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How easy is this? Make a small piece of peyote stitch beadwork. Make sure the ends mesh with each other and then zip it up. You have just created what might be the most versatile piece of beadwork known to humankind: the peyote stitch beaded bead. You can make an easy beaded bracelet by stringing a few...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Jul 19, 2011
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Filed under: Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Bead-weaving, Bracelet Making, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making
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One of the reasons why I love beads and beadweaving and bead stitching and bead stringing (I'll quit while I'm ahead) is the long history behind beads and beadweaving. Beads are endlessly fascinating, and the stories behind the beads themselves can provide inspiration for endless numbers of beading...
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When I inherited my mom's jewelry after she passed away, a necklace in her collection caught my eye. It was obviously very old (Mom loved vintage jewelry, just like me!) and made from some sort of plastic, either Lucite or Bakelite. A short length of transparent plastic chain, it had several oval...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
Jun 12, 2011
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Filed under: Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads
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Even though I don't do it too often, I love knotting strands of pearls and gemstone beads. There's nothing quite as iconic as a single strand of knotted pearls: I'm thinking of June Cleaver or Jackie O. Pearls add instance elegance and class to any special outfit. With wedding and prom season...
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
on
May 13, 2011
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Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Bead Making, Stringing, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Necklace Making, Beaded Wedding Jewelry, Beads, Jewelry Making, Pearl
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What is the Tucson Bead Show? Tucson during the bead shows is impossible to describe. It is not “a bead show,” not even “bead shows.” It’s a universe of about 50 independently produced venues of beads, gems, jewelry, minerals, fossils, and imported goods of all kinds, all...
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Leslie Rogalski
on
Feb 12, 2010
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Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Glass Beads, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Step by Step Wire Jewelry Magazine, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Beading Daily
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3 Misconceptions About Gems Ask anyone in the jewelry trade what makes a good gem and the standard answer is "rarity, beauty, and durability." The problem is that many people take these ideas to mythic proportions and believe that all gems have to be all three of these things. Here's why...
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Meet the Semiprecious Beads Design Contest Winners Many thanks to everyone for sending in just under 200 exciting entries to our Semiprecious Beads Design contest. It was not easy to choose just three winners, but ultimately Leslie Rogalski of Step by Step Beads and I both agreed wholeheartedly on why...
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Michelle Mach
on
Apr 17, 2009
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Filed under: Bead Embroidery, Gemstones, Pearls, Bead Making, Stringing, Glass Beads, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead Crafts, Beads, Beading Daily
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Mix It Up I met a well-known jewelry designer last year who confessed that she sometimes enjoyed mixing high- and low-end components together--beads from her local craft store with some high-end silver or handcrafted art beads or findings. I admitted to her that I did this, too. Looking back, it's...
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Michelle Mach
on
Mar 20, 2009
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Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, Wire Jewelry, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Beading Tools, Bracelet Making, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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Designing Jewelry with Semiprecious Beads Design Challenge To celebrate the publication of the new book Designing Jewelry with Semiprecious Beads by Kim Gover, Beading Daily is hosting a design challenge! Rules • You must be a member of Beading Daily to participate. (It's free to sign up.) •...
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Behind the Scenes at Beads, Baubles & Jewels Marlene Blessing and Leslie Rogalski A few weeks ago, we taped thirteen segments for the 2009 spring season of the PBS-TV show Beads, Baubles & Jewels , which airs in June. Our theme this time was “Taking your jewelry-making to the next level...
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Michelle Mach
on
Feb 2, 2009
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Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Bead-weaving, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads
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A Confession Here's a confession guaranteed to fill up my inbox with reader mail: My favorite beaded watch is made with pretty Kazuri ceramic beads in various shades of blue, silver beads, and a silver watch face. Very simple to make and easy to wear. So what's the big deal? I strung it on Gossamer...
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Daily Blogs
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Michelle Mach
on
Jan 2, 2009
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Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Stringing, How To Bead, Seed Bead Patterns, Beading Tools, Bracelet Making, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Beading Daily
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If beads are so small, how could I be running out of storage space? For the last year or so, I've been buying random containers for beads and creating a bead tower in my basement. Sounds cool, but it's actually a little scary! When I was working on submissions for Stringing a few weeks ago, I...
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I recently redesigned a pair of earrings using a different gemstone colorway. I found out pretty quickly that the new stones I was using had very small holes. So, with my stash’s head pin box before me, I started trying . . . 22-gauge? Nope. 24-gauge? Nope. (I was starting to feel like a toddler...
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Daily Blogs
by
Michelle Mach
on
Sep 24, 2008
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Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Bead Making, Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, How To Bead, Beading Tools, Step by Step Wire Jewelry Magazine, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily
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Whether you’re a stitcher or a stringer, chances are you run across beads with too-small holes. You have choices: 1) jam your needle or wire through the bead, often resulting in frustration and a broken bead; 2) throw the bead over your shoulder (like with salt, it’s considered good luck...
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Healing Beads After experiencing a frustrating year of health concerns, doctors, and hospitals in 2007, I started seeing a naturopath. I'd never been to a natural healer and can't claim I welcomed Diane into my life without a big dose of skepticism. But as I have since seen results (restless...