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 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?

Whirlwind and Seed Beads

I'm catching up this week after last week's whirlwind when I wasn't able to get to the computer once. So not much time to post but before I get back to the studio, I wanted to mention that I received some lovely seed beads from Auntie's Beads.  Look to see them in a jewelry piece in the coming week.

Miyuki Metallic Gold Iris Size 8

Miyuki Berry Lined Size 8

Miyuki Dark Bronze Matte Size 8

What are you up to this week? Catch up? 

Lampwork Glass Art Beads and Beadwork

I've been talking about combining seed beads and lampwork art beads lately. The fine gradations in color you can achieve with seed beads is a marvel. Often that is the focus of beadwork. Yet, lampwork art beads can be incorporated into lovely beaded artwork - Art beads are limited only by our imaginations - they can be used in a variety of creative ways. One of those is in Beaded Art such as pictures, sculpture or dolls Cabachons can be used as heads, bodies or as part of the structure of the art piece. Artisan made heart beads can be worked into the beadwork or eye beads used as talismans in the beadwork.

Here is a "painting" done by Rebekah Hodous entitled "Voices"





My prototype art bead yesterday was inspired by beadwork - the texture, the color and the ingenious ways that cabachons and glass beads are worked into the piece. True works of art.

Have you combined beadwork with art glass beads?

Seed beads and crochet....

Something a little different for this Friday - I am enamored of seed beads and crochet and have been for a long time. When I hit a creative block in beadmaking, I'll crochet or beadweave to get my juices flowing again. Here's a picture of soft bangle bracelet I made completely. I handfelted the underlying felt rope and then I bead crocheted the bangle together. I wanted just a peek of the yellow felted rope with the red beads to give it high contrast. It's soft and blingy! Can't get much better than that!

Seed Beads!

I love seed beads! I've made alot using them over the years - here's a simple one that shows off the seeds nicely in a multi-strand bracelet. A few silver lined transparent seed beads give it sparkle - ooooh la la!!