Daily Blogs : Crystals, Pearls

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

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

Alternatives to Using Crystal Beads In Your Beading Projects

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

What I'm about to tell you is something that I've never before declared publicly. You may be shocked. You may be appalled. You may even urge me to seek counseling. But it needs to be said, so here it goes:


I designed this necklace using just vintage glass stones and vintage glass pearls. No crystals needed for some serious bling!

I've never particularly liked using crystal beads.

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

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

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

Czech Glass Beads As Substitutes for Crystals

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

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

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

Gemstones As a Substitute for Crystals


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

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

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

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

Vintage Czech Glass Stones As a Substitute for Crystal Stones


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

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

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

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

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

Why Use Something Besides Crystal Beads?

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

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

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

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

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Earring Making: Almost Instant Gratification

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Oh, yes, even though I always seem to have a hard time coming up with designs for beaded earrings, I love to stitch up earring making projects from other talented beading designers! I really can't get enough of them -- earring making projects are great for last-minute gifts, or when I just need a quick project to pick up a tired outfit, I love the way beaded earrings can change things up with ease.

Want a peek at three of my favorite earring making projects from the awesome eBook, Best of Beadwork: 12 Romantic Projects?

		Nancy Cain's Pearl Romance necklace uses clever and sophisticated little peyote-stitched bead caps to transform a strand of ordinary crystal pearls into a fantastic and fabulous piece of beaded neckwear. But if you don't have time to make the whole necklace, stitching up just a couple of the bead caps will leave you with a pair of fancy, flirty beaded earrings!

		Lisa Kan's beadwork just reeks of romanticism, and her Marrakech Earrings are a beautiful and clever combination of herringbone stitch, peyote stitch, and netting. Tiny cube earrings and crystal bicones make these earrings perfect for both the office and date night.

		Marcia DeCoster's Little Black Dress earrings work up in a snap, and can add some serious glam to your favorite outfits. Substitute top-drilled gemstone drops or shorter briolettes to completely change up the look of these beautiful beaded earrings.

I've always thought that earring making is the next best thing to instant gratification when it comes to beading projects. If you love these three earring making projects, you can get all of them plus nine more beaded necklace and bracelet projects in The Best of Beadwork: 12 Romantic Projects. Taken straight from the pages of Beadwork magazine, you'll find romantic beading projects from some of your favorite designers like Laura McCabe, Cynthia Rutledge, and Melanie Potter. You can download your copy of The Best of Beadwork: 12 Romantic Beading Projects instantly onto your desktop or laptop computer, and be beading in just minutes!

What's your favorite part about earring making? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Love Crystals? Love Free Beading Projects?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

There's no doubt about it: crystal beads can turn an ordinary beading project into something truly extraordinary. Maybe it's the sparkle, maybe it's the color of the crystal beads, or maybe it's the feeling of pure luxury that you get from wearing a piece of crystal bead jewelry, but crystal jewelry designs are everywhere you look these days.

If you love crystal jewelry design, we've collected a sample of some of our favorite crystal bead patterns and put them together in this free eBook, just for you! As a bonus, we added a fascinating article by Beadwork editor Danielle Fox all about Swarovski crystal beads. Are you ready to catch crystal fever?

Cecilia Guastaferro's Crystal Edge Bracelet uses beautiful top-drilled bicone crystal beads to make a luxurious crystal bracelet that you'll want to wear every day.
Channel your inner princess with Miwako Nara's Bracelet With Heart - the beaded toggle closure is shaped like a heart!
Using the best of both worlds, Kelli Burns' Romantic Ruffle bracelet uses crystal pearls and crystal bicones for a flattering, feminine crystal bracelet.
Laura McCabe's Rivoli Renaissance is a great way to use up those crystal rivolis that you've been hoarding in your bead stash to make a fashion-forward crystal bead necklace.
Jean Campbell's Glam Garland uses funky resin rings, crystal bicones, and fabulous crystal pearls to create one stunning piece of crystal bead jewelry. This crystal necklace pattern was one of my favorites from Beadwork magazine's Designer of the Year series!

Crystal bead jewelry is a must-have for so many special occasions like weddings and parties, but more importantly, wearing a piece of crystal jewelry can do wonders when you just need a little sparkly something to brighten your day!

Get started making crystal bead jewelry with our free eBook, and fall in love all over again with your favorite crystal beads!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Earring Making Makeover: A Pair of Beaded Pearl Earrings

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite sources of inspiration for making beaded jewelry is antique and vintage jewelry. So when my good friend gifted me with a huge box of very special antique beaded jewelry, I decided to repurpose some of the jewelry for new jewelry-making projects.


	The original vintage pearl earrings (bottom) that inspired my earring making makeover (top)!

Even though earring making projects have never come easy to me, I was inspired by these vintage pearl earrings. I wanted to figure out how to re-create them using modern materials, and thanks to a little stash of Swarovski crystal pearls, I managed to do just that! These are real old-world glamor earrings, bold and brassy and fun to wear. Enjoy!

Materials:

24 Swarovski crystal pearl, Bright Gold, 5mm (A)
54 Swarovski crystal pearl, Bright Gold, 4mm (B)
66 Swarovski crystal pearl, Bright Gold, 3mm (C)
2 Swarovski crystal pearl, Bright Gold, 8mm (D)
FireLine beading thread, 6 lb. test
1 pair gold ear wires, or clip-on earring findings with 8mm pad

Tools:

Size 12 beading needle
Thread cutter
Chain nose or flat nose pliers (optional, but useful for guiding beading needle through a tight spot)

Step-by-step Instructions

		On a 5' length of beading thread, pick up 6 A. Pass through the first bead again, forming a ring. (If you are using ear wires, leave at least 7" of beading thread as a tail to use for attaching your ear wire.)

		Keeping your tension tight, pick up 6 C and pass through the same A again. Pass into the next A in the ring, and add 6 C. Repeat for each A in the ring.

		Pick up 2 B and pass through the A you're exiting again. Pass through the next A in the ring, and add 2 B. Repeat around.

		Pass through each B you added in the previous step again to form a solid ring. Pass through the first B of the second pair you added in the previous step.

		To form the "petals", pick up 1 B and 1 C. Push them all the way down against the B you are exiting.

		Pass your needle under the thread in the center of the 6 C you added in the second step. (Similar to catching the thread in brick stitch.) Pass back through the 1 C and 1 B you added in the previous step, then into the next B in the ring. Pass through the next 2 B in the second ring, and add another C and B in the same manner. Repeat around for each of the petals.

		From the B you are exiting, pick up 2 C and pass through the same B. (Same direction.) Pass through the next B in the ring, and add 1 C. Repeat around, alternating 1 C and 2 C until you have added a total of 9 C. Pass through all 9 C again and pull snugly to form a ring.

		From the C you are exiting, pick up 1 D and push it down into the ring. Find either the 1 C or 2 C directly across from the bead (or beads) you are exiting, and pass through. Pass back through the D and the bead (or beads) you originally exited at the beginning of this step.

		Pick up 9 B and push them down against the beadwork as far as you can. Pass through all 9 B at least twice more, pulling snugly to form a ring that fits around the D in the center. Tack the ring of 9 B down by catching the thread between beads of the ring of B you added in the third step. Knot your thread in the beadwork, weave your tail in a bit, and trim close to the beadwork.

		If you are using a clip-on earring finding or a post earring finding with a pad, use E600 or Euro Tool Super New Glue to attach the finding.

		If you are using an ear wire, weave your tail through the first 3 C you added in the second step. Pass through the ear wire, then down through the next 3 C, pass through the A, and back up through the first 3 C. Repeat the thread path a couple of times to secure, then knot your thread, weave it in, and trim it close to the beadwork. Repeat all steps for the second earring.

Would you like another free earring making project? For a limited time, when you purchase Melanie Potter's fantastic new DVD Bead Stitching Chevron Chain with Melanie Potter, you'll get her Wildflower Earrings as a FREE download! What could be better than learning the basics of chevron chain from a master bead-weaving artist? Get your copy of Bead Stitching Chevron Chain with Melanie Potter and get your free earring making project, too! (Or, if you're really into instant gratification, you can download Bead Stitching Chevron Chain with Melanie Potter and be watching on your desktop or laptop computer in just minutes!)

What's your favorite inspiration for beaded jewelry design ideas? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your ideas with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Are You a Bead Star?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about entering a jewelry-making competition? Whether your new to jewelry-making, or you've been creating your own beaded jewelry designs for several years, taking that leap and entering your work in a competition can be a fulfilling and eye-opening experience. Entering a jewelry-making competition is really a chance to let your creative voice sing. Don't hold back when designing for a jewelry-making contest -- you want to show the world what you can do with those beads!

If you're thinking that this is the year for you to take the leap and enter your original beaded jewelry designs in a jewelry-making competition, you'll be thrilled to hear that Bead Star is back!

Sharpen and straighten those beading needles, because entries are now being accepted for the 2013 Bead Star competition, and if you're a designer of beaded jewelry, take note: this year, entries made with seed beads and bead-weaving techniques are not only being accepted in all of the categories, they are being encouraged!

What are your favorite jewelry-making materials? Chances are, you'll find a category for them in the 2013 Bead Star competition. Entries will be accepted in the categories of Crystals, Glass, Pearls, Gemstones, and Metals & Wireworking. Imagine all the possibilities for fabulous jewelry-making designs when you mix those with your favorite seed beads!

Aside from the self-satisfaction you'll get from knowing that your work is good enough to enter in a beading contest, you just might win one of the fabulous prizes in the Bead Star competition: the grand prize is an all-expense paid trip to Bead Fest Philadelphia!

Don't worry if you've never been published in a magazine or book before -- there's even an Emerging Artists category, just for bead artists like you! And all the winners of the 2013 Bead Star competition will be published in both Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing magazines.

If you've entered Bead Star before, a few changes have been made to the competition for 2013, so make sure you check out the full list of Bead Star rules and prizes.

So, what do you think: are you the next Bead Star?

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Make This Easy Crystal Chakra Pendant

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

As I go further into my daily practice of yoga and meditation, I'm learning more about the ancient beliefs surrounding the physical and spiritual aspects of the poses. I'm particularly interested in the chakras, or energy centers, that are believed to exist in certain key areas of the body. There are colors associated with each of the seven chakras, or energy centers, and they can be used to balance our mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. I wanted to find a way to express my own connection with the chakras, so I decided to make a necklace using crystal beads to symbolize each of the seven energy centers.

At first, I had envisioned a very complex pendant, but as I sat with my crystal beads and thought about what I wanted my chakra pendant to look like, I realized that sometimes, a simple design is the best. You can make your own chakra pendant using crystal beads in just a few minutes, too!

Materials:

7 crystal beads, Swarovski 5052 6mm mini round bead in the following colors: Crystal red magma, crystal golden shadow, sunflower, fern green, aquamarine, amethyst, crystal AB
14 sterling silver or silver-filled seamless beads, 2.5mm
1 sterling silver head pin, 20 gauge, 1 1/2"
6 sterling silver head pins, 20 gauge, 2"
18" of sterling silver chain (your choice of style)
Clasp of your choice

Tools:

Flush cutter
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers OR
Combination pliers

Step-by-step Instructions:

On the head pin, string 1 sterling silver bead, the first crystal bead (go in the order that they are listed in the materials list), and 1 sterling silver bead. Make a wrapped loop at the top.
On each of the first 5 eye pins, string 1 sterling silver bead, a 6mm crystal bead, and 1 sterling silver bead. Make a simple loop at the top, joining the links together as you go.
For the last crystal bead, string 1 sterling silver bead, the crystal bead, and 1 sterling silver bead. Make a wrapped loop at the top of the eye pin large enough for your chain to pass through.
Slide the pendant onto the chain and attach the clasp.

The finished crystal chakra pendant is approximately 4 1/2" long, so expect it to dangle gracefully from the chain. You can also make it longer for a more dramatic look! Wear it when you need a little boost in your mood -- the rainbow of colors is guaranteed to make you smile.

Jewelry made with crystal beads and pearls never really goes out of style. Whether you're looking for simple or sublime (or both), you need to check out Create Jewelry: Pearls. With 22 pearl jewelry projects ranging from classic to modern, and suitable for pretty much any occasion, you just can't go wrong with pearls. Now is the time to get your copy of Create Jewelry: Pearls and save 70% off the original cover price during the Interweave Overstock Book Sale.

If you've ever wanted to complete your collection of this timeless series of jewelry-making books, take advantage of the special savings through February 14, 2013 at 12:00 midnight CST.

Are you ready for a little giveaway to brighten up your winter?

We have 19 copies of Create Jewelry: Crystals to give away, along with 19 prize packs of brand-new crystal beads from our friends at Fusion Beads! Just leave a comment on this blog between now and 12 midnight, CST on February 27, 2013. We'll randomly choose 19 winners to receive a copy of Create Jewelry: Crystals along with this fabulous crystal bead prize pack. (Please note: due to customs regulations, giveaway is only open to those residing in the United States at this time.)

The crystal bead prize pack from Fusion Beads includes a great selection of Swarovski Elements crystals from two of their most recent launches. From the Swarovski Innovations Fall/Winter 2013 launch, there are an assortment crystal beads in the new crystal color Light Turquoise, and the new effect, Crystal Blue Shade.

Also included is a sampling of Swarovski's new Mini Bead line -- two sizes of the round bead and two sizes of the oval bead. These two bead shapes are a great basic bead for many designs.

From the newest Swarovski Innovations launch for Spring/Summer 2014 comes the new crystal color, Light Silk, and the new effect, Crystal Rose Gold 2x, as well as the new crystal pearl color, Rose Gold. These three colors and effects were just announced last week, and are so new that the winners of this giveaway will be some of the first to have them! Fusion Beads has also included a new pendant shape from Swarovski Elements, the 6028 Oval Pendant.

As a special offer for Beading Daily readers, you can take 20% off your entire purchase of $50 or more at Fusion Beads by using the code SPARKLE20! (Offer expires March 4, 2013.)

Good luck, and bead happy!

Jennifer

Decorate Yourself For the Holidays

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

We spend a lot of time decorating our house for the holidays: lights go up around the front door and all around the big back porch, and we collect evergreen boughs from the woods that are tied together with big, red ribbons. I tend to get a little carried away inside the house, too. The mantel over the fireplace is suddenly full of carved wood snowmen, reindeer made from something that resembles Astroturf, and huge candles in the form of evergreen trees. Yep, I love decorating for the holidays, especially when it comes to decorating myself!

I don't make a lot of earrings during the year, but the holidays are the perfect time for me to practice my earring making. Crystal beads, precious metals, and mixed media jewelry-making supplies are my favorites for holiday earring making projects!

		I love the glow of crystal beads, and how they add some light to the darkest nights of the year. Even if I don't always feel comfortable wearing crystal earrings during the year, the holidays are one time when I will gladly break out my little bags of crystal beads and whip them up into pretty party earrings with some precious metal wire!

		Resin can capture sparkling glitter that makes me think of the sun shining down on a carpet of fresh snow the morning after a storm. The best part of this kind of "snow": no shoveling required!

		Precious metals shine like the moon and the stars on a cold December night. Sterling silver, pearls, and even beautifully patterned aluminum discs make for some playful and beautiful holiday earring designs.

Decorating yourself for the holidays can be just as much fun as decorating your house! Just grab a few of your favorite beads and jewelry-making supplies, and a copy of Create Christmas Jewelry from the editors of Beadwork and Jewelry Stringing magazines. Keep your beads handy, because if there's one thing that you might need to do during the holiday season, it's make a pair of earrings for yourself or for a last-minute gift!

Make sure you check back each day during the 12 Days of Deals in the Beading Daily Shop to find out what you can save on next!

What are your favorite beads and beading supplies for making earrings around the holidays? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your holiday earring making ideas with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

A Free eBook Fit For a Queen, All About Pearls!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Who among us can resist the lure of beautiful handmade pearl jewelry? The legacy of pearls throughout history is as fascinating as it is mysterious: pearls were once a luxury enjoyed only by kings and queens, retrieved from the depths of the oceans and seas.

These days, pearls can be found in all kinds of handmade beaded jewelry, from classic wedding designs to holiday party jewelry. Pearls can mix effortlessly with all types of beads, from natural sea shells and gemstones to your favorite sparkling crystal beads and glass beads. If you want to add a delicate softness and glow to your favorite beaded jewelry design, add a handful of pearls.

We've put together this fun and free collection of pearl jewelry designs so you can experience the power of pearls! Inside All About Pearls: 6 Free Handmade Pearl Jewelry Designs, you'll find free beading projects that include both bead stitching and bead stringing. A little something for everyone, with these six fabulous beading projects:

Begin by practicing your pearl knotting skills when you make Amber Traeden's Birdsong Necklace. Bright, earthy colors of freshwater pearls and gemstones mix effortlessly with metal chain and findings.
Pearl jewelry designs never seem to go out of fashion, and Terry Ricioli's timeless Amber Opulence necklace combines vintage-looking metal beads with gorgeous amber colored freshwater pearls for a necklace that looks like it came straight out of your grandmother's jewelry box!
The lustrous colors of stick pearls get a boost from a beautiful raku pendant in Diane Vannier's Raku Rainbow necklace.
A beautiful pearl cabochon becomes the focal point of a spectacular beaded bracelet in Riana Olckers' By-the-Sea Bracelet.
Whether it's a wedding or a holiday party, Julie D'Amico-Beres' beautiful Figure Eight bracelet combines pearls and crystals for a classic (and classy) wrist adornment.
And finally, Csilla Csirmaz's Petite Pearls Toggle bracelet is pretty enough to carry you through the holiday party season and beyond!

Grab a strand (or two) of your favorite pearls, download your free eBook, and enjoy making some of these gorgeous pearl jewelry designs. Thank goodness that pearls aren't just for royalty anymore!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

What's Your Favorite Type of Clasp for Bracelet Making Projects?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

No matter how much time and care you put into your bracelet making projects, choosing the right clasp can make all the difference in the world. Choosing a clasp that's easy to work, comfortable, and secure for your bracelet making projects might seem simple on the surface, but putting a little bit of thought into finishing your bracelet projects will be worth it.

True story: I once spent a week making an intricate peyote stitch cuff bracelet, and I was so anxious to finish it, I skimped a little on the details of adding the right clasp. It came off a couple of times the first day that I wore it to the office, but I kept putting it back on. I wanted to wear it to a conference that was coming up, but I never got around to fixing the clasp properly. During a bathroom break at the conference, I thought I saw something quite colorful in the toilet -- and then realized that my beautiful peyote cuff bracelet was missing from my wrist just as I flushed. Oops!

Never again have I skimped on the details of adding the right clasp to my bracelet making projects. If you're not sure what clasp is right for your beaded bracelet, here are my favorite tips for finding the perfect bracelet clasp.

Easy Clasps

Some clasps are just easier to use than others. Toggle clasps and magnetic clasps are great for bracelet making projects because they can easily be opened and closed using just one hand. Hook and eye clasps are another easy option for closing your bracelets.

Sizing your bracelet properly is very important if you're going to use a toggle or hook and eye clasp. If the finished bracelet is too big or too light (think a single strand of pearls or crystal beads and seed beads), there won't be enough tension to hold the clasps in place. Toggle clasps work very well for bracelets with heavy, chunky gemstones and ceramic beads.

Always remember when using a magnetic clasp that they should not be worn by anyone who has a pacemaker or other electric cardiac device.

Security Clasps


My two favorite types of bracelet clasps: slide lock clasps (on the left) and decorative box clasps (on the right). Box clasps all from A Grain of Sand.

If you're looking for a clasp that's a little more secure, think about using a slide lock clasp or a box clasp. The longer slide lock clasps are perfect for wide peyote stitch cuff bracelets (like the one that I accidentally flushed down the toilet all those years ago), and many box clasps come with an extra tiny chain attached for even more security.

A slide lock clasp basically slides into place and uses friction to keep the two pieces together. Slide lock clasps are usually made with either several loops for multi-strand jewelry-making projects, or with open bars through which you can slide a piece of flat bead-weaving like peyote stitch or herringbone stitch.

Box clasps consist of a folded metal tab on one side, and a hollow box on the other. To open and close the box clasp, you gently squeeze down on the folded metal tab and insert it into the hollow end. Some of these clasps, like pearl clasps, have a small hook for the folded metal tab, or come with a small length of chain to hold the clasp in case it fails. An added benefit of using a box clasp is that they come in a wide range of designs, sometimes with vintage crystals or cabochons set into them -- some of them are beautiful enough to be used as focal points in your bracelet making projects!

Choose Quality Jewelry Clasps

Something else to keep in mind is that not all clasps are manufactured equally. By this, I mean that it pays to spend a little extra on a good, sturdy, high-quality clasp for your bracelet making projects than to skimp and use something that's not made very well.

You can tell if a clasp is poorly made because the parts won't fit together properly, or it won't stay closed. I also stay away from barrel clasps or clasps where the parts screw together -- in the long run, the threads could wear smooth, and then you'll have to replace the entire clasp.

When you're choosing a jewelry clasp, look for pieces that are well-made, meaning that there are no rough edges to catch your beading wire on, no spots where any metal plating may have rubbed off, and loops that are sturdy for attaching your strung beads.

I used to be one of those people that would cringe at the idea of spending more than a few dollars on a really well-made clasp, but I have another confession to make: at this year's Bead Fest Philadelphia, I splurged and bought some really well-made metal clasps that cost me upwards of $80 each! I have no idea what to make with them, but you better believe that it's going to be something with a lot of very nice gemstones.

Skip the Clasp Completely

If you don't happen to have the right clasp handy or want to make a beaded bracelet without a clasp, there are other options for you! Why not use a button and a seed bead loop? Or you can make a bracelet on some good stretchy elastic cord. Another option is to make a bangle bracelet, something that's long enough to slide over your closed hand and stay on your wrist without any kind of closure at all. Use your imagination when designing your bracelets, and see what you can come up with!

Fresh Ideas for Bracelet Making Projects

I don't often make bracelets for myself, but bracelets make great gifts for friends, co-workers, and teachers around holiday time. (Yes, I said it. The holidays are coming up!) If you're looking for some great bracelet making gift ideas for the holidays, now is the perfect time to check out 101 Bracelets, Necklaces, and Earrings. One hundred and one jewelry-making projects categorized by color make it easier than ever to find just the right bracelet making project for someone special. You'll find the great step-by-step project instructions that you've come to expect from Jewelry Stringing and Beadwork magazines, and a complete resource guide for all the materials used in each project.

And if you're anxious to get a jump on your bracelet making projects, you can instantly download 101 Bracelets, Necklaces, and Earrings through Zinio. In just a few minutes, you can be reading and beading on your favorite tablet, laptop, or desktop computer! Download your copy of 101 Bracelets, Necklaces, and Earrings and see all the ways that you can find the perfect clasp for your bracelet making projects.

Have you found the ideal way to finish your beaded bracelets? Do you usually make a lot of the same type of bracelet? Personally, when I make a beaded bracelet, it's most likely to be a bead embroidered cuff bracelet, so I don't usually worry too much about a clasp. But if you like to make peyote cuffs bracelets, what do you use? Do you prefer multi-strand bracelets of strung beads? Leave a comment and share your thoughts and your tips here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Master Peyote Stitch with Melinda Barta

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

What is it about peyote stitch that keeps us beaders coming back for more? I struggled with peyote stitch when I was learning how to bead -- there was just something about the thread path that I couldn't keep straight in my mind. But once I found a wonderful teacher who showed me why she loved peyote stitch, it suddenly all made sense, and I understood that the potential of this favorite bead-weaving stitch is just as endless as the human imagination.

Take a look at some of the beadwork coming from today's top bead artists and designers, and you'll see a lot of peyote stitch. Peyote stitch is doing things that it has never done before, showing up in geometric and sculptural beaded jewelry design ideas and incorporating new and exciting glass beads and beading supplies like leather, satin cord, and cabochons.

So, who better to lead us through a new peyote stitch adventure than Beadwork magazine editor Melinda Barta? Melinda's peyote stitch designs have been loved by beaders for many years, and now, she's got a brand-new book, full of fun, fashionable peyote stitch beading projects for us to enjoy! Melinda was nice enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to share with me some of her favorite things about peyote stitch, along with her best tips for working with peyote stitch.

Peyote Stitch Is More Popular Than Ever

There's a lot to love about peyote stitch, according to Melinda. She sees it as not only the best first bead-weaving stitch for a beginner to learn, but also as an integral part of even the most advanced beading projects. Just look at the beading projects in Mastering Peyote Stitch from artists like Melanie Potter, Carole Ohl, and even Sherry Serafini, and you'll see how this basic bead-weaving stitch can be used for anything.

With so many variations within this stitch, Melinda says that she could never get tired of designing with peyote stitch. The beading projects designed and selected for this book highlight the versatility of peyote stitch -- they include basic techniques such as flat, circular, and tubular, plus more unique variations such as two-needle, diagonal, free-form, and sculptural. And peyote stitch is so easy to embellish and to adapt for use with your favorite beading supplies like rivolis, cabochons, pearls, and leather, giving you more options for your peyote stitch beading projects than every before!

Managing Tension in Peyote Stitch

As with any bead-weaving stitch, tension in peyote stitch is so very important! Melinda recommends that if your tension is too loose that you wax your thread and try a stiffer beading thread like Fireline or Wildfire. Many new beaders get frustrated at the beginning when their beads slide around on nylon thread.

Interestingly, when the discussion of thread tension comes up in her classes, it turns out that most of the time beaders run into trouble using tension that's too tight, not too loose. Tension that's too tight in peyote stitch can result in broken beads and broken beading thread, so try these four tips for successful peyote stitch beading projects!

Consciously pull your thread after each stitch to lock the beads in place, but take care not to tug too hard.
Be sure to pre-stretch nylon threads so they don't lose tension later.
Try to relax your hands when you're beading.
Stop frequently to "massage" the beadwork to keep it pliable.

Seed beads and Delicas are Melinda's favorite beads for working in peyote stitch, of course, but she also enjoy mixing in pearls, gemstones, pressed glass beads, crystal beads, and lampwork glass accent beads. Most of her peyote stitch beading projects are made with Fireline, but when she needs a nylon thread that perfectly matches the beads, she prefers Toho's One-G.

Our Favorite Beading Projects from Mastering Peyote Stitch


	Walkin' After Midnight is author Melinda Barta's favorite peyote stitch beading project from her new book, Mastering Peyote Stitch.


	My personal favorite, her Big Sky Bracelets can be worn every day!

Melinda's favorite beading project from her new book Mastering Peyote Stitch is the cover, piece, Walkin' After Midnight. She loves the asymmetry and said that the pattern for the leaves was really a labor of love: once she had figured out the exact thread path and beads needed to achieve the shape she was looking for, the rest of the leaves were fast and fun to bead.

My favorite beading project from Mastering Peyote Stitch is her Big Sky Bracelets. I love the combination of flat, circular peyote stitch and leather cord to make some quick and easy bracelets that I can see myself wearing every day.

When was the last time you picked up a beading book that had you wanting to make every single project in the book? That was what I thought when I flipped through Melinda Barta's new Mastering Peyote Stitch. It's not just a peyote stitch book for advanced beaders, either -- Melinda takes you step-by-step through each variation of peyote stitch, along with her expert recommendations for materials and tips for great beading technique. And if you love Beadwork magazine's Designers of the Year, you'll love the beading projects from designers like Jean Power, Cynthia Rutledge, Sherry Serafini, Melanie Potter, Laura McCabe, and Jean Campbell!

Pre-order your copy of Mastering Peyote Stitch and get your beading needles warmed up, because this is peyote stitch like you've never seen it before!

What do you like best about peyote stitch? Is there a particular variation that you feel drawn to? For me, the day that I mastered circular, flat peyote stitch was one of the highlights of my beading journey. Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your thoughts and questions about peyote stitch!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Free Blooming Heart Mixed Media Jewelry-Making Project from Nunn Designs

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Silly me. All through high school and college, I thought that jewelry making with materials like fiber, clay, fabric, and paper was just a fun way to make jewelry. Little did I know that it's actually mixed media jewelry, and when I need to stretch my creative muscles a little bit, it's the perfect way to learn some fun new jewelry-making skills.

Our friends at Nunn Design have shared this awesome mixed media jewelry making project with us, designed by Karen McGovern as part of the Nunn Design Team. Enjoy!

Artist's Tip: Don't be intimidated by the list of materials used in this mixed media jewelry making project. If you can't find the exact materials listed, add your own favorite jewelry making or beading supplies, gemstone beads, or anything else that you'd like to use to make this project your own!

Materials:

Nunn Design Ornate Heart pendant in copper
Patterned brass sheet
2 faux pearl headpins, 3 inches
3 black flat-tipped headpins, 3 inches
4 polymer clay leaves (these were from Karen Lewis)
12 inches brass wire, 22 gauge
2 round beads, 4-6 mm, yellow and green
1 acrylic Lalibert flower bead cap, frost
1 enamel tipped headpin, 3 inches
Crystal Clay, black
9 inches Nunn Design Large Round Ornate chain in antique copper
9 inches plus three links Nunn Design Large Oval Ornate chain in antique copper
Nunn Design brass toggle clasp

Tools:

Wire shears
Wire snips
Round nose pliers
Needle nose pliers
Flat file
Your favorite epoxy or quick setting glue

Step-by-Step Instructions:

		Cut a triangle of patterned brass sheet ¾ inches tall by ½ inch wide. File the edges as needed to remove any snags or rough metal.

		Using your hands, gently curve the edges until you create a "pocket" that fits snugly into the heart bezel pendant. Set aside.

		Create your flowers, leaves and headpin embellishments. Slide a polymer clay leaf onto a head pin, and add a drop of glue. Carefully bend the wire so the leaf stands up. The polymer clay leaves are fragile, so take extra care when bending.

		Slide a yellow bead onto a black headpin, add a drop of glue, slide on the acrylic flower cap. Add a dab of glue to the end of another headpin, slide on your green bead.

		Make sure each leaf is glued securely to the headpin. Curve and bend the wires as you wish, trim with wire snips to fit into the brass sheet "pocket". Mix Crystal Clay according to package directions, and place enough clay into the heart bezel to fill the brass "pocket", but not show from the front. Press the brass in place, remove any excess clay that may squeeze out. Insert your flowers, wires and leaves, let cure for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight. After curing, test the wires. If any feel loose, add a dab of glue to the base.

		To assemble the necklace connect three links of oval copper chain to the pendant using the links as jump rings, then connect the hoop of the brass toggle to the end. Connect 9 inches of round copper chain to the toggle hoop, then connect 9 inches of oval chain to the round chain.

		Finish by connecting the toggle bar to the oval copper chain end. Add two polymer clay leaf dangles by creating simple wire wraps using 22 gauge brass wire. Place them so that they will hover over the toggle, a few links above the pendant.

What I particularly love about this kind of mixed media jewelry-making project is that you don't necessarily have to use the copper chain to finish it. Why not make a beaded chain using St. Petersburg stitch or Chevron chain? You could even stitch up a bail and hang this gorgeous mixed media pendant from a peyote stitch rope!

Are you ready to play with your mixed media jewelry-making skills? Mix things up a little bit when you get your copy of Handcrafted Jewelry 2012. For less than fifty cents a project, you'll get thirty-four mixed media jewelry-making projects using over forty different techniques! Whether you're just venturing into the world of mixed media jewelry, or you consider yourself a skilled mixed media jewelry artist, you're sure to find something new and inspiring to get you working on a new project.

Get your copy of Handcrafted Jewelry 2012 now, and feel like a kid again when you play with your jewelry-making supplies! Don't want to wait to have your print copy delivered? You can also download Handcrafted Jewelry 2012 instantly onto your favorite desktop or laptop computer. All the same great content as the print version, but in digital format and available for viewing in just minutes!

Have you tried combining mixed media jewelry-making components with your bead-weaving? Have some advice for those of us who like to create our own mixed-media focals and jewelry-making components? Share your tips and advice here and leave a comment on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

P.S. Nunn Design is currently looking for creative jewelry designers to be a part of the 2013 Innovation Design Team! You can find all the details on the Nunn Design blog.