by Barbara | Jun 30, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beaded Beads, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay
Ever since I returned from Bead&Button with my new “Now That’s a Jig” tool and the tiny book, “Collaborate” (which is filled with wonderful mixed-media and wire working inspiration!), I’ve wanted to do more exploration with wire. I already had Brenda Schweder’s...
by Barbara | Jun 27, 2014 | An Aside, At the Bench, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
This year at Bead and Button, I “bit the bullet” and splurged on Brenda Schweder’s “Now That’s a Jig” tool along with almost every accessory made to go with it. I’m still waiting for several items that were backordered – an XXS and XS bangle form and a...
by Barbara | Jun 25, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beaded Beads, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
I just couldn’t resist making earrings that coordinate with my “Fantasy Flora” Cuff. The Rizo and Magatama beads I’m using accent the Delicas beautifully adding textural interest to the geometry. They are integral to the design as they form clusters of seeds on this...
by Barbara | Jun 23, 2014 | An Aside, Bead Embroidery, Beads and Materials, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tools, Tutorials
I’ve added additional colors to the Czech Spike beads and “Baby Spike” beads listings in my Etsy shop. Silky Matte Gold (which ranges in beautiful hues of copper, bronze, and gold) and Matte Black 7mm x 17mm spikes are shown here along with petite...
by Barbara | Jun 20, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Tutorials
Since it’s creation five years ago, the “Shell and Spines” Cuff” tutorial and beading kit in Neutral colourways has been most often requested. Although colourways in Ocean (blues, greens, purples) and Coral (pinks, peach, and bronze) are popular, it is the...
by Barbara | Jun 17, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Tutorials
Creating the tutorial for the “Fantasy Flora” Cuff was very ambitious! Inspired by wings and horns from CGB and implementing the elegant guide row from Kate’s video, it contains over fifty step-by-step photos plus three color charts showing small,...
by Barbara | Jun 15, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
The “Fantasy Floral” Cuff is now gracing my wrist and I am utterly taken with it! The winged petals are accented with tiny horned pods and the versatile guide row (see Kate’s video to learn this technique) allowed me to create an over-skirt culminating in clusters...
by Barbara | Jun 13, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Classes, Components, Embellishments, Found Objects, Handmade, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
It can be found everywhere from high-end jewelry stores to shopping malls and discount stores. It is obviously popular and preferred by many, but I find it soul-less. It’s just a lot of shiny bling made by machines. I feel it lacks spirit and substance, whereas art...
by Barbara | Jun 11, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Resin
Aside from enameling, I had never worked with glass, but had always been tempted by the beauty of fused glass cabochons, so when I saw that a class in glass fusing was offered at Bead&Button, I didn’t hesitate to sign up! These are the pieces that I made in class...
by Barbara | Jun 9, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Embellishments, Found Objects, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Resin, Techniques, Tools
I never know what goodies I’ll come home with from Bead & Button! Besides purchasing a new Fretz hammer with interchangeable heads, this was the year for buying staples such as Charlotte, peanut, and O beads. I was also interested in seeking out curiosities and...