Pearl Blay
feature designer
unusual jewelry
Biology Inspired Jewelry by Noadi
Sheryl Westleigh is a Maine artist whose highly successful Etsy store, Noadi, caters to science fans. She makes all sorts of biologically inspired necklaces. This prolific artist creates many diverse pieces. One collection is her petri dish necklaces such as the green mold on red agar pendant below.
Pearl Blay
necklace
tutorial
How to Make Tiny Book Charm Tutorials
Tiny book necklaces are just perfect for librarians and book lovers. Maybe even for really forgetful luddites who prefer to scribble memos into a handy portable page than use a smartphone! This superb tutorial by Juliana Quest over at the Russian blog, ScrapShopChallenge shows even the stitching of the book's pages much like a book binder would do. The book cover is also beautifully done. At the end, she shows some gorgeous examples of how to decorate the charm.
Pearl Blay
brooch
jewelry
movie
tutorial
Game of Thrones Jewelry Tutorials
I think I can safely say Michele Carragher's Amazing Bead Embroidery from the Game of Thrones TV Series blew our minds! Well, almost all of us are certainly nowhere near her caliber but we can content ourselves with other DIY Game of Thrones fan material!
Pearl Blay
necklace
tutorial
Jackson Pollock Inspired Necklace Makeover Tutorial
Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) was the American abstract artist who was famous for his drip painting style. That free spirited and liberal splattering of paint inspired a makeover of an existing necklace in a big way as shown by Erica Domesek's tutorial over on PS. I Made This.
Pearl Blay
high tech jewelry
Airo Bracelet Helps Keep You Healthy and Trim
This is the time of year I regret pigging out! Don't you wish you could keep track of calories without having to take note of your calorie intake? Or know if you are really getting enough exercise and not just fooling yourself? Well, the latest wearable tech gadget, Airo does all that and more.
Pearl Blay
earrings
tutorial
wire work
wirewrapped
Wire Wrapped Gemstone Hoop Earrings Tutorial
Bettina Johnson on the "OH" Everything Handmade blog wrote a great tutorial on how to make a wire wrapped periodot pair of earrings that's easy for beginners to follow (Update : that website may be temporarily unavailable). No need to get intimidated by this one!
Pearl Blay
beadwork
Christmas
seasonal
tutorial
Beaded Angel Tutorial and Inspirations
I thought beaded angels would be the ideal theme on Christmas Day. A day I wish for peace and happiness to all. So if you do celebrate the day, have a wonderful time with family and friends.
Pearl Blay
Fun Jewelry Tutorials from Plastic Bottles and an Inspirational Artisan
People have been making and wearing jewelry for eons. Some of the earliest beads were simple pierced shells dating back as long as 100,000 years ago. The materials these early jewelry makers used were things they either found themselves or traded for. The practice of using readily available things is long standing.
Pearl Blay
recycled jewelry
tutorial
How to Recycle Knitting Needles into Bangles
I used to knit a lot. That was before I discovered jewelry making. Those needles have become my wire work mandrels. But if you don't have a use for knitting needles any more, consider recycling them into bangles.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
bracelet
rings
tutorial
All Peyote Seed Bead Jewelry Tutorials
Peyote is such a versatile stitch. Here are 2 jewelry tutorials which feature just this stitch. These simple designs are not embellished in any way which allows the evenness of the finished pieces to shine. Mixing colors either irregularly or in a color wash fashion are both effective.
Pearl Blay
bracelet
earrings
recycled jewelry
tutorial
Recycled Wire Jewelry Tutorial
Crafters are resourceful and perhaps very environmentally conscious. Some are adept enough to go after all sorts of household wire for jewelry making. Even if you are the kind who prefers precious metals, recycled wire makes for good practice wire.
Pearl Blay
tutorial
Embedded Colored Pencil Jewelry Tutorial
Wood is a wonderful natural choice for jewelry. Colored pencils are largely made from wood and it's no wonder a number of artisans have seen the writing on the wall as far as making jewelry is concerned.
Pearl Blay
book review
metal work
wire work
Book Review - Hot and Cold Jewelry Connections
The path we all thread as jewelry designers is a long one with plenty of diversions. Some of us find a comfortable spot and stay there. But for those of us who wander, we eventually reach the point where we consider moving on to hot techniques and basic metal work. While it is possible to make cold connections with rivets and wire work, soldering and torch work allows even more design possibilities.
Pearl Blay
necklace
tutorial
wire work
wirewrapped
Love Knot Wire Work Pendant Tutorial
It's fairly easy to do a love knot in wire as it is basically constructed from 2 interlocking loops. But one of the best love knot jewelry tutorials I have come across has to be this absolutely clever love knot pendant tutorial by Denny Diamond (what an appropriate name just like mine!)
Pearl Blay
bracelet
feature designer
necklace
wire work
wirewrapped
Copper Wire Work Jewelry By Wire Moon
UK based artisan Amanda Burton has a science background. Her creative drive is so strong though her long term goal is to freelance as an artist and a jewelry designer. Amanda's website, Wire Moon shows her incredible talent at drawing and mixed media work as well as in wire jewelry making.
Pearl Blay
bracelet
necklace
tutorial
Plastic Canvas and Rhinestone Chain Jewelry Tutorials
Plastic canvas has been around for ages. Making jewelry with it is not new either. But making the jewelry look good with extra sparkly needs thinking outside the box! Kim over on Crafts Unleashed rose to the challenge for her bow bracelet and necklace tutorial.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
necklace
tutorial
Superduo Beaded Pendant Tutorials
2 hole beads are all the rage. Superduos are made in Czechoslovakia. They are a bit bigger than the twin beads from Preciosa which is also from the same country. Here are some of my superduo tutorial favorites. Italian beader, Patty Perline, has an awesome Super Duo pendant tutorial called the Rosa Carolinga on her blog. Her diagrams are self explanatory.
Pearl Blay
earrings
resin
tools
tutorial
video tutorial
Cool Resin Earrings Tutorial Uses Tube Wringer for Corrugated Metal Strips
Starving artists like ourselves cannot afford the kind of tool to get a corrugated effect on thin metal strips and sheets. It will set you back a few hundred dollars! The texture is cool though as you can see from this past tutorial. The good news is you can get that same result with a tube wringer!
Pearl Blay
beadwork
rings
tutorial
video tutorial
Beautiful Christmas Cocktail Ring Beading Tutorial
I've featured a number of beaded cocktail rings before - you know, those large designs which beaders do not need any alcohol to make or wear! But this tutorial by Swiss beader Natalie or La Perla Benatta on Youtube is unusual for a number of reasons.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
book review
Book Review - Soutache and Bead Embroidery
It still astounds me to know soutache (pronounced as "su-tash") jewelry was pioneered as long ago as the 1980's by Dori Csengeri (see my past post) and yet it's only in the last few years that this technique has really become popular. The internet surely had something to do with it!
Pearl Blay
tips and tricks
tutorial
wire work
How to Make Coiled Wire End Caps
I usually make my own coiled wire end caps using either a wire coiler or a suitably sized knitting needle. That way I can make any size I like including for double corded necklaces. I tend to use 20G wire but you could also use much thicker (and stronger wire) as shown in the first link below.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
feature designer
Amazing Bead and Found Object Art by Blue Bower Bird
Jane Elizabeth Perkins of Blue Bower Bird is a British artist who combines beads and all things plastic to create amazing works of art. In her previous life, she was a nurse and a stay home mother for several years. She yearned to further her native creativity. So she went back to school and obtained her degree in textiles, focusing on found materials in her final year.
Girl in a Pearl Earring after Johannes Vermeer's masterwork |
Pearl Blay
bracelet
tutorial
How to Make Lashed Leather Bracelet Tutorials
Lashing with thin leather is one great way to bind jewelry components together. So let's check out these fabulous ideas. Berrila's tutorial showed how she lashed together a rhinestone chain with thin leather cord for a stunning but easy bracelet. Check the last link below for the alternate way of placing the button clasp.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
necklace
tutorial
Tila Bead Necklace and Pendant Tutorials
2 hole beads are all the rage. I've been coming across many great tutorials. They feature big ones like the Tila beads to the smaller ones like Super Duos and twin beads. The little beads are too intimidating for you? Then Tila beads are for you. The Tila Bead necklace tutorial by Domestic Diva is perfect for beginners. A clever use of side holed beads to help form the circle.
Pearl Blay
earrings
tutorial
Easy Geometric Wood Earrings to Make
I love organic wood for jewelry. But if you're no woodworker like me, then cutting out wood might be challenge. Not so much if you follow Manda's wood earrings tutorial over on her blog, Merry Thoughts.
Pearl Blay
beadinggem designs
Pearl's Designs
tips and tricks
tutorial
wire work
How to Make Secure Wire Cord Ends with Spirals or Scrolls
Call me paranoid. But when I designed the All Tied Up in a Bow necklace for a recent Prima Bead post, New Year's Eve. I didn't want to do what I usually do with cord ends - make a coil and shove up the cord with a bit of glue inside. This design was made up of many cord ends so I wanted to make sure every single one stayed put.
Pearl Blay
book review
wire work
wirewrapped
Book Review - Weaving Freeform Wire Jewelry
If I had to pick what I thought was the most popular as in "I-so-want-to-learn" jewelry making technique, it would be wire work. It's a cold connection method which means no torch or soldering. The results are also lovely especially wire weaving.
Pearl Blay
tutorial
video tutorial
wire work
wirewrapped
Wire Wrapped Angel Link Bracelet Tutorial by Rachel Murgatroyd
Most angel jewelry designs are usually earrings or ornaments. So this wire wrapped angel link bracelet video tutorial by Rachel Murgatroyd is special! It's not too difficult to make but it will require consistency to make each link similar. The clasp is also angel shaped but is not beaded to differentiate it from the other links.
Pearl Blay
feature designer
wire work
Beautiful Wire Work Jewelry by Anna Mroczek
I rarely come across an artisan who often uses fine silver (99% silver; sterling silver is 92.5%). The almost pure silver tarnishes more slowly than sterling. Polish artisan Anna Mroczek on Etsy couples the use of fine materials with some awesome wire work skills for outstanding designs.
Pearl Blay
giveaway
Winner of the Modaus Steady Stand SS300 Photo Studio Kit Giveaway
Last week's Modahaus Stead Stand SS300 kit giveaway was very popular. Taking good jewelry photographs is always a challenge. I was pleased to see a number of readers already have one photo studio much to their satisfaction. Not surprisingly, they wanted to see if they could win this unit which would compliment what they have.
Pearl Blay
beadinggem designs
bracelet
Pearl's Designs
tutorial
video tutorial
wire work
wirewrapped
How to Coil and Wire Wrap an Easy Bangle Tutorial
When I stumbled upon Wyatt White of Beadalon's technique of making an easy coiled wire bangle, I knew it was a winner! It is a quick way to make a stable wire form bangle which works like memory wire in that it holds its shape and is claspless. Adding beads with some simple wire wrapping results in one of a kind designs.
Pearl Blay
beadinggem designs
bracelet
earrings
necklace
Pearl's Designs
Prima Bead : New Year's Eve Jewelry Inspirations
Now that Thanksgiving is out of the way, it's time to think about December's festivities. The Prima blogging team's challenge this month was to create designs which "you could picture wearing out to a fancy party or fun gathering to ring in 2014."
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