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Boy, Interweave Press is sure coming out with some kick-butt jewelry making books lately. The one I recently picked up, The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Jewelry Making Techniques is no exception. I was a bit put off by the cover at first, thinking the...

I’ve been obsessed with the cable series Mad Men lately. If you haven’t seen it, it’s basically a smart soap about Madison Avenue ad execs in 1960. It’s all about sharp suits, Doris Day-style frilly aprons over petticoated taffeta, and lots of martini lunches and general naughtiness. The period is captured just brilliantly in small moments, such as one where a main character very carefully spreads cream cheese into a celery stick, adding it to a pile of other era-appropriate hors d'œuvres. It’s absolutely great fodder to bead by....

The first reader gallery of 2009 includes designs by 35 readers from all over the world, including Mexcio, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany. From simple strung necklaces to a Victorian-style beaded bag with size 15 beads to a bead embroidered pin, you'll find something to love in this gallery!...

A few years ago I tried to make beads from ribbons. Sounds pretty easy, right? Cut a piece of ribbon, roll it up, and glue it. What could possibly go wrong? (How much time do you have?) My beads came apart at the seams and they were easily squashed. I couldn't figure out how much ribbon should overlap on the seam or what type of adhesive I should use. It's safe to say I was very intrigued when I saw Kristal Wick's new book, Fabulous Fabric Beads. Here was an artist who made and sold fabric beads for a living--if I still couldn't figure out how to make a good fabric (or ribbon) bead with this book, then I would just give up!...

The Challenge The idea behind the Beadwork challenge is simple: give different designers the same materials and see what they create. The August/September 2007 kit was from Lady Bug Beads and contained seed beads, Czech pressed-glass beads, crystal bicones...