklace. Using complimentary colors of seed beads and natural freshwater pearls helps to tone down the crystals, turns the piece from something that you might only wear a few times each year to a special event into something that you can throw on with your favorite t-shirt when the weekend rolls around. The Ootheca Cuff combines structural bead-weaving with wire work. Tiny 3mm crystals add a lovely, subtle sparkle. As far as innovative beading projects with crystals go, Seed Bead Fusion is my go-to beading book. If you're a beader who enjoys new ways and ideas to incorporate crystals in your beading projects, this is a book that you must add to your collection of favorite beading books. Get your copy of Rachel Nelson Smith's Seed Bead Fusion, on sale now during the Interweave Sidewalk Sale through June 26, 2013! You can also save big when you get the digital version of Seed Bead Fusion -- all the same great content as the print version, but downloaded directly onto your favorite desktop or laptop computer and ready for viewing in just minutes! As part of our fabulous Interweave Sidewalk Sale, you can get a FREE 3-day trial to our new online video service, Craft Daily! Just make any purchase through June 19, 2013, and activate your Craft Daily trial membership before June 23, 2013 to get access to over a hundred premium crafting vi

I am happy to be able to share my bead and button show project with you finally!The Cousin Corporation creative circle ambassadors received a project assignment back in January for the months of February and March.Two whole months to select beads, design and submit an attention getting piece...something out of the ordinary that wouldn't be considered an everyday look. It would then be displayed in the PrimaBead booth at the Bead and Button show in June.This project now holds a special place in my heart because of the circumstances surrounding its creation.When I returned from my trip to visit Cousin headquarters in February, I was met at home with some unfortunate news.My 18 year old sweet baby bichon was not doing very well. He had become sick while I was gone and, while we thought he would make it a few more months to his 19th birthday, his little body was ready to call it a quits and we had to say goodbye.I was devastatingly sad and seemed to have lost my creative inspiration. I stared at my beads and tried to bring my design to fruition, but nothing seemed to work. The first weekend without our boy, I decided a trip to an art museum was needed so I could find some inspiration.We visited the Toledo Ohio Art Museum and as soon as we walked into the glass pavilion, there it was...a gorgeous work of art that covered the entire wall.As soon as I saw this glass piece by Dominick Labino, I knew I had seen what I needed to see. I realized then I wanted to figure out a way to create rectangular blocks out of the beads I ordered weeks before.They were, in fact, the PERFECT beads to represent this piece of art. I love it when the universe shows me it has my back and as long as I just move forward in faith, all things will work out as they should.I hope the inspiration comes through so you can see what I had in mind or actually, what the universe decided was best for me and this project. :)

12.00USDThis is a pair of flower beads made with yellow, blue and mango dots! Great for earrings or clasps! They measure approx. 22mm and were made on a 3/32" mandrel - 2.4mm.All of my beads are made in my studio by me, Sue, in Pittsburgh, PA. They are properly annealed in a digitally controlled kiln, and bead holes are cleaned with a diamond drill bit! All are wound on 1/16th inch mandrels unless otherwise noted.

12.00USDThis is a pair of flower beads made with yellow, blue and mango dots! Great for earrings or clasps! They measure approx. 22mm and were made on a 3/32" mandrel - 2.4mm.All of my beads are made in my studio by me, Sue, in Pittsburgh, PA. They are properly annealed in a digitally controlled kiln, and bead holes are cleaned with a diamond drill bit! All are wound on 1/16th inch mandrels unless otherwise noted.

12.00USDThis is a pair of flower beads made with violet, crocus, and blue dots! Great for earrings or clasps! They measure approx. 22mm and were made on a 3/32" mandrel - 2.4mm.All of my beads are made in my studio by me, Sue, in Pittsburgh, PA. They are properly annealed in a digitally controlled kiln, and bead holes are cleaned with a diamond drill bit! All are wound on 1/16th inch mandrels unless otherwise noted.