Daily Blogs : sketching

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?

Create on Cue: 4 Tips to Reduce Beading Stress

Michelle M. — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:51:00 GMT

If you look at my current resume, there isn’t a section called Rewards. No presidential citations or even an “Employee of the Month” award. I’d put them on there if I had any… Well, I guess in the sexist 70s the high school band voted me “Best Legs”, but I’m not sure that would add to my credentials. And, quite frankly, the “best” part of my hail-damaged legs anymore is that they get me from Point A to Point B!...(read more)

Vintage Jewelry Inspiration: Design Sketches and Ideas

Michelle M. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:48:00 GMT

In the fall issue of Stringing, the editors (Melinda Barta, Danielle Fox, and Elizabeth Murray) all went shopping at flea markets, antique stores, and thrift stores and with some advice from jewelry designer Mysti Gulsrud, they each created a design using modern components and antique finds. ...(read more)

Sketching Beading Designs: Examples and Ideas from Readers

Michelle M. — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:31:00 GMT

Back in April, I wrote about how I sketched the design for my chain maille necklace ("Rambling Rose"). I had so many emails from beaders who also sketched their designs that I decided to ask everyone--Do you sketch your designs? More than 1,300 responded and only 26% answered "no". ...(read more)

Free Project: Chain Maille Necklace

Michelle M. — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:31:00 GMT

Beading Dangerously

The Beadwork challenge kit for the April/May issue didn't look dangerous. Provided by Bead It!, the kit contained garnets, seed beads, metal rounds, pearls, rondelles, fire-polished rounds, and a clasp. Not a subtle, dainty clasp either--this silver and garnet box clasp was a "Me! Me! Look at me!" type of closure. Doesn't sound dangerous, does it? The problem was that I was in the middle of another beading project when it arrived. I set the box clasp from the kit next to some chain maille earrings I was creating as a gift for a friend. Good-bye earrings, hello necklace!

The Initial Sketch

Anybody else out there sketch out his or her jewelry designs? (Please share--I feel like I'm the only one!) As you can see, I don't strive to make a beautiful drawing, just something that is clear enough so that I have a record of my idea. My drawings can sometimes be messy, so I often label pieces, like I did with this one, just so I remember what all those little scribbles are. This sketch is close to actual size--I often have a single notebook page filled with variations on a theme.

The Final Design

I ultimately decided to use the bold clasp as the focal point. As you can see from the sketch, I originally thought I'd have fewer chain maille components (the original earrings I was making) and that I'd use chain for the back of the necklace. The front of the necklace turned out a little differently too--this original one looks a little bit more like a bolo tie! Part of the change came about because I decided to give myself an additional challenge (apparently one challenge wasn't enough!)--I wanted to use at least one bead of every type in the kit in my project, which meant adding some strung pieces in place of the chain I originally envisioned.

Free Project: Rambling Rose Necklace

A Reader's Challenge

Beading Daily reader Melodie Lente used the same kit of beads as I did to create a bracelet that brought back wonderful memories of her mother. (See a photo of her bracelet in the April/May 2008 issue of Beadwork.) This was the first time in Beadwork history that a reader participated in the challenge! Melodie's name was chosen randomly from the more than 400 entries.

Melodie learned to bead while on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in southern Colorado when she was 10 years old. Bead embroidery was her first (and still favorite) technique, though she has taught herself many others. Melodie finds beading "a time to let the cares of the day slilp away and return to that calm, centered place."

At left is a bead embroidered mask by Melodie Lente.

It's Your Turn

Now it's your turn! Beadwork magazine will select one lucky reader to work on the next challenge project. If your name is chosen at random, you will be mailed one of the upcoming kits and have about three weeks to complete your project. Due to heavy international shipping costs, this challenge is limited to residents of the United States and Canada. Sign up by May 12th!

Michelle Mach shares free beading projects and tips every Friday on Beading Daily. If you have questions or comments for Michelle (including suggestions for future free projects), please post them here on the website. Thanks!