Pix from CHA

Margot Potter, moi, and Fernando DaSilva at our first book signing
for Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed (F+W Pubs 2009).

Publicity for our second signing, which took place in Beadalon's booth.
Fernando brought Brazilian chocolates! Thanks, Nando!

Cynthia Deis from Ornamentea, Candie Cooper and me, just being our silly, smiley selves.
Those girls both have new books with Lark Books - check 'em out!

Some of us ate dinner over in Downtown Disney. Can you identify
the embellishments on this guy's piano?

That's right - they're Mardi Gras Beads! How cool is that? I can't imagine how
long it took to outfit this piano, but the results are totally worth it!

New Creative & Beady Stuff

I just got back from the Craft & Hobby Association Show, so the next few posts will be about things I observed at the show. If this isn't your bag, hang in there, I'll get back to inspiration and project-oriented posts soon.

There were a surprising number of new products at the show, given the state of the economy and all. And, even though attendance was down, it seemed like there were more orders being written because there were more serious buyers at the show. Another sign that change is in the air? I hope so!

Pocket Crimper from Beadalon

The newest in a line of smaller-sized tools, the pocket crimper is just as functional as the standard size crimper, but it takes up less space in your toolbox. Did you know that a 3-step process is now recommended for crimping? Check it out. Beadalon also introduced a beautiful new beading wire called SilveRose™.

Jolee's Jewels toggle clasp

EK Success introduced a new series of components called Jolee's™ Jewels. The pieces feature Crystallized™ - Swarovski Elements and allow you to add more dazzle to your jewelry designs. Some of the designs will be available exclusively at Michaels.

Easy Peasy collage images for jewelry making

Resin bezels are all the rage and there were plenty of new designs at the show from a variety of companies, including Patera by Nunn Design and Amate Studios. There were also lots of new accessories to go with them, like these pretty images from PaperWishes.com.

Tokens charms & dangles from Blue Moon Beads

Popular fashion lines like Juicy Couture paved the way for a fresh introduction of charms into the DIY market this season. Several companies showed new lines of charms and dangles, including these funky ones from Blue Moon Beads, which will be available in stores soon.

Coming soon: more new products, fun photos and a trend report from the show...

Making a Beaded Pen

I can't go the big show without a fabulous, new pen! That way, I can take notes AND share my bead addiction. Beaded pens are really easy to make when you start with a customizable pen.

First, you need to choose beads that have larger holes so they'll fit onto the pen. Lampworked beads, furnace glass beads, metal rondelles or cylinder beads work well.

Next, slide the beads onto the metal rod that comes with the pen. If you need to adjust the spacing, add a few metal rondelles or other large-hole spacers.


Place the cap onto the pen, and voilá! You have your own, unique writing instrument. I made this black and white version using a blank designer bead pen and lampworked beads from Artbeads.com. Now, I think I need to get a fancier notebook to match my swanky pen...

New Beadwork Project Instructions Online

I just received my February issue of Beadwork magazine in the mail and am excited to see my brand-new column, Katie's Beading Secrets, in print! It's a combination of a product review and an explanation of how to incorporate that type of component into your own, unique jewelry creations. This month's featured components are floral beading cones.


In addition to the short article, each issue will include a web-exclusive, companion project. This issue's how-to is True Blue Necklace, which is available for free on BeadingDaily.com. I had a lot of fun designing this necklace! It involves basic wirework and stringing and is built around a lovely, vintage-looking tulip bead cone from Ornamentea.

Mini Interview at Craft Gossip

Check out my mini interview over at CraftGossip Jewelry Making. Editor Barbe Saint John asked a few quick questions, including: You are stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take 5 things with you to make jewelry. What would you take? (I've been stringing a lot of coconut beads lately, so maybe I've subconsciously been preparing for this question...)

In addition to editing CraftGossip Jewelry Making, Barbe is also a jewelry maker and fellow bead bloggin' babe. Visit her site, Saints & Sinners, to see her one-of-a-kind handcrafted artifact jewelry and handspun art.

Thanks for the chance to visit CraftGossip, Barbe!

Linky Love

Strands of Beads: Give your found-object jewelry a new twist by using cute Japanese trinkets.

Jewelry & Beading: Stamping and beads? The best of both worlds!

Jennifer Jangles Blog: Jennifer shows off what's new for Valentine's Day at Jangles.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry: Carter looks back at Divali Glass Jewerlry designs come and gone, and sees the similarities in her creative style over time.

Carmi's Art/Life: Carmi stuffs some yo yos to make a fabulously light necklace!

Bead&Button magazine: Ann Dee, editor of Bead&Button Magazine, invites beaders to enter the Bead Dreams competition.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts: Barbe reviews Junk to Jewelry & Vintage Redux books .

Art Bead Scene: Do you have a book inside you but not sure you could work with an editor?

About.com Jewelry Making: Jazz up a necklace with a unique focal point or add it to a simple chain for an instant necklace.

Craft & Hobby Association Show Schedule

Next week is the largest Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show of the year, where craft industry peeps go to see and/or sell new products, share ideas and network like crazy. If you'll be at the big show, come and see me at one of these events!

Book Signing & Demo for Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed
Margot Potter, Fernando DaSilva and I will demonstrate some of the techniques from our brand-new book, Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed. Get there early - we'll have a limited number of free books to give away!

Sun., Jan. 25, 10am, F+W booth #1251
Mon., Jan. 26, 2pm, Beadalon booth #4501

Eco-Lounge Make-it-Take-it
Join me for a fun Make-it-Take-it in the ECO Craft Center! We'll use found objects and other recycled materials to make a funky junk drawer charm bracelet.

Sun., Jan. 25, 11-11:45am
Mon., Jan. 26, 3-3:45pm
Tues., Jan. 27, 2-2:45

Workshops
This is a great opportunity to learn about new Beadalon products and see the new Bead Master flash technology in action. Plus, you'll complete the project in class so you can wear it out the door. There are still seats available for both classes, so register now!

Evening Topaz Jewelry Set, Tues., Jan. 27, 7-9am
Linked & Lovely Badge Lanyard, Tues., Jan. 27, 3-5pm

Designer Showcase
This section of the show is open to manufacturers, publishers and editors and features tabletop displays from a lot of the industry's designers. I'll be there Saturday during the Taste of Anaheim, or you can visit on your own anytime Sunday 9-5pm.

Photos, as Promised!

When I get to the studio in Cleveland, I lay out all of my samples for each segment. Everything goes on a gray pad or a bead board and then it all gets loaded onto a giant silver tray...

Imagine 16 of these babies, all lined up and ready to go. Yep, it's a sight to behold! I line things up in the order that I want to talk about them because it makes it easier to remember what to say. I also try to have lots of eye candy to talk about at the end of each segment.

I get excited every time I see this sign! It's right next to the door to the set and it goes on each time anyone is taping. It's like a giant stop sign to prevent anyone from accidentally walking in during a taping.

Here's author Kristal Wick with the show's host, Katina Forté. Filming is always kind of hectic because everybody's in the green room getting ready and then it's somebody's turn to go on and then somebody comes out and then lather, rinse, repeat...

Woo hoo! I cannot tell you how good it feels to be finished with all of my segments! This is my own little victory dance. Now, it's onto the Craft & Hobby Association Show next week!

Beads Baubles & Jewels

It's that time of year! After the holidays, I'm always frantically running around getting everything ready for big stuff in January and February. Last week, I spent a few days at the TV studio in Cleveland, taping segments for the 1000 series of the public television series Beads, Baubles & Jewels. (Pix coming soon.) I can't believe it's been five years already!

I taped 13 Beading Lessons about everything from making your own ear wires to designing with stamped jewelry components to stitching a beaded bezel for a cabochon. The new series will air this spring on many public television stations.

There are some terrific guests, including Vicki & Mark Lareau from The Bead Factory & Puget Sound Bead Festival in Tacoma, Washington. Vicki talks about tips for displaying and selling your jewelry designs and Mark shares a simple technique for creating a sterling silver ring. These two talented people are super creative and they couldn't be nicer - I don't know how they do it all. During the winter storms that hit the Northwest last month, Vicki actually picked some of her customers up and drove them to The Bead Factory so they could get their Christmas shopping done!

My pal Kristal Wick was also in the studio to share her unique techniques for combining fabric with jewelry making. I won't give away too much here, but resin that sets up in 5 minutes? Prepare to be wowed! Her new book, Fabulous Fabric Beads, is packed with cool ideas, too.

Mark Nelson from Rio Grande was back with more metalworking on the jeweler's bench. He makes it all look so easy! And, the crew was impressed that you can use power tools to make jewelry - I think they were under the impression that it's all about needles and seed beads. Au contraire, my friends. That flex shaft is a pretty cool tool.

New Year's Resolution = Organize Workspace

Don't let this happen to you!

Happy New Year! This week is the perfect time to organize your bounty of beads! Organizing your workspace makes finding those precious pendants, fancy findings, and helpful tools a lot easier, and makes creating your masterpiece much more fun. Check out my easy organization tips in the 900 season of Beads Baubles & Jewels.

I tend to get messy as I work (see above photo), so every once in a while I just have to stop and re-organize everything. Divided plastic boxes on shallow shelves, storage rings full of findings, and stacking screw-top containers are lifesavers for me. If you're sprucing up your space this week, I'd love to see your before and after photos or learn your storage secrets. Please leave them in the comments!

Here are some of my favorite new products for getting organized:

Storganizer from Consumer Crafts

Tabletop Workbench from Beadalon

Desktop Stacker from Fire Mountain Gems & Beads