TAGS: Crystals + Pearls + Gemstones

Why Should You Learn About Beadmaking?

Why should you learn about beadmaking? Even if you only ever do bead-weaving (or think that you'll only ever do bead-weaving, and nothing else!) knowing a little bit about beadmaking can actually help when you're working on your own beaded jewelry...

Published May 17, 2013 4:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Mixed Media Jewelry, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
Five Fantastic Pearl Shapes For Your Beaded Jewelry Designs

It's true -- pearls never go out of style. Whether you like to do bead stringing or bead stitching, freshwater pearls are an elegant and classic addition to any beaded jewelry design. Pearls come in so many different shapes these days that it's...

Published May 13, 2013 4:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Bead Embroidery, Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Pearl
Free Cabochon Beading Projects

I love a good challenge, don't you? How about the challenge of using a cabochon, without a hole, in a piece of beaded jewelry? When I was learning how to bead, I was thrilled to find out that I didn't need to know metal smithing techniques to...

Published May 10, 2013 4:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Bead Embroidery, Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Wire Jewelry, Herringbone Stitch, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Mixed Media Jewelry, Necklace Making, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Beaded Jewelry, Cabochon, Cabachon
Alternatives to Using Crystal Beads In Your Beading Projects

What I'm about to tell you is something that I've never before declared publicly. You may be shocked. You may be appalled. You may even urge me to seek counseling. But it needs to be said, so here it goes: I designed this necklace using just vintage...

Published Apr 26, 2013 4:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Bead Making, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Bead-weaving, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Gemstone Jewelry
Earring Making: Almost Instant Gratification

Oh, yes, even though I always seem to have a hard time coming up with designs for beaded earrings, I love to stitch up earring making projects from other talented beading designers! I really can't get enough of them -- earring making projects are...

Published Mar 22, 2013 4:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Herringbone Stitch, How To Bead, Bead-weaving, Earring Making, Necklace Making, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
Free Blooming Heart Mixed Media Jewelry-Making Project from Nunn Designs

Silly me. All through high school and college, I thought that jewelry making with materials like fiber, clay, fabric, and paper was just a fun way to make jewelry. Little did I know that it's actually mixed media jewelry, and when I need to stretch...

Published Oct 26, 2012 4:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Chain Maille, Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Mixed Media Jewelry, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
Beading Shops I Love: Bead & Glass Boutique of Pitman, New Jersey

On my recent trip to Bead Fest Philadelphia, I made a trip across the river to southern New Jersey, where I got to meet up with the fabulous Amy Blevins and see her gorgeous bead shop, Bead & Glass Boutique . When I travel, I like to seek out small...

Published Aug 27, 2012 4:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Bead Embroidery, Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Polymer Clay Beads, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making
Gotta Bead Right Now? Try Right-angle Weave!

The versatility of right-angle weave never ceases to amaze me. I can think of at least a dozen ways to embellish a single strip of this fabulous bead-weaving stitch . You can shape it without making complicated increases and decreases and just changing...

Published Jul 6, 2012 4:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Mixed Media Jewelry, Necklace Making, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Beaded Jewelry
Use a Little, Use a Lot: Just Use Some Crystal Beads In Your Next Beading Project!

Triangulations by Kathie Khaladkar Crystal beads are everywhere these days! When I was at the Tucson bead shows earlier this year, you couldn't turn around without seeing some glitz and glam, and walls and walls of sparkling crystal beads. Truthfully...

Published May 3, 2012 9:00 PM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Bead Embroidery, Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, Herringbone Stitch, Wire Wrapping, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
Ideas for Making a Keepsake Necklace

Spring in my part of upstate New York means warmer days, open windows, laundry drying in the sunshine, working in the gardens, and lots and lots of outdoor activities. It also brings graduations, weddings, proms, and other special events. And of course...

Published Apr 24, 2012 9:00 PM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Bead Making, How To Bead, Mixed Media Jewelry, Necklace Making, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
Start With: A Simple Strip of Peyote Stitch

I think pretty much everyone who learns peyote stitch makes one of "those" bracelets. You know the ones I'm talking about: a wide (or narrow) strip of peyote stitch, usually even-count, with a button clasp on one end. It's probably the...

Published Apr 10, 2012 9:00 PM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Brick Stitch, How To Bead, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Bracelet Making, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
Bead Soup: How to Make It, How to Use It

I've always joked with my friends that if this whole beading thing doesn't work out, I'm going to pursue my other passion and open a gourmet vegetarian restaurant. At home, if I'm not playing with my beads, I'm in the kitchen cooking...

Published Mar 29, 2012 9:00 PM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Brick Stitch, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
Bead Table Wednesday: Downton Abbey-Inspired Beading

So, I have to admit it: I can't get enough of Downton Abbey. I'd seen a couple of blurbs about it, so when it popped up on my Netflix recommendations, I thought, why not? I was hooked after watching the first episode. Set at the turn of the last...

Published Feb 29, 2012 7:00 AM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Bead Making, Herringbone Stitch, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beads
Favorite Bead Shops: Beads on Fifth

Me, my two friends, and all those beads at Beads on Fifth in Manhattan! Some of you may remember that a couple of weekends ago, I decided to take a little break and do some bead shopping in New York City with my friends. Each bead shop that I went to...

Published Dec 8, 2011 2:51 PM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Bead Making, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Beading Tools, Beads
Four Fun Ideas for Earring Making!

When I first started learning how to bead and was learning basic jewelry-making, I loved earring making. I didn't realize it at the time, but making earrings a great way to learn new beadweaving stitches and jewelry-making techniques. Handmade earring...

Published Nov 3, 2011 10:00 PM by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Brick Stitch, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Mixed Media Jewelry, Earring Making, Necklace Making, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Beaded Jewelry

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TAGS: Crystals + Pearls + Gemstones

Why Should You Learn About Beadmaking?

Five Fantastic Pearl Shapes For Your Beaded Jewelry Designs

Free Cabochon Beading Projects

Alternatives to Using Crystal Beads In Your Beading Projects

Earring Making: Almost Instant Gratification

Free Blooming Heart Mixed Media Jewelry-Making Project from Nunn Designs

Beading Shops I Love: Bead & Glass Boutique of Pitman, New Jersey

Gotta Bead Right Now? Try Right-angle Weave!

Use a Little, Use a Lot: Just Use Some Crystal Beads In Your Next Beading Project!

Ideas for Making a Keepsake Necklace

Start With: A Simple Strip of Peyote Stitch

Bead Soup: How to Make It, How to Use It

Bead Table Wednesday: Downton Abbey-Inspired Beading

Favorite Bead Shops: Beads on Fifth

Four Fun Ideas for Earring Making!