Bead&Button

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Tea — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:26:00 GMT

We published a photograph of a beaded sphere in yesterday’s e-mail newsletter, and we’ve gotten a couple of calls asking about it. Just in case you’re wondering about the beaded sphere, I’ll clear up some of the mystery. The title is “Hexodrome,” and it was submitted by farfalle to the subscriber gallery in the seed bead nonwearable category. You can see a larger picture of the sphere here.

Look through the rest of the subscriber gallery to see what other Bead&Button readers are making. If you’re a subscriber, keep posting more pictures of your work. We hear a lot of great feedback about your creations. If you’re not a subscriber yet, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today. In addition to posting your pictures in the subscriber gallery, you get to download exclusive projects for free.

Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:07:00 GMT

If you’re in Baltimore, Maryland, for any of the upcoming holidays, you might want to check out the exhibit Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry at the Walters Art Museum.

Henry Walters (1848–1931), an American railway magnate, inherited a large collection of jewelry when his father died. He then spent his life enlarging that collection, featuring some of the more sturdy pieces in a traveling show.

Now that show has come back home to the Walters Art Museum, where 200 pieces are on display. The exhibit includes jewelry from 3,000 BC through the 20th century, and showcases such pieces as a bracelet from the Olbia Treasure (first century B.C.), a Jewish marriage ring (17–18th century), and a Tiffany and Co. corsage ornament (ca. 1900). Items too delicate for the traveling show will also will be on display, such as a 19th century Chinese imperial headdress with kingfisher feathers, gemstones, and pearls.

Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry runs until Jan. 4. Visit www.thewalters.org/bedazzled for more information, a gallery of selected pieces, and descriptions of exhibit-related events.

Above: Gothic-style bracelet, ca. 1870, Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry

November 14 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:08:00 GMT

It's less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, somewhere between 39 and 41 days until Christmas (amazingly, that's what I found as I searched the Web, and I'm so amused by the variance that I just don't want to count for myself), and 47 days until New Years Eve (which is not a big celebration date for me personally, but I know some people get nutty about it).

For the record, though my goals were lofty last Friday and the week before that, I didn't get those projects started. However, I did get the living room rearranged, the cardmaking and stamping station set up in my living room (it had to come in from the unheated sunporch), the leaves raked, two visits to the gym logged, and evenings with my favorite little one and with a date squeezed into those two days, so I shouldn't be hard on myself. Maybe this weekend I'll make some gifties, but I'd hate to jinx it. First, there's brunch with friends in Appleton, maybe a visit with my bff Janet and her brood that afternoon, and then, of course, those gym visits.

I have to say, there is something about forking over the money for the gym membership that has motivated me to getting there. Plus, and I know this sounds cliche, I really do feel more energized and less jiggly already, so I'm going to keep it up. Counting from Saturday to Friday (today) as my first "real" week, I've been there four times and might go tonight as well. And each visit has been about an hour or so, so that's good, right?

Though there's been lots of gym progress, the lack of Christmas gift progress triggers a wee bit of anxiety about getting all of the homemade gifts I want to get done completed in time. And, as usual, there's laundry to do, produce that needs to be cooked up before it crosses over to inedible, and apples to be put up. (Yes, I got a notion to make applesauce the other day at the grocery store--what was I thinking? Oh yeah, I was thinking that I have my mom's super-cool apple peeler, corer, and slicer and her applesauce press.) But no worries. I'll figure it all out. Meanwhile, take a break from YOUR busy weekend and check out my blogging friends.

On the beads and projects front:

Melissa at Strands of Beads remembers an important trip through the (what else?) beads she collected.

Jennifer at Jennifer Jangles Blog is showing a easy brooch project.

Cyndi at Jewelry & Beading doesn't often play with clay, but she figured out how to make a really easy pendant that she really likes!

Carmi glams up some old poker chips for Carmi's Lucky Chips Necklace.

Take a tour of Art Bead Scene Editor, Lynn Davis's sticky studio! She's exploring resin.

And Naomi from BeadStyle visits Target and suggests that you can create jewelry that is as current as theirs.

With slightly more seasonal projects:

Savvy Crafter-Candie Cooper has a project to warm up your Thanksgiving table--festive fall candle holders. (Image, right.)

And check out Katie's Venetian Glass = Yummy! blog, which talks about adding Venetian Glass into the mix to create a new fall favorite.

And in beady media buzz and marketing tips:

Jean at Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! is all kinds of entertained reviewing Jennifer Perkins' book, The Naughty Secretary Club.

And Jen at Naughty Secretary Club asks "Do you tune in to watch Mad Men each week? Ever pay attention to the jewelry the ladies in the office wear? You might just spot a Naughty Secretary Club Pencil Pusher Necklace."

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry talks about the importance of getting yourself out there!

And in Marketing Monday, Barbe gives some tips about contacting new venues to sell your work.

P.S. From the "small world" files, Katie used glass from Bella Venetian Beads in her project. I know this business well—they have an amazing selection. I happened into their shop many years ago; it's near where I grew up. And in the November 08 issue of BeadStyle magazine, Cathy Jakicic created her Sparkle and Smoke necklace and earrings (p. 48) using some of their beads.

No beads allowed

Lynne Soto — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:52:00 GMT

I researched and wrote the “Recent eras in jewelry history” article in the Bead&Button VintageStyle Jewelry special issue. Since then, I have pondered the fact that within the colonial settler population of North America there was no known tradition of beadwork.

This beading blank spot has been a mystery to me, considering that around the world there are rich traditions of beadwork that extend back into ancient history. And this includes the native peoples of North America. After more research I have a hypothesis about this situation.

We all remember our early American history about the Pilgrims and the Puritans and Plymouth Rock and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It is my thought that thanks to the Puritans (a group of English religious dissidents who arrived in the late 1600s) a link in our beadwork heritage was broken.

As part of their religious and lifestyle philosophy, Puritans believed it was important that their dress reflect their pure lifestyle. Men and women wore simpler versions of fashions of the 1600s. Their clothing was made from cotton, linen, or wool cloth rather than the luxurious fabrics of silk, brocades, and embroidered cloth used to make clothing worn in the king’s court. Puritan women did not wear jewelry or other adornments, compared to their royal counterparts (paintings of the time depict queens wearing extravagant gem and pearl jewelry). They covered their heads with a cap over their unstyled hair. The Puritans believed that fancy dress showed the person to be vain and predisposed to evil.

So I’m thinking no jewelry or adornment meant no beads. This makes sense to me. The interest in beaded jewelry in more recent times developed only after American society became multi-ethnic, benefiting from the beadwork traditions introduced from other cultures. What’s your theory on this?

Lynne

Herringbone stitch: Tension and texture

lweiss — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:41:00 GMT

Over the last few weeks, I’ve worked on a number of twisted herringbone ropes, and I’ve noticed a few things as I’ve gone along. First, I stitch incredibly tight herringbone ropes! I hate it when my thread shows (even though I know that it will to some degree with this stitch), so I always pull the thread very tight. Some of the projects I’ve been working on use Charlottes or crystals, and so require the use of Fireline, which adds to the stiffness of my ropes. I know some people have the opposite problem: Their herringbone ropes are too loose, and they end up with gaps in their ropes. How do we arrive at a happy medium?

I’m doing a few things to try to ease the tension. I’m stitching with a stretchier thread, like SoNo or Nymo, whenever the project doesn’t require Fireline. And I’m trying to get out of the habit of pulling the thread tight after every stitch. I bead tightly enough that it’s not necessary unless I want a stiff, sculpted rope. Beaders who have problems with ropes that are too loose can try the opposite approach: Use a stiffer, less stretchy thread, like Fireline, and give the thread a tug after each stitch to pull the beads tightly together.

I wanted to share something else I learned about herringbone ropes this week. Many of you already know that you can add curves and shaping to herringbone ropes by mixing up the sizes of seed beads that you use in each stack. (Linda Getting’s “Herringbone helix” bracelet in the October 2007 issue of Bead&Button is a great example.) Did you know that you can achieve a more subtle ridge to your twists by switching up the brands of seed beads? In these photos you can see two herringbone ropes. The one on the left uses Miyuki Japanese seed beads for both colors, while the one on the right uses Miyukis and Matsunos. The square shape of the Matsunos pops the bead out as you stitch, so long as it is the second bead in the stitch. The contrast of matte and shiny beads enhances this effect, too.

Write a jewelry-making or beading book!

Ann Dee Allen — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:49:00 GMT

Kalmbach Publishing Co., publisher of Bead&Button, BeadStyle, and Art Jewelry magazines, is seeking book proposals for our growing line of jewelry and craft books. We’re interested in hearing from hobbyists as well as professional designers who can present us with exciting book proposals that feature original projects in the following areas:
• beaded jewelry
• bead stitching
• wirework
• polymer clay
• metal clay
• scrapbooking
• knitting
• crochet
For more information and submission guidelines, please go to kalmbach.com/books and click on the links for “Books Queries” and “Proposals.”

Jewelry marketing

Tea — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:02:00 GMT

In addition to making the projects right from the pages of Bead&Button, many of our readers design and sell their own original jewelry. Topics in our online forum often range from sharing tips for attending a first craft show as a vendor to setting up a Web site. If you read these posts, you’ll find out pretty quickly that our readers have a lot of really good marketing ideas.

A couple of months ago, I read an article about a different kind of marketing that I’ve been meaning to share with you: gift boxes. The idea is being used by a jewelry store in Raleigh, N.C., in the U.S., near where I went to college. The store is leaving jewelry wrapped in gift boxes in select locations around town. Information about the store is included with the jewelry items.

The concept works not only in spreading goodwill, but it gets the finder of the box to talk to friends about it. I, for one, am fascinated by this idea. It reminds me of the small acts of charity that people are sometimes moved to do, such as putting spare change in the parking meters of strangers. Sometimes the smallest things not only brighten another person’s day, but they can bring joy to your own.

If you were to leave gift boxes around town, what would you put in them?

(The image is from “Egg-citing jewelry boxes,” available here.)

Native American beadwork on display

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:50:00 GMT

Here at Bead&Button, we love learning about Native American beadwork, both traditional and contemporary. In our February 2008 issue, we fell in love with Audrey Bearing and the moccasins, belts, fans, and purses she embroiders in the Shoshone-Bannock tradition (see left). And, without giving away any secrets, we can’t wait to share with you the Choctaw Nation artist we have lined up to profile in the April 2009 issue!

If you love Native American beadwork as much as we do, you’ll want to know about “The Art of Ceremony: Regalia of Native Oregon,” which showcases past and present ceremonial regalia from the state’s nine federally recognized tribal communities. Some of the regalia on display includes beaded jewelry and headwear.

As reported in a recent article by Danielle Peterson in Statesman Journal, the exhibit features demonstrations by contemporary Native American artists, like Sue Olson. A member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, Susan discovered black-and-white photographs of Coos women wearing beaded collars and set out to make modern versions inspired by the old. She has since beaded 10 collars, and is teaching the art to other members of her tribe.

“The Art of Ceremony: Regalia of Native Oregon” is on display at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem, Oregon, through January 19. For more information, call (503) 370-6855 or visit www.willamette.edu/museum_of_art/, where you can also download a teacher’s guide with pictures of some of the beaded adornments on display.

November 7 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:04:00 GMT

What I thought might be a creative weekend last weekend turned into an eventful weekend, and creative in a different way--I went from being a straight-haired blonde to a curly redhead. And though I did get to test-drive that quilting machine (which was very cool), I didn't get any of the cards or jewelry made. But this weekend looks pretty wide open except for some leaf-raking, so there's hope.

Meanwhile, the Gems have been hard at work, so let's share what they've been up to.

About.com Jewelry Making
Looking for some early holiday jewelry ideas? Start now with these simple projects that will appeal to a range of fashion tastes.

Art Bead Scene
Ribbon Isn't Just for Wrapping Presents!

Art Jewelry Magazine
A reader tests Art Jewelry's acid-free etching technique

Barbe Saint John - New Treasures from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe is giving a way a copy of "Get Your Sparkle On', find out how to win it!

Get ready for the holidays with Katie's great gift ideas
Check out three of Katie's favorite gifts to give (and create!) this holiday season!

Jewelry & Beading
Using multiple techniques, Cyndi has made an autumn necklace that warms her heart now that the days are cold!

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen invites collage artist Traci Bautista to Austin for a little paint meets jewelry adventure.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
The day before the election, Jean urged us all to vote, which we did! On a jewelry note, she mentioned her fun article concerning gift ideas for the upcoming holidays which she wrote for Soft Flex!

Strands of Beads
Melissa ponders ethical issues involving some vintage beads

Vacation Necklace
Carmi thinks nature provides pre-drilled shells just for her.

Beading with pearls: Buying pearls

lweiss — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:06:00 GMT

I love using pearls in the jewelry I make. They mix well with other beads, and their luster adds sophistication to just about any project. I usually like to buy my pearls in person, and I’m lucky enough to have a tremendous selection available locally, not to mention all the vendors who sell pearls at the Bead&Button Show. I’m picky, and I like to sort through the strands and choose the one with the least flaws.

When shopping in person, there are a few things I look for:
• Consistent shape and size. Even when I’m looking for a more baroque shape, like stick or keshi pearls, I like the beads to be consistently inconsistent. It helps me to plan my designs.
• Smooth finish and regular color. Since pearls are organic, there are often little pits or flaws in the finish, or the nacre (the glossy surface) is uneven, which can make the color of dyed pearls inconsistent. I look for pearls with the most even finish possible, with the least amount of flaws.

As the quality of pearls varies, so does the price. I’m a big fan of bargains, but I’m willing to spend more money for large, perfect, center-of-attention pearls. When I decide to go for less expensive pearls, like smaller pearls or pearls that I’m weaving into the background of a design, I still try to get the best I can for the money. There are some fantastic bargains out there.

Another option for those who require perfection, or need larger holes to accommodate their design, is faux pearls. As with real pearls, the quality varies, as does the price. But usually you will get flawless, perfectly round, perfectly matched beads.

We’ve gotten a few questions about pearl sources on the Internet this week. If you have a great source for buying pearls, please let us know and leave a comment below.

The earrings at left accompany Jeanne Gassert's "Pearl necklace with mother-of-pearl centerpiece."

Finding kindred beading spirits

Lynne Soto — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:01:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, I blogged about bead societies. Since then I’ve received some responses from folks around the country who don’t live near a bead society and are interested in starting one, or are interested in finding fellow beaders they can hang out with to bead and talk about our great hobby.

The first question most people asked is how do I connect with other beaders in my area? You’d think in this age of high-tech communications this would be the easiest thing in the world. But remember, beaders are often solitary individuals who work alone in relative seclusion.

My favorite place to meet beaders is at a bead store. But not all beaders have access to a local store. I’d like to help get some answers for those who contacted me. If you have a beading group, whether it’s a beading society or a group of beader friends, would you please tell me how you got together?

Remember, there are beaders everywhere and you never know where you’ll meet them.

Happy beading,

Lynne

Patriotic jewelry projects

Tea — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:10:00 GMT

Celebrate election day with two patriotic projects:

You can weave or square stitch Donna Coverdale’s “American sweetheart bracelet." If you’re interested in the latest double-cuff trend — wearing matching bracelets on both wrists — change the background on the second one to red and make the inverted hearts blue.

While you’re at it, stitch up some “Star-spangled earrings” in square stitch.

Exclusive 2009 beaded jewelry designs from Bead&Button

Ann Dee Allen — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:18:00 GMT

It's official — Bead&Button's 15th anniversary issue hit the newsstands today! Subscribers' early responses to this issue have already been amazing. With "20 Tips for Inspired Wirework," holiday patterns, a loomwork Stitch Workshop, a story about button history, and 21 one-of-a-kind jewelry designs, it's a tremendous value. We can't believe that some of the world's top jewelry designers were willing to share their exclusive brand-new 2009 designs with our readers. You asked for variety and this issue has it all: beadweaving, chain maille, polymer clay, metal clay, wirework, right-angle weave, St. Petersburg chain, bead embroidery, netting, bead crochet, tubular peyote stitch, and more! Pendants, bracelets, necklaces, a ring, earrings, and Cynthia Rutledge's own lattice weave primer. This issue alone is worth the price of a subscription! All subscribers will automatically receive this regularly scheduled December issue.

Free instructions for our Bead&Button anniversary necklace

Ann Dee Allen — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:00:00 GMT

It's no secret that we're celebrating Bead&Button's 15th anniversary in 2009! Our December issue is really spectacular, thanks to all of our fabulous contributors. And, we have an exclusive lampworked bead to commemorate the occasion. Each bead is handmade by Jeff Barber and comes in green and copper earth tones. The beads are hand-stamped with Bead&Button 15 and J. Barber. You can order the 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" (3.2mm x 3.2mm) bead in the BeadAndButton.com Store. We also have free instructions to make Julia Gerlach's necklace pictured on the left at BeadAndButton.com/freeprojects. See my previous post, "Bonus! Materials list for a Bead&Button anniversary-bead necklace," for a materials list to string Jennifer Ortiz's project on the right.

Oprah’s beaded necklace/collar?

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:13:00 GMT

Did anyone see Oprah last Friday, October 31? She was wearing a really interesting beaded piece, but I can’t tell if it was a collar stitched to her sweater or a separate necklace. Any thoughts?

The oversized circular focal reminded me of Lesley Weiss’ “Mandala medallions” necklace from our Right-Angle Weave special issue, and its chunky neckline and long, draping fringe would have been right at home in our annual Bead Dreams competition. In other words, I’d love to know anything I can about this piece and its designer! If you have an inside scoop, do tell!

What's in your bead bag?

Anna Draeger — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Q I am just getting started beading and was wondering what are some of the essential tools and supplies I should always have on hand?

Some tools you will find in my bead bag.

Wonderful question! Especially since it touches on my favorite subjects: containers, tools, and bead supplies.

First of all, I mainly like to make projects that include stitching. I don't work with wire or other materials very often, but I have a good basic set of tools so that I can enjoy working in any medium. Many projects, even if they are primarily stitched, have a clasp or other findings that require tools to attach these findings to a piece of jewelry.

It is important to buy the best quality tools you can afford. In my opinion, it does not pay to buy a low-quality set of tools. Low-quality tools will produce low-quality work, so get the best you can buy. Higher quality tools are generally a better deal because they will have a more comfortable fit for your hands, plus, you won't be buying them after you already spent money on a low-quality set that you realized wasn't such a good deal after all.

I carry an ergonomically correct set of pliers (jewelry pliers have fine points and smooth inside jaws): chainnose, roundnose, and flatnose, and also a wire cutter. I get a new wire cutter at least twice a year because I can't stand fighting with whatever I am cutting. I don't want my jewelry to look like it's been chewed apart. Also, I use ergonomic pliers because I have tendinitis, and if my tools aren't comfortable, I won't be able to use them at all. To avoid aches and pains, check out our Tips & Techniques for some stretches to use while beading.

Next, I carry three crimping pliers: one for micro crimps, one for standard crimps, and one for macro crimps. Actually, now that I think about it, I have four pliers: One pair has two sets of crimping sizes on it. It was the last tool I bought, and I love it because it works for almost any size or style of crimp bead. Crimping pliers are essential, and can wear out, so if a tool that has served you well for many years stops working well, it is time to replace it.

Split-ring pliers are important if you want to attach clasps with split rings, which resemble a miniature key ring. I tend to prefer using them instead of regular jump rings because they don't open as easily, which makes for a more secure join. A split-ring pliers is nice to have, but take the time to learn how to use it by watching the video on the BeadAndButton.com video page.

A sharp scissors is also essential if you are using thread. I replace my scissors often; again, I don't like to fight with my beading thread. I also have a round safety cutter tool, just in case I need to take something on an airplane. I also carry memory wire cutters (don't use your good wire cutters — memory wire will destroy them), a ruined pair of wire cutters (in case I need to break an extra bead), and a pair of scissors for everything else besides thread.

I have a ruler, a tape measure, and a set of calipers in my bag. You never know when you will need to measure something for accuracy.

A beading awl is wonderful for helping to pick apart knots in your beading thread or Fireline. It can also draw blood, so be careful with this tool, and store it in its original packaging or a plastic tube.

I carry size #13, #12, and #10 beading needles, so I always have the right size for whatever project I sit down to do. Big Eye needles and needle threaders can be helpful if threading tiny needles is troublesome, but I have found that these tools are not useful for the size of beads I use.

As for some essential materials, I always carry Fireline in crystal and smoke colors, and several sizes of beading wire, crimps, clasps, head pins, and earring findings. Depending on your projects, you may have a different list of materials. To learn more about the different types of thread and stringing materials, view this article.

My bead bag.

I usually store projects in various states of completion in plastic containers. It is nice to have something to work on if my kids run late at school functions or if they want to stay an extra 20 minutes at the skate park (I can't watch them the whole time — I find myself holding my breath!), so I can grab one of my containers to throw in my bag when they are pulling me out the door.

And the last things I will mention are pencils, pens, and paper to jot down ideas or make supply lists as I am working.
Anna Elizabeth Draeger
Associate Editor
Bead&Button magazine

October 31 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:09:00 GMT

Happy Halloween, blog readers! It's been a busy week for me, blog-wise. Since yesterday was Ornament Thursday, I posted my Gratitude Project, and today, the Gems do a little trick-or-treating! So don that costume (or not) and go knock on their virtual doors for a treat . And while you're at it, give them a treat that's better than candy (okay, maybe at least as good as)--comment on their blog post. Just takes a second!

1000 Jewelry Inspirations Book Review
Barbe gets run over with inspiration from this book.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene Gives a Primer on Jewelry Displays, just in time for your Holiday Show!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi salutes the sock monkey with a fun-to-wear necklace. (Shown above---you've GOT to see the finished project!)

Get Your Bead On!
Check out Katie's latest news and notes!

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Holiday or Anytime Ornament Project

Jewelry & Beading
Take a look at the beautiful way artist Beth Cummings has combined photography and jewelry!

Katie from Art Jewelry magazine and studio safety
Read about safe studio practices during this busy jewelry-making season

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean intervews Sara Hardin of Soft Flex Company for her wonderful Links collection of interview stars!

Strands of Beads
Melissa reads a little Sylvia Plath for inspiration this week

Collector's edition designers

Lynne Soto — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:16:00 GMT

One of the great parts of my job as associate editor for Bead&Button is getting to work with designers from around the world. For the December issue I edited the stories featuring the jewelry of Diane Fitzgerald, Suzanne Golden, and Anne Mitchell — three very different designers with three very different projects. And I learned something from each of them.

Diane’s teapots required very precise instructions. We had many e-mail exchanges about what words to use and the differences between Bead&Button’s step-by-step style and her instruction-writing style. By the time we finished putting the story together, we both agreed what’s important is helping the reader create the project, regardless of where the commas are placed or whether you tell readers to pick up “one” bead or “a” bead.

Suzanne’s bracelet is all about color and individual inspiration. Suzanne is one of the most “colorful” people I’ve met. She lives, breathes, and thinks in color — the brighter and more combinations the better. She’s also a great believer in spontaneous beading. When Suzanne is ready to make a piece of jewelry, she gathers her beads around her and takes a handful from box one and a handful from box two and gets to work. She couldn’t believe that I had to count the number of beads in her bracelet to come up with the materials list.

Anne’s metal clay pendant gave me the opportunity to learn something about working with a material which I am personally unfamiliar with. Because Anne’s project uses butane torches and the resulting heated metal components, she was very concerned about incorporating appropriate safety warnings into the instructions. At one point in the editing process, I questioned her instructions to bend two metal prongs with your fingers. I thought you would severely burn your hand. That’s when we discovered I had skipped the step where you quench the pendant in cold water to cool it before handling. Here’s where accurately written instructions are very important and forgetting a step can have disastrous results.

Learn more about each of these designers featured in our 15th anniversary issue at BeadAndButton.com/15.

Lynne

Party with the best crowd ever, in Bead&Button!

Ann Dee Allen — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:35:00 GMT

How would you like to attend a party with Jeff Barber, Virginia Blakelock, Diane Fitzgerald, Christi Friesen, Suzanne Golden, Valerie Hector, Diane Hyde, Laura McCabe, Anne Mitchell, Lisa Niven Kelly, Sonoko Nozue, Hatsumi Oshitani, Lisa Pavelka, Cynthia Rutledge, Millicent Safro, Sherry Serafini, Jackie Truty, plus, even more jewelry designers, and the editors of Bead&Button?! Although it sounds a lot like the Bead&Button Show, it gets even better.

At Bead&Button, we're celebrating our 15th anniversary with a December Collector's Edition just for you. Our magazine editors corresponded for several months with the celebs of the art world listed above. We commissioned articles and jewelry projects made exclusively for Bead&Button from them. All the project stories include illustrations and how-to photographs. The issue is being sent to all subscribers now and also goes on newsstands on Election Day. Plus, our brand-new Bead&Button 15th Anniversary Bead is on sale now in our online store. It is exquisite — and is selling fast!

See you at the party!

Gifts from nature — in jewelry

Tea — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:01:00 GMT

I have a great uncle who is turning 91 next month. He loves to garden, and every summer his yard is full of blooms in a wide range of colors. His favorite flower is the calla lily. He reserves a special place in his yard to plant a few dozen of his pride and joy: up front and center in a ring around a flag pole.

Just as I was working on Christi Friesen’s polymer clay “Calling all calla lilies” for the 15th anniversary December issue, my great uncle had to cut down his real calla lilies and dig up the bulbs, which he’ll plant again next year.

With his birthday right around the corner, I plan to adapt Christi’s callas into a boutonniere for him to wear until spring brings round his garden again. What designs from the December issue would you like to make for gifts?

Calder Jewelry exhibit

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Starting December 9, 2008, you can witness the first museum exhibition of the jewelry produced by artist Alexander Calder.

Alexander’s jewelry-making career began at the age of eight, when he used scrap wire he found in the street to fashion jewelry for his sister’s dolls. Alexander’s interest in wire carried over into the wire sculpture he created as an adult. Wire sculpture clearly influenced the 1,800 brass, silver, and gold jewelry pieces he created throughout the rest of his life. Alexander’s jewelry also drew on tribal art, ancient influences, and surrealism. In fact, according to a press release from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Calder’s jewelry may be seen as a Surrealistic strategy to entrap the wearer into participating in an art performance or being metamorphosed by the object.”

Approximately 100 jewelry pieces – including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches, and tiaras – will be on display in Calder Jewelry. You will be able to view the exhibit online at www.metmuseum.org, or, to see it in person, visit the Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York between December 9, 2008, and March 1, 2009. After that, the exhibit travels to the Norton Museum of Art in Florida, then the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin.

The exhibit will be accompanied by a hardcover book, Calder Jewelry ($65), shown at left.

Tips on tatting with beads

lweiss — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:18:00 GMT

Last week, I sat down with Sandie, who works in our Customer Sales and Service department, to teach her how to tat. She’d been watching the video for the “Loops & lace” project in our October issue, but wanted a little hands-on help to get her started.

Sandie decided to start with a practice piece, rather than try to make the necklace right away, since it takes a little practice to make the stitches even and neat. She started with #20 crochet cotton and some size 6 seed beads. The beads were easy to string, and Sandie had them on the thread and ready to go in a nice symmetrical pattern when we got together. But when she came to see us this week and show off her progress, she wasn’t sure if she’d gotten the hang of it. It turns out she was doing just fine, but it was hard to see what was happening due to the size difference between her beads and thread. She’s going to try again this weekend with a different thread and beads, but her experience pointed out a few things I’d like to pass along to other beginners:

• Choose a nice thick thread to start with, at least a #8 crochet cotton. If you have a #5 thread available, even better. I learned to tat using Kreinik #8 metallic embroidery thread. The spools aren’t long enough to make the “Loops & lace” necklace, but the thread is a little stiff and springy, so you can clearly see every stitch you make. For the actual necklace shown in the magazine, I used the #5 "Splendor" silk thread from Rainbow Gallery that’s on the materials list in the resource guide. This thread also kept its shape well, and it felt really great on my fingers as I worked.

• Choose beads that are proportionate to the thread, but still easy to string. Size 8 or 11 seed beads are your best bet for getting started. I wouldn’t go much larger or smaller, since it will be more difficult to see your pattern.

• Use beads of a single color, or string the beads in a simple, symmetrical pattern. Using a single color helps you focus on technique and keeping track of the pattern. If you use multiple colors, keep it basic. Let’s say, for example, you wanted to use blue and green beads in your practice piece. You’d want to use an odd number of beads for the rings and the chains. You could string an alternating pattern of three greens for the rings and three blues for the chains, or you could string green-blue-green for the rings and blue-green-blue for the chains. Either way, you have the colors there as a cue, letting you know when to finish your rings or chains, and showing you how even your stitches are.

October 25 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:45:00 GMT

Sorry I missed catching you all up last week. I was out in Salt Lake City for a little site seeing and a board meeting. (See photos of the lake and the mountains, right.) It was a lovely trip, filled with a lot of laughter, a lot of looking forward, and a little bit of shopping (or whatever you'd call eight quilt shops in seven hours of shopping...). Everyone was wonderful out there--I even got to attend a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which was an experience I wouldn't trade for the world.

So to bring you all up to date, so much has been going on. So let's catch up with the jewelry gems this week.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has gathered up a load of jewelry-making links from all over the Web. The links cover related news, contests, and more.

Art Bead Scene
Catherine Witherell Visits Art Bead Scene!

Bead&Button Magazine
Check out Tea's blog about BeadAndButton.com/15 and the magazine's 15th anniversary content!

Carmi's Art/Life
Carmi makes a fabric skeleton pin to wear trick or treating.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter unveils some new designs for fall!

Check out Katie's cute halloween decor!
Katie's festive pumpkin captures the the feeling of fall.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Holly Jolly Christmas Designs

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi takes a look this week at all the information she's gathered about Steampunk jewelry.

Savvy Crafter
It was a dark and not so scary craft night....

Strands of Beads
Melissa thinks about snakes and circle links.

What's next in jewelry design: See Bead&Button's new Web site section

Ann Dee Allen — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Do you want to know what some of the most respected jewelry designers are saying about trends for the future? Fifteen prominent artists gave Bead&Button magazine their takes on contemporary design and let us in on their own sources of inspiration. We posted their comments on Bead&Button's 15th anniversary Web site section under Meet our designers. As Laura McCabe says in her interview: "I think we are right on the verge of a change. Fashion is always extreme, and I think we are about to see a new trend."

Our anniversary section also has our favorite covers, free instructions for our new bead commemorating the anniversary, maps showing where our readers live in the world, and more.

homepage2.jpg

Wanted: Beaders

Lynne Soto — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:57:00 GMT

Would you respond to this ad?

WANTED: People who can …

   * concentrate for extended periods of time
   * follow written instructions
   * learn new techniques
   * work alone
   * perform repetitious procedures
   * distinguish color variations
   * pay attention to details
   * complete projects
   * accept compliments graciously

What occupation would require these characteristics? Give yourself a loud round of applause if you guessed that these attributes describe a beader.

And while they don’t make our hobby sound very glamorous, put them all together and the results are beautiful bead projects. What characteristics would you add to this list?

If you’re interested in meeting and socializing with other folks who would also answer this ad, check out the Bead&Button list of bead societies and guilds. You’ll find kindred spirits who share your beading hobby.

Happy beading,

Lynne