Daily Blogs : Beaded Jewelry Design

Tips for Traveling With Your Beading Tools

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Why Should You Learn About Beadmaking?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

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

Shopping for Beads: How to Get the Best Deal

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

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

Using Beads as Design Elements

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

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

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

Handmade Beads: Fiber, Fabric, and Paper

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

How Do I Learn About Beadmaking?

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

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

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

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

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

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

What Was Your First Beadweaving Stitch?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

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

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Jean Campbell:

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

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

What Motivates You To Finish Your Beading Projects?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Sea Star Bangle by Rachel Nelson-Smith

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

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

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

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

Our Biggest Giveaway Ever!

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

Last week, Beading Daily hit a great milestone -- there are now 20,000 of you who follow us on Facebook! Isn't that amazing? 20,000 of us who are all connected through our love of beading, beadwork, and jewelry-making! To celebrate, we're giving away a whole package of beady goodies to one lucky reader, and it just might be you.

		To start, York Beads has donated a pack of brand-new neon SuperDuos! These deliciously bright two-holed seed beads are the perfect way to add a trendy pop of color to your beading projects. I'm totally in love with the bright colors of these two-holed seed beads and the way they work so well with other kinds of beads.

		Can't get enough two-holed beads? Whimbeads has donated a package with a fabulous assortment of SuperDuos, two-holed lentils, and two-holed bricks in a variety of colors!

		And who doesn't love a surprise? The Hole Bead Shop, my favorite source for Lucite flowers, has donated a mystery pack valued at $100!

		To help you get started with all these fabulous beads, the lucky winner of this giveaway will also win an instant download of Melinda Barta's new Beading With Shaped Beads. Learn all about these amazing new shaped and two-holed beads, and get the basics on how to include them in your beaded jewelry designs!

So, now you might be wondering just how you win this fabulous prize package? Simply leave a comment on this post with a link to your all-time favorite Beading Daily blog. That's it! You'll have until Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 12 a.m. CST to leave your comment, and after that, one lucky winner will be selected at random. Make sure that you have a valid email address in your Beading Daily profile so that we can contact you, and make sure you share this with your friends so that they have a chance to enter, too!

Please note: Due to customs regulations, we can only offer this prize package to those who reside in United States and Canada, excluding Quebec.

I'd also like to give a huge thank-you to everyone who helped us reach this milestone. Our readers are the heart and soul of Beading Daily, and we appreciate each and every one of you! Make sure you check out the websites of our fabulous sponsors: York Beads, Whimbeads, and The Hole Bead Shop, and show them a little love for helping us celebrate reaching 20,000 fans on Facebook!

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.

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

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

Shape Up with Herringbone Stitch

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Have you tried working with herringbone stitch yet? Whether you're a baby beader just getting started, or you feel comfortable with your bead-weaving skills, herringbone stitch is a great beading stitch to know. When worked with all the great two-hole and shaped beads popping up at shows and bead shops, herringbone stitch gives your beading projects a delightful texture, both in look and feel.

Getting started with herringbone stitch is easy! Check out these five blogs here on Beading Daily that give you all you need to know to get started with herringbone stitch, and then to take it further with techniques to add shape and texture!

		Hurray for Herringbone! Getting started with herringbone stitch is easy when you create a brick stitch base. Follow this easy tutorial to learn the thread path for flat herringbone stitch!

		Making Waves with Herringbone Stitch, Part 1: Once you're comfortable with flat herringbone stitch, it's easy to create beautiful curves without increasing and decreasing, just by changing up your bead sizes. Follow this easy tutorial to see how you can create a lovely wave in your herringbone, great for quick and easy bracelets and necklace straps!

		Making Waves with Herringbone Stitch, Part 2: Another way to create curves with herringbone stitch is to add seed beads between stitches. It takes a little practice to get the tension right, but this is another way to incorporate larger beads like fire polished rounds and crystal bicones into your herringbone stitch.

		Challenge Yourself with Variations of Tubular Herringbone: When it comes to making beaded ropes, tubular herringbone stitch is my go-to beading technique. Whether I work it plain or twisted, these fast and easy beaded ropes are the backbone of my beaded jewelry designs.

		Whip Up a Herringbone Rope With Some Texture. Another great option for jazzing up a plain herringbone rope is to just change up the size of the beads. In the same way that using a range of bead sizes creates a wavy strip of flat herringbone, using a variety of seed bead sizes in a herringbone rope gives you lots of texture and fun "bumps"!

If you've already mastered herringbone stitch and are always looking for new and innovative uses of the stitch, look no further than the pages of Beadwork magazine. With the fabulous Designer of the Year beading projects, and some of today's most innovative herringbone stitch designs by up-and-coming bead artists, you're sure to find great ideas for incorporating herringbone stitch into your beaded jewelry designs! Subscribe to Beadwork magazine and get six great issues of herringbone stitch inspiration!

Do you have a tip for someone just getting started with herringbone stitch? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your tips and ideas for mastering herringbone stitch with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer