Bead Arts

Make Art Monday!

At last, the perfect excuse to eat more Chinese food…

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media

Harvest Moon

At last! The warm browns and golds that I love so much! I spent the month of October reflecting on the month that had just passed and creating Harvest Moon. I think I’m going to have a very hard time with the moon for October, which I’ll start the first week or so of November. It will be the Hunter’s Moon. It’s not that I have anything against hunting, having grown up in a school district that took the first day of deer season off without any sense of irony. It’s just that there isn’t really any hunting symbolism that really appeals to me to bead. Oh well, hopefully I’ll think of something, or else I’ll just make it an abstract.

You can find links to more of the Bead Journal Project’s participants on Robin Atkin’s blog.

You can also click on “Bead Journal Project” under “categories” in the right-hand sidebar (of my blog, that is!) to see the past three months’ beaded journal pages.

mixed-media, bead-embroidery, beads, creativity, bead-journal-project

Book Title: Picture Yourself Making Metal Clay Jewelry: Step-by-Step Instruction for Forming, Firing, and Constructing Finished Jewelry
Publisher: Thomson Course Technology
Series: This text will be part of the publisher’s “Picture Yourself” series.
Author: Tammy Powley
Contact Information: tammypowley@yahoo.com
Estimated Publication Date: May/June 2008
Call for Entries Deadline: December 5, 2007
Book’s Focus: The focus of this book is super simple to make metal clay component projects (charms, pendants, beads) teamed up with basic jewelry techniques resulting in projects which allow readers to make finished jewelry pieces showcasing their metal clay creations.
Audience: The audience is the interested hobbyist who has very little if any metal clay or jewelry making experience.
Project Descriptions: All metal clay projects will be designed to use low-fire metal clay (either PMC3 or Art Clay 650) and will be small enough to allow firing by either a hand-held butane torch or hot pot. The projects will include instructions for both making the metal clay component (such as beads or a pendant) as well as incorporating this item into a finished piece of jewelry (such as earrings or a necklace). Therefore, other jewelry techniques including basic bead stringing and wire work will be covered as well.
All the submission details can be found in Tammy’s post on Jewelry & Beading!

Two other recent calls for entries:
Haute Handbags
Belle Armoire Jewelry

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media

500 Wearable Art Pieces

Editor: Valerie Shrader

Lark Books seeks images to publish in a juried celebration of artwear. Submissions may include garments and accessories worn on the body (hats, gloves, scarves, etc.) All surface design techniques and fabrics welcome; no jewelry, please. To be released in Spring 2009, this book aims to showcase a fabulous, fun, and funky collection that will inspire amateur crafters, professional designers, and everyone in between. Important note: Lark Books will only publish photos of entries containing text and images that are free of copyright, or for which the artist (or approved institution) holds copyright.

Artists will receive full acknowledgment within the book, one complimentary copy, and discounts on the purchase of additional books. Artists retain copyright of their work. Entries must be postmarked by January 2, 2008. No fee is required.

Submission guidelines

Technique Tuesday!
One of the things I love most about making these pins is that you can cut out a bunch of base pieces all at one time, and then you can spend a little time here and a little there putting the pins together using whatever little scraps come to hand. Or are lying around on top of your work table!

There are lots of materials that you can use for a base, but one of the easiest to work with is good old Foam-Cor. It’s easy to cut, you can stick wires into it to embed things if needed, and it can be toughened up when you’re done by a coating of two-part resin. Like I said, I usually cut out a bunch of pieces in one session, and then work on them little by little.

This particular pin is called The Key to My Heart, and it features an antique skeleton key, some origami paper, a couple strands of fiber, and a couple of beads. Here’s how I made it…change the directions to suit your own projects!

1. Peel the upper layer of paper off the top of your Foam-Cor base. Paint the piece front and back, and adhere a piece of decorative paper to the front. Use a gold-leaf pen to do the edges.
2. Use E6000 or resin to glue heavy items like the key onto the pin front. Diamond Glaze is a good choice too for lighter objects. All will leave a glossy area if they leak out from below your items, so clean it up while it’s still wet.
3. Attach fibers and beads to the bottom of the piece. Since the key had a natural opening, I tied a lark’s-head knot around it.
4. Flip the pin over and use E6000 or resin to attach a pin back.
5. When all glue is completely dry, give the pin a coat of two-part resin to toughen up the Foam-Cor. For this pin, I only did the back since I wanted a matte finish on the front. For others, I do both sides, letting one dry completely before attempting to turn it and do the other.

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media

Make Art Monday!

I make a lot of these pins, using old vintage pieces, computer parts, broken jewelry, and other interesting objects. Here’s one that I particularly like for this time of the year because of the colors:

I’ll share some tips for making your own tomorrow for Technique Tuesday!

recycled-jewelry, found-objects, jewelry-making, wearable-art, pins, mixed-media-jewelry

Filigree Drops by Jamie Hogsett

It Takes Two Earrings Challenge
For this challenge, combine two - and only two - different techniques from the ten techniques below to create an original pair of earrings.

1. bead embroidery
2. brick stitch
3. Dutch spiral
4. ladder stitch
5. macrame
6. netting
7. PMC (precious metal clay)
8. square stitch
9. stringing
10. wirework

The Rules
You must be a Beading Daily member to participate. (Your email address will be used to verify that you are a member.) It’s free to sign up if you’re not already a member. Only one submission per person. Deadline: November 2, 2007. Winners will be announced November 30, 2007.

To enter, please send an email to: beadingdaily@interweave.com and include:
a high-resolution photo (JPG, 300 dpi) of your finished project
your name
your email address
your phone number (this will be only used to notify you if you win)
project name
the two techniques you used
in the subject line, please include: “earring challenge”

Prizes

The editors will select their three favorite entries.
First Place: A $50 gift certificate from Interweave Press.
Second Place: An autographed copy of Mastering Beadwork by Carol Huber Cypher, plus a $10 gift certificate from Interweave Press.
Third Place: An autographed copy of Create Jewelry: Crystals by Marlene Blessing and Jamie Hogsett
The winning projects and their designers will showcased on Beading Daily.

Other posts about earrings:
Inspiration Galore!

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media, earrings, call-for-entries

Technique Tuesday!

Making a necklace like Moonstone Rainbow is very similar to the instructions previously given for making Blue Bells. I strung moonstone chips onto 28 gauge wire and crocheted a chain that ended up being folded into thirds. Most of the technique is outlined in the tutorial for Blue Bells, and I suggest reading it now if you haven’t already!

Moonstone Rainbow

1. Using 20 gauge wire, twist around the ends of the crocheted sections to keep them together, and take the wire through a large bead on each side. Create a wrapped loop.
2. Crimp a piece of beading wire like SoftFlex to each wrapped loop. Add beads for a strand that’s as long as you desire on each side.
3. Crimp one beading wire strand to a hook, and the other to the end of a length of chain. Make a dangle on a headpin, and attach it with a wrapped loop around the free end of the chain. Easy peasy, huh?

Copyright 2007 Cyndi Lavin. 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.

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media

Make Art Monday!

This piece is similar to a crocheted necklace I shared awhile ago, but this one has a hook and chain closure.

Tomorrow for Technique Tuesday, there will be a few tips on construction!

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media

Artist: Billie Sanchez
Business name: Wicked Oak Designs
Location: Flagstaff Arizona

Website:
Wicked Oak Designs

How do you describe your beadwork, Billie?
I do mostly OOAK jewelry pieces and beaded objects. I love creating and building 3-D pieces and larger cabochon necklaces.

What is your creative process like?
Well, I usually start with a focal piece or a color scheme. Sometimes I have an idea in my head and I draw it out, others I just mess with it until I like the end result. I usually have the radio or TV going (good time for me to catch up on TV shows I enjoy), also, my 3 year old is always running around and adding to what it going on. I work when I can as often as I can. Sometimes I can sit for hours and work other times is 15 minutes here and there.

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I had many years of art classes. I found that I like beads better then paint. I found that I had a much easier time creating what I wanted in beads then in paint. I decided one day that I felt I could recreate a lot of the basic pieces that I was seeing around me, but with my own personal touch. It just kind of snowballed from there and 9 years later I am still creating and designing.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
My beads, of course, My Ott Light and my Fireline…I use it for everything.

What inspires you to create?
Sometimes it is something I see in my daily workings, sometimes it is a piece created by another artist. I just try and keep my eyes open and remember what it is exactly that grabs my attention in something and try and use that and give it my own spin.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Mostly just the thought of being finished with the piece. It is always easier once you reach the halfway point. So I try and focus on getting to that point when I am having a hard time.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
If you love what you are doing, keep at it. I have been doing this for 9 years and am not rich because of it. I keep going because I love it and it is a great way for me to relax and create things of beauty.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
Being a Mom and Wife. I have 3 wonderful kids ages 11, 6 and 3. Also a wonderful Husband of 11 1/2 years.

What are some of your other favorite things?
I love sushi. My favorite color is pink. I love finding time to read a new bead book or a bead magazine (Bead and Button and Beadwork are my favorites).

Other seedbead artist profiles:
Dulcey Heller
Karen Paust

handmade-beaded-jewelry, beads, beading, wearable-art, mixed-media, artist-profile

Don’t forget about the Design Gallery at Beadalon when you need a shot of inspiration! There are so many lovely things to look at, like these Sparkle Flower Earrings, a new design by Meredith Roddy:

Sparkle Flower instructions

Each project has a list of supplies needed, plus links directly to the items available from Beadalon, and easy to follow instructions.

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media

Handbags look a lot better when they have beads sewn on them, don’t you think?

Stampington & Co, publishers of Somerset Studio and Belle Armoire magazines among others, will be accepting entries for a few more weeks for a special publication called Haute Handbags, which will now be published twice each year! The deadline is November 15, so get out your supplies and get going! Here’s all the important information.

How do you carry it? That’s the question Somerset Studio would like to help answer through our new and exciting special publication titled Haute Handbags. Whether we use purses, clutches, totes, portfolios, sacks, bags, or attachés, there are many styles made with an astounding array of materials emerging from all corners of the creative world – all vying to be carried and used with style. You are welcome to construct a bag from scratch, or to purchase one that you embellish and alter with paints, beads, rubber stamps, ribbons, buttons, transparencies, and more. No medium or material is ruled out so use your imagination to make bags of leather, wool, fabric, paper, plastic, wood, glass, or any other materials that you love. Deadline for artwork to be received: Bi-annually every November 15th, and May 15th.

wearable-art, handbags, beading, call-for-entries

Sturgeon Moon

Once more, I spent this month working on the moon for last month! It’s not that I’m behind…I decided in the beginning to work on the month that has just passed, hoping to gather more inspiration while I’m experiencing it! You can find links to more of the Bead Journal Project’s participants on Robin Atkin’s blog.

You can also click on “Bead Journal Project” under “categories” in the right-hand sidebar (of my blog, that is!) to see the past three months’ beaded journal pages.

mixed-media, bead-embroidery, beads, creativity, bead-journal-project

Artist: Karen Paust
Business name: Take me to your Beader
Location: Wellsville Pennsylvania

Website:
Karen Paust

Karen, how do you describe your work?
I create botanical jewelry and sculpture.

What is your creative process like?
I usually am inspired by something very complicated, something that challenges me. I do a lot of sketches and watercolors as studies for pieces. I collect material, dead insects even pull moths and butterflies off the grill of the car to use as samples. I would never kill an insect, so my bug collection is a little rough. I used to bead all the time, (sometimes 8-12 hours a day, sometimes 5 or 6 or 7 days a week), now I try to balance my life with other things I love to do.

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I am completely self taught as a beader, but I did study painting, and also botany before I went to art school. I have always been trying to merge my love of nature and art together. I have been creating with my hands most of my life. I have crocheted and sewed at a very early age, and knitted soon after. The beauty of beading is that it reflects how the world is made up of little pieces of energy. Then in addition the light interacts so spectacularly with glass beads.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
My eyes, I am such a color junky, it would be very hard for me to not be able to see the endless combinations of colors.

What inspires you to create?
I can be inspired by dreams, day dreams, I’m always waiting for the next vision to flood my life. In between those I usually am inspired by nature. I am constantly amazed by the color combinations and shape of very common creatures. Many people have asked me to bead orchids, just look at a thistle that grows along the railroad tracks, it is every bit as beautiful as an orchid. I like putting a spotlight on the ordinary.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
I have a strong ability to finish projects, although I have some unfinished knitting projects sitting around. If I don’t like the direction the piece is going, I usually start over or try to figure out why the momentum is waning.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
Experiment as much as possible, figure out what you are passionate about.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
Wild mushroom hunting, camping, canoeing. I also make my own knitting needles, I recyle chopsticks and turn those into needles and I make circular needles from tubing, bullets and wood. I put beads inside the tubing, and my label is Fearlessknitting. If I need a button I make it from a piece of wood. I knitted a shoulder bag with different colored mountains and a blue sky and clouds so I carved a bird button to go on the bag as its closure.

What’s your favorite comfort food and other favorite things?
Pesto, I could eat it every day, I make big patches of it and freeze it for the winter, not in little ice-cube trays, in good size containers. I also invent new recipes, we grow these little tart oranges so I have been putting them in the pesto, best pesto ever. I also love watermellon.

My current favorite color is carmen. I’m not sure if that’s the right name, it is orange and pink mixed together, with some salmon.

There are so many good books, one I really enjoyed was Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem.

Other artists who work with seedbeads:
Tina Koyama
Diana Neamtu
Melissa Earley

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media, beaded-objects, artist-profile

Technique Tuesday!

The pendant necklace I showed you yesterday is very similar in construction to one I made back in April. The tutorial link is included.

Link to tutorial

handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media, tutorial