Wednesday Wire: Sewing with Wire

Wire is versatile and an artist can adapt numerous techniques depending on the gauge of wire she uses. I grew up sewing my own clothes and creating with fabric and thread so it's a logical extension of that to sew with wire. Mary Hettmansperger's book, Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet and Susan Lenart Kazmer's Making Connections have chapters devoted to stitching in metal and are worth the read if you're interested like I was in sewing.

Over the past couple of years, I've created sewn pieces combining sentimental "found objects" first and then my own flamework glass. My very first piece was a pottery shard I found while digging in the garden at my parents' farm.

Then, it was on to using one of my glass links with a 10 loop brass ring finding from Ornamentea.

Most recently, I created the sewn ring from scratch using a beach pebble from Lake Huron, brass wire and a brass disk.

Are you exploring a fiber technique in your jewelry designs?

Miffed....

Last week, I announced the winner of the Not So Famous Missed Anniversary Bead Giveaway.

As of today, the beads sit on my desk unclaimed. So, if the beads go unclaimed by tomorrow, I'm going to give the beads away to someone else who commented on the post.

Mad for Monday: YouTube

Believe it or not, I've never made an adjustable sliding know for a necklace or bracelet. Googling it, a YouTube video came up in the search - duh! I should've gone there in the first place! There are many good ones but I chose this one by a well-known glass beadmaker, Kate Drew-Wilkerson. Get your cords out and start knotting!

Sunday Photo

Funny Friday and Fabulous Links!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Recession Is Over
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

About.com Jewelry Making
Are you trying to pinch those pennies when it comes to making jewelry? Here are some ideas to help you out.

Art Bead Scene
This week we have a Monthly Challenge treasury to share and inspire you.

Beading Arts
Have you seen what you can do with macrame? Don't think hemp, think colorful and modern!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Another felted and beaded pendant is turned into a necklace by Carmi.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
This week's Wednesday Wire is all about the rings.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie faces her fears of home improvement by relating it to her beloved jewelry crafts.

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie's dreaming up jewelry projects inspired by the season. Leave a comment for a chance to win a Beads, Baubles & Jewels DVD!

Wednesday Wire: Ringalicious!

Ringalicious! Yup, I've got another glass and metal ring to show off today. I've combined vintage brass with the dapped copper disk and flamework glass.

Do you like the mix of brass and copper?

The Not-So-Famous Missed Anniversary Bead Giveawy Winner

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who commented and blogged about my giveaway on their blogs! I sincerely appreciate it!! Please don't be shy about commenting when there's no giveaway, I love to hear from you!

Now without further ado, the winner of the Not So Famous Missed Anniversary Bead Giveaway is

Klassy Joolz! Congratulations!

Please send me an email by clicking on my blogger profile. If you have any trouble, leave me a comment on this post.

Monday Marketing Tip: Customized Swag

Creating some swag for Sleepyhead, aka my son. Used his album's logo to make shrink plastic beads for necklaces to sell at his upcoming concert this Wednesday.

I'm doing this for him but you can do this for yourself to make customized swag for your bead/jewelry buyers.

Do you have a marketing tip to share today?

Sunday Photo

The Don't Forget My Giveaway Saturday and Sensational Links!

I'm giving away a bunch of beads next Tuesday, so be sure to leave a comment on the original post (ok, I'll take them here too ;-) to be entered to win. In the meantime, let's take a look at this week's sensational links!

About.com Jewelry Making
Check out this new rivet gadget for making cold connections with your jewelry.

Art Bead Scene
Looking for inspiration for the ABS monthly challenge? Come check out the list of Art Deco sources at ABS.

Barbe Saint John
Barbe reviews some Rings and Things Halloween Beads and is giving some away too!

Beading Arts
Wool roving for a necklace? Cyndi's tutorial is finished!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses her Parisian ribbon collection to make some fabulous beads.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy brought back some beach treasures Lake Huron. She's created a keepsake with them you'll want to see.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie reflects on the politics of the playground for a series of hopscotch themed pendants

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Jean explores creative jewelry design using inspiration employing wordplay--what do you think?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew gets interviewed by Ray Hemachandra for a Blogger Profile on Lark Crafts: Jewelry & Beading.

Wednesday Wire: Ring Mania

Rings, rings, rings!

Don't ask me why but my creative muse has been gifting me with rings designs.  It feels as though I'm bringing together a few different ideas I've been playing with for a few years. You can see it all in this ring design:

Wirework.

Lampwork.

Metalwork.

It feels like I've been rehearsing a singing voice and it's starting to come through loud and clear.

What about you, what is your creative muse gifting you with?

The Not-So-Famous Missed Anniversary Bead Giveawy

While writing yesterday's blog post, I searched my blog to link to a previous topic. I was a bit shocked when a post from 2005 appeared.

2005!?!

I've been standing on this virtual corner of a crowded internet hollering at anyone who walked by since 2005?

You'd think I'd be hoarse by now.

I'm nothing if not tenacious.

It also means I've missed an anniversary. In honor of my missed anniversary, I'm going to giveaway a bunch of beads.

I'm not the world's best time manager which means, I've made some lovely beads that just never made it to my website to sell. Some beads have just been hanging out waiting to go to a good home.

Sooo, if you'd like to be entered in the drawing to receive these goodies for free, please leave a comment on my blog.

If you'd like to increase your chance to win the giveaway, I'll enter your name again if you do the following:

2. Blog about my giveaway on your blog with a link to this post and come back and leave me a comment saying you blogged about it and include your blog link in the comment. (You have my permission to snag the bead pictures from this post)

Blog about it before Monday, September 20th because I'll be choosing a winner of the Missed Anniversary Bead Giveaway on Tuesday September 21st, one week from today.

Good luck!

Monday Monday, Gym and Links

It's fall and it's the first year I don't have to get a kid off to school. It feels weird, at the regularly appointed school times, I feel like I have to be somewhere doing something, but I don't. So, I'm trying to find the time in my already stuffed schedule to get myself to the gym regularly.  Not wanting to look like a dork from the early 90's (which is the last time I had any time to myself), I thought a few tips on gym style might be in order (thanks to premium woman for the photo.) I still need a few things because the other day I had to put my gym clothes into a grocery bag. So, I'll be out today trying to find something suitable, in the meantime, take a look at our bead blogger links and see what they've been up to...

A Bead A Day
Are you thinking of branching out into polymer clay work? Lisa has gathered some blog reader feedback on how to get started.

About.com Jewelry Making
Are you in or out when it comes to plated metals? This polls seems to indicate a mixed bag .

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene Announces the September Monthly Challenge. Come gain inspiration from Barbier.

Barbe Saint John
Stamped Metal Jewelry book review!

Beading Arts
Have you tried wool roving in your jewelry designs? See what Cyndi has been doing with this fascinating material!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi is thrilled to go down a new artistic road with paper pendants!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Wondering what Cindy's really like? Come see her first ever video and find out if she's really that quirky!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie celebrates the start of school season with a series of Friday book giveaways, starting with Creative Paper Jewelry.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei takes a bit of a directional turn, in business. You may want to read this!

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
It is Jean's birthday month! To celebrate, she is reposting a review of a lovely book by Cathy Jakicic which she is particularly fond of!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Margot Potter recently debuted her new book, "Bead Chic". Find out how you can win a copy with this week's Thursday Giveaway!

Sunday Photo

Wednesday Wire: Cold Connections, Wire Wrap and a Beach Pebble

Wondering what I did with my "different bead stash" from the beach? You know I've been hammering and doming metal disks. Pair that with with wire and this is what you get....

No soldering, "cold connections" and wire wrapping make for one sweet beach pebble ring. I knew it was a cabochon when I picked it up out of the surf!

Gotta Wash Those Beads Right Outta My Studio!

Yes, I am signing a musical number as I clear the beads out and give myself some more room. I've put them up on my website but they won't stay there forever, just through to Saturday, September 11th. Then they'll be gone and sent on their way!

Well, my studio ain't South Pacific and now I got a hankering to see that red lipped 1950's Mitzi Gaynor get those beads...errr man right outta her hair!

Sunday Photo

Funny Friday and Fabulous Links

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

About.com Jewelry Making
Take a quick poll and comment about your crafting and weekend plans.

Art Bead Scene
Let's Rewind and ask ourselves, do your customers see your work as you do?

Beading Arts
Cyndi is helping her readers show off the best thing they made this summer!

Carmi's Art/Life World
A stationary set found in storage results in a new necklace for Carmi.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
It's the end of the summer and Cindy's taking it easy this week. Her "Meandering" earrings express that end of summer relaxed attitude.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie shows off some new sparkly supplies from her friends at Auntie's Beads

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
It is so hard for Jean to believe it is September! She is cheered and honored by being Artbeads' "Spotlight Designer" on Facebook! Read about it on her blog!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Even though he didn't physically go to the BeadFest show, Andrew still managed to score some amazing finds! Check out his loot from the show.

Wednesday Wire: Breaking My Rule for a Friend

A co-worker wanted to give her partner a special gift and was on the internet at work looking for someone somewhere who could duplicate the bracelet her partner had given to her a few years ago. After searching for the artist, she was telling a group of us how she was frustrated in her search. I asked to see her bracelet. It was a heavy gauge entwined heart bracelet made of sterling silver. I told her I thought I could do it.

Usually, I won't deliberately try to copy someone else's design. But I decided to do it this once for a couple of reasons.

My friend had searched long and hard for the original artist to no avail. She was determined to have it copied so she could give a matching bracelet to her partner.

This would be a special order, one time only and I would not add it to the collection of wire jewelry I sold. As if I had made it for myself, one time personal use.

I would only earn back my costs (as it turned out, I lost money on it by quoting a price under what it actually cost me to make it). I made a prototype out of copper wire:

She presented it to her partner for Valentine's Day and she was thrilled. I'm glad I made it for them because it was so special. So to the artist who created it, thank you for designing a bracelet that meant so much my friend and her partner. I adore your design, but I won't be copying it again. Sometimes you break your rules for a friend.