Daily Blogs : Bead Crafts

Crystals: Ways to Add Subtle Sparkle to Your Beaded Jewelry Projects

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:00:00 GMT

While there is definitely something magical about the look of crystals, my personal style means that I prefer to have crystals play a supporting role, instead of the lead, in most of my beading projects. The good news is that even when crystals take a backseat to other kinds of beads, they can still have maximum impact when it comes to adding sparkle and style to your favorite beaded jewelry designs!

Tiny Crystals = Subtle Sparkle

Above: Balance the sparkle of crystals with the glow of natural freshwater pearls in the Shiloh necklace.

Below: Just a single crystal drop on each earring adds a lot of glamor to the Can Can earrings.

Case in point: the first time I opened a copy of Rachel Nelson-Smith's Seed Bead Fusion, I was completely captivated by her Ootheca Cuff. Reading over the instructions, it's a miracle that I ever finished this beaded bracelet project -- wirework AND hundreds of tiny 3mm crystals? If it hadn't been for the intriguing right-angle weave and peyote stitch structure, I might not have been motivated to make this project, and in doing so, fall in love with wire jewelry making and develop a new appreciation for using crystals in my beading projects.

Get Maximum Impact From Just a Couple of Crystals

Using just a couple of crystals in a beading project, like in Rachel's Cancan Earrings, is also a money-saver: just two beautiful, dramatic black crystal drops are enough to make these earrings into statement jewelry. When using larger crystal drops and pendants in your beading projects, you can play up the dramatic shine of the crystals by accenting them with equally brilliant seed beads and glass beads.

Above: A single O Bersten component makes a beautiful statement with a strand of natural freshwater pearls.

The Ootheca Cuff combines structural bead-weaving with wire work. Tiny 3mm crystals add a lovely, subtle sparkle.

Take a look at the O. Bersten Component in the book, too. It's a single crystal rivoli, surrounded by beautiful seed beads and glass drops, and not a single other crystal bead! Still don't believe me? My recent creation, Samudra Lakshmi, is one giant 35mm crystal stone surrounded by things like Czech glass gumdrops, seed beads, plain glass round druks, and even rudraksha beads. Sometimes you really only need one great crystal component to make a necklace spectacular!

Balance the Sparkle With a Glow

When the crystal beads do take center stage, they are well-balanced with other seed beads, and even natural pearls, like in the Shiloh necklace. Using complimentary colors of seed beads and natural freshwater pearls helps to tone down the crystals, turns the piece from something that you might only wear a few times each year to a special event into something that you can throw on with your favorite t-shirt when the weekend rolls around.

As far as innovative beading projects with crystals go, Seed Bead Fusion is my go-to beading book. If you're a beader who enjoys new ways and ideas to incorporate crystals in your beading projects, this is a book that you must add to your collection of favorite beading books. Get your copy of Rachel Nelson Smith's Seed Bead Fusion, on sale now during the Interweave Sidewalk Sale through June 26, 2013!

You can also save big when you get the digital version of Seed Bead Fusion -- all the same great content as the print version, but downloaded directly onto your favorite desktop or laptop computer and ready for viewing in just minutes!

As part of our fabulous Interweave Sidewalk Sale, you can get a FREE 3-day trial to our new online video service, Craft Daily! Just make any purchase through June 19, 2013, and activate your Craft Daily trial membership before June 23, 2013 to get access to over a hundred premium crafting videos, including beading, jewelry making, wire work, knitting, crochet, sewing, and mixed media art!

How do you like to use crystals in your beading projects? Do you use them sparingly, using just one or two for a subtle and sparkly accent, or do you go all out and create a blindingly beautiful piece of beaded jewelry? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Options for Finishing Your Kumihimo Braids

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 07:00:00 GMT

I blame it all on Beadwork magazine Designer of the Year Jill Wiseman. Jill is infamous for getting hundreds of beaders hooked on doing kumihimo with beads through her amazing and easy-to-follow classes at big bead shows like Bead Fest Philadelphia.

Above: Jill Wiseman gets me hooked on kumihimo.

Below: My five-year-old son gets in on the action and helps me load a set of beads for a kumihimo braid.

Last summer, I decided to see what all the fuss was about, and signed up for one of Jill's kumihimo classes. The name sounded innocent enough: Basic Kumihimo With Beads. Harmless, right? Just another fun beading class with a bunch of fun ladies?

Well, after that one class, I was hooked. And not just hooked, like having a summer crush on the cute lifeguard at the pool. We're talking maniacal, borderline obsessive-compulsive disorder, here. I can't go for a long ride in the car without bringing along a couple of foam kumihimo discs, loaded with beads and threads. Even my five-year-old son has gotten into kumihimo, learning from his momma how to string beads onto the threads using a big-hole needle!

So now that I've been bitten by the kumihimo bug (thanks a lot, Jill), I'm looking for different ways to finish those pesky ends of my beaded kumihimo braids. So far, here's what I've come up with:

1. Glue, beading wire, and end caps. The easiest way to finish your kumihimo braids is the way I learned in Jill's class, using a glue like E6000 and a pair of end caps. Tie off your braid using beading thread and snip it, then coat the plain braid with a generous amount of glue. Slip a piece of beading wire through the space between the plain braid and the beaded braid, and through the end cap. Slip on a bead, a crimp, and your clasp, squash the crimp, and then thread the ends of the beading wire back down into the end cap.

2. Use the ends for button and loop closures. Of course, because I have these trust issues with glue, I thought about using the braided ends to create a button and loop closure on a simple bracelet. It worked!

Make one end of the plain braid long enough that you can tie it into a small loop, and sew your button to that small loop. Make the other end long enough to wrap around that button, and then tie off the long thread ends. (And, yes, a little bit of glue would help to keep those loops secure.)

When you're working this technique for making a button and loop closure on your kumihimo braids, just take care to leave extra-long thread tails so that you can work them into the braid with a needle without too much difficulty.

3. Add a piece of wire to one end. I haven't quite mastered it, yet, but there's a way to insert a small piece of craft wire or beading wire at the very beginning of your kumihimo braid for use in attaching a clasp to the finished project. This could also be used to attach a button for finishing, and then making a loop with the other unbeaded end of the braid as suggested previously.

Again, since I have trust issues with glue, the other way to finish your beaded kumihimo ropes is to make a shorter braid at the beginning and end of each piece, and then insert a piece of craft wire, making a wrapped loop around the plain braid. Leave enough wire to accommodate your end cap, slip on the end cap, and then make another wrapped loop where you can attach your clasp. Look, ma, no glue!

4. Make Your Own Endcaps. I'll be exploring this last one in greater depth over the coming weeks: the idea of making your own beautiful, custom beaded endcaps to finish your beaded kumihimo braids. I mean, why not? Sometimes, I think life is too short to use pre-made jewelry findings. Why not tap into all your bead-weaving skills and use your favorite beading stitches like peyote, herringbone, or even tubular right-angle weave to create your own custom kumihimo endcaps?

Have you been bit by the kumihimo bug? Make sure you check out all the fabulous ideas for making and using kumihimo braids in Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing magazines! Find inspiration with product reviews, bead news, basic and advanced techniques, and innovative beading projects from your favorite designers. Right now, as part of the Summer Sidewalk Sale, subscriptions to both Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing are on sale! Make sure you subscribe to one (or both) of these comprehensive beading resources, and check out all the great deals through June 23, 2013 in the Beading Daily Shop!

Do you have a great idea for finishing your beaded kumihimo ropes? Do you have trust issues with your glue, like me? Do you prefer the wrapped loop method? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your tips and techniques with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Step Into the World of Bead Substitutions With a Live Webinar

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:00:00 GMT

When it comes to substituting one type of bead for another, you'll quickly find out that not all seed beads have been created equal. This is especially true with the dozens of new shapes and types of seed beads available to beaders around the world, including Tilas, Czechmates, Twins, SuperDuos, Rizos, and now the new Solos from Preciosa.

With bead artists designing technically challenging and innovative seed bead patterns using these new beads, you may find that you want to start working on a pattern right away, but don't necessarily have the exact type of beads required to complete the project. What's a beader to do? Make a substitution, of course!

But because not all of these beads are interchangeable, it's important to know what you can and can't do when it comes to making seed bead substitutions. That's why we've put together this great live webinar with Beadwork magazine editor Melinda Barta, so she can guide you through all the Dos and Don'ts of Seed Bead Substitutions! Join us live on June 21, 2013 at 2 p.m. EDT to listen in and ask questions about all your favorite new seed bead shapes.

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 Melinda's expert advice. Don't miss out on this LIVE and INTERACTIVE event with Beadwork magazine's Melinda Barta!

But there are only 1,000 spots available for this fantastic 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 Melinda Barta: Melinda Barta is editor of Beadwork magazine, associate editor of Stringing magazine, and author of three books, including Hip to Stitch and best-selling Custom Cool Jewelry. Her third book, Mixed Metals: Creating Contemporary Jewelry with Silver, Gold, Copper, Brass & More, is coauthored with Danielle Fox. Melinda's department, Custom Cool, appears in each issue of Beadwork. She teaches workshops at schools across the country, including Interweave's Bead Fest shows, Penland School of Crafts, and John C. Campbell Folk School and has assisted fiber artist Renie Breskin Adams at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. She has made appearances on PBS, Style, and DIY networks, including the shows Scrapbooking, Uncommon Threads, and Craft Corner Death Match. A true lover of all crafts, Melinda is known to have sewing, embroidery, knitting, beadweaving, stringing, collage, scrapbooking, home improvement, and gardening projects in the works all at the same time. When she's not creating something with her hands, Melinda loves to spend her summers hiking and camping in the mountains with her husband and their dog. In the winter, she skis every chance she gets.

Getting Started With Wire Wrapping

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Even though I'm no wire expert (at least, not yet!), just like any other craft, before you get started with wire wrapping, it's good to have a firm foundation on which you can build your wire wrapping skills. As I've worked my way through scads of wire jewelry projects in the last couple of years, I realized that there are three things that can make or break a wire wrapping project for me:

1. Know Your Wire Wrapping Tools. Before you start any wire wrapping project, it's always a good idea to have the proper tools on hand. Understanding the capabilities of each pair of wire wrapping pliers can make the difference between a successful project or a whole lot of frustration and wasted wire. Of course, there's something to be said for improvisation: even if I don't happen to have the exact tool called for in a wire wrapping project, I know enough about the tools that I already have that I can usually use them with great success.

2. Know Your Wire. Knowing about wire gauge, wire hardness, and the types of metal used to make wire all play a part in choosing the right materials for successful wire wrapping projects. It's always a good idea to practice with brass or colored craft wire before moving on to the more expensive precious metal wire.

3. Brush Up On Wire Basics. You might not know it yet, but if you can make a perfect wire wrapped loop or a pair of matching ear wires, chances are, you've already got the necessary skills to create stunning wire wrapped jewelry. In any craft, having a solid foundation to build on is the most important part of creating perfect finished jewelry projects.

Want to get to know your wire wrapping tools and your wire? Try this easy filigree-inspired wire wrapping project!

Materials:

5 feet 18 gauge colored copper wire (I used brass color)
24-30 6mm OD jump rings in color to match or contrast with wire
3-6 10mm beads for dangles

Tools:

Flush cutters
Chain nose or combination pliers
Flat nose pliers
Jump ring opener (optional, but useful)
1/2 inch wooden dowel or mandrel

		Step 1: Cut 3 feet of wire. Leaving a 1" tail, make two wraps around your dowel. Remove the wire loop from the dowel, and place the dowel against the straight section of wire. Make two more wraps around the dowel. Every time you make two wraps around the dowel, remove the dowel and move it against a straight section of wire. You'll be able to create a series of little loops that look like bubbles.

		Step 2: Continue making loops and "bubbles" until you have about 1" of wire left. Make two small simple loops at either end of the pendant. Use your fingers to gently shape and straighten the pendant.

		Step 3: Open all the jump rings. Use two jump rings to "connect" each pair of loops in your pendant. You may have to gently coax the loops towards each other to make the jump rings fit.

		Step 4: To make the dangles, pick the bottom loops on which you want them to hang. Cut approximately 1" of wire for each dangle. Make a tiny bend in one end of the wire, then smash it together with your flat nose pliers. Slide on your bead, then make a simple loop at the top and hang it on the appropriate loop on the bottom of the pendant.

Whether you're a beginner or an advanced wire wrapping artist, you'll find plenty of projects to love in Artisan Filigree. With projects inspired by beautiful ironwork, wire wrapping artist extraordinaire Jodi Bombardier has created twenty-one graceful wire wrapped jewelry projects suitable for all skill levels. Plus, with the comprehensive wire wrapping basics at the front of the book, with a little practice, you'll be wire wizard in no time at all! Get your copy of Artisan Filigree and wrap your way to elegant wire wrapped jewelry. If you can't wait to get started, no worries -- Artisan Filigree is also available as a digital download, ready for viewing on your favorite desktop or laptop computer in just minutes.

For a very limited time, until June 9, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. MDT, you can take advantage of this special Artisan Filigree bundle -- get the print copy and the eBook for the same price as the print edition!

What would you say is the single most important bit of knowledge or skill to develop when learning how to do wire wrapping? Have you embarked on any interesting wire wrapping projects lately? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Jewelry Business: Notes From The Other Side of the Counter with Andrew Thornton

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 31 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT


Andrew Thornton is a fine artist who resides in western Pennsylvania.

As a well-known jewelry artist and now the owner of the fine art and craft gallery, Allegory Gallery in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, Andrew Thornton has a unique perspective to share with anyone who wants to get into the jewelry business. Recently, Andrew wrote a wonderful series of posts on his own blog, The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton, called Notes From the Other Side of the Counter: Candid Advice from a Brick and Mortar Gallery Owner. As the former owner of a fine craft gallery and bead shop, I found his advice to be right on target when it comes to forging a successful relationship with gallery and store owners who can help your jewelry business succeed.

What struck me was that the information in these posts could be just as helpful for a gallery owner as it is for the jewelry artist. Andrew was gracious enough to answer a few questions for me about what life was like on the other side of the counter:

Q: What motivated you to write these blogs about being on the other side of the counter?

A: The inspiration for writing these blog posts came from seeing a comment on Facebook from a friend who had just cold-called a gallery and was nervous about the process of selling her jewelry through a third-party. In response to her status update, I saw all kinds of wild misinformation and horror stories galore from artists who had bad experiences, and I wanted to help clear that up and provide an alternative perspective. It started off as a short list of suggestions she might make to improve her chances, but then grew into a ten-part series. It can be a daunting task and there's no need to add additional fear and anxiety.

Q: What's the most difficult part of owning your own gallery? What's the most rewarding?

A: Owning your own gallery is a difficult challenge in of itself. It is definitely a labor of love. The hardest aspect is time, or rather, the lack of time. Despite your best efforts, there is never enough time to do everything you'd like. If I ever feel as though I've crossed everything off my to-do list, it's probably because I've forgotten something. The thing that I find most rewarding about having a gallery is that has become a focal point for creative individuals. By opening the shop, we have encouraged creativity within the community and created a place to share ideas and art. I love showing people something new that they maybe wouldn't have had an opportunity to see before and then seeing it spark creativity and inspiration.


A display of handmade jewelry by local artist Connie Parsons at Allegory Gallery.

I owe a huge thank-you to all the other artists, jewelry-makers, and shop owners who have helped shape my experiences on both sides of the counter. Even the less-than-pleasant encounters have been highly educational!

Q: If there's just one thing you want a jewelry artist to take away from your series of blog posts, what would it be?

A: The most important thing that I want people to take away is that the best working relationships are a partnership. It's more than just a business agreement, but a mutual goal fed by respect, hard work, and if you're lucky, a friendship. Don't give up! I've been told that I wasn't good enough or that I would fail. Prove them wrong! If you're passionate about something, the Universe will find a way to help you achieve your goals.

Make Your Jewelry Photos Stand Out

Whether you're looking into selling your jewelry online or expanding your jewelry business through sales at fine craft galleries, you'll need to make sure that your jewelry photographs are outstanding. Poor photographs can make or break a sale! Even if you're not a photography expert, we've got the resources to help you get started.

No matter what kind of digital camera you have, understanding how to use it can be the best investment you make for your jewelry business. Get expert advice on how to take those tricky but important pictures of your jewelry from Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist photographer Jim Lawson in How to Photograph Your Jewelry. Because it's an instant download, you'll be watching and learning on your favorite desktop or laptop computer in just minutes! Find out about lighting, backgrounds, and even how to use computer software programs to get the most out of your digital photographs. Download your copy of How to Photograph Your Jewelry today and see for yourself how better pictures of your handmade beaded jewelry can boost your jewelry business!

Have you been on both sides of the counter? What would your advice be for someone who wants to start selling their jewelry through third-party shops and galleries? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog with your advice or your question about the jewelry business.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Andrew Thornton is a professional fine artist who left the hustle and bustle of New York City for rural Pennsylvania. His work can be seen in private collections around the globe. He is a regular contributor to books and magazines. Andrew is also the Creative Director of Allegory Gallery in Ligonier, PA. For more information, check out Andrew's blog, The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton, and the Allegory Gallery website.

Win A One Year Subscription to Craft Daily!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

There are lots of reasons to learn a new craft or a new skill by watching a video. It's convenient, for one thing -- you can watch at home, anytime you want to, and you can stop and start the video wherever and whenever you feel like you need to see something demonstrated over again.

Our new Craft Daily site is home to over a hundred premium crafting videos, with new videos being added every week. You can find crafting videos for learning how to bead, learning new jewelry-making techniques, and videos for the other crafts that you love like crochet, knitting, mixed media art, and sewing. You can bookmark the videos at the parts you want to watch again (or where you left off last time), mark your favorites for later, rate and review each video as you watch it, and even stream videos to your television!

How would you like to win a one-year subscription to Craft Daily, and have unlimited access to all of these videos? We're giving away an annual subscription (a $200 value) to Craft Daily to three lucky winners -- and one of them might be you! (If you're already a subscriber to Craft Daily, we'll simply extend your subscription for a year.)

To enter, all you have to do is fill out the Craft Daily Giveaway form. The winners will be selected on June 7, 2013. Good luck!

Essentials of Earring Making

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

If I knew now what I didn't know then...that's how I feel about everything that I've learned about earring making since I started beading over thirteen years ago. While I spent my time doodling beaded necklace and bracelet designs in my notebooks throughout college, ideas for beaded earring designs didn't come so easy to me.

Then a few years ago, I decided to challenge myself for the new year, and in January, I vowed to make one pair of beaded earrings every day for an entire month. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time, and when I was finished, not only did I have over two dozen pairs of earrings for gifts for friends and family, I also had much more confidence in my own earring making skills.

Want to jump-start your earring making projects? Here are a few suggestions to get you going!

Ideas for beaded earring projects. Beaded necklace and bracelet projects always came pretty easy for me, but beaded earrings? Not so much. Fortunately, as I progressed in learning how to bead and picked up new jewelry-making skills along the way, I started seeing how lots of these techniques could translate into easy earring projects. It's true: sometimes, the best ideas for earring making projects really are the simplest.

Learn how to make your own ear wires. This seemed like the most intimidating aspect of earring making for me, but really, learning how to make my own ear wires has opened up an entire world of possibilities for me! Wouldn't it be fantastic if you could customize your ear wires using matching beads and colored wire? It's really easier than you think. You can either make your own ear wires using nothing but a thick Sharpie marker, or if you want to churn out perfect wires every time, it might be worth investing in the Easy Ear Wire Maker.


Asymmetrical earrings by Jean Campbell

Let Your Imagination Run Wild. Who says that earring designs always have to match? Michelle Mach doesn't think so, and neither does Jean Campbell! Earring making can be a ton of fun -- and a great learning experience -- when you just let your beaded earring designs do whatever they want to do. Surrender to the beads, and see what you can come up with! Mix and match your beads, color of ear wires, and dig through your craft supplies for things like ribbons, feathers, and vintage sequins for truly unique beaded earrings.

You'll always find great earring making projects in every issue of Beadwork magazine. For over 15 years, Beadwork has been bringing us innovative, artistic, and beautiful earring making projects. If your collection of Beadwork magazine is missing a few issues, now's the time to fill in the gaps! Check out all the back issues of Beadwork magazine on sale in the Beading Daily Shop -- including some digital copies, too!

What would your best advice be to someone just getting started with earring making? Would you recommend a particular beading tool, or a particular technique for making easy earrings? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts, tips, and advice with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Beading Challenged

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Are you feeling a little beading challenged lately? I was certainly starting to feel sort of sluggish, like my ideas were all stuck in the same rut. Then my next challenge kit from Beadwork magazine landed on my doorstep, and I decided to look around for other challenges to stretch my creative muscles a little bit! Lucky for me, I found two more beading challenges to add to my list, and I jumped on them. Want a sneak peek at what will be on my beading tray for the next few weeks?

		This is a sneak peek at my first challenge, my Battle of the Beadsmith piece, due in less than ten days! The Battle of the Beadsmith is a competition that takes place entirely on Facebook, arranged by Steven Weiss of The Beadsmith. I entered last year's competition and learned a whole lot about beading, bead embroidery, and how to enter a beading competition. Even though I know that there's a very slim chance that my beadwork will make it to the top of the heap, the idea behind this competition is for the bead artists who enter to challenge themselves to do something that's out of the ordinary for them. A very inspiring challenge, indeed!

		The next challenge I decided to enter was from Darcy Horn at The Jade Dog. Darcy is the bead artist behind The Beaded Body, and I missed the deadline for her last challenge, so I'm very motivated to finish her challenge this time around! (If you want to enter, there's still time to purchase a challenge kit or two from Darcy over at The Jade Dog.)

		While I was perusing Facebook on the day I bought my challenge kit from The Jade Dog, I noticed another challenge from my friend Amy at Bead & Glass Boutique. Amy's "All The Small Things" challenge looked like too much fun to pass up, and included some of my favorite materials -- lentil beads and flower sequins! Again, if you want to join this challenge, you still have time to contact Bead & Glass Boutique and order a challenge kit for yourself.

		Finally, I have the next challenge kit from Beadwork magazine to work on. I can't give away the surprise, but here's another highly-distorted photograph for you, just as a teaser. This kit is full of materials that I love, but hardly ever get to use -- a sure-fire way to get me energized about a beading project!

Even if you won't win fame and fortune by entering a beading challenge, the other rewards are huge: a sense of accomplishment for finishing your piece, and a learning experience that can last for a lifetime! Keep your eyes peeled on Facebook, on blogs from people like Michelle Mach and Jean Yates, and here on Beading Daily for new challenges as they happen.

What was the last beading challenge you entered? What did you make? Would you do it again? Leave a comment, and let's talk about the pros and cons of entering a beading challenge.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

What Can You Learn On Craft Daily? Everything!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

But Is It Wearable? Necklace Making From a Different Perspective

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT


	*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

Easy Ways to Add Color to Metals

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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.

Unlock the Potential of New Shaped Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Gone are the days when the only shapes of beads we had to choose from were cylinder or round. In the last two years, designers of glass beads have created innovative and exciting shapes of glass beads that have unlimited potential in your own beaded jewelry designs!

I have to admit, though, that as excited as I was to get my hands on a bunch of these cool new shapes of glass beads, I had absolutely no idea how to use them in my beaded jewelry designs. Particularly perplexing to me were the two-holed seed beads, the Twins and the Super Duos -- the only two-holed beads that I had ever used before were some vintage German glass beads that I found at an antique store in Texas.

But after I added a nice collection of Czech farfalle beads to my stash last summer, I decided that the best way to learn how to use these beads was to, well, just use them!

Need some ideas for incorporating the Twins, Super Duos, gumdrops, spikes, and studs into your beaded jewelry designs? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

		Bezels. Gumdrops and spike beads are just begging to have little peyote stitch bezels worked around them! Whether you use cylinder beads or seed beads, stitching bezels around a spike bead or a gumdrop bead is the first easy step to including these shaped beads in a beaded jewelry design of your own creation.

		3-D Components. Once you've made a bezel around your spike or gumdrop bead, you can use that bead to create a whole range of three-dimensional components. Great for earrings and bracelets when you have just a few spikes or gumdrop beads, you can also create fabulous and intricate beaded necklace designs with these bezeled beads!

		Flat Motifs. One of the first things that I experimented with when I started playing with my two-holed Twin seed beads was stitching them together using circular, flat peyote stitch. With the addition of a few round druk beads and some seed beads, I found that they made beautiful little "snowflakes", which I joined together to create a beautiful necklace focal.

		Chains and Ropes. Another easy way to get comfortable with the two-holed seed beads is to use them to stitch up chains and beaded ropes! I followed a tutorial from the Member Free Beading Projects Gallery here on Beading Daily to create a fun twisted herringbone rope using springtime colors and a beautiful handmade lampwork glass bead from Evolving Creations.

Feeling inspired yet? There's a lot more to learn about these great shaped glass beads and how to incorporate them into your beaded jewelry designs. If you're ready to learn more, check out Beading with Shaped Beads with Beadwork magazine editor Melinda Barta. Melinda shows you the ins and outs of working with all kinds of these great shaped glass beads, along with basic instructions for stitching them together using your favorite bead-weaving stitches like peyote, brick, herringbone, and square stitch. Pre-order your copy of Beading with Shaped Beads on DVD and find out how you can unlock the design potential of these gorgeous, exciting new shaped beads!

(If you really can't wait to get started, Beading with Shaped Beads is also available as an instant download -- you can be watching and learning about these fabulous shaped glass beads in just minutes!)

Now it's your turn -- tell us which of these new glass bead shapes is your favorite and why! Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and let's talk about shaped beads!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Fresh, New Wire Wrapping Projects Just For You!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Of all the jewelry-making supplies out there, my favorite (next to seed beads, of course) has to be wire. I wasn't always a fan of wire wrapping techniques, but once I saw just how versatile it is, I started reading up on my wire wrapping tutorials wherever I could.

Wire and beads can be used to create simple wrapped loops that can be used to create elegant wire wrapped jewelry, handmade clasps and jewelry findings, and beautiful, intricate wire jewelry. Learning just a few simple wire wrapping techniques can help you turn your beaded jewelry from ordinary into extraordinary, with just a few twists of the pliers!

We've given our wire wrapping eBook a fresh look, and included four new projects for you to help you look at wire in a whole new way!

Monica Han's Gone Fishin' bracelet is fun, light, and airy - and a perfect example of how you can make a complete piece of jewelry with just wire and a handful of crystal beads.
Even a wire wrapping beginner can make Christine Haynes' Chunky Carnelian Ring using a favorite gemstone nugget and some sterling silver wire. Easy wire wrapping techniques make for a stunning statement ring!
Sally Stevens' Bird's Nest Pendant uses affordable copper wire and handmade lampwork beads to craft a lovely, peaceful wire wrapped pendant.
Melissa Senetar's Pendulum Pendant will really give your wire wrapping skills a workout. Showcase a dramatic gemstone bead when you learn how to wire wrap jewelry.

No matter what kind of wire wrapped jewelry you like to make, check out the wire wrapping instructions in our free eBook, Learn How to Wire Wrap Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Wrapping Jewelry Projects and see just how far a spool of wire can take you.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer