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 | May 10, 2018 | An Aside, Beading, One-of-a-Kind, Tools
It’s all so beautiful! I’ve just returned from Murphy’s Gardens with a box full of herbs…thyme, parsley, rosemary, mint, and lots of basil! They’ve been in a greenhouse so I will harden them off outside during the day and put them in pots on the deck in a few...
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 | Feb 7, 2018 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Cabochons and Gemstones, Classes, Components, Designer Patterns, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Rings, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
Call me lucky! Look what just arrived on my doorstep…a goodie box from #Rangerink containing new offerings from Susan Lenart Kazmer’s #Ice Resin product line! Upon opening the box I’ve found a nifty tote bag, a collection of Susan’s latest #Runes Bezels, a...
by Barbara | Dec 28, 2017 | An Aside, Beading, Beads and Materials, Components, Designer Patterns, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Techniques, Tools
If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I’ve been working with paper most recently. Well, Santa brought me a lot of new dies from which to create more tiny boxes, envelopes, bags, and if you look in the center of the photo, you’ll see a garland of tiny...
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 | Jul 29, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Cabochons and Gemstones, Classes, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Fine Silver, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Resin, Rings, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tools
I took a class taught by Richard Salley (great teacher BTW!!!) and learned to make the “Ketoh Bracelet”…typically a wrist guard worn by Navajo Indian archers to protect their forearms from the snap of their bowstrings when shooting arrows. It was a...
by Barbara | Jul 24, 2017 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Designer Patterns, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Resin, Rings, Techniques, Tools, Tutorials
There used to be a TV show back in the 1950’s called “You Asked For It”, but in this case I am referring to the tutorial I promised for making “Resin Faux Crystals and Druzy Cabochon”. I’ve had several requests for a tutorial and...
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 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...
