The Trendy Bead - Ribbon

(Hand dyed ribbon from Antica)

I've seen an influx of ribbon related clothing and accessories this month. I like the versatility of ribbon, you can use them in alter art/mixed media jewelry pieces, vintage, steampunk or Victorian inspired designs, or you can use ribbons for a modern twist.

You can entwine ribbon in metal chains, use as a cord with a focal bead, embellish a ribbon choker with a pendant, use a ribbon as a closure or tie little bits of ribbon in between beads for some added texture.

A very modern design by Lorelei Eurto combining a Humblebeads spacer bead with wood, glass, stone, brass and a rich chocolate ribbon closure.

Smoky gray seam binding from WistfulSupplies.

A cuff bracelet by MJM Jewelry Designs using another Humblebeads spacer with silk ribbons.

Hand dyed silk ribbon from Jamnglass.

Raku pendant with silk ribbon by MAKUstudio.

Hand dyed ribbon from JodyPoesy.

Here are some more art bead and ribbon designs that have been entered in the Art Bead Scene Flickr group for various challenges.

Ribbon ideas from Beading Daily

And a few designers who offer inspiring creations with ribbons in their jewelry:

Nina Bagley - Narrative/altered art jewelry

Raven Eve Jewelry - Victorian inspired designs

Gilded Cage Design - Ribbon and button jewelry

I'd love to see your designs using art beads and ribbon. Leave a link in the comments if you'd like to share.

Wirework, Color and Jewelry Designer Interview

Every so often, I spot unique jewelry designs that inspire me and make me want to know more about the creative hands and mind behind them.

When I saw Kerry Bogert's work, I was facinated by her distinctive and different use of wire and colors to make her jewelry. I can picture her wirework complementing many different styles and kinds of art beads. Her designs are fresh, exciting and contemporary, using innovative methods of forming wire to make chain, toggles, bracelets, earrings and clasps.


I wanted to ask her lots of questions about her work.

Several of her jewelry designs have been featured in the inspirational jewelry book "Wire Style: 50 Unique Jewelry Designs" by Denise Peck, her colorful necklace design landed on the cover of the Nov/Dec 2007 issue of Step by Step Beads magazine, and she has had several published articles in other jewelry and wirework magazines. She has a fun and informative blog and website.

She generously shared the following insights into her process, her studio, the creative flow and her future projects.

1. What is your personal name, business name, website and location?

My name is Kerry A. Bogert and I am the artist behind KABs Creative Concepts at in Webster NY, just outside Rochester. My blog is http://www.kabsconcepts.blogspot.com/

2. What kind of beads do you make? What kinds of processes do you use? What is your favorite beadmaking technique?

I create lampwork (torch worked) glass beads from Italian and American soft glass. I work on a GTT Bobcat torch and it is set up with an oxygen concentrator and propane gas. I use traditional techniques to make my beads. You can see a video of me making a disc bead.

I am torn between making hollows and stringer work as my favorite techniques. I love when a hollow goes perfectly round with a thin wall of glass and the way it catches light. At the same time, I love laying the grid work of intersecting lines that make my plaid style beads too. There is just something about those straight lines that makes me sigh with contentment.

3. How did you get into beadmaking? What are some of the important things you do for your business?

I started making jewelry about 5 years ago. I discovered forums at Bead&Button.com that led me to the work of artist Cassie Donlen . Until then, my only experience with glass beads had been the mass produced ones that I saw in catalogs. I thought they were horrible and wondered why anyone would want to use such ugly beads in jewelry. When I saw Cassie’s beads, I said, “wait a minute… you can make your own… and they can look like these? I wanna learn how!”

I took a 3 hour class in April of 2005, rented some torch time, fell in love with making beads and the rest, as they say, is history. I have been making beads almost daily ever since.

Some of the important things I do for my business are stalking the craft section of books at the local Barnes & Noble (knowledge is power and I love all the inspiration that can be found there), following color trends in fashion for the people buying my beads or wearing my jewelry, and having an open enough mind to try any design at least once.

4. What is your workspace like and how do you work in your studio? What is a typical day like?

I moved to a new home this summer and setting up the new studio has been a challenge. I am still trying to get things settled in there. For now, the studio is in a large second basement with three windows that let in a lot of light.

A typical day has me making beads for a few hours each afternoon while all three of my kids are in school. The next morning as the kids eat their breakfast, I am cleaning the beads from the day before.

Mid morning is spent updating my blog and website, then I work on making jewelry with my daughter helping (I have a five year old fashionista that is my best and worst critic).

By lunch my little one is out the door to school and I am making beads again.

5. How do you stay inspired and motivated?

I like the routine of my day but to stay motivated I need to mix things up and keep my art life interesting. I have a ton of “craft” (not bead) based blogs I read. Their photography and projects keep me inspired.

I love going fabric shopping and the colors and patterns in fabric influence the beads I make. I have also been inspired recently with challenges that take me out of my design comfort zone.

I was asked to contribute on two new books coming from Interweave Press next summer, one on earrings and one on working with chain. Both are subjects that I don’t normally work with and they gave me tons of new ideas for other projects.






















6. What type of beads and jewelry designs do you feel best complement your art beads? Do you design your own jewelry too?


For me, it's hard to answer “what came first - the bead or the design”.

Oftentimes I get an idea for a necklace or bracelet and I can’t move forward in design thoughts until that piece gets made. So I make the beads that I think will work with that project.

Sometimes, I get ideas for beads first and then design a project around them.

Most of the time, if the beads are intense and complex, the jewelry design should be simple to highlight the beads.

If the beads are simple, I go a little crazy with the wire design.

It is interesting, I find the beads I make and sell for others to use tend to be on the fancier side. For my own jewelry pieces, I love working with wire and want to show that off, so I keep the beads simpler.

7. What beady plans do you have for the future? Do you have new designs or ideas you will be exploring soon?

Oh wow… big things are coming in 2009! I just signed on with Interweave Press to write my first book!! It is set for publication in Spring 2010, and I will be spending a HUGE chunk of my winter this year finishing writing the book and creating the jewelry that will be in the pages. I am so excited about this project.

I am going to get to show off the work of a number of my favorite self representing bead artists and teach jewelry makers how not to be afraid of wire working and color. It is a thrill.

I also have the two books I mentioned before coming out in Fall 2009.



8. What kind of jewelry do you make? What types of materials do you prefer? what kinds of art beads do you use?

I think the jewelry I make is really a reflection of my mood at any given time. Each of us has so many sides to our personalities and it is the same with my jewelry. Each piece is a chunk of some part of my personality.

Sometimes it is smart and sophisticated… sometimes it is whimsical and wacky… sometimes simple and independent.

The majority of my current work uses wire as the main component of its construction. I love sterling wire and add fun to it with colored copper wires.


I recently started what I call “The Lemonade Stand For Art” policy in my studio. The idea is to use up what you have before ordering more supplies. I tend to be an order-one-of-every-color kind of findings shopper until now. I have tons of materials just wasting away.

I started taking a look at what I had on hand and finding new ways to work it into designs. So, I started working with seed beads I had around for years now, and Greek Ceramic beads that I have billions of, and experimenting with colors of glass that aren’t usually my favorites. It has been great.

I do this with what I think are “bad beads” too. Ones that I think are not quite right, I save in bowls on my desk. Eventually, a project comes along that is just right for that bead and I figure out it wasn’t as “off” as I thought it was.



9. What kinds of art beads do you look for? Is there a bead you wish an artist would make for you?

When I look around at the beads of other artists I look first at quality (are the ends puckered nice, have they cleaned the bead release out, is it balanced), then I am hit by the colors the artist uses (I really like colors), and then it is the uniqueness of the design (I like bold design).

10. What's your experience with getting a magazine article placed, and the process of participating in publication of a book?

I can remember the excitement of hearing I was going to be published for the first time like it was yesterday. It was actually in January of 2006. I ran around the house screaming my head off... "I'm gonna be in a magazine!!!! " Getting that first acceptance letter gave me the little boost of confidence I needed to send out email inquires to other publications.

My first tutorials were in Step By Step Wire Jewelry magazine. Once the first pieces were accepted, the editor got to know me and my work better. It allowed me to email her more designs more often.

What pieces didn't work for her, she would send on to another editor within the publishing company whose magazine theme it would work for. I would encourage anyone who feels like they have a unique design they want to share to do an internet search on their favorite publication and look into their submission guidelines. What is the worst they could say?

How I came about writing for books was through the magazine editor that first published me in SBS Wire, Denise Peck. I had sent in some new designs I thought would be fun for the magazine and she said she was working on a book and would I be interested in putting the new designs in the book instead. I love teaching wire work and I love writing... I feel lucky to say that they come easy to me. Being self taught, I think I know how to explain what to do in a way that is easy for beaders to understand.


11. What magazines have your published articles and designs, and do you have any upcoming articles?

I have had pieces published in Step By Step Wire, Step By Step Beads, Step By Step Jewelry, Creative Jewelry, Stringing, Bead Style, and Bead & Button. Coming up, I have projects in Easy Wire (coming Nov 2008) and look for projects in the Summer 09 issue of SBS Wire. I also have a submission into Belle Armoire Jewelry as well, though no publication date for that one.

I have tutorials on my blog, one is how to make a silver wire toggle that works great with art beads, and how to make a breeze style chain link.

Kerry
http://www.kabsconcepts.com/

I really appreciate the information, background and insight into her creativity shared by Kerry, and hope you enjoy learning about her wirework and jewelry as much as I did!

Reported by Lynn Davis - expeditionD

The Bead Biz - Do I need a hang tag?

YES! If you are going to be selling at shows this holiday season you are probably in the midst of getting ready for them. Maybe you're working on new business cards or a new display, but have you thought about your hang tag?

Let me explain....Hang tags are like a mini artist card and business card all wrapped up into one that "hangs" off of your jewelry. I know jewelry is small and sometimes your tag is bigger than the piece, but you can cram a lot of information onto a small tag. As you can see on mine below. Hang tags are good for when your so busy you can't personally tell everyone your story or care information. It is attached which is better than a business card that might get lost along the way. also, if the piece of jewelry is going to be a gift for someone, it's a nice added touch for the receiver to see that it's indeed handmade. And what if the receiver needs a matching pair of earrings to go with the beautiful necklace they just received, they know where to find you! My hang tag is the size of a business card folded in half. I find this the best size for me because I can print them on my computer using standard perforated business cards.



Here are some thing that can be included on your hang tag....

1. Your business information, especially that website address if you have one.
2. Care information
3. Name of your piece
4. Quotes from other customers of your jewelry
5. How it's made, type of materials, etc
6. Your background, experience or education
7. Your logo for those people who are visual learners

One last bit of advice, if you are using your hang tag for displaying the price too, make sure the price can be cut off or removed before gift giving.

Ten Dollar Tuesday - Candy Corn Pendant

Each week we will feature a project with Art Beads that can be made for ten dollars or under. This week Tari Sasser from Creative Impressions In Clay shows us how to make this simple Framed Charm necklace.

Supplies:
1-Candy Corn Charm or Charm of your choice
1-Frame Locket from Ornamentea
1-Jump Ring-.25" or smaller
1-Re-purposed Necklace or Chain
(Greek Leather or Waxed Cotton Cord is another option)
Optional-embellish with more beads

Sometimes simple is better. This necklace is very easy to make. The Frame Lockets from Ornamentea have so many possibilities. The charm or bead you would like to frame/feature can change daily with your mood.

Start with a charm that has a loop on top.
1. Place the charm up through the slit of the built-in bail in the lid of the frame.
2. Attach your jump ring through the loop and the bail.
3. Slide your re-purposed necklace or cording through the jump ring.

Voila! A stylin' necklace simply done.
If you would like more bling add beads to the bail or necklace.

Designer of the Week - Isinglassdesigns

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week Tari from Creative Impressions in Clay picked Isinglassdesigns' Masks and Eyes necklace. Tari noted, "The gargoyle mask bead is fantastic! I have a thing for eye imagery and these are great. I have an eye out for you...[insert evil laugh]." You can see more work from of Isinglassdesign's work on her blog.

Our theme this month is "A Dark and Stormy Night." You still have this week to enter to win beads from our sponsors! Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the October Challenge.

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Art Bead Scene's Deal of the Week:

Receive free shipping from Creative Impressions in Clay this week! Enter code ABS08 in the voucher box of the shopping cart.

A Discovered Painter in the Desperate Neighborhood

As we creep around The Neighborhood this morning, we look into the studio of the Desperate ABS Editor and see she's been busy painting a Homage to Picasso. Who knew she was a painter? Such secrets shouldn't be kept from our intrepid readers!



Now that we've found her out, it makes us wonder what else is going on in the Bead Blogging World we don't know about....

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has gathered up a load of jewelry making links from all over the web covering related news, contests, and more.

Art Bead Scene
Catherine Witherell Visits Art Bead Scene!

Bead&Button Magazine
Check out Tea's blog about BeadAndButton.com/15 and their 15th anniversary content!

Carmi's Art/Life Blog
Carmi makes a fabric skeleton pin to wear trick or treating.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter unveils some new designs for Fall!

Katie's Cute Halloween Decor
Katie's festive pumpkin captures the the feeling of fall.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Holly Jolly Christmas Designs

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi's taking a look this week at all the informations she's gathered on steampunk style jewelry.

Savvy Crafter
It was a dark and not so scary craft night....

Strands of Beads
Melissa thinks about snakes and circle links

Have you heard any good dirt in the beading world? We'd love for you to share!

Gossiped...errr...reported by Cindy Gimbrone, Painter and glass beadmaker.

Studio Saturday-On the House

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. This week's winner is Oh2122! Congratulations! Please send your postal address to the ABS Suggestion Box to receive one of Jennifer's Ceramic Bezel's!

This weeks Studio Saturday is on the house.
Really, there's no place like home and it's on the house.
I get many requests for custom buttons. I have really wonderful client that has been purchasing buttons from me for use on her fun clothing. She has great little boutique in Montpelier, VT, The Cheshire Cat. Lucy designs and paints her clothing line. She also creates them for another boutique in NC. Several weeks ago Lucy called and told me she needed a house button, along with other button styles in my Original Collection.
I had to design and produce a new button. Not a big deal. She didn't give specifics on the type of house she would like. I had ideas rolling around in my head, normal realistic type house, Dr. Seuss house, house a child would draw, etc.

Here are a couple sketches.

This is the first attempt. Nice suburban house, but not what she wanted.

I spoke with her again and she then told me what she saw in her head. A button shaped like a house, triangle on top of a box, simple.
2 artists passing in the night, each with their own concept. My first thought when she told me that she needed a house button was a basic child's drawing. I thought, nah that can't be what she wants. I should have listened to the voices in my head from the beginning.

The question for this Studio Saturday is:

What experience(s) have you had with a design interpretation/misinterpretation?

Leave a comment and you could be the lucky winner of one of the new House buttons. Colors will be a suprise! I'm still interpreting those for Lucy also!

Stop by tomorrow for gossip in the Bead blogging neighborhood.
Don't forget the new ABS $10 Tuesday. A project for you to create for $10 or under, every Tuesday. I may be offering free shipping....luring you to come back :)

Tari Sasser of Creative Impressions In Clay

Beady Back Track - Jangles at Fusion Beads!

We got a sneak peek at the new Jangles beads in a Studio Saturday post back in August. In case you've missed it, you can find Jennifer's new line at Fusion Beads. I just happen to spot this Flamenco Fever project using the flowers and components and wanted to share it with you. I really love the textured cluster of beads to accent the art beads. Hmm, I'm feeling some inspiration take hold!

Stop by tomorrow for a studio visit with Tari of Creative Impressions in Clay.

And kudos to Fusion for supporting artists who make beads, I count 16 different bead artists in their shop!

Wikibeadia: Mosaic Style Jewelry

I have a long history of prowling garage sales, flea markets and antique shops for jewelry and junk to use in jewelry. I've picked up several pieces of Italian made mosaic jewelry. Small "tiles" made of shell, coral, turquoise and other natural materials are arranged in a pattern or a scene. Micro Mosaic uses smaller tiles so the pattern is smoother like in this museum quality micro mosaic brooch:


Naama Zamir, a polymer clay artist posted a photo of a modern mosaic art pendant she created on her blog:

Whether old or new, mosaics offer a unique design technique to incorporate into your art jewelry.

Writen by Cindy Gimbrone mosaic jewelry lover and glass beadmaker.

The Bead Biz - Jewelry Displays

Most art & craft shows are filled with jewelry booths. You want to stand out, not only in your work, but in your display. Your display should reflect your artistic sensibilities and provide an appealing backdrop for your work.

For fabrics, choose solid colors or subtle patterns that compliment your jewelry and make a personal statement. Texture is an important element in designing your booth. Engage customers by creating a booth that invites touch. Texture can be played up with by using wood, glass, metal, fabrics, natural stone, and in surprising elements, like fresh cut flowers.

Add height to your display to create visual interest. Use stands, risers, shelves, or boxes draped in fabric to break up the level of your table displays. Standard tables are too short for jewelry display, cut PVC pipes to slide on to your table legs to add height.

Hardware and home decorating stores are a great place to shop for your booth display. Baskets, ceramic plates, bowls, or vintage books can be used as displays. Picture frames are another great find. Replace the glass with fabric and use to display your eye catching pieces like little works of art. Stapling screens onto the back of picture frames or using small dowel rods are two more ways to transform inexpensive frames. Be inspired by found objects, start looking at things that catch your eye and try to imagine ways to use them in your display.

Your display should say something about your work before customers even step up to your tables. Go for originality and be creative.

Click on the image for a closer look or the links below to go directly to the photos.

Booth display photo credits:

1. Untitled, 2. DSC07145, 3. new banner, 4. arizona08g, 5. Display MMY 8-29-08, 6. PHOTO OF MY BOOTH, 7. table display, 8. Kaboodle Pendants Booth, 9. First Fridays Booth

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

$10 Tuesday - Cascading Bloom Pendant

$10 Tuesday is a new feature here at the Art Bead Scene. Our contributors have worked very hard to rise to the challenge of creating beautiful designs that cost $10 or under! While we understand you usually won't be able to buy only one or two beads that are required for a project or 24" of beading wire, the materials used in the projects do fall under our budget.

Cascading Bloom Pendant

by Heather Powers

Supply List

1 teal 14mm disk bead (humblebeads)

1 olive green faceted 6mm glass rondell

1 flat 5mm spacer

1 tulip bead cap

3 faceted teal pearls

1 gunmetal eyepin

3 gunmetal ball headpin

18" gunmetal chain with clasp

1 gunmetal tassel (Rings & Things)

(All other gunmetal findings can be found at Rings & Things or Hobby Lobby. Tulip from the Chocolate Cat. For pearls and glass visit your local bead store or use what you have on hand!)

Step 1: Thread the eyepin through the tulip. Open the eyepin and slip the tassel through the loop, close eye pin.

Step 2. Pull the eyepin with the tassel through the tulip. String on the disk bead, flat spacer and glass bead. Wire wrap a loop on the top. (Directions here.)

Step 3: On the the headpin, string the pearl. Trim the wire to a 1/4" and use round nose pliers to create a loop. Repeat two times.

Step 4. Open the loop on the pearl dangle and attach to one of the ends of the chain. Repeat with the other two dangles.

Step 5: Thread the dangle through the chain.

Have a little extra coin and want the $20 version? Visit my blog for a lariat using the flower pendants.

A tip on buying materials for this project: Rings & Things offers discounts if you buy larger quantities, I always stock up when I place an order to get the best discount. Also, if you have a Hobby Lobby in your area watch out for their 50% off sale on their basic findings.

Designer of the Week - Melissa Lee

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week Jennifer Heynen picked Melissa Lee's Something Wicked Bracelet. Jennifer noted, "I really like this bracelet. It has many different elements but they work really well together. It has lots of little surprises once you get a close up look.." You can see more work from Melissa's work by visiting her website.

Our theme this month is "A Dark and Stormy Night." Want to be next week's featured designer? Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the October Challenge.

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Art Bead Scene's Deal of the Week:

Order from Jangles this week and receive free shipping if you mention this ad in the comments box.

Behind the Church just off Hysteria Lane.....

The Desperate Neighbors are at it again, gossiping out behind the church just off Hysteria Lane.



They're wondering aloud where the Desperate Editor is up to and if Lynn is still in Glasgow. Let's see what other gossip is going on in the Bead Blogging World....

Art Bead Scene
One Cool Tool!

Carmi's Art/Life Blog
Carmi breaks up a shell wind chime to make more pendants!

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
It's almost time for the Divali Glass Jewelry annual sale!

Jennifer Jangles Blog
It's a Flashback Friday Bracelet Project

Jewelry & Beading
Amazing mixed media jewelry artist Phaedra A Torres shares her secrets!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean discusses the complexities of trying to sell original designwork.

Strands of Beads
Melissa designs a gryphon pendant.

Think Pink! Beading for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Check out Katie's great ideas for creating and customizing your cause jewelry!


Have you heard any good dirt in the beading world? We'd love for you to share!

Gossiped...errr...reported by Cindy Gimbrone, Church Go-er and glass beadmaker.

Studio Saturdays

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. This week's winner is Devine Design! Congratulations! Please send your postal address to the ABS Suggestion Box to receive one of Cyndi's borosilicate off mandrel hearts!

Today, we take a tour into the ceramic bead studio of Jennifer Heynen....

Hey everyone, its my Studio Saturday and it's my chance to show you what I have been up too. Are you one of those people who has to keep creating and moving forward, well I am. I really like mixed media these days, and one of the others medias I am really liking is resin. Have you tried it? Oh wait... I will ask that at the end as my question of the week, but have you tried it? It's soooo much fun.

Resin has always intrigued me. When I lived in Bloomington, IN and was making mosaic tile tables, I coincidentally lived right next door to another table artist, Laura Moore. Her company was Bella Bella Arts, she makes beautiful tables from cut tissue paper and then pours resin over the top to create and shiny and deep looking surface. I have always wanted to try it. When resin started showing up in the jewelry world, I became even more interested.

The wheels in my head started turning, see when I look at anything, I translate it into clay. It is impossible for me to look at anything and not think how could I make this in clay. It was no different when I started seeing bezels being filled with resin. I immediately started thinking about ceramic bezels. I made some and tried my hand at some pendants. I learn by trial and error. This was an error that taught me a lot. It was an absolute mess. The resin was smelly, it didn't cure right, my eyes were burning, etc, etc. What I learned was I needed to take a class!

So this summer at Bead and Button I took a class. It was Susan Lenart Kazmer's resin and cold connections class. I learned a lot. I even brought some of my bezels to class to try. We used Susan's favorite resin, ICE resin. I have since found out there are many types of resin much better than what I used the first time, but I still stick with Susan's. These are my pieces from Susan's class.

After many trials and errors, below are the bezels I came up with to offer my customers. I have had so much fun filling these and making jewelry. I now look at every store for little things to put in my bezels. Etsy has some great suppliers too for fillers.




Here are a few step by step photos of making a resin filled pendant. For this Christmas pendant, I used the white sprinkle balls for snow. Yes, as I was sorting through the little things I was thinking it was a little crazy, they are so tiny. They make really great snow, though. For the tree, I used one of my Christmas tree charms and cut the wire loop off the top.

I cut a blue pieces of paper for the background and glued it in. I laid all of the little white ball on the background and put the tree on top of them.
Next, I mixed up the resin. This resin is a mixture of two equal parts. I mixed them together really well with a Popsicle stick.
Here is the finished pendant. It is still curing and I can't touch it for a day, but this is what I am thinking for finishing it into a necklace. How fun is that?!



Okay now we can get back to my question. Have you tried it? If you have tell me what you like and don't like about it. Tell me also what you've been adding to your resin, I would over to hear. And if you're the winner, I will be sending you a ceramic bezel of your own to fill.

Happy Saturday!
Jennifer

Fit to Print Book Review - Create Jewelry: Stones

Create Jewelry: Stones is the third book in the Create Jewelry series by Interweave Press and so it's gorgeous, innovative and inspiring. That is exactly what I'd expected from the two talented designers who put this book together, Marlene Blessing and Jamie Hogsett.

What do I love most about this book? It's filled with incredibly beautiful color combinations, unique designs and art beads at the center focus of many of the projects. The book is divided into three styles: classic, special occasion and fashion forward. The designs cover stringing, wire-wrapping and even a few quick and simple beadweaving projects for added texture.

It's not just another pretty bead book! This book is filled with history, lore and trivia about our favorite stones. There is a basic overview of some of the more common gemstones along with the facts you need to know when purchasing stone beads.

Stones have been used in adornment throughout history, yet Blessing and Hogsett manage to come up with fresh and modern designs. I actually sighed while flipping though it the first time. It's a must for your bead library collection. After reading this book, you'll want to grab the checkbook and run out to the nearest bead store for more stones! You can preview the book at the Interweave website.

Review by Heather Powers.

The Bead Biz: Start Up Nation for the Entrepreneurial Spirit

Need a little business advice? Don't know how to market your business? Want to talk to like minded entrepreneurs like yourself? Surf on over to Start Up Nation to find blogs, marketing advice, radio programs and more. Chock full of good information for the entrepreneurial spirit, it may just be what you're looking for!

Written by Cindy Gimbrone entrepreneur and glass beadmaker.

Catherine Witherell Interview - Beadmaker and Jewelry Designer

Catherine Witherell is a multi-talented person, and exceptionally creative. She has had her work featured in Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine, is a member of the MetalClay Etsy Team, and her work appears in the pages of the recently released book 'A Charming Exchange' by Ruth Rae and Kelly Snelling. She has been a contributor to the pages of the PMC Annuals, and will be teaching 'PMC Frameworks' and 'Precious PMC Collage' classes at Artfest 2009 next April.

Catherine is an art bead maker and a jewelry designer, and it's wonderful to see how she combines her beads and handmade charms into her finished jewelry designs. Her blog is full of examples of her sketches, digital photograph collages and other inspiring creative work. She creates in paper, silver, resin - and it all flows together seamlessly with her style and vision.

So when I got the chance to pose the beadmaker and jewelry designer questions to Catherine for the Art Bead Scene blog, I couldn't wait to hear her answers and see what's next in her plans. She very generously shared her thoughts, inspirations, plans and creative tips.

1. What is your personal name, business name, website and location?

Catherine Witherell
HappyDayArt!
Orinda, California (in the San Francisco Bay area)

2. What kind of jewelry do you make? What types of materials do you prefer? what kinds of art beads do you use?

I work mostly with Precious Metal Clay and consider myself a sculptor. I used to spend most of my time with conventional clay, throwing pots and sculpting figures and animals.


In 2000 I heard about this clay that is made up of microscopic particles of silver mixed with an organic binder that burns off in a kiln to leave you with a hard object that is pure fine silver. Now I like to make charms and small 3-D objects to hang onto chain and earring hooks.

I am also a metal smith and use fine silver, sterling silver, gold in 18 and 22 karat and pretty much anything else I can think of to make chain and mixed media art jewelry. I do actually make beads from metal clay and I call them hollow forms and I have a big collection of semiprecious beads that I use to accent my assembled jewelry.

3. What kind of beads do you make? What kinds of processes do you use? What is your favorite beadmaking technique?

I like to make beads from metalclay. Sometimes I use a piece of cork or white bread and fashion a core to build my hollow beads onto. I also like to make individual pieces that I can assemble after firing, paste together with more of the metalclay and fire again to make birdhouses.

Lately my favorite beadmaking technique is using a syringe to make a fine line filigree pattern with clay onto a core on one side and then add a patterned sheet of clay to the other side to form hollow beads. I love making hearts this way and they come out of the kiln in a pillow shape. After I do a few more things to the beads, I fill them with colored resin.


4. How did you get into beadmaking? What are some of the important things you do for your business?

Someone asked me to make some beads for a book project so I tried this technique and it worked. I also decided to make my birdhouses that began in a larger pendant size into a smaller size and it became a bead with a hole vertically through the middle.

For my business, I like to take classes to further my education in any area I feel a curiosity. I like to do all the parts, making the components, assembling the finished jewelry, writing a blog, writing proposals for teaching classes, making small handmade books to showcase my work, designing postcards and my own business cards.

I enter design contests and trade things I have made with other artists when I can. I am currently in a big phase of promoting my work and also one of learning design concepts and taking classes that seem unrelated to my jewelry making. I believe it is always a good idea to branch out and do more than just what I am focused on in my jewelry so that I can come back to it with fresh eyes.

5. What is your workspace like and how do you work in your studio? What is a typical day like?

My work space is jam packed with stuff! I have tables covered with everything I have been able to collect in the last 10 years. I pretty much know where everything is but I have to get more organized on a regular basis or I get overwhelmed by all the ideas I get when my eyes rest on all my supplies.

When I work in metalclay I usually make at least two of something. If it is earrings, I make two pair. If I am feeling ambitious and I have a lot of ideas I make 8-10 of the same kind of thing but each one is different on the surface design.

On a typical day I would start by answering emails with breakfast. Then I do the first thing that grabs me or the most crucial thing on my to-do list. If I get to a stopping point on a project, I usually go on to some other medium. It could be digital art or something I want to paint.

On a perfect day I would eat something first around 11 am and then again around 3 pm and if I am on a roll I keep on working until 1 or 2 am.

6. How do you stay inspired and motivated?

I look for inspiration everywhere. I take a small camera with me at all times and take photos of even the patterns on clothing.

I take classes, read magazines, buy art books, and go with the flow of what I feel like working on. When I reach a problem I leave the project for maybe an hour or a few days, even months and then when I figure out what I want to do next I go back to it and finish it. In the meantime I go work in another medium and pursue a different idea and this way I feel I am working almost all the time.

7. What type of beads and jewelry designs do you feel best compliment your art beads? Do you design your own jewelry too?

I especially like pearls and semi-precious briolettes and I like to use vibrant colors to contrast with silver. I design all my own jewelry but I also have been known to copy while learning a technique.


8. How did you get into jewelry design?

I would get ideas and couldn't find anything like what I wanted at the bead store and I decided I had to make it myself.

9. What kinds of art beads do you look for? Is there a bead you wish an artist would make for you?

I used to just buy things on impulse by color and size but now I make a list of what I need and go after those things, like big chunky faceted beads right now. I don't think about another artist making me much anymore. I just set my mind to it and try to make it myself. I make what I want to wear.

10. What beady plans do you have for the future? Do you have new designs or ideas you will be exploring soon?

I plan to make more things as I have the time and when the ideas pop into my head. I really like the freedom of being an artist and not having lots of deadlines.

I want to make a PMC daisy chain necklace and I am working on a Jewelry Zine with Deryn Mentock due out in January 2009.

Catherine Witherell
--
http://www.happydayart.typepad.com/
www.flickr.com/photos/happydayart
http://www.happydayart.etsy.com/
project-eight.blogspot.com


posted by Lynn Davis - Thanks to Catherine Witherell for sharing her thoughts and giving us a peek into her studio!

Ten Dollar Tuesday

Art Bead Scene has a new feature this week. It's the debut of Ten Dollar Tuesday. Each week we will feature a project with Art Beads that can be made for under ten dollars. This week Jennifer Heynen from Jangles shows us how to make this snazzy necklace.

Supplies:
1 Jangles Medium ceramic bead
5 Black 6mm Czech faceted rounds
2 Turquoise 12 x 4mm glass beads
120 Matte lime size 6 seed beads
1 silver 6mm disc bead
1 silver 3 inch headpin
2 silver 1mm crimps
20 inches of beading wire

Tip: This is a great project to use those extra little beads you have lying around your bead boards. Just pick a couple of colors from the focal bead you are using to match to the accent beads.



Instructions:
1. To begin, string a Czech bead, the silver disc, and the ceramic bead onto the headpin. Make a simple wire loop just above the ceramic bead and trim the excess wire.
2. Crimp one end of the silver clasp to the beading wire. String 60 of the seed beads onto the wire. Follow the seed beads by a Czech bead, the glass bead, and another Czech bead. String two more seed beads and then add on the pendant.

3. String the second half of the necklace just as you did the first half. Finish the necklace off with crimping the second half of the clasp and trimming the excess beading wire.

Featured Designer of the Week - GoddessJoy

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week Cindy Gimbrone picked GoddessJoy's Enlightenment Necklace. Cindy noted, "I like the unusual interpretation of the theme - getting through dark and stormy nights through enlightenment. The simplicity of design and the neutral color palate is soothing which reflects the calm one needs to find enlightenment." You can see more work from GoddessJoy's work by visiting her website.

Our theme this month is "A Dark and Stormy Night." Want to be next week's featured designer? Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the October Challenge.

__________________________________________________

Art Bead Scene's Deal of the Week:

With any purchase from Cindy Gimbrone this week you'll be entered in a drawing for this Dragonfly Glitter Pebble Link.

A New Fascination in the Desperate ABS Neigborhood

Lynn, the local archaeologist, is traveling once again and this time it's to Glasgow. She seems to be enamored of Charles Rennie Macintosh. Hmmm, who is that guy? Is he going to be moving into the Desperate ABS Neigborhood? Is Lynn having an affair with him?


While the Desperate Editor gets to the bottom of this new fascination of Lynn's let's see what other things are going on in the Bead Blogging World....

Art Bead Scene
It's a dark and stormy night at Art Bead Scene

BeadStyleMag.com
Did you see Sara Snow's Living Green video on CNN.com?

Carmi's Art/Life Blog
Inspired by a tree pendant, Carmi creates new buttons.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter takes a walk down Divali Glass Jewelry Memory Lane

Jewelry & Beading
A special group of friends is showing off the work inspired by Cindy McCornack, and raising money for the American Lung Association at the same time.

Savvy Crafter--Candie Cooper
Tic-Toc, Candie shows a sweet beaded clock...

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean becomes an armchair traveler and lets a book take her away to exotic places when she reviews Bead Journey...!!!

Strands of Beads
Melissa creates a word bead based on T.S. Eliot's "The Naming of Cats"


Have you heard any good dirt in the beading world? We'd love for you to share!

Gossiped...errr...reported by Cindy Gimbrone, Amateur Sleuth and glass beadmaker.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. This week's winner is AJ ! Congratulations! Please send your postal address to the ABS Suggestion Box to receive Lynn's wirework toggle clasp!

Today, we take a tour into the glass studio of Cindy Gimbrone....



There are changes underfoot at the Gimbrone House. The Bean Counter quit his job (with my support) and is following his heart to own a business. I'm more than happy to become "the Breadwinner." It's new and uncertain but exciting too. So in keeping with the new and uncertain but exciting, I've been playing with color borosilicate glass. In honor of TBC, I'm making hearts. I'm still learning but I have faith I'll eventually make the heart I envision in my head - much like I have faith in TBC to follow his heart in work.



Today's question is, what change has happened in your work and/or life lately? Make a comment and win one of my new borosilicate off mandrel hearts.

I look forward to reading what's changes have happened to you!

The Bead Biz - Stand Out!

Reprinted from May 10, 2007. I've been thinking about Melanie's article all week as I look at my own business so I thought I'd share this post again.

80 Percent of U.S. Populace Now Selling Handmade Jewelry

WASHINGTON, DC-According to a Department Of Labor report released Monday, four out of five Americans derive at least a portion of their income from the sale of handmade jewelry.

Ok, Ok, if you know the Onion you know it is satire and fake news, but there is often a grain of truth to the articles. In this case, if you are a jewelry designer, it may seem like 80% of the people you know are also selling jewelry. A quick google search for handmade jewelry gets over 3 million entries, and the jewelry categories on Ebay and even smaller online markets like Etsy are full of artists making jewelry to compete for customer dollars. So how does one a new jewelry maker stand out in a sea of handmade beaded jewelry? Here are a few suggestions:

Excel in your craft.

One of the best ways to stand out is to focus on one or two techniques that you can do really well. Especially when you are new to a craft, it is a good idea to buckle down and practice to get your crimps perfect or your wire wraps consistent. Don't try to tackle too many techniques at once, as you excel in one or two techniques, others will naturally become easier to master later. Stay aware of techniques that you will want to try later, but try to stay focused on the basics first.

Choose excellent, unique materials.

Beautiful jewelry is made of beautiful materials. Use the best materials that you can afford, especially when it comes to metals. A unique centerpiece or accent in your jewelry can become a signature of your unique style. Art beads are perfect for bringing a touch of personality to your work. Find artists who make beads and components that speak to you and inspire you, so you can share your inspiration with your customers. Jewelry is personal, and people love to have jewelry that tells a story or shares a history. Use this to your advantage when selling and marketing your work.

Find unique sources of inspiration.

Try not to spend too much time looking at other artist's beaded jewelry. It is too easy to find yourself copying something that you have fallen in love with, and no one likes a copycat. Instead, search for inspiration in non jewelry sources. Love color? Look at pictures of gardens, sea life, and nature. Love texture? Look at fabrics and textile design. Love to keep up with trends? Look at the fashion industry and imagine what kind of jewelry would look best on the clothing you love. Love words? Be inspired by your favorite poems, literature, and music. If you must look at jewelry, consider being inspitred by art history or jewelry and art of other cultures.

I hope these suggestions are helpful in thinking about how to stand out in jewelry design. I would love to hear more suggestions of how to accomplish this, from new and seasoned designers. If you have an idea to share, post your suggestion here!

Thanks to the Bead Circle Blog for finding the article in the first place. Read their post about it too!

Melanie Brooks Lukacs is the ceramic beadmaker of Earthenwood Studio, who blogs from her Metro Detroit, Michigan home.

Art Beads for the Home

Art beads aren't just for jewelry, adorn your home this season with these art bead project.

Jennifer from Jangles posted a free napkin ring project on her blog. The set she has pictured would make such a beautiful hostess gift. I could see some of her Christmas beads used for upcoming holiday dinners.

In fact, I was so inspired I had to make a set of my own! Here is a slightly different version with instructions. Won't you have the best dressed table this fall?

I featured art bead fan pulls last Christmas, so here is the link if you missed it. The one pictured here combines my lariat art bead in olive with a bird from Green Girl Studios.

Have you used art beads in other home decorating projects? I'd love to hear about them.

Bead Biz...Make your own Earring Cards

Any little bit of money we artists can save these days helps, right? One way I save a lot of money is by making my own earring cards. I have been doing this for years, they are a great way to get your name on your jewelry and they work well in a display. Now mine are pretty simple, but you could make these as elaborate as you would like. You could put your contact information, a little bio, or images the sky's the limit.

When I layout my design on the computer, I can get four cards across the bottom. They measure 2.5"w x 3"h after the cards are folded. The complete size is 2.5"w x 6"h. Here they are when they come out of the printer.

I bought this paper cutter for cutting my cards. After about two years of using scissors, I realized they would be much straighter and faster to cut this way.

I like to pierce a couple of holes for the earrings to hang from. You can use a large needle to do this, but I like to use a drill press. I cut a big stack of cards and mark the top one with where I would like the hole to be. I use a very small drill bit and it's done in no time. I can drill a hole through a 2" stack of paper in seconds this way.

After drilling I fold the cards in half and they are ready for earrings. These folded cards can stand alone on your table or they can be hung over wires, on a rack. You could also use a bigger drill bit or hole punch to make a hole for hanging depending on your display.

Written by Jennifer Heynen

One Cool Tool

I found this tool and thought it was a very cool tool. I need to one to try! Using a lighter or mini torch is my experience for stopping the annoying fray of cording.
This is the description provided by Contenti.com

Cordless Thread Burner

Provides instant heat. Pointed tip is controlled by fingertip switch. Perfect for sealing the ends of bead cord to prevent fraying or as an alternative to scissors for cutting bead thread. Works with most types of cord. Replaceable tip slips in and out easily.

Let me know your experiences if you have used one of these fun tools.

Feature Designer of the Week - Lorelei Eurto

Each Monday we feature the Designer of the Week. One of our editors pick their favorite from the Monthly Challenge entries.

This week picked Lynn of ExpeditionD picked Lorelei Eurto's Dark and Stormy Night necklace. Lynn noted, "The tree standing alone and leafless, mirrored by the round shapes of mother of pearl with their mystical sheen, looking like the full moon hovering in the dark stormy sky finished off with a darkened sterling silver textured toggle. Not obviously October, but definitely moody and mysterious." You can see more work from Lorelei by visiting her etsy shop.

Our theme this month is "A Dark and Stormy Night." Want to be next week's featured designer? Create something that combines the theme with art beads and then send in your submission for the October Challenge.

_________________________________

Art Bead Scene's Deal of the Week:

Free shipping from Humblebeads.com Oct. 6th - 12th.

Use discount code M2008.

The Sunday Newspaper is Here!

It's Sunday and time to dive into the Sunday newspaper. So instead of dishing some dirt, the Desperate Neighbors are reading it. Wondering if there's anything in the newspaper about the Bead Blogging World.....
(Photo Credit)


About.com Jewelry Making
Yippy! Tammy is thrilled that another resin experiment is a success. This time she's making Halloween style resin cabs.

Art Bead Scene
A Not-So-Scary Jangles Bracelet.

Barbe Saint John: New Jewelry from Old Artifacts
ook Review of Simply Modern Jewelry-its simply GORGEOUS!!!

Bead & Button Magazine
Tea gets inspired about beaded shoes

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Jennifer's been playing with resin, see what's new

Jewelry & Beading
After being named Darth Pyro by her family, Cyndi wants to know what your darth beading name is!

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie went a little crazy buying beads...take a peak inside her shopping bag!

Metal Lid Pendant
Carmi cuts up a thin sheet of metal to make a pendant.

Savvy Crafter--Candie Cooper
Check out Candie's piece, Migration, in the new Fall Issue of Stringing...it's been quite a trip!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean cheats a bit--this tiny creation isn't exactly jewelry unless you wore it as a pin. Which would be quite a conceivable thing to do!

Strands of Beads
Melissa finds inspiration at Kid Robot


Have you heard any good dirt in the beading world? We'd love for you to share!

Gossiped...errr...reported by Cindy Gimbrone, avid newspaper reader and glass beadmaker.

Studio Saturday: Creativity Groups

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

This week's winner is Trish! Congratulations! Please send your postal address to the ABS Suggestion Box to receive your 6 Bead Buttons with loops on each side from Tari of Creative Impressions in Clay.

Here at my studio for ExpeditionD this week I've been thinking a lot about creating solo, and the benefits of taking classes and creating in groups. I've been fortunate to be invited to attend some beading 'play dates' with some people locally, and I find it opens up the creative flow in a way that working solo in my studio doesn't do in the same way.

Last weekend I did some wirework, something I've been wanting to do, and found the conversation, interaction and fun in the group made learning something new much easier. These are the first attempts, using semi-precious gemstone chips, but I can easily image using a large art bead right in the center for a pendant, or two matched for earrings with glass or bead dangles.

Most of the time I work in the studio by myself with music on, concentrating on the process and giving it the focus of my attention. I wasn't sure I'd be able to be in a group and be creative in the same way. And it's not exactly the same, but it is very pleasant and rewarding.


This week's prize is a wirework toggle clasp with semi-precious stone chips to use with your art bead designs, post a comment and answer this question if you'd like to win.

The question is - how you work collaboratively as part of a group - do you join a guild, have a beading gathering that you host or attend? How do you get out of your studio and create with others, and what happy results and benefits have you found from it?

Leave your comment and you just might be the lucky winner!!

Question posed by Lynn Davis of expeditionD.etsy.com

Dark and Stormy Inspiration

We have two very talented beadmakers as sponsors for this month's challenge, A Dark and Stormy Night. We've already had some great entries, I can't wait to see what you create!

The prize this month is awarded to one designer. The winner is randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries to the flickr group during October. Remember your design has to include at least one art bead.

Our first sponsor is Gabriel Studios. Michele has donated an awesome tree pendant created with our theme in mind! You'll find all sorts of dark and stormy inspiration in Gabriel's shop, each bead whispers of a mystery.

Our next sponsor is former ABS contributor and dear friend, Elaine Ray! Elaine is offering a beautiful collection of ceramic beads featuring her tree pendants and a stormy collection of accent beads. Visit Ornamentea to purchase Elaine Ray beads online.

October Monthly Challenge

This month's theme is a Dark and Stormy Night. Whether you go with a Halloween theme, autumn-inspired or channel your inner goth girl, the theme is open to your interpretation. Pull out your favorite fall art beads and join in this month's challenge! I can't wait to see what you create.

Join us tomorrow to see this month's prizes and sponsors.



Featured Designer of the Week!
From all the entries during the month, an editor is going to pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on the ABS. We want to give our participants more time in the spotlight! Our Featured Designer will be this Monday, so get those entries in soon.

How to enter the Monthly Challenge:
1. Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme.This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc.The art bead can be created by you or someone else.The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.

***Beads by themselves and beads simply strung on a chain or cord will not be accepted.***

2. Upload your photo to our flickr group.Detailed instructions can be found here and click here for a tutorial for sending your picture to the group. If you can't upload to Flickr, send your entry and information to Heather.Please add the tag or title OCTABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.

Deadline is October 31th.

Photos are approved by our moderators, if a photo hasn't followed the guidelines it will not be approved. You may upload 2 photos a day.

What is an Art Bead?
An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.*** A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.

p.s. If you have a blog, post your entry and a link to the ABS challenge to spread the beady goodness.

Monthly Challenge Winner!

Congratulations to the September challenge winner, BelindaLee! Her entry was randomly chosen from all of the entries this month. Belinda won an signed copy of Beading with Filigree thanks to Ornamentea and a set of wafer beads from Humblebeads.com. Join us tomorrow for details on the next monthly challenge.