Linky Love

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie takes some time to show off a few new resin and brass collage pendants!

Art Bead Scene Tired of your liver of sulfur going bad? Check out this - Patina Gel!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton After cleaning the studio, Andrew finds (and finishes) a long-lost PMC Floral Link Bracelet.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei makes a fun Owl swap with a blog friend.

A Bead A Day The new Swarovski Air Blue crystals are perfect for summertime jewelry making. Lisa has used them to represent a "happy day" in this ring and necklace set.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Cindy takes on heavy metal in the studio. No, you won't need to cover your ears - just your hands!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi introduces a vintage walnut to rhinestones.

Beading Arts The second part of Cyndi's tutorial on using CopprClay to create a necklace.

About.com Jewelry Making Rock clubs rock, literally, when you are looking for inexpensive, local jwelry making classes.

Jean Campbell Jean visited Chicago and discovered a new beading technique using pleather and Conso

Strands of Beads Melissa curls up with a few good books from Rings & Things.

Snap out of it , Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean is wowed by Denise Peck's recent earring book, 101 Step by Step Wire Earrings! Get it and make some for YOURSELF!

Welcome Baby Boy!

I haven't talked a lot about my family here, but I can't resist sharing that big sister Lily helped us welcome baby Parker last Thursday morning. Everybody is doing well. Everyone says that writing a book is like having a baby and I just can't seem to resist working on both projects at once. My other baby, Katie's Beading Secrets, will be shipping out next week. I know you'll forgive me for taking a little break from the blog this week...see you again soon!

About BeadStoppers

I've gotten a lot of questions about Bead Stoppers lately, so I've decided to do a giveaway! If you aren't familiar with them, Bead Stoppers are inexpensive little tools that make beading easier. See that springy thing on the right-hand side of this photo? That's a Bead Stopper holding my beads in place.

I used to use adhesive tape as my stopper when I had to leave a project unfinished, but these are much easier to attach and remove. Plus, they don't leave a sticky residue or damage the stringing material. Intrigued? Watch the video here.

• Bead Stoppers come in two sizes. Use the larger size for larger beads and medium-large beading wire and use the smaller size for smaller beads and beading thread or thin beading wire.
  
• To open and close a Bead Stopper, squeeze the end loops. The coil will open in the center, allowing you to place your stringing material inside.
  
• Clip a Bead Stopper onto the end of a work in progress to prevent beads from spilling; use several to organize multiple strand designs; or use one Bead Stopper to clip several strands together for easy measuring.
  

Leave a comment on this post to be entered into a drawing for a free package of Bead Stoppers. I'll collect comments for one week and then hold a random drawing. Please include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

Katie's Beading Secrets: Sneak Peek!

Here's a sneak peek inside my new book, Katie's Beading Secrets. (Thanks for the great idea, Terry! Click here for a larger view.) The book is packed with more than 100 projects with tips, tricks and techniques on every page.

As you can see here, each necklace is shown with an alternate bead combination to get your creativity going. Earring and bracelet ideas are also included, along with step-by-step photos of the techniques; bead, tool and findings ID; tips for attaching clasps; resource information; and more.

You'll learn the basics of beading and the most versatile beading techniques using widely-available materials. This is jewelry you'll want to wear everyday!

Place your pre-order on my website to receive free shipping on a signed copy when the book debuts in a few weeks. Retail price is $9.99; 40 full-color pages; published by Hot Off The Press.
Free shipping offer is valid on orders placed by July 31st.

Free Jewelry Project: Charming Dream Necklace

My free, web-exclusive necklace design for the latest issue of Beadwork magazine combines herringbone tubes with trendy charm accents. Plus, it has hidden meanings for those in the know: purple tones for creativity, a hummingbird charm for moving forward, and an eye charm for insight.

I am always intimidated when learning new beading stitches but I ended up having a lot of fun with these herringbone tubes. The pattern is a little tricky at first, but then it just spirals around and around on its own. I like using the tubes because they work up quicker than an entire rope but you still get the handmade, beady look.

This is a companion project to Katie's Beading Secrets in the August/September 2009 issue of Beadwork. In every issue, I showcase cool beading products with clever tips on how to use common materials in unconventional ways. This month's feature is charm holders.

Inspiration Book Giveaway

Thanks to all of you for your kind comments about my Wildflower Frame that appears in the new Inspiration Book from Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements. I am honored to have my work included in the collection and appreciate your help in celebrating!

If you'd like to see more projects from the book, just click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to flip through the gallery.

The randomly selected winner of last week's giveaway is Laila. Here is her comment: "I am first generation USA, my parents are from Norway. I love your Scandinavian mirror...it would look wonderful in my house! The borders are particularly colorful!" Congrats!

Hot Off The Press! Katie's Beading Secrets

I'm so excited to finally be able to tell you what I've been working on! It's a brand new 40-page book from Hot Off The Press. In Katie's Beading Secrets, I share more than 100 projects with tips, tricks and techniques on every page. You'll learn the basics of beading and the most versatile beading techniques using widely-available materials. This is jewelry you'll want to wear everyday!

Necklaces are shown with the clasps so you know exactly how to recreate the pieces and each necklace design is shown with an alternate bead combination to get your creativity going. Earring and bracelet ideas are also included, along with step-by-step photos of the techniques.

Place your pre-order on my website to receive free shipping on a signed copy when the book debuts in a few weeks. Retail price is $9.99. Free shipping offer is valid on orders placed by July 31st.

Linky Love

A Bead A Day Do you love Swarovski Crystals? Inspired by talented jewelry designer, Lillian Chen, Lisa creates a Swarovski “sculpture” ring.

About.com Jewelry Making Heard about copper clay or coppr clay? Find out more about this great new metal clay product and check out some new metal clay projects too.

Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene gets creative with the "Best of ABS."

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts Sometimes you need to have a jewelry makeover.

Beading Arts Cyndi reports on her experiences with firing and finishing CopprClay pieces. This stuff rocks!

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi tries Ice Resin and upcycles a greeting card into a necklace.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva Cindy learns to make murrini and deals with mud.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Even without a lot of time on her hands, Melanie finishes a clockwork themed bracelet using Swarovski faceted rings from ArtBeads.com.

Humblebeads Bead & Button stash and Heather's inspired creations.

Jean Campbell Jean gives a sneak peek of her next Beadwork magazine piece.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Instead of continuing on with the tried and true techniques of jewelry design, Lorelei is finally ready to take the leap and try something new.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Jean gets her cool stash from Use the Muse II, and muses about it.

Strands of Beads Melissa wants to know what outrageous materials are in your beading stash?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Stop by and say hello to Andrew in Charlotte, NC this weekend. Check out his new designs and some delicious new metal clay coins!

Independence Day Jewelry

It's time to break out the starry swingers I made for the 4th last year. These earrings are for folks who wanna show the love in a subtle, stylish fashion.

I whipped them up in about 10 minutes and you can, too: Attach an ear wire the upper loop on the circle link. String a 6mm Siam crystal onto a head pin and make a simple loop to attach it to the inner loop on the circle link. Attach an 8mm jump ring to the star and connect it to the circle link. Repeat for the other earring, using a 6mm sapphire crystal.

P.S. Does anybody know where I can get a Statue of Liberty earring holder?