The Beading Gem

Pretty Flower Petal Cluster Earrings by CaitlynJewelryArt

I've said it many times before. I'll say it again. It's not what you use but how you use it that counts. CaitlynJewelryArt has a collection of pretty flower petal cluster earrings. Each petal is not flat but has undulating curves.

What caught my eye was the different ways which these petals are grouped together with a diverse range of findings. That makes each design unique. The designs could be long and dangly or the petals arrayed around hoop findings.

8 Fruit Inspired Beadwork Tutorials | How to Make a Bergamot Trinket Box from a Real Orange

Fruit themed designs are always popular. There are some who even make jewelry from real fruit - see this past post which also covers the difference between freeze drying and dehydrating.

However, this collection celebrates the beaded kind! Use these tutorials not just for jewelry like earrings and pendants, but as charms for bags and keychains. Or even as ornaments as you can see from the beaded citrus fruit slices shown above by Anna of BeadedFlowersDesign.

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8 Colorful Photo Glass Cabochons for Jewelry Making

Many jewelry makers love working with cabochons. You could bezel them with beads or wire wrap them. Or glue them onto metal bezels if the sizes fit.

There are some gorgeous gemstone ones as well as those made from clay. But have you considered photo glass cabochons? The designs can be very colourful indeed.

They are made by punching out photo images and gluing them to the backs of glass cabochons. Not much of an artist or photographer? You can purchase pre-designed circle images from various artists.

Do check out my links at the end for past posts for resin tutorials. Clear resin has the look of glass but is much lighter.

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Vintage Fountain Pen Nib Jewelry by Classically Romantic | Words and Phrases from Shakespeare

First, we had a huge shift to all things digital. Indeed, many writers like me compose entirely on the computer. But there is growing revival of using real writing implements on real paper. My old fountain pens from decades ago are long gone but I've bought a couple of fountain pens in recent years to enjoy the writing process once again.

It's our human nature to want do something more tangible than tap keys, to create and form words and to feel things in our hands. It's much the same with people who prefer to read actual books which you can hold and even smell!

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Pretty Beaded Jewelry Patterns by Bingobeads

I am really pleased when I come across a beadwork instructor who creates pretty designs which stand out. This latest find is German bead artist, Bingobeads.

At a time when many of you are trying to use up smaller lots of beads, some of her designs will help you do just that. The geometric kite earrings design above as well as the quilt inspired bracelet below are excellent examples.

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Gorgeous Ceramic and Bead Mosaic Supplies and Tutorials by Sharra Frank

Thanks to reader Lynn, you and I might well have a new obsession! Making ceramic and bead mosaic art! She spotted Sharra Frank's work on Instagram, which led me to find her Youtube channel, AND her lovely shop, sharrafrankmosaics.

Sharra is a wonderful instructor and her mosaic work is so inspirational. Watch below for a couple of her shorts as well as her informative guide.

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Whimsical 3D Beadwork Tutorials by mindofjulia

There is one thing for sure about the brain behind mindofjulia, it's highly creative and imaginative. This French-Dutch creative digital nomad creates different kinds of downloadable artwork but what I love best is her adorable 3D beadwork pattern collection.

It's clear from her sushi designs she loves Japanese food. Perhaps she loves the sea too because there are her fish including cute puffer fish. And those puffed up frogs and octopuses are utterly adorable. You can use these as pendants, charms or earrings!

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Farm Animal Amigurumi Crochet Keychain Pattern Tutorials | Fun on The Useless Farm

Crochet amigurumi animals are incredibly popular. I spotted a lot of these in recent years when I've gone to various craft shows. Patterns for these are also trending in a huge way. So much so that I had great difficulty in selecting just these few! Soft and squishy little animals make for great keychain or bag charms. Please check out the links at the end if you prefer small animal beaded tutorials.

I particularly love the humourous ones like the funny chicken (and frog) pattern from kisiselamigurumi, shown above.