2012's Mantra: Do and Follow Through

I've got a mantra for this year in the spirit of KISS (keep it simple, stupid!): 

do and follow through

My two weakest areas - stop talking and DO and make sure I FOLLOW THROUGH. I might get to the doing but then I don't always follow through. 

I've got an idea to help myself. I don't like to write to do lists because if I do, there are 35 items on it. I find 35 items overwhelming and then I move into procrastination or "what's the use" mode. So, I'm going to limit ANY list to only 3 items.

Yes, I said three - 3 items.

Hopefully that will help.

Hopefully.

So here is item number one:

Post book reviews for next week or so. I like to actually try the projects in each book I review so you get an honest feel for what the book offers. I've held off on the Jewelry for the New Romantic because I don't have many of the beads called for in the projects. I used to use beading wire quite a bit when I first started beading back in 1997 but moved away from it. This is a good reason to re-familiarize myself with what beading wire has to offer.

Jewelry for the New Romantic

I've ordered resin clay and am waiting for it to arrive. I made the rounds of the craft stores to see if anyone carried it and was out of luck.  There are lots of exciting projects in The Art of Resin Clay I can't wait to try out.

The Art of Resin Clay

Do you have a word to inspire you onward for 2012?

Monday Morning Eye Candy and Book

Another practice bracelet of Right Angle Weave made with Gossamer floss, crystal 6mm firepolished rondelles from Rings n Things and silverlined "E" beads. I like the single row of RAW because it makes up quickly and by changing the beads, you can make one to match your wardrobe!

I've got another book from Kalmach that I'm smitten with. It's Jewelry for the New Romantic. Here's an interview with the book's author Nealay Patel. 

Projects look yummy don't they?  I haven't done any stringing with Soft Flex wire in quite awhile. Patel puts a new spin on it and I can't wait to dive in.  Are there any techniques you haven't tried in awhile?

On My Bookshelf: Stitch Workshop: Right Angle Weave

Drum roll please.......

TA-DAH!  

These are my practice bracelets in Right Angle Weave. I made these using the very first pattern from  Stitch Workshop: Right Angle Weave. 

As I said yesterday, I'm not a rank beginner with off loom but have never done right angle weave. The projects in the book are arranged from easy to advanced. 

Let me say now that I've never been able to teach myself an off loom technique by using a book. Usually I try and then go take a class so I can see how to do it. I wanted to use beads from my stash and I didn't have any 6mm rounds to use so I substituted with size 6 and size 8 seed beads. So it was a little harder to see the beads and pattern.

The beginning of the book includes the basics of right angle weave with colored illustrations and arrows to show where to weave your needle and thread (or stringing material. These illustrations came in very handy when I got confused with the project directions. The illustrations are followed by "Tips and Tricks for Right Angle Weave by David Chatt." It's a list of tips for the more experienced right angle beadweaver. Page 8 is "Beading Technique Basics" and it covers topics like adding thread, ending thread surgeion's knot, other beadweaving stitches, wire techniques and opening jump rings to name just a few. Tools and materials are covered in the next section. I'm very familiar with these materials so I skipped over this section and went straight to the first pattern by Pam O'Connor, "The Cuff Crystallized."

It took me a couple of tries to get the pattern and stitch right. When I got to the right length, again it took me a couple of tries to join the bracelet properly. Adding the next row was also trial and error. I'd read the directions and look at the pictures given on page five rather than the pictures in the pattern. The similar colors in the pattern pictures confused me. The colors were too similar to be clear. I alleviated the confusion with the pictures on page five. It took me several tries flipping between the pages and pulling out the beads but I eventually got the second row going. Since it was nothing like the first row, it took me awhile to get into the rhythm.

Despite the learning curve, I was able to teach myself how to beadweave in flat, right angle weave using a single needle.  The first project states you can make the bracelet in a couple of hours. It took me approximately 5 hours over two days. Not bad for a beginner.

I've got my sights on the third project called "Wiggle Room." It's by Julie Glasser and it's made with various sizes of seed beads to create the wiggle.

Wiggle Room photo courtesy of Judy Glasser.

I have a big stash of size 6, 8 and 11 seed beads in all colors just perfect for this project.  I may try the bracelet project after called Crossing Paths by Lisa Twede or skip right to another favorite, Cosmic Crystals by Deborah Staehle.  Another luscious project I'm smitten with is April Bradley's Spring Snowflakes.

A variation of Spring Snowflakes called Mediterrean Photo and necklace by April Bradley

And those are just the beginner- intermediate projects! There are lovely advanced projects Where you can learn advanced and dimensional right angle weave such as Chain of Rings by Cindy Thomas Pankopf and Victorian Sparkle by Julie Walker. If you're looking for a book on right angle weave with a variety of projects, this is a bargain for under $20.

On My Workbench: New Off Loom Beadweaving with Seed Beads

I'm working on a off-loom beadweaving technique, right angle weave. I'm not a rank beginner to off loom beadweaving. I learned peyote and brick stitch about 10 years ago and have a little 4 x 6 box where I keep my off loom work.

I've never taken on RAW though and when I saw Kalmach's new addition to their Stitch Workshop series, I figured it was a good time to teach myself.  So I'm in the middle of a series of "practice bracelets," simple, flat right angle weave done with .5mm stretch cording.

Stitch Workshop: Right Angle Weave from Kalmach

I'll review the book the book tomorrow after I finish the bracelets I've started. What about you, have you done any off loom beadweaving lately?

Monday Morning Blue Fingers and The Handbook of Metal Clay

It's been a couple of weeks since I took Hadar Jacobson's class on Mokume Gane but I'm still working on the pieces I didn't have a chance to fire and finish during the class. I've even fired a few pieces that I had laying around from my first foray into bronz metal clay (yes, they've been sitting there for two years!) I was amazed when they fired without crumbling.

I've been polishing with my dremel tool. I had alot of trouble with it during class and frankly, I'm a little afraid of taking an eye out trying to polish those small pieces. There's lots of dust too so I wear my safety glasses and my dust mask when I'm finishing.

Safety ain't pretty but your lungs and eyes appreciate it!

 Most of the patina goes directly onto my fingers turning them blue giving me a zombie look just perfect for Halloween. I understand now why so much of the metal clay jewelry is large, it's easier to finish.

If all this metal clay talk makes you want to take a class from Hadar, I recommend it. If you can't get to one of her classes or don't live near her, the next best thing is her book, The Handbook of Metal Clay: Textures and Forms. 

Photo Courtesy of Hadar's website

The Handbook of Metal Clay first edition was reviewed in Jewelry Artist August 2008.  I consider myself a beginner with metal clay and have had the opportunity to take a class. The handbook is an excellent follow-up to Hadar's class along with the free downloadable instructions available on her blog. However, if you haven't taken a class, I believe if you read through all the available material and the book, you would be able to create lovely pieces of metal clay. 

This is the second edition and contains information on mixing metal clays.  The book reads like her class, opening with a comprehensive list of materials and tools needed.  The actual book is spiral bound making it easy to open to specific pages while you're working. I've actually ruined my Enchanted Adornments book by pressing the spine to have it stay open while I'm working. 

Throughout the handbook, there are boxes on the margins containing useful tips. You'd be wise to read all of the tips as you work. Many of your questions can be answered by reading them. 

I skip through the book and pick out projects I really have been jonseing to do.  Page 20 is "Collage Pendant in Copper and Bronze" and is the first project I skipped to after taking the her class. I could use a little more practice on working with different textures but it's the basics of backing and adding a tube bail that I want to perfect. From there, I plan to skip to the project on page 25 called "Changing Places." It's an exercise in mixing bronze and copper clays into a squares and rectangles project. 

If you're into architectural style jewelry, page 44 introduces the concept with a project called "House Earrings."  You'll hone your skill in joining and making tube beads. I've got to make a pair of these! 

Treehouse Earrings by Hadar Jacobson

There are many more projects in this section but I'm going to skip right to the section on Flexible Clay and Textile Techniques. 

I've had dreams about flexible wire clay so you can be sure I'll make a project from this section soon. I love the Mobius Washers and Cross-Armed Earrings projects.

Knots Earrings made with flexible wire clay by Hadar Jacobson

Whew! That's quite an array of techniques and those are just the ones I've mentioned. There are many more in the book. The books are self-published which makes them a little more expensive than those on Amazon. If you're looking for Hadar's techniques and tips, this is the only place to find them - well worth the price. If you've taken a class and don't understand the notes you took because you were too busy watching, the book is a great refresher. Everything is there. 

So me and my blue fingers are going back to work now. Have you taken a class from Hadar? Have you bought her books?  What do you think?

On My Bookshelf: Craft Activism

While at my metal clay class last week, Craft Activism by Joan Tapper and Photography by Gale Zucker arrived at my doorstep.

 Photo from the Random House Website

I've read it from cover to cover, taking in all of the ideas and projects. I felt like I was walking through a modern, yet retro craft show. There were the crafts of my mother and her sister, crochet, knitting and quilting. They were traditional crafts yet put together with a fresh spin, a sense of humor and decidedly activist.

The author, Joan Tapper has laid out the book according to the purpose of the crafts. Part one is entitled, "Crafting a Statement" and includes a section on Ruth Marshall who knits the fur patterns of endagered species to call attention to their plight. An ocelot knitted scarf project follows so you can knit a conscious raising scarf. 

 Yarn bombing - making a statement with yarn - crochet a public sculpture! (Photo courtesy of NYT)

Part Two, Recrafting the Past, is where I found my old junior high school crush, crochet. There's a colorful explosion of granny squares made by Ellen Bloom along with an easy "Granny Greenbag" project you can make yourself. The rest of the section highlights embroidery and sewing. The intermediate sewing project resurrects the 1950's housedress meant to be worn over your jeans.  It made me happy that I bought a new Baby Lock. 

Vintage Housedress Pattern (Photo courtesy of Gertie's Blog.)

It was Part Three, Crafting for a Cause that really brought the activist in me out. Crafts aren't just for style or hobbies to the craftivists in this book, they're for making a difference in someone else's life.  The Red Scarf Project is featured in a section  along with the Mother Bear Project and the Quilts of Valor Foundation. You can donate handmade scarves, teddy bears and quilt blocks to help others. 

All we are saying is give plabric a chance.... (Photo credit)

The last section, Crafting to Recycle, Renew, and Reuse showcases the "green" side of crafting. From how to recycle t-shirts into "Sun-Tea Dresses" to making a "Tongue in Chic circle skirt" of "plabric" You'll be looking at your recycle bins and garage sales in a whole new way.

Throughout the book there are sections on business advice, how to get a community of crafters together and other business tips. At the end of the book, there are three full pages of further readings, resources and links to get you pointed in the right direction.

Tapper and Zucker have delivered on the subtitle of the book - People, Ideas and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In. If you're jonesing for the new spin crafts, this is the resource book to get you started. There are a wide variety of crafts and causes and you can take your pick. 

Craft Activism will get your creative DIY juices flowing! So get out your needles, hooks or sewing machines and make your craft statement!  Just in time for this year's Make a Difference Day!

What's Up This Week: Metal Clay class, Baby Lock and Craft Activisim

Fall has turned out to be very busy for me! I've got lots of catching-you-up to do so I'll overview what I'm blogging about this week.  Last time you visited, I was nervously awaiting my metal clay class with Hadar Jacobson. It was a fabulous class and it didn't matter that I hadn't had a lot of experience with metal clay. Hadar took us through the basics and I had alot of help from my classmates.

Mokume Gane Metal Clay fresh from the kiln

The pieces in the photo look a little crisy but they're supposed to look like that. More on Hadar's class tomorrow. I've tested my kiln and fired pieces at home without the luxury of having Hadar close by to give me feedback.  You'll see how I've done.

Next up, my Creative Pro Baby Lock Sewing Machine is back from her tune up. YAY! Now I can get on with the jewelry display sewing projects I have lined up!

While I was at Hadar's class last weekend, Craft Activism by Joan Tapper and Photography by Gale Zucker arrived at my doorstep.

 Photo from the Random House Website

I'm devouring all the crafty goodness in it right now and will be reviewing it later this week.

That's what's on my plate for this week, what about you? What are you up?

Jewelry Design in Nature by Heather Powers and Giveaway

My bookshelf is full of craft books. I love all of them but am especially fond of the books by those I know. This week, I'm happy to brag about Heather Power's new book, "Jewelry Designs from Nature: Woodlands, Gardens, Sea."

I won't pretend to be objective about Heather's book. I have the pleasure of being one of the founding editors of Art Bead Scene, a jewelry blog headed by Heather Powers. Her book reflects the network of bead artists who often have work featured on ABS. The front cover is a pleathora is diverse art beads from many different art beadmakers (myself included).

If your a big fan of Heather's style, this is the book for you. Heather's designs are inspired, ebullient jewelry. We are indeed lucky to see inside her design process and re-create some of her luscious art jewelry for ourselves.

In honor of Heather's accomplishment and our good fortune at being able to see inside her design procress, I'm hosting a giveaway of the ivory double dips featured on the cover of her book.

Leave a comment and you'll be eligible to receive two (2) of the ivory double dips to use in your next Heather Power's design! You can enter more than once if you post this to your blog, Facebook and/or Tweet it.  Just come back here and leave the link to you additional post and I'll enter your name more than once.  I'll post a winner here next Monday, October 3. You can enter until midnight EST, Sunday October 2nd.

Tuesday Tangle: Steel Wire Book

Ok, this week's Tangle falls under the "DUH!" Category. Yep, that's gotta be one of my tags from now on, search engine optimization (SEO) be D@&%%#!!!

When the shoe fits, ya gotta wear it.

I just got Brenda Schweder's latest book (at least I think it's her latest book, I mighta missed the train more than once), Steel Wire Jewelry.

DUH! Why did not the self confessed Wirehead have this the moment it was out?

I hang my head in shame.

It was the after holiday checkbook that made me do it.

But, I'm correcting it today. 

Steel wire is the new copper. In the days before gold hit $1500, one would go to the hardware store and buy copper wire to practice. Today, thieves go into abandoned houses to strip it of all of its copper plumbing and wiring to sell. So if you're still practicing on copper wire, make sure you never leave your home too long!

Steel wire is inexpensive and some have replaced copper with steel as the new practice wire.

While at the hardware store buying your steel wire, pick up some general wire cutters and an extra set of needle nose and chainnose pliers. Steel is different than copper and you don't want to ruin your jewelry making tools to practice.

Many of the projects in Brenda's book use 16 gauge or heavier steel wire. I love the look of the heavy gauge and Brenda's projects are well suited to wire's assets. I love all of the projects but especially the Lotus Ring and her techniques for setting stones in pendants. The Lotus Ring is a way to set a stone and it's a technique I'm not very versed in. I can router glass to set it with wire, but not so good with the found objects and stones. Brenda is a master.

Now - off to the hardware store for that 16 gauge steel wire!

On My Bookshelf: Around My Neck

You know I love books and sometimes I don't just read them but wear them around my neck. I thought I'd take you on a tour through the library of some of my favorite tiny wearable books...

We'll start in "the stacks" by JanDaJewelry

Then meander over to the Leather Journals so we can have the journal handy whenever we want.

Or maybe you want a book that's more personal?  How about a sterling silver brag book from Bragaboutit?

I love this handmade copper etched book by Hangingbyathread1

So if you don't have time to read a book, wear one around your neck!

My Bookshelf: Hot Connections Jewelry

I'm a bookaholic. I've got shelves and shelves dedicated to just books in my home office/jewelry making studio.

I'm always on the look out for books on techniques I want to add to my bead and jewelry making repetoire. My current artistic vision includes metal so I've acquired a few books on metal to help me develop new skills, Mixed Metal Mania, Metalworking 101 for Beads and my most recent book, Hot Connections Jewelry by Jennifer Chin.

Hot Connections Jewelry by Jennifer Chin - Excerpt

The cover is full of Jennifer's fresh and modern metal jewelry. The front cover alone made me want to dive right into the projects. Turning to the table of contents provides you with a snapshot of what's in store for you. Chapters include: Soldering Basics; Essentials of Fabrication & Soldering Techniques; Forming Metal: Other Fabrication Techniques; Textures, Patinas & Finishing; Adding Stones & Beads; Advanced Techniques.

If you're new to fabricating jewelry, Chapter 1, Soldering Basics takes you step by step in clear and simple directions on how to set up your studio and what soldering is all about. On page 21, she discusses the different kinds of torches and makes a recommendation based on how whether you're a hobbyist or production jewelry maker.

Chapter 2, Essentials of Fabrication is quite extensive covering, measuring, drilling, sawing, filing, sanding, bending, shaping, making jump rings, making rivets, soldering and pickling in 9 lessons. You don't want to skip any of the steps. I'm not a detailed oriented person and I tend to skip drawing out the measured lines but I've learned through many mistakes, it's not a step you want to skip.

Each chapter is set up to teach a category of techniques and then the chapter is broken down into techniques and projects. So for example, the category of techniques for chapter 3 is Forming Metal. One of the techniques in chapter 3 is taught in lesson 12: Using a Dapping Block. A list of tools and materials is given and step by step full color photos lead you through the skill of dapping. Lesson 12 is followed by the gorgeous Domed Petal Earrings project where you can put your new skill to use immediately.

If you've dabbled in jewelrymaking or have some of the tools like me, the first two chapters will help you fill in your tool chest with any missing tools. I just ordered a rolling mill for my studio and was excited to see on page 94 how to emboss using a rolling mill.

The book is interspersed with black and white sketches and full color photographs. The sketches are helpful and much more informative than some line drawings you find in other books. My favorite projects from the book are the Riveted Collar Ring on pages 62-63, the Fizzy Pendant on pages 66-67, Domed Petal Earrings on pages 78-79 and the Forged Chain Necklace on pages 80-81.  

I enjoyed this book. It's lovely to look at and Jennifer's style is unique and intriguing. You'll be inspired by the book and want to learn all the techniques.  Overall, Hot Connections is a wise purchase for any crafter, jewelrymaker or beadmaker.

I can't wait to get started!

disclosure of material connection

My Bookshelf: Mixed Metal Mania

I've got a few new books on my bookshelf that I want to share with you. I'll just share a favorite from the book and save you reading several paragraphs.

Mixed Metal Mania by Kim St. Jean is very comprehensive and full of techniques. What I love most is the discussion of "lashing" or the wire sewing cold connection technique I've used repeatedly with glass and found objects.

If you're interested in lashing and many other techniques, you definitely should pick this up!

Wednesday Wire....it's cold outside, an oldie but a goodie

Brrrr! I know it's cold outside but when I woke up this morning, it was cold inside! I went to check the temperature and my thermostat batteries were dead. Luckily I had new batteries and put them in. That's when the thermostat died. Sooooo, I've got no heat in the house this morning. I'm waiting until 8 am so I can call the repairman.

In the meantime, I recommending an oldie but a goodie: Making Wire Jewelry by Helen Clegg and Mary Larom.

(You can't really click on the picture to see what's inside, you'll have to go to Amazon to see it.)

I love this book for the variety of projects and techniques it has for the beginner. It's a bit dated and sparsely illustrated yet the illustrations it does have are very helpful. The Egyptian Coil bracelet/necklace is worth the price of a used book, which by the way, you can pick up for a song!

That leads me to the obvious segue of another oldie but goodie that I'm singing as I wait for the heating to be fixed.

The key to my designs.....

I promised yesterday I would follow up the State of My Studio post with the inspiration for the new faux wood painted hearts. Really, it was Andrew Thornton on his Thursday giveaway post that got me thinking when he characterized my work this way:

What I love about Cindy's underlining design principle is that she's not afraid to explore new materials and is constantly investigating new ways of doing things.

Andrew's gone to the core of how I approach beadmaking. I'm always working on a new media, a new technique to expand my ability to express a design. Different media lends itself to different techniques and I'm on a constant quest to expand my abilities in all media.

That quest usually finds me buying books. Today, I'm going to share which books have taken up residence on my workbench and are serving as the inspiration for the new faux wood carved painted hearts.

First up is Christi Friesen and her latest book,  Steampunkery.

I'm really taken with idea of hearts, hinges and bezels. It was her steampunk inspired hearts that was exciting to me and I just had to learn how to make them! I bought the book because of the hinged heart on the front. I didn't realize she had a Steampunk Heart free download on her website or a youtube video on how to make a heart.



But you shouldn't get the impression that I'm sorry I bought the book. The book is a jewel of humor and technique - right up my ally. I get to laugh while I'm learning a new media. Steampunkery is full of useful information for the less experienced (like me) and beautiful to look at with a story woven through it.

Christi's design aesthetic is distinctive and quite different from my own. So after playing with a few of the heart projects in the book, I wanted to go off in another direction with the hearts.

The other book occupying my workbench has been there awhile. Back in January, I reviewed Cynthia Thornton's book, Enchanted Adornments for Art Bead Scene. It's been on my workbench ever since.

Wanting to create a heart in a style of my own, Enchanted Adornments was the go to book. I've said how Cynthia's book is full of tips and techniques unique to her style and aesthetic. I love her style but again, it's very different from my own.  It's how she creates that style I'm interested in learning.

Pages 38-39 lie open on my workbench, the section is entitled, "Texturing Clay."  A quote kept going   over and over in my mind:

 "Unique textures will keep your work exciting and completely your own."

 

Spurred on to make a heart that is completely my own, I made some texture tools.  But sometimes the simplest can be just what you're looking for.

This one looks like an large old nut or seed found in the woods with small natural holes that has been carved into a heart. The texture makes me want to reach out and touch it. As it sits on my workbench, I can't resist picking it up and turning it over in my hands.

Each path to a new bead series is a passage to learning new techniques and exploring another media. It's the key to my designs.

Wednesday Wire: Pounding Metal

I know you've probably all seen Lisa Niven Kelly's book, Stamped Metal Jewelry but I always like to wait until after the flood on initial reviews before I review a book. I like to try out the techniques and let the information roll around in my head for awhile wondering if I can say something different than what's already been said. If I think I have something to add to the conversation, then I review the book.

I like this book ALOT!

Ok, so that's not original but it's worth saying even if all the other reviewers have said it. It tells you, the prospective buyer that the majority of people really love the book. Then it's worth picking up and it is.

The book opens with a list of the tools necessary.  Even though I have a workbench full of tools, I find there's always a key tool I don't seem to have.  Cutting and Sawing comes next and is packed with indispensible information on saw blade sizes and how to saw.

I skimmed the sections on hole punching (I love the Euro Power Punch, nice clean holes) and dapping because I do both tasks regularly. Someone unfamilar with either will find easy to understand, comprehensive directions. I skipped the next few pages on riveting (I have Susan Lenart Kazmer's/Interweave's DVD on riveting), Oxidizing,  Annealing and went straight to "Start Stamping" on pages 36 and 37.

Who can blame me for skipping forward to the stamping section? Afterall I bought a book entitled Stamped Metal Jewelry, so obviously I wanted to pound metal!

Pages 36 -37 are chock full of the information and tips you need to personalize your jewelry with stamping. There are tips throughout the book along with idea starters like the list of words on page 42. My favorite projects are the Stamped and Stacked Ring on page 68, The Crown Jewel on page 92 and the Bold Stamped & Riveted Beads on page 102.

Time to get back to my pounding...here's a little glimpse at what I'm working on. You'll see more of it in the couple of weeks.

In the meantime, if you don't already have Lisa's book, put it on your Holiday gift list!

(Thank you to Interweave for the use of the photo.)

Refining and Picking Up Tips

During the spring of 2000, I took an Introduction to Jewelrymaking at the local university. I learned basic techniques like sawing, filing and sanding. I didn't have any jeweler's tools yet so I wasn't able to continue working on metal.

Here I am a few years later and want to add more metal work to my designs. Last fall, I picked up Susan Lenart Kazmer's Cold Connections and worked on the bowl bezels ideas in her book. I didn't have a saw so I was cutting the sheet metal using metal shears. I needed a refresher on the basic techniques I'd learned in that first class I took in 2000.

Interweave was having their annual Hurt Book Sale so I picked up Mark Lareau's Getting Started Making Metal Jewelry.

I have Mark's other book on wire and it's one I used over and over so I was excited to see he was the author of this introductory book.

It's a good introductory book for metal. There is a list of basic tools you'll need. I went through my tools and ordered the few things I needed to fill in. As I was saying, I needed a refresher on the sawing - this fit the bill.

Loopy Tuesday

I mentioned earlier that my organic glass links would make an appearance in Earrings, Earrings, Earrings edited by Barb Switzer, Editor of Simply Beads magazine. The book is out and not only are the Ivory Links on the cover, they're on page 82-83 in a set of earrings designed by Barb Switzer called "Loopy Tuesday"- a classic design using pearls, brass findings and chain. Just beautiful!





Earrings, Earrings, Earrings is chock full of inspiring designs for the beginner and intermediate jewelrymaker. Clear step by step directions and photos for the fundamental steps in the projects are given at the start. Chapters entitled "Hoops & Posts," "Short Dangles," "Long Dangles," and "Sets" follow. Each project has a list of materials and written step by step directions. If you've forgotten how to make a wrapped loop, just flip to the beginning of the book to see detailed pictures and directions. I love the Loopy Tuesday, Egyptian Earrings, and Purple Passion projects. There are many artist made beads in the book and I'm happy to see the artist's name and listing in the buyer's guide.

The photo index in the back of the book is particularly helpful as is the exhaustive list or Buyer's Guide. If there's a project you want to make in the book, you'll find the supplies through these internet resources.

Earrings, Earrings, Earrings can be all things to all jewelrymakers - a learning text for the beginner and intermediate jewelrymaker and a resource for inspiration and unique artist made beads and supplies.

(Photo Credit of Earrings, Earrings, Earrings and Loopy Tuesday design courtesy of Annie's Attic.)

Business Smarts Creatively

I'm usually doing a few things at the same time. I wouldn't call it multi-tasking as it more of one thing leads to another. When I clean, I clean the sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms at the same time. So there are several rooms I'm working on at the same time. While I work on a necklace in progress, I'm also evaluating the business end of things. As a Mom and a sign language interpreter, I spend so much of my time for others, I can lose my own voice. It can be hard to find it sometimes.

I talked about vision boards in January. I like the idea of a visual, creative approach to business. In the bookstore a while back I picked up a copy of The Creative Entrepreneur by Lisa Sonora Beam. I've set up my creative business plan notebook with the set of questions. It's a plan you work on continuously but the approach is visual and well suited to the artist in me. I've struggled with alot of "outliney" style business plans only to leave them half finished. The Creative Entrepreneur shines a ray of hope in the direction of creative business plans.

Good Investments for Technique and Inspiration

I got good suggestions on copper foil yesterday from Lynn and Angie. Thanks, guys! (BTW, Angie, I too started in stained glass and couldn't cut glass very well so I decided I'd rather burn with hot glass than bleed with stained glass!)

I'm putting the twist tie on the roll as I write this (hmmm, how am I able to type and tie at the same time? wink!). I like the copper foil part, there's something meditative about burnishing it onto the glass and making sure that all the bubbles are out. But that's where my zen like state ends.

If I'm to be honest part of my problem is impatience.
Sally Jean Alexander's book Pretty Little Things has ruined me forever - I want to live in this book! N...O..W!


So I'm trying to solder round glass nuggets before I master the square and rectangular shapes.(Boy, do THEY look like crap - that is, the ones I'm able to actually solder!)

Damn that Sally Jean, why does she make it look so enticing and easy?!

If you need to back up a bit like me and slow down - buy Lisa Bluhm's Simple Soldered Jewelry and Accessories. It's THE book to teach you how to solder jewelry using stained glass technique.


Use Lisa's book in combination with Sally's and you'll have the perfect mix of how to and inspiration!

Be Thankful the Secrets are Out!

"The way I got into frit was really quite simple-it was my search for an intense, hot pink transparent glass." Val Cox from Frit Secrets, 2008

Never has the search for the elusive vibrant pink glass yielded such a wonderful creation! I've been waiting patiently for Val Cox, the fritmaster who introduced the frit frenzy to the current glass beadmaking world, to write her book. She has unveiled it to the world on her website: Frit Secrets: A Flameworker's Guide to Using Reactive Glass Frits.



Since 1999, I've been making glass beads but I could never master frit and make it sing like Val. Always willing to share, Val opens the flood gates of her frit knowledge and shares her techniques. There are chapters on Furnance Blown Glass, Frit Manufacturers, Frit Grind Sizes, COE, Base Glass, Five Special Colors, Color Review, Applying Frit and more.



Each chapter is comprehensive and full of expert information and common sense tips. The bonus is Val's recommendations that come from her extensive frit testing. I particularly appreciated the chapter on color since I've been working on using color more effectively in my work.



Val does careful color studies of each frit then takes all of the pictures herself. Her photography is luscious - I just want to reach out, pick up her beads and lick each one of them! (Oops did I say that out loud?! wink!)



I've acquired a stash of Val's frit. Although I've been unable to create a lovely frit bead, I never parted with the frit hoping that somehow the frit goddess would visit. She's finally come to visit in the form of Val's book. I'm re-energized to get the frit back out and try again. I'm thankful Val has shared her secrets and every beadmaker should be too!

(All Photos courtesy of Val Cox, talented glass beadmaker and phenomenal photographer!)