by Barbara | Jul 19, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art Supplies, Art to Wear, Beaded Beads, Beading, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
I could have taken the easy and speedy path by using crimp covers to hide the crimp beads used in this bracelet project, but I was not at all pleased with the results. It may be a perfectly fine solution for some projects, but it detracted from the geometric beaded...
by Barbara | Jul 7, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Multi-Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
That’s an acronym for Dubuque Museum of Art. It’s an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution located in downtown Dubuque, IA. Several months ago I was invited to participate in the “Handmade Craft Invitational” exhibition running June 2...
by Barbara | Jun 25, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art Supplies, Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver
Aside from intense heat and far more rain than wanted or needed, June has certainly been an excellent month for me! Not only did I spend two relaxing weeks on the west coast of Ireland, but upon my return home, a package from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads that I had...
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 | 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 | 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...
by Barbara | Apr 18, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Tutorials
If you were around in the 1960’s and into Pop Culture, you probably remember Edie Sedgwick. She was part of “the MOD scene” at Andy Warhol’s Factory. Edie came from a wealthy and eccentric family. She was super thin, wore tons of eye makeup,...