Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers

If you haven't made your annual 4th of July jewelry, take a look at these adorable earrings by Michelle Mach. They have a great folk art vibe!

Lots more inspiration is below just in time for some Sunday crafting!


Beads & Books
Michelle shares some red, white, and blue inspiration for the Fourth of July.

About.com Jewelry Making
Cool off, kick off your shoes, and make some jewelry for your tootsies.


Beading Arts
Cyndi is finishing up Mixed Media Jewelry month with lists and lists of tutorials!


Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
It is food for thought...Or maybe it's just food, when Jean wonders "Who am I Today".


Resin Crafts!
A one week complex resin project featuring bezel wire and resin begins with the first of five posts.

Art Bead Scene
Heather picks out a treasury of cool and woodsy white colored beads and components for summer inspiration.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie joins along in the Bohemian Inspired Jewelry blog hop with a necklace inspired by projects in the book.

What I made when the power went out...

Yay, we have electricity!! We are spending today grateful for the local city electric company for working all night to repair electrical lines due to a brief bout of hurricane winds yesterday.

So, what kind of crafting can you do by candlelight? Just about anything as long as you can take the warmth they put out in 90 degree weather!

Since I needed to see a smiley and hadn't used one for a while, it seemed like the perfect time. Look this way for your close-up Mr. Smiley! He's pretty darn cute!

Can't wait for my next creative session in a fully lit room and a cranking air conditioner! Hope you all are well and staying cool!

What's your favorite color?

Such a cute question that takes me back to childhood. Is there something about a color that defines a person?

For me, no matter how much I take little detours into other color combinations, I always come back to BLUE!


I just did a blog search and discovered that I posted about blue beads more than I would like to admit...once again, my obsession is showing!

Here are a few of my favorites. I threw in the bracelet because it just made me happy when I saw it!

I popped over to google to find out about colors defining who you are and sure enough, there was a LOT of info. Not all the same, so here are 3 options for the meaning of blue as your favorite color:

1. Soft, soothing, compassionate and caring, Blue is the color of deliberation and introspection, conservatism and duty. Patient, persevering, conscientious, sensitive and self-controlled.

2. If blue is your favorite color you love harmony, are capable, reliable, and sensitive and always make an effort to think of others.

3. Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. The color of sky and the ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives. It invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming.

So, what's YOUR favorite color?

Surprise Bead Stash!

I hope the person I'm putting this mini-bead stash together for isn't reading blogs tonight!

I'm in the process of organizing (a.k.a. cleaning) our play room. It currently looks like a bit of a hurricane hit it now that I've dragged things out of drawers and boxes.

I mentioned yesterday that I discovered a great bead strand and it got me thinking that I'd really like to take some kind of unofficial inventory so I started digging in.

I realize now that it's time to start clearing some things that haven't been used. It's not fair to the beads to just sit there waiting and hoping...

So, I'm sharing with a bead friend at work. Hopefully she'll like them. :)

The Re-discovered Strand

Do you catalog all of your beads as they come into your life so you always know what you have and where they are?

I sure hope you are all saying "no" or at least the majority are saying "no" or I'd feel really alone...

Wishing I could answer "yes" to the above question, but alas I seem to get so caught up when I get new beads that I tear into packages and mix them into the pack.

The reason I'm asking is because I wanted to share that there is an upside to not knowing exactly what you have and where everything is located...the re-discovery!

I re-discovered this strand of beads today, yay! I didn't have to run out to the store, just the craft room!

If only the holes in these multi-color gem chips were bigger, I'd be knotting them onto hemp at this very moment! I'm sure I'll come up with something very soon!! Next week is our staycation AND that means lots of creating going on!!

Lotus Flower Discovery

I ran away for a little while tonight, want to take a guess where I went? Yes, I hear a few of you saying it loud and clear...ETSY!

It's such a nice little happy place for a quick vacation...take a few deep breaths and return to civilization...ahhh.


During this little trip I uncovered a wonderful treasure, check this out:

Lotus Flower Flexible Mold Mould for Crafts Jewelry Scrapbooking resin mold pmc polymer clay mold Utee (22mm) (245)

This was posted by "Mold Muse" Silicone Molds, wow! Sometimes I wonder how I miss products like this...so interesting and unique!

Here's a description:
"The mold is flexible with no need for a releasing agent; your finished piece will just pop out of the mold like magic. This particular silicone rubber is great for a variety of materials to include wax, soap, gypsum/plaster, epoxy, PMC, all types of resin, polymer clay, low melt alloys/metals, paper and probably anything else you can think of that requires low temperatures below 395 degrees."

I'm sitting here thinking of all the adorable pieces you could make with these flowers. I really love the bright colors, but also think you could have fun changing and mixing colors!

Thanks Mold Muse!

Happy Home for a Necklace

Yay! I found out recently this necklace now has a happy home with a friend's granddaughter.

I had passed it along to a fellow beader because I thought she might like the challenge of making it into something of her own.

Whether that meant taking it apart or turning it into a bracelet, I wasn't sure. Her granddaughter spotted it and loved it the way it was, yay! That makes me happy! :) I do love a happy ending...

That is not the most important information I wanted to share tonight, however!

Most importantly I wanted to take a minute to mention that the new crafting show, Craft Wars, premieres Tuesday on TLC! I can't wait. I was so sad after the 2005 show, Craft Corner Death Match, didn't come back for a second year and think this new show will definitely make up for it.

It is sponsored by Michael's and hosted by Tori Spelling. You can watch the trailer by clicking the link above that takes you to the TLC website. Wait till you see the VERY colorful wall of craft supplies! I am so looking forward to seeing the glitter fly!

This Week's Project: Bohemian Chain Bracelet

Tonight's project was a lot of fun to create!

I used a pre-made bracelet chain and added a multi-strand fiber necklace that is intended to be used as a necklace a pendant can be dangled from.

After weaving the strands through the chain, I used stretchy cord to string up the sparkle!

I added some crackle beads and a bunch of crystals!

It's very sparkly and feels quite bohemian. :)

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

It's a great day, we've just kicked off the weekend, yay!

Here are some great inspirational blog posts to get things started!

I love being organized, but wish I could just blink an eye and have it done for me like this picture from Tammy Powley over on About.com.

About.com Jewelry Making
Summer time means time to get organized for many of us jewelry designers. Read about how some of us get organize and consider sharing your own tips as well. 

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

Jean reviews Katie Hacker's great new book, LiveWire Jewelry!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Resin, bezels and Christmas imagery! Is it too soon to start projects for December?

Resin Crafts!
This week Resin Crafts focused on the launch of new components by Nunn Design. If you review the week you'll also find an amazing give-a-way!

Beading Arts
Brass wire, lace fabric, beads, and buttons all combine in one fabulous mixed media necklace!

Art Bead Scene
Erin Siegel shares a free project using silk ribbons to highlight a handmade ceramic pendant

Bracelet Project Must Haves

Okay, this is the last post about adding fibers of some kind to my monochromatic hemp cord bracelet, I promise. I am now hooked on looking at ribbon.

I LOVE this "fuzzy wuzzy" ribbon, it is so fun and the colors are CRAZY! (crazy-good)!

I'm going to see if I can find something like it in real life over the weekend rather than order online. Sometimes I feel the need to select craft supplies in person.

Pictured below is another item I am becoming very fond of!

I mean, seriously folks, I am going to have to have this "ribbon purse"! Where have I been and who do you know with a ribbon purse?

This is so cool, I think it could feed a number of my addictions all at one time!

Bracelet Building Update

Okay, I'm searching through ribbons at Joann's online...pretty dangerous!

Here is the first ribbon I thought would be fun to use on the yellow bracelet I've been talking about the last couple of days.

Love the combination of these contrasting colors...yellow sun and blue sky shades...NICE!

What do you think? I'm going to keep looking for tattered ribbons, that is more the style I am going for. This ribbon would give it a bit of a preppy feel, which I do have a soft spot for.

However, I think I'm going to stick with the original shabby chic look of tatters. :)

Building a Bracelet...

I'd like to add on to the thoughts I had yesterday about the monochromatic yellow hemp cord dangly bracelet...

I started my work day off perfectly when a co-worker pulled me into her office to show me her latest haul from Joann Etc., oh yeah, that's a great start to any day!

She is going to be making mini butterfly iron-on bracelets with her nieces while on vacation and chose some really great pastels, very impressive!

We also talked about a "scarf" she had seen a very crafty person wearing. Basically it was just multiple strands of fibers. Ribbon, furry yarn, tattered fabric, etc. placed around the neck and looped loosely in front as a very colorful and texture-ful expression, NICE!

That made me start thinking about the monochromatic bracelet. Once the yellow project is done, how about using multi-colored fibers by just tying on tiny strands here and there for a punch of other colors and textures?

What do you think? If not a fabulous outcome, it definitely sounds like a fun experiment.

By the way, I absolutely have to work in at least one or two of these smiley guys...

Monochromatic Beading

I was just thinking about a variation of the project I posted on Saturday.

How about using yellow hemp cord with varying shades of yellow beads as the dangles (including smiley faces)?

Sounds cute to me and cheerful!

I'll have to search for some sunshine beads too!

The other colors of hemp cord I have are purple, orange, green, red, brown.

Bring on the smiley faces!

Beads for Macrame

These beads would work perfectly in hemp cord jewelry!

I can picture them on a light tan cording or even the bleached white.

A fabulous color that can be used throughout the year. Imagine black hemp cord with these turquoise beads! Perfection!

You don't need official "large hole beads" for hemp cord jewelry, especially with a finer hemp cord that you can find today.

These are great because you can probably get two strands of hemp cord through them which is perfect!

Let me know what your favorite beads are for macrame hemp jewelry! I found these on Ebay!

EASY Knot Project

...And I mean EASY!

This is also a great way to use random, leftover beads!

Four strands of hemp cord, as many headpins and jump rings as you would like to have dangles, a variety of fun beads and a clasp!

Cut the cording, add a colorful bead or two directly to the strands. Knot two strands together, separate them and add a bead, knot on a jump ring with a dangle and keep going until you reach the desired length.

In hindsight, I would have left the ends long and dangled them out! :) Hope you are having a fun and creative weekend!

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

Yay, Friday! Hope everyone is nestled snugly in their play clothes considering some creative project for the weekend! :) Here's some inspiration to get you started!

Beading Arts 
Mixed Media Jewelry month gets off to a rousing good start on Beading Arts with a tutorial that includes buttons, beads, fabric, lace, and wire! 


About.com Jewelry Making
Leslie Rogalski is the featured jewelry designer for June. Stop by and read her wonderful interview. 


Art Bead Scene
Try adding some fiber fun to your jewelry-making this Summer season! You can set off a handmade bead or component with soft materials, like in this necklace tutorial by Erin Siegel. 


Resin Crafts!
Resin Crafts has a great demo featuring polymer clay! 


Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! 
Jean makes an appearance in not one but two new Kalmbach books of BeadStyle jewelry designs! 

Follow the Beads...

Bead inspiration, bead love or bead addiction?

It seems to me that the words bead addiction have a negative feeling about them. From now on I think I'll call my blinding desire to have or create with beads, simply Bead Love.

Would you like to jump on my bead love bandwagon? That sounds like such a positive place to be...love!

I get a kick out of the fact that I get so taken by certain beads or techniques for periods of time...all I can think of right now is macrame! Some of my past bead love experiences were with polymer clay, druzy beads, CRYSTALS! Hello...

From this point forward it's Bead Love all the way, embrace it! By the way, the photo here represents some of my past loves. :)

Colorful Idea

How cute is this?! I was still thinking about how to use the wood chips from yesterday's post when I came across this cute bracelet on the Polka Dot Inc. website.

How about painting the wood chips?

I wonder why my mind always goes to glitter when I think paint? :) Okay, how about a little glitter?

I am envisioning a very colorful and glittery piece of jewelry, how about you?

Wood Chips

Hmm, I'm not sure these should actually be called wood chips, maybe more like wood slices!

These came on a 16" strand at the craft store. I couldn't resist them because of their unusual qualities, but I honestly have no idea how to use them in a fun jewelry piece.

This might have to be a weekend project. I wanted to shout out to all of you for ideas. The stringing hole is pretty close to being in the middle on each one of the chips.

Please share ideas if you've got them :)

Antique Pink Sparkle

Aw, how cute is this Swarovski crystal 18mm fish in the new color, antique pink!! Love it!

You could make some adorable jewelry with these.

How fun to have a bracelet full of them just frolicking in the "water" around your wrist... :)

I found these huge 18mm crystals on Beadaholique.com site.

They have a great tagline, "feed your need to bead"! NICE!

Enjoy!

Lots of Knots!

I'm knotting as we speak! Experimenting with macrame is fun, but a little more time consuming than stringing.

I'm working with orange hemp cord at the moment. Hopefully I'll have something to share later in the week, but we'll see how it goes. :)

Since I'm obsessing about it, of course I want everyone else to as well!

If you are new to macrame or need a refresher, there are some great instructions and photos on this site, Free Macrame Projects. Whether you are interested in learning basic knots or closures, you'll find it all here!

The bracelet shown here is one that I made last spring using vintage beads from Artbeads.com and white hemp cord. It was SO FUN to make. The possibilities truly are endless especially with the great colorful cording and smaller gauges these days. Have fun!

Macrame Jewelry Bug

I think I caught the macrame jewelry bug while reading the "Bejeweled by Jana" blog. Jana reported that she caught the bug and couldn't stop. That is usually what happens to me too!

I have since pulled out all my hemp cord in yellow, blue, orange, purple, etc. and seem to now have a lump of tangled cords and nothing to show for it.

Looking for inspiration and thinking about making a variation of this white bracelet. I made this last year as a variation of the palm tree bracelet in my book. The gauge of hemp cord on this one made it fun to cut the loops after knotting and use a doggie brush to fray the ends. I even did a quick white-wash on the palm wood beads with a little acrylic craft paint for more of a shabby chic vibe.

Hmm, so much inspiration and so little time! :)

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

It's the weekend, YAY and yes, it's bridal season! About.com has some great how-to's for you.

Check out our other bead blogger pals for great weekend inspiration.

 About.com Jewelry Making 
The About.com Jewelry Making site has you and the bride covered for June.


Art Bead Scene
Rebecca shares lots of ideas on how to use unusual bead caps and how to use more common bead caps in unusual ways 


Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
We all love to chill out in the summer and relax a bit. Kim Miles has come up with the perfect refreshing Beadist solution to cool off a hot summer day! You will LOVE this! And guess what: if you check out Jean's blog, you will see that Kim has offered a great discount just for readers of Snap out of it, and it runs through Monday!!! Whoo hoo! 


Beading Arts
Cyndi shares a tutorial for "My Heart's Chatelaine" to help celebrate mixed media month on Beading Arts! 


Resin Crafts!
You will see how easy it is to turn a peice of plastic into a jewel on Resin Crafts Blog this week! 

Wow Pendant!

"Wow" was the first word that came to mind when I came across this handmade pendant called "Rich Purple Dreamz" on Etsy.

It was created by lampwork artist, Carl Andrews, whose Etsy site is "Flamekist Beads"! Very cool!

In his profile, Carl mentions in addition to creating "shiny objects" he occasionally gets inspired to make jewelry out of some of his glass beads in his Woodstock, GA studio.

There is something magical about this lampwork pendant, would you agree?

Make sure you also check out the Hazy Opal Boro Lampwork pendant. Both of them give me the feeling that there's another world going on in there if you just look at it in the right way, you might get a glimpse. :)

Thanks to Carl for letting me share his work with you tonight! Enjoy!

Quick, Simple Earrings

Thanks for all of your input on earrings to go with the wooden memory wire bracelet I made earlier this week!

I decided to go with simple...that always suits my style. :)

Two of the wooden beads with an aquamarine bicone as a earring dangle...done!

Wearing this tomorrow, yay!

Looking for Earring Input

I am looking for input! I need to make a new pair of earrings tonight that I can wear with my new wood bracelet that I made yesterday.

So, I'm going to break a few rules by wearing a very casual bracelet with a bit more of a buttoned up look.

SO, what do you think about earrings. I'm thinking maybe one or two of the wood beads with an aquamarine Swarovski bicone...not sure.

Help! I have a couple hours to figure it out, so let me know!

Wooden Bracelet Project...Done!

Yay, I'm so glad I had a chance to make this bracelet, I LOVE IT!

I shared the beads in last week's posts. The plan was a 3 strand memory wire bracelet out of wooden beads and some kind of focal bead.

This fun wooden die cut flower in bright yellow really was calling out to be the focal, but I didn't know how I could attach it easily. Well, tonight I was hit by inspiration!

I used the peace sign bead and some clear monofilament line to create the focal piece and then I attached it to the center wood bead and that was it, SO EASY!

Let me know what you think, this is definitely a statement piece! :)

Ceramic Beads from Greece

I want you all to know I've stayed away from Etsy for at least a few weeks, but just casually dropped in to look at the home page to see what people were uploading.

In the first 30 seconds of arriving, these red ceramic beads popped up! I was intrigued...

Then, I saw the colorful collection...

Loved them all and wanted to suggest that you click over and look through the collection.

There are earthy colors too, just the right combo to give you that peaceful feeling.

Thanks to MaryAnn of Linden Avenue Designs!

Blog Inspiration

If you don't already have a blog, here is a great reason to start one! Inspiration!

Posting photos and stories about your jewelry gives you the freedom to release all of that history from your memory bank! I've discovered that's important these days so I can make sure to remember the important things that I need every day.

I was just trying to remember how I used a particular brushed coppery bracelet blank without having to think about where this piece of jewelry might be in real life.

All I had to do was a quick search on my blog and voila! Here it is. Not only do I have the pictures, but some of the details about how the materials were used. Here's the original post from 2009.

YAY!

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers

Yay Friday! Looking for weekend inspiration?

If so, here you go! We'll start things off with a book giveaway over on Jean's blog. Nice!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! 
Jean has a giveaway of the fabulous book Heat, Color, Set & Fire by Mary Hettmansperger! It is outstanding. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment at the bottom of the page! It is so worth it--a great book by a great author! 


Resin Crafts!
A post about sequins and bottle caps...and snippy blog comments. 


Beading Arts
An amazing wire necklace tutorial has been made available to the readers of Beading Arts by our wire guru, Paul Bishop! 


Art Bead Scene
Last month's Art Bead Scene challenge inspired lots of gorgeous house and home inspired jewelry creations, which we reveal in the blog hop tour 


About.com Jewelry Making 
Tammy is helping to get the word out for the Cousin company who is looking for a few good jewelry makers.