by Barbara | Sep 8, 2017 | An Aside, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Inspiration, Seed Beads
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” from my latest antique shop excursion. I have no idea how old these are but judging from the yellowed tape and...
by Barbara | Sep 2, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Embellishments, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
I am so excited!!! In early March I entered my bead-embroidered neckpiece featuring polymer clay flowers and butterflies in Fire Mountain Gems and Beads “Creative Clays” contest. I’ve been eagerly awaiting results of the contest and winners have...
by Barbara | Aug 25, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
Designing and engineering this warped square beading project has taken longer than I imagined, but I’m closing in and can see light at the end of the tunnel. Part of why it has taken so long is that I’m creating the tutorial as I go along. Taking the process photos...
by Barbara | Aug 16, 2017 | An Aside, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
Some of the best finds are in antique stores. I am always on the lookout for items I can repurpose and up-cycle! Recently, I came across two small, very flat wooden cigar boxes that I’ve utilized as portable bead cases that I can toss in a bag at a...
by Barbara | Aug 12, 2017 | An Aside, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
The power of color is amazing! How it is used determines what the eye sees. For example, these three geometric warped squares were woven using the same pattern graph design. Each was woven with the exact same palette of colors. What makes each warped square appear so...
by Barbara | Jun 21, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bracelets, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, One-of-a-Kind, Sterling Silver, Tools
Richard Salley is teaching the Ketoh Bracelet (shown above) workshop in Mineral Point , Wisconsin at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts on July 22-23 and I’ve signed up for his class! This piece is drop-dead gorgeous and all the materials including the large...
by Barbara | Jun 10, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Seed Beads, Techniques
It was a whirlwind trip to the Bead&Button Show…a four hour drive to Milwaukee on Thursday and a repeat back home on Friday. I solely went to just do some floor show shopping and to take a class with Susan Lenart Kazmer (more about the class in my next...
by Barbara | Jun 5, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Beading, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Uncategorized
It’s just too beautiful outdoors to stay inside today! I’ve gathered up a selection of Delica beads, needle, thread, and beading mat and am sitting under a fan blowing soft breezes on our screened-in porch. Along with iced tea and the company of...
by Barbara | Jun 2, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Cabochons and Gemstones, Classes, Components, Delica beads, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tools
My contest entries have just been returned and thanks to Fire Mountain Gems & Beads and a $150 gift certificate (the silver medal award for the bracelet I entered in the 2017 Metal Jewelry Contest), I’ll be doing a bit of online shopping! Over the past few...
by Barbara | May 26, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Components, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tutorials
I’ve received so many inquiries from fellow polymer clay enthusiasts who love my “Matisse Inspired Cutouts” Earrings as to whether a tutorial for making them is available and here it is! The tutorial contains over twenty full-color process photos and step-by-step...
