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!

Tuesday Tangle: Hooking up Wire

Two weeks ago, I finally ordered the pixie bead tutorial from yoola on etsy. Since then, if you read my facebook page, I've been struggling to get the hang of it.

I thought this would be easy, afterall, I've crocheted since I was a kid but I never did thread crochet which probably would be of more help than the larger yarn I've used.

Right now, I'm at the knotty mess phase. You know, where you can't seem to even get past step one?

So I search YouTube for a few tips and hints. Here's a good one for those of us who are quite sure how that first loop gets started.

Wish me luck as I work my way to step two and three!

Coffee Talk: What's up with the MIA?

It's time to talk folks. I mean, what's up with the MIA, Cindy? You're pretty faithful to the blog and I can't imagine what would take you away.

You're right. What would take me away?

Another website.

That's right, another website. You all know that I have another life as a sign language interpreter. I've found it necessary to develop the business in that field and so it's taken away from the time I have to blog.

The website isn't quite ready to unveil yet. I'm putting all my free time into it. 

While away from blogging, I had to upgrade my iPhone and have discovered a whole range of photography apps. So here's quick snapshot of some of the beads I haven't quite finished. Enjoy your day and I promise I'll be back as soon as I can!

Funny Friday and Fabulous Links!

Did YOU have your doughnut today? If not, go get one and sit down to read the fabulous Friday links!

About.com Jewelry Making
There are lots of recent graduates out there. Here are some jewelry tutorials designed for the graduate.

Art Bead Scene
The trend is bracelets. Check out the cool art bead components ABS found for you!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
t's jewelry "Re Do" time and a giveway of the finished piece

Beading Arts
Wire tutorials and resources galore on Beading Arts this week!

Beads & Books
Michelle shares the bracelet she made with a 4-hole porcelain bracelet bar from Chinook Jewelry.

Carmi's Art Life/World
Carmi features a newly molded pendant on this week's necklace sample.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Look what's sprung up underneath one of Cindy's Red Lotus Pods!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Summer is just days away. Come on over to check out the latest installtion from the Earthenwood Design Team.

Resin Crafts!
Carmi has a four part series on mold making on Resin Crafts blog this week.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews the third in a fine series of books by Marthe Le Van. This one is expressly about rings which you can make in 30 minute or less! And they are OUTRAGEOUSLY gorgeous. Come see!

The Bead Dreamer
Charlene creates a book and an alphabet stepping way outside the box. Don't we all need to from time to time?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew hosts another great Thursday Giveaway! This time ceramic beads from Golem Studio are up for grabs!

Bead Table Wednesday: Putting it all together

I'm pulling together a black glass mini-dip in a ring length size with a 32mm (1 and 1/4 inch) rich red disk bead and a 12mm Vintaj fairy petals beadcap to make this bold ring.

Nothing is Funny this week so Fabulous Links!

Ugh, I've spent the last 3 hours surfing YouTube, LOL Cats, the Daily Show and I can't find anything that I think is funny enough to share with you! So this week it's Fabulous Links!

A Bead A Day
It's Bead Mix week on A Bead A Day! Do you have a favorite bead mix you'd like to share? Stop on over!

About.com Jewelry Making
It's hot, and it's here - summer time! Enjoy our summer with these jewelry making and other crafting ideas.

Art Bead Scene
Copper is the new silver! Here are some copper-y ideas for you!

Beading Arts
And yet another chance to win a fabulous bead package giveaway!

Beads & Books
If you're in a creative rut, you might want to read what Michelle learned from interviewing bead artist Betsy Youngquist.

Carmi's Art Life/World
Carmi tests a package of Shrinky Dink for ink jet printers in order to make a new bracelet.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Bright Colors are everywhere - here's a rewind on how to put some color into your designs!

Resin Crafts!
Carmi creates a ring combining Envirotex Lite resin and resin clay!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean received the most wonderful email from Pasty Evins! You must read it --it will make you, as an artist, think!

The Bead Dreamer
Charlene shares a bracelet made with moon beads, owl charms and thoughts on how we are more alike than different

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew dishes on his secret ingredients for making affordable, but beautiful silver coin pendants!

Bead Table Wednesday: Fairy House

I don't know what possessed me last week, but a fairy house sprung up under one of my red lotus pods on  my beadmaking table. 

Tag-a-long-Tangle: On the front cover!

I'm thrilled that my Easy Loop earrings project is on the front cover of 10 5 Minute Wire Jewelry Projects from Interweave. Great news for you too, Interweave is having a sale on their books this week. So be sure to check it out!

Tuesday Tangle Tutorial: Well Loved Earrings

This week the Tuesday Tangle is a tutorial.

A Tangle Tutorial - get it?

Ok ok, before I chase you away with my bad jokes,  today's tangle is a reward for you coming back. Last Saturday, I debuted my new word beads on Studio Saturday. So today, I'd like to show you a quick pair of earrings I've made with the new beads. I call these, "Well loved" because your best friends and allies love you best.

Supplies:

Ally word beads
Two (2) Vintaj pearl headpins
Two (2) Vintaj kidney earring wires
Two (2) Vintaj 8mm foliage bead caps
Four (4) vintage 3.5mm orange firepolished Czech glass beads

Tools:
Dapping Block/punch set
hammer
roundnose pliers
wire flush cutters
file


1. Open the Vintaj 8mm foliage bead caps to fit the 12-13mm Ally word beads. Place in the dapping block and hammer with the punch to widen the 8mm bead cap. Start with a size just slightly larger than the 8mm bead cap. Go up to the next size and tap with the punch to widen the bead cap more. Keep gradually widening the cap until it is able to fit over the 12mm Ally word bead. Do this with all four beadcaps.

2. String in this order onto the Vintaj pearl headpin: vintage orange Czech bead, foliage bead cap, Ally word bead, foliage bead cap, vintage orange Czech bead.

3. Cut the headpin down to approximately 1/2 inch from the top of the orange Czech bead. If the end of the wire is sharp, file to make it smooth.

4. Use your round nose pliers to make a loop. Do steps 2-4 to make the matched pair.

5. String onto the kidney wires.


There you have it!  Your own set of "Well Loved!"

Studio Saturday and Sensational Links!

I'm over at Studio Saturday this week with my new Word Beads series. I start the series out with one word very near and dear to my heart, ally. I'll be blogging an earring tutorial using the word beads next week, so make sure you stop back!

Here are my favorite bead blogging pals up to their usual goodness this week!

A Bead A Day
Do you ever miss a piece of jewelry you made as a gift? Lisa is contemplating creating a copy of the bracelet she made for her Mom for Mother's Day!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy is having fun with filigree and brass charms, which includes a new bracelet tutorial.

Art Bead Scene
Want to personalize your jewelry designs? Here are some suggestions from the Art Bead Scene.

Barbe Saint John
Barbe talks about Lark Books latest Call for Entries

Beading Arts
Cyndi shares her method of making a charm necklace from a vintage button!

Beads & Books
Michelle shares the pearl and crystal necklace she made for the Artbeads.com challenge.

Carmi's Art Life/World
Carmi has a new pendant to work with to create the copper rose necklace.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
Cindy's come up with a primary color variation on the double dip ring.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
The Earthenwood Design Team has been hatching up some beautiful jewelry designs using Melanie's ceramic egg charms and pendants!

Resin Crafts!
To launch a week of pouring resin into bezels Carmi showcases two different floral techniques.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean discusses the giveaways--Go for it!!!-- and the call for Entries from Lark Publishing Company

The Bead Dreamer
It's not always easy to get the length of a bracelet correct - especially if large beads are involved. Charlene shares a tool that can help.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew debuts several new items in his Shop, including these NEW skeleton keys!

Monday Links

A Bead A Day
If you are interested in polymer clay techniques, Cindy Lietz, the Polymer Clay Tutor, is offering a free tutorial on color blending!

About.com Jewelry Making
Even if May 5th passed by you unnoticed, that doesn't mean you can't find an excuse to celebrate.

Art Bead Scene
Looking for a challenge? Art Bead Scene has two design contests for you!

Beading Arts
Don't miss our next giveaway package from the fabulous Cherry Tree Beads!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
How 'bout a mini-dip to go with your double dip?

Resin Crafts!
Resin Crafts has a great idea for using leftover resin.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews the stunning book, Vintage Jewelry Design. It's one hundred years of must-see beauty!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Celebrate Spring and the return of the weekly Thursday Giveaways with an assortment of components from Beadaholique!

Tuesday Tangle....Primary Dip Ring

Had some fun at the torch and flattened out some of the shorter double dips. They make a perfect ring!

Monday Monkey Business and Links

A Bead A Day
Do you know "the bead" when you see it? Lisa came across one of those in a craft-store mix recently and couldn't walk away!

About.com Jewelry Making
Vintage style is mixed with modern alternatives in this new necklace tutorial.

Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene offers up a few business tips.

Barbe Saint John
Barbe reviews Jen Cushman's "Explore Create Resinate" Book.

Beading Arts
Don't miss your chance to win giveaway package #2 from Cherry Tree Beads!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has some eye candy featuring scarves and a big bauble.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva
The week, Cindy's tangled up in a re-do of her studio.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie uses an unusual find of vintage leather postcards to craft a leather cuff bracelet

Resin Crafts!
Carmi turns a feathered butterfly in a pendant with resin.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
In this A to Z blogging challenge entry, Jean is surprised by "W" for a Wonderful thing which happens to her!

The Bead Dreamer
Vintage inspired jewelry components and a vintage pin from her grandmother come together in this special necklace from Charlene

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew gives a heads up about a great giveaway from Lark Jewelry & Beading!

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!