by Barbara | Mar 30, 2014 | An Aside, Beading, One-of-a-Kind
Guess what I’m doing today? I’ll give you a hint…I’d much rather be beading! It’s that time of the year when I scrounge through all my receipts from the previous year and start doing the math. Dealing with taxes is one of my least favorite things...
by Barbara | Mar 27, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tutorials
I’ve just received a shipment of gorgeous handmade 7mm x 17mm Czech glass Spike beads and couldn’t resist using them in another pair of Triangular Drop Earrings (inspired by CGB and Jean Power – you can find the tutorial for these earrings in my Etsy shop)!...
by Barbara | Mar 24, 2014 | Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
It’s beginning to look like spring in my studio. The bright lime of these Delica and Drop beads remind me so much of the vivid Chartreuse that accompanies new leaf growth in spring and it’s playing a major role in the new floral brooch that I’m working on! The...
by Barbara | Mar 21, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Tutorials
I’ve just finished my Floral Brooch! Comprised of Delica, seed, magatama, and drop beads and accented with a Czech glass hematite bullet bead, the brooch measures one and one-half inches in diameter, it’s the perfect accessory for clothing or home décor! I believe...
by Barbara | Mar 19, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
MRAW, which stands for Modified Right Angle Weave (inspired by CGB) plays a role in this piece. I’m working on the backside of my floral brooch now and the flower petals started with MRAW. Likewise, the small striped back petals began with MRAW as well....
by Barbara | Mar 17, 2014 | At the Bench, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
Spring is coming very slowly to northern Illinois. In anticipation of its arrival, I’m creating a beaded flower. I have a vague idea of how I’d like the finished piece to look, but for now I’m just designing as I go along. I started by surrounding a 7mm x 10mm Czech...
by Barbara | Mar 15, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
A nifty beading travel tin fitted with a velour beading mat holds a selection of Delica, seed, and Charlotte beads in seven colors, two handmade 7mm x 17mm Czech spike beads, two handmade antique-finished sterling silver ear wires with attached sterling silver chain,...
by Barbara | Mar 13, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
I personally don’t care for the majority of commercially mass-produced ear wires. Many look flimsy and/or the finish is too bright for my taste and some actually detract from the earrings they hold! I prefer to make my own and while the ear wires I am presently using...
by Barbara | Mar 11, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tutorials
If you’d like to make these “Pentagonal Drop Earrings”, you’re in luck because I have just finished the tutorial and it’s listed in my Etsy shop! These bead woven earrings dangle gracefully from antique finished sterling silver ear wires...
by Barbara | Mar 9, 2014 | An Aside, Beads and Materials, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
The wonderful CGB souvenir calendar from Kate McKinnon arrived in my mailbox a few days ago! What a thrill to leaf through its pages and find fabulous pieces of geometric beadwork modeled so artistically one after another! I was especially pleased to see my...
