Bead Arts

Art Bead Scene
Pull up a Cup ‘o Joe and warm up with our little gallery of coffee related bead treats made by the editors of Art Bead Scene

Bead Arts
A maple leaf on top of a maple leaf! Cyndi has created a necklace that features both a full sized and a miniature leaf. Can you spot the big leaf?

Jewelry & Beading
Artist Wendy Van Camp has shared with us about her inspirations and creative process in making her beautiful wire and gem jewelry.

Katie’s Beading Blog
Katie’s been a busy blogger this week! Get links to instructions for a fun necklace & earring set, vote for your favorite thing to bead, and check out Katie’s new CafePress shop!

Naughty Secretary Club
Have you seen the new issue of Altered Couture Magazine? Look for two pieces of jewelry by Jen and a 3 page spread about her sister Hope Perkins and her hand painted dresses.

PearlEsq.
Robin just wants to show you her nieces’ new puppy Charlie, go “awwww!” and have a good smile.

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean shows a bracelet she made for the November Art bead Scene challenge: lots of fun–coffee is the focus!

The Impatient Blogger
Margot shares some thoughts about the transformative power of the creative force in this thought provoking post.

Technique Tuesday!

PMC and Art Clay Silver
An online manual for success with the new precious metal clays.

Making metal beads
Register with the ArtJewelry site and receive a free download of Nanz Aalund’s tutorial.

Metal clay lenses at Squidoo
The very best informational and instructional lenses you’ll find anywhere.

The Art of Metal Clay by Sherri Haab
Artist and instructor Sherri Haab demonstrates metal clay’s remarkable versatility, showing how it can be textured, molded, carved, and sculpted to create gorgeous beads.

Metal Clay Magic by Nana Mizushima
Packed with color photos showing each step of working with metal clay. Covers more than just beads, but has lots of techniques that can be used in making beads.

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Make Art Monday!

Here’s one of the pieces that I made with the silver Art Clay maple leaves that I showed you last week

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Art Bead Scene
Cindy tells us about how she has merged some of her favorite obsessions (beads, books, and blogging) in her new Bead Lit Blog

Bead Arts
Bead Arts brings you another artist profile, this time of Olivia Competente’s gorgeous mixed media jewelry.

Katie’s Beading Blog
Check out this idea for a fun, versatile necklace and bracelet set using gemstones and Swarovski crystals.

Naughty Secretary Club
In her quest for continuing education in the business world Jen attended a Women in Command breakfast where the key not speaker was jewelry designer Kendra Scott. Read the recap with oodles of tips on running a successful business.

PearlEsq.
Robin’s got more frames to show off from the recent Ranger U class and some tips and techniques on how to work with your stamps!

The Impatient Blogger
Did Margot finish spinning her daunting straw pile before her tropical getaway? Click here to find out and to read about the Swarovski Tucson Event this year!

Altered Couture
A hand-me-down sweater … a raggedy old skirt from the thrift store … a plain T-shirt … Using just a few tools coupled with your creativity, all of these items can be transformed into fantastic works of wearable art! The publisher of Belle Armoire and Somerset Studio invites you to submit your own altered and embellished clothing and accessories to be considered for the third volume of this exciting publication. Chapters will include Skirts & Dresses, Pants & Overalls, Jackets & Vests, Shirts & Tops, Children’s Wear, Sassy Shoes, and Accessories.

Deadline for artwork to be received: Dec 15, 2007. Please read submission guidelines before sending your submissions to: Stampington & Company · C/O: Altered Couture · 22992 Mill Creek, Suite B · Laguna Hills, CA 92653

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Dori’s work is different from any other you’ll ever see. At first glance it seems like bead embroidery, but her style and technique is truly unique. Visit Dazzle & Shimmer and see for yourself. From her website:

“While living in Paris, Dori started creating an original line of jewelry and fashion accessories, made in a needle work technique that is similar to the traditional “passementrie”. Back home, she set up her design studio in Tel-Aviv, some twenty years ago.

From here on, Dori developed and expanded her line of accessories and jewelry with an original, fashion oriented, but personal touch. Dori’s creations, referred to by some as “Modern Decadence”, present scene stealing pieces as well as classic designs. The collection is made in small, often changing series and includes one-off and limited edition creations.”

Other posts on bead embroidery:
Betsy Youngquist

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

Technique Tuesday!

The leaves that I showed you yesterday are really easy to make, but take quite a bit of time. Plan to do them when you’ve got other projects going on so that you don’t have to sit around waiting for the silver to dry.

1. Pick small leaves with deep veins. You will be applying the paste to the bottom of the leaves.
2. Dilute a small amount of Art Clay paste and brush it carefully onto the leaves. Allow to dry. Apply a few more coats of the diluted paste, drying between each layer.
3. Switch to non-diluted paste, and apply around 10 layers altogether.
4. Let the leaves dry overnight.
5. Fire them according to the directions in a kiln. (Note: the low-fire clay can be done in a hot pot instead. Also, some folks prefer to use a torch, but I like the even results of the kiln)

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Make Art Monday!

Art Clay is one of the two brands of fine silver metal clay available in the United States. At least I think it’s only two! I got mine from Rings & Things.

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Art Bead Scene
Stop by Art Bead Scene this week to see the winner of the October challenge and the theme and prizes for the November challenge. We are sure it will “wake up” your creativity!

Bead Arts
Never throw anything out! Not even Chinese fortunes…

Jewelry and Beading Blog
Is it a trick or a treat? If you are passing out these beaded Halloween cards discovered by Tammy over at the Jewelry and Beading Blog, more than likely your friends will think they are the perfect treat this year. Plus, no calories or cavities!

Katie’s Beading Blog
Are you selling the jewelry you make? Katie compiled a list of links to articles that are full of helpful tips and info. Check them out or just add yours to the list.

PearlEsq.
Robin’s added another Technique of the Week, showing some fun ideas with Adirondack Alcohol Inks, Embossing Powders and Color Wash, all products that work as wonderfully on paper as for mixed media jewelry designs!

Savvy Crafter
Not sure what to do with that handful of cloisonne beads? Head over to Candie’s blog for some inspiration!

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean just keeps loving to make those crazy little spiral seed bead bracelets. This one has a funny name!

Stitch Austin / Naughty Secretary Club
Jen writes for several blogs, one of which is for the Stitch Fashion Show and Indie Craft Bazaar that she produces. Stitch is Nov 10th at the Austin Convention Center and Jen blogged a roundup of all the amazing jewelry designers you will find at the show!

The Impatient Blogger
Got a restless streak a mile wide? Enjoy Margot’s musings on how she’s turned her ‘creative adhd ‘into a career. Impatient? Well, yes!

Artist: Olivia Competente
Business name: Jewels By Olivia
Location: San Francisco

Website:
Jewels By Olivia

Olivia, how do you describe your work?
I have always loved sparkle and color. I started out with beads and they have always been my first love. What I do now is and extension of my bead work. I love the art nouveau movement and Egyptian adornments.

What is your creative process like?
Sometimes I render a piece, but mostly I like looking at what I have and what will fit with it. I work very organically - it cannot be forced, it will work itself out and be or not. Then I show the design to my mom and she has a great eye and gets me to finish a piece.

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
When I was 9ish I lusted after a pair of earrings at Macy’s and my mom wouldn’t buy them for me. Instead she took me to the oldest bead shop in San Francisco and bought me beads and started my life long passion for jewelry. Then in 2001, the industry I worked in got hit bad by 9-11 so my mom told me to go back to jewelry and I started my formal training on metal fabrication. I am now a PMC certified artisan, teach enameling, fused glass and bead work at the Sharon Art Studio in San Francisco.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
My original Cress kiln.

What inspires you to create?
The light as it plays across the ocean or trees of Golden gate park, new colors in beads.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
The fact that great work is giving life to an idea, and collaborating with my mom.

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
Practice, practice , practice, and have fun in the end.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
Cooking for my family and my pets (4 cats and 2 dogs).

What are some of your other favorite things?
I love a good hamburger, read fairy tales, and right now I love a blue-based red color!

Other profiles of mixed media artists:
Wendy Van Camp
Leah Hitchcock-Ybarra

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GemstonesEileen over at the Artful Crafter has done a wonderful series on cleaning your stones and metal. You’ll have to go into the archives to get to them: visit the main page of her blog and click on March 2007. Then you can scroll down to the posts labeled March 14 through March 21. There’s a wealth of other information in this blog as well. Enjoy your visit!

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I’ve got two pieces with instructions in the current issue of Jewelry Crafts magazine. They were both a lot of fun to make, and even more fun to wear! The first one, Framed, uses greeting cards and polymer clay. The second one is a shimmering mix of copper and turquoise.

Framed

Copper & Turquoise

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

Not everyone would want to make their own wooden jewelry or beads, but for those who decide to give it a try, I would definitely recommend Lee Valley Tools for your woodworking needs! I’ve already recommended the DIY Network for some interesting tutorials on making wooden jewelry. You can also find some like-minded people over at Craftster.Org too, who like to mix wood into their jewelry projects.

Any other suggestions for good places to gather info or share pieces?

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

Make Art Monday!

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

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

PearlEsq.
Robin talks about what it is to work with Tim Holtz in prepping for Ranger U and she provides his fun link for Grungeboard(tm).

Art Bead Scene
Virginia Miska shows a step by step, easy and inexpensive way to remove tarnish from your silver beads and components, with common materials found right in your kitchen!

Bead Arts
There are lots of great lampwork and hot glass forums out there! Can you think of any to add to Cyndi’s list?

Jewelry and Beading Blog
Tammy at the Jewelry and Beading Blog has spotted some adorable wire pumpkins from Wig Jig.

Katie’s Beading Blog
Beading Daily spotlighted Katie’s book, Hip to Bead, this week. Read her post for links to a fun Q&A and free project download and a sneak peek into Katie’s crafty organic farming lifestyle.

Naughty Secretary Club
Have you taken the Handmade Pledge? Jen chats about how her girl gang the Austin Craft Mafia joined forces with the likes of Etsy, The American Craft Council, Interweave Press, Design Sponge and more to bring you Buy Handmade!

PearlEsq.
Are you a Perfectionist? Robin’s got a quiz for you and some thoughts on not sweating the small stuff and to embrace imperfection in your art!

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
A stunning Geisha polymer focal bead by Janet Farris was dressed up using lustrous coin pearls and tiny multihued spinels to express classic Japanese beauty. Take a look at Jean’s latest offering in Beadwork Magazine!

The Impatient Blogger
Are you tired of playing by the rules and itching to break free? Guess what, you can! Check out this inspired post by Margot Potter that gives you the kick in the pants you need to follow your bliss.