The Year in Jewelry 2013

The Year in Jewelry 2013

A collection of DIY jewelry projects and tutorials I have offered throughout the year.

Enjoy the links!

Silver Branches Bracelet

LOVE Color Block Bracelet

Dainty Spring Necklace

Mixed Metal Chevron Necklace

Day Glow Earrings

Bead Embroider Leather Cuff

Fiesta Sun Earrings

Anchor Leather Bracelet

Fortuneteller's Bracelet

Dream Catcher Pendant

Rhinestone Leather Wrap

Gilded Gold Tassel Necklace and Earrings

Jewelry Stringing Winter 2014

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

Jewelry Stringing Magazine Winter 2014

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!

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...

When all is said and done, I'm pretty happy with how my segments turned out. More importantly, I'm thrilled with the experience I had at the production studios. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I felt comfortable and like I belonged there. The green room was like a beaders paradise social party! Lots of chatting, laughing and connecting going on. I loved every minute of it. One of the main reasons I was attracted to doing a spot on the show was the opportunity to meet some great ladies in the beading and jewelry community I admire. I met the show's host, Katie Hacker, Jean Campbell, Jen VanBenschoten, Kate Richbourg, Barb Switzer, Jill Wiseman, Candie Cooper, Patti Bullard, and Kellie DeFries. I'm grateful to have connected with these ladies. I could not be happier with my experience and I'm so glad I decided to go through with it.

 Host, Katie Hacker and me. 

I'm hopeful that my appearance on the show will help me connect with more of you out there, too! I want to continue to connect with others who like to make jewelry and creative like-minded people all over the world. I hope you enjoy my projects and I can inspire you in some way. I've been given the okay to share my segments as seen on Beads, Baubles and Jewels 1900 series. Without further ado, here they are:

 

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!