Daily Blogs : Bead Embroidery

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

Five Fantastic Pearl Shapes For Your Beaded Jewelry Designs

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

Gemstones and Fashion Inspiration for Spring!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

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

How to Bead Comfortably

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

It's not often that I get a long stretch of hours to sit and bead lately, but when I do, I take full advantage of it. Most of the time, I only get a few minutes here and there to sit down and bead, so when an opportunity for a marathon beading session presents itself, I take advantage of it! The trick to getting the most out of the time spend beading is knowing how to bead comfortably.

When I first started learning how to bead, I'd plop myself down on the bedroom floor, cross-legged in front of the television, with my beads spread around me. While it wasn't the best setup, it worked for me for a few years, until I started getting serious about beading and found myself spending more and more time in front of my beads. After I injured my back doing something completely unrelated to beading, I discovered that knowing how to bead comfortably for long periods of time was more important than I had previously thought.

Do you find yourself suffering from an aching back and tired eyes when you spend long hours with your beads? Here are a couple of ideas to help you learn how to bead comfortably!

Setting Up a Place to Bead


	Before sitting down to bead, do what the great chefs do and make sure that all of your tools and materials are easily accessible!

There are three basic things you need in order to set up a comfortable place to bead: a sturdy table or work surface for beading, a comfortable chair that provides plenty of support to your lower back, and proper lighting and magnification if needed.

A sturdy table or work surface. My bead surface of choice lately is one of my favorite Bead On It Boards. These nifty bead boards are perfect for setting in your lap or on a table. The high, rolled edges mean that beads can run down to the sides of your work area, but they won't disappear off the edge of your board. And, yes, when you give it a gently shake, all those seed beads really do land with the holes up for easy beading!
A comfortable chair. Your chair should be your best friend when you're beading. Make sure that your feet touch the floor, and if you need to, don't be afraid to sit on a low pillow to provide extra support for your back.
Proper lighting and magnification if needed. If you have to squint to see your beads, then chances are, you need to improve your lighting or magnification when you sit down to bead. For over ten years, I've used the same trusty Ott-Lite task lamp when I sit down to bead. It's portable and light, so I take it with me on the road, too, when I'm traveling to classes or workshops. And since last summer, I've found that using my CraftOptics telescopes are indispensable for my bead embroidery projects or any beading project where I'm using size 15^o seed beads!

My favorite place to bead lately is at my computer desk. Since I have a laptop and don't use the keyboard tray, I keep my bead tray there so I can just roll it away under the desk when I'm finished! (But don't be fooled -- I'm also just as comfortable setting up my bead tray on the couch or outside on the back porch when the weather is nice!)

Another great tip for setting up a comfortable place to bead comes from one of my favorite bead artists, Carol Cypher. She recommends that beaders imitate what great chefs do, and set up their work areas in a "mise en place". This means that you have all of your tools and supplies set up where you can easily reach them.

Ergonomic Beading Tips


	They might look funny, but my CraftOptics are a very important part of staying comfortable when I'm beading!

Once you're set up in a comfortable spot for beading, it's important to pay attention to your body while you're working. I know it's all too easy to get lost in the meditation of bead-weaving, but sitting in one spot without moving for hours and hours will leave me with an aching back, tired eyes, aching wrists, and even a headache.

There are lots of beading tools that you can use to help you be more comfortable when you bead, including ergonomic gloves and easy-to-handle jewelry pliers. More tips for learning how to bead comfortably:

Take a stretching break. This one is the hardest for me, but it definitely makes a difference. Set a timer, watch a movie, or do something to remind yourself to get up out of your chair about once an hour to walk around, stretch your legs, and stretch your arms. You don't have to do a lot of stretching, either -- just a lap around the house or raising your arms above your head and taking a few deep breaths will help you stay limber and comfortable.
Try an exercise band. Some beaders keep an exercise band handy while they're working to use throughout the day. Just a couple of easy pulls can help keep your arms, shoulders, neck, and upper back happy for long periods of time!
Don't forget about your lower back. Speaking as someone who has dealt with low back pain, you can never be too kind to your back! If you're feeling achy or sore at all in your lower back, make sure you have a comfortable pillow or cushion to provide support while you work. A couple of years ago after a particularly bad episode of low back pain, I invested in a special chair that's actually an exercise ball set in a frame. When I'm not 100% comfortable in my office chair, I can easily switch over to the ball chair for some relief!

The best part of learning how to bead comfortably? You'll find that you can get more beading done! More beading means more beautiful beaded jewelry for gifts or for yourself, right?

Now that you're ready to sit and bead in comfort, check out 8 Favorite Beaded Bezel Projects. Taken straight from the pages of Beadwork magazine, these eight beading projects will teach you everything you need to know about creating beautiful (and secure) beaded bezels. Learn how to capture your favorite gemstones, donuts, and crystal stones with these eight fabulous beaded bezel projects! Download your copy of 8 Favorite Beaded Bezel Projects and test out some new ways to help yourself bead comfortably.

What's your best tip for helping yourself stay comfortable when you get the chance to bead for hours at a time? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your advice and tips with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Jazz Up Your Bracelet Making Projects with Beautiful Bugle Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT


	*Kelli Burns' Tuscan Tiles bracelet is a beautiful, stylish way to use copper bugle beads.*

When I first started learning how to bead, I only thought of using bugle beads as fringe for the dozens of peyote stitch amulet bags that I made. Later, I started experimenting with using bugle beads for things like bracelet making, and as a way to make quick and beautiful netted collars. Bugle beads weren't easy to find, and when I did find them, the range of colors was quite limited.

Now that I know my way around a bead shop (and around the internet), bugle beads are a lot easier to come by, and in a lot more colors and styles. You can even find bugle beads made with precious metals like sterling silver and gold-filled, and base metals like brass and copper.

It only makes sense that designers these days are inspired to use bugle beads in their bracelet making projects. Bugle beads are the perfect complement to crystal beads, cube beads, and even materials like ribbon and crystal chain! Why are bracelet making projects made with bugle beads so special? Here are four of my all-time favorite bugle bead bracelet making projects, just to give you an idea of why I'm so inspired by bugle beads:

		The Swingin' Bugle Cuff by Cathi Tessier is a classic retro bugle bead bracelet! This is the kind of bugle bead bracelet making project that I love to work with, because you can play with colors to your heart's content. Experiment with new colors, twisted bugle beads, or even metal bugle beads to make a beaded bracelet that you can wear with anything and everything.

		You have to look very closely at Smadar Grossman's Wheels of Fortune bracelet. The bugle beads used in this particular bracelet making design are used so that they blend in perfectly with the matte metallic cube beads used to create each circular wheel! The wonderful circular shape of each wheel is the perfect contrast to the "straight and narrow" of the bugle beads, don't you think?

		Fit for a princess? Oh, yes! Cristie Prince's Princess Kate Bracelet makes easy and elegant use of chain made with prong-set crystals. Add a rhinestone clasp, and you've got a quick and easy bracelet making project that looks like it came from a high-end department store jewelry department! Make a whole armful when you want to look like a million bucks without spending the family fortune.

		Csilla Csirmaz's Corset Cuff allows the bugle beads to take center stage, accenting them with sparkling crystal beads and finished with a very clever ribbon-tie closure. The soft, gauzy ribbon and sparkling crystal beads give the bugle beads used in this bracelet making project a kind of understated elegance that just brings out the romantic in me.

After all these years, I still can't figure out what it is about bugle beads that I love so much! They're great for adding a unique texture to my bead embroidery pieces, and using them for bead-weaving is a fantastic challenge for my design skills. With all the bugle beads that keep finding their way into my bead stash, I'm just going to have to keep looking for great beading and bracelet making projects like these to use them all up.

If you love using bugle beads, take a look at Stitching with Shaped Seed Beads: 10 Beaded Projects to Make with Bugle Beads. For less than a dollar per project, you can instantly download ten innovative bracelet making and necklace making projects that use bugle beads. Learn how to use bugle beads to create bezels for your favorite crystal stones, mix them with crystal beads, and learn about color play using your favorite seed beads.

Do you have a favorite tip for working with bugle beads? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share it with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Wildly Peyote by Guest Blogger Jayashree Paramesh

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

From Jennifer: Even if you don't recognize her face, you'll surely recognize her gorgeous peyote stitch and crystal bracelets on the cover of this month's Beadwork magazine -- today's guest blogger is Jayashree Paramesh!

Jayashree's beaded jewelry designs are rich, lush, and full of the texture and color of the traditional jewelry of India. She is a master of using peyote stitch to achieve subtle dimension in her pieces, and her use of color invokes images of faraway lands.

Today, Jayashree shares her story of how she got learned how to do peyote stitch. For an extra bonus, head over to the Beading Instructions blog to find an easy, free peyote stitch project from her!

Why do I love peyote stitch so much? I have often pondered that question myself, and the answer is that peyote stitch is a very precise bead-weaving stitch. An extra bead or a dropped bead can be very easy for me to spot in my work -- I made a lot of mistakes like this when I was new to beading, and peyote stitch was the only beading stitch I could work without having to start over or undo the rows!

My very first beaded jewelry project was a pink crystal necklace with a triangular, bezeled, crystal pendant on the cover of Beadwork magazine. I was so attracted to the design, it made me want to jump headlong into beading! Armed with the magazine, I went to my local bead store and asked a very nice lady to help me with the supplies. She was quite amused as she picked out all the items, including needles and thread, with great speed. She asked me if I had beaded before and I replied "No!" I told her I had learned bead embroidery several years ago and was ready to try beaded jewelry. She replied, "If you have problems, I can help you -- I am Daeng Weaver, and I designed that necklace!" Just a few days later, I finished the peyote bezel without much problem. (But the embellished herringbone rope was a whole other story.)

That began my love of peyote stitch. Peyote stitch is such a versatile stitch. It offers a variety of design possibilities, from making an easy, flat strip, to making round peyote stitch medallions, rigid tubes, to constructing dimensional, complex, geometric pieces. It is never far away from my thoughts as I visualize a design. When I start assembling my beads, peyote stitch is always the first stitch that I consider for executing my design. I love to use a combination of the wonderful peyote stitch variations like flat, tubular, and circular to successfully finish my project.

Sometimes I wonder if my beading is related to my style of cooking! I use a variety of spices in my cooking; a pinch of turmeric, a dash of saffron, a scoop of hot chili peppers and a few other items from the spice box. Similarly, I have noticed that my beaded jewelry generally incorporates a mix of stitches with a healthy dose of peyote. Often the result is a richly textured, dimensional piece that I love!

Are you ready to learn more about peyote stitch and all of its amazing uses for your beaded jewelry designs? Check out Melinda Barta's exquisite book, Mastering Peyote Stitch: 15 Inspiring Projects. Along with beading projects from Melinda, as well as some of our favorite bead artists like Sherry Serafini, Jean Campbell, and Jean Power, you'll find tips, techniques, and everything you need to get you started learning how to do peyote stitch.

Get your copy of Mastering Peyote Stitch: 15 Inspiring Projects, or if you just can't wait, you can download Mastering Peyote Stitch as an eBook and be reading and beading in just minutes! It's all the same great content as the print edition, but easy to download onto your favorite desktop or laptop computer.

So, what's in your peyote stitch "cookbook"? Do you have a favorite variation that you return to when you're starting a new piece of beaded jewelry? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts, tips, and advice for using peyote stitch with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bio: Jayashree Paramesh was introduced to the world of beads through a bead embroidery class she took while a student at Parsons School of Design in New York City. She is inspired by fine jewelry and loves to use gold or silver alongside crystals and gemstones in her designs. She posts her designs in the Beading Daily Reader Photo Gallery 'jayparam'. For her teaching schedule and information about new designs, visit her website, Nchantme.com.

Why Bother With Bead Embroidery? Guest Blog By Cyndi Lavin

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT


	Bead artist, blogger, and really good cook Cyndi Lavin

There are many reasons why I love bead embroidery, but the Zen-like qualities of the process are probably why I return to it over and over again.

On the surface, bead embroidery really is very simple -- just a couple of easy bead stitching techniques. But once you've mastered the basics, you can use bead embroidery to create astoundingly complex pieces of beaded jewelry! Today's guest blogger, Cyndi Lavin, is no stranger to astoundingly complex -- and beautiful -- bead embroidery. Read on to find out what inspires her to create, and how she wants to inspire creativity in others who share her passion for beads.


Ancient Waves by Cyndi Lavin

We all know that beadwork can be a ridiculously painstaking medium for self-expression, and it could be argued that bead embroidery is the most painstaking of all. It can also become ridiculously expensive, since once you get started, you have to have seed beads in every color, shape, size and finish!

Not all artists have the obsession with attention to detail that's required on the beaded path, but those who do are rewarded beyond measure. Not only by the work itself, but also by the inclusiveness of the amazing community of beaders. There will always be room for more members!

So, looking at bead embroidery another way, what could be easier or more appealing than stitching beads onto fabrics to create a world of color, texture, and and emotion? Bead embroidery is an art form that is easy to learn and accessible to everyone, but it also has unlimited capacity for increased complexity...or even for weirdness. As time goes on, you find yourself wanting to add a whole bunch of other things besides just beads, like found objects, and sometimes you also find yourself stitching on materials other than fabrics...and so it goes. Now you're working with mixed media bead embroidery, with no boundaries at all.

My goal as a bead artist and writer is to help you find your way into this fabulous art form. Did you know that you really only need to know how to do five bead embroidery stitches to get started? If you already know bead-weaving, I'll bet you already know how to do peyote stitch. Four more stitches are all you need to learn: back stitch, stack stitch, edging brick stitch, and picot stitch. That's it! I wanted to make it really easy for you to see if this is a journey you'd like to take, so that's why I offer the first chapter of my e-book Every Bead Has a Story, for free. It covers my favorite materials, tools, and stitches (including the four stitches listed above), plus it has a beginner project. The additional chapters of my book focus on altered surfaces, dimensional beading, found objects and unusual materials, and integrating bead embroidery with other fiber arts.


	Arctic Frost by Cyndi Lavin

Everybody's beading journey is different, and there are an unlimited number of other beading techniques and bead-weaving stitches that you can add to your repertoire once you've decided you're hooked. And you probably will get hooked, so maybe I should throw in the warning right now: run away before it's too late!

When I first began making bead embroidered necklaces, I tended to favor the familiar collar style. They were fun to make, but I felt that I had worked too long and hard to master all the off-loom bead-weaving stitches to simply throw away those skills. Eventually my style morphed into one that combined all the techniques that I love: embroidery, off-loom bead-weaving, stringing, and wire work. That's where I am now, and my newest e-book, Some Assembly Required, focuses on working with smaller components that are then attached together to form the final necklace.

Where to next? Only the beaded path ahead knows for sure! Enjoy the journey!

Follow your own beaded path and see what lies ahead. Looking for more great inspiration for mixed media bead-weaving and bead embroidery? Take a look at The Art of Forgotten Things by Melanie Doerman. You'll find page after page of inspiration, ideas, and techniques for taking everyday objects and using them to tell your own unique stories through beaded jewelry. Get your copy of The Art of Forgotten Things and see how you can make memories that will last a lifetime with your beads.

How do you tell stories with your bead-weaving and bead embroidery? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Cyndi Lavin is a writer, bead artist, bead blogger, and a really good cook. You can find out more about her through her website, Beading Arts.

Are You Captivated By Cabochons?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

In case I haven't mentioned it lately, I'm addicted to cabochons. If you take a look through my bead stash, you'll find drawers and drawers full of them -- gemstone cabochons, handmade ceramic and porcelain cabochons, even vintage Lucite cabochons and cabochons made from things like resin and polymer clay.

I love the challenge in figuring out how to include a cabochon (or two, or three) in my bead-weaving projects. Of course, since cabochons by definition don't have a hole drilled in them, the first step is learning how to create a beaded bezel to securely hold the cabochon so that it can be attached to a beaded necklace or bracelet.

When I first started learning how to bead, I mastered the basic open-backed peyote stitch cabochon bezel pretty quickly, but then I became interested in learning how to use other bead-weaving techniques to capture those cabochons, even cabochons that were triangular or square! Read on for some of my favorite bead-weaving techniques for making beaded bezels for cabochons:

		Part of the challenge of making an open-backed bezel for a cabochon using peyote stitch is getting the fit just right. Too loose, and the cabochon will fall out. Too tight, and there's too much thread showing between beads. Using brick stitch to create the first few rounds of your peyote stitch bezels pretty much guarantees a perfect fit every time!

		Bead embroidery is another popular technique for making beaded bezels for cabochons.Of all the beaded bezel techniques that I've learned over the years, this one was by far the most challenging. But now, after making hundreds of these for beaded necklaces and bracelets, it's almost second nature to me!

		Working with square and triangular cabochons is a snap when you know how to make a peyote stitch bezel for them using herringbone stitch to shape the corners! Make one or two of these, and you'll be looking for square and triangular cabochons everywhere.

		Right-angle weave is one of my go-to bead-weaving stitches, and as it turns out, it makes a fabulous, fast, and secure beaded bezel for a cabochon or crystal stone. Another reason I love using right-angle weave for a beaded bezel is how easy it is to embellish the finished bezel using drop beads, daggers, or other types of glass beads.

		I hadn't really thought too much about using herringbone stitch to make a beaded bezel for a cabochon or crystal stone until I wanted to make a quick beaded bezel to capture this pair of crystal stones I got from Nikia Angel. Using a variation of herringbone stitch for these made for a quick and very secure beaded bezel that can be used for all kinds of beaded jewelry!

No matter how you decide to bezel your cabochons, one thing is for sure: using cabochons in beading projects is one jewelry-making trend that I don't see going away any time soon!

If you're ready to learn all about using bead-weaving to make beaded bezels for your favorite cabochons, check out Melinda Barta's How to Stitch Beaded Bezels DVD. Melinda takes you step-by-step through six lessons that teach you how to use netting, herringbone stitch, and peyote stitch to capture your favorite cabochons, buttons, and crystal stones securely for spectacular beaded jewelry. Get your copy of How to Stitch Beaded Bezels and start using those cabochons in your stash!

Do you have a favorite bead-weaving technique for making beaded bezels? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share it with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Try This Free Riveting Bracelet Making Project

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT


	Design by Tracy Gonzales (for TierraCast)

Everywhere you look, leather jewelry is a hot trend. At Bead Fest Philadelphia last summer, I saw lots of leather jewelry-making supplies, from the wonderful "licorice" leather for making fun beaded bracelets to fish leather for bead embroidery and mixed media jewelry.

Tracy Gonzales from our friends at Tierra Cast designed this great leather bracelet making project for anyone who wants to learn about using metal rivets and leather. It works up in just a snap!

Materials:

9-10" 5/8" flat leather, 2-2.5mm thick
1 TierraCast Spiral & Rivets Link
1 TierraCast Line 20 (approx. 13mm) Spiral Snap Cap
1 Line 20 Snap Fastener
4 TierraCast 4mm Cap Compression Rivets
2 TierraCast 10mm Hammertone LH Bead
E6000 Adhesive or similar

Tools

Revolving punch pliers or other tool for making holes in leather
Snap setter tool
Rivet setter tool
Dot/snap anvil
Bench block (optional)
Hammer
Pencil
Scissors

Step by Step Instructions:

		Make a pencil mark in the center of the leather strap about ½" from end. Use revolving punch pliers to make a hole approximately the same size as the snap component posts at the mark. This will be the hole for the button/cap part of the snap.

		Keeping this end on top, wrap leather around wrist to determine fit, then mark the leather where the hole for the bottom snap component will be. Punch a second hole at this mark.

		Set snaps according to package instructions.

		Place the Spiral & Rivets link at the center of bracelet. Place one 10mm Hammertone LH spacer on each side of link. Mark holes with pencil. Punch 2.5mm holes at each mark.

		To rivet the components to the leather, set a post component through a hole from the underside of the leather. Place a metal component onto the post on the top side. Place a rivet cap onto post and squeeze the two components gently to engage.

		Set post onto block or dot anvil (flat side). Place the concave side of the rivet setter tool over the rivet cap and use a hammer or mallet to set.

		Put a small dab of E6000 on the inside of the Spiral snap cap and set it securely over the snap button/cap. Allow to dry. Trim excess leather as desired.

Ready to see more of the hottest trends in jewelry design? Check out 101 Bracelets, Necklaces, and Earrings, available as an instant download from Zinio! You'll find page after page of colorful ideas for making beaded necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Ceramics, ribbon, leather, and metals come together to make over a hundred fabulous beaded jewelry designs! Download 101 Bracelets, Necklaces, and Earrings through Zinio now and get busy beading today.

Want to win a sampler pack of great new leather jewelry-making findings from Tierra Cast? Leave a comment on this blog before February 18, 2013 at 12:00 midnight CST, and you could win this pack of spacers and barrel beads, separator bars, links, compression rivets, and endings! Just tell us what latest jewelry trend you love and why, and you could win! (Please note: due to customs regulations, this contest is only open to residents of the United States.)

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

How to Make a Brick Stitch Ruffle

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Once upon a time, I found myself finishing up a bead embroidered necklace, and as usual, I didn't have a clue as to how I would add fringe to it. After I finished the brick stitch edging, I must have tried six or seven different patterns for fringe. Nothing looked right.

Looking at it on my work table one evening, I thought, "What if I tried a brick stitch ruffle around the bottom of this necklace?" I knew it was going to take a lot longer than other styles of fringe, but I thought it just might work. Sure enough, it felt as if the stitching took forever on that ruffle, but the results were perfect for what I had originally envisioned for the finished piece!

Making a brick stitch ruffle is really just a matter of increasing in the middle of a row of brick stitch. It takes a little practice to squeeze your needle in between the beads, but here's an easy way to get started:

		Start with an ordinary strip of brick stitch. Make sure your working thread is exiting the bottom of the strip. (Not like in this photograph where I have my working thread exiting from the top of the brick stitch!)

		Add two beads in the first stitch, then continue to add two beads per thread, one bead at a time. (Add the first bead like you normally would, then go back and add a second bead in the same thread.) You'll see the beads start to zigzag back and forth across the row.

		Each row of brick stitch will get longer as you continue to increase, and your ruffle will get more dramatic. For a softer ruffle, you can alternate increases to every other stitch.

		The finished brick stitch ruffle has lots of fun applications in bead-weaving!

Brick stitch ruffles are great for all sorts of beading projects: use them to add texture and visual interest to the edging of bead embroidery projects (like I did), or make ruffled brick stitch bracelets and pendants. A brick stitch ruffle can be made to look like waves for a water-themed piece of bead-weaving, or try surrounding a glass pearl with a brick stitch ruffle for a playful bracelet making component!

Practice your brick stitch skills and stock up on your favorite beading projects now during the eProject sale in the Beading Daily Shop! All eProjects are 30% off until 12 midnight CST on February 7, 2013, and since they're all instant downloads, you don't have to wait to get started beading. Download a few new brick stitch beading projects today and find out why brick stitch is one of the most versatile bead-weaving stitches out there.

Have you ever used a brick stitch ruffle to embellish a beading project? Leave a comment and share your ideas with us here on the Beading Daily blog, or better yet, take a picture of your brick stitch masterpiece and post it in the Reader Photo Gallery!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Steampunk Style Beading with Cynthia Newcomer Daniels

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Some of you might remember Cynthia Newcomer Daniel from last summer when I showed off her amazing beaded necklace entry in the Battle of the Beadsmith. I admire the way Cynthia makes those little seed beads of hers do the most amazing things like mimicking needle-woven lace. Her self-supporting bangle bracelets made with off-loom bead-weaving stitches are architectural feats of skill and craft, and I'm thrilled that Cynthia brings us today's guest blog on Beading Daily all about steampunk jewelry!


	*Flights of Fancy by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel*

Steampunk is, first and foremost, a genre in science fiction literature. Set in an alternate universe that resembles 19^th century England or America, Steampunk is all about big, complicated machines and Victorian style, but with a decided twist. Think steam engines, trains, the Wild West, lace doilies and time travel. Imagine bustles, parlors, boots, big skirts, tight pants and transporter technology. A place and time where jewelry isn't just jewelry, but a portal; with a flick of a switch, or the glow of a crystal, gears will start to turn and the wearer will be whisked through time and space.

It's not just about adding some watch guts to a necklace, though that's a good place to start.


*Time and Tides by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel*

Before you start crafting a piece of Steampunk jewelry, you'll want to think about the world it comes from, and its purpose in that world. Will it protect the wearer, or is it a transportation device? Does it have settings? How is its purpose concealed from others? Does it belong to a gunfighter, a lady, a pirate, or a street urchin? Has it fallen into the hands of someone who is unaware of its true purpose?

Once you know all that, it's time to start collecting. Watch parts are a great place to start; they're small, easy to find, and fun to take apart. If you don't have an old one in your junk drawer, look in antique shops or on-line. Hardware stores are another good place to browse; look for small gears, nuts, hinges, or anything that can be bezeled around or strung.

Bead embroidery, soutache work, and beadweaving are naturals for Steampunk style jewelry; intricate beadwork evokes a Victorian sensibility, and lends itself to the engineering aspects of Steampunk.

Start creating! And please share your jewelry, and its story, when you are done.

One of the things I love about creating my own stories with steampunk jewelry are the fabulous focal pieces around which I work my favorite bead-weaving stitches. There's a little bit of mechanical skill involved, doing things like punching holes, wire wrapping, and layering different elements to create unique jewelry-making components.

Don't be put off by the industrial jewelry-making skills of steampunk jewelry! Take a look at our Mixed Media Steampunk-Style Jewelry DVD with Jean Campell. Jean walks you step-by-step through easy techniques like cold connections, resin, and wire wrapping to show you how you can make your own fabulous, romantic steampunk-style jewelry pieces. Get your copy of Mixed Media Steampunk-Style Jewelry and give your jewelry a story to tell!

Do you have jewelry that tells a special story? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and tell us about it, or better yet, post a picture of it over in the Reader Photo Gallery and share your jewelry story with all of us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Cynthia Newcomer Daniel is a jewelry designer and creator who lives in central California. She loves to work with a wide variety of materials, and her work displays the perfect combination of elegant simplicity and over-the-top opulence. You can find her tutorials for sale at Jewelry Tales, or follow Cynthia's Jewelry Tales blog to read more about her amazing bead-weaving creations!

3 Easy Ideas for Mixed Media and Bead Embroidery

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

If you're looking to branch out into mixed media jewelry in 2013, bead embroidery is one of the easiest ways to get there! Because bead embroidery is such a versatile and fluid beading technique, it's perfect for anyone who wants to experiment with some new mixed media jewelry-making techniques.

The best part of using mixed media jewelry-making supplies with your bead embroidery is that anything goes. Make a trip to your local art supply store, fabric store, or your favorite thrift shop and see what kinds of great craft supplies they have. (My favorite find from my local thrift shop was a big bag of unfinished wood spools for making beaded beads!)

Here are three easy ways to start mixing mixed media with bead embroidery:

		Use some ribbon for the strap of a bead embroidered pendant. For me, designing the neck strap of a bead embroidered pendant can be the hardest part of the process. It might seem like an easy way out, but adding a beautiful hand-dyed silk or velvet ribbon to your bead embroidered pendant can turn your finished piece into a work of mixed media jewelry. Finish the ends of the ribbon using metal ribbon crimps, cones and eye pins, or just tie the ribbon in a bow at the back of your neck.

		Try a new fabric for your bead embroidery foundation. At last summer's Bead Fest Philadelphia, I bought two pieces of Tilapia leather for my bead embroidery. I used the first piece to create a cuff bracelet using a fabulous, crusty raku cabochon from MAKUstudio and accented it with some glass spike beads surrounded with peyote stitch. If you decide to experiment with the funky look of fish leather, make sure to have some glover's needles on hand. The fish leather is just as tough as regular cowhide leather, and regular beading needles will break if they are forced through the leather. Glover's needles are shorter and thicker than regular beading needles, but will still pass through size 15^o seed beads easily.

		Paint your bead embroidery medium before you stitch. I think the last thing that I painted that was any good was a still-life of some roses and baby's breath in a glass vase back when I was in third grade, circa 1982. But when Nicole Campanella, the creator of Nicole's Beadbacking, told me that you can paint on her bead embroidery medium before stitching it, I was totally inspired in a brand-new way! I even got my five-year-old son into painting a few pieces of Nicole's Beadbacking with me for future bead embroidery projects! You can lay down a coat of gesso before you start painting your Nicole's Beadbacking, but I just used a set of inexpensive acrylic paints and a soft paintbrush to mix some colors. We'll see how this piece shapes up in the next few weeks!

When it comes to mixing things up with mixed media jewelry-making, the sky is the limit. You're only limited by your imagination, so have fun!

If you're looking to add new mixed media jewelry-making skills to your repertoire, you won't want to miss Handcrafted Jewelry 2012. With dozens of ideas for using found objects, ribbon, and upcycled materials like t-shirts in your jewelry-making projects, you're sure to find something new to inspire you. Get your copy of Handcrafted Jewelry 2012 and find out how you can look at your craft supplies in a whole new way this year! (And even better - you can download your copy instantly and save $5 through January 6, 2013 at midnight CST!)

Have you ever thought of your bead embroidery projects as mixed media jewelry? Do you include found objects in your bead embroidery? What kind of new jewelry-making techniques do you want to learn in 2013? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and let's talk about what we want to accomplish in 2013!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

The Top 12 Beading Daily Blogs of 2012 - And a Giveaway!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Today is 12.12.12! We're almost halfway through December, and there are less than three weeks left in 2012. I always get a little nostalgic in December, and I usually take some time to meditate and reflect on all the wonderful things that have happened during the year.

This year is no different, but it's a little more special because of that date -- 12.12.12. So, to celebrate, I've put together the Top 12 Beading Daily blogs from 2012! Read on to see if any of your favorite blogs made it into the list:

		January: Find Your Steampunk Style with Jean Campbell Steampunk always seemed so intimidating to me, but this post from Jean Campbell took all the mystery out of making amazing, easy steampunk jewelry.

		February: Your First Seed Bead Stash Stocking your stash of seed beads can be a huge task if you're just getting started with bead-weaving! Here are some great tips for starting your seed bead stash.

		March: Readers Share a Bounty of Brick Stitch Projects I love brick stitch -- it will always be special to me, as it was the first beading stitch I ever taught myself. I asked for our readers to submit their best brick stitch projects, and the resulting eye candy is just amazing!

		April: Start With...A Simple Strip of Peyote Stitch Ever feel stuck in your beading? You can create some really spectacular beaded jewelry just by whipping up a simple strip of peyote stitch!

		May: Readers Share Beautiful Bead Embroidery Once again, I asked, and our readers delivered. This time, they shared some truly breathtaking bead embroidery pieces with us. Enjoy the beautiful beading!

		June: 5 Common Jewelry Findings That You Can Make Yourself Save time and money when you learn how easy it is to make these five common jewelry findings with your basic wire wrapping skills!

		July: Why Necklace Length Matters Understanding the different lengths of necklaces is important to be able to match them with your favorite necklines.

		August: Use Wire to Bezel a Cabochon This isn't so much a "how-to" blog as a "how-NOT-to-do" blog. Read about my adventures using Viking knit to make a bezel for one of my favorite gemstone cabochons!

		September: Getting Started With Flat Peyote Stitch Peyote stitch was one of the last bead-weaving stitches that I taught myself. However, had I known some of these tips or had some of these tools, it probably would have been a lot easier!

		October: Meet a Chain Maille Genius At Bead Fest Philadelphia in August, I met a lampwork glass artist who takes the ancient art and craft of chain maille to a whole new level! Read about her and see some of her absolutely marvelous creations.

		November: Four Beading How-Tos You Need to Know You might be surprised at some of these four beading how-tos that every beader needs to know!

		December: Make This Free Embossed Leather Earring Project December isn't even half over yet, but so far, this free embossed leather earring project is our most popular December blog!

Did any of your favorites appear in this list? If not, now's your chance to nominate them, and win a little something, too! Simply leave a comment on this blog before midnight, CST on December 16, 2012 with your favorite Beading Daily blog from 2012. You don't have to choose from just this list, either -- take a look through all the blogs that were written by our friends over at Inside Beadwork Magazine and Inside Jewelry Stringing Magazine, as well as the blogs we posted in Beading Instructions and Beading Supplies We Love, too. You can post a link in your comment so everyone else can see it, too!

On Monday, December 17, 2012, check your email, because we'll notify three winners: two lucky people will win a five-pack of assorted back issues of both Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing magazines. One lucky winner will get to choose a prize from four of our favorite digital beading products! (Please note: we can only ship magazines to U.S. addresses only due to customs regulations.)

One lucky winner will get to choose one prize from the following great digital beading products:

You can also find links to all twelve of our Top 12 Blogs of 2012 on Pinterest for your pinning pleasure!

Good luck, and Happy Holidays from all of us at Beading Daily!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer