by Barbara | Jan 5, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Bronze, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Polymer Clay, Techniques
I haven’t worked with bronze metal clay in some time…I just haven’t been “into” it! But I recently ran out of the flower-shaped disks that I include in my “Bollywood Bling” Beaded Ruffle Cuff design. Then I had an idea…why not use Polymer clay...
by Barbara | Dec 1, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
This is my “Loch Ness Sea Dragon III” Wrap design (inspired by Contemporary Geometric Beadwork). I entered it in the Fire Mountain Gems 2017 Seed Bead Contest and the results have just been announced. Lucky me! This piece won a Bronze Medal Award in the Fashion...
by Barbara | Nov 26, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Rings
When I was a young girl, it seemed that every person over the age of fifty constantly remarked how fast time was passing. I didn’t understand why they felt that way. I’d watch the clock in my classroom edge along at snail pace. I waited for the hands to strike 3...
by Barbara | Nov 3, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Classes, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tutorials, Uncategorized
I had a dream in which I was teaching a bead embroidery class and as in so many dreams one has, it was fraught with problems that must be solved. In this dream (perhaps I should call it a nightmare!), I was teaching my “Six Petal Bloom” project. So far, so good, but I...
by Barbara | Oct 29, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Rings
Last August while on vacation in California, I purchased some wonderful natural crystals from which I created molds. This collection of blue and teal faux crystals were created from those molds. I have a theory as to why some of the faux crystals come out crystal...
by Barbara | Oct 21, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
I’ve worked primarily in Peyote stitch for the past few years because it lends itself so well to geometric beadwork. The beads sit nicely stacked like little bricks and it creates a fairly stiff and supportive structure akin to the feeling of upholstery fabric...
by Barbara | Oct 13, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Uncategorized
The deadline for latest Fire Mountain Gems contest featuring Swarovski Crystals was October 8 and I finished this neckpiece just in time to enter! I had been so busy finishing up my latest geometric beadwoven bracelet that I’d forgotten the contest was closing....
by Barbara | Oct 6, 2017 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Designer Patterns, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin
I love Autumn! Daylight now has a different glow with the sun lower in the sky. The prairie is awash with brilliant shades of yellow as goldenrod, native sunflower, and black-eyed Susan are in full bloom. Trees are sporting leaves in shades of gold and crimson. The...
by Barbara | Sep 29, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Tutorials
Have you been eager to bead a project composed of Warped Squares, but didn’t know where to start? Then you might be interested in my Geometric “Staggered Warped Square Bracelet” design…it’s composed of six staggered warped squares (inspired by the...
by Barbara | Sep 24, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Components, Delica beads, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Tutorials
Here it is…my “Staggered Geometric Warped Square Bracelet”. I’m extremely pleased with the finished design and feel it was definitely worth the time it took to execute. The geometric bracelet is composed of warped squares (inspired by CGB and...
