Daily Blogs : Leslie Rogalski

11 Reasons to Take a Jewelry Class

Erin Carey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:44:00 GMT

		Discover your talents in a Bead Fest Wire Workshop! I love learning things on my own, inventing and playing. Most of us are self-taught in one or another craft forms. But there are times when being a hermit has its drawbacks, or when homeschooling just isn’t economical, let alone safe. I can cut apart and re-stitch a botched piece of beadwork, but broken beads aren’t toxic. I don’t lose much money tossing a few mutant copper wire coils, but wasting small snips of silver wire adds up. To avoid calamity to purse or person, I look to the experts and take a workshop at Bead Fest. Why? Here are my top 11 reasons to take a class.

1: Conserve materials Seems obvious, but I probably wasted a mile of metal in my early forays with wire. If only I had taken a class and seen early on how to, for instance, use wire from the spool to be more economical.

2: Learn safely about safety
If you’re a beginner, absolutely take classes in anything with flame, heat, toxic fumes or corrosive substances. Lampworking is an obvious example, with open flame and potentially explosive consequences. But using a hammer, drill, or dremel poses hazards, too—especially if you’re sitting there thinking, what’s a dremel?

A Bead Fest student has fun in a safely supervised lampworked-glass class.

3: Know the must-have tools
I am oddly attracted to specialty pliers with alien noses and funky-colored handles. And while a tool for bending a “V” in metal is something useful for people who do that a lot, I was taught to achieve this effect with tools I already owned, for the few times I want to do that.

Step by Step Wire Jewelry Editor-in-Chief and Bead Fest teacher Denise Peck brings shopping karma to our Bead Fest director, Karen Keegan.

4: Discover which tools do what
In the same light, if I was making a lot of V shapes, that tool would make sense. And, without the insight of a teacher, I wouldn’t have even known that tool existed.

I’m sure a teacher could tell me what the heck these pliers are!

5: Observe efficiency
Watch a teacher at work. Pay attention to their economy of movement, how they place things at hand in their work space and their sequence of production. Good teachers are usually as productive as they are creative. They can show you ways to be faster as well as better at the technique.

Bead Fest teacher Janice Berkebile shows how to keep your work space organized.

6: Add tricks and tips to your repertoire
How often have you seen something demonstrated and said, “Gee, I never thought to do it like that.” Exactly.

Bead Fest teacher and vendor Lisa Niven Kelly shows a student her technique for stamping.

7: Learn about your medium
For instance, I didn’t know until I took a class that I could melt away an entire piece of silver wire trying to fuse it into a ring. The teacher showed me exactly how to position the torch.

Take a class for any kind of work with a torch so you don’t burn up your art. Believe me, I'm talking from experience.

8: Watch a technique in action
Some techniques are just plain difficult to explain in words or illustrations. I only learned Viking knit by watching it demonstrated by a skilled teacher.

Viking knit is easier to learn when you see it done in person. I didn't know which end was up, down, around, or through until I watched Denise Peck actually doing it.

9: Discover new resources
Teachers have their favorite sources and favorite brands for a reason. Expand your own sources for tools and materials from your mentors; consider their tried and true recommendations.

10: Be inspired
Most teachers would love to be spending more time in their studio, so we’re grateful for their generosity in sharing their time and expertise. Teaching is a special calling. Take advantage of being up close to the technique and material in your teacher’s work. Ask questions. Let that visual stimulation encourage you! Above all, show respect and don’t reproduce their designs for your own gain.

11. Make new friends and network
Enjoy the company of others of a like mind. Taking a class is fun. Meet people from many backgrounds with many diverse styles and skills. Share stories of juggling family, jobs, and jewelry. Hear why others are so passionate, and what other art forms lead them here. You’ll learn as much from your fellow students as from the teachers! Plus, you may find yourself with dinner companions!

FREE WIRE & BEADS PROJECT!

The fun starts here, with a free project by Janice Berkebile, one of our popular Bead Fest Wire teachers. These Coiled Gem Drop earrings are such a wonderful way to bring beads into your wirework, or, to use wire to show off your beads. Sign up for Bead Fest Wire classes today so you don't miss out!

Download Coiled Gem Drops Now!

Good teachers deserve good students. Do you have tips for first time students at Bead Fest? Do you have tips to help teachers be better teachers? Share them here!

4 Tips for Crystal Jewelry Projects

Erin Carey — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:18:00 GMT

Make your jewelry special with sparkle

‘Tis (almost) the season to be glam! Even I, ever the industrial chic, seed-beads-4-ever chick, totally love the look of crystal jewelry at this time of the year. There is a magnificent brilliance that only comes from crystals. Whether I spotlight one bedazzler as a focal or mass a galaxy for maximum voltage, crystals are a surefire way to light up the darkness of winter

What makes crystals shine?
Did you know that the cleaner the faceted edges, the brighter the crystal appears? When crystals are made, the more precisely the faceted edges meet, the more dazzling the crystal—this exact faceting is partly why some crystals may be more highly considered than others. Whether large as a crown jewel or tiny as a twinkling star, nothing says, “you are special” like wearing or giving a piece of crystal jewelry that you created yourself.

Tips for stitching with crystals
Here are a few things to keep in mind when stringing, wiring, or stitching crystal beads:

		1: Check the bead holes. The holes in crystal beads can have sharp edges. Be careful when thread paths pull against the edges of the holes, to avoid cutting your thread. I find thermally bonded .08 lb beading thread most durable and threadable through the eye of a size 12 beading needle. Crystal cubes’ corners are smooth enough for a nice ladder stitch, such as this Glitter Cubed bracelet by Bonnie Clewans. Their parallel facets make a fun side edge to embellish, too.

		2: Choose the right stringing wire. Vary beading-wire size according to the size of the bead hole and weight of your planned finished piece. For stringing, use a wire with the most strands bound into it for strength but is as flexible as you need. Use between 15 and 19mm, 19 to 49 strands. The striking 22 x 50mm polygon crystal in Nancy Cain’s Crystal Drop herringbone lariat is supported by .014 braided beading wire, strung through the beadwork rope.

		3: Choose the right wire gauge. Crystals are outstanding beads for wire jewelry. Test the gauge to fit the bead holes but use a wire that will support the weight and size of your crystals. In Linda “Sorcie” Smith’s Crystal Swirl Cluster Ring, 14-gauge, half-hard wire is the right choice for these bicones.

		4: Choose the best beading thread. Translucent crystal colors reveal thread or wire inside the bead. Be very neat with your stitching and knots. Keep multiple passes of thread pulled evenly, or loops of excess thread may show. Use the transparency to your design advantage with dramatically contrasting thread or bright wire finishes. In these easy-to-make Crystal Bracelet variations by Linda Gettings, a matching color thread blends in with the crystals strung between sections of square-stitched cubes.

Click today, create right away!
Have I sparked your desire for sparkle? Download these sure-to-please crystal projects and dozens more, right here in the online store!

I love using bicones in cubic RAW, and making rings with 2mm round crystals. How about you? Share your favorite crystal flavors and techniques with us here on Beading Daily.

String a Symbol of Your Creativity! Plus a Free Necklace Project

Erin Carey — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:10:00 GMT

Good-luck jewelry
On Friday the 13th, is it bad luck to talk about good luck? I’m kidding, I’m not superstitious. But when it comes to wearing lucky talismans, we all do it. I bet you’re wearing one right now. It may not be a literal good-luck charm, but every single piece of jewelry we create and wear has special power. Whether you simply string an intriguing found object or stitch beaded symbols of faith, at the very least your creations are imbued with the spirit of your craft, let alone any spirit of a Higher Power.

The power of gemstones
Gemstones are said to possess power to attract or repel positives and negatives in our lives. Wear rose quartz to attract love, amethyst for good health. Hematite wearers are supposed to like that stone because it eases stress. Wear green to attract money, red for passion and protection. Personally I find magic in ordinary stones with a natural hole and water-tumbled, smooth round stones. Must be the Druid in me!

Symbols, signs, and charms
We love things that we believe evoke power. Our cultures and stories are filled with magical objects and charms that ward off evil, attract luck, and bring us health and prosperity. Some things widely regarded as lucky include ladybugs, four-leaf clovers, and dragons. The number 7 is considered lucky. Think 7th heaven, 7 wonders, and how the 7th child of a 7th child is supposed to be blessed. My favorite explanation is mathematical: Pythagoreans say the number 7 is perfect, 3 plus 4, a square and a triangle.

7 lucky projects
That said, here are 7 lucky projects that will certainly attract admiration and beauty, if not a winning lottery ticket, into your life. And your luck starts here with a free project, the Copper Swirl necklace. Learn how to string a multistrand necklace crowned with a copper swirl, ceramic focal bead, a cosmic symbol indeed! Be sure to subscribe to Stringing Magazine for a complete year of projects. Just your luck, you can subscribe right now!


Lucky Ladybug by Merle Berelowitz Widely considered lucky because they eat crop-eating bugs, ladybugs such as the one on this multistrand bracelet are also pretty darn cute.	Harvest Goddess by Melanie Brooks From Stringing Magazine comes a necklace to honor your autumn garden. Create it and your garden will be sure to bloom for you again.	Shamrock Pin by Dustin Wedekind Brick-stitch a four-leaf clover, believed to represent faith, hope, love, and luck.


Simply Charming by Colleen McGraw A wire necklace for any talismans you choose, for health, wealth or happiness.	Chinese Dragon by Frances Fawcett Have fun with this playful wired companion. Dragons are symbols of success.	Ancient Coins by Denise Peck Attract wealth by wearing coins, such as the ancient-looking ones in these easy wire earrings.

		Your FREE cosmic necklace project! Copper Swirl by Susan Johnston String a spiral, one of humankind's oldest and most universal symbols of creativity in this lush multistrand necklace. You'll glow with personal power!

Look for dozens of designs for your favorite charms, talismans and gemstones in Stringing Magazine. Do you have a personal symbol that you wear to feel powerful? Share your story in our charmed Beading Daily circle here.

Easy Ways to Texture Metal

Leslie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:19:00 GMT

Hammer Metal to Make Your Jewelry Unique
I believe we can make jewelry out of anything. Put things together in a well-crafted, interesting design, and voilà, wearable art. Might not be “art” jewelry at a certain level, but it’s still fun to make and to wear. In the September '09 issue of Jewelry Artist, Editor Merle White spoke to the intrinsic design potential in anything, and most of us probably agree. I do, for sure!

Create Art from the Ordinary
Let’s talk about that term “art” jewelry for a minute. We assign things different levels of artistic value according to technique, aesthetics, and especially materials. Take metalwork, for instance. Metal kicks up the look as well as the perceived value of a piece of jewelry. I love using metal in my work, but I don’t make my own components (yet). I use purchased metal beads or cool bits from the hardware store. I decided to coax out the inherent art in the mundane by altering hardware-store components to look more hand-crafted. How? I am mostly a beader, but I have a few metal-related tools because I do make many clasps. I have a hammer or two, so I looked at texture as my easiest path to transformation.

Find Materials and Tools You Like
I had fun searching the drawers and bins of my hardware store and ultimately used the following inexpensive, available things: hole-punched steel plaster washers, bronze washers called bushings, and flat steel washers. I also had some polishing brush wheels from a jewelry supply house, simple little soft-bristled things with holes, so I knew I'd use them in some sort of jewelry. A safety precaution: Hold anything you plan to hammer with another tool, such as a nylon-jaw or round-nose pliers.

Here are some of my explorations. See what you think.



I really liked these steel plaster washers. About 1" in diameter, they already had holes, perfect for embellishment or linking to other components. They are thin, lightweight, and malleable.	I easily flattened a plaster washer with a chasing hammer on a steel bench block. Hammering gave the washer a dappled texture and took off some of the shine, leaving a much softer surface patina.	This washer was hammered face down on cement. The texture was subtle, so I brushed it with black nail polish and then lightly wiped the polish off the surface. The remaining color nicely revealed the texture.



Here's a plain, ordinary steel alloy washer about 1" in diameter. I thought the wider exposed surface would provide a good pounding surface to inscribe some texture. Ha! Steel is way harder to alter than I expected.	Little did I know how hard I'd need to pound these washers just to make a dent. I used the flat part of the hammer to bezel the edges and the round end to dap the finish. The result reminds me of the edges on flint arrowheads.	I had to try to create a focal piece to see how much my hardware looked like art to wear. Using 24g annealed steel wire from the hardware store, I wired a jewelry supply polishing wheel to the hammered steel washer.



I love the color of these 1" bronze washers called bushings. Bronze is even harder to hammer than steel! I used a hefty, household hammer for this. The original washer is untouched. I chiseled lines in the bottom washer, then I banged the edges with the round part of the hammer.	Two of these three 3/4" bronze washers took a beating. The middle one is textured using the edge of the flat part of a big hammer. The bottom one was textured on my driveway. It was so cathartic to swing that big hammer I actually smashed one washer into smithereens!

Want to learn more about texturing metal or try unique techniques and materials?
Discover a new path to explore in Jewelry Artist!

And be sure to share your tips on adding texture to your metalwork right here on Beading Daily!

2 Free and Easy Wire Projects

Leslie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:10:00 GMT

Hook and eye clasp is hardware chic!
Rubber tubing called “spline” is one of my favorite hardware store materials. Commonly used to press around a screen door panel, it’s cheap, easy to cut, comes in a few gauges and shades of gray or black, and (most important) is hollow–perfect for threading wire or beading cord through it. I use it often as a cord by threading it with flexible beading wire and crimping clasps at the ends.

But while playing around with 20-gauge craft wire I saw how easily it fit into the spline, and how the spline held different shapes with the heavier wire inside. This hook-and-eye clasp is one of my results. If you can make a wire wrapped loop with a pair of pliers, you’re good to go!

What You Need:

12” of 20-gauge copper craft wire
14” rubber tube (hollow spline)
2 pair round-nose pliers or round-and chain-nose
wire snips
craft knife to cut spline
ruler

Cut your materials
1: Use the wire snips to cut a 4” piece of the wire for the eye, leaving 8” for the hook.

2: Hold your tube alongside a ruler on a cutting board. Use your craft knife to cut the tube in two pieces, keeping the ends as straight across as possible: 1 piece 2” for the eye, 1 piece 4” for the hook.

Make the eye
3: Thread the 4” piece of wire through the 2” piece of tube so the wire protrudes evenly out both ends. Make a wire wrapped loop on both ends, keeping the wrapped loops snug against the rubber. Bend the wired tube into a simple U shape for the “eye."

Make the hook
4: Thread the 8" piece of wire through the 4" tube, and make wire wrapped loops at each end as in Step 3. Bend this piece into a U shape, (this one will be longer than the first one) then bend the middle over to make a hook shape.

You can now attach a piece of jewelry in any way you desire—jump rings, crimped wire, linked wrapped loops. Of course, you can make this hook-and-eye without the tube, using 20 or 18 gauge wire for sturdiness. For some great inspiration on ways to try this clasp technique on other designs, the 2009 issue of Easy Wire is a must-have for your library. Enjoy!

FREE Easy Wire project!
The style of my clasp may not be your cup of tea, but you'll find plenty of other styles among the 45 projects in the new issue of Easy Wire–like this gorgeous copper wire and lampwork bead Caramel Swirl Bracelet, for instance. Spiral copper wire in a unique pattern, and pair it with delectable lampwork beads.

Download this free Easy Wire project here!

Have you played with wire in rubber tubing? Tell us about it in our comment boxes below!

Studio Storage Tips and a Free Circular Brick Stitch Project!

Leslie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:43:00 GMT

Organized Chaos: Mess for Success
I am totally self-indulgent when it comes to beading. I start this, that, and the other project as my stash inspires me, and though I finish tons of jewelry, many projects wait to reach fruition. Each time I need to bead, I’m as likely to start something new as to finish something in progress. My indecisive, creative frenzy tends to make my studio unruly, though fun for people to explore. Still, I want to keep track of everything, or I forget where things are. Plus, my play time is limited. To get right to it when I have that precious "window" I have my WIP (Work in Progress) organized and on display in many ways. I can choose whatever floats my boat when the time is right.

		I forgot I had this! I hang bags of materials and experiments I'm playing with on a bulletin board. Not only does this keep me visually inspired, it keeps my memory fresh–especially after a Bead Fest shopping spree when I come home with a plethora of strands, tubes and beads wrapped in tissue. New treasures go right into clear baggies and pinned on my board to prevent any lengthy spans of forgetfulness. Though it is a strange thrill to rediscover things I forgot I bought, I'd rather remember.

		Eeenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe Which project should work on today? I stack mini foil baking pans, each with its own project. Needles, beads, findings– all the parts I'm playing with for each idea go in these trays. I can pick whatever I feel like working on and know all my materials are already together. So I don't forget where all my beads are as I separate them with various projects, I pour the selected colors into smaller bags with each WIP. The main tubes or bags remain in their color-coded bins so I know what I have.

		Circular brick to go. I always have project bags packed and ready to go. I spend lots of time waiting– in airports, as a passenger on long car drives. My little bags contain everything I need to finish simple projects that are well underway. My favorite to-go projects are component-oriented, so I can make one or a bunch, depending on how long I'm waiting. Circular brick stitch is one of favorite component-making stitch of mine, because I can play around with variations and at least get satisfaction by finishing a single component.

		Free brick stitch project! So hey, here's a free circular brick stitch project for you. Tina Koyama’s Crystal Radiance Brooch is an eye-catching, component-oriented design, and a technique which will inspire you to play with many variations. Gather and sort all your favorite combinations of crystals and beads in trays, project bags or on bulletin boards, and hang them up neatly, to keep your studio full of reminders to play.

Decorating my studio with my stash—finished and unfinished—keeps me fired up. For more décor inspiration you’ll want the new Fall 2009 Studios in your library. Leave it to Cloth Paper Scissors magazine to give us yet another special issue of artists' spaces to motivate and encourage our creativity. Keep Studios on display where you can look at it every day! There’s so much to enjoy, you may not finish it all the first time you sit down with it.

What's your favorite way to display work-in-progress? Share with us here!

Free eBook of Beaded Necklace Patterns

Leslie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:59:00 GMT

Practice, practice, practice... with 5 free necklace patterns!

I recently chatted on the Beading Daily forums about whether we consider ourselves beginner, intermediate or advanced. Many people think being advanced means you get it perfect the first time, every time, but I beg to differ. No matter how many times I work in any technique, there are times when I can’t get it right the first time... or even the second time. Suddenly I forget a step, or I'm all thumbs. It’s usually a small thing–the way I complete a stitched row, a turn of the pliers… whatever it is, it’s enough to make me slap my forehead and say “D’oh!” I consider myself a bit of a pro in many techniques, and still have those d'oh moments!

So, like concert musicians who practice arpeggios in different keys and tempos, we jewelry makers can hone our skills by making designs in different mediums and techniques. Our Beading Daily eBook, 5 Free Beaded Necklace Patterns, has a wonderful selection and variety of techniques for you to "practice." And, though practicing our craft won't get us to Carnegie Hall, our finished jewelry sure lasts a lot longer than the sounds of a concerto!

Here's how to limber up:

Perfect your crimping and have some fun in a design with many sizes of beads in my clasp-free Big Island necklace.	Refine your use of jump rings to make chain maille, and attach a cool cord with wireworking in the Parallel Chain necklace by Barbara Hance.
Become more adept at right angle weave and string a beaded cord for your pendant in the Shining Example necklace by Marcella Austenfeld.	Work with a fast and simple design in wire, chain and beaded dangles in the Heart of Glass necklace by Terry Rhoades.

Enhance the style of a strung design by using multi-strand techniques,
seed bead fringes, and asymmetrical detail in
Dragonfly's Garden by Julia Watt.

Just click here to download your
Beading Daily eBook, 5 Free Beaded Necklace Patterns!

We love hearing from you! Be sure to chime in on the Beading Daily forums or comment below.

Metal beads and why we love them!

Erin Carey — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Add metal beads to your jewelry and wow, magic! The alchemy of metal transforms our designs in more ways than one. Because we value metal itself, using metal beads in our jewelry lets us ask a higher price! Metal gives a higher perceived and literal value to our work.

Metal beads also say a lot about who we are, our style. For fun, I collected some cool metal beads and totally made up what I think are the traits these beads might bring to a finished piece of jewelry—and what type of personality you may be to use them! (Approximate sizes are noted, for scale.) Go on, test your... metal!

Zen		The swirls in this silver saucer look like patterns in a Zen sand garden. Add beads like this to jewelry for an Asian fusion flavor. If you find this bead appealing, you tend to be calm and in control. You probably have a lucky bamboo plant in your home and will eat sushi, if it’s cooked. (20mm dia.)

Squiggle		Tactile, modern, and a cartoon in antiqued brass, this squiggle bead gives a wink of whimsy to designs. You love having people smile when they see your jewelry! You probably like squiggly food, too, like licorice lacing, spaghetti, and funnel cakes. (18mm dia.)

Spirals		These silver beads are far out! Use them to bring a 60’s style, mod look to your work, bold galactic spheres from beyond. Bet you watched “the Jetsons” as a kid, and enjoy spacey, new-age music. (15mm dia.)

Paisley pyramid		World traveler—albeit from your laptop—you’d use these beads to lend an exotic detail to your work. The decorative surface designs and shape of this Hill Tribe silver bead evoke treasures of the silk road trade. You like patterns and prints, and your jewelry reflects your love of intimate detail. Bet you wear… paisley socks! (12mm dia.)

Daggers		Shaped of hammered brass, these large, hollow daggers look very tribal. Even a single dagger as a focal bead would make a statement of strength and power in a design. If you’re drawn to dagger beads you are probably something of a warrior, a leader, and always want to be the driver when you go places with friends. (35mm long)

Rosebud		Being floral makes this bead feminine, but its oxidized surface and hand-crafted look make it a hip tribute to modern woman. It designs well with many other bead materials like stone, shell, or wood. Like it? You are probably eclectic and artsy, and have bowls of beach stones around your house. (8mm.)
Old metal		These old-looking metal components could have been unearthed at an archeological site, a remnant of an antique piece of jewelry or some unknown mechanical device. If you'd use them in your designs, I bet you like gears and watch parts, too. You probably are a fan of the Indiana Jones movies (except the second one), appreciate the imagination of Jules Verne, and might have secretly switched your brother's toy train for your Barbie one Christmas. (From 10mm to 20mm dia.)
Modern barrel		You are all about the shine, the elegance, the glamor of metal. These contemporary barrel beads are very luxe, and would totally enrich a design with semiprecious stones. If these are the beads for you, your home is probably a showcase, with modern furniture, glass tabletops, and you have a box of tools with your name on it at your manicurist. (15mm.)
Verdigris dangles		Nothing new and shiny for you! You want the character of the ages. These brass dangles have a luscious green patina you adore. Jewelry becomes a museum piece with metal beads like these. You might have once taken a belly-dancing class, and are fond of samosas and dolmades. (5mm.)
Copper saucers		This is one of my personal favorite metal beads. The antiqued surface is a contradiction to the retro saucer shape, and as a metal, copper has a rich yet earthy paradox to it. This bead could look either industrial or tribal. Copper beads design well with wood, resin, stone, and fiber beads. You may be inspired to design with these large (30mm) saucers if you like ethnic arts, but also watch sci movies... like me!
"Bluish" by Jane Dickerson		Find over 70 designs that use all sorts of metal beads in the 2009 edition of Creative Jewelry, like this "Bluish" necklace by editor Jane Dickerson. Then, share which metal beads are totally “you” here and on the Beading Daily forums!

Learn Metal Clay from the Pros Who Know!

Leslie — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:18:00 GMT

Clay it Forward

Sometimes we all need a light from another flame to get our own candle burning. That's the way it was for me with metal clay. Usually I'm a selt-taught type of gal, so when metal clay first came on the scene. I thought, what's the big deal? It's CLAY. Heck, I've been playing with clay since I was three! But of course there's way more to the medium of metal clay (and polymer, too) than the aromatic plastilene we took from containers at recess! Once I'd learned I needed tools and a special type of kiln, I knew I had to take a class to see how the pros worked with this alluring material.

This is a picture of the only metal clay piece I ever made, the product of a 3-hour Bead Fest class I took years back when metal clay was still a relatively new product. Kinda embarrassing. In an entire 3 hours this inch-long charm is all I brought home. But I had fun making it, squishing it, sanding the "leather hard" pre-fired clay, and seeing it become real silver. But go ahead, you can chuckle at my elementary efforts. I still do!

Now, I am not saying the class was a loss, not at all! I learned about the tools and the properties of metal clay in ways I would not have done on my own, and my little "Lame Lily" pendant––yes, I named it––is by no mean a reflection on my teachers, either. Martha and Ed Biggar were delightfully gracious and informative teachers who continue to teach at Bead Fest. They gave me my first chance to get my hands into metal clay. And, others in that class made way cooler stuff than I did, believe me. I admit I often get a bit paralyzed by beginning something, like writers block. Most of us do from time to time. Those times it helps to get out, open a book, take a class,so the experts can get us jump-started.

Of course, since then I have seen more and more examples of metal clay explorations by artists drawn to the material. The medium itself has been developed to be better and easier to work with. There are other metal clays beside silver, like the breathtakingly gorgeous bronze clay. I have read more about techniques and applications, such as how to use it in a more liquid form called "slip" and combine it with seed beads, shown in this March '06 Step by Step Beads project "Beautiful Boughs" by Jessica Beels. (Photo by Todd Murray.)

I am also captivated by the patinas which can be coaxed from or applied to metal clay, like the verdigris in these earrings I bought from Kelly Russell. Don't they look like archeological finds? These earrings are so rich in their imagery and color, and so very different from the sleek lines I tried to get in my little polished lily charm. There are many artists who have contributed to the evolution of the art of metal clay, from Celie Fago, Lora Hart and Lisa Pavelka to Sherri Haab, Debra Weld and Hadar Jacobson.

Do I sound inspired? You bet. I now own a few precious ounces of silver metal clay, tools, an acrylic roller and even some texture plates. I know where I have access to a kiln. Have I made more little Lame Lilies on my own? Not yet. I still need some guidance, especially about something called shrinkage...

But for inspiration and how-to, I plan to dive into the easy-to-follow projects in our downloadable eBook from Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist: 10 Metal Clay Jewelry Projects.

What are your favorite resources for tips and techniques to shape your skills with metal clay? Who are the artists and teachers who inspire you? Share your comments below or on the Beading Daily forums!

MY BAD! Forgot your FREE PROJECT!

Make this metal clay quilt pendant designed by Hadar Jacobson!

The Best of Stringing celebrates top designs from Stringing magazine!

Erin Carey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:30:00 GMT

Here’s a little snippet of beady publishing history that you might find interesting...
In 2002 Interweave’s founder, Linda Ligon, and I sat in a hotel lobby in New York to discuss starting a new magazine that solely concerned stringing beads. It was a completely revolutionary idea at the time and, quite frankly, I thought it was a bit nuts; beadweavers like me often viewed stringing as our community’s wallflower cousin. She said she wanted a magazine that stretched people’s creativity, helping them explore new materials to expand their vision of what stringing could be. Her general edict was, “Make it beautiful, make it colorful, and I don’t want to see page after page of ‘bumps on a string.’ What I want is page after page of gorgeous pieces that you might find at a museum shop or gallery. No ‘safe’ jewelry in this one.”

When I got back to the office in Colorado, I broke it to the Beadwork magazine team (then Jamie Hogsett and Dustin Wedekind) that we were starting up a new magazine. It would include 100 pieces, have jaw-dropping work, and there could be absolutely no 'bumps on a string.' I think Jamie and Dustin thought the idea was a little crazy, too; we were all pretty beadweaving-centric at that time. In our discussion that day I sketched out some little drawings to explain what I think Linda was talking about. Miraculously, I found those sketches in a file cabinet in the basement this morning; and can share those first bright glimmers of Stringing with you now. Sometimes it pays to be a packrat!

We set off as a team to break out of our little design boxes and to bust up our notions of what stringing beads on a cord could be. The exercise produced 100 really nice pieces for our first special issue, and I know it gave us all a rich appreciation for the technique. Now, after 5 years, dozens of issues, and hundreds of gorgeous pieces later, I see Linda's idea for Stringing magazine was right on. I guess that's why she's the boss.

Danielle Fox, Stringing magazine's current editor, recently sent me a copy of The Best of Stringing, a fantastic issue with 183 projects--21 of which are brand new. She attached this note that made me tear up a little. This magazine, as well as the technique in general, has certainly "grow'd up" in the last several years, certainly past my little sketches. It's been due, in large part, to how bravely our community of designers, teachers, vendors, and publishers have embraced and experimented with this technique. We've gone far beyond 'bumps on a string', that's for sure.

Danielle had her own warm and fuzzy moment seeing this magazine come together: "I've been on the Stringing staff since its second issue. I'll tell you, it's been so much fun to watch and help the magazine grow. I'm really excited about The Best of Stringing because it brings together all of our favorite projects in a single edition. The hardest part was narrowing down our selections. What I think we came up with is a great mix of evergreen projects, the kind that inspire you again and again."

So I guess the challenge going forward, for all of us who love to string beads, is to continue to play and experiment, pushing the technique to unexplored creative highs. How will you contribute? What new stringing techniques or materials have you been using to make your work new and unique? What trends do you see around the bend? Why not share your ideas and thoughts below or on the Beading Daily forums?

Discover your jewelry-making style with a Beads, Baubles & Jewels video!

Leslie — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:28:00 GMT

My Style, Your Style!

We beaders love a challenge! The challenge of learning new stitches and twists on a technique. The challenge of that “blank page” moment when you spread out your beads and wonder what you’ll make. But the challenge we love most is seeing what happens when two or more beaders go to their respective beading corners with identical materials and create individual, personal pieces of beadwork.

Marlene Blessing and I are no exception and love beading challenges, too. In our new season of presenting on B eads, Baubles & Jewels on Public Television, we had loads of fun doing a “My Style, Your Style” segment that we approached just like a challenge. We started with identical materials, key charms in three metal finishes––pewter, sterling silver, and shibuichi, and an option to use a toggle that looked like a keyhole. The charms were designed by Greg Ogden and Cynthia Thornton at Green Girl Studios. Our mission was to use the same materials in our jewelry designs, knowing we had personal styles, then share the process we each went through to reach our final designs. So, read the scoop on our different style stories, and watch the video from the show!

How did we each approach our jewelry design plans?

Marlene: I wanted the grouping of keys to be front and center, clanking together like keys on a key ring. At first, I thought I would create a strung necklace for these charms, adding a great Green Girl heart toggle clasp (with a “key” for the bar, of course). Even though I was short on time, I changed my course. Seed bead weaving was the way to go. I wanted to mix the fabric-like texture of beadweaving with the hardness of metal. That’s where some anxiety crept in. I’m a slow stitcher. (And I don’t have Leslie’s great facility with seed beads.)

Leslie: Keys are such powerful symbols besides being cool shapes. The style of these specific keys made me think of medieval times, and the metal finishes reminded me of Renaissance Faire jewelry and armory. So, I chose to design a heraldic banner brooch. I knew I’d be using seed beads even though, like Marlene said, there wasn’t much time. I may be faster than the average beader, but I’m not that fast! So, I worked in my fastest stitch, peyote, and used larger sized cylinder beads, size 10º, which helped me finish even faster.

What else inspired us besides the key charms?

Marlene: I followed a tip from Jean Campbell about not reinventing the wheel (or the jewelry) and decided to recycle design elements from something I already made—then add new twists. I chose to do a tubular herringbone single strand with stripes like those in my Maggie’s Weave project in the August/September 2009 issue of Beadwork. I also wanted to use a design idea from a strung project I made for the Fall 2009 issue of Stringing.

Leslie: Since this piece had a story, the keyhole toggle of course had to be an actual keyhole in the beadwork. I used it as a design element with a paradoxical function. A keyhole to what? Did one of the keys open it? What does a lock in a banner open to? It may be bit of Alice in Wonderland—that’s the mystery and fantasy of keyholes. It instantly invites the question, what’s on the other side?

What gave each of our jewelry designs a Marlene or Leslie look?

Marlene: Probably my subtle asymmetry in the design. I think I'm a bit of a tease. I want my pieces to look very balanced, almost symmetrical. In this piece, I made sure the stripes were arranged asymmetrically, and the detail with the jump rings and hammered links was only on one side of the necklace. My style!

Leslie: And I'm just the opposite! I admire anyone who makes asymmetrical work, like Marlene does. It’s not easy. So I’m totally about symmetry. The only math I was good at was geometry, and I’ve always been inspired by geometric forms. My designs are very architectural, especially my seed bead work. Plus, speaking of not reinventing, I’d already engineered the type of piece I made for this challenge, having made other medallion, banner style pieces. Also, the colors of the keys were right up my alley: though I do use bright colors, I am more drawn to metallic and matte surfaces. My style!

How to find your style

As you see, Marlene and I developed personal styles only after we’d worked to grow a jewelry-making vocabulary. We’d already explored different techniques and materials, so we had many choices we could use. Beads, Baubles & Jewels is all about helping you build your own buffet, so you can develop your personal style, too. The teachers and designers on Beads, Baubles & Jewels are experts who show you what’s new in materials and tools; how to work techniques in wire, beadweaving, metals and more; and how to simply play as a designer. Find your style—or styles! So check out the sneak peek at My Style, Your Style, and be sure to pre-order the latest season of Beads, Baubles & Jewels for even more ideas and inspiration!

Did our key challenge open some doors to your own ideas? Share them with us!

New Beading Daily editor!

Leslie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:01:00 GMT

Hi! I'm so happy to be your new Beading Daily editor!

First and foremost I want to thank Michelle Mach, the founding Beading Daily editor, who has moved on. Michelle helped create an astounding online bead and jewelry community for all of us. We’ll miss her easy writing style and creativity from the past two years. Big cheers for Michelle! The good news is that she told me she'd be delighted to contribute from time to time. Share your wishes for Michelle on the forums!

Magazine scene

I’m thrilled to take up where Michelle left off as the new Beading Daily editor, and lots of you already know me. Perhaps you recognize my face from my photo in Step by Step Beads, for whom I’ve been the editor in chief for almost five years.

You may have taken one of my Bead Fest classes. Maybe you've seen my designs published in Beadwork, Step by Step Beads, Creative Jewelry, Easy Wire, or in a few Interweave books. I even did some technical illustrations for Beadwork.

A short history of an editor

Since getting my BFA in illustration from UArts in Philly, I’ve done a lot of things, and Interweave allows me to finally bring everything together! I was a copywriter and product designer for The Franklin Mint, wrote script cards for QVC, had art features published in Niche, American Style and The Surface Design Journal. I had my own business making wearable art, fabric sculptures and jewelry, selling at the American Craft Council shows and the Buyers Markets of American Crafts. I made my own blog web site and also sell on Etsy. I’ve even been a movie and TV extra. But mostly I love to bead!

Leslie's bead health tip for today:
Wear lots of jewelry as weight-bearing exercise!

Doodlebeads

Maybe because my dad was in the computer biz since they filled rooms, I’ve always loved the tech world. I was on the internet the second it was invented! I started making videos for my daughter’s school assemblies, then my personal blog, then as an Interweave editor. Next came video tutorials for Beading Daily. Called Doodlebeads because I draw out the thread paths as a teaching aid, these tutorials for beginner bead stitchers are already on Beading Daily in the How To section.

Beads, Baubles & Jewels

I love making jewelry, but mostly I love inspiring other people to make jewelry. I have experience in almost every medium and technique but my passion is seed beads. I was asked to teach Doodlebeads on Beads, Baubles & Jewels, the PBS TV show which Interweave sponsors. I just completed taping 12 episodes for the TV show, but a new Doodlebeads DVD with all 12 basic stitches will be in the Interweave store by the end of October of this year!

Beading Daily is yours, mine and ours!

Old friends or new, share what inspires you, what you want to learn, and what your most (or least) favorite posts are. One of the best things about beadingdaily.com is that we are so connected, you with me, me to you, you with each other. We have post comments to share, lively forums, galleries, contests, lessons, videos, Bead Fest bead show events-- so many ways to have a bead-in going all the time. So it’s your turn to tell me about yourselves. Beading Daily is ours! There is an amazing wealth of experience and humor being shared on Beading Daily, being tweeted and blogged and facebooked. So find a forum and let everyone know your wish list for Beading Daily. Who are you and what do you want? More videos? More projects? Which medium? Fewer, bigger, easier, more challenging? Bring it on! Please share your comments. It takes a village, right? Together, we’re making Beading Daily the best jewelry-making neighborhood around!

Happy beading!

Why we save back issues!

Leslie — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:05:00 GMT

My allergist once asked me if I had many old magazines stashed in my home, because they collect particles which could set off my symptoms. Once I stopped laughing, I explained that I had an even more serious condition as a jewelry maker: packratism! Do I have lots of magazines? Don't we all? One of our editors refers to herself and all jewelry-makers as magpies, because we love to hoard shiny, pretty things. This applies to collecting back issues, too. To justify our compulsion, and boost everyone's creative health, here are comments from several editors sharing how and why they save back issues, and some of their favorites.

Save things in a sketchbook

Mostly I cut and paste appealing colors, textures and materials in my sketchbooks, leaving blank pages so i can doodle and design my own work as inspired by those snippets. I also tear whole pages and put them into folders, which are so much fun to go through again and again. New ideas come each time I see something, and there's so much I forget about. Of course, anything remaining after my dissection gets recycled. —Leslie Rogalski, Editor, Interweave

Save for tomorrow what you can't do today.

I love flipping through back issues and seeing projects I meant to do but never got around to making. The one on my bench right now is Helen Drigg's Copper Wire Spirals bracelet. I save every issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. It's my metals bible. —Denise Peck, Editor in Chief S tep Step by Step Wire Jewelry and author of 101 Wire Earrings.

Save what motivates you to create

If an article, photo or feature moves me to get in my studio and create, then I keep it, and file it in my "inspiration" folder. I love the projects, learning new techniques, and seeing the intricacy in the detailed photographs. Two of my favorites are Enameling, July 09, and the July 08 Wire Works features from Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. They inspire me to do my own work every time I see them. —Karen Dougherty, Interweave marketing graphic designer

Save the technical lessons you value most

I save all back issues that have information about hard-core metals techniques: like damascene (the art of hammering gold into steel), casting, wax carving, hammer forming, chasing, mechanisms and clasps fabrication, etc. I tag tips and tricks, and profiles or photos or both of work by my personal jewelry heroes. Chasing is a great beginner metals technique and a very low tech way of getting fantastic and sophisticated results using just a hammer and punches and a pitch pot. There are several hammer forming features I often refer to by silversmith/tool developer and designer William Fretz. In the August 2009 issue he had a Mobius Circle pendant of heavy gauge brass which was my favorite kind of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist project: inexpensive materials and all about mastering a specific technique — in this case, hammer forming a 3D object starting from flat sheet and hand planishing (smoothing metal with a special type of hammer) it to a high polish.—Helen Driggs, Managing Editor, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist.

Keep must-have resources at your fingertips

No matter what your jewelry-making skill level or material you work with, there are always new tools you're going to want! I save issues that have great resource features. My favorites are the Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Cool Tool features. I keep these articles out as handy references, because the great photos show you all the jewelry-making tools with a description of what each tool is used for. I'm using them to make my holiday wish list and gift list! —Jane Dickerson, Editor Step by Step Beads and author of Chain Style: 50 Contemporary Jewelry Designs.

Save what you love to look at again and again.

As the editor of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, I look at back issues all the time to see what worked, what could have been better. But I'm always amazed how compelling some things continue to be, regardless how often I look at them. I love "You Made It Real" in the September 2009 issue, where readers have turned their sketches on suggested themes into actual jewelry. I reread "Sketching for Jewelry Artists" in the March 2009 issue because it explains how the creative process is enhanced and preserved through drawing, and then I reread Cool Tools & Hip Tips in the same issue because it describes how drawing tools work. I have to read "A Jeweler's Guide to Fossils" whenever I look at the August 2009 issue because I love thinking about ancient life on earth, I love the forms you see in fossils, and the writer cracks me up every time. I love being reminded of all the cool stones that exist when I flip through my back issues. But the issue I probably linger on the most is August 2007. The luminous Ginkgo brooch on that cover is just the most beautiful, lovely, exquisite design I've ever seen. And it's not even full of the screaming colors I usually love! —Merle White, Editor in Chief Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Editorial Director, Interweave Gem & Jewelry Group

And one more thing: Keep organized.

I'd hoard every complete issue of every jewelry magazine, but space won't allow it, though I do save many complete issues in inexpensive cardboard magazine boxes. It sort of keeps things organized, at least until I make time to go through them and get my favorite stuff into my sketchbooks! —Leslie

How to Add Thread Mid-Project: Tips and Video

Michelle M. — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:43:00 GMT

Though many beaders do it, I don’t like working with long thread. It tangles, it knots, it snags under the casters on my chair, or reels in my cat as she plays with the nest of excess at my feet....(read more)

7 Tips for Designing Summer Jewelry

Michelle M. — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:14:00 GMT

I am so a Summer girl. Warm weather means lighter clothing in both color and fabric weight, so I can wear jewelry against my skin instead of around a turtleneck--so many more parts to adorn, from throat and ears, to arms, wrists, ankles and even toes. (I have to admit I can’t get comfy wearing toes rings, but they look great with a nice pedicure!) Bared arms just scream for stacks of bangles and anklets are elegant against a tan. Fashion fabrics show a perfect palette for the colors of summer—especially blues and greens. I am a green girl all year round, but the greens of summer seduce me because they evoke the ocean....(read more)