by Barbara | Nov 27, 2018 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Beads and Materials, Bronze, Components, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Uncategorized
Because I’m incapable of doing nothing and was unable to bead while my left hand recovered from surgery, I took time to play with Bronze Metal Clay. Rolling narrow strips of clay out with my right hand, I decided to create tiny components that could be used in...
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 | Apr 11, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bracelets, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Techniques, Tutorials
When I had first purchased my “Now That’s a Jig” wire-working tool at the Bead and Button show in 2015, I made a bracelet that I titled “Climbing Roses Bangle” and wrote a tutorial for it. The bracelet was composed of a looped steel wire framework that to me...
by Barbara | Mar 27, 2018 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tutorials, Uncategorized
I do love making polymer clay beads…especially beads that look very old, if not ancient! These are beads that I made last week. I had run out of the faux amber, turquoise, and coral beads used in my “Tibetan Inspired Beaded Rope Necklace” kit and needed to make more,...
by Barbara | Jan 13, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Beads and Materials, Components, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
I love giving objects a second life and having just finished with the holidays, I found that many of the gifts we received were packaged in wonderfully sturdy, reusable boxes! This particular box housed teabags in four individual compartments (each measuring 3.25...
by Barbara | Dec 14, 2017 | An Aside, Beading, Beads and Materials, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
I will get back to beading and metal work, but every now and then I need to step back from it all and delve into something totally new. In this case, I’ve wandered off into working with paper collage, creating tiny one-of-a-kind boxes, pillow envelopes, bags,...
by Barbara | Oct 13, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Uncategorized
The deadline for latest Fire Mountain Gems contest featuring Swarovski Crystals was October 8 and I finished this neckpiece just in time to enter! I had been so busy finishing up my latest geometric beadwoven bracelet that I’d forgotten the contest was closing....
by Barbara | Sep 2, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Embellishments, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
I am so excited!!! In early March I entered my bead-embroidered neckpiece featuring polymer clay flowers and butterflies in Fire Mountain Gems and Beads “Creative Clays” contest. I’ve been eagerly awaiting results of the contest and winners have...
by Barbara | Jun 25, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tutorials
I spent time this past week replenishing the polymer clay faux amber, coral, and turquoise beads that are included in my “Tibetan Inspired Beaded Rope Necklace” kit. After finishing my task I decided to play with several different shapes…I made turquoise nuggets,...
by Barbara | Jun 17, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Cabochons and Gemstones, Classes, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Resin, Sterling Silver, Techniques
What I liked best about the Bead & Button Show was a class taught by Susan Lenart Kazmer! Over the past years I’ve taken several of her classes and they always inspire me to get back in the studio and work with metal and resin! “Resin, Relics, and...