The Beading Gem

Judging from the numerous entries for last week's giveaway of Kate Richbourg's wonderful book. lots of you are keen to embark on that final frontier voyage!  Pat Buchanan said, "I have everything but the courage to start soldering....this could be the push I need." This book and accompanying DVD is a really handy guide to have and learn from. You don't need the internet to refer to it.

Nunn Design's Winter 2016 Collection has added even more cool items to an impressive collection of jewelry findings.  There are several new charms, tags, connectors, bottle pendants, wire frames, arrows including toggle arrow bars, channel bracelets and bangles. The

Bead embroidered statement necklace designs often take some planning especially if they are to be symmetrical.  But I came across this beautifully photographed tutorial by Russian bead artist  Kathlyn (Ekaterina Burykina) which is much more casual.  It is a lovely use of lots of irregular amber nuggets. Swarovski crystals were placed here and there.

Sometimes the cleverest ideas are the simplest.  This easy prong idea for bezels requires using a jewelry saw to cut slits on the edges of an existing bezel such that the metal sections/ tabs can be folded down to form prongs.

Akiko Shinzato is a London based Japanese jewelry designer. She now designs for Vivon Jewelry Japan. Her wire facial jewelry for her Another Skin collection was created as part of her jewelry design degree at Central Saint Martins (University of Arts, London).  It won her the student category at  ENJOIA'T 2015, a competition for contemporary jewelry awards.

The need to create runs deep for many of us. Know the feeling? It's the drive that feeds our very souls. Simply put, creating makes us feel good. Yet there is rarely time to indulge when family and work take priority.  And when we do, there is always that nagging guilty feeling.  So how to balance it all?

It's one thing to create recycled or upcycled jewelry. It's another to make something beautiful out of this waste material.  Check out this great upcycled leaves tutorial from Monika on her arts and crafts blog.  The tutorial is in Polish so you will need to translate it.

Are you still struggling with jewelry photography?  The good news is I do have a few spots left for the upcoming webinar this Sunday at 2 pm EST.  So if you wish to attend, contact me asap.  First come, first served. Email me : beadinggem@yahoo.ca. Find out more here. Note there is a cost of $20 for the webinar.