New Book Reviews
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.
Lots of Ceramic Jewelry Projects
Jewelry Link Time
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.
New Ceramic Pendant Necklace Project
The adorable ceramic pendant in the center of the necklace design has been in my stash for awhile now as I hummed and hawed about the perfect beads to use for it. It has taken many configurations and much stringing and restringing, but I finally came up with a design that does this focal piece justice. Enjoy this new tutorial for what I call my Ceramic Bunny Pendant with Mother of Pearl and Turquoise Necklace.
Spring 2012 Color Queens' Journal
Margie Deeb and Beverly Ash Gilbert have recently announced their latest edition to the "Ask the ColorQueens" Journal. This one is for Spring 2012, and you can download it for free right now as a pdf file. This e-book is 15 pages long and full of amazing color ideas, diagrams, photographs, and more to help you become inspired to break out of your color box and try something different and beautiful. They discuss methods for using colors together as well as fixes to color problems. There is also an interview with, Jamie Cloud Eakin, author of Dimensional Bead Embroidery: A Reference Guide to Techniques.
Beading and Copyrights
Questions and other issues concerning copyright and beading is forever a topic of contention in the jewelry making world. Everyone seems to have an opinion about it, but it can be difficult to weed out opinions from facts. To help us sort through the muddied waters of copyrights and beading and jewelry making in general, Interweave has recently published two free e-books that tackle this subject matter: Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Beaders and Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Jewelry Artists. You can download the beaders' book from the company's Beading Daily website and the jewelry artists' book from the Jewelry Making Daily site.
Beadshop.com Herringbone Wrap Bracelets
Beadshop.com has another new free jewelry making video posted. This one is for Herringbone Wrap Bracelets. Go to this link, and then click on the link there for the free on-line video. It will take you to a page that has three different wrap bracelets, each using a different color palette: Bark, Spearmint, and Fresh Berries. The projects include a YouTube embedded video as well as a list of supplies for each one.
Bohemian Inspired Jewelry Book Review
For about a week now, I have enjoyed reading a new book published by Interweave called Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon, and Cords. It is written by Lorelei Eurto, who you may have read my interview with not that long ago, and Erin Siegel. In fact, I believe Lorelei mentioned a little something about working on this book. Now, here it is published and full of fun jewelry designs. Read my recently published book review to find out more about this new book and what exactly constitutes bohemian jewelry.
This Week's Jewelry Link
Just in time for butterfly season, Lisa shares an easy bracelet project that will have people thinking you are sweet enough to attract butterflies!
Art Bead Scene
It's a new month and that means a new painting for inspiration. Come see the Post Impressionistic village scene that will inspire lots of great beadwork this month!
Beading Arts
Beadng Arts celebrates "Wire Month" all throughout May! Grab your pliers and come join us!
Carmi's Art/Life World
This week Carmi uses a new crystal snap for a felted collar.
Resin Crafts!
In a two post series, Resin Crafts shows you how to make an orchid a jewelry component.
Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Oh wow! Jean finally broke down and opened her first Etsy shop! Read all about it here!
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew announces a NEW Reader's Challenge! This time he's teamed up with Lima Beads to offer a great spring-themed kit!
May Designer Interview Posted
For the month of May, I have an amazing interview with jewelry designer Sierra Bailey who runs a very successful jewelry company called Manic Trout. You may even want to pull out a pen and piece of paper and take notes because you will learn a heck of a lot from this go-getter designer. She will show you how hard work can pay off, but a big dose of creativity is really helpful too.