by Barbara | Jun 25, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art Supplies, Art to Wear, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver
Aside from intense heat and far more rain than wanted or needed, June has certainly been an excellent month for me! Not only did I spend two relaxing weeks on the west coast of Ireland, but upon my return home, a package from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads that I had...
by Barbara | Jun 20, 2018 | An Aside, Art Supplies, Beading, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Paper Craft, Techniques, Tools
After I’ve spent a month or two designing with beads and writing tutorials or having been immersed in resin and/or polymer clay or metal work, I need to step back and let my “inner child” emerge. That usually means getting out paper, crayons, inks, embossing...
by Barbara | Jun 14, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
After a week of severe storms, high humidity, and a miserable deluge of biting gnats, we finally have a glorious day…the sort of idyllic day one wishes would last all year long! So, I’ve taken the opportunity to do more geometric beadwork (more triangles!) on...
by Barbara | May 18, 2018 | An Aside, Beading, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Techniques
I did manage to carve out a bit of free time to work on some beadwoven triangles. These are part of a collection that will eventually become a Kaleidocycle (inspired by CGB). It’s fun coming up with various designs for each of the four triangles that will be...
by Barbara | May 1, 2018 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
Flowers are blooming everywhere…even in my studio! These four collections of polymer clay flower and butterfly shaped components have so many possibilities! Each component has a subtle matte iridescence that does not show up in the photos…they truly are...
by Barbara | Apr 27, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beaded Beads, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tutorials
I said in my last post that the tutorial for the Geometric “Color Play” Square Drop Earrings would be available in a day or two, but stuff happens, life gets in the way, the dog ate my homework (just kidding!). Well, the tutorial and beading kits are now...
by Barbara | Apr 24, 2018 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beaded Beads, Beads and Materials, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tutorials
I love to make earrings! They work up quickly and they are a great way to experiment with color. Having created geometric warped square earrings and a recent series of geometric “Color Play” earrings in triangular and pentagonal shapes, I decided that...
by Barbara | Apr 11, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bracelets, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Techniques, Tutorials
When I had first purchased my “Now That’s a Jig” wire-working tool at the Bead and Button show in 2015, I made a bracelet that I titled “Climbing Roses Bangle” and wrote a tutorial for it. The bracelet was composed of a looped steel wire framework that to me...
by Barbara | Apr 4, 2018 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
After the dreariness of winter is finally over and our snow has melted, my thoughts turn to flowers and butterflies as soon as spring arrives! I crave color after months of a white and grey landscape! Given that, I couldn’t resist adding to my collection of “Matisse...
by Barbara | Mar 27, 2018 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tutorials, Uncategorized
I do love making polymer clay beads…especially beads that look very old, if not ancient! These are beads that I made last week. I had run out of the faux amber, turquoise, and coral beads used in my “Tibetan Inspired Beaded Rope Necklace” kit and needed to make more,...
