Nov 10, 20171 min read
It’s never too early…
Many gift-giving dates are fixed…birthdays and Christmas, to name a few. Preparing for these occasions is stressful enough without the...
Sep 8, 20171 min read
Another Find...
Aren't these the cutest little glass bottles ever! Look at how tiny they are next to the tube of Delica beads! These are another "find"...
Jul 29, 20171 min read
Last Weekend...
I took a class taught by Richard Salley (great teacher BTW!!!) and learned to make the "Ketoh Bracelet"...typically a wrist guard worn by...
Jun 21, 20171 min read
Lucky Me!
Richard Salley is teaching the Ketoh Bracelet (shown above) workshop in Mineral Point , Wisconsin at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts...
Jun 2, 20171 min read
I’m Goin’ Shoppin’…
My contest entries have just been returned and thanks to Fire Mountain Gems & Beads and a $150 gift certificate (the silver medal award...
May 6, 20171 min read
Back in Working Order...
My hydraulic press has been out of service for several months. After 26 years of service, the ram was leaking oil like mad and the...
Feb 3, 20171 min read
Busy work...
I'm running low so it's time to make more components for the "Tibetan Inspired Beaded Rope Necklace" Kit . This entails creating more...
Jan 22, 20171 min read
Materials and Supplies...
This is a stash of goodies I purchased previously at the Bead&Button show. I've just received a list of the floor show exhibitors for...
Dec 26, 20161 min read
What Does Santa Bring a Metalsmith?
Lucky me! Among other desirable goodies, Santa gave me two hammers and a really nice steel block set inside a non-slip, noise reducing...
Sep 23, 20161 min read
A New Toy!
It was on my birthday list and my wonderful husband gifted me with this nifty piece of equipment! This manually operated machine...
Mar 9, 20161 min read
My blog has moved to barbarabriggsdesigns.com
I've consolidated by moving my blog to my website. I post several times a week so if you'd like to see what I'm writing about, please go...
Sep 22, 20151 min read
The FMG gift certificate was burning a hole in my pocket and…
It didn’t take long for me to decide what I wanted...actually needed! Every geometric beadwork design I’ve created uses thousands of...
Sep 13, 20151 min read
September is my favorite month of the year...
Summer heat is transitioning into warm days and cool nights with the onset of autumn. The green leaves of summer have begun...
Sep 1, 20151 min read
My first project using the new star-cutter set...
You may have already guessed that my first project using the new star-cutter set I recently purchased would be another pair of...
Aug 29, 20151 min read
A new toy to use in my metals studio!
I had lusted after one of these for some time, but a set of shaped cutters are a bit of an investment so I waited and when I saw that...
Jul 27, 20152 min read
Repurposing Redux...
If you’ve been following my blog, you probably know that I never throw anything away that can be reused or repurposed. Here are four...
Jul 22, 20152 min read
How many saws does a jewelry artist need?
Well, that depends. The answer is actually one…unless you are a tool junkie like me! The classic jeweler’s saw at the far left in the...
Jul 19, 20151 min read
“A Rose in Spanish Harlem”…
It’s a song I first heard on the album “She Cried” by Jay and the Americans in 1962. I was in 8 grade then and I played that record so...
Jul 16, 20151 min read
Just finished...
When it comes to heart-themed jewelry, there are those who simply can't abide it and those who love it...I fall into the latter category!...
Jul 5, 20151 min read
Why didn't I purchase one of these years ago!
Truly, I should have, but a drill press always seemed like an expensive luxury...one I could do without. However, I do a serious amount...
