Playing with Seed Beads

I've been playing with seed beads this week. I'm working on an intense beaded picture frame using a technique that I learned from Dustin Wedekind. First, you put Tacky Tape on the surface and then you stitch rows of beads together on top of the tape.

One of the challenges of this project has been how to keep it organized while I'm working. My desk was covered with packages of beads! I ended up putting all of the colors into stacking organizers like these from Beadalon. Then, I put everything on a wooden tray lined with a bead mat. Now I can carry my project to a different spot when I need a change of scenery and I can organize my projects with one per tray. (what, you thought I would work on one thing at a time? insert riotous laughter.)

Click on the "Organizing Your Workspace" link for more storage ideas and a surprising tip about bead mats.

Linky Love

Jennifer Jangles Blog
See the first ceramic beads Jennifer made.

About.com Jewelry Making
Wire is a great medium for jewelry making, and with this new DVD review you can findout how you can turn straight wire into super cool bangle bracelets.

Jewelry & Beading
What to do with those odd-shaped treasures you pick up on vacation this summer!

Katie's Beading Blog
Feeling the economic pinch in your purse? There are plenty of ways to make cool jewelry with stuff you already have.

Naughty Secretary Club
So many social networking web sites and so little time. Find out how Jen utilizes websites like My Space, Indie Public, Twitter and more to help promote her jewelry business Naughty Secretary Club and spread the crafty gospel.

Art Bead Scene
Obessing over details leads Cindy Gimbrone to revise her MF Bird. No, she's not frustrated she means Modern Folk Bird.

PearlEsq.
Check out what blingy wonders Robin's been beading while recovering from her knee surgery!

Snap out of it Jean! There's beading to be done!
Margot will be posting in a cool crafting group but still visiting here. When I get the url, I will post it for that group. Until then, check out this repost of her fantastic pocketbook which I adore and treasure she made me!

Costume Change

Whew! If you've visited my blog in the last couple of days, then you might notice that I've changed things around a bit. New background, new banner, new look. I can't decide if it's a case of super spring cleaning or just plain old procrastination. I have about a bunch of other pressing things to do but I couldn't look at my boring old blog for one more day! I'm still tweaking things a bit, so come back and check in.

Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle

Anything Goes Charm Bracelet reposted with permission from Candie Cooper ©2008

Feeling the economic pinch in your purse? Need to do some spring cleaning? Want your jewelry to go green? There are plenty of ways to make cool jewelry with stuff you already have.

Here are links to some great ideas for Repurposed/Reused/Recycled jewelry:
Savvy Crafter: Transform clip-on earrings into stylish cocktail rings in a few easy steps.
Impatient Blogger: Make a fun necklace & earring set out of playing cards.
West Coast Crafty: Use a simple wire-wrapping technique to turn a treasured wedding ring into a stylish pendant.
Naughty Secretary Club: Make your own high-art-inspired watch with, yes, spray paint.
Skull-a-Day: Metal workers can make a cool skull ring from any plain band.
About.com Jewelry Making: More tips and ideas for recycling your beading components.

If you have another good link for Repurposed/Reused/Recycled jewelry, just leave it in the comments!

Ask an Expert

My friend Debba from Girlfriendology is going to interview Carol Duvall for her inspiring podcast and she's opening the phone lines for questions!

Have you ever wondered how Carol got the courage to take her creativity to TV? Or who was her funniest guest? Well, here's your chance to ask. But, you have to do it today.

Read Debba's Girlfriendology Too blog post to find out how you can ask Carol a question, sign up for Carol's book giveaway, and enter the May Girlfriendology Contest.

Go, girlfriend!

Linky Love

Happy belated Mother's Day to all of you mamas out there. My little family gave me a forsythia bush like the one in this photo. Its yellow flowers are always such a lovely harbinger of spring - I'm excited to have one in our yard!

Here's an overview of beady blog posts for your linking pleasure:

Savvy Crafter
It's been a charming week over at Candie's blog---charming bracelets that is!

Jewelry & Beading
A focal piece can be a brilliant way to inspire new designs!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean goes on a bit about tree cutting, and then gets to the point: some cool earrings she made!

Naughty Secretary Club
Looking for a new how-to jewelry book that uses vintage gnome cupcake toppers, children’s eye glasses, doll house furniture and the occasional bead? Good thing The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry is available for pre-order on Amazon!

About.com Jewelry Making
Have you noticed the jewelry supply trend at your local craft store? What does this mean for jewelry designers?

Art Jewelry magazine
Hazel, editor of Art Jewelry, "elects" to discuss the candidate's jewelry

Katie's Beading Blog
Looking for beachy jewelry ideas? Take a peek at Katie's June Triple Take project for Simply Beads.

Fair Trade Day May 10

Here are 5 fun things you can do to celebrate World Fair Trade Day:

1. Take part in the world's largest coffee break at 3pm.
2. Eat a piece of fairly traded chocolate.
3. Make a piece of jewelry made from fairly traded beads.
4. Shop at your local Ten Thousand Villages or other fair trade store.
5. Check this calendar to learn about events in your community.

Ancient Modern

Did you catch this story about 4000-year-old gold beads that were found in Peru? It's the earliest known gold jewelry made in the Americas. Researchers restrung the necklace combining the gold beads with green stone or turquoise beads that were also found in the burial site.

Of course, we'll probably never know who wore this necklace originally. But, isn't it intriguing to wonder who made it and why? Was it worn as an expression of social position, like the researcher speculates? Or, was it made as a gift or offering?

When I saw it, I immediately imagined my own modern version with the same repeating pattern in the reverse: Humblebeads lariat art beads, separated by Thunderbird Supply gold plated beads.