Nov 5, 20141 min read
I'm almost finished!
I’m dying to start a new project, but must finish this first! It’s been a while since I’ve beaded a spiral wrap and I’d forgotten how...
Jun 27, 20141 min read
I’d been thinking about getting one of these for several years and…
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...
Jun 2, 20141 min read
In light of the fact that...
I'm taking a metals class from Jeff Fulkerson at Bead&Button, I'm packing my travel case with the required hammers (ball peen, chasing,...
Mar 24, 20141 min read
There is still snow on the ground, but….
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...
Mar 17, 20141 min read
A new beading adventure...
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...
Jun 14, 20132 min read
Lots of Loot!
I tried to be very good this year by not buying more of what I already have and I think I did pretty well. With so many classes...
Jun 11, 20131 min read
Spinner Ring Redux!
This is the spinner ring that I made in Robyn Cornelius’s class at Bead & Button. The ring is made of silver and the interior spinning...
Jun 9, 20131 min read
Goodbye Milwaukee. Goodbye Bead and Button!
The last five days I've spent at the Bead and Button Show have been fun-filled, exhilarating, exhausting, and awakening. I've met with...
Mar 4, 20131 min read
Do You Teach?
I'm often asked if I teach and the answer is a resounding "No". Standing in front of an audience causes my brain to freeze up and words...
Nov 5, 20121 min read
Here it is...
It's been quite a while since I've created a new kit and pattern, but the “Faux Beach Glass and River Pebble Bangle” jewelry kit and...
Nov 3, 20121 min read
I like to use beach glass and pebbles in my work, however...
Drilling holes in stone and glass is a time-consuming task and not a lot of fun to do. And the heavy weight these elements add to a...
Oct 22, 20121 min read
New jewelry listings in my Etsy shop and a Bonus!
I don’t often have finished jewelry pieces for sale in my Etsy shop. Most often, I put my jewelry making efforts into creating pieces...
Oct 8, 20121 min read
Of all the texturing tools I own...
This decorative tool is one of my favorites. I made it seven years ago while taking a PMC certification class taught by Barbara Becker...
Sep 24, 20121 min read
Polymer Clay vs Epoxy Resin Clay…
That’s the title of an article in the 2012 issue of “Handcrafted Jewelry” magazine . I’d been experimenting with Epoxy Resin Clay when I...
Aug 22, 20121 min read
A finished torpedo pendant...
I couldn't wait to make a pendant with a fob from the latest polymer collection and here it is. The design is somewhat of a trapeze...
Aug 8, 20121 min read
a new jewelry-making tool!
This tool will come in very handy when I need to put a curve in metal. I found this reasonably priced forming block at the Euro Tool...
Aug 3, 20122 min read
I'm a huge fan of anything that saves time!
I've been making jewelry a long time. Having learned with basic hand tools, I was happy enough to use them until I started doing shows...
Jul 13, 20121 min read
Another piece for my Brio trunk show...
My previous series of fibulae (functional brooches used to adorn and fasten clothing) were well received at Brio Gallery so I'm making...
Jul 4, 20121 min read
These don’t look like much yet, but they will!
I spent yesterday making this collection of polymer clay core beads. They will eventually become colorful focal beads to add to...
Jun 29, 20121 min read
Experiments with Polymer Clay…
Color and design can be carefully planned, but I tend to love playing with Polymer Clay in a purely serendipitous fashion. In the past,...
