by Barbara | Apr 25, 2015 | An Aside, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Classes, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
I’ve been working along to Bill Fretz’s instructional DVD, “Basic Jewelry Hammering and Forming” and have just finished my first piece…a textured concave Ruffle Cuff! Now I’m ready to move on to a convex cuff. For learning purposes a cuff starts out as an annealed...
by Barbara | Apr 6, 2015 | An Aside, At the Bench, Found Objects, One-of-a-Kind, Tools
I’m tackling the task of cleaning and reorganizing my metals studio. I have the TV rolled up to the door so I can listen and occasionally look up to see what Bill Fretz is teaching on an instructional DVD. A fire screen is pushed up against the door to prevent the...
by Barbara | Dec 13, 2014 | Art to Wear, At the Bench, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Tutorials
Granted, these bangles could be formed with a variety of round-nose pliers, but the NTAJ (Now That’s a Jig), makes the process far more predictable and efficient. The steel wire used in these bangles is 16 gauge and the loops formed along the wire will serve as...
by Barbara | Nov 20, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
You bet! I can’t believe I’ve neglected polymer clay and metals for so long. I’m thrilled to be working with these materials again! I love mixed media and always have! It is liberating in contrast to the precision I had become so accustomed to while working with...
by Barbara | Nov 17, 2014 | An Aside, At the Bench, Beading, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Resin, Techniques
My body of work over the past two years has consisted of geometrically bead woven pieces and I’ve actually beaded myself into a severe case of tendonitis in my left wrist. It’s time to give it a rest! Having completed my latest project, I’ve decided...
by Barbara | Nov 5, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
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 long they can take to complete! Whatever beaded project I choose next, you can bet it will be something less ambitious! Granted, there...
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 2, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Classes, Components, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tools
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, riveting, and rawhide) as well as V-block, bracelet mandrel, anvil, tin snips, ruler, and bench block. I’ll be...
by Barbara | Mar 24, 2014 | Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
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 Chartreuse that accompanies new leaf growth in spring and it’s playing a major role in the new floral brooch that I’m working on! The...
by Barbara | Mar 17, 2014 | At the Bench, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
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 how I’d like the finished piece to look, but for now I’m just designing as I go along. I started by surrounding a 7mm x 10mm Czech...
