Editors' Blog

Judging Bead Dreams

Tea — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:10:00 GMT

Ever wonder how the annual Bead Dreams competition is judged? Are you ever curious about just how anonymous the judging is? Here’s a little sneak peak behind the scenes.

Submissions start rolling in January 1 via online submission. They’re all collected in a database that is tightly protected by a password known only to Bead&Button’s Editorial Assistant Lora Groszkiewicz. She keeps the entries securely tucked away and hidden from the Bead&Button, BeadStyle, and Art Jewelry staffs until the submission deadline, which is April 5 this year. (Enter your design!)

By the end of the week, things really start to heat up when the editors get together to jury the entries. The exciting part is that we don’t know who made any of the pieces — only Lora knows, and she won’t tell us, nor does she offer any input into the selection process.

After we’ve finalized the list of pieces juried into the competition, entrants receive notification by April 23. All pieces are in the office by May 7, then they go through the final round of judging. They are also professionally photographed for our Web site’s Bead Dreams Gallery. Occasionally, professionals or experts in the medium, such as lampwork, will be called in to judge a category based on quality, craftsmanship, originality, and other criteria. The pieces are then put on display at the Midwest Airlines Center during the Bead&Button Show and returned to their owners by mid-July.

With the first deadline less than a month away, the editors are already gearing up for what should prove to be another exciting round of Bead Dreams. Find out about this year’s categories and rules.

Sherry Serafini: What I'm working on now

Ann Dee Allen — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:35:00 GMT

Guest blog by Bead&Button Top 10 jewelry teacher Sherry Serafini!

I’m beading away as always and loving every minute of it. Currently I’m working with Paulette Baron and Amy Katz on the new book Beads Across America, which will be published by Kalmbach in spring 2011 . We’re very excited, as the book will feature artists across the U.S. with very exciting projects for beginners and advanced students. I’ve also got another book coming out in spring 2011 tentatively called The Beaded Jewelry of Sherry Serafini, through the Masters Series. What an undertaking! 25 projects!!

One of the coolest things that I got to do last year was finally work with Marcia DeCoster at a bead retreat in Lake Tahoe. I’ve always admired her work and getting to spend time with her was great.

I also adventured to Tucson for the first time ever. Yes … the first time. I knew that if I ever went there I’d be in trouble. And yes …. I’m now eating Oodles of Noodles every day just so I can pay off my bills from all the beads I bought. One thing that excites me however, is that I’ll be sharing these finds with my students in class. I always bring the extra "loot" from my personal stash for my classes to enjoy.

Of course Bead&Button’s Show is on top of my list of exciting priorities. I always feel like a child anticipating Christmas when it comes to this show. It’s my favorite week of the entire year. Seeing old friends and making new ones is the highlight of the event! It’s amazing because prep work begins for me the week after I get back from the previous show. Getting interesting projects and kits ready take lots of time, but it is indeed a labor of love. The joy that comes from teaching a class and seeing students get inspired is such an incredible reward.

I’m very excited and honored to have been featured in the Bead&Button Top 10 Teachers list. I wish I could personally hug everyone who participated in choosing the "list." I feel that every teacher who gives her heart and soul in a classroom is a top 10! We’re all so lucky to be a part of such a wonderful community.

Happy Beading everyone … hope to see everybody in Milwaukee!!!

You love sushi (beadwork) like we love sushi

Ann Dee Allen — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:12:00 GMT

10,348. That's the number of people (as of March 1) who may be beading clever little ginger, California rolls, rice balls, wasabi balls, and tobiko rolls, thanks to Linda Rettich. You can find Linda's projects on BeadAndButton.com, in addition to her story about beading with vintage hatpin/buttons.

101 secrets from top 10 jewelry teachers

Ann Dee Allen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:19:00 GMT

Our April issue is here! At Bead&Button, our editors are always doing something interesting. But some of our magazine issues and our special issues include extra content that we really love to work on. This is true of our April "jumbo" issue, now on newsstands. The issue includes 16 more pages of content just for you. Normally we need a certain number of ads in the magazine to help pay for it and keep our readers' costs low. But for some issues, Kalmbach Publishing allows extra "editorial" pages. So, in our April issue we are running: a story about the top 10 teachers that you, our readers, named in our fall 2009 survey; the teachers' 101 secrets for making gorgeous jewelry; an exclusive profile and project by Laura McCabe; and a project straight from the pages of Patti Kimle's new book.

The April issue also includes the most amazingly fun sunflower cuff by Merle Berelowitz, illustrations and complete instructions to learn a NEW stitch by Hsaio Tso, and our cover April Project Plus, which you can design and style three ways. Okay, I'll stop, but not without mentioning Antonio Calles' skillful peyote butterfly. You really must try this masterpiece for yourself.

Teaching beading in Germany

Anna Draeger — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Wow. In one week, I'll be traveling to Dortmund, Germany, to teach classes along with beading superstars Diane Fitzgerald, Laura McCabe, and Carol Cypher. How did I get so lucky? I'm not really sure, but I'll take it! I've never traveled outside the U.S., so I'm a bit anxious about that, but super excited to share my designs with a whole new group of students. I'll be teaching five classes in four days, so I have a feeling I'm going to be very busy, but am looking forward to the whole experience. Now, what should I pack?

Bejewelled Netting is one of the bracelets I'll be teaching in Germany.

Before we know it, the 2010 Bead&Button Show will be upon us, and although my More Beaded Beads class has sold out, I still have several openings for my Enchanted Rings class. It is a great value, thanks to Swarovski, which is sponsoring my classes!

Enchanted Rings

More information is available on my Web site about upcoming classes, and don't forget to check out my latest Ask Anna post about adding fringe to focal beads!

Bead artist Diane Fitzgerald's tips on double and single thread

Ann Dee Allen — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:33:00 GMT

Guest blog by Diane Fitzgerald, named one of Bead&Button's Top 10 Jewelry Instructors in the U.S. for 2010! Diane is featured in Bead&Button's current April 2010 magazine issue.

Ever wonder whether you should double your thread for specific beading projects? Guest blogger and Bead&Button Show teacher Diane Fitzgerald provides some sage advice for reasons to double up:

Durability — Using a thread double when beading can offer several advantages: Like two heads, two threads are better than one. Here’s why I use thread double most of the time: When I worked in the electric utility industry one lesson I learned was that redundancy means greater reliability. In other words, if you use two threads and one breaks you still have the second one to rely on. In addition if the bead hole is filled with thread, there is less movement of the bead and the thread is less apt to be rub against the edge of the bead hole weakening it. When I spend umpteen hours beading something, I want it to be durable.

Oops! — When I teach students frequently comment about the difficulty of unbeading when a double thread is used. I find it just as easy to unbead when two threads are used as when a single thread is used. It is simple to do: just remove one bead at a time by gently pulling the eye of the needle back through the bead. Help the process along by being sure the eye of the needle is aligned with the bead hole to get it started.

Beginning with double thread — Many beadwork patterns begin with a ring of beads and usually one must go back and tediously weave in the beginning tails. Instead, I prepare the nylon thread and begin this way: After threading the needle bring the ends together, wax well and knot the ends together with an overhand knot. Clip the tails 1mm from the knot and melt the knot slightly with a lighter by holding the knot NEAR the lighter flame—not in it. Add the beginning beads and pass them to within 1” of the knot. Separate the strands between the beads and the knot and pass the needle between the strands. Pull tight to form a ring and pass back through the last bead. Don’t allow the knot to slip inside the bead. I’ve used this method for several years and my knots don’t show and my work doesn’t come apart.

Drapability — Your beadwork may or may not be affected by using double thread. How firm your beadwork feels depends more on thread tension than whether the thread is used single or double. But if one wants a firmer, stiffer piece and works with tight tension, greater stress is placed on the thread which may result in a break later.

Fireline and crystals — When working with crystals which have sharp edges around the holes I always use double thread. I treat the Fireline exactly the same as the nylon thread which is described above. I also feel bracelets get extra wear and tear and the necessity of using double thread in this case is even greater.

Stringing — When stringing beads, especially beads that are knotted between, I sometimes use a heavy nylon bead cord and bead tips (the little clamshells with a hole in the bottom and the hook). For my needle I use an inexpensive dental floss threader. I prepare the thread with a knot as described above and pass it through the first bead tip. I string the beads with knots if desired and add the second bead tip. This is where it is nice to have two cords. Clip the cord and remove the threader, then tie the two ends with a surgeon’s knot, dab the knot with glue and close the bead tip over it for a nice secure and neat finish.

As they say, there are many paths to heaven. This is how I get there.

Mea culpa - "Multiple choice" mistake in April Bead&Button

Julia Gerlach — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:19:00 GMT

Hi Bead&Button readers,

As several of you have already discovered, we printed a mistake in the instructions for Annette Mackrel's "Multiple choice" necklace on p. 32 of the April 2010 issue. In step 5 of the necklace base, it should say "Repeat steps 2 and 3 (figure 3) and step 4 (figure 4) until the rope is the desired length . . ." I'm very sorry for the error and for the inconvenience I know it has caused.

Julia

BrideStyle: 10 weeks to designing your own wedding jewelry

Stacy Hillmer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:00:00 GMT

For almost a year, I've been working on making wedding jewelry for my June 5th wedding. And while I was learning the ins and outs of designing jewelry, I was writing a series on the experience, a series meant to guide and hold the hands of newbie jewelry designers. Today, the series went live on BeadAndButton.com's sister site, BeadStyleMag.com! BrideStyle: 10 weeks to designing your own wedding jewelry is a 10-part column that takes you from "I want to make bridal jewelry but don't have any ideas!" to "I have the best bridal jewelry ever!" to "I never knew there were so many bridal accessories I could make with beads!" This week's post is an intro to the series, and next week we'll jump into the fray by talking about inspiration and how to harness it. Here's a sneak peek into future topics to whet your appetite:

how to shop for pearls and other bridal jewelry components
how to design the best jewelry for your face shape, neckline, and dress color
how to "fix" a design that just isn't working
how to make and package beaded gifts for the VIPs of your big day

The series is geared toward DIY brides and/or their DIY friends, and the majority of the beading is stringing, but this series answers tough questions faced by all jewelry designers. So tune in to BrideStyle - a new post every Monday!

Anne Mitchell preps for a new year of teaching and exhibiting her jewelry

Ann Dee Allen — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:30:00 GMT

Guest blog by Anne E. Mitchell, named one of Bead&Button's Top 10 Jewelry Instructors in the U.S. for 2010! Anne is featured in Bead&Button's April 2010 magazine issue, on sale NOW.

Greetings to 2010.

It may be early spring, but for me, the new year really begins with The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February. Each year between my last fall show and the Tucson Gem Show, I take a few precious weeks to re-energize from nine or 10 months of travel. I use this time to re-group and plan for the next year, detailing out the months of teaching, exhibiting, and travel. For those of us who exhibit in Tucson, we are planning out our booths. And for those who go to Tucson to stock up on dwindling supplies after a long winter, the creation of supply lists is the task at hand.

The Tucson Gem Show marks the start of my teaching and exhibiting rounds for the new year and I greet it with excitement and joy, as if I am coming out of a long hibernation. I know that I want to show off new work, share ideas, and get inspiring input. But mostly, I desire to reconnect with friends and colleagues. We share a strange life; our nomadic existence as teachers and exhibitors brings us together as friends and family, even if we only see each other for a few days at a time each year. So, we compare event schedules and make plans for each show that we have in common.

Without a doubt, the highlight of my year is the show where I actually get to spend some real time with my friends and colleagues. For those of us who are crazy enough to spend our time on the road, we meet for nine days in June at the Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee. For the last six years, my B&B Show experience has revolved around room 202-D, where I usually teach a full schedule of workshops and classes. I have had the luxury of being in the same room for this long and I relish it to the fullest. My friends and my students all know where to find me and since I know that room intimately, getting ready is now fine-tuned down to a science. I always joke that I should just put a cot in the corner, since I can always be found in the same place. As long as I have my coffee pot, I do not see a problem with that plan.

I have already started gathering together special supplies for my workshops and am very busy organizing new class handouts. During the Tucson Gem Show, Gail Crosman Moore and I made some exciting "tweaks" to our "Color and Patina on Metals with Joining Techniques" class (see the photo at left) by incorporating a few new techniques and materials that we have come across in our travels. We are both truly excited about sharing them with our students.

Gail did me the huge favor of re-shooting my hand-forged cuff for me. I love what she did with it (at right).You can take the class for this "Hand-formed Sterling and Fused Fine-Silver Cuff," at the show, too!

Well, the year is now officially underway for me and I have a great deal of work to do to get ready for all of you who are showing up in Milwaukee this June. The excitement and anticipation has started and I hope that it is the same for all of you.

Jewelry auction highlights Convergence pieces

Ann Dee Allen — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:14:00 GMT

The International Society of Glass Beadmakers has risen to higher heights once again. From March 1-21, the ISGB will auction a collection of glass beads and jewelry on eBay. This is the ISGB's annual auction, which was previously held at its Gathering Conference. Featured pieces in the auction will be Garden Elements, Melissa Cable's gorgeous wire necklace featuring Kerri Fuhr's beads (at left), and Quietude, Heidi Kummli's embroidered collar featuring Louise Little's beads — both from Bead&Button's 2009 Convergence competition with the ISGB. Melissa's slightly easier-to-make sister necklace was titled "Garden art" and published as a project in Bead&Button's special issue Jewelry Designs with Art Glass Beads. You can find all the information about the auction, titled Rites of Spring, and this year's Gathering, from July 28-Aug. 1 in Rochester, N.Y., at isgb.org.

We're featuring Diane Fitzgerald in our new Guide to Easy Jewelry Designs

Ann Dee Allen — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:49:00 GMT

Have you seen the cover of our next publication, due out in August? We're featuring a gorgeous, exclusive new necklace by Diane Fitzgerald. This stunning piece is quite easy to make, even for new stitchers. The Bead&Button Guide to Easy Jewelry Designs also includes Diane's complete Bead&Button series about jewelry design, new projects, and favorite B&B online designs — now in print! You can order the new 25-project Guide to Easy Jewelry Designs for only $6.95 now and it will arrive on your doorstep in August.

Banner jewelry on BeadAndButton.com

Tea — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:33:00 GMT

Inquiring minds want to know… what are those bracelets in the BeadAndButton.com banner?

Designed by Marla Gulotta, Web of silver appeared in the October 2008 issue of Bead&Button. You can buy step-by-step instructions to make Marla’s “Web of silver” bracelet here. See the Resource Guide to find out where the beads came from.

New online: 22 right-angle weave beading projects

Ann Dee Allen — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:31:00 GMT

We've just posted all of the individual projects from our popular Beading Basics: Right-Angle Weave special issue. Additional information about our projects in this issue can be found in the Resource Guide. You can find each project in our project search by story title or designer's name. Or, click on the links in this list to see each one:

Wiggle room by Julie Glasser

All squared up by Candi Daywitt

Crossing paths by Lisa Twede

Four times the fun by Anna Elizabeth Draeger

Flower garden by Julie Riggs

Fit for a queen by Anna Elizabeth Draeger

Brilliant idea by Teri Dannenberg

Pattern adaptation by Lesley Weiss

Two-needle trellis by Chris Prussing

Caterpillar bracelet by Doris Coghill

Edwardian lace by Susan Eiseman

Simply charming by Jennifer Ursillo

Make a big crystal splash by Marcia DeCoster

Soft symmetry by Kathryn Bowman

Mandala medallions by Lesley Weiss

Canted lines by Beth Stone

Slide pendant by Cindy Kinerson

Link by link by Hannah Beninger

Ninety-degree turn by Lynne Soto

Four square by Cathy Lampole

Fanfare for the common niblet by Lynne Soto

Flower focal by Julia Gerlach

View our collection of eclectic beading projects

Ann Dee Allen — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:29:00 GMT

The Kalmbach store has just posted a terrific collection of online projects — bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants, and ornaments — for you to make. View the entire collection online now and make your own selections for beading fun.

What you love about Bead&Button jewelry projects

Ann Dee Allen — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:42:00 GMT

Once again, we had very insightful comments and terrific results from our February 2010 Bead&Button magazine issue survey. You can find a summary of the results under "Take our Survey."