Have you stopped by the Jewelry Making Forum lately? While the forum is just a small part of this site, there is some great information available over there from your fellow jewelry designers. Here are a few discussions that are going on right now:

Mohs hardness scale

Undoing soldering

Silver-filled vs. Sterling silver

A pricing question

Smith Silver Smith Acetylene torch

Jewelry making book publishers continue to crank out some amazing books for jewelry designers to enjoy, and this week I have two new book reviews for you. The first is Showcase 500 Rings: New Directions in Art Jewelry, a junk of a book packed full of amazing and inspiring and sometimes "out there" ring designs.

The second new book review is for Heat, Color, Set and Fire: Surface Effects for Metal Jewelry by Mary Hettmansperger. Another book published by Lark Jewelry and Beading, this hard copy book is a how-to text that explains how to add color and texture to metal.

I have recently noticed that I am using ceramic elements more and more in my jewelry of late. So to help you locate them all on this web site, I have collected them all together in this handy Ceramic Jewelry list. I have lots of necklaces, a bracelet, and some earrings too. I have another ceramic necklace design in the works, but it looks like I need to beef up the bracelet and earring project too.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Andrew Thornton creates a special kit for Lima Beads featuring Earthenwood birdies for a great springtime challenge!

Resin Crafts!
Jewelry Resin is a great way to repair a mistake!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean tries very hard not to say,"Wow am I busy!"... because, of course, so is everyone else! But in this post she gives up and admits what a zoo it has been here. Read to see why!

A Bead A Day
Summertime fun projects abound! Lisa shares a little kumbaya to welcome the new season.

Art Bead Scene
Tari shows off her colorful garden, a clear source of pride and inspiration in her life and artwork

Beading Arts
Here's a great way to stretch out your more expensive beads to get greater impact!

Carmi's Art/Life World
A kumihimo cord showcases a Mary Harding pendant.