Daily Blogs : books

Join Beading Daily's First Earring Swap

Michelle M. — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:42:00 GMT

Remember when you first got your ears pierced and you had to wear a simple post earring for a few weeks while they healed? Geez those weeks seemed interminable. That curious ritual of putting holes in your earlobes was surely a rite of passage. It was either a trip to the mall where some teenage sales clerk did it “professionally,” or a trip to the bathroom with a friend, an ice cube and a needle! I came late to the party, actually, as my mother forbade me to get my ears pierced. It wasn’t until I was off to college that I had my roommate freeze my earlobes with that melting ice cube and pierce those little holes for me! ...(read more)

6 Expert Tips for Creating Marbled Polymer Clay Beads

Michelle M. — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:43:00 GMT

If you’re like me, you’d rather not talk about how much you’ve spent on beads in your lifetime or how many of those beads have yet to be used in a piece of jewelry. Oh, the guilt! Making your own beads out of polymer clay enables you to make them for a tiny fraction of the cost you’d pay for most beads. More important, you can make them exactly the size, shape and color you want. ...(read more)

How to Use (and Mix) Metals in Jewelry Designs

Michelle M. — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:58:00 GMT

Some things are better done solo. Shopping for unmentionable comes to mind. Or flossing. Or, in our opinion, diving (we are still shocked that synchronized diving is an actual Olympic sport!). But writing beading books?...(read more)

Make Beautiful Polymer Clay Beads

Michelle M. — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:03:00 GMT

A couple months ago Beading Daily’s Michelle Mach sent me a book she wanted me to check out—she was very excited about it. But it never arrived--I think my crafty neighbor must have swiped it (Eileeeen!!). I’ll have to admit, I was secretly relieved because Michelle told me the book was about polymer clay....(read more)

Create a Beaded Journal

Michelle M. — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:01:00 GMT

I'm thrilled to introduce today's guest editor, Robin Atkins. Robin is a nationally known bead artist and author of four books, including Beaded Embellishment, a book she co-authored with Amy C. Clarke (now Amy Clarke Moore). Her two current passions are fabricating sculptural pieces and combining bead embroidery with bookmaking to create bead-embellished journals. ...(read more)

Miracles, Sea Urchins, and Other Unusual Beads

Michelle M. — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:33:00 GMT

Did you have a Sears Wish Book when you were a kid? This was the big Sears catalog packed with toys (and other stuff). I used to spend hours sprawled out on the floor circling all the things I wanted. Even though I rarely received anything on my wish list, it was fun to flip through the pages and dream....(read more)

New: Enter the Semiprecious Beads Contest

Michelle M. — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:12:00 GMT

When you're starting out, it's easiest to string one or two types of beads together. Combining three or more can be tricky. You'll need to juggle multiple colors and possibly different shapes and sizes. Because of the design skill involved, I thought it would make a great Beading Daily reader challenge!...(read more)

5 Reasons to Love Glass Beads

Michelle M. — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:51:00 GMT

To my delight, an advanced copy of my new book, Create Jewelry: Glass, arrived a couple of days ago. It’s been nearly a year since I finished making the projects and writing the instructions. Seeing the projects in print brings back memories of just how much fun this book was to make. Of the four books in the Create Jewelry series (the others being Pearls, Stones, and Crystals), the Glass book is the one I most enjoyed. Why? Because I love glass beads! ...(read more)

How to Wire Knit with a Knitting Spool

Michelle M. — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:41:00 GMT

If you’re like me, when someone asks you to make a piece of jewelry for them you automatically go to beads, findings, wire, and thread. But after reading through Elements of Style, I think I’ll open my mind a little wider next time. ...(read more)

How to Create Beaded Wire Flower Petals . . . or Books

Michelle M. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:40:00 GMT

Michelle Mach reminded me this week that the deadline for Beadwork VI: The Beaded Book is coming up December 18. Always ripe for a challenge, but woefully short on time and, quite frankly, a bit lazy, I got to thinking about the quickest way I could make beaded “pages.” ...(read more)

Fearlessly Creative: An Interview with Kristal Wick

Michelle M. — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:41:00 GMT

Kristal Wick is one of those folks who sparkle with creativity-- just take a look at her colorful new book, Fabulous Fabric Beads! I was lucky enough to catch a few minutes with Kristal before she took off to the International Quilt Show in Houston. I asked her about her signature beads, her love of color, making mistakes, and current projects. I loved her advice about creating fearlessly and listening to yourself--and your customers!--Michelle Mach, Beading Daily editor...(read more)

How to Create a Quick Cab

Michelle M. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:58:00 GMT

I seem to spend a lot of time in waiting rooms. Pediatricians, orthodontists, veterinarians, tutors . . . music studios, hockey rinks, gymnasiums. Hanging out in those dull places makes me think I’d like to make a few changes. Replacing the in-ceiling fluorescent lights with adjustable true-color lights would be a nice start. Next would be comfortable arm chairs with adjustable ottomans. Portable lap desks would be a must. And a basket filled with magnifying glasses, scissors, and thread burners would be helpful, too. Dream on, Jean, dream on . . ....(read more)

Advice on Naming Your Jewelry Business

Michelle M. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:49:00 GMT

Today I'm sharing some questions and answers from past Bead Biz columns in Beadwork magazine. The author of the column, Viki Lareau, has been in the jewelry-making business for more than 20 years. Viki is the author of Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry: The Complete Guide to Turning Your Passion into Profit.--Michelle Mach, Beading Daily editor...(read more)

What Makes a Great Jewelry Making Class?

Michelle M. — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:59:00 GMT

Last spring I took a metalworking class with Susan Lenart Kazmer, author of the new book Making Connections. Ever since her beautiful hardcover book came out, I've been thinking about that class. What makes one class good and another amazing?...(read more)

3 Asymmetrical Design Tips for Beginners

Michelle M. — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:02:00 GMT

There are a lot of beaders who just don’t go to asymmetry first when they’re designing, even though they might want to try. Their natural tendency is to always mirror the two sides in a piece, and they feel they can’t break out of the rut. For those of you who fall into that category, I’ve put together a few beginner asymmetry exercises—baby steps to do when you’re designing to get your creative eye seeing in a different way. Let’s call them “asymmetrics.” ...(read more)