I haven't been doing a lot of jewelry making lately. But I've been doing some planning! I bought this pendant in a moment of weakness from White Clover Kiln. I want to make it into a necklace similar to the orange flower one that I did before. Instead of launching right into it, I sketched it out first. I think I'm going to go with the Autumn Chirp palette for inspiration for the beads on the chain. I'm definitely making bracelets out of the red poppy beads I bought at Beadfest. I found a ...
Bead Fest 2014
I'm pretty lucky that Bead Fest, "the largest bead and jewelry-making event on the east coast" is about an hour and ten minutes away from where I live. Mom and I head out every year and I spend too much money. I don't take any classes, because they are so very pricey. I can't fathom spending over around $200 for a class and still having to bring my own supplies. I know the classes are hours long and the instructors are top-notch and there is a kit included. But that money hurdle seems really ...
Stupid beading tricks: Dangly earrings
I'm doing really well at hitting my bead table (not with my head) every weekend and working with the stash I have. Coworker D is headed to Florida for vacation, so I whipped up these beachy earrings that match one of her dresses. And these I kept for myself. I was afraid they'd be heavy, but either they are light or my ears don't care anymore. I received compliments all day on them, which made me happy. Now I'm fretting, as another coworker asked me to make her a bracelet and earrings for ...
Stupid beading tricks – Save a horse, wear a necklace
I know, that makes no sense. I had a horse pendant sitting in my brown bead box for almost two years. I'm not a horse person, but I know someone who is. What's funny is that I look at the finished project and it just looks like a bunch of beads strung on beading wire. But oh my gosh I spent so much freaking time finding the 'right' beads to string. I guess that's a byproduct of having a bead box filled entirely with only brown beads. This is how bad my bead addiction is at the moment - I ...
Stupid beading tricks: Green
Last night, as I sighed dejectedly at a weather forecast that included anywhere from 5 to 14 inches of snow, I decided to pull out my beads. Inspired by St. Patrick's Day and spring in general, I focused on a selection of my green beads. One one hand, it was challenging sticking with just one color. But once I looked at my limited selection of materials, I found it easier to pull ideas together than when I'm faced with my six trays of colors. First, I made these earrings with green beads, ...
Making a statement … necklace
While at BeadFest Philadelphia last month I picked up a small mix of beads called the "Euro Fashion Mix." I've been dorking around with them for a bit and I think this is the layout I'll go with for a fall necklace. This'll go great with a crisp white blouse and a slick brown pencil skirt - two pieces I don't even own. The next step (I guess) will be to run the beading wire through and start crimping the beads in place. How many times do you think I'll flip the bead board over and lose my ...
Stupid Beading Tricks: Sorting
I haven't managed to create ONE stupid thing since before the wedding. I blame married life for sapping away all of my creativity. And the more I look at beading sites and Pinterest, the more I think I'm a talentless hack. So to reacquaint myself with my beads, I decided to clean up my trays. Meaning, sort them by color. Every. Bead. It's taken me about 2 1/2 weeks, but I'm finished. And I now have 5 color trays instead of 4. :) *** WM heads back to school tomorrow. I'm very thankful ...
Stupid Beading Tricks: Adventures in Polymer Clay
Have you ever seen polymer clay beads? They're absolutely beautiful! And there is NO shortage of tutorials online that show you how EASY it is to make your OWN beads! Make my OWN beads? Okay! Which is how I found myself with three blocks of Sculpey clay and a free afternoon. I took 1/4 of each package (chocolate, turquoise, pearl) and rolled them into long rolls, called canes. Then what you're supposed to do is cut the original cane into thirds, fourths, fifths (or whatever), combine them ...
Stupid Beading Tricks: The Only Child bracelet
After I gave my coworkers the New Orleans Bracelets, I had a humorous encounter with a member f the business department, who was impressed with the bracelets and wanted one too. "I'm an only child!" she said. "So you have to know I'm not used to seeing anyone else get something I don't have!" Well all of my New Orleans fluorite was spoken for, so I said I'd make her a different bracelet. The next day she wore an orange sweater. I think I'm moving away from working strictly in silvertones, ...
