The Year in Jewelry 2013
A collection of DIY jewelry projects and tutorials I have offered throughout the year.
Enjoy the links!
Monday, December 16, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Jewelry Stringing Winter 2014
The Winter issue of Jewelry Stringing magazine is out now. I get so excited about this beading magazine. It's my favorite. I'm happy to have a few designs in this latest issue. I absolutely love the fabulous necklace on the cover. Oh, that is pretty and so on trend! I know I'd love to make that and wear it. Below, is my necklace design called, Glistening Garland. It appears in the same "Sparkle, Dazzle and Shine section as the cover piece. I love the clear drop beads I used in the design.
Glistening Garland
Necklace in "Sparkle, Dazzle and Shine" section
I remember a glorious happy day in May when I created this necklace for submission to the issue. It was a few days after Mother's Day. I captured the moment in this photo below:
Nothing could have been better than the day this photo was taken! I spent the whole day in my studio beading and sipping tea from my new Mother's Day mug. Oh, how happy I was. It was blissful. What a wonderful memory.
I hope I have another day like that again real soon. I hope you enjoy some creating time yourself over the Winter holidays. If you are looking for fashionable project ideas this season, be sure to pick up a copy of Jewelry Stringing or download the digital version. I always do.
Happy Beading!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Beads, Baubles and Jewels!!!
Behind the scenes at BBJ!
Top row: Jennifer VanBenschoten, Jill Wiseman, Jewelry set up.
Middle row: Kate Richbourg, Me and Katie Hacker, Jean Campbell.
Bottom row: On set with Katie and staff, Candie Cooper w/ my book, Barb Switzer.
The new season of the Beads, Baubles and Jewels TV series is airing now! You might remember I traveled to Cleveland, Ohio this past June to film two segments for the 1900 series. This was a huge deal for me. It was my first time in front of a video camera. I was so nerve-racked about how it would go! There is no rehearsal, no practice and no script. The segments are organic and free-flowing. In some ways that was a relief and in other ways I was completely terrified. Oh. My. Gosh, this could be a total disaster. I just had no idea how I was going to perform under the bright lights with those cameras pointed at me. I'm not exactly comfortable in the spotlight. I tend to shy away from that, but what I don't shy away from is opportunity, new experiences, and chances to grow and expand. I seem to crave those things! There were so many reasons for me to say yes to this opportunity. A chance to reach out to a larger beading audience and share my techniques and projects, promote Ornamentea, promote myself and my book, meet and connect with others in the jewelry community, gain valuable experience, push myself to meet all that I'm capable of and more...
More behind the scenes...
Host, Katie Hacker and me.
All materials, supplies and instructions for both projects can be found on the BBJ website as well as my designer page on Ornamentea. com.
Happy Beading!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Gifts for the Creative
I offer some great products for the jewelry maker or anyone who likes to create things. (The Interweave items are on super sale right now!) It's the season to make and give handmade gifts. Let these items get your creativity flowing or give them as gifts all on their own!
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Gilded Gold Tassel Necklace and Earrings TUTORIAL
Erin Siegel
for Ornamentea.com
Sparkle, dazzle and shine in this 1920's inspired jewelry set!
Ingredients for necklace:
Tools
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Cutters
Ruler
1: Cut the sparkle chain
into ten 3” lengths. String all the chain pieces onto the head pin as shown in
photo 1.
2: Use the head pin to string
the bead cap and rhinestone ball bead as shown in photo 2.
3: Form a wrapped loop that
attaches to both ends of the straight bar chain as shown in photo 3.
Ingredients for earrings:
Tools
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Cutters
Ruler
1: Cut the sparkle chain
into ten 3” lengths. String all the chain pieces onto the head pin as shown
2: Use the head pin to string
the bead cap and rhinestone ball bead as shown
3: Form a wrapped loop and
attach a lever-back ear finding as shown.
4: Repeat steps of the second
earring.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Online Beading Magazines
I'm honored to contribute to the latest issue of Bead Chat magazine! An online jewelry magazine published by Artisan Whimsy members. Artsian Whimsy is an online community for jewelry artists of every kind. The group is extremely active and with a website and a facebook page. They are doing some exciting things and I'm looking forward to see what the future holds for the beading community.
Lead editor for Bead Chat magazine, Cynthia Machata asked me a few questions about getting jewelry designs published in nation-wide bead and jewelry magazines. Special thanks to her for extending an invitation to me to contribute content. She was a such a pleasure to work with! In the interview, I share a funny, true story about my first published piece of jewelry. I also share my best tips for getting your work published in top beading and jewelry-making magazines. Plus, there is plenty of other great content for jewelry-makers and of course, gorgeous jewelry designs and eye candy from members. I especially loved the tribute to Bead Trends magazine and the interview with jewelry artist, Jess Italia Lincoln.
Another online publication that has come to my attention is The Beading Glass published by Leah Curtis of Beady Eyed Bunny. The Beading Glass is another online magazine for the jewelry designer offering inspiration, jewelry and bead artist profiles and interviews. Some very talented artists are featured on the pages of this magazine. You'll find great jewelry design and simply stunning art beads. The thing that brought the magazine to my attention is that my friend and co-author, Lorelei Eurto, has an interview that appears in the November issue. Even though I know her very well, I enjoyed reading her answers, seeing her designs and learning a few bits I didn't know.
Happy online bead reading!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)