Be My Fan on Facebook

Well, look at me getting with the times...I'm vowing to do better at keeping up with my Facebook page! I've added a new widget to my sidebar over there where you can see my fans. You can also click on the tab to become a fan - please do!

Free Resin & Peyote Project in Beadwork

This Clever Connections necklace is my latest project for Beadwork magazine. (It's the web-exclusive companion to my product review column.) It combines two techniques that I've been experimenting with lately: UV-curing resin and peyote stitch rings.

I made just about every possible mistake while working with the resin. The letter K is a sticker that I pressed onto scrapbooking paper. I thought I could just pour the resin onto it and let it cure (you can use sunlight or a UV lamp). Wrong! I should have researched it more first.

Every source I consulted says you should build up the layers. I should have poured a thin layer onto the sticker, then cured it, then added more resin. I also got into trouble because I tried to use an embossing tool to get rid of some surface air bubbles. That made my sticker lift up. If I had done the first thin layer, it would have held my sticker in place and the embossing tool wouldn't have caused a problem. I also put one of my pendants outside to cure and didn't cover it with a glass, so unwanted debris got stuck in the resin. Don't let resin intimidate you, but do learn from my mistakes and do your homework before you get started!

Once I got the details sorted out, I had fun making a few more pendants, which you'll see here in the coming months. There are so many possibilities! I'm already planning a lucky necklace with an embedded 4-leaf clover...

Wicked Good Necklace

I did it again! Left my costume til the last minute and ended up just making jewelry. Maybe next year I'll actually get to the costume phase...with this necklace as the centerpiece!

The foundation of the necklace is a strand of leather with red large-hole beads strung onto it. The fringey looking things are pieces of leather tied onto the foundation strand using lark's head knots. The crystals are on head pins and attached at each knotted place. The skull from Absolute Crystal Components is attached with an eye pin.

Linky Love

A Bead A Day Does a simple design equal a "Zen" experience? Lisa would love to hear your thoughts on when simple designs are able to make an impact.

About.com Jewelry Making After posting a new jewelry book review for a very cool mixed media book, Tammy is looking a head to other reviews coming up very soon.

Art Bead Scene You've heard of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? Well, this Sisterhood shares bracelets.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts Barbe gets tangled up with Chain Style book review.

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi decided to finally use her bead stash from Paris.

Cindy Gimbrone aka the Lampwork Diva Cindy's got some new findings from Ornamentea. What's she going to make with them?

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles The inspiration for Melanie's Machinery of Nature necklace comes from science, steampunk, and nature.

Jean Campbell Jean struggles through the creative process while bezeling some unusual crystal shapes.

Jewelry & Beading Little beaded flowers are addictive to make, and before you know it, you've got enough for a complete necklace!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Better get on board, Lorelei is having the last of the Enchanted Adornments giveaways. Leave a comment to play!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean has a little Boo power going on for her in this hand made Halloween bracelet!

Strands of Beads Melissa shows off metal clay goodies from Rings & Things.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew revisits a bracelet design and creates six others.

It's Not Just for Breakfast Anymore

People often ask me where I get my ideas. Well, the short answer is: everywhere. The long answer is more complicated. Here's an example...

While in Portland, OR, last month, my family and I enjoyed a couple of breakfasts at the delightfully old school Village Inn. I have a thing for old signs, so I took this pic for my collection. Cruising through my digital photos today, I started wondering if it would be possible to make a jewelry homage to my favorite meal. Turns out, clever breakfast beads are only a Google search away. Who knew Etsy would be home to so many cute food beads? Here are a couple that look especially fun:

Fried Egg Charm Necklace from Sarita's Jewelry Box

Pancakes & Syrup Lampwork Bead by Studio Marcy

So, what's for dinner?

Upscaling & Upcycling

Tis the season for gift making on a budget! Here's an idea for upscaling discount store jewelry that I share in the upcoming season of Beads, Baubles & Jewels.

I bought an acrylic chain necklace with a red heart pendant at Target, then layered a cool "love detector" from Ornamentea on top of it (okay - I just saw that these are sold out, but you can get on the list). Next, I traded out the plastique chain for a custom metal-and-beaded chain of my own. It's asymmetrical, funky and a fresh take on the original, if I do say so myself.

Dig through your jewelry box and stash o' spare parts and see what you can do!

The 11th season of the public television show Beads, Baubles & Jewels will be on TV soon - stay tuned!

Linky Love

Art Bead Scene The October Art Bead Scene Challenge gets folksy.

Jean Campbell Jean shares her delight with Cynthia Thornton's new book, "Enchanted Adornments"

Jewelry & Beading Bring home a souvenir, and figure out how to wear it!

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva Cindy shows off her new buckle charm necklace but what should she name it?

Earthenwood Studo Chronicles Melanie brightens up her beading palette with some spring colors for her second Art Beads crystal blog post

A Bead A Day Do you buy beads for their "coolness" factor? What is your definition of "cool" when it comes to beads and jewelry?

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean is swooning over the newest Crystallized Innovations from Artbeads!

About.com Jewelry Making Tammy has taken her net and collected some butterfly crafts for you in plenty of time to participate in The Butterfly Project at the Holocaust Museum Houston.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Come join in on the fun of the 6th Enchanted Adornments giveaway, it's FROGS! Ribbit!

Strands of Beads Melissa is proud to be Soft Flex Company's Spotlight On... Designer for October!