by Barbara | Apr 29, 2014 | An Aside, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
I’ve selected a delicious color palette for my upcoming project! You can tell from this collection of Delica beads that I’m definitely being influenced by the change of season. The blanket of snow in which we were enveloped over the past five months has finally...
by Barbara | Apr 26, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
Finished! Kate McKinnon’s recent posts challenging beaders to attempt working with Cone shapes from CGB Volume 1 lit the fire beneath my curiosity, so I picked up needle and thread and started to play. My cone grew into a brooch and I’m very pleased with...
by Barbara | Apr 24, 2014 | Art to Wear, Found Objects, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay
That’s the new term for using recycled materials and making them into something useful and/or beautiful. Abhorring waste, up-cycling is something I do often. I admit to being a packrat…I was raised by parents who lived through the Great Depression. They saved...
by Barbara | Apr 22, 2014 | An Aside, Beads and Materials, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
Every time I unload the kiln, I am amazed with the shrinkage factor. For these sea-themed metal clay bead/buttons, I’ve used BronzClay, which has a shrinkage rate of 17% – 20% and must be factored in if one desires a finished piece to be an exact size. I am even...
by Barbara | Apr 21, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
I have to refine the holes and smooth edges. It’s dusty, dirty, time-consuming work, but essential to the quality of the finished product. After I’ve done all of this, I’ll place them in a stainless steel chamber on a bed of activated charcoal, carefully spacing each...
by Barbara | Apr 19, 2014 | An Aside, Beading, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
Just as I finished the tutorial and assembled kits for the “Floral Brooch”design, I find that a new task awaits me. I thought I’d have a free block of time to explore beading geometrical cone shapes from Volume 1 of CGB. I had just started working on the foundation...
by Barbara | Apr 17, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
The beading kits are assembled and waiting for anyone who wants to make a bold and colorful “fashion statement” accessory. Measuring approximately 2 3/4″ from petal tip to petal tip, these bodacious brooches (inspired by CGB) are ready to wow! I am...
by Barbara | Apr 16, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Tutorials
Hurray…the tutorial for the “Floral Brooch” is finished! I’m always so relieved when all the proofreading is done. Now comes what I consider the most tedious and time-consuming job entailed in the creation of a new design and that is assembling beading kits! The...
by Barbara | Apr 14, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
I’ve just finished my third Floral Brooch, which I’ve titled “Tiger Lily”. You’ll notice that the petals are more curved than those in my “Blue Dahlia” brooch. Both finished brooches (inspired by CGB) were treated in the same...
by Barbara | Apr 11, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Jewelry kits, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
I should have had this third floral brooch finished by now but life, as usual, has a habit of getting in the way and just when I think I can devote an entire day(s) to beading, stuff happens that takes me away from my project! But, I’m very close to “wrapping this...
