Daily Blogs

Tips for Traveling With Your Beading Tools

2013-05-20T07:00:00Z

It's that time of year again -- I can't believe that summer is back already! Pretty soon, I'll be packing my bags and hitting the road for places like Bead Fest Philadelphia, a couple of trips down to do some serious bead shopping in New York City, and ending my summer travels with a trip to the Colorado Bead Retreat, hosted by Beyond Beadery's Betcey Ventrella.

Of course, while I'm on the road in various planes, trains, and automobiles, I'll have some beading projects with me to keep me busy, and I'll have to bring along my beading tools for the fabulous workshops at Bead Fest Philadelphia and the Colorado Bead Retreat.

Traveling with beading tools isn't always the easiest thing to do: there are security rules at airports and plenty of opportunity to lose or misplace beading tools while you're on the road. But I've got a couple of ideas for ways I can keep my beading tools (and my beading projects) organized while I travel this summer!

		Of all my finds at last year's Bead Fest Philadelphia, I'm completely smitten with this luxurious tool wrap from Lisa Kan. It's an extremely well-constructed beading tool wrap, with plenty of pockets for your jewelry pliers (like my favorite heavy duty Fireline cutters from Xuron), and a zippered pocket where you can stash a needle case, bead scoops, and other tiny beading tools that make beading on the road easier.

		If you're planning to spend a lot of time on airplanes and need a sturdy, compact organizer with a built-in bead tray, Ezel Finding's new Beading Pal is my first choice. With plenty of straps for organizing your beading tools, seed bead tubes, and a handy mesh pocket for small spools of thread, this is the essential beader's travel kit. It zippers shut all around, and is small enough to tuck into a large purse or your carry-on bags, leaving plenty of room for other travel essentials.

		For cutting your beading thread, you might have to improvise a little if you're planning on taking your beading projects with you on an airplane. Since airport security can vary widely between airports, I prefer to stash my favorite thread cutters in my checked bags and instead make sure that I have a new, sharp finger nail cutter tucked into my kit of beading tools. It works in a pinch, and I save the really fine trimming of threads for when I get to my hotel and can use my scissors.

Of course, for reading material, I've have a few issues of Beadwork magazine tucked into my tote bag, and downloaded onto my tablet computer. Beadwork magazine has always been my number one source for inspiration and information when it comes to beading tools, new beads, and of course, extravagant and innovative beaded jewelry designs. Subscribe to Beadwork magazine today and take your inspiration to go during your summer travels!

Do you travel often with your beads? Do you have any tips for us beady travelers? Or maybe you have a question about traveling with your beads, and you'd like some feedback from our readers! Leave a comment or question here on the Beading Daily blog and let's share our experiences and advice for traveling with our beads!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Why Should You Learn About Beadmaking?

2013-05-17T07:00:00Z

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 designs, or making a beading project your own through bead substitutions.

Maybe it's not important to know everything about beadmaking, but there are a few surprising ways in which learning about how glass beads, gemstone beads, pearls, crystal beads, and mixed media beads are made can help you save money and create spectacular beaded jewelry at the same time!

Shopping for Beads: How to Get the Best Deal

It may not seem obvious, but when you know about beadmaking, you'll know what to look for when shopping for beads. If you're shopping for handmade lampwork glass beads, you'll know to look for smooth bead holes, and bead holes free of leftover bead separator (the clay-like substance that prevents beads from sticking to the metal mandrels on which they're made).

Knowing the difference between how the genuine Swarovski crystal beads and the Chinese crystal beads are made can also help you out when you're looking to either splurge on a great bead buy, or to economize for a project that's in the research and development phase.

Using Beads as Design Elements

If you're interested in learning about beadmaking, you should also learn about how gemstone beads, pearls, and other natural beads are made. For me, at least, it's fascinating to read about the process of how gemstone beads are made, from the mining of the stone to the final drilling and packaging of the finished bead. And because so many gemstone beads receive treatments of some kind (dyes or heating to enhance color, or injection with resins and plastics for durability), you'll know which beads will stand the test of time when used in your beading projects.

Another important aspect of gemstone beadmaking that you should understand is how the beads are drilled -- I was getting sidetracked far too often by wonky gemstone bead holes in my bead-weaving projects, until I learned that some gemstone beads are drilled twice, once from each end, resulting in bead holes that will not allow a straight needle to pass through! Oops!

Some glass beads are also given treatments, like coatings, which may or may not be permanent. Learning about the pressed glass beadmaking process, including dyes and surface treatments applied to these beads, will leave you better informed when choosing your glass beads for your beading projects.

Handmade Beads: Fiber, Fabric, and Paper

Mixed media beads are also all the rage these days, popping up in beaded jewelry designs everywhere you look. You might not have thought of it before, but some of these beads are also suitable for use in bead-weaving projects where they can be mixed with seed beads. Just like the other types of beads mentioned here, if you know how a good fiber, fabric, or paper bead is made, you'll have a better idea of the best way to include some of these beautiful beads in your bead-weaving projects.

How Do I Learn About Beadmaking?

There are lots of ways to learn about beadmaking. One of the best ways is to ask questions when you go to shows and galleries to buy beads. Beadmakers and bead sellers don't mind answering questions about the origin and techniques used to make the beads they're selling -- once you understand what kind of quality product they're selling, you're more likely to buy.

It also helps to read all you can about beads and beadmaking, and that might include Beadwork magazine. Beadwork magazine has everything you need to know about beads, plus the best in beaded jewelry designs and beading projects for you to use them! If you missed any of the 2012 Beadwork magazines (including the fabulous 15th anniversary beaded bead competition), now you can get all six issues in digital format on a searchable CD! Get your copy of the 2012 Beadwork Magazine CD and find out more about your favorite beads. (The 2012 Beadwork Magazine CD is also available as a digital download, so you can download an entire year of Beadwork magazine and start reading on your favorite desktop or laptop computer in just minutes!)

Has knowing about beadmaking ever helped you out in a design? What do you think is important to know when it comes to beadmaking? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts and insights with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

What Can You Learn On Craft Daily? Everything!

2013-05-15T07:00:00Z

I got bit by the crafting bug early on. As a child, I watched my mother creating with crochet, knitting, and needlepoint, and some of those designs included beads. Some of those projects were among my first exposure to beading and bead crafts in general -- learning how to add beads to each new craft was probably one of the things that sparked my interest in jewelry-making, too.

I still enjoy taking the occasional crafting break from bead-weaving, but I love how there are so many ways to incorporate beads into my other craft projects, too. So, it's important to me to be able to learn new crafting techniques like crochet, knitting, and even mixed media art projects.

If you're someone like me who loves to turn any craft into a bead craft, I'm so excited to introduce you to Craft Daily! Craft Daily is the best online source for watching premium craft video tutorials and workshops from some of your favorite instructors like Melinda Barta, Denise Peck, Lisa Niven Kelly, and others. You'll also find helpful how-to videos from Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist photographer Jim Lawson to help you capture great images of all your beautiful bead crafts.

With a monthly or yearly subscription to Craft Daily, you'll be able to access over 130 crafting videos and tutorials, with new videos being added weekly. Whether you're an experienced crafter or a novice looking to learn a new technique, you're sure to find something to inspire you!

The best part is that you can watch these videos instantly, on your Mac, PC, iOS, or Android device instantly to learn new crafting, jewelry-making, and beading techniques. Why learn by video?

It's more convenient than taking a class -- you can start and stop the video whenever you'd like, watching the techniques demonstrated over and over until you get it right.
You get to see the techniques demonstrated in action for a better idea of how to hold your tools and materials.
You can refer back to the video later if you want to review the techniques.

So, head on over to Craft Daily and take a look around. You just might find a new way to use your beads in some of your favorite crafts!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Five Fantastic Pearl Shapes For Your Beaded Jewelry Designs

2013-05-13T07:00:00Z

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 easy to find just the right style to compliment your beading projects.

If you're just starting to add to your collection of freshwater pearl beads, I can recommend looking for these five popular shapes to get started. Most of them come in a wide array of colors to suit any of your beaded jewelry design ideas!

		Potato Pearls What they look like: Potato pearls are oval-shaped, with a hole drilled through the center vertically, as opposed to lengthwise. They usually have some striations as natural variations on them. What they're good for: Potato pearls are fabulous for adding a little bit of earthy elegance to strung jewelry designs or fringe. They can be found in a huge array of colors and sizes, making them perfect for almost any beading project.

		Button Pearls What they look like: Button pearls have one flat side and one rounded side, with the hole drilled top-to-bottom. What they're good for: Use these almost like end caps up against glass or ceramic beads in stringing projects (flat sides against either end of the focal bead), or stitch them flat-side down for use in your favorite bead embroidery projects.

		Rice Pearls What they look like: Like their name suggests, these pearls look like tiny grains of rice. They are not consistent in shape and size, although most of them are usually smaller than 4mm. What they're good for: Mix them with precious metal beads like tiny gold seamless rounds and smaller gemstone beads like garnets and peridot for simple, classic beaded jewelry designs.

		Stick Pearls What they look like: These are long, rectangle-shaped pearls with lots of bumps and grooves. Usually flat, there are some that are round in shape. These pearls can be drilled horizontally through the center or close to one end, or they can be drilled vertically, from end to end. What they're good for: These are the pearls to use for your best tribal-inspired beaded jewelry designs. In pairs, they also make great drops for earrings.

		Keishi Pearls What they look like: Usually flat, with the hole drilled through the center, these pearls resemble wavy discs, with some natural variations (bumps and lumps and striations). What they're good for: When strung in small clusters, these pearls always look "fluffy" to me, and they give a wonderful, organic feel to more refined jewelry designs. They also work well as spacers between gemstones or your favorite Czech glass beads, too.

My new favorite way to use pearls in my jewelry stringing designs is to mix them up with the big, bold colors of stones like turquoise, carnelian, and even some of my favorite dark agates. And if you want to stay on-trend, try mixing your favorite freshwater pearls with some of the fabulous new neon crystal pearls and beads popping up all over!

Ready for more fashion-forward jewelry stringing designs? Make sure you don't miss out on a single issue of Jewelry Stringing magazine! You'll find dozens of gorgeous beaded jewelry design ideas using gemstones, pearls, and all of the latest and greatest glass beads coming from the Czech Republic. Subscribe to Jewelry Stringing for the best in today's beaded jewelry design ideas.

When it comes to freshwater pearls, do you have a favorite shape? Why? How do you use your freshwater pearls in your jewelry design projects? Leave a comment and share your thoughts and ideas with us here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Free Cabochon Beading Projects

2013-05-10T07:00:00Z

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 include my favorite gemstone cabochons in my beaded jewelry projects.

Making a beaded bezel for a cabochon is a lot easier than you might think it is. If you know how to do bead-weaving stitches like herringbone stitch, right-angle weave, and peyote stitch, you can make cabochon settings out of seed beads that rival even the finest metal cabochon bezels.

Ready to start learning more about including cabochons in your jewelry-making projects? Read on! We've collected five great cabochon beading projects here for you, including a tutorial for making cabochons out of resin and old postage stamps!

Make your own resin cabochons using old postage stamps with Melinda Barta's fabulous project instructions for her Return-to-Sender Focals.
Use herringbone stitch to make beautiful cabochon bezels, too, when you try Melinda's Brilliant Bezels project.
Jean Campbell's gorgeous Eau Claire beaded necklace showcases a fabulous handmade ceramic cabochon with beaded beads - two of my favorite things in the same beaded necklace project!
Lisa Kan's Captured by Pearls is a classic and easy project that embellishes a pretty cabochon with dainty freshwater pearls.
Finally, for a more modern beaded necklace using a cabochon, try Alicia Shems' Jeweled Backlace for a unique beading project using your favorite gemstone cabochon.

We've also included a selection of some of our most popular Beading Daily blogs, all about how to create bezels to capture your favorite cabochons!

Learn how to make an easy right-angle weave bezel for a cabochon or crystal stone.
Read about my adventure using wire to create a Viking knit bezel for a special gemstone cabochon.
Of course, not all cabochons are round, so we've also included instructions for making a triangle-shaped cabochon bezel. (You can easily adapt this technique for making square cabochon bezels, too!)
And if you've ever wanted to include cabochons in your bead embroidery projects, we've included a step-by-step tutorial on how to use peyote stitch to create a cabochon bezel for bead embroidery!

Cabochons can be used for so many great beaded jewelry designs, including rings, earrings, and bracelets - we hope this collection of cabochon jewelry projects inspires you to start creating with cabochons today!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

But Is It Wearable? Necklace Making From a Different Perspective

2013-05-08T07:00:00Z


	*Wearing my Battle of the Beadsmith piece at last year's Bead Fest Philadelphia with friends.*

In the last few years, I've seen more and more emerging bead artists who are pushing the envelope with their beautifully over-the-top beaded necklaces. That's part of the beauty of necklace making: if you can imagine it, you can make it. But upon seeing one of my wild, over-the-top, crazy complicated beaded necklace designs, I've had more than one person ask me, "It looks beautiful, but is it comfortable to wear?"

And of course, that got me thinking. Why do I love to make those kinds of scene-stealing beaded necklaces? What use is there in making something that you really can't wear comfortably? As it turns out, there are lots of reasons to just surrender yourself to making a beaded necklace that's as much a work of art as it is a piece of beaded jewelry.

Necklace Making As Art


When I created Lady In the Lake, I was more concerned with telling my story artistically instead of making a necklace that could be worn every day.

Looking through art books and artists at juried, high-end craft shows, I see a lot of beaded necklaces that are just stunning in design and execution, but that are in no way practical to wear, even on a special occasion. So, why would you want to make a necklace that no one can wear?

Allowing yourself to explore necklace making as an art form can result in some pretty spectacular pieces that can not only help you make a name for yourself in the art world, but that also allow you to develop new skills in using color and technique. Maybe you even allow yourself to explore new techniques that you've never tried before.

Using necklace making as purely an exercise in the principles of art can result in some surprising discoveries about yourself and your thoughts about art!

Necklace Making For Creative Problem-Solving


	*The skills I learned when creating my three-dimensional bead embroidered collar last summer will come in handy for this year's Battle of the Beadsmith!*

Creating the structure of a wildly creative beaded necklace can present some pretty tough design problems. When I came up with my idea for last year's Battle of the Beadsmith piece, I wondered aloud, "Is this even possible?" I had no idea. And yet, I had to sit down and start stitching to find out what the beads could and couldn't do. In the end, I was quite pleased that I found ways around the technical issues that popped up along the way, and it made me feel even more confident to move on to my next large beaded necklace project.

When you make an over-the-top beaded necklace, you're stretching your creative problem-solving skills in ways you might never have thought possible. Who knows what else you might discover? A new bead-weaving technique, a new design element, or maybe a new love for an old beading stitch.

Necklace Making For the Joy Of It

And so what if you make an amazing, gorgeous beaded necklace and it can't be worn for more than twenty minutes without becoming uncomfortable to the wearer? I think that sometimes, we should forget about the practical applications of necklace making and jewelry-making in general and just go with the flow of it because it makes us happy.

The best part is that all of these things that you learn when making your own beautiful beaded necklace projects can be used in so many other ways. Take the ideas that pop up while you're working on your crazy, cool necklace making projects and apply them to other projects and ideas that you've had waiting patiently in your sketchbooks!

The Perfect Balance Between Art and Craft

Yes, I will always love to make showy, over-the-top, crazy complicated beaded necklaces. The skills and techniques I learn while making these kinds of beaded jewelry designs is just priceless. Even if the necklace itself never sells, I'll always have those skills that I can use to create new and innovative beaded jewelry.

Are you looking for some great beaded jewelry designs to practice your beading skills? Jean Campbell, senior editor of Beadwork magazine has a fabulous new video just for you! Check out Jean Campbell's Best Beading Workshops: Global Designs to learn about Jean's inspiration for three of her top beaded jewelry designs, plus watch and learn as she creates each one of these beading projects, step by step. Can't wait for the DVD to arrive in the mail? You can also download Jean Campbell's Best Beading Workshops: Global Designs instantly onto your favorite desktop or laptop computer!

What do you think about big, crazy, over-the-top necklace making projects? Do you enjoy making them or wearing them? Do you prefer more practical or subdued designs? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and tell us what you think!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Gemstones and Fashion Inspiration for Spring!

2013-05-06T07:00:00Z

From Jennifer: Spring is in full swing here in the Adirondack mountains of upstate New York, and that means it's time to freshen up my jewelry-making projects with some new gemstones! Whether you love to use gemstones as beads for jewelry stringing projects, or you're like me and prefer to use glorious gemstone cabochons in your bead embroidery and bead-weaving projects, here's some great inspiration and information from Jewelry Making Daily's Tammy Jones and our friends at Pantone with suggestions for gemstones that you can use to match the Spring 2013 Pantone color forecast! Enjoy!


	Tammy Jones is the online editor for Jewelry Making Daily

Each year Pantone identifies the top ten fashionable colors of the year, as shown in clothing, fabrics, home décor, purses and other accessories, including our favorite, jewelry. Even if fashion and trends aren't your thing, if you're a jewelry maker or jewelry designer, you need to know these colors. Why? Because they're the colors that almost everyone else will be using when they design their clothing and accessories--or wearing when they buy their clothing and accessories--so you'll want your jewelry designs to play along.

Naturally, you should design to your heart's vision, but whether you add color to your jewelry through gemstones, enamels, fibers, or some other way, these are the colors to watch for Spring 2013 and the gems that match them. (Photos courtesy of Pantone.com.)

		Grayed Jade: This one is easy, it does look like jade--but shades of chalcedony and larimar could also work, along with faceted apatite and fluorite. Aquamarine in this slightly greenish shade is my favorite color for that gem.

		Tender Shoots: For this springy green, peridot comes to mind right away, along with grossular, tsavorite, and demantoid garnets.

		Emerald: Even though it's called emerald, this color looks a little more blue-green than emerald-green to me. Chrome diopside is another rich green option, but apatite and tourmaline will give you that hint of blue.

		Dusk Blue: Lovely sapphire and spinel as well as topaz and aquamarine could serve as this color in your gemstone creations, along with certain shades of chalcedony and larimar.

		Monaco Blue: This blue could also be served with sapphire and spinel, as well as lapis lazuli, iolite, sodalite, and possibly even very fine tanzanite.

		African Violet: Kunzite, fluorite, and amethyst have just the lovely shades of purple to match this color.

		Nectarine: Fire opals, as well as spessartite, mandarin, and hessonite garnets, match up with this juicy color, along with citrine.

		Lemon Zest: Lemon quartz is a good match for this one, along with yellow sapphire, tourmaline, chrysoberyl, yellow beryl, and topaz. Also look for Mali garnet, some citrine, and some members of the grossular garnet family.

		Poppy Red: Even though rubies are a little more blue-red than this red, rubies certain fall in this area, as do spinel. Pyrope and other garnets can be this color, as can dark fire opals.

		Linen: This pretty color immediately makes me think of pearls (surprised? ha!), but rose quartz and morganite might be a better match.

Want to stay up-to-date on what's new in the world of gemstones and lapidary? Check out Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine! Each issue is full of the latest and greatest in gemstones, from gemstone beads to gemstone cabochons, mineral specimens and everything in between. Subscribe to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine and don't miss out on what the art jewelry world is doing with gemstones now!

What's your favorite gemstone for spring? Have you made any great new gemstone bead discoveries lately, or found a great new source for gemstone beads? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog with your gemstone bead and cabochon picks!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

What Was Your First Beadweaving Stitch?

2013-05-03T07:00:00Z

Whenever I teach a beadweaving class, my students always want to know: what was the first beadweaving stitch you learned? (Followed closely by: which beadweaving stitch is the easiest and best stitch to learn?)


It only took me a few hours to make my very first peyote stitch amulet bag, but it took me over a year to learn peyote stitch!

I wish that there were easy answers to both of those questions. I really do! But, like so many other interesting things in life, my beadweaving path has been full of twists and turns.

When I first learned how to bead, I taught myself how to make amulet bags from a kit that came with a book. Looking back on it, the projects in the book were less than spectacular, but at the time, they were perfect for what seed beads I had access to, and they taught me a little bit about following a beading pattern.

My very first amulet bag was made with peyote stitch, with a couple of tiny loops of fringe on the bottom for good measure. I worked it up from a charted peyote stitch pattern, and I was quite pleased with it. I even made a pair of huge peyote stitch earrings to match! I remember thinking, hey, this beadweaving stuff is pretty easy!

Then I tried to move on to another peyote stitch pattern, and got a rude awakening. I couldn't, for the life of me, remember how I had made that first amulet bag. Every time I tried to start a new piece of peyote stitch, the beadweaving was uneven and lumpy. I couldn't keep the same number of beads in each row. Peyote stitch was, for me, a total disaster.


	Some of my very first beadweaving projects made with brick stitch, square stitch, and tubular herringbone.

I moved on to other beadweaving stitches like brick stitch, netting, and right-angle weave, mastering each of them in just a couple of weeks. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not get the hang of peyote stitch. It took me a whole year and eight weeks of beadweaving classes at my local bead shop to finally feel comfortable using peyote stitch in my beadweaving projects.

Now, I know that my experience may not be typical. Most beaders get their start learning peyote stitch, and most of the beginners in my classes ask me which beadweaving stitch is the best one to learn. I always tell them the same thing: the best beadweaving stitch for beginners is the one you learn first.

Because, really, we beaders are all so different in our interests and talents and skills! I really don't think there's one beadweaving stitch that's the "best" for someone just learning how to bead, but I do think that new beaders should be encouraged to explore and experiment with beadweaving stitches as they learn them. Just because I learned brick stitch in just one sitting doesn't mean that someone else might find it just as easy. The important thing is to bead fearlessly, and learn how to trust your beads (and yourself) to take you where you need to go.

No matter where your beadweaving path has led you, if you're thinking that your next step is to enter your beaded jewelry designs in a competition, now is the time! You've only got a few more weeks left to enter the 2013 Bead Star competition! New for this year, Bead Star is accepting entries made with beadweaving in all categories: Crystals, Glass, Pearls, Metals & Wireworking, Gemstones, and Emerging Artists. Do you have what it takes to be the 2013 Bead Star? You could win an all-expense paid trip to Bead Fest Philadelphia! Check out all the rules and find out how to enter the 2013 Bead Star competition today! (Deadline for entries is May 24, 2013.)

Now I want to know: what was YOUR first beadweaving stitch? What stitch got you started on the beaded path? Which beading stitch would you tell a beginner to work on first? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your stories and thoughts with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Get The Inside Scoop On How to Get Your Designs Published in Beadwork Magazine!

2013-05-02T07:00:00Z

Have you ever thought about submitting your original beaded jewelry designs for publication in Beadwork magazine? There are many well-known bead artists who got their start in the beading world by doing just that. Do you want to get the inside scoop on getting your designs published from an industry professional who also happens to be a first-class bead artist?

On Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 10 a.m. MST, you can join us for a FREE live webinar with Jean Campbell, founding editor of Beadwork magazine, to find out how to submit your original bead-weaving jewelry designs for publication. You can ask questions in real time and get advice on the best way to submit your designs and ideas for publication in Beadwork magazine.

Are you one of those beaders that never seems to run out of ideas for new beading projects? Would you enjoy seeing your designs appear in the pages of Beadwork magazine? I can honestly say that having my beaded jewelry designs published in Beadwork gave me some of the greatest thrills of my life -- especially when two of them landed on the cover!

The editors of Beadwork are always looking for fresh, new designs from talented bead artists just like you. So why not take the plunge and submit your designs to Beadwork magazine? Jean will take you step-by-step through the skills you'll need, how to research trends in beading, and how to prepare and submit your beaded jewelry designs from start to finish. Who better to get advice from than Beadwork magazine's founding editor?

After the presentation, you'll have access to a recording of the webinar so that you can refer back to it anytime you want to review the material presented. If you can't make it to the live presentation, your registration will give you access to the recording so that you can watch it any time that's convenient for you, so you won't miss out on Jean's expert advice. Don't miss out on this LIVE and INTERACTIVE event! (And it's FREE!)

I'll be there, too, moderating and feeding your live questions to Jean during the presentation. But there are only 1,000 spots available for this FREE webinar, and they're sure to fill up fast. Your registration guarantees your "seat" for this event, and we also recommend that you have a high-speed internet connection for the best viewing experience. Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time to log in early to troubleshoot any technical glitches.

About Jean Campbell:

Jean Campbell designs, teaches, and writes about beadwork. She is the founding editor of Beadwork magazine and has written and edited more than 45 books, most recently including Steampunk Style Jewelry and the upcoming Creating Glamorous Jewelry with Swarovski Crystals.

Jean is a Crystallized Elements Ambassador for the Swarovski Company. She has appeared on the DIY Jewelry Making show, The Shay Pendray Show, and PBS' Beads, Baubles, and Jewels where she gives how-to instructions, provides inspiration, and lends crafting advice. Jean teaches off-loom beading throughout the United States. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her family and a whole lot of beads.

What Motivates You To Finish Your Beading Projects?

2013-05-01T07:00:00Z

"If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then is an empty desk a sign?" ~Albert Einstein


When I've run out of storage bags for my UFOs, it's time to start finishing my beading projects.

I think Einstein was on to something when he said that. When it comes to seed bead patterns, I always have five or six beading projects going at the same time. (Actually, it's more like seven, or eight, or...) When I run out of room on my desk, I start stacking my bead trays. When the stack of bead trays starts to tilt precariously, I start spreading out to the dining room table, my photo table, and even on the seat of the armchairs in the living room.

Sure, it's easy to start a dozen seed bead patterns at a time. They're just so PRETTY! And I get kind of a rush at the beginning of a new beading project, kind of the same way I get that adrenaline rush at the beginning of a road trip. But finishing all these beading projects? Well, sometimes that's a little more difficult. If you've got a bag full of beautiful UFOs in your bead stash, you know exactly what I mean.

Fortunately, there are some things that motivate me to finish my beading projects. Do any of these apply to you?


	*Yes, this really is what my dining room table looks like most nights. Time to finish some beading projects!*

1. I need to actually use the dining room/kitchen/coffee table once in a while. It happens. Once in a while, my family demands that we actually eat dinner at the dining room table, and that means clearing off and moving all the trays, bags, and boxes of beads that I have scattered from one end to the other. If it's a weeknight, I usually just clear off a few feet where the three of us can squeeze in and eat. If we're having guests, well, that means a full-scale cleaning. Thankfully, we don't have guests that often.

2. I want an excuse to buy more beads. If I know that I'm going on a bead-buying trip or heading to a bead show, I'll ramp up my beading in the weeks before the trip. This way, I can tell myself that, oh, shucks, I just used up the last of my 3mm round fire polished beads, so I had better stock up on more!

3. The forecast is calling for snow every day this week. The weather definitely has an effect on my ability to finish my seed bead patterns. Winters up here in the Adirondack mountains can be very long and very cold, so when the forecast calls for five straight days of snow showers and temperatures hovering just above freezing, I take that as a sign to curl up in front of the wood stove and get to work on my beading projects.

4. I've run out of bead trays and bags for storing my half-finished beading projects. I think one of the reasons why I buy so many bead trays and plastic bags is so that I don't have to finish all my beading projects at once. But once in a while, I find that every single last Bead On It Board and Designer's Workpad that I own is filled with a beading project. I suppose I could always squeeze two or three projects in together on a single bead tray, but I just don't know if those beads would play nicely together. And when I find that I've used up the last of the gallon-size plastic storage bags, well, then I know it's time to start finishing up a couple of these seed bead patterns so that I can -- what else? -- start a new one!

5. There's a new outfit in my closet and no jewelry to match it. I'm a frequent visitor to my local resale and thrift shops, mainly because I love to buy new clothes. Another motivator for me to finish up a seed bead pattern is when I find a gorgeous new dress, sweater, or blouse and just have to have a new necklace or pair of beaded earrings to match it!

But, really, sometimes the greatest motivation of all for finishing up my seed bead patterns is knowing that I'll get to wear that finished piece of beaded jewelry, or even just knowing that I learned something new like a variation on a favorite bead-weaving stitch.


Sea Star Bangle by Rachel Nelson-Smith

Need some more motivation for finishing those seed bead patterns? How about a whole slew of fantastic beading books and videos, all in digital format and downloadable instantly? Check out the Seed Bead Ultimate Digital Collection in the Beading Daily Shop. Whether you're brand-new to seed beading or are an experienced beader looking for something to challenge yourself, you're sure to find something that will motivate you to start (and finish) a new seed bead pattern. Get your copy of the Seed Bead Ultimate Digital Collection and find new ways to get busy beading!

Now it's your turn: what motivates YOU to finish those seed bead patterns? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and tell us what helps you get from start to finish when you're working on a beading project!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

From Chain Maille to Beads: Conquering the Dodecahedron

2013-04-29T07:00:00Z

After my last couple of experiments with chain maille, I was feeling brave, so I decided to attempt my most difficult chain maille project yet: a Japanese chain maille ball, otherwise known as a dodecahedron.


Pretty little dodecahedron balls, all in a row!

I first saw this style of chain maille when I met the fabulous Kim Edwards at Bead Fest Philadelphia last August. Of course, her chain maille dodecahedron balls were a little more complex than mine, since she makes hers out of glass in a torch. I figured using metal jump rings would be much easier.

To get into the spirit of the mathematical principles behind the chain maille dodecahedron, I decided to watch a documentary about mathematics while I was working. It was a nice idea, but listening to the narrator talk about numbers and math while trying to count jump rings probably wasn't the best idea -- it took me three attempts just to get the base right!


	My two Japanese chain maille balls.

After that, though, the rest of the chain maille ball went together much easier than I thought. Once again, I found myself completely drawn into the rhythmic nature of the linking and closing of the jump rings, and the entire project went together in less than an hour. Spectacular!

I wasn't thrilled with the colors that I chose for my first dodecahedron. After looking at it on my bead tray, I had no idea what I was thinking when I picked those neon yellow and purple aluminum jump rings. Where was I, 1986? I dug through my stash of jump rings and found some lovely brown and brass rings, slightly smaller, that made a delicate and much more aesthetically pleasing Japanese chain maille ball.

Once I finished my two dodecahedron balls, I was hooked: I wanted to do more!

So, I wondered: what if I could do these with beads?

Looking at the instructions that I purchased from Blue Buddha Boutique, I devised a way using Czech fire polish beads and seed beads to make a small dodecahedron. It went together in just minutes, and now, totally obsessed, I grabbed some tiny 3mm round beads and stitched up another.


If you look closely, you can see the tiny dodecahedron sealed inside the larger ball. Fun stuff!

Then the light bulb went off in my head. I wanted to make a tiny dodecahedron and seal it within a larger one!

It was easier than I thought. The first dodecahedron went together with some more 3mm round druks in just a few minutes, and to capture it, I made a second dodecahedron using a strand of vintage glass beads from the Beadin' Path. I threaded a simple piece of leather through it, tied it around my neck, and haven't taken it off since!

What excited me most about this project is that not only did I get a big boost in confidence in my chain maille skills, I'm now hooked on the idea of how I can make and use these dodecahedron balls with my favorite round glass druks and fire polished beads. It seems like the sky is the limit!

Are you looking for ways to give your own chain maille skills a boost, and maybe find some new inspiration for your beading projects, too? Then you don't want to miss a single issue of Step By Step Wire Jewelry magazine. You'll find dozens of fabulous projects, tips, tutorials, and product reviews from all your favorite wire artists, plus fresh, new designs from emerging talent! Subscribe to Step By Step Wire Jewelry and find more ways to broaden your jewelry-making skills.

Have you ever created a beading project that was inspired by a completely different set of jewelry-making skills? Or did you combine two different mediums (like chain maille and beads) into something completely new? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your experiences with us. Or better yet, take a picture of your mixed-up beading project and post it in the Reader Photo Gallery!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Alternatives to Using Crystal Beads In Your Beading Projects

2013-04-26T07:00:00Z

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 glass stones and vintage glass pearls. No crystals needed for some serious bling!

I've never particularly liked using crystal beads.

Now, it's not that I don't enjoy using a crystal bead or stone in my work from time to time. They're pretty, they sparkle, and crystal beads are available in a huge range of colors, finishes, and shapes. But still, I sometimes feel like their sparkle can be a distraction from the beadwork itself. Being kind of a bead maven for the last ten years or so, I've always tried to keep an open mind about the materials that I used in my bead-weaving and jewelry making projects, but if you took a good look at my enormous bead stash, you'd notice a distinct lack of one particular type of bead: crystals.

And, really, I've never seen myself as a sparkly-kinda-gal. Maybe it was because I was more of a tomboy growing up, or maybe it was because I've always felt drawn to natural gemstones for my beading projects.

So whenever I've come across a beading project that calls for crystal beads or stones, I turn to my enormous bead stash to see what I can come up with to substitute for the crystals called for in the materials. Chances are, you probably have a lot of these in your stash, too!

Czech Glass Beads As Substitutes for Crystals

Ever since I was a baby beader, I've been drawn to the amazing range of colors and shapes of Czech glass beads available in bead shops and online. The last few years have been very exciting for me as a beader as I've watched new shapes, styles, and colors of Czech glass beads hitting the market.

My favorite type of Czech glass bead to use as a substitute for crystals is the round glass druk. With all the colors and finishes available, I can easily stock up on these beautiful glass beads for use in all of my beading projects. Another good option is to use a fire polished bead, with an AB coating for extra pizazz, if that's what you want.

Czech glass bicones may not work in a beading project that calls for crystal bicones, since their shape is often a bit "fatter" than than the crystal beads. But if you feel comfortable making a few adjustments to your project instructions, you can discover new ways to include these beautiful beads in your jewelry-making projects.

Gemstones As a Substitute for Crystals


Instead of using crystal drops, you could easily substitute gemstone briolettes in Marcia DeCoster's Little Black Dress Earrings.

If you want to give your crystal beading project an earthier look, there's no better bead to use than a gemstone bead. Gemstone beads are available in an incredible array of shapes, sizes, and materials these days, and given the choice, I'll splurge on a strand of tiny 3mm gemstone rounds over a packet of crystal beads.

Briolette cut gemstones are more popular than ever these days, and they can be substituted very easily for a crystal briolette or crystal drop bead in most beading projects.

Keep in mind that some gemstone beads can be heavier than crystals, so you may want to or need to reinforce your beadwork with extra thread paths to make sure it holds up well.

Vintage Czech Glass Stones As a Substitute for Crystal Stones


	Vintage Czech glass stones work just as well as crystal stones for many beading projects.

Sure, crystal stones like Rivolis are sparkly and all that, but something about them just leaves me cold. If a beading project calls for a crystal stone, I'm more likely to turn to my extensive collection of vintage Czech glass stones as a substitute.

I can't remember where I bought my first vintage Czech glass stone, but it was most likely at a trunk show at my local bead shop. Since then, I've found a few great sources for finding these little glass treasures, mostly on eBay and Etsy. Other great sources include A Grain of Sand, Beadin' Path, and Earthly Adornments.

What I love about the Czech glass stones as a substitute for crystal stones is their subtlety. They're clear and sparkling and beautiful in their own right, without all the flash of a crystal stone, allowing the beadwork to take center stage.

When using vintage Czech glass stones in your beading projects, be mindful that some of them can be fragile and chip easily.

Why Use Something Besides Crystal Beads?

There are lots of reasons why I can think of to substitute gemstones or glass for crystal beads. If you use a slightly different type of bead in a beading project, you give that project an entirely new look -- which can be a good thing. You may find a color of glass bead or a particular gemstone that speaks to you, and substituting that type of bead for a crystal bead is a great way to express your own individuality through your beading projects.

Cost may or may not be a factor when considering a substitute for crystal beads. Some gemstone beads can cost just as much or more than their crystal bead counterparts, so really think about making substitutes for your crystal beads more about a way of expressing your own personality than about saving money when it comes to your beading projects.

If you're looking for more ways to express yourself through your jewelry-making projects, you won't want to miss Beads, Baubles, and Jewels Series 1800. Each of thirteen episodes in Series 1800 is full of great jewelry-making tutorials, tips, and ideas from some of today's top jewelry artists. Whether you're an experienced jewelry artist or just a beginner looking for new ways to get creative with jewelry, make sure you pre-order your copy of Beads, Baubles, and Jewels Series 1800 on DVD.

Do you have a suggestion for swapping out crystal beads with another type of bead? What's worked for you, and more importantly, what hasn't worked? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your experiences with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Easy Ways to Add Color to Metals

2013-04-24T07:00:00Z

With more options than ever for adding metals in your jewelry-making projects, this is a great time to be a jewelry artist! A couple of years ago, I started experimenting with adding colors to metals when I did some experiments with brass metal beads and some Vintaj Patina Inks. Turning those beads into colorful little works of art for my jewelry-making projects was addicting, so I started looking into other ways to add color to metals.

Playing with metals and color is like playing with a fantastic three-dimensional coloring book that you can use to make jewelry. There are so many low-cost options for adding color to metals, and even better, there are lots of great places to find beautiful vintage metal jewelry-making components.

Ready to start adding some color to your own metal beads, pendants, and other components? Try these easy ways to get started!

Vintaj Patina Inks for Coloring Metals

What got me started on coloring metals? Well, I've always loved the look of African brass beads, and when I discovered how easy it is to add color to them with Vintaj Patina Inks, I was hooked.

These inks were made specifically for painting on metals. They're colorfast, easy to use, and easy to clean up. (My favorite part is being easy to clean up.) So far, I've used them on African brass beads, vintage metal components like the ones from A Grain of Sand, and some Vintaj brass blanks, all with great success!

Vintaj Patina Inks can be mixed and layered like other kinds of paints to achieve lots and lots of different colors. You can also buff your finished metal jewelry-making components to remove a layer or two of inks, creating a beautiful antique look.

While these inks cost more than other materials for coloring your metal jewelry-making components, they give a high-quality, permanent color to your favorite metals.

Nail Polish

When I saw Suzanne Branca from A Grain of Sand at last summer's Bead Fest Philadelphia, she told me about another great, low-cost option for adding color to metals: regular nail polish!

Nail polish comes in a huge range of colors, and I found that the inexpensive $2-a-bottle variety from my local beauty supply store worked the best for adding colors to metal. If you want to stay on-trend, try using some of the fabulous neon colors of nail polish available to paint some vintage metal components, then mix them with some of the new neon Super Duos or spike beads for funky jewelry with flair!

Sharpie Markers

Another discovery from last summer's Bead Fest was when I saw the lovely ladies at Lillypilly Designs. I fell completely head over heels for their new anodized aluminum discs, in all sorts of colors and patterns. When I asked about the brightly colored discs that were on display, I was thrilled to discover that they were made with colored Sharpie markers! Of course, I already have a whole slew of colored Sharpies for other craft projects, so I was all set to start coloring these metals as soon as I got home.

To make the colors permanent on the anodized aluminum components, make sure you use a Pro Polish pad to wipe off any excess marker. Then you can shape, dap, or punch holes in your aluminum discs to use them in your favorite jewelry-making designs!

More Ways to Color Metals: Instruction From An Expert

See how easy it is to add color to metals? If you want more instruction from an expert jewelry-maker, you'll love Coloring on Metal for Jewelry Makers with none other than the legendary Gail Crossman Moore! Gail takes you through a wonderful range of techniques for adding colors to metal jewelry-making components. If you're already familiar with some of these easy techniques for adding color, you can really dive in deeper with Gail's expert techniques for things like adding and removing color, blending colors, and fixing mistakes.

Get your copy of Coloring on Metal for Jewelry Makers and brighten up your metal jewelry-making projects! Or, if you just can't wait to get started, you can also download Coloring on Metal for Jewelry Makers instantly onto your favorite desktop or laptop computer and be ready to start adding color in just minutes.

Do you have a preferred method for adding color to metal jewelry-making components? What's your best tip for someone just getting started with the wonderful world of colored metal? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your advice with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Beading Cures

2013-04-22T07:00:00Z

We all know that beading is great for relieving stress, but I got to thinking the other day about how beading can "cure" so many other unpleasant things. Now, I'm no medical expert, but I've noticed that my seed bead patterns can cure just about anything that ails me. Feeling blue? Feeling bored? There's a beading cure for that. Check out my five favorite books of seed bead patterns for some of my favorite beading cures!

		Beading Cure for Fear: Try Something New. Yep, this is one of my all-time favorite beading books. Rachel Nelson-Smith's Seed Bead Fusion was really the first of its kind, showcasing modern, technically challenging designs made with a beautiful fusion of both bead-weaving and wire jewelry making techniques. Before I tried a handful of the projects in this book, I always avoided wire jewelry-making projects because I was afraid of using wire with my seed beads. Not anymore -- this book changed me from a Wire Wimp into a Wire Wizard!

		Beading Cure for Boredom: Jazz Up Your Beading Projects. Do you feel like your beading projects are just ho-hum? Bored with the same old bead-weaving stitches? Carol Cypher's classic Mastering Beadwork is the cure for the beading projects doldrums. With comprehensive instructions and creative variations for over a dozen different beading techniques, this is one reference book that stays on my work table. If you want to breathe some new life into your favorite beading stitches, this is the book you need.

		Beading Cure for the Winter Blues: Make Some Bright Beaded Flowers. Do you or someone you know suffer from the winter blues? There's no better cure for a long winter than stitching up a quick beaded flower for a piece of beaded jewelry. Even if you can't go out into the garden and smell the flowers, you can create a little bit of sunshine on your beading tray with Diane Fitzgerald's classic The Beaded Garden. Once you master a few basic techniques, you'll be surprised at how many uses you can find for these bead-stitched flowers!

		Beading Cure for Stress and Tension: Meditate with Bead Embroidery. We all know how good beading is for relieving stress that builds up in everyday life, but for me, bead embroidery is a particularly powerful form of mindful meditation. The graceful curves and patterns that you can create with bead embroidery techniques can be used to create spectacular jewelry, but they are also easily adapted to embellishing clothing and other fabric items.

		Beading Cure for Lack of Confidence: Your seed bead patterns have strong beginnings, so make sure that they have strong endings, too! Build your confidence through improving the durability of your beaded jewelry-making projects with great ideas for custom clasps and endings with Sharon Bateman's Findings and Finishings. Whether you prefer to make your own beaded clasps and closures or you want to find out the best way to use a pre-made clasp, this book will give you the confidence to stand by your skills as a jewelry artist.

The best part of all these great seed bead pattern cures is that they're all on sale, too! Check out all the specials during the Interweave April Sale, going on right now in the Beading Daily Shop!

Do you have a favorite beading cure? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share it with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bead Crochet: It's a Well Done Experience

2013-04-19T07:00:00Z

From Jennifer: Bead crochet was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult beading techniques that I ever learned. But once I mastered it, bead crochet quickly became a source of inspiration and a great way to give my beady brain a well-deserved break between bead-weaving projects. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce to you the mother-daughter team of Bert and Dana Freed, who have turned their passion for bead crochet into a successful business!

We are both lifelong knitters, crocheters, and needlepointers. These passions for crafting were passed down through our family from mother to daughter, but our experience with beading was different; we began bead-weaving with seed beads in 1999, and found that we really enjoyed learning peyote Stitch, right-angle weave, and other beading stitches. When we learned bead crochet several years later, we knew we had both found our true passion, and together, we pushed the limits of what could be done with bead crochet.

The technique is the perfect hybrid of all our beading interests, incorporating beads, fiber, and a crochet hook to create a product that is three-dimensional and flexible. Unlike other beading techniques and beading projects, bead crochet is also portable: once you have strung your beads, you can take your bead crochet project anywhere without fear of losing beads. Whether it's a short subway ride or a long trip on an airplane, we are never on the move without a craft in hand.

Once we learned the basics of bead crochet, we were starving for more. Unfortunately, it seems the technique has a bit of a reputation for being difficult -- we cannot tell you how often we have heard: "Oh, I tried to learn that but couldn't!" We found that there was less information about bead crochet available than we had hoped when we started learning bead crochet, but this turned into something good: it forced us to get creative, challenge ourselves, and see what we could discover on our own. While we were inspired by other bead crochet artists and admired their knowledge and expertise, it was important to us to use bead crochet in a different way, one that echoed our own voices and aesthetic. We are crazy for color, and the endless combinations of beads and thread really keep us on our toes.

We are as passionate about sharing what we know as we are about the technique itself. It is our hope that, through teaching and our book, Bead Crochet Jewelry, we will help all those who want to learn and master the technique of bead crochet!

Are you brave enough to try something new with your bead crochet projects? Check out The Beaded Edge 2. You'll find eighteen bead crochet patterns that can be used as edgings for accessories, clothing, and even as beautiful, delicate bead crochet jewelry. If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, take advantage of the big savings during the Interweave Spring Clearance Event and save 70% on your copy of The Beaded Edge 2.

Have you mastered bead crochet yet? What tips and advice do you have for someone who struggles with this fabulous and versatile beading technique? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your expertise with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bert Rachel Freed and Dana Elizabeth Freed are the mother-daughter team of Well Done Experience. They sell their finished bead crochet jewelry at galleries both in New York City and overseas. You can find out more about them, their work, and their products at Chicken and Egg Designs (finished high-end jewelry) and Well Done Experience.