The Beading Gem

Guest Post by Carolyn Edlund
Executive Director of The Arts Business Institute*

You love making jewelry. It’s your passion, your creative outlet, and perhaps even a bit of an obsession. But could you make jewelry in your studio and sell it to stores as a business?

I know I have featured how to make double wrapped loops before.  However, this lovely pearl dangle earrings not only offers a video tutorial look at how to do these loops but has some useful tips especially for newbies.  The tutorial is by Gail Nettles (aka Beaded Jewelry Diva)who has an Etsy store, TasminAnn Studio Bead Art.

As Easter is not too far off, it's time for more cross tutorials in a variety of techniques.  Don't forget to check out the past ones in the links below.

I am always on the lookout for kinetic jewelry designers.  It takes a special kind of artisan to create interactive movement in what are usually static pieces.

Malaysian, Jane Chew designs jewelry as XQDesigns.  She began writing tutorials a few years ago and has since gone on to collaborate with a few other jewelry artisans.  Her new DIY Beading Club is a place where members can purchase great jewelry making tutorials at even better prices! 

You don't have to be Irish to join in the fun for St Patrick's Day.  Make yourself something green or check out these great jewelry tutorials for inspiration! Be sure to look up the links below for past featured tutorials.

I usually see scrolled wire work in earrings and bracelets but not that often in necklaces. Well, Naomi of Noxcreare not only introduced it in her necklace design, her tutorial is for a bold statement style too! Her blog is in Italian so you'll have to use Google Translate. 

Hubert Duprat is a French artist known for making bejeweled art pieces with rather unusual assistants. He rears caddisfly larvae which make glittery tubes from precious metals and gemstones! No training required!

Photo by Jean-Luc Fournier.