by Barbara | Mar 20, 2015 | Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay
Last week I told you about finding a box of polymer beads I had made several years. The mixed media piece above uses several of those beads. I love the earthiness and organic feel they lend to this neck piece! Having more of these one-of-a-kind beads than I need,...
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 12, 2014 | Art to Wear, Beading, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Resin, Seed Beads, Tutorials
A scheduled surgery could not happen at a more inopportune time…smack dab in the midst of the holiday season! Thankfully, it is not a life threatening event, but the recovery will be painful and I will be incapacitated for a week or longer post surgery. So, this...
by Barbara | Aug 9, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
Yesterday a box from Kalmbach Publishing arrived in my mailbox. My first thought was, “What could this be?” Inside was “Creative Beading – Volume 9”, the latest in the series of “Creative Beading – the Best Projects of the Year from Bead&Button Magazine” books....
by Barbara | May 9, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Tutorials
I’ve just revamped one of my older tutorials. Several years ago I created the “Interlocking Rings” bracelet followed by the “Beaded Bronze Links” bracelet. The beaded links are similar in that they are both made using Peyote stitch, but the links in one design are...
by Barbara | May 3, 2014 | An Aside, Beading, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Tutorials
No, this isn’t one of those “Got Milk?” questions. Moo is a printing company that I have been using for several years and I think they are fantastic! The quality of their classic card stock is heavy and smooth to the touch…almost velvety. And here’s another...
by Barbara | Apr 22, 2014 | An Aside, Beads and Materials, Components, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
Every time I unload the kiln, I am amazed with the shrinkage factor. For these sea-themed metal clay bead/buttons, I’ve used BronzClay, which has a shrinkage rate of 17% – 20% and must be factored in if one desires a finished piece to be an exact size. I am even...
by Barbara | Apr 21, 2014 | An Aside, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Handmade, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques, Tutorials
I have to refine the holes and smooth edges. It’s dusty, dirty, time-consuming work, but essential to the quality of the finished product. After I’ve done all of this, I’ll place them in a stainless steel chamber on a bed of activated charcoal, carefully spacing each...
by Barbara | Apr 19, 2014 | An Aside, Beading, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Tutorials
Just as I finished the tutorial and assembled kits for the “Floral Brooch”design, I find that a new task awaits me. I thought I’d have a free block of time to explore beading geometrical cone shapes from Volume 1 of CGB. I had just started working on the foundation...
by Barbara | Jan 12, 2014 | An Aside, Bead Embroidery, Beading, Beads and Materials, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads
I’ve just received a shipment of itsy-bitsy Czech glass Baby Spike beads in a beautiful array of Aurora Borealis colors and neutrals. I can’t wait to play with these! I’m itching to do another bead embroidered cuff and these will be perfect...
