Daily Blogs : Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist Magazine, Bead Crafts

What Can You Learn On Craft Daily? Everything!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Improve Your Jewelry Photography With a Live Webinar

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Maybe one of your New Year's resolutions was to start selling your handmade beaded jewelry, or to increase sales of your handmade jewelry online. Are you thinking about entering juried shows and competitions with your jewelry in 2013? Then you're going to need to know how to take great photos, and how to get the most out of your photo editing software.

After watching both of Jim Lawson's fantastic DVDs, How to Photograph Your Jewelry and Shoot, Share, Sell, I'm excited to tell you that you can now attend a live, online seminar (webinar) with this talented and knowledgeable jewelry photographer!

Taking fantastic photographs of your finished jewelry is so important for anyone who wants to make money selling jewelry. Particularly if you sell online or want to enter high-end juried craft shows, great photographs are absolutely necessary so that viewers can see all of the hard work you put into creating your pieces. If someone can't see or touch your jewelry in person, photographs become the most important way of letting potential buyers see everything that is wonderful about your jewelry.

Knowing how to edit your photos using software like Photoshop and Lightroom is a skill that can pay off big when you're trying to make a living by selling your jewelry. For years, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine photographer Jim Lawson has used this software to create the stunning images you see in the magazine, and now he wants to share his decades of knowledge and expertise with YOU.

In this live, one-hour webinar, you can learn how to use Photoshop and Lightroom to get the most out of your jewelry photographs and ask him questions, all from the comfort of your own home. After the webinar, you'll receive access to a recording of the session so that you can refer back to Jim's instructions again and again. Even if you can't make it to the live presentation, your registration will allow you to watch a recording of the webinar any time that it's convenient for you.

Whether you can make it to the live webinar or not, you'll also receive free downloads of the photography tutorials that are demonstrated so you can refer to them as you work with your own photographs. And as an added bonus, everyone who registers for this one-time-only webinar will receive a coupon for 30% off Jim's other best-selling video workshops, How to Photograph Your Jewelry and Shoot, Share, Sell.

Learning how to edit your own jewelry photographs to get professional-looking results is a smart investment for anyone who wants to start or expand their jewelry business, and you can participate in this live webinar and get all of the bonuses I mentioned above for less than twenty bucks!

Jewelry Making Daily's Tammy Jones will be there as well, moderating and feeding your live questions to Jim throughout the presentation. There are only 1,000 spots available for this live webinar, so you'll want to make sure that you reserve your seat now!

After you purchase your "seat" for the webinar in the Beading Daily Shop, you will receive a confirmation email with all the information that you need to complete your online registration. It is recommended that you have a high-speed internet connection for the best experience watching this webinar, and make sure you give yourself time to troubleshoot any technical issues by logging in early.

Register now for this very special live and interactive event, Improve Your Jewelry Photography with Lightroom & Photoshop, on Thursday, January 24, 2013 from 1-2 p.m. MT. See how easy it is to learn how to produce your own professional-quality jewelry photographs!

More About Jim Lawson:

A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, Jim Lawson has built a successful career in advertising photography over the last 30 years, working primarily in the Chicago and Cleveland areas. During that time his client list included names such as Scott's, Cub Cadet, Moen, Pittsburg Paints, NAPA, OSU Medical, Durkee Foods, BFGoodrich, Libbey Glassware, and American Greetings.

Jim recently relocated to the West Chester, PA, area to pursue teaching and personal work. Concurrently, he has been providing photography to publications such as Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry, and various special projects. He teaches workshops on photographing jewelry at the Philadelphia and Santa Fe Bead Fests.

Easy Steps to Metal Jewelry Making with Guest Blogger Gwen Fuller Youngblood

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT


	Metal jewelry artist and instructor Gwen Fuller Youngblood

Just like bead-weaving led me to learn how to make my own lampwork glass beads twelve years ago, my jewelry making adventures lately have made me interested in learning how to create my own metal jewelry-making components. These days, it's hard to walk into the jewelry-making aisles of any big box craft store and not be fascinated by all the tools, hammers, and materials available!

Because I'm still just getting started with my metal jewelry-making experiments, I'm thrilled to be able to introduce you to Gwen Fuller Youngblood, a wonderful jewelry artist and teacher, who is here to show you how easy it is to get started making metal jewelry. In today's Beading Daily blog, Gwen gives us the rundown on the basic tools you need to get started making your own fabulous metal jewelry.

One question I get a lot is "What tools do I need to get started with metal?" With just a few simple jewelry-making tools and materials, you can be on your way:

		Sheet Metal: I recommend 24-gauge copper or brass sheet metal. The gauge measures the thickness of the metal. The higher the number, the thinner the metal, i.e. 24-gauge is thinner than 22-gauge, but thicker than 26-gauge metal and wire.

		Metal Shears: For metal beginners, I recommend metal shears instead of a jeweler's saw for cutting metal. Shears make cutting metal simple and easy - just like cutting paper.

		Shape Templates: Trace shapes onto the sheet metal with a Sharpie. Shape templates are available at office supply stores or hobby stores, or Google "shape templates" online. It's also good to keep some alcohol swabs or rubbing alcohol on hand to remove traces of marker from your metal.

		Bench Block and Pad: A block of hardened steel is used to support your metal when hammering the metal. The pad muffles some of the hammering noise. An old mouse pad can be used.

		Plastic Mallet: Flatten sheet metal when needed by placing it on bench block and tapping with plastic mallet. The plastic mallet will not mar the metal.

		File: Use a file to smooth the cut edge of metal. Buy the best file you can afford. I recommend a #2 half-round file. You get two files, a flat and a round, in one file. The number refers to the coarseness of the file: #2 is a medium coarseness, #0 is coarser, and #4 is finer.

		Chasing Hammer: Use the small "peen" side to add a "hammered" texture to the surface of the metal. Watch your fingers!

		Hole-Punching Pliers: Create holes in metal to connect your metal pieces using cold connections. These are handy to have around, and they're easy to use, too!

Chances are, you've already got some of these jewelry-making tools in your stash already. Want to learn how to use them? Come back tomorrow to see how easy it is to use these tools to create a pair of mixed metal earrings over on the Beading Instructions blog!

Are you inspired yet? I'm ready to head over to my bead table and break out the sheet metal pieces and metal shears I got during my last beading tool splurge! For more great inspiration, you'll want to look through the pages of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine. Each issue is full of beautiful metal jewelry and jewelry-making projects, tips and reviews of great new jewelry-making tools. Subscribe to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine and see where your creativity takes you next!

Have you experimented with metal jewelry-making yet? Did you take a class, or just decide to play with metals on your own? Leave a comment and tell us about your experiences!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Gwen Fuller Youngblood has explored a variety of creative outlets, from cake decorating to quilting to lampworking, until she discovered jewelry making using wire, metal and fire. As an instructor, Gwen loves the interaction and camaraderie of the classroom. Her mission is to make metalworking techniques accessible to everyone, so that students learn more than they expected and have fun doing it.

Gwen loves to share her knowledge and creativity freely, with a dash of humor and lots of caring patience. She is privileged to share her talents with students in her own studio, Metal Art Lab in San Antonio, and studios across Texas. Also look for her classes at Bead Fest Santa Fe.

Please visit her website, www.metalartlab.com, for current class information.

Easy Ways to Get Started Using Metals in Your Jewelry Making Projects

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I've always gravitated towards using metals in my bead-weaving and jewelry making projects. Metallic glass seed beads and metal seed beads are favorite beading supplies of mine, and now I've discovered how easy (and how much fun!) it is to use customized metal jewelry making components in my beaded jewelry design ideas.

Add Dimension with a Dapping Block

Using a dapping block is actually a lot easier than I thought. I bought this wood dapping block from my local craft store, and it was actually a smart move for someone who wants to get started with metals in their jewelry making projects. According to Tammy Jones, my favorite Jewelry Making Daily guru, you won't leave marks or mar your metal jewelry making components when you use a wood dapping block. If you like to use jewelry making components made of soft metals like brass, it's just as easy to shape them with a wood dapping block as it is a metal one, and you won't run the risk of ruining your piece.

Making Holes in Metal Jewelry Making Components

Punching holes so that you can attach your metal jewelry making components is actually much easier than I used to think it was! My first favorite tool is my hole punching pliers. These make a small hole that is the perfect size to accommodate a jump ring or a few seed beads to hang my piece of metal from a seed bead chain.

For thicker metals, I have this handy dandy screw punch. It's a little harder to use than the hole punch pliers, but it still only takes a few minutes to get a perfect hole in my metal component. I've also taken the screw punch in my carry-on bag when I fly, where I've been made to stash the pliers in my checked baggage. (As always, make sure you double check with your particular airline before packing your jewelry making supplies for travel!)

Coloring Your Metals

Earlier this year, I discovered how much fun it was to paint my metal jewelry making components with the Vintaj Patina inks! Just like painting with acrylic paints, these were specially formulated to be permanent on metals, and they can turn an ordinary metal jewelry making component into something extraordinary in just a few strokes of a brush.

Suzanne Branca at A Grain of Sand also recommended using inexpensive nail polish for coloring the vintage metal components she sells. Sure enough, a thick coat of really cheap nail polish gives your vintage metals an enameled look, perfect for re-creating the costume jewelry styles of the 1930s and 40s.

Another option for coloring your brushed aluminum jewelry making components is using Sharpie markers. Heidi Viau, owner and founder of Lillypilly Designs, showed me how easy it is to use a colored marker and a ProPolish pad to add beautiful colors to these anodized aluminum components. They make fun jewelry making elements for bracelets and earrings when you need a quick gift for someone!

Learn More About Using Metals in Jewelry Making Projects

Working with metals in your jewelry making projects is easier than you think. If you enjoyed this little primer on easy ways to get started with metals in jewelry making, you'll want to check out Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine. Each issue is packed with inspiration and instruction for jewelry makers of all levels, helpful jewelry business advice, and information about the newest jewelry making tools and techniques. Subscribe to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist today and try your hand at some creative experiments for your jewelry making projects!

Have you started using metals in your beading and jewelry making projects yet? What advice would you have for someone just getting started? Do you have a favorite technique for customizing your metal jewelry making components? Share your thoughts and advice and leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Jewelry Business: Running a Business with Family with Guest Blogger Allison Korleski

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:00:00 GMT


Allison Korleski is Acquisition Editor for Interweave Press

As a knitter of many years, I often look forward to carving space in my busy schedule for some time alone with my needles, yarn, and whatever serial program I am currently watching. (I have afghans named "Pride & Prejudice" and "The Wire, Season 4"). At the same time though, crafting is also a particularly social activity-we join groups, we take classes and workshops, we dream of attending retreats.

Together, we can collectively support one another, exchange ideas and inspiration, take true joy in the accomplishments of others around us while improving our own skills. Nothing beats the collective cheer we get when showing off our latest successful project. The pleasures of such contact and collaboration can translate into professional relationships as well.

Take for instance, husband-and-wife Mark and Viki Lareau. They've translated their expertise into a bead store, a busy class and workshop schedule, and founding and running a successful bead festival for the past several years. They've also found the time to produce three books between them: Mark focuses on the craft of metal and wirework while Viki shows the crafter how to take their hobby and turn it into a profitable business.

Now we join a husband and wife team for a look at how they balance their busy lives . . .

Viki Lareau on the beading business with husband Mark

So how did you and Mark come to open your bead store, start teaching classes and write three books on jewelry: your book Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry and his books All Wired Up and Getting Started Making Metal Jewelry ?

Viki: We've been married over 20 years. We met when we worked at the same company in Vancouver-managing a chain of retail bead stores. Mark did all the buying for the stores but wasn't really into the whole beading and jewelry world. After a couple of years, we quit and opened our own store, The Bead Factory in Tacoma, Washington-and Mark got much more into it.

When we first opened our store, there was more of a "hippie" vibe to jewelry making but we really wanted to focus more on contemporary jewelry and now our customers are much more mainstream.

What is it like working with your husband? Are you involved with each others work or do you give each other space?

Viki: I actually have always liked having our own business. I could never imagine he or I having 9 to 5 jobs again. Good boundaries are important for our business. We each work in different assigned sections of the business. The flexibility our own business offers us has been a blessing in raising our children. But is hard working with your spouse, not many people can do it. There are tons of ups and downs running a business together.

Mark is into metal and teaches classes for us on making metal jewelry. I do more contemporary classes on trend pieces and teach people how to make the latest things in the stores. These are very different areas and we don't really interfere or give each other advice. Sometimes I wear my husband's creations. His classes are the most popular at the store. It is a natural progression for those who have been beading and want to take on a new skill.

Are you looking for solid and inspirational advice for running a successful jewelry business? Each issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine offers useful information on starting, running, and expanding your jewelry business. Whether you're just starting out a seasoned jewelry business professional, you'll find ways to stay on top of the game with Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine.

And don't forget: each issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine is packed with jewelry-making techniques, tutorials, new product reviews, and information about all your favorite jewelry-making materials. Subscribe to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine and use it to help grow your jewelry business!

Who is your favorite crafting partner? Do they assist you with your jewelry business? Share your thoughts and experiences with running a jewelry business and collaborating with family here on the blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

What Inspires Your Jewelry-Making?

Kristal Wick — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 03:52:00 GMT

Q&A with Tammy Jones

I don't know about you, but I love knowing what makes people tick. What inspires a designer/writer/artist, and where did they come from? Knowing this background information gives me a deeper connection and understanding of their work.

Tammy Jones, editor of Jewelry Making Daily, and I usually chat about artistic techniques, design, and how to score more crystals! Here's our latest chat featuring Tammy's fascinating jewelry making background.

Kristal: How did you become inspired to start making jewelry?

Tammy: I've been crafty ever since I was a little girl; I don't even remember when I first started making jewelry! I do remember when I was lucky enough to get paid to do it! I was the crafts editor for HGTV for seven years, and during that time I wrote and edited project instructions for every segment of the Carol Duvall Show, That's Clever!, and other craft shows. Naturally, I got hooked on making jewelry after watching designers such as Lisa Pavelka, Tim Holtz, Donna Kato, and Suze Weinberg make jewelry on the shows. I started with beading and some wirework--mostly wire and strung jewelry, all made of sea glass or just about any pretty little thing found on the seashore.

After HGTV, I worked for a large jewelry retailer creating gemstone education and jewelry-making content for their website. That's when my true gem geek came out; I studied gemstones from the Gemological Institute of America for three years and started dabbling more seriously in jewelry-making techniques such as beading, metal clay, mixed-media jewelry, and wirework. Soon after that I started Southern Baubelles, my jewelry shop on Etsy, and soon after that I became the editor of Jewelry Making Daily. I've been so lucky to have creative careers that encourage my crafty side.

Kristal: What was your best jewelry-making day?

Tammy: I feel so lucky to have been taught metalsmithing by Lexi Erickson, a frequent contributor to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. She is so gracious and such a wonderful teacher, and after she taught me the basics that I didn't know, she let me do slightly more advanced work than I could have done in a regular class.

I think being given freedom to play after learning basic skills like that is fabulous; my lampwork instructor, Marcy Lamberson, did that as well. I'm usually a fast learner, and I have pretty specific ideas about what I want to make, so I get frustrated in classes if I have to adhere to a set progression of projects. Being able to use my newfound skills and advance at my own pace was a wonderful learning experience for me and, both times, has resulted in some of my favorite jewelry work so far.

Kristal: What's your favorite type of jewelry-making?

Tammy: In the past two years, I've finally learned two jewelry-making techniques that I'm really excited about--silversmithing (metalsmithing) and lampwork-glass bead making--and I love both of them. My favorite though, has to still be metal clay. It's simply magic! I felt that way when I first discovered it, and I get that same feeling every time I make metal clay jewelry. Most of the jewelry I make and sell for Southern Baubelles either involves stringing gemstones, metal clay, or both.

Kristal: If you could take a workshop from any jewelry guru (dead or alive), who would it be?

Tammy: Oh my gosh, I've been so lucky to learn from so many wonderful designers like the ones I've mentioned above, and there are many more! Kate McKinnon and Hadar Jacobson are favorites for metal clay, and someday I need to get Helen Driggs to teach me some of her cold-connection and metal fabrication magic. I'm in love with Susan Knopp's enamel jewelry designs, too. If we're going to span space, time, reality and all that, though, I'm going to have to really get big ideas! I love Cathy Waterman's designs, especially her Love of My Life line, and Paula Crevoshay's work is beautiful--so full of colorful gems that I love. Early Tiffany & Co. designs by Jean Schlumberger are inspiring to me; I'd love to meet the man behind them.

Thanks Tammy! Now it's your turn to take the first step in learning how to make metal jewelry with a subscription to Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist.

Creatively,

Helen’s 10 Ideas for Textured Metal Treasures

Kristal Wick — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:44:00 GMT

Kristal Wick
is the editor of
Beading Daily

One of my fave additions to my personal jewelry making has been metals and wire. I love adding textured metals to my fabric beads for loads of fun and unusual textures. So I'm always looking for a few new tricks to keep up my sleeve for new jewelry designs. New techniques, materials, etc.

Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist's resident goldsmith, Helen Driggs, has just launched a new double-disk DVD set Metalsmith Essentials: Basic Fabrication. She has more than a few secrets and tricks to share. I can't wait to work on some new ideas I learned from Helen and plan on texturing metal this weekend!

Texturing metal is one of the quickest and easiest ways of introducing metalwork into your current jewelry making. I find it very satisfying on so many levels (give me a hammer to pound after a stressful day in the office, and I’m a happy camper). You don’t have to be a metalsmith to create some super simple metal pieces for YOUR jewelry. You can apply textures to metal blanks from your bead or craft store. Helen even shows you how to use inexpensive tools from your toolbox such as a nail! This metal working is much easier than it looks, trust me-I’ve done it!

Once you texture your metal, what to do next, you may ask. Here are some suggestions from Helen herself (and a few ideas for each tip from me):

1. Saw it out into a cool shape.

2. Use a disc cutter to make circles out of it.

Kristal: For smaller circles, file the edges then attach to a bracelet with strong glue. For larger circles, go to step 3.

3. Drill it and make a pendant.

Kristal: Add some bling then string on a simple chain.

4. Rivet something else on it.

Kristal: I find myself searching through those steampunk parts and found objects for unique things to rivet.

5. Solder it to something else.

Kristal: The possibilities are endless . . . I am thinking a flower shaped ring with layers of metal adorned with pearls and crystals (of course).

6. Dome a circle of it in a dapping block or on a stake.

Kristal: Glue it to a ring base.

7. Cut an opening in it.

8. Create a bend or twist in it.

9. Cut identical shapes in different textures for links.

Kristal: Make a long chain necklace by connecting the links with simple jump rings.

10. Combine two textures on one sheet and go back to number one.

I think I'll start with custom dog tags for my pups. They've chewed the plastic tags I got from the store, so I'm going to outsmart Thing 1 and Thing 2 (my nickname for them), and make metal tags; texture one side, and stamp our phone number on the other side. Join me in exploring Helen's Metalsmith Essentials and make your own creations!

Come bead with me!

Creatively,

Make Time for Making Jewelry!

Leslie Rogalski — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT

What issue was that annealing feature in?
I can't tell you how many times I've ransacked my bookcase of back issues of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, looking for something I just know we ran but can't remember when, or knowing the issue, but not being able to find it. It makes me crazy pulling all the magazines out and seeing them strewn across the floor, wasting my time. If only I had a back-issue butler or something to keep me better organized!

Find designs fast with searchable and clickable CDs
Now there is something! The new annual compilations of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist deliver an entire year's worth of magazines on one convenient CD. CDs are much easier to store, take up less space, and best of all are easy to search–just pop one into my laptop, and voilå! Every issue from that year, cover to cover. I can click onto each contents page see if it contains the project or feature I'm after and just move on to the next issue. Check out my favorites from this collection:

		Sensuous designs *The first CD compilation of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist* is from 2007, a gem of a year. For example, we did that piece on artist Michael Good. Every time I look at a piece of jewelry or larger sculpture by Michael Good I'm thrilled all over again at the sheer beauty of his forms. Good is the leading figure in curving metal in opposing directions. That doesn't sound so amazing, but in his hands the technique gives rise to the most engaging, sensuous, just gorgeous pins, neckpieces, bracelets, and more. The issue showcases a pair of very simple but wonderful earrings that Good made and includes many more examples of his designs–along with detailed illustrations for how to stretch and compress metal into these voluptuous curves. (Photo: Hap Sakwa)

		Tempting cold-connected bracelet I liked this bracelet from the December 2007 issue so much that I almost "borrowed" it for an evening out while it was in the office awaiting photography. Created by our Managing Editor Helen Driggs, the Multi-Metal & Cold-Connected bracelet does not require a torch, and Helen gives great instructions for making it, plus some great tips on tools for this project and some cool ideas for texturing metal that you can apply to anything you want. Every jewelry-maker in our office either wanted to make one or buy one! (Photo: Jim Lawson)

		Sunstone: The Party Gem In September 2007, we focused on sunstone, one of my absolute favorite gems! I love the warm peachy range of color and the little spangles of native copper that glitter inside. It's a party stone if ever there was one! A lot of readers don't get to see the art forms in single stones and gems, so these features are eye-opening. It's incredible to read about how gems are created. Sometimes we take things for granted when we use materials which have already been made ready for our own work by the hands of another artist. Gem carving is one of those fascinating craft forms. (Photo: Lee-Carraher. Stone carved by Sherris Cottier-Shank.)

		Learn how to anneal Even if you use cold connections for your metal jewelry, annealing your metal is very important. What exactly happens to metal when you hammer it that makes it brittle, and how does heating it fix it? "The Lowdown on Annealing," also in the September issue, tells all and gives great tips from some of the best metalsmiths in the country, including noted author Tim McCreight. This is definitely one of those features I'd be looking for again and again.

Always available
I'd never give up my print issues, but I just love how easy it is to go through the issues on our Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist 2007 collection CD plus it gives me access to any issues I might have misplaced, especially any that are out of print. I just wish we had every year on CD right now--but we're getting there. Watch for 2006 coming soon.

Of course, a butler would still be nice . . .

Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist Editors' Picks from 2009

LeslieR2 — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT

When I was an illustration student at the University of the Arts, one of my pals was a jewelry major. She always had copies of Lapidary Journal around, and they were a great reference for me when I painted anything with jewelry in it. Later, my rendering skills came in handy as a product designer for The Franklin Mint. where I mastered the art of painting a sparkling glint on jewelry illustrations. At the time I never dreamed I'd ever make jewelry. Now, as an Interweave editor, I am surrounded by decades of amazing Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist issues and actually do use metal in my jewelry. Most of my metal pieces don't have a sparkling glint––but I can always paint that on. –Leslie, editor, Beading Daily

Beading Daily welcomes today's guest editors from Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist––Editor in Chief Merle White and Managing Editor Helen Driggs, sharing the shining features from the past year that most inspired them.

Merle White, editor in chief, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist: Brass Mobius Circle Pendant by William Fretz August 2009 When I was in elementary school, I used to wear those stretchy hairbands to keep my hair out of my face. They always became twisted and wouldn't lie flat and smooth. "That looks like a Mobius strip," my father told me, "a circle with no inside or outside." Intrigued by the new word and the paradoxical concept, I ran my finger around the band's in-and-out contour over and over again, amazed that such a thing could exist. I've been fascinated by this form ever since. When we received William Fretz's Brass Mobius Circle Pendant project for the August 2009 issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, of course it became an instant favorite: now I know how you can make a mobius strip on purpose! There's also a variation with a beautiful, green-and-brown patina as well as a polished, Rich-yellow brass finish. And while the design is compelling exactly as shown, the project is really an exploration of constantly creating new forms from a flat sheet.

Merle White, editor in chief, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist: Setting Big Gems by Mo Ying Chan April 2009 The cover of the April 2009 issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist features a pendant I just adore. The focal is a large, gently sculpted matte-finish agate cut by the master of agate cabochons, Dieter Lorenz. Like me, goldsmith Mo Ying Chan is a big fan of large gems, and in "Setting Big Gems" she describes how she designed four large special stones. Each one presented challenges of irregular shapes as well as significant sizes which had to be accommodated. She had to make jewelry that would lie comfortably when worn and create a beautiful original setting that would adequately secure the stone without overpowering it. The agate on the cover was beautifully carved on both sides, so she created a two-sided pendant. I needed to get it to her at the Tucson shows, and mailing wasn't a convenient option. Rather than pack it, I had the treat of being able to wear it on the trip, to bring it to her!

Helen Driggs, managing editor, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist: Cab/Bead Earrings by Michael Boyd September 2009 I’m a huge fan of Michael Boyd because he taught me how to cut stone. We became fast friends during his advanced lapidary workshop at Metalwerx, probably because we are both happy geeks who love rock and metal with equal passion. His earring project is brilliant: most jewelry makers have stone beads they’ll never use. Once you get into metals, you’ve typically got lots of leftover stone beads just sitting there, unused. Michael’s solution? Cut those buggers in half and make cabs out of them. Heck, most of the work’s already been done anyway. You just saw those beads in half, set them, and forget them. You don’t even have to grind and polish!

Helen Driggs, managing editor, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist: The Illustrated Cool Tool Guide by Sharon Elaine Thompson May 2009 The thing I love about this feature is the glorious shots by our photographer Jim Lawson. Those are my tools, and he made them look fabulous. It took us three long days of setup and lighting to get all of those shots, but the results were well worth it. There is a ton of good information in this feature about tool categories, names, and uses. Sharon’s writing style is informative and fun, and I love the quotes from the pros about specific tools they use in their own work. If you are new to the craft, this feature will help you learn the names and uses of most of the basic metalworking tools you need to make jewelry.

There's no question that Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist has everything you need to learn how to make the jewelry designs you dream of! Don't miss a single issue of instruction and inspiration–subscribe today!