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Gone are the days when the only shapes of beads we had to choose from were cylinder or round. In the last two years, designers of glass beads have created innovative and exciting shapes of glass beads that have unlimited potential in your own beaded jewelry designs! I have to admit, though, that as excited...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
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Apr 15, 2013
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Filed under: Peyote stitch, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, Herringbone Stitch, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Mixed Media Jewelry, Necklace Making, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Beaded Jewelry
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Of all the jewelry-making supplies out there, my favorite (next to seed beads, of course) has to be wire. I wasn't always a fan of wire wrapping techniques, but once I saw just how versatile it is, I started reading up on my wire wrapping tutorials wherever I could. Wire and beads can be used to...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
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Apr 12, 2013
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Filed under: Gemstones, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Seed Bead Patterns, Mixed Media Jewelry, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making
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I recently rekindled my love of the glass druk when I started designing my Hoarder of Beauty necklace using a handful of Czech glass gumdrop beads. As I was designing the individual components that went into the finished design, someone suggested that I use bicones. I knew I didn't have enough bicones...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
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Apr 1, 2013
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Filed under: Gemstones, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making
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My new stash of two-hole Twin beads has me pretty smitten with their shape and all their design possibilities! In just a few days, bead lovers from all over the world will be descending on the city of Tucson, Arizona for some of the world's best gem, mineral, and bead shows! From my little corner...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Jan 30, 2013
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Filed under: Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Beading Tools, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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A couple of weeks ago, my family piled into the van and we made a road trip down to the Old Forge Hardware Store in Old Forge, N.Y. Now, if you're not familiar with this hardware store, it's more like a department store -- there are three floors filled with craft supplies, kitchen tools and cookware...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Jan 28, 2013
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Filed under: Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Mixed Media Jewelry, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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Today is 12.12.12! We're almost halfway through December, and there are less than three weeks left in 2012. I always get a little nostalgic in December, and I usually take some time to meditate and reflect on all the wonderful things that have happened during the year. This year is no different,...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Dec 12, 2012
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Filed under: Chain Maille, Bead Embroidery, Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Brick Stitch, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Steampunk Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Mixed Media Jewelry, Jewelry Stringing Magazine, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Beaded Jewelry
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I need another beading tool like I need a hole in the head, right? But a couple of weeks ago, I caved in and bought one of the new Big Kick machines from Vintaj, with the idea that I would make some lovely embossed brass pieces for earring making projects. Little did I know that playing with this machine...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Dec 7, 2012
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Filed under: Bead Embroidery, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Brick Stitch, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Mixed Media Jewelry, Earring Making, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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Who among us can resist the lure of beautiful handmade pearl jewelry ? The legacy of pearls throughout history is as fascinating as it is mysterious: pearls were once a luxury enjoyed only by kings and queens, retrieved from the depths of the oceans and seas. These days, pearls can be found in all kinds...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Nov 16, 2012
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Filed under: Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Bracelet Making, Beaded Wedding Jewelry, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Pearl
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One of the best gifts I ever gave to myself was when I signed up for my first series of lessons to learn how to bead. It was supposed to be a little reward to myself for finishing up my Bachelor's degree after ten years of working my way through college, but little did I know that it would turn into...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Sep 26, 2012
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Filed under: Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Polymer Clay Beads, Necklace Making, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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With so many different kinds of beads out there, it comes as no surprise that beads can be made out of just about anything. Really! I've seen some beads made out of pretty strange stuff -- think moose droppings, bullet casings, and chewed-on pencil nubs. But never fear, even if you're fresh out...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Sep 10, 2012
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Filed under: Peyote stitch, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Polymer Clay Beads, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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On my recent trip to Bead Fest Philadelphia, I made a trip across the river to southern New Jersey, where I got to meet up with the fabulous Amy Blevins and see her gorgeous bead shop, Bead & Glass Boutique . When I travel, I like to seek out small, independent bead shops and do a little shopping...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Aug 27, 2012
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Filed under: Bead Embroidery, Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Polymer Clay Beads, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making
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I can't think of another bead-weaving stitch that is as versatile as herringbone stitch . Maybe I'm biased - herringbone stitch is, after all, my go-to beading stitch when I want to make a beaded rope for a pendant, a beaded bezel for a cabochon or a crystal stone, or make a fancy beaded collar...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Aug 17, 2012
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Filed under: Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, Herringbone Stitch, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Bracelet Making, Necklace Making, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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EARTHLY ELEMENTS EVENING SKIES Rejetta Sellers WORLDLY ADORNMENT Andria McKee OCTOBER SUNSET Terry Ricioli RAKU BOUQUET Erin Prais-Hintz TWEET TASSEL Wenche Brennbakk FALLING LEAVES Regina D. Prince CLASP FORWARD CAMPFIRES Lorelei Eurto OF CLOUDS AND SILVER Evelyn DeNardo GEMSTONES AND DAISIES Debi Viniarski...
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I've been doing a lot of wire jewelry making projects lately, thanks in no small part to my ever-improving wire jewelry making skills. I've discovered that just knowing how to make simple loops, wrapped loops, and jump rings can translate into a whole wire jewelry project! So after seeing some...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Jul 23, 2012
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Filed under: Chain Maille, Bead Embroidery, Gemstones, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Step by Step Wire Jewelry Magazine, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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July's shipment from A Grain of Sand's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club held some fabulous finds! I couldn't take pictures of everything in the shipment (or we'd be here for a very long time), but I wanted to share a few of my favorites. (And check at the bottom of this blog for a link to...
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Beading Supplies We Love
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Jul 18, 2012
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Filed under: Wire Jewelry, How to Bead, Glass Beads, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Bead Crafts, mixed media jewelry, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Necklace Making