The Beading Gem

Aren't soutache jewelry designs just amazing? If you are keen to try, making soutache earrings is a good project to start with.  Even half of a pair will yield a pendant!

Many readers were bowled over when I first wrote about soutache jewelry about 2 years ago. Since then, I have come across many soutache jewelry designers. Ever wonder who was the original designer to come up with the innovative technique which so many now emulate?

Those piggy beads sure were a hit with the creative crowd when they were featured in last week's Best Buy's gift certificate giveaway.  Especially after they saw the slinky bracelet made with them.  Then ideas started to percolate in many minds!

Some jewelry makers specialize in tiaras.  They are awesome bridal jewelry and depending on what you use, tiaras can also be scaled down for little princesses.  So here are some lovely tiara inspirations to add to my previous collections.

Perler or Hama beads are fun for crafting.  These beads are usually arranged on a pegboard before being ironed to bond them together.   It's the sort of project ideally suited for children - with adult supervision since it involves a hot appliance.  But for adults?  Not so much.

Hasn't this summer been brutal for heatwaves?  Well, the good news is you can wear pretty beaded barefoot sandal anklets!  Aleshia of Beadifulnights  has a really elegant design tutorial which will dress up ordinary sandals. 

Some people use ball headpins for this style of all in one headpin earrings.  However, you can also use headpins for the faux metal work look!  I made this pair of earrings for myself using stainless steel headpins from Prima Bead's latest products.

Remember my announcement about being accepted as one of Prima Bead's (Cousin subsidiary) blogging partners?  Well, here is the first month's design challenge using their new stainless steel findings!

There are many wonderful wire work artisans out there but few do something really different.  Romanian artisan, Andreea Bololoi, is one of them.  I first stumbled upon her work on Facebook and was enchanted with her refreshing contemporary style.

My favorite glass beads are Czech made mainly because of tremendous range of bead colors, types and finishes.  No wonder, as Czechoslovakia, in particular the provinces of Bohemia and Moravia, have a long history of bead making.

Piggy Beads

It might be difficult for beginners to create a beaded flower ring.  There are actually two parts to the design - the flower itself and the ring band.  So learning how to do just the one thing might well help someone starting out with wire work.

The greenish patina color which develops on copper can be lovely. But if you don't have anything to patinate jewelry piece with or perhaps you are leery of using liver of sulfur, there is a solution. Just fake it!  

Apart from wearing your small bills as a matter of convenience, I see no real reason to make a ring from a dollar note.  But origami enthusiasts will probably love the challenge!

Statement necklaces need not be heavy affairs.  Nor do they have to require hours and hours of work. One way to make an open yet attention grabbing design is to make a multistrand looped necklace.

Have you tried the popular form of single bead wire wrapped ring design (see links below)?  If you have, you will be pleased to see this innovative variation by Rachel Murgatroyd.  Perhaps try it too!

Rumi Sumaq is the business name of Peruvian artisan Coco Paniora Salinas and his American wife Melanie Vento.  They met and fell in love in Peru when Melanie was taking a break there from Bolivia while doing part of her medical anthropological studies.  They lived in Cusco for a while as Coco and his brother had a jewelry store there.  The couple moved back to the US in 2010 and now tour the art show circuit.

Trying to make a jewelry business succeed requires not just hard work but also business knowledge.  There were a number of readers who said in last week's Arts Business consultation giveaway how much they needed advice and help from an experienced consultant like Carolyn. 

Doing wire work might be daunting for beginners.  That's why I so like forgiving projects where the informal approach still produces great looking pieces.  This really pretty Mesa Rose flower earrings tutorial by Sue over at Mr Micawber's Recipe for Happiness blog.  The turns are formed with either the round or chain nose pliers.

Lampwork artist, Mary Ann Helmond's signature designs are her stunning peacock pieces.  In an delightful turn of events,  her peacock lampwork bead bracelet now graces the cover of a new novel!

I should have written about this a long time ago because it is a clever technique worth sharing.   Cathe Holden's clever tutorial uses the acrylic stamps themselves to create the illusion of engraved jewelry. She included several examples of the stunning pieces you can do with this method. I picked 2 of my favorites.

 Sylvie Lansdowne is a wonderful glass artist who was "coaxed over to the dark side" adding beadwork to her repertoire. When she is not beading, she likes to hang out with Gerard Butler. Sort of.

I've featured some pretty awesome polymer food jewelry before (see links below).  They are so realistic, you almost want to take a bite!  Nothing is more scrumptious than the ones which mimic baked goods. 

The most common wire wrapped tree is the tree of life pendant.  Check out the tutorial post here.  But there are other ways to make the tree.  This open work copper tree tutorial  by Oksana Trukhan is a delightful version.

Russian wire work artisan Kseni Vokhmentseva says her creations in her Etsy store, Kesmi are "mad wire designer jewelry for daring people". I cannot agree with the mad part because her unique designs are not. They are however, eclectic, bold and oh so different. Refreshingly so.

Encantado  Necklace

Jewelry making is such a wonderful craft and hobby.  That first foray into making beautiful accessories sometimes develops into a small business.   Then comes the realization making the jewelry is actually the easy part.  The issues about how to sell and where to sell as well as the ins and outs of running a business soon arise.

ABI blog post : Connecting Emotionally with a Customer

Sian Nolan is passionate about bead work. This UK artisan beads a lot as you can see from her Flickr photostream!  She teaches bead work both in her native England and in Germany.  She is also a regular contributor to UK Bead magazine and sells her own design tutorials in her Etsy store. 

Need something special for the evening?  Or want to make beautiful bridal or prom bracelets?  You can't beat the combination of pearls and silk organza ribbon.

Have you ever wandered down Michaels - a very dangerous place for the wallet - and ogled the scrapbooking supplies?  Scrapbooking supplies can indeed be used to make really fun jewelry.  Here is example using fabric and felt.

Are you a beadweaver who only does beadwork?  Maybe it is time to get out of your comfort zone and explore other forms of jewelry making.  Not only will you add more skills to your repertoire, you will also move into new design pathways as you incorporate them into your core interest.

My apologies to the erroneous message you saw today asking you to resubscribe. I am not certain how it occurred.  I don't believe that should have happened for email subscribers. I am currently sorting it out.  So this is also a test message.   Please bear with me. There are so many of you that I cannot do corrections manually. 

Painting is something many us do ourselves to freshen up our homes.  First thing we do is to get paint chips so we can decide.  But instead of tossing the chips away when you are done with it, why not recycle them?  They make easy ombre style jewelry as you can see from these creative designers!

I shared my exciting news over on Facebook and Twitter last week. Many of you probably missed it so here is the formal announcement!   Prima Bead picked me as a blogging partner, one of 10  selected from a field of 50 bloggers.  Needless to say, I am thrilled to bits!

Mirror Beads

Isn't it wonderful there are so many chances to win the beautiful elephant friendly tagua beads?  The giveaway last week from Ecuadorian Hands  certainly interested a number of people.  The beads are natural, lightweight and colorful!

Anne Cecilie's ring tutorial over on Jewelry and Polymer Clay Heaven is definitely spectacular. It features a snake eye (type of cat's eye) cabochon.   I like how she used an adjustable ring base rather than a beaded ring band as an alternative.