by Barbara | Jun 20, 2018 | An Aside, Art Supplies, Beading, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Paper Craft, Techniques, Tools
After I’ve spent a month or two designing with beads and writing tutorials or having been immersed in resin and/or polymer clay or metal work, I need to step back and let my “inner child” emerge. That usually means getting out paper, crayons, inks, embossing...
by Barbara | Jun 14, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
After a week of severe storms, high humidity, and a miserable deluge of biting gnats, we finally have a glorious day…the sort of idyllic day one wishes would last all year long! So, I’ve taken the opportunity to do more geometric beadwork (more triangles!) on...
by Barbara | Jun 8, 2018 | An Aside, Beading, Inspiration
I’ve been out of the studio for the past two weeks for a much needed vacation. While away, I managed to cram in only a few hours of beading. The rest of the time was spent reading, relaxing, visiting tiny villages, and taking long walks in the Irish countryside. We...
by Barbara | Jun 1, 2018 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Uncategorized
Exploration with color and design is so important! I’ve charted three designs using sixteen different color combinations and I’ve learned that seeing the colors on paper is quite different from seeing the actual triangle worked up! Just look at top four triangle...
by Barbara | May 25, 2018 | Uncategorized
I’m delighted! I’ve just been notified that my “Elements” necklace has received an honorable mention in the Fire Mountain Gems and Beads 2018 Metals Contest! The necklace is composed of sterling silver, 14k gold, onyx and rutile quartz, vintage glass and granite...
by Barbara | May 18, 2018 | An Aside, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
I did manage to carve out a bit of free time to work on some beadwoven triangles. These are part of a collection that will eventually become a Kaleidocycle (inspired by CGB). It’s fun coming up with various designs for each of the four triangles that will be...
by Barbara | May 10, 2018 | An Aside, Beading, One-of-a-Kind, Tools
It’s all so beautiful! I’ve just returned from Murphy’s Gardens with a box full of herbs…thyme, parsley, rosemary, mint, and lots of basil! They’ve been in a greenhouse so I will harden them off outside during the day and put them in pots on the deck in a few...
by Barbara | May 5, 2018 | Uncategorized
The weather pattern world-wide has been unpredictable of late! Forget spring…our lengthy and arduous Mid-west winter has seemingly become summer overnight! We went from snow accompanied by frigid temperatures just two weeks ago to hot summer-like weather! The...
by Barbara | May 1, 2018 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
Flowers are blooming everywhere…even in my studio! These four collections of polymer clay flower and butterfly shaped components have so many possibilities! Each component has a subtle matte iridescence that does not show up in the photos…they truly are...
by Barbara | Apr 27, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beaded Beads, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tutorials
I said in my last post that the tutorial for the Geometric “Color Play” Square Drop Earrings would be available in a day or two, but stuff happens, life gets in the way, the dog ate my homework (just kidding!). Well, the tutorial and beading kits are now...
