How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

jifrubens — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:34:00 GMT

Maybe your friend really meant she was going to stop copying and start inventing? The word ‘do’ simply implies carrying out a function, but the word ‘make’ means to bring into being. What's cooler than bringing something into being? There’s a huge international community of low-tech and high-tech artists, craftsmen, inventors, and innovators who call themselves Makers—including jewelry artists—who would be kind of insulted by the implication that they don't do anything. They spend their time making life better, smarter, easier, prettier, more entertaining and greener by making clever use of limited resources, available tools, and pure ingenuity.

Check out Makezine.com, instructables.com, and particularly Craftzine.com

You will be amazed, delighted, and inspired by the creativity of people who “just make things.”

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

lippyowner — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:17:53 GMT

I'm still at the learning stage. I lost my daughter suddenly this last summer and she was a jewelry maker. In her belongings were boxes and boxes of jewelry making materials. One box must have been her "fancy" beads. Lots of crystals, lampwork, ceramic beads along with a bunch of antique handblown glass beads. I wanted to "do something" with all this stuff, but didn't know how.

After picking up several different "styles" of books, my daughter made and sold chailmaille items, I found a kind of inner peace and enjoyment with seed beads and weaving.

I'd love to eventually be good enough to make my own designs, but right now I'm learning all the different stitches. The advice of using patterns from on-line and magazines is right. How else can us newbies learn and practice?

I know this thread has been somewhat highjacked into a copywrite issue, but it's a concern I've had. I've already been asked to enter our local craft show (I'm in a very small rural area). Because my pieces are not of my design, I've already started putting small lables on each with the designers name. Locally it doesn't mean much, just me wanting to give credit where credit is due.

This brings up the question - don't the designers that have made their designs very public by not just placing them in magazine, but publishing patterns/directions along with them, kind of expect their designs to be "out there"? I know the case from the above poster is quite a bit different. It didn't sound like her work was published as a pattern. It was from pictures (from what I understood) In Jennifer's defence, she said she gets INSPIRATION from other pieces, not that she COPIES them.

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

auroraoriginals — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:39:47 GMT

Great ideas - except! Taking a pad and pencil into an art gallery, jewelry store or museum is not always a good idea unless you plan to use the piece you are copying as only "inspiration". It is against copyright laws to "copy" any other artists work without their written permission. This is one of the reasons many of these places do not allow cameras or photos taken. The same goes for artitst designs printed in magazines or on line. I've had my work stolen and it's still out there with another persons name on it. As an artist and designer that respects others copyrighted work (once printed or photographed it is automatcially copyrighted - a formal copyright is best - but does not make the artwork any less owned by the artist - it just helps when you hit the courthouse), it hurts to the bone to see someone else getting credit for my work.

Aurora Mathews - auroraoriginals@yahoo.com

(former editor of "The BeadAholic Quarterly" 1995 - 2000)

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

auroraoriginals — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:02:10 GMT

I like all of your ideas. There was only one thing missing from your ideas about takeing a pencil set and copying ideas from "art galleries" and similar places. PLEASE when you make a suggestion like this - think about copyright issues. I am a designer (Is that a "doer"?) and I have had my designs stolen several times and it is crushing to see your work - from your artitist mind - with someone elses name on it.

Example - Augutst 2004 issue of Bead and Button with Dori Jamison's name on my work. It will float around forever, especially now that publishers are offering old issues. That is my work. A tiny space was givien in the following issue stating that Dori did indeed steal my design and then sent it in as her own. I have asked them to stop selling the OLD issue since they now know it contains a "stolen" piece of my artwork - detail for detail - but they said nope - because they know I don't have the money for an attorney. The attorney I talked to said my case against them would be solid - but he does not work for free. Being "inspired" by someone elses work is one thing - but copying is against the law and a very painful and long lasting slap in the face to the original "true" artist. - Thank you! Aurora Mathews.

P.S. - It is legal (NOT liable or slander) to name names as long as what you are saying is the truth and provable. Everything I just described is printed in the August and following issues of B and B in that year. She also won the 2002 3rd place award in "non-wearables" of the Bead Dreamz competition using my instructions to make her "stacked" baskets and used my design to make a basket that is in the Lark Book "500 Beaded Pieces" - How do you suppose that makes me feel?.

DO NOT "COPY" another artists design. Please be clear when you are suggesting to people to take a drawing pad to copy details and/or take photos (although most galleries do not allow photos for that reason).

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

Radiance@3 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:26:35 GMT

Jennifer, I can certainly relate -- so often I've envisioned some brilliant, innovative design, only to find it just can't be made to work. Or worse yet, failed to make a sketch and forgotten my idea altogether. Can you find us a source for a little pencil kit like yours? It's a great idea!

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

Pamela Caton — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:56:11 GMT

Thanks for sharing that story Jennifer; it makes me feel better. Right now I'm struggling with an idea I can't implement. I'm working on a necklace with a labradorite cabochon that I've made a beaded bezel around. What I wanted to do was use thin gauge wires with 15/0 seed beads strung on them and have the wires cascade over one side and part of the bottom of the bezel. I don't know how to attach them. I'm afraid that glue won't hold the wires in the beads for very long. Any ideas? I may have to give in and just use Fireline to attach them (which isn't the look I see in my head).

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

Brenda LA — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:50:49 GMT

I ordered a subscription to your Stringing magazine...back in Nov. 15, 2011. You charged my Visa fro $25.95 US. I called and left a message taht I haven't received any magazines yet...no phone call back...when can I expect some service????????? or my magazines???

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

satura_dtani — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:16:28 GMT

UFO drawer? UnFinished Objects?

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

pammellam — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:15:54 GMT

I know exactly what you mean about being a "doer" as opposed to a "maker". For a long time I have felt I am a "studier" as opposed to a "doer." Isn't it interesting. I also made a resolution this year that I would become a "doer". Although I didn't put it exactly in those terms! I would love to find a small set of colored pencils like you found. It sounds very useful. All of your tips are very important I think.

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

LisaM@126 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:30:29 GMT

I think those rings turned out great. I'm glad you took the time to share that story. I love rings and have been playing around with ideas. You have inspired me to just do it!

re: How to Bead Your Own Jewelry Designs

Perdita2 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:10:32 GMT

I had a great idea for a tubular peyote design recently, but when I came to stitch it, the darn thing just wouldn't come together. I finally gave in and tried cubic RAW, which worked beautifully. Shame it's my least favourite stitch!