Bead Table Wednesday...the beads..errr bubbles on the wall

I've been updating my living space by painting and adding new modern touches. Hubby and I are painting the hallway a pure white to serve as a background for the wall decals I bought from a seller on Etsy.

That shape is soooo familiar! Come on! All those beads on my bead table were bound to show up in my home decor sooner or later! The decals are called "bubbles" but they look like beads to me!

Now to take that door down and paint it white.....or maybe an eggplant purple? What do you think? White or eggplant? What are the beads on your wall....errrr table today?

Tuesday Tangle: Mini Dips

I've been making the double dips for awhile. Sometimes, though, I'd like to have a smaller "dip" at the ends. So, I got busy at the torch. Here's a comparison of a regular double dip (about 7mm in diameter) and the mini dip (about 5.5mm in diameter) made on 20 gauge copper wire.

What do you think?

Beads 2011 a Nice Surprise!

What a nice surprise! The Red Lotus Pods and Faux Carved Wood Birds are in Beads 2011 from Interweave on page 57 while the faux carved wood hearts are on page 45. What is Beads 2011? It's Interweave's source guide to the newest beads and findings in the bead world! I always look forward to this issue. There's so much that is new and this year they have several beautiful projects in the magazine. Pick up a copy, you'll be glad you did!

Funny Friday and Fabulous Links

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!


A Bead A Day
Do you like glitter AND jewelry making?! You are going to love this project that Lisa found over at FusionBeads.com!

About.com Jewelry Making
What are your plans for your siver scraps now that silver is crazy expensive?

Art Bead Scene
Here's a fresh idea for spring - a garden gate clasp.

Barbe Saint John
Barbe's giving away the latest Industrial Chic booklet and some charms!

Beading Arts
As part of the Artbead challenge, "What's Old is New Again", Cyndi has constructed a flapper-style necklace from some very cool components!

Carmi's Art/Life World
This weeks blog features the poppies of Paris and the jewelery it inspires.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy's made some new blush pink drops, come see what she's done with them!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
We all scream for Ice Cream! Melanie shows how she designed and made a new line of sweet pendants.

Resin Crafts!
This week Carmi has a short tutorial on using resin as a glaze.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Rio Grande is encouraging a wonderful way of helping the people of Japan and it is SO EASY! Read about it on Jean's blog!

Strands of Beads
Melissa is brooding about issues of originality this week.

The Bead Dreamer
A lovely tree branch, soft pink flowers and wisps of silk inspired two necklace designs.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew takes a peak at Anne Choi's new BRONZE beads!

Bead Table Wednesday: Vintage Baroque Pearl

This week, I took an vintage baroque pearl from grandmother's necklace and re-worked it into a long necklace. Luscious!

Tuesday Tangle - Tangled up in a Re-do

I may be absent from blogging but I haven't been absent from spring cleaning and re-doing my home office/jewelry studio. It's a slow process, trying to squeeze out some extra time from my already over-scheduled day. You might remember the cleaned out home office I showed you a couple weeks ago. Added to the picture below is a white pegboard my husband put up for me.

Last weekend, I had a whole day to myself so I spent the time running between home and the hardware store to buy just the right pegboard components to mount my jewelry tools and chain

You may notice the grouping of butterflies I added over the pegboard.  I love the wall decals you can buy on Etsy to add interest to a wall of your favorite color.  You can't really see the butterflies that are on the sheer curtains in the picture above this one but the wall decals carry on that theme.

I collected all my pliers and cutters to put on the pegboard. It's funny how you don't realize how many tools you have until they are all in one place!

Thinking of adding a pegboard to your workspace? I found a nice how-to on eHow that will help you. If you'd rather buy them yourself? Here's some colorful options made of metal from Wall Controland here's a list of places from eHow.

Monday Links and Video Spoof

I can't resist tuning in to see what the new Royals are up to for their April wedding. I love it when a couple dances down the aisle - wish we did that when I got married in the early 80's. My wedding and Diana's wedding was much more pomp and circumstance than that. But what if the young Royals were able to dance down the aisle? It might look like this fun video...


Now that's a wedding to watch! Here are some links to read....

A Bead A Day
Are you a crafter AND a beader? Do you ever give in to mixing craft supplies into jewelry pieces? Stop by A Bead A Day to see Lisa's latest arts and crafts jewelry.

About.com Jewelry Making
Pets and children are wonderful, but they can make jewelry making very challenging!

Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene shows off this month's challenge. Come take a look!

Beading Arts
The final chapter of Cyndi's e-book is now available! "Fibers, Fabrics, and Beads" challenges you to integrate all the fiber arts that you already love with your bead embroidery!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy shares one of her free projects.

Earthenwood Studio Blog
Melanie introduces a new egg themed design and wonders what the Earthenwood Design Team will hatch up in jewelry designs.

Strands of Beads
Melissa is back and is wondering if anyone else has trouble using materials that are "too special" in their projects?

The Bead Dreamer
A vintage belt buckle takes center stage in a bold necklace designed by Charlene

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew debuts his new filigree bezels filled with vintage stamps coated in resin. Check them out!

Bead Table Wednesday: New Drops

I went out and played around on the torch last week and on a whim created these glass drops and matching double dips out of a yummy pink glass. The drops are a shade darker because there's more glass and so the color is more concentrated. The drops are cool in the silvered ivory!

Then I worked them into a sweet necklace and earrings set that I showed yesterday on the Tuesday Tangle. Love the pink!

What's on your bead table?

Tuesday Tangle: Pink, Brass and Coiling

I've been away working working working! My creative life has been on hold while I earn some summer money. However, I managed to squeeze out some time to post today. I went out to the studio and played around with the torch a couple of weeks ago. I made these lovely soft pink drops that I used in today's Tangle.

I used a coiling technique with 24 gauge Vintaj colored wire. The lovely brown color of the Vintaj brass complements the soft translucent blush pink glass.  So, I'm calling this "First Blush."

A basic technique like coiling adds to the texture and interest of the piece. You don't have to always make complicated wire stitches to create an interesting design in your work.

Have you created interesting pieces in wire using basic techniques?

Monday's Links

A Bead A Day
Get ready to make your I-phone or I-pad your new best friend!! Can you handle a SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL design app....FOR FREE? Check this out!

About.com Jewelry Making
April is Autism Awareness month, so consider making jewelry as a way to bring some attention to this disorder.

Art Bead Scene
The Tax Man Cometh! Get some advice from the Art Bead Scene.

Beading Arts
Cyndi has a copy of the wonderful new book "Endless Sparkle" that she is just dying to give away!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a new bezel to show off on a brooch.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Let's revisit some flakey advice from Cindy.

Resin Crafts!
You'll find a three part bottle cap tutorial on this new blog!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is involved in an "A to Z" blogging challenge and at the same time comes up with a great idea for the letter "D" -- Katie Hacker's design contest! Come and see what it is all about!

The Bead Dreamer
Got a small pendant that needs a little punch? Charlene shares five ways to give a small pendant more pizazz.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares his new signature tags and announces his plans for a new jewelry line.

Friday Yoga along with the Fabulous Links

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our

A Bead A Day
Lisa shares the steps to making super simple gnome earrings just in time for spring!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy explains the strategy she uses when reviewing jewelry making books.

Art Bead Scene
Do you collect rocks? Make a bracelet with them using this free project from Art Bead Scene!

Beading Arts
Cyndi posted a tutorial to show how she made her Bead Soup necklace!

Beading & Books
Michelle shares her storage idea for spools of beading wire.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Would you believe that you could wear flocked velvet wallpaper?

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy's been out with the flu so this week's a rewind on spicing up your plain old packaging.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie celebrates a new hairstyle for spring by making a pendant to match her new purple hair extensions!

The Bead Dreamer
Charlene reviews The Penland Book of Jewelry and is touched by the artistic statements, humanity, talent and sharing of the ten artists in the book.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Working with wire and ammonite slices, Andrew creates three Calder-inspired pendants.