Pearl Blay
beadwork
home decor
tutorial
Beaded Frangipani Flower Tutorial Could Be Adapted for Coasters
Estelle, a French beader based in Hong Kong, shared this Miyuki tutorial on her blog, Petit Bout de Chou. These beaded frangipani (pulmeria) flowers can be uses as pendants and earrings if you add the necessary loops. However, if you adapt the pattern and make these larger, they could become pretty awesome coasters! The Miyuki Delica beads are so even for this purpose.
Pearl Blay
earrings
feature designer
necklace
rings
supplies and displays
Eco Friendly Laser Cut Geometric Wood Jewelry by Mr Nico
Laser cutters are increasingly being used by jewelry designers. One such group is the Italian artisans behind Mr Nico. Theirs is a unique collection of laser cut and laser engraved geometric jewelry. They combine new technology with craftsmanship as each piece is hand finished and painted.
Pearl Blay
giveaway
Dollar Bead Box's Reveal and Giveaway
Watching unboxing and reveals is always fun. I've never had the opportunity to do one until now. I was delighted when I received this mystery box from Dollar Bead Box! This Chicago based small business run by Mary Noble and her friend aims to provide their Dollar Bead Club members with beads and beading products.
Pearl Blay
resin
tips and tricks
tutorial
video tutorial
How to Personalize Resin Jewelry Tips and Tricks
I first stumbled on Little Windows' creative resin jewelry tutorials years ago. They still spark my creativity each time I see them. Fran Valera has come up with the latest video on how to personalize resin jewelry. She covers 9 different techniques which take great advantage of this medium. Resin jewelry looks like glass but doesn't easily break. Best of all, you can embed objects for unique mixed media styles.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
necklace
tutorial
Minimalist Beaded Triangular Flag and Chain Necklace Tutorial
Lots and lots of people love minimalist jewelry styles. So this tutorial by Estelle of Petit Bout De Chou delivers for beaders. You do not have to be into metal work to create delicate designs! This Delica seed beads is easy to do. However, what I liked even more about it is how she put it together using a gold and black palette. She also spaced them out with chain.
Pearl Blay
cultural
feature designer
movie
Amazing Costume and Jewelry Designs from the Black Panther Movie
You don't have to be a Marvel Superhero movie fan to notice the roaring opening success of Black Panther. This movie tells the tale of the new king of Wakanda, a secretive but highly technological African nation harboring a metal which imparts superhuman capabilities. He has to face a vengeful challenger and naturally, save the world in the process. Lots of action all round (see trailer ) but what really caught my eye were the amazing costume and jewelry designs. I can't wait to see the movie soon.
Pearl Blay
gemstone
tutorial
video tutorial
wire work
How to Wire Wrap a Tear Drop Cabochon
Oxanacrafts has a lovely wire wrap cabochon tutorial which is different from the typical ones I see. She wraps a small tear drop cabochon. In some ways it is easier than the more usual round and oval cabochons. First, she only had to wrap the half round wire at the base. Usually there are at least 2 more wraps at the sides of the cabochons.
Pearl Blay
Winner of Nunn Design's Winter 2018 Collection Giveaway
It never fails to amaze me how many of you adore Nunn Design's components. There were a lot of entries for last week's giveaway for their Winter 2018 Collection. So you know the competition is going to be tough for this one! Some of the adjectives readers used to describe these components - "droolworthy"- "earthy, simple, elegant" -"eclectic" and as I also said, "organic"!
Pearl Blay
beadwork
bracelet
tutorial
video tutorial
Beaded Jewelry Tutorials for a Scientist?
Something about Sonysree Creations' beaded bracelet tutorial caught my attention. I couldn't quite put my finger on the why for a while. It is a lovely and simple design for those who want a quick project. And it has a contemporary look about it. Then I realized what it was! The seed bead sections look like erlenmeyer or conical flasks which are found in laboratories! This design will be perfect for a scientist!
Pearl Blay
brooch
earrings
feature designer
necklace
polymer clay
Colorful Animal Polymer Clay Jewelry by LiskaFlower
When you work with a particular medium, you want to stand up above the crowd. Alisa Laryushkina, of LiskaFlower does just that. All her polymer creations - not just the animal designs shown here - are made up of little colorful curls of polymer clay. These remind me of curled paper crafts or iced cakes! Delicious and calorie-free!
Pearl Blay
beadinggem designs
earrings
necklace
Pearl's Designs
tips and tricks
tutorial
wire work
Wiring Up Connectors for a Necklace Tutorial | Introducing TierraCast's New Intermix Collection
I've always found design challenges a lot of fun. They can be a good way to spark creativity. Sometimes challenges could be limited to just a certain combination of materials. But recently I got to try another approach which is to use up as many components as I could in a single all metal design.
Pearl Blay
home decor
resin
tutorial
video tutorial
Contemporary Art Alcohol Ink and Resin Coasters Tutorials
Be still, my beating heart! That was my initial reaction when I spotted these gorgeous contemporary art alcohol ink and resin coasters by artist, Jane Monteith. Her tutorial shows how easy it is to create artistic pieces provided you use the right things! Jane lists all the products she uses in the info section of her videos. Also note that while these are home decor items, you could consider scaling down to jewelry size pieces using smaller molds.
Pearl Blay
earrings
tutorial
wire work
2 Styles of Easy Open Spiral Wire Earrings Tutorials
Here is an easy peasy idea for beginner wire workers! Shelly Owen of Radziela Designs shared her tutorial on her blog, Coffee, Beads and Blogging. You can make it any size you want depending on what you use as the mandrel. Using bail forming pliers as in the tutorial makes it a breeze!
Pearl Blay
necklace
tutorial
unusual jewelry
video tutorial
Watch How a Donut Pendant is Made from Bread!
I've often said jewelry can be made from just about anything. So here is yet another look at an unusual material! Watch this amazing tutorial where woodworker, Peter Brown - a self confessed "geek with a full set of power tools" makes a donut pendant from bread. Yes, bread! His suggested name for it? A gluten medallion!
Pearl Blay
rings
tutorial
video tutorial
wire work
Easy Wire Woven Ring with Open Focal Area
Christina of CSL Designs shares amazing wire jewelry tutorials which I have collected! Here is another great tutorial for a ring with an open focal area. I think is great for someone starting out with wire weaving. There are just two base wires of 20G. The wire weaving is done with 26 G. I do not recommend using 28 G for weaving simply because it is too fine. 26 G has a greater visual impact.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
bracelet
tutorial
Aztec Inspired Beaded Bracelet Tutorial Uses Ava Beads
Have you tried beading with 3-hole Ava beads? These V shaped beads have holes which go through the legs of the V as well as the apex. As you can see from Deborah Roberti's Aztec inspired beaded bracelet tutorial.
Pearl Blay
webinar
Jewelry Photography Webinar This Sunday Still Has a Few Spots! | OrangeMonkie Table Top Studios
I must have had a grey hair moment when I scheduled the February webinar for this Sunday, February 18 at 2 pm EST. Totally forgot about the Olympics! So there are still a few spots left for anyone interested. Just email me at pearl@beadinggem.com if you can make it.
Pearl Blay
feature designer
home decor
necklace
polymer clay
resin
Pond Life Polymer Clay and Resin Jewelry and Ornaments by PepperTreeArtShop
Jackie Chaves is a Florida based polymer clay artist with a passion for crafting miniatures. Her favorites are tiny food jewelry as well as tiny creatures as you can see from her Etsy store, originally known as BonAppetEats now renamed as PepperTreeArtShop. She certainly loves koi , beta fish and axoltl (Mexican salamanders).
Pearl Blay
giveaway
Nunn Design's Giveaway for the Winter 2018 Collection
Nunn Design's Winter 2018 Collection is out and there is a giveaway to mark this milestone. Some of the new components show a distinctive organic flare. Their new open bezels, hoops and bold ear wires are all noteworthy.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
bracelet
tutorial
video tutorial
As many long time readers know, I am very fond of butterflies. So imagine my delight when I saw this pretty superduo butterfly inspired bracelet tutorial from CzechBeadsExclusive. What is remarkable are the butterflies all around the beaded design - 3 columns of them in different colors.
Pretty Superduo Butterfly Inspired Bracelet Tutorial | Introducing CzechBeadsExclusive
Pearl Blay
beadwork
bracelet
tips and tricks
tutorial
How to Add a Safety Chain to a Beaded Tube Bracelet
Magnetic clasps are great as they make putting on bracelets a lot easier. But you do risk losing the bracelet as all it takes is a slight knock and the clasp could part. So adding a safety chain is a good idea. This easy tip is by Susanna O'Brien over on her bead crochet blog.
Pearl Blay
earrings
tutorial
video tutorial
wire work
Gorgeous Wire Wrapped Crystal Ear Cuff Tutorial
You may not be a fan of ear cuffs. But surely you would agree this gorgeous wire wrapped crystal ear cuff tutorial is bridal worthy! The tutorial is by Vietnamese wire artist of Lan Anh Handmade. The ear cuff frame is made first. The frame made such that it is supported by hooking on to the top of ear and curves around the back before emerging to curve up the ear.
Pearl Blay
necklace
tips and tricks
Carry Your Own Homemade Lip Balm in a Locket!
Did you like the lava beads as an essential oil diffuser idea? Then you might well like this clever locket idea which lets you carry your own homemade lip balm everywhere. No more fishing around in your handbag looking for an elusive tube of lip balm! Lip balms are so essential in dry winter conditions.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
earrings
tutorial
video tutorial
Spiral Beaded Huichol Inspired Earrings Tutorial by Miroslava
Some jewelry designers are so giving to the community. With full permission of Russian beader Miroslova, another Russian designer, Elena Miliukova has taken the time and effort to create the English version of some of Miroslava's design tutorials. This is one of them - the instructions for a spiral beaded Huichol inspired earrings. (The video is no longer available). It is suitable for beginners.
Pearl Blay
bracelet
earrings
feature designer
necklace
Statement Leather Jewelry by Olga Kutznetsova
Russian designer, Olga Kutznetsova, calls herself the "master of leather". And she well deserves that title! A choreographer and dancer by profession, but she confesses to a passion for leather. Her ability to cut and mold leather is extraordinary as you can see from my favorites from her collection.
Pearl Blay
giveaway
Winner of Ecuadorian Hands' $20 Giveaway for Tagua Beads
Judging from the comments for last week's tagua bead giveaway from Ecuadorian Hands, some of you had never heard of them before. But some of you, like LouKYMom, have not only heard of them but use them in designs. She said, " I absolutely love tagua nuts! I think I started using them in 2006 or 2007. I've sold so many designs with these lovely little "gems." I have a line of jewelry of many other naturals, reusables, etc. where I donate 45% of profits to my local animal shelters." That is so awesome.
Pearl Blay
beadinggem designs
earrings
Pearl's Designs
resin
tutorial
Faux Plique-a-jour Enamel Earrings Tutorial Uses Nail Polish and Resin
You're probably wondering what "Plique-à-jour" enamel is! The French term means "glimpse of day" or "letting in daylight". This kind of enamel technique is considered the most difficult. Glass powder is fired such that the resulting translucent enamel is suspended between wires reminiscent of stained glass. One master of plique-a-jour enamel was the Art Nouveau artist, René Lalique - see this past post on How Enamel Jewelry is Made.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
earrings
tutorial
Beaded Frame and Bird Earrings Tutorial
It's not spring yet but we can hope time will fly! So enjoy this delightful beaded spring bird earrings tutorial using Miyuki Delica beads. The tutorial is by Estelle, a French beader currently based in Hong Kong. Her work is often dainty and so it is with this design.
Pearl Blay
seasonal
tutorial
Valentine's Day
wire work
Easy Wire Wrapped Heart Ring Tutorial
Show someone a little love this Valentine's Day with this easy wire wrapped heart ring tutorial by Julie Lockhart/Copar Aingeal. This is a free tutorial on Craftsy - you do have to join (free) in order to download the PDF. The tutorial is excellent for beginners as it teaches several wire working techniques.
Pearl Blay
polymer clay
tips and tricks
tools
tutorial
Using a Miter Box to Make Polymer Clay Slices
Jane Cox shared a brilliant idea on her Pinterest. She cuts thin polymer clay slices using a metal ruler and an inexpensive plastic miter box. The slots in the box ensures the blade comes down evenly. Jane makes lovely canes as you can see from her Instagram and her Etsy.
Pearl Blay
Christmas
necklace
tutorial
Quilled Paper Flower Pendant Tutorial Can Also Be Used as Snowflake Ornaments
Ann Martin of All Things Paper creates some of the finest quilled paper jewelry designs and tutorials I have seen! Her quilled paper flower pendant is simply gorgeous as it is made with metallic paper strips. This particular alternate side looping technique does not require tools, just careful folding of the paper strips.
Pearl Blay
beadwork
earrings
seasonal
tutorial
Valentine's Day
video tutorial
Beaded Open Heart Earrings Tutorial
Love peyote stitch? Then you will love this tutorial by Leslie Sykes-O'Neill. The Delica hearts are created with peyote decreases and increases. She demonstrates how to "zip" up the sides of the hearts at the end.
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