Wandering Around the Beadosphere

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you're living in the U.S. it's "Daylight Savings is Back" Sunday. Will be waking up to darker mornings for a while, but it will be nice to have more sunshine after work.

Just a reminder: these posts come from my personal wanderings. I know there are many, many more bead/jewelry and related crafts blogs out there, but these are some of the ones I visit every day via my Google Reader. If you have a favorite blog I'm not mentioning, let me know and I'll start visiting (and linking!) it, too.

A Bead A Day - Lisa has great ideas for her Rings & Things Memory Jewelry goodies, went digging for treasure in the bead bin at her local bead store and made a bracelet with them to remind her of the fun time she had.

After Hours Art Glass - Shannon shares great photography hints and SEO (search engine optimization) ideas.

Ahtee's blog - Rose posted a great list of blogs she's reading, and shows off her first Etsy purchase (lovely piece!), and some lovely bridal earrings.

Need a little humor break in your day? May I suggest An Army of Ermas? This is a shared blog with short family humor pieces that always brighten my day.

Backyard Beads - announces the winner of her giveaway

Beading Arts - have you heard of (and seen) Zulugrass beads? Cyndi has a lovely Zulugrass bracelet to giveaway, too.

Beading Gem's Journal - get the info on historical jewelry worn at the Oscars, tutorial on making water bracelets, see a spirograph inspired necklace and more toy/game inspired jewelry plus a tutorial on making a domino bracelet.

Be-jeweled by Jana - Jana made an awesome wire and bead crocheted red iris bead necklace. I'm not normally a fan of crocheted wire, but Jana's perfected the art.

Carmi's Art/Life World - great mixed media piece: Jeweled Button Necklace

The Cerebral Dilettante - with posts like harboring purple in her psyche, lizard in a former life, how can you *not* be following this blog?

Deez News - Even during a heat wave, Davinia creates a beautiful necklace!

Designs by Blanche - Alice in Wonderland inspired and totally wonderful!

ErtheFae - Do you know about the Beading for a Cure auction? Round one ends today, so don't miss out, but if you do, another round starts Monday.

Just A Tish - more shell pearl earrings, Spring furnace glass fun, Spring fling bracelet, and purpose pendants, and those were just some of her posts last week! Tish, you're wearing me out!!

Katie's Beading Blog - Katie got a Rings & Things shell pearl goodie bag, too - look at the fabulous multi-strand necklace with a bold daisy focal she made!

Margot Potter - Margot laments the empty necklines at the Oscars and challenges: "leave a comment with your own design ideas here. I'll announce two winners and share a finished design based on my concepts next Friday." Hope you enter!

Orion Designs - I'm going to admit something that may make me unpopular, but I'm just not that fond of beadwoven jewelry. I admire the art and patience and spectacular designs, but it's not my thing. *HOWEVER* this necklace, a free form one by Vicki Potter, I love. I'd get one like it in a heartbeat and wear it a lot. Vicki also makes other jewelry styles and has a wonderful, conversational blog.

SCDiva - grabbed my attention with her post about metal foils, alcohol inks and polymer clay.

Silver Parrot - her opinion of the fashions at the Oscars, "sometimes jewelry happens" and she was the winner over at Treasures Found!

Smutopia - She's doing a "Thing a Day" so you'll want to catch her every day, but here are a couple favorites - origami cranes, and a lovely citrine necklace.

Strands of Beads - Melissa is having "The Short One's Superhero" giveaway!

Willow Walker - a full week over at Willow Walker! Started with these red drops, then there were these elongated turquoise colored ones, and yesterday, these fabulous heart shaped ones.

Artbeads - Easter ideas and Crafts Month

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditudes with Dara - wire wrapped heart pendant

Daily Bead Buzz - check out these emeralds and some green jade marquise cut beads - Spring is clearly on their minds.

Earthenwood Studios Blog - "The Wheel and the Maypole" - song inspired designs

Friendly Plastic - National Craft Month Tips, Haute handbag (this wouldn't have been out of place on the red carpet on Oscar night)

Ornamentea - customer showcase winners

Rings & Things - Bead Tour Contest, "crunchy granola charm" ebook review

SoftFlexGirl - spotlight on Lisa Crone's book A Bead in Time, necklace inspired by Alice in Wonderland and (fanfare!) this year's Flex Your Creativity Contest announcement.

Thanks for coming along this week. Remember, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Sunday already. I have so much to do and not enough time + energy to get it all done! I'm very, very glad that the Beadosphere is a place where one can wander the world virtually!

A Bead A Day - Lisa thinks about all the Rings & Things blog partner goodies she got, and the post titles are so wonderful: Creativity Unleashed, I See Dandelions, Just Add Baubles

Ahtee's blog - Thanks for sharing my blog in your Monday reading list! Elsewhere at Ahtee's there's the Romance in Brass Bracelet and a lovely copper and pearl necklace.

Beading Gem's Journal - as usual, a ginormous number of great posts last week - here are a couple of my favorites: tutorial link for darling origami heart earrings, spike necklaces, and links to easy chain jewelry tutorials.

*New!* The Cerebral Dilettante - gorgeous necklace using hardware (like Ace hardware-hardware!), beautiful sea dragon necklace, and wonderful wire work in this Signs of Spring piece.

Deez News - the day Davinia posted this I made my husband get me tomato soup on the way home (great comfy food for a stuffy head), and Earrings Galore!

ErtheFae - Giveaway earrings (sorry, they're gone now), a lovely opalized flourite stone. I wonder, what it will become? In the comments there are hints of bead embroidery and purple velvet Swarovskis.

Just A Tish - As usual Tish has come up with the most creative, totally unique designs using her Rings & Things blog partner goodies. I'm hard pressed (again) not to just link to every one. Let's visit the wire wrap bracelet with the shell beads from February and the glass pendant full of delightful beads from this month, her "Window to My Creative Soul".

Livewire Jewelry - featuring an earthy heartsong necklace and Hope II bracelet this week.

Margot Potter - cool idea "Newsworthy Bracelet" tutorial using acrylic beads and decoupaging techniques with Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage.

Shoozle's Wear Your Art! - kicking "can't" to the curb!

Silver Parrot - Loads of great snowy vacation shots this week and, of course, the Friday Bead "P-word" (apparently the p-word is a problem on some reader's work computers).

Something Pacific Northwest - more flowery inspiration for Spring creations - Camelias

Willow Walker - did some traveling last week, but also got some work done on the road - if those cabs at the lower right become earrings, I'm pretty sure I'll be buying them!

Artbeads - Swarovski DIY designs, Swarovski Spring Innovations

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditudes - Lucite Flowers

Daily Bead Buzz - new gemstone products, 15% off savings

Earthenwood Studios Blog - read the story behind these new heart-shaped beads inspired by Paul Simon's "Graceland" - I hope they'll be on sale, I'd love to have one or two.

Friendly Plastic - simulated polymer clay beads, bracelet design inspirations

Ornamentea - funky, fun, flower earrings, daisy chain bracelet (my friends and I made these by the dozens when I was a young teen).

Rings & Things - Twitter pearl?, Kelly Tidwell's jewelry from nature, and are you crazy about all things Alice?

SoftFlexGirl - favorite free project ideas, Soft Flex wire for the Color Contest, bold, impressive large hole beads bracelet with SoftFlex.

Thanks for coming along this week! Remember, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-02-28T05:59:00.000-08:00

These posts are my personal wanderings - I know there are many, many more bead/jewelry and associated crafts blogs out there, but these are the ones I visit every day via my Google Reader. If you have a favorite blog I'm not mentioning, let me know and I'll start visiting (and linking!) it, too.

A Bead A Day - this week has featured the Rings & Things blog partner goodies Lisa received. Starting with piles of pearls on Monday, featuring Electric Sparkle on Wednesday and her clever creations with them on Saturday.

Ahtee's blog -Rose's week featured lovely earrings, window shopping and "Romance in Brass"

Beading Gem's Journal - lots of great posts (as always!) this week, but I think my favorite one was about the pop-out jewelry - what a cool idea!

*New!* The Cerebral Dilettante - featured on the Ornamentea blog Shiny Little Things (a regular in the Supplier Blogs, below) last week, check out her fascinating designs!

Deez News - Davinia has a necklace in Australian Beading Magazine and talks about a dynamic designer.

ErtheFae - check out the beautiful necklaces this week - The Sun Spirals Ever Onward, and The Hungriest Pixie Ever.

Just A Tish - If you visit one post on one blog this weekend, visit this one: Share Your Wares and get in on some cool bead swapping! Then, check out the great pieces Tish has created with her Rings & Things blog partner goodies: Not Nanny's Necklace, Shell Pendant Design, and Blue Note.

Lampwork Diva - Cindy got her Rings & Things goodies, too which inspired her Slash of Blue necklace.

Livewire Jewelry - mixed metal bracelet comprised of beads and bits with special meaning.

Margot Potter - my favorite posts this week were the crocheted wire and crystal necklace, and how to write and publish a craft book, pt 1, but her thoughts on social media sites are very interesting and thought provoking.

Pretty Things - eye candy over on her other blog, An Artist's Year Off plus where to find more of her work to admire (I'll give you a hint, it's Flickr).

Shoozle's Wear Your Art! - I really love these mini glass graffiti walls she's made - look forward to seeing how they can be used in jewelry.

Silver Parrot - fascinating idea: lost in space necklace, she's got her Rings & Things goodies, too, double the bead porn, this week with posts on Wednesday and Friday.

Something Pacific Northwest - looking for a spring inspiration? Check out the colors on this beautiful tree! I'll be visiting with the blogger in April and am looking forward to seeing in person some of the beautiful spots she's featured on her blog.

Willow Walker - gorgeous black and silver dichroic fused glass earrings, and more glass cab designs with 22k gold decals.

Alpha Stamps - lots of great items and ideas for mixed media spring designs

Artbeads - Swarovski spring innovations coming soon, spring/summer fashion trends, St. Patrick's Day sale (thru March 4th)

The Beadin' Path - featuring JustATish! and Dara's Beadditudes: Spring Earrings

Daily Bead Buzz - Happy First Anniversary!, beading contest winners

Earthenwood Studios Blog - Melanie supplies great art beads she makes herself, but she's also a Rings & Things blog partner, too!

Friendly Plastic - Zentangle and Zentgangle how to video

Ornamentea - customer's lovely necklace

Rings & Things - a guest *ahem* blogger, bead soup party to correspond with the Rings & Things show in San Antonio, and a new season of the Bead Tour: "Bead Frenzy"

SoftFlexGirl - featuring Cindy Lietz, polymer clay tutor, Sara's new beads, and new books.

Also, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere (is back!)

2010-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Another lovely week out there in the Beadosphere, even when it's snowing or raining like crazy outside the window, it's warm and bright on every blog.

These posts are my personal wanderings - I know there are many, many more bead/jewelry and associated crafts blogs out there, but these are the ones I visit every day via my Google Reader. If you have a favorite blog I'm not mentioning, let me know and I'll start visiting (and linking!) it, too.

A Bead A Day - it's always hard to keep from linking to each post over at Lisa's! I've been trying to incorporate a knitted (or net) wire ribbon into a necklace I'm making, so I'll link to her post about it, but you should always check in every day, if only to start the day off with a smile!

Ahtee's blog - Rose (who leaves the most wonderful and encouraging comments here - thanks!) shares her beautiful glass pearl necklace/bracelet set, some cool purple pillar earrings and check out the watercolor sketchbook she made for her boyfriend - lucky guy!

Beading Arts - I think you'll agree that Cyndi's lavish beaded collar with Artbeads CZs is breathtaking!

Beading Gem's Journal - My favorites of the week were easy chainmaille earrings, square tile mother of pearl beads, making prong cabochon settings using wire wrapping techniques

Deez News - Davinia's copy of Lisa's A Bead in Time book has arrived, she's gone "girly and glam" with some new designs, too. Because I haven't posted a wandering in a while there are a lot of previous week's posts you should check - more gorgeous grungeboard and wallpaper earrings (the pair with the swirly gunmetal scrapbook paperclips as an embellishment are my favorites!), a fabulous find for $2, and more. I hope you've followed her blog!

ErtheFae - check out the entire week's posts about her RenFaire trip and admire the cool headpiece she made to match her outfit!

Jeanette Blix - patinaed brass ribcage earrings and a riveted spinner ring in copper - very cool and inspirational, too - I really want to try making more cold connection pieces. I guess a trip to the hardware store isn't out of the question...

Just A Tish - Lisa from A Bead a Day and Tish do a swap, Tish answers the challenge, and Tish uses Artbeads furnace glass in a new, beautiful, creation.

Just Something I've Made - a fabulous mega measuring tape growth chart how-to from a vintage cloth measuring tape.

Lampwork Diva - Cindy goes bead shopping in Toronto and features the Art Bead Scene Blog Carnival.

Livewire Jewelry - beautiful paper/mixed media crafts and a bit of jewelry were featured this week

Margot Potter - Margot's thoughts about sharing ideas on our blogs and seeing them appropriated without permission is a worthwhile read. Check out the cool collars and hat she made with a Knifty Knitter, too.

Pretty Things - Lori shares good ideas for bringing in the readers

Shoozle's Wear Your Art! - showing off a dozen adorable post earrings

Silver Parrot - I really look forward to Friday at Silver Parrot, who could help but drool over the bead porn? Then there's the stellar (pardon the pun) necklace she made featuring a dramatic lampwork focal from a Bastille Bleu bead.

Willow Walker - St. Patrick's day is coming up and these gorgeous emerald green earrings would make the leprechauns give up the gold! While each pair is beautiful on this post, I'm very fond of the gleaming white ones. I don't often plug stores here, but you should really visit her ArtFire shop and see the gorgeous work she does there. And, great news, her comments are working again!

Artbeads - You can pre-order your Use the Muse IV kits now at Artbeads, inexpensive Metallite metalized plastic from Zamba Pro are available at Artbeads.

The Beadin' Path - be sure to check back frequently to the Design Partner Blogs feature (Tish was featured recently!) Dara's Weekly Beadditude about showcasing vintage jewelry is a good read, too.

Earthenwood Studios Blog - check out their pieces in the Ice Resin Blog Hop, especially this one featuring some darling Rings & Things charms.

Friendly Plastic - Cool2Craft live interactive web tv event featuring a how to with Friendly Plastic, also check out the fun charm swap!

Ornamentea - a bit of a cheat, since it was from the week before last, but in my opinion, you simply *must* read the story of these "freaky fish" beads.

Rings & Things - a "snappy logo" you can use when linking to Rings & Things and some of the best craft tips from Twitter and Facebook followers of Rings & Things.

SoftFlexGirl - Lisa from A Bead a Day is showing up *everywhere* - check out her designs with SoftFlex featured on their blog, free project ideas, and Jamie Hogsett's piece in Margie Deeb's Spring Color Report

Also, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Index of Valentine's Day Projects 2010

2010-02-14T13:03:00.000-08:00

Back in January of 2010 I created a series of Valentine's Day projects. This post indexes each project with a link, description and supplier links, where possible.

Idea #1

Vintage style, red jasper hearts with gunmetal chain and filigree from Rings & Things.

Idea #2

Cute lampwork glass heart bead in light pink with a white cross-hatching from Rings & Things, plus various pink glass hearts and glass pearls.

Idea #3

Bracelet from Rings & Things lampwork beads and two small black glass beads to keep the headpins from slipping through the rather large holes, on memory wire (the link takes you to a gold-tone wire, I used silver-tone, purchased at Michael's) covered with rubber tubing.

Idea #4

Earrings with Rings & Things red faceted glass crystals and silver plated bulk chain, also from Rings & Things

Idea #5

Lanyard/necklace with Beadalon Square Knot links and Beadalon Quick Links ovals.

Idea #6

Bracelet with CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements red coral bicones, Bordeaux Swarovski Crystal Pearls from Jewelry Supply.com around complimentary matte and clear glass rivoli's I found at The Bead Store in Redondo Beach last June when I was visiting my family. The spacers are gold vermeil daisies from Artbeads.

Idea #7

Lavender glass hearts from Global Beads and red glass hearts and silver heart lobster claw clasps from ABeadStore.com, in a lanyard necklace

Idea #8

Red rose on black cabochon from AlphaStamps set in a beaded edge silver pendant setting from Accessories Susan's Vintage Jewelry Supplies on a sheer black ribbon pre-made choker necklace from Michael's.

Idea #9

Sodalite heart donut from ABeadStore.com and sodalite beads from Shipwreck Beads strung on medium SoftTouchPremium wire from SoftFlex company.

Idea #10

Gunmetal beading chain from Rings & Things, ruby red glass beads (unlabeled in stash, no clue about supplier(s), but I think I picked them all up at Michael's so they'd be Bead Gallery strands and Blue Moon mix beads) in an illusion style necklace.

Idea #11

Simple necklace with a blue & pink striped white lampwork glass heart and some 4mm opaque white Czech glass beads from Rings & Things.

Idea #12

I used two types of gunmetal chains, plus oval solid links and some wrapped loops to connect various CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski elements in this lariat style necklace. I got the beads from a number of suppliers, the ring and the twist are from Artbeads, the chessboard beads from A Grain of Sand. The square component and the heart from Rings & Things

I had to do some color manipulation in the picture to make all the beads the same color, since I didn't actually have a couple of the pieces in Crystal Red Magma, the original square and heart beads are Vitrail, temporarily, as placeholders until I can order the proper color replacements.

Idea #13

Rhodonite beads and a Rhodonite heart pendant with silver beads and a silver heart toggle on medium Premium Satin Silver SoftFlex. You can find the Rhodonite heart pendant and heart toggle at ABeadStore.com. The silver roundel beads and round beads are from Artbeads. The other Rhodonite beads were purchased at my local bead store, Global Beads.

Idea #14

This one took me many tries, and probably a foot of copper wire, to finally get three closely matched hammered hearts for this necklace. I added some rough faceted garnet drops and round garnet beads from my stash, for a bit of color. The chain was something I either picked up at Michael's or, and more probably, now that I think about it, came from a Rings & Things blog partner package. To match the look of the chain, I used walnut stain Distress Ink and jet black Archival Ink. I'll probably need to coat it with something so it won't wear off - will have to do some research to determine the best product.

Idea #15

Garnet glass bead and copper hearts necklace with copper spacers with loops from ABeadStore.com. I threw in a few Bordeaux Swarovski glass pearls as well. The bead caps are ornate Tierra Cast copper.

Idea #16

Vintage/romantic style bracelet with ornate copper bead caps, gold Swarovski pearls, Crystal Copper Swarovski 6mm bicones and large faceted carnelian beads. The bead caps are Tierra Cast copper plated pewter.

Idea #17

Dark amber color glass heart beads from a mix purchased in Santa Monica at Beadniks , and gold plated heart shaped toggles I had in my stash from who knows where.

Idea #18

Inspired by a left over length of the copper chain I had used in Idea #14. It was just the right size for a bracelet, so I pulled out some copper bead caps, a copper heart toggle and grabbed my box of pink glass beads. I'd completely forgotten about some small pink hearts and the last of the Rings & Things blog partner lampwork heart beads which I'd put in the same box, so those became the inspiration beads. I wrapped the hearts and other pink glass beads with antiqued copper wires and the fancy copper caps, and used some lovely iridescent coated dark pink matte beads for accents.

Bonus Valentine's Day Necklace

Meanwhile, although my official Valentine's Day projects were done, as one of the Artbeads Blogging for Beads partners, I got the opportunity to choose from a specific set of their beads to use for review or design purposes.

Artbeads suggested I select from their Valentine's day charms, beads and stoneware pendants, so I chose one of the new stoneware pendants with matching beads: Stoneware Large Red with White Flowers Heart Pendant-Offset Hole Right.

I created the necklace in a symmetrical pattern, added a little heart glass dangle bead and a beaded wire bail. The bail was very easy to make - just wrap the center of a length of wire add a bead to the wire left over at each side, create a wrapped loop and trim after each bead.

The way I made the necklace was to string and finish each side using scrimps and at one end looping the beading wire (SoftFlex medium satin silver) through the wire wrapped bail. At the other end I put the clasp findings.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

A number of posts this week were about CHA, reviews of A Bead in Time and Valentine's Day jewelry. Despite the cold or rainy weather out there, it was a lovely week out there in the Beadosphere.

A Bead A Day - Lisa's great new book is officially released! plus, Egg Hunt Trios and Jill MacKay clasp bracelet.

Ahtee's blog - "Mechanical Butterfly".

Barbe St. John - Review of A Bead In Time

Beading Arts - Get your work featured at Beading Arts.

Beading Gem's Journal - Swarovski and Disney, new Alice in Wonderland jewelry tie-ins
and a review of Lisa (A Bead A Day) Crone's just released book: A Bead in Time.

Craft Critique - Lots of CHA pics

Deez News - the ups and downs of jewelry design with Davinia.

Designs by Victoria - lovely designs for the Artbeads blogging for beads program

Doe-c-doe shows how to change some great old clip earrings into a beautiful necklace. (via Beading Gem's Journal)

ErtheFae - riding out the "Super Storm" and trying to figure out the right design for some great beads and focal.

For the love of beads - support a worthy cause, Tanya Boden (Aardvark Silver on Etsy) needs surgery and other sellers are donating proceeds.

Just A Tish - "Don't rush the creativity!" with her Rings & Things blog partner goodies, green kyanite (really? green? cool!) necklace and odds and ends earrings.

Ladybead Beach Jewelry - a new bracelet with Swarovski pearls and Austrian crystal in a lovely multi-strand design.

Lampwork Diva - Rings & Things blog partner post - Valentine's Day heart necklace and cool "grunge beads" in polymer clay

Margot Potter posts a wonderful review of A Bead In Time.

Melissa J. Lee's Artbeads Beads for Bloggers CZ designs

Nikon Sniper - inspirational colors from the desert.

Pretty Things - Valentine's day heart designs from Lori Anderson - also, check out her new blog An Artist's Year Off.

Silver Parrot - Even though it's raining like crazy, Silver Parrot has lovely new designs to share and gives a peek at the great beads, chain and clasps from the Pasadena Bead and Design Show on the 14th - 17th

Willow Walker - gorgeous new Valentine's Day inspired jewelry, and start here then read the following day's posts to see how it happens.

Just Something I've Made - creating lovely crafts with vintage typewriter paper

And, while it's a non-beading blog it would be a huge favor if you can help my dear friend: Does anyone know what this flower is? Leave a comment on Lisa's blog.

Artbeads - The History of the Valentine's Day Card

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditudes with Dara: Button Jewelry Part 1 - buttons with holes

Earthenwood Studios Blog - Melanie is on a bead cruise (I'm jealous! How about you?), but has prepared some posts for the week - this one about a tutorial on the Clockwork Coil Carapace necklace she'll be giving on the cruise.

Friendly Plastic - The Friendly Plastic booth at CHA

ModPodgeRocks - CHA Saturday SuperShow with ModgePodge

Ornamentea - Steampunk Art from The Graphics Fairy

Rings & Things - designers featured in Stringing who use Rings & Things in their designs

SoftFlexGirl - fashion trends

Don't see your favorite blog here? Just leave me the link in comments and I'll be sure to check them out.

Also, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere 2010!

2010-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's about time I got back to my wanderings - 2010 should be a great year in the Beadosphere.

A Bead A Day, Lisa started the week with a gorgeous Rings & Things blog partner creation using gunmetal filigrees and crystal beads, figured out a new use for some springy wire stars and topped things off with the lovely earrings she made using those same springy wires.

Beading Arts - check her post on making polymer clay beads.

The Beading Gem's Journal is always interesting - it's always hard to pick just one or two posts, but be sure to check this one out: "Pretty in Pink" jewelry set.

BunnyBlogs - Drea asks you to do something in the fight against breast cancer.

Deez News - check out the beautiful blues in her Wearable Willow Ware post! Blue Willow is my favorite china pattern - I have everyday stoneware and fancy china in that pattern. It would be fun to have jewelry in it, too, but I don't think I'll try breaking dishes to make some anytime soon, so it would be great to make the same kind of find she did.

AJ at ErtheFae chats about her week; looks like she's busy with non-beading stuff, which is fun to read about, too. Hope she'll be sharing some new work soon!

Just A Tish made some cool items with her Rings & Things blog partner beads (one of which inspired my bracelet design), did a very informative post about garnets - you thought they only came in red? Check again! Don't miss the great gift packaging suggestion, either.

Lori Anderson over at Pretty Things shares a good cause we can support.

Silver Parrot continues to write fun posts and share her beautiful creations - check out the gorgeous blue and silver bracelet in this post (the necklace is great, too) but don't neglect the rest of the posts last week.

Willow Walker is coming out with a new collection - I'm particularly fond of these!

Here are some new blogs I've just started following - you might want to stop by and see, too.

Ahtee's blog and Just Something I've Made

Artbeads blog - Enter the $1000 sweepstakes.

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditude with Dara is all about "Fantastic Collectible Vintage Beads"

Friendly Plastic - Rediscovered bits turned into beautiful necklaces

Ornamentea - Frayed ribbon necklace

Rings & Things - "Rings and Things Employees Good at Getting Hit by Cars, Missed by Buses"

SoftFlexGirl - Sara's beautiful bead embroidery

Don't see your favorite blog here? Just leave me the link in comments and I'll be sure to check them out.

Also, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-12-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Cold (low 50s which is cold as far as this California girl is concerned) and the last couple days have been rainy. That hasn't kept me from visiting a lot of great blogs out there in the Beadosphere, where the weather outside just doesn't matter.

From the Annual Reindeer Bead to this week's featured design project every day at A Bead A Day, Lisa shares fun beads and ideas.

Beading Arts - If you're into using seed beads Cyndi is giving away "Seed Bead Fusion" next week - check here for how to enter.

The Beading Gem's Journal will link you to some great tutorials - like this necklace of exposed wire loops and 3D Crystal Animals (know a Hello Kitty fan? You'll want to click that link).

BunnyBlogs - Pretty baubles, bracelets and a shout out to yours truly! Thanks, Drea!

Davinia over at Deez News worked on her wire wrapping and strung a lovely mixed bead necklace. Oh, lets also wish her mother a speedy recovery!

At Designs by Blanche (aka Sha-sha Handcrafted Jewelry) her post "Family and Inspirations" has lovely photography - including a really impressive background for a jewelry set. She also very kindly shares links, including mine (thank you!) and a sneak peek at the items she got from Artbeads Blogging for Beads.

AJ over at ErtheFae's shares some Artbeads goodies she's working with and got to take a class from Marcia DeCoster and shows what she made there.

Just A Tish features Corse Crafts, shares links to giveaways, but best of all talks about her lovely featured work in Bead Trends - go grab your copy!

See great designs with The Beadin' Path Lucite beads at Pretty Things.

At Silver Parrot gorgeous new pieces, 3 Things and Friday bead porn. This is a really fun blog, I hope you're following, because those were only three of the fun posts from last week.

Willow Walker shared two great sets on Thursday, but the entire week's posts are truly gorgeous. I really appreciate her sense of color and the interesting shapes of her dichroic glass work.

Artbeads blog - last minute gift ideas, gorgeous bracelet, and information on the Use the Muse III reveal, coming soon

Beadalon blog Technicolor Bracelet Tutorial.

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditude with Dara: Felted Christmas Ornaments

Friendly Plastic - Too hard to choose between the two posts this week - Glisten and Shine or Go Dramatic. One of these days I'm going to get my hands on this stuff and try it.

Ornamentea - Fun felt ball wreath

Rings & Things - What are 'findings'?

SoftFlexGirl - Free project idea "Simply Irresistible Headband"

Don't see your favorite blog here? Just leave me the link in comments and I'll be sure to check them out.

Also, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Thursday Feature: Artbeads CZ design #4 & Review

2009-12-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Only one more day of Artbeads Cubic Zirconia Beads to go after this. Today I'm sharing the 7mm Dark Purple CZ Coins I was provided and have used in the earrings below:

Under my Ott Lite® the faceted CZ teardrops I used for the earrings appear much lighter than the coins, but in less intense light they seem to the eye to be the same color. Also, the teardrops I've used are not from Artbeads, but a suitable substitute should be these 5x7mm Dark Purple CZ Pear beads. The gold-filled lever back earrings are from Artbeads, they are sold individually, with price breaks at 6-11 and 12+.

Beadalon makes special sized jump rings (see ring X) that can be used with their CZ-Gem Dropz™ and I've used those to link the teardrops and create the short (4 link) chains.

Since on Thursdays I sometimes do reviews, I thought I'd give some opinions about the CZs I've received. On the minus side, the faceting on some of these isn't aligned on a straight horizontal or vertical and some of the drill holes are off center. I find this a bit disappointing, but perhaps at the price it's to be expected. On the plus side, the colors are lovely and the price does seem reasonable. The channel set clear CZs were wonderfully bright and I love the way they look.

On Friday I'll be asking you to comment on your favorite CZ piece from this week as your entry in a random drawing for a $25.00 Artbeads gift certificate. The winner will be drawn on Saturday and will get their certificate directly from Artbeads, so I'll be asking you to email me your full name and email address, if you're chosen.

For a chance at a $100 Artbeads "Holiday Cheer" prize go to their Facebook page to read how and enter.

Hope to see you tomorrow when I share my final Artbeads CZ design!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: some of the CZ elements, as noted above, were provided to me for free in exchange for design purposes and/or promotional consideration by Artbeads.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is really late today - my apologies!

This week at A Bead A Day, Lisa shows off some beautiful glass heart pendants, among other things.

Beading Arts - Last week I mentioned the Lady of Shalott necklace as a work in progress - check here for the finished piece. Also, check out the Artbeads giveaway and CZ products from Artbeads Cyndi will be designing something lovely with soon.

The Beading Gem's Journal is another one that's hard to choose just one post from, since it's full of wonderful ideas and links each week. The post about enlarging holes in pearls is handy, and the post "It's OK to Change Your Mind" is another good one.

BunnyBlogs - Drea shares some lovely garlands and other decorations she's made.

See what Wendy made with the ebony wood chain from her Rings & Things blog partner items at Craft Dinner.

Davinia over at Deez News tries out magnetic clasps and practices her wire-wrapping .

Over at Just A Tish you can see her new CZs from Artbeads, some wonderful designs using vintage Lucite from The Beadin' Path and the adorable Christmas charm bracelet made from lampwork beads from Rings & Things. If you only visit one link, though, check out her December giveaway and enter!

At Silver Parrot there's the story of a charity auction with some darling chicken lampwork jewelry. Also, check out the Friday 'bead porn' post.

It's hard to pick just one day from Willow Walker's blog, but I think my favorite pieces of the week are her untitled "living flame" set. Be sure to check out the whole week, though.

Artbeads blog - $100 Giftcard Giveaway

Beadalon blog - Beadalon acquires Artistic Wire

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditude by Dara: Candy Cane Jewelry and last week, which I missed while in L.A., but worth reading - Beading for the Holidays

Friendly Plastic - A number of great posts, but a good one to start with is this one about Friendly Plastic and Textiles

Ornamentea - Pre-order Steampunk Style Jewelry by Jean Campbell from Ornamentea and get a free kit

Rings & Things - Garnet, January's birthstone and other fun posts all week.

SoftFlexGirl - Spotlight on writing articles for bead publications

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - Wubbers Review

2009-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

I've had enough time with my Wubbers now to feel comfortable giving a product review.

First of all, Wubbers are pliers that are made by Euro Tools and hand finished to reduce marring on the relatively soft metals used in jewelry making. Wubbers is a word created from the initials of "Wired Up Beads", which is a company that is now a division of Wubbers. L.L.C.

The catchphrase Wubbers uses is “Made to Make Jewelry™” and I would have to agree.They have been engineered for comfort and balance. The joint of the pliers moves very smoothly and the grips are a cushioned foam that is quite comfortable during extended use. More about the designer of Wubbers and other information can be found at the Wubbers website.

I was given some Wubbers for review purposes by Blue Buddha Boutique with their recommendation for use in chainmaille construction. I can see why Blue Buddha would recommend them - the constant gripping and twisting of jumprings to construct even a small bit of maille can be very wearing on one's hands, but using Wubbers reduces the strain. When I first got the Wubbers I noticed a distinct odor from the grips, almost like artificial cherry flavored candy smells, but it's dissipated with continual use.

Additionally, the surface of the tool which touches the wire or jumprings is just matte enough to grip but smooth enough not to leave gouges. I've now made several items with a lot of jumpring manipulation, including a couple of charm bracelet chains, that I can truly tell the difference when I'm using Wubbers versus other tools - no tool marks or shiny spots on colored wire or jumprings. The one exception has been copper - I can't seem to eliminate all scratches or nicks on copper, especially patinaed headpins or wire. Even so, the depth and amount has been significantly reduced. Perhaps it's just me not being cautious enough.

I have Classic Wubbers (flat nose: 6.5 inches long, with a 7/8" jaw) and Baby Wubbers (flat nose: 5 inches long, with a 3/4" jaw). I prefer the Baby size as I have fairly small hands, but the leverage of the larger size may be more helpful with larger gauge wire. I haven't really tested that since the wire I use is 20 to 26 gauge. When working with pieces that have very small spaces for manipulating a wrap, like a fine gauge wrapped loop fitted tightly against a bead, the Baby size is easier for me to use.

Unless I'm clumsy, or the finish on the rings is particularly delicate, I've had great results as far as tool marks or scratches go. I think that for some finishes nothing is going to help eliminate the occasional nick or flake, but the Wubbers keep that to a minimum compared to other tools I've used, and most of my tools are Euro Tools, so it's not as if I'm not using pretty good ones, although I'd like to try Wubbers against Lindstroms one of these days.

You can purchase Wubbers at Blue Buddha Boutique and other jewelry making suppliers.

FTC compliance disclosure, notice of material connections: Two pair of Wubbers were provided as promotional gifts for review purposes by Blue Buddha Boutique.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

If today's post seems a bit abbreviated, it's because I have so much to do before I leave for my show in L.A. Also, my daughter is here for a holiday visit, so I'm a bit pressed for time this morning. I'm just going to highlight just one post at a few of my favorite Beadosphere stops today.

There's a very good chance that because of the show, I won't be able to post a Wandering's next week at all, but we'll see.

As ususal, there's something fun and fabulous every day at A Bead A Day, but Lisa's post about her book is the one you absolutely must not miss! Congratulations, Lisa!

After Hours Art Glass shares a collage of new items

Beading Arts - necklace (work in progress) inspired by "Lady of Shalott" by Tennyson

The Beading Gem's Journal is another one that's hard to choose just one post from, since it's full of wonderful ideas and links each week, but I think this one about contemporary style earrings is a good representative sample. Plus, I really need to work on more earrings, so any bit inspiration helps!

BunnyBlogs - I think this is the first time I've mentioned this blog - and this post is a must read. Drea's friend is fostering two girls from Alabama and their story, until now, was heartbreaking.

See Wendy's creation Time Flies from her Rings & Things blog partner items at Craft Dinner.

Davinia shows off the great finds she made the other day and wonders how to seal the finish on some cool beads. If you have a suggestion about that I hope you'll leave a comment on her post at Deez News.

Earthenwood Studios' Melanie shares how she used the Rings & Things wooden chain and Idea-ology clasp in a wonderful necklace

It's hard to pick just one post from Just A Tish this week to feature, but since I seem to be sharing a number of Rings & Things blog partner posts, here's her very cool design using the Idea-ology antiqued plate and chain for a dramatic brooch.

Over at Silver Parrot this week she's been sharing the entries to a design contest (entry deadline is today at 5pm Pacific) she's having, and it's nearly impossible to feature just one post - but this is my favorite entry so far, so it's the one I'll link to.

Nikon Sniper - What might the picture in this post inspire you to make?

Willow Walker asks what you think of her ideas for a name for this gorgeous dichroic glass pendant.

Artbeads blog - Artbeads featured in 2009 Best of Stringing

Beadalon blog - beaded decor

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditude by Dara: Oxidize your own jewelry

Friendly Plastic - I was skeptical until I saw the finished piece

Objects & Elements - announcing their new ICE resin site

Ornamentea - Thrifty & swiftie gifties

Rings & Things - 5 Favorite Things

SoftFlexGirl November Spotlight - and a "Double Feature", read about The Beadin' Path, their featured store!

In case you don't visit again beforehand, Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful that you share some of your time with me and doubly thankful for the great friends I've made around the Beadosphere this year.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful fall Sunday here in Silicon Valley. It's cool and clear outside, the leaves on the little pear tree out back have changed and are starting to fall. Here's hoping the talented residents of the Beadosphere are having a similarly lovely day. Let's see what they've been up to this week!

A Bead A Day kicks off a week of sharing her Rings & Things blog partner items with "Forevermore" and wraps it up with a really beautiful bracelet she made using a number of the goodies.

Bead Origami made it to the Rings & Things traveling bead show.

Beading Gem's Journal - the week's "bookends" were Fabric Jewelery Tutorial links and Wire Wrapping Cabochon Tutorial links but in-between are some incredible designs using Swarovski, LED lights and a lovely pair if earrings to go with a leopard skin patterned wood bead necklace.

Wendy at Craft Dinner has been having a winning week! First it was cool goodies from HHH Enterprises, then the Rings & Things Guest Blog Partner drawing! She's also a regular Beadin' Path design partner and shared about the cool Lucite beads she just received.

Also Mrs.B at The Daily Whine posted a while back and I missed it, but she's planning to compete in the Rings & Things "Your Designs Rock" contest

Across the ocean at Deez News, Davinia's creating new earrings with interesting materials and her usual flair.

ErtheFae's "ArtBead" day, Elvensoul featured at the Art Bead Scene, and a coupon code you can use from Artbeads.com.

Just A Tish found inspiration on Sesame Street, had an idea in her head work out perfectly using her Rings & Things blog partner goodies - the wood chain creating the perfect backdrop to copper chain and gorgeous stones, very early morning beading, "life saving" memory wire and a reminder that the Bead Trends May deadline is nearly upon us!

Ladybead talks about Twitter.

Silver Parrot got her Rings & Things goodies, shares a lovely pink lampwork bead necklace, and the Friday bead porn post should definitely be on your weekly reading list.

Smutopia explains her recent lack of posts - it's *very* good news, congratulations Jessica!

WillowWalker's been very busy! Check out every day, but my favorites were Ice Queen, Eclipse, and Aurora. It's not only that she makes gorgeous dichroic fused glass focals, but the wire work she finishes them with is so beautifully done.

Artbeads Blog - A cool program for beaders with Nintendo DS, beautiful fairy themed necklace by Andrew Thornton using one of the lovely painted onyx focals.

Beadalon Blog - a great idea for finishing off a multi strand necklace.

Friendly Plastic - Contest going on, ends the 18th.

Objects & Elements shares cool texturizing techniques & a great torch safety post.

Ornamentea's Shiny Little Things blog challenges you to try mixed metals.

Rings & Things blog featured "shellies" last week.

SoftFlexGirl announced the winner of the drawing, shared a "how to" post link for "Lucky Earth" necklace, and shared some fashion clips featuring designer love for yellow this fall.

Can I Have Your Vote?

2009-11-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

Just click on the picture and look for Dawn O'Bryan-Lamb's designs - 5 to choose from!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Have you adjusted to Standard Time yet? Even after a whole week I'm still taken aback somewhat when it gets dark early. I've never been a morning person so taking advantage of the extra light at 6 or 7 am really doesn't work for me. Driving home in the dark from work isn't much fun either. Fortunately, there's no need to worry about the time of day around the Beadosphere, it's always brightly lit!

A Bead A Day went 'froggy' to kick off her week! I remember learning about frog closures when I was 11 or 12 and living in Taiwan. Many of the traditional Chinese clothing had lovely, embellished frog buttons on them. I may have gotten my fascination with macrame from thinking how cool it would be to learn how to create the knot buttons! It's been Arts & Crafts Week all week, so be sure to check each day's fun post on a different crafty topic.

I loved this week over at The Beading Gem. Read about bead addiction (I'm not addicted, I can stop anytime...yeah, right), neutral jewelry design and don't miss her post on the Maharaja Exhibition - lots of great pictures of the dazzling gems of India's Maharaja's.

Over (Under? Davinia's in Australia) at Deez News she expresses her dislike of "the drawing board" as in, back to the...how well I know that feeling! The lovely earrings from bits of a disassembled garland are gorgeous - a bit of ink, a smudge of 'silver rub and buff' (I need some of that!) and the result is delightful.

Wish a happy belated birthday to Melanie at Earthenwood Studios and check out the lovely ceramic art beads she's created. She also posted about the latest Art Bead Scene challenge and her "double challenge" offer which is a sweet prize of some of her latest beads!

Speaking of the Art Bead Scene challenge, ErtheFae's been inspired to submit this month - take a peek at her submission which uses one of the darling elf faces from Earthenwood Studios.

An Intergalactic Bead Show! As a nearly life-long fan of all things Science Fiction, (started in second grade, officially but probably got hooked earlier, or else why did I buy The Lost Race of Mars from Scholastic Book Club at school that day?) that would have definitely been my destination last week, if I lived near enough to go - Just A Tish got to visit, so I'll have to just enjoy it vicariously! Tish also shares her latest Rings & Things blogger review package (mine's not here yet and I'm so sad!) and lovely Beadin' Path design partner results, too - love what she's doing with the carnelian!

Ladybead's blog was new last week to my weekly round up and this week you can check out some special items for weddings - like custom invitation designs and wedding garters.

Margot Potter is so energetic I get a great workout just clicking through her posts! (Wouldn't that be wonderful if you *could* burn hundreds of calories reading blogs? I'd lose 30lbs on my Sunday postings alone). Margot and her daughter got featured in an ad, tells how she made the adorable Mom & Daughter shirts you see in the ad, gives a sneak peek at two of the designs she'll be doing a PBS Creative Living show segment about, is doing a subscription to Totally Creative Magazine giveaway (post your comment before Thursday!), and then she was off to QVC! *whew*

Orion Designs shared a necklace the other day with a very unusual (to me) focal stone - 'stitchite' That led me on a merry chase (via Google) looking for suppliers selling that stone.

Silver Parrot took the Humblebeads challenge and shared her work last week. Check out her use of ribbon as a bail, unusual use of findings and horizontal focal posts. As a bit of an interlude hope you enjoy her adventure at the deli counter as much as I did, and of course, bead porn! I wonder if she looks at her analytics to see what kind of searches end up on that post when she does them... :-)

All week long WillowWalker has been sharing her lovely "Create Art Every Day" challenge posts - do go look at her beautiful glass work (I love these adorable pink earrings)!

I'm sorry to report that there have been no posts from Smutopia or Shoozles last week - hope they come back soon!

Over at Artbeads there's a lovely "I Remember Summer" charm bracelet and some Holiday Card inspiration.

Beadalon is offering a giveaway if you comment on the Swarovski flatback + gluable bail post - ends either today or tomorrow, so get over there. Yes, even if I lower my chances to win, you should check it out. Also, there's a Katie Hacker's post about color as beading inspiration.

The Beadin' Path's Dara has a great post about the history of La Peregrina Pearl, from Mary I of England to Elizabeth Taylor.

Clever new uses for Friendly Plastic are shared at The Art of Friendly Plastic blog. Even if you don't use the product, it's got inspiration, especially around color.

Jeanette Blix (Fundametals.net) talks about riveting.

Objects and Elements - PEPE tools for dapping and cutting metals and simple and stunning designs.

Ornamentia (aka. shinylittlethings) shares Elaine Ray designs and a lovely pearls and ribbon necklace tutorial.

Rings & Things - Do you know about CERF? Now you do! Plus, snowflakes and *sigh* Swarovski price bump is coming. But the best post is about the winner of their guest blog partner drawing - Wendy Gibson! Congrats, Wendy!

SoftFlexGirl featured guest blogger Jamie Hogsett's DIY paper box instructions, shared their banner ads for the Flex Your Creativity contest (lookie! My design got on one of the ads!!*faint*), reminded you about the giveaway drawing for new Soft Flex Trios variety packs (winners announced on Nov 9th, so hurry!) *and* a contest for designing with recyclable materials!

Well, that's it for this week. I keep adding new blogs to follow and trying to share interesting posts with you from each of them, hope it's useful! Let me know if you have a blog you follow I could mention next time.

If you like keeping up with the Beadosphere here, do consider becoming a follower of this blog (there's a handy button at the top left of the page in the blue blogger banner, that says "follow blog" just click!), I'd love to reciprocate as well, so mention it in the comments so I can.

Also, on the right side of the page, in the sidebar, is my Facebook widget. I'd love it if you'd be a Facebook fan of Dawno, too.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-11-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

November already! Seems like it was Summer just yesterday. I can certainly tell it's Fall, the evenings start sooner and last night we set the clocks back an hour, too, so my time sense is going to be all wonky for the next week or so. It's gotten cooler here, but still not what most people (outside of the southwestern states) would call cold. I've seen in the news that some folk have been getting significant snow. Hope it wasn't snowing on your Halloween! Well, I'm sure you're here for the Wanderings, and not my verbal meanderings - so strap on your snowshoes if you need 'em and off we'll go around the Beadosphere.

A Bead A Day started the week off with some "edgy chain" and wrapped it up with cute "arts & crafts" bracelets. Be sure to check out the rest of her posts. On Fridays she does a featured designer, too.

Beading Gem's blog did a great week of Halloween themed posts with links to "how-to's" you'll want to bookmark for next year.

Deez News "When Designs Go Pear Shaped" - Davinia re-worked a bracelet into a necklace but thinks it's boring. I disagree! It's lovely, elegant in its simplicity. Check out the cool earrings, too!

Melanie at Earthenwood Studios has a new line out (which you can follow at the Now Showing Studio blog)- read about it starting last Tuesday and check out the "Seed of Chucky" bracelet she posted yesterday.

Tish from Just A Tish has been showing off her Beadin' Path goodies in some really lovely designs, starting with this beautiful "Cremescicle" design - that fire crab agate is really cool, I'm going to have to grab some for myself! These bracelets are gorgeous showcases for side drilled and center drilled vintage Lucite spheres in the most lovely colors. I really love how Tish shows how versatile and dramatic copper jewelry can be. Oh, and while she calls this one an "epic fail" it's still lovely, and I'm sorry that I giggled a bit at the trials she went through, but...well, read it and you'll see what I mean.

Ladybead's blog is new this week to my weekly round up with her beautiful designs. And her niche? Beach jewelry - adornments for barefoot glamour, especially beach weddings! But with the cooler weather coming up, there's also boot jewelry (what a cool idea!) Met her via Twitter, by the way.

Margot Potter talked Halloween most of the week, but wanted her readers to share this particular post about Haiffaa Ali so I do hope that you'll read Margot's post and then follow the links to Haiffaa's story and feel compelled to pass it on.

I haven't mentioned Nikon Sniper lately, but this post...well, if that gorgeous scene and those amazing colors aren't inspirational, I don't know what is!

Check out these gorgeous earrings featuring Swarovski briolettes from Artbeads at Orion Designs. What a great eye she has for colors that really grab your attention.

Here's a design from SCDiva in polymer clay - and I bet you'll have as much trouble as I did believing it's clay. I swear I'm going to start *any day* figuring out how to make great beads, too. Any day!!

Shoozles: Wear Your Art blog has a lovely thought piece "Giving- The Creative Contiuum"

Silver Parrot had a guest blogger - Dr. Frankenstein! When I need a good giggle, I can usually count on Silver Parrot's blog.

Over at Artbeads they show this lovely "Quality of Mercy" necklace and announce the winner of the treasure hunt.

Beadalon announces the winner of the Katie's Beading Secrets drawing and shares a crystal web necklace designed by Margot Potter

The Beadin' Path's Dara talks about pricing your jewelery.

I'm not sure if this goes above in Artisan blogs or not, but The Art of Friendly Plastic blog is another new one on my reading list - it's amazing what beautiful designs they come up with.

Jeanette Blix (Fundametals.net) shares "The Down Side of Stamping" and a "Fabulous Art Exchange"

Objects and Elements - winner of the "Put Me In a Bezel" contest and Preserving Nature tutorial

Rings & Things - this week they gave us Christmas lampwork beads, The Spokane Keychain Experiment, and "Ten Tips to Top Designs".

SoftFlexGirl announced a great give-away (new Trio's!), talked about the CPSIA “Statement of Policy: Testing and Certification of Lead Content in Children's Products” and shares a Halloween greeting and sale

Well, that's it for this week. I keep adding new blogs to follow and trying to share interesting posts with you from each of them, hope it's useful! Let me know if you have a blog you follow I could mention next time.

If you like keeping up with the Beadosphere here, do consider becoming a follower of this blog (there's a handy button at the top left of the page in the blue blogger banner, that says "follow blog" just click!), I'd love to reciprocate as well, so mention it in the comments so I can.

Also, on the right side of the page, in the sidebar, is my Facebook widget. I'd love it if you'd be a Facebook fan of Dawno, too.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-10-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome back! Or maybe it's welcome for the first time - either way, I'm glad you're here to tromp around with me in the wilds of the Beadosphere.

A Bead A Day started off the week with a collection of beads that she focused on individually during the week. Blue glass "sticks", smooth round stones (look kind of agate-y to me), pearls that remind her of butter mints, and finally the big reveal - how all these beads came together in a splendid cuff bracelet inspired by a lovely hand-crafted card from a dear friend. Lisa, it's wonderful - thank you for taking us along through the process all week! And Happy Belated Birthday, too!

Just A Tish - wow, what a week you've had, Tish! I'm breathless just reading about it, I can't imagine trying to keep up with you in person! Two gorgeous stone necklaces on Monday, her Beadin' Path design partner beads on Tuesday, a bold and beautiful necklace inspired by a favorite song on Wednesday using blog partner beads from Artbeads, Sand and Sea necklace with Beadin' Path design partner beads on Thursday (have you needed to sit a spell and catch your breath, like me yet? *whew* she's been a whirlwind of creativity this week!), Friday she shows off an entire set of jewelry she had just made! (love the bracelet - you should do more!) and Saturday is about her new display pieces for her work that will be at Gifts With a Heart in Raleigh.

(I'd like to note here, in a bit of an aside, that I've neglected to mention that last Friday, Tish tapped me with a Kreativ Blogger award after receiving one herself from Gold Lily - thank you very, very, much, Tish, for your kind words! I'm so sorry it's taken me over a week to even mention it.)

Deez News Davinia shows off a lovely new necklace in bold beads and color plus fun with new tools!

Check out ErtheFae's Gothic Roots, Mythical Medusa necklace and a beaded setting for a fun fairy button pendant.

Jolicious talks about the polymer clay class she took - you simply must go look at the delightful beads and pendants she's made.

Over at Katie's Beading Blog she shows a darling "upcycled" necklace featuring a spinning brass 'love detector' from Ornamentia.

And at Margot Potter - The Impatient Crafter ^TM blog, have you been following Madge's Terrorific Tuesdays? Only one more left! Wednesday was a free how-to for a special 'in case of emergency' Halloween craft mixed media necklace. Saturday she shared that she'll be in Manhattan at Michael's signing books and hosting a 'make it, take it' - sure wish I could be there!

Lori at Pretty Things points us to a wonderful post by Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio and her give-away of some fabulous stuff in celebration of Easy Wire 2009 which has her beautiful bracelet on the cover. Be sure to visit both blogs and enter that contest!

Silver Parrot did a whole lotta catch up last weekend, shared a number of really lovely pieces (the daisy necklaces are just...wow...) had some questions about hammers, got answers and worried about oxidizing her hair. Now usually on Friday she posts some 'bead porn' and her posts ended Wednesday. I hope everything went well with her liver of sulphur experimentation!

SmuTopia finds herself in a treasury with a "Where's Waldo?" theme, shares her wish list and some home decor items in green.

Artbeads shows off one of their customer designs - and that customer is our very own Just A Tish! You can also download some inspirational screensavers/wallpaper for your computer.

Beadalon announces their YouTube channel and spreads a bit of wire wrapping mania.

Read a fun bracelet exchange story from Dara's Weekly Beadditudes at The Beadin' Path.

The wire work on the necklace Jeanette Blix shows on this post is so impressive - those double spiral links are perfectly done - I've tried that pattern and would love to be that good at it! Of course you'll love the darling nails and toes at the top of the post, too - no, I'm not explaining that, you'll have to go see for yourself. (This is posted under Supplier's Blogs as Jeanette is the proprietor of Fundametals.net)

See the last of the entries into the Objects and Elements "Put Me In a Bezel" contest.

Rings & Things asks "What are all those stacked up beads?", Kurt Madison talks about winning designs, Russ Nobbs explains 'trade beads' and Rings & Things is designated a Bicycle Friendly Business.

SoftFlexGirl does some Tool Talk, points to the October Spotlight articles on the SoftFlex site, and goes to New York for the Soft Flex Glass Art & Bead Festival.

Well, that's it for today. I keep adding new blogs to follow and trying to share interesting posts with you each week from each of them. Let me know if you think of ones I'm missing!

If you like keeping up with the Beadosphere here, do consider becoming a follower of this blog (there's a handy button at the top left of the page in the blue blogger banner, that says "follow blog" just click!), I'd love to reciprocate as well, so mention it in the comments so I can.

Also, on the right side of the page, in the sidebar, is my Facebook widget. I'd love it if you'd be a Facebook fan of Dawno, too.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-10-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Hilary's The Smitten Image blog has some of the loveliest photography on the web. Before I start the weekly Beadosphere tour, I simply *must* share the link to these pictures she took of two adorable raccoons named Sugar and Spike. If you enjoy beautiful outdoor settings, her pictures of the woods and lakes and wildlife (including a Jack Russel Terrier named Benny who is full of personality) in her part of Canada are not to be missed.

On Lisa's A Bead A Day blog she started off the week with some "calming matte stones" and finished it up by showing the Zen bracelet she made with them, as well as sharing some really great news! Don't forget to check out all the days between, as well.

Over at Just A Tish, our gal Tish got some lovely earrings from the Beading Daily earring exchange she participated in (I forgot to get mine into the exchange in time *pout*) and shows off the gorgeous design she created as a Beadin' Path design partner. In between there's a blog award (and I'll be posting about that in a day or two) and the story of Larimar stones to read about, too.

Davinia at Deez News takes us on a pictorial journey through the creation of a stunning necklace
plus shares some delightful new earring creations. (Davinia, you know you're responsible for me needing to go out and buy grungeboard and a Cropadile now, right?)

Melanie at Earthenwood Studios shows Russ Troll what she picked for her Rings & Things blog partner goodies - can't wait to see what she makes with the wooden charm connectors and Rudraksha beads (I think Russ Troll feels the same).

ErtheFae has a mixed metals/mixed media necklace and Mistress of Ghosts earrings to share this week, along with some stories about dancing you won't want to pass up.

If, like me, you don't know what frit is or does, check out this post from For the Love of Beads. She's also, and rightly so, excited about her work being shown in Bead Unique. If you're really adventurous, and have a husband who doesn't freak out at the thought of you working with open flame, (not that *I* know anyone like that) you can check out her tutorial on how to make glass tipped head pins.

Margot Potter is sharing tons of great Halloween crafts patterns and ideas - this Hooty Owl featuring vintage Lucite from The Beadin' Path is wonderfully cute and not at all scary!

I really enjoy reading Silver Parrot - her posts are always fun, almost always funny, and usually include gorgeous pictures. Take her first Tuesday post for example. Having lived in L.A. I got a laugh out of her "Storm Watch" comment. A half micron of rain and the TV news there acts like it's Noah's Flood. Then she shows her beautiful bracelet and earrings. Then later is a quick post "This Just In" that had me in stitches. I really miss L.A. Someday I really hope to move back, until then, I'll just keep looking for mentions at Silver Parrot. Oh, don't forget the rest of her posts - sunshiny bracelet and Friday Bead Porn.

Jessica at SmuTopia is getting ready to move into a new home (congratulations!) and is interested in hearing about how you set up your workspaces. See what's new from Smu on Thursday's post (I love that bracelet display!).

Read about the Alpha Stamps 5th Anniversary "Let Them Eat Cake" contest.

Artbeads posts about their Treasure Hunt contest and new bronze quote pendants.

Beadalon Blog shared two designs this week - crinkle wire is featured in this Lilies and Butterflies necklace, the Gold Swirl Eye by Fernando DaSilva is a bold necklace that would look lovely with any number of Fall outfits - and a free pattern is provided so you can have your own version.

Dara's Weekly Beadditude at The Beadin' Path is about her finding time to do more beading as a busy mom. I'm still considering whether or not I should take some stuff to work and make things in the break room at lunch time. It's tempting because not only would I get some extra work done, but I'd also probably get some interest in what I'm doing and be able to hand out some business cards.

Objects and Elements wants more entries in their "Hey, Put Me in a Bezel" contest. You've got until Tuesday to enter.

Rings & Things got some nifty bookmarks from A Bead A Day's Lisa promoting her new book (due out in Dec or Jan) and announces their new Swarovski "search by color" feature - yay! that's going to make life a lot easier, if you ask me. Just don't ask my bank account...

SoftFlexGirl has a full week, but I'm singling out the post on bib necklaces as featured in In Style for inspiration and her post about the NYC Glass Art and Bead Festival - I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures from there.

Thank you, again, for visiting! Do consider becoming a follower of this blog (there's a handy button at the top left of the page in the blue blogger banner, that says "follow blog" just click!), I'd love to reciprocate as well, so mention it in the comments so I can.

Also, on the right side of the page, in the sidebar, is my Facebook widget. I'd love it if you'd be a Facebook fan of Dawno, too.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-10-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

Usually I do this post on Saturday night and schedule it for 6am Pacific on Sunday. Last night I realized at about midnight that 1) I was still awake! and 2) I hadn't done my Weekly Wandering post. I decided to wait for the morning. I hope you didn't stop by earlier and get a disappointment!

Got your sail éille ready and your brogans laced up tight? Oh, the sail éille will only be needed as a walking stick - no need to worry about self-defense in the Beadosphere.

Lisa gave us another fabulous week of beads at A Bead A Day - all week she has been sharing the lovely beads she picked up at the Rings & Things bead show and on Friday her featured artist was Davinia of Deez News.

Tish was busy the earlier part of the week - Monday was her Beadin' Path design partner necklace mixes Lucite and metals and pearls and glass into one gorgeous design for fall. Tuesday was about Lapis, One of Wednesday's posts you'll really want to bookmark, it's an October bead show listing. But also on Wednesday she also shared her October Bead Trend magazine pieces and an ode to her retiring side nippers.

Davinia shares about the challenges of finding a hotel for her holiday get together and a new pair of grungeboard earrings and her delight at being the featured artist at A Bead A Day.

Check out this sneak peek at SmuTopia - love the color of the earrings in the first picture!

WillowWalker set some goals on Monday, posted a lushly photo filled post on Wednesday (I love that fireplace screen being used for a necklace display!) and put up a lovely piece on Thursday.

Barbe Saint John posts the Miniature Masterpiece necklace she made with her Artbeads Blogging For Beads selection, Mucha's Eveningstar reproduced on onyx.

Breaking news at BeadJewelry.net - Step by Step beads is merging with Bead work and registration is open for the inaugural Beading by the Bay retreat - to be held in March '10.

ErtheFae's Artbeads design features the new dragonfly pendant shape from Swarovski, lampworked glass, and Swarovski pearls in a beautiful - you guessed it - dragonfly necklace.

Ever want to make your own headpins? Over at Hint you can see how it's done.

There's a beautiful Rings & Things blog partner design to see at Humblebeads.

Wish you could visit Florence and bring home some beautiful glass beads? Well, Jolicious did and you can win some of her stash!

Stunningly lovely stamped polyclay design that reminds me of the broken china jewelry I've seen, over on Katie's Beading Blog

Margot Potter has been sharing free Halloween project ideas - this one is my favorite (for this week at least)

Pink Pooch Designs now has a Clint Eastwood bead mosaic bracelet pattern for sale - her work is so much fun! I wish I had the patience to do seed bead work like that.

Silver Parrot shows us the gorgeous and bold design she's created from her Rings & Things design goodies and, of course, her Friday "bead porn" post (totally suitable for all ages!) post is a feast for the eyes, as usual.

Melissa at Strands can finally share her Bead Arts 2009 award winning piece - congratulations, Melissa!

Lots of great posts over at SoftFlexGirl's blog last week, hard to pick just one, but how about pointing you to the Jamie Hogsett guest blog post and letting you wander from there?

Visit with guest designer Julie Zarate over at AlphaStamps

Artbeads shares a beautiful customer creation Japanese Lanterns

Dara's Weekly Beadditudes at The Beadin' Path is about naming your jewelry designs - something I constantly struggle with!

Fascinating responses to the Objects and Elements "Put Me in a Bezel" challenge - and it's a contest you can enter, see the rules and deadline at the "Put Me in a Bezel" link.

News Flash: Ornamentia a victim of a Random Act of Knitting!!

The Rings & Things blog is back! This week featured Citrine, Rudraksha, and a "bodacious" bike buckle.

Thank you, again, for visiting! Do consider becoming a follower of this blog (there's a handy button at the top left of the page in the blue blogger banner, that says "follow blog" just click!), I'd love to reciprocate as well! And on the right side in the sidebar is my Facebook widget - you can be a Facebook fan of Dawno, too.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a lovely weekend. The weather is really cooling off now. I may just have to wash up all my sweaters to freshen them from being stored all spring and summer, and put away my summer clothes. Also, added bonus, my daughter made a last minute decision to drive up and visit, so I've been enjoying having her around this weekend. I received a postcard from the Westercon63 team reminding me that in 2010 they'll be in Pasadena, California. I've submitted my name to the dealer's room coordinator in hopes I'll be able to get a space. If I do that and LosCon next year that's two southern California conventions. Add BayCon and maybe I'll find another local con, too. I'd like to do at least 4 shows next year.

Well, I assume you're anxious to get out and about the Beadosphere, so enough about me, let's get going...

A Bead A Day - sparkling silver stardust, silver chain, Silver Shade - and that's just a couple days worth of shiny, shiny things over at Lisa's blog!

Brenda's Jewelry Box - Artbeads product design with beautiful rose color CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements

Deez News - really wonderful mixed media earring designs using grungeboard and wallpaper.

Earthenwood Studios - it's been Crystals Week there, and Melanie has been sharing her Arbeads product design postings all week - starting with Fairy Wings - be sure to look at the entire week's worth of gorgeous designs featuring CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements from Artbeads.

ErtheFae joins the Artbeads Blogging for Beads group, finishes Cthulhu, and shares her awesome day in Tahoe.

A Fly On the Wall/Daily Jewel (Robyn Hawk) - Gem Shows October 2009

Jennifer Jangles - She shares some studio pictures showing a lovely, tidy space and how it looks when she's in the midst of preparing for a show.

Just A Tish - Rings & Things September challenge necklace with a gorgeous ocean jasper focal, more challenge work with mixed stone faceted fans, her winning studio pictures for the Tweet Your Studio contest co-sponsored by yours truly and The Beadin' Path, and a lovely and moving pictorial tribute in honor of her daughter's birthday.

Lampwork Diva Cindy Gimbrone was looking for help naming a new PMC pendant necklace, and revealed a "deep dark secret"

Mandibeads - win one of her cool beaded pens in her October give-away.

Margot Potter shares a how to for a cute Halloween tote, had a novel idea, reviewed CraftCycle, shared a free Halloween necklace project ... *whew* keeping up with her is a real workout!

Silver Parrot - "made stuff" (gorgeous stuff, too), and "more stuff" and shared pictures of some lovely earrings on different backgrounds , then for a grand finale, two days of fabulous beads.

Skysetter shares darling Halloween clown costumes, Autumn decor, and adult costume accessories.

SmuTopia - it's Smu's birthday!, a give-away, a sneak peek, see Smu in this treasury, and on Friday, faux food.

Alpha Stamps - Congratulations to Shannon Sawyer, Spooky-Cool Halloween items (the haunted decor scrapbook paper is really wonderful, and I think the stock is really limited, they say "last gasp" in the post).

Artbeads - Color changing Swarovskis

Beadalon Blog - Earrings ideas & links to projects.

The Beadin' Path - go see the Tweet Your Studio winners pictures and the Beadin' Path's staff bead picks

Objects and Elements blog - bitten by the ICE resin bug

Ornamentea blog (shiny little things) - Humblebeads trunk show, adorable felt pumpkin project how-to, a note on the book Read My Pins by Madeline Albright

SoftFlexGirl - a guest post by the Soft Flex photographer, Brian Clark Win a fabulous SoftFlex prize package contest on BeadStyle, faux barbed wire bracelet how-to, and links to some fun costume pictures

I really recommend adding all the above blogs to your RSS reader, Google Reader, or where possible, Follow them via the Blogger Followers feature. Even though I don't have a handy widget on my blog (because I'm using my own template) you can follow me, too, if you have a Blogger account or a Google account. I'd love it if you would! I also have a new Facebook Fan page - it would be an honor to have you as a fan!

Do come back tomorrow, I'm posting a 'how to' on making what I think are really easy to make, but still quite pretty, gift/price tags and earring cards.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-09-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend of September already. Nights are getting longer, it's barely light out when I have to get up to get ready for work. I think I'd love living in a much more southern latitude. Had a great visit on Friday night with some virtual acquaintances - I'd only met one of them before in person. I'd had a pretty awful day up till I sat down for drinks and great conversation. I may blog about that on my other blog one of these days.

Then Saturday was a lazy day, talked to both of my kids and watched shows on TiVo, took a long nap mid-afternoon. Cooked a late lunch for the husband and me, too - if you can call making salmon patties, nuking a tray of store-bought mashed potatoes and opening a can of peas cooking. It was very yummy nonetheless. Sunday will be a jewelry making day, I hope, because I've got a lot of ideas to work through.

Well, enough about me...this is about all my neighbors out there in the Beadosphere - so let's check 'em out!

Just A Tish has had a banner week - posting every day! Start on Monday with this plea for info on knotting elastic thread, Tuesday about fall color trends, Wednesday and Friday she shows some of her beautiful work, Thursday on bead contests and other places to showcase your work, yesterday she shared her cool design package of beads from The Beadin' Path.

A Bead a Day's week was also jam packed with great posts - Amber shell beads, Brown ceramic disks, rubber tubing for memory wire work, and see what she did with them in Saturday's post! Of course you want to check out the other days too.

Welcome Carolyn Weir to the Beadosphere with me - see her posts Skysetter's Handmade Holidays.

ErtheFae's Cthulhu is nearly done! I've been watching the progress and love the design. For some time now a pair of lovely earrings have graced the upper right corner of her blog - well, she sold them and there's a new piece in their spot - be sure to take a peek. Also worth a good long look is the gorgeous necklace "Elvensoul" she featured on Wednesday.

At Brenda's blog, The Jewelry Box "a hodgepodge of beaded jewelry" she shows off the design created with her Artbead selection

Check out the Staffordshire Hoard via The Beading Gem's Journal - fascinating stuff!

Kelley of Kell's Creations shares pictured of the Renaissance Fair in Santa Fe where she had a lovely booth (visible in her first picture).

On the other side of the globe and down to Australia - Deez News reports that Davinia visited her favorite bead shop for a beading lesson - lots of bead eye candy on that post!

Daily Jewel shares the winners of the Paragon Lake Inspired Design contest.

Silver Parrot shares more luscious beads and some chain and wire, too.

SmuTopia has some Halloween themed finds to share

SCDiva - I loved these gorgeous pendants the first few using an innovative technique, and others featuring her various polyclay designs, including image transfer, and then three fall color palette necklaces with beautiful image transfer pendants. I so admire her designs!

Happy belated birthday wishes to Pink Pooch's Staci!

Margot Potter shares about Friendly Plastic and if you comment on the post, you're entered in a giveaway drawing.

WillowWalker's Fall Festival report, lovely Ember earrings and a gorgeous pendant/earring set, The Willows - I also received my beautiful dichrotic glass pendant and earrings this week as well as a beautiful pair of amber glass earrings. She does fabulous work so visit her ArtFire store, too!

Just one little plug for me - I finally broke down and started one of those 'fan pages' on Facebook. I'd love it if you'd become a fan.

Soft Flex Girl shares Fusion Beads sale

I think Dave's been too busy on the road with the Rings & Things Bead Tour (next one in my general area is San Mateo in November) to post this week - I look forward to the blog posts to come, though.

Artbeads blog shared their top rated products, a visit to Boeing to see the new FedEx 777 freighter, lovely lampwork art beads and new free priority shipping for orders over $75.

Dara's Weekly Beadditudes at The Beadin' Path chats about vintage beads at the Bead Forum.

Hope you're not too worn out from our little hike around the Beadosphere this week - lots of great places to visit. I highly recommend bookmarking or following the blogs mentioned so you never miss a post!

See you tomorrow for Monday Miscellany - I've got a good post planned! And if you're on Twitter, I hope you're going to enter the #TweetYourStudio contest - the contest runs tomorrow only and there are three great prizes being offered!

Special Feature: Twitter Contest with The Beadin' Path and My Contest Finalist Necklace

2009-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Contest? Did someone say contest?

On Tuesday I blogged about finally organizing (well, mostly) my workspace with some pictures and shared about it on Twitter, too. To share it on Twitter, in less than 140 characters, you need to convert the URL of the post, which is very long, to something as short as possible. To do that, I go to a site called Cli.gs and create a short link. Cli.gs also tracks the human clicks (discounts all 'bots) on each cli.gs link created.

When I look at the metrics for clicks on that link, I usually see that I get anywhere from 10 to 20 clicks and sometimes 30 or 40 if I'm really lucky. On Tuesday's link - over 200! (If you are back today after first visiting me via Twitter yesterday and Tuesday, thank you for returning) The point, though, is wow, people must like to see other people's studios!

Well, I was tweeting (that's what you call the messages on Twitter, by the way) about it with Heather DeSimone from The Beadin' Path (@beadinpath) and she said:

beadinpath: @AWDawno We should try to start up a #TweetYourStudio day. It could be fun. And inspiring. And scary.

That got some re-tweets and positive comments, so we are going to have a TweetYourStudio day on Monday, September 28th, on Twitter. To enter you have to do two things.

1) Go to one of the Twitter photo sharing sites (I'm familiar with yfrog and twitpic, but there may be others) and upload a photo of your studio. These sites allow you to tweet the picture and a brief caption to Twitter right from the same spot. You register there with your Twitter name and password. Signing up for Twitter is free. There may be other ways to share your pictures that those of you who are more Twitter savvy know how to do, feel free to use them.

2) In order to complete your entry, you *must* put the hashtag #TweetYourStudio in the message you tweet with your picture (or we won't be able to find it). If you don't know what that means, here's a great explanation of hashtags and how to use them.

Update from Heather on prizes! (promoted from comments)

The Beadin' Path & BeadinPath.com will be ponying up 2 $30 gift cards to The Beadin' Path or http://www.BeadinPath.com for winners in the following categories.
*Most Organized
*Most 'Holy-Cow-I-Can't-Believe-You-Get-Anything-Done-in-that-Space' Studio

Submissions are open to any artist working in any media. Just tweet your space.

Judges will be 3 BeadinPath staff'ers (but not me, sorry Tweeter friends, no favoritesies :). And we'll announce the winners on Tuesday morning here on this blog as well as on Twitter!
Submissions must use hashtag #TweetYourStudio or we won't see them.
And also - all entries must be submitted by midnight West Coast time on Monday night (we don't want to miss anyone who submits too late).

Wahoo! This will be fun!
Thanks Dawn for the superb blog!
:) Heather
The Beadin' Path

I am also offering an "honorable mention" prize for best use of a small crafting space. If you're stuck with a corner, a closet or have to do your crafts on the sofa, tweet a picture of the space in use (if you're camera shy, just show the stuff you craft with at the place you craft - you don't have to be in the picture) and use the same hashtag but mention "small space" or "sm.sp." to keep it short. I'll send the winner a special prize, something that won't take up too much space either: a Bead Buddy Dual Lap Desk.

So you have the weekend to tidy up (or not if you want to win Holy-Cow-I-Can't-Believe-You-Get-Anything-Done-in-that-Space) but post your picture and use the hashtag on Monday to enter.

Speaking of contests...

Some time ago I got the news that I was one of the ten finalists in the Step by Step Beads magazine Colorworks contest held in the Spring. The contest finalists' pieces (including mine!) will be featured in the November/December '09 issue of Step by Step Beads with comments by Margie Deeb.

I have wanted to post a picture of the necklace ever since I heard, but I'd removed one of the copper chains to use for another necklace that I sold at BayCon, because I'd run out of that chain and didn't have time to order more. I'd put the necklace aside to wait for the replacement chain. Now that I've worked my way through the organizing (mostly) of my workroom to the point where I uncovered the necklace, I could replace the missing chain and take a picture for you:

The rules for the contest were to use the green, orange and purple triad of the color wheel. I'd already started what is the top beaded strand in the first picture, with those colors, so I used that design as my starting point for the final piece.

It went through several iterations before I finished it. I wasn't sure about it having five layers, but I just wasn't happy with it and kept on adding layers, until I had five.

So, there's the necklace and its story. Hope it was worth the wait...

My apologies for not being ready to review the Wubbers yet, nor having an interview ready - I need to carve out time to do some research and email good questions to the potential interviewee - hope to do so this weekend.

See you tomorrow for my Friday Pick!

PS - Picture credit: The picture at the top of the page is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1923. This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs Division under the digital ID cph.3b06083

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-09-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just A Tish has given us some lovelies to admire this week! Three consignment & special order necklaces, flower inspired picks from Artbeads, and a post about a new source of Tiffany stone - what a gorgeous mineral that one is!

A Bead a Day featured coral cubes, snack cakes, a lovely briolette bead, and much more. As usual, you should check every day to see what she's found and to enjoy her bright and positive outlook.

Janeen looks like she found some great buys at the Northwest Bead Society Bead Bazaar

Melanie from Earthenwood Studios shows how she used the Rings & Things challenge pieces from the July set of connectors.

Margot gives a tutorial for bangle bracelets, and shares a beautiful black & white necklace featuring Lucite from The Beadin' Path - but the real beauty of the post isn't the necklace, it's what Margot says. Don't miss her Saturday post, either - it's just as much of a compelling read as the one before it.

While I love the eye candy she featured on Friday (those shell beads!) Silver Parrot's Rings & Things challenge post also caught my attention - great selection, now I can't wait to see what she's going to make!

For the Love of Beads shares her fun pictures of the Rings & Things Minneapolis Bead Tour stop.

Davinia at Deez News shows off this really cool mixed media piece.

Willow Walker bravely posts a picture of her studio 'before' her big fall cleanup. I am not so brave - and her workshop looks positively tidy compared to the mess I've been working through all weekend! She also shares what her show booth looks like - make sure to scroll down to see the pendant display - I really *love* it, and you'll be surprised when you read how it came about! Speaking of shows, which = sales, I'm excitedly looking forward to some really lovely new pieces of jewelry I ordered from her Art Fire shop the other day. There's one other piece I'm in love with, just need to save up some before I grab it.

Artbeads features a customer creation by Jeannie Dukic, Q&A with Bailey Beader, and their Awareness Items sale this week.

At the Rings & Things blog we get info on an upcoming bead cruise, gives us a look at an interesting project: resin belt buckles, and the R&T staff trying out Image Transfer Solution at Rings & Things HQ.

This week Sara at the Soft Flex Girl blog has shared about the Best Beads Show, a video featuring Lewis Wilson, new Jamie Hogsett pieces, Cynthia Markson's story of how a winning lotto ticket helped her start her jewelry business, and news that you can get printable projects from Soft Flex.

The Beadin' Path's Dara gives us some great bead tips this week.

Well, that's it for today's wanderings - see you tomorrow for Monday Miscellany. I have a Beadin' Path design partner necklace to show featuring their new glass River Rocks, *plus* I'll finally be able to share pictures of that Step by Step Beads Colorworks design contest finalist necklace I made, so I do hope you'll stop by.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the Mountain View Art & Wine festival and I'm really looking forward to visiting it. The weather will be cooler this year with a small chance of showers. Maybe that'll make it less crowded in the morning when we go. I love to visit all the jewelry crafting booths - they're part of the inspiration to make my own jewelry. I only get to buy their pieces once a year, but in the meanwhile I can create complimentary things on my own all year 'round.

It is also my son's 24th birthday today. Happy Birthday, Matt!

Well, I know you're not here to hear me ramble - you're ready to wander so let's get going!

A Bead A Day: Colorful Cubes, Opally Lampwork Teardrops, Wrought Iron Links & more - every day Lisa shares something fun and wonderful.

Just A Tish: September Birthstones, Rings & Things goodies and a new necklace (full disclosure - I made it), Green Man necklace tutorial (great pics!)

The Beading Gem's Journal has been sharing a "series of wonderful jewelry display tutorials from blogdom from artisans who not only channeled their creativity in another way but also shared the results with everyone. A big round of applause!!" - Yesterday was necklace displays, Thursday was earring displays, Tuesday was ring displays. The Beading Gem's Journal is another one of those wonderfully helpful and informative blogs I try to read every day, hope you will, too!

Deez Newz Dee is another gal after my own heart! Read about her re-worked necklace - love the design, Dee! And yesterday was a lovely post about her beautiful 91 year old mom.

Earthenwood Studios - Melanie shows how she's used the Rings & Things Swarovski cubes. I'm glad I wasn't the only one to take my time figuring out what to do with them.

ErtheFae's Wandering Thoughts: Turtle Talisman and Cthulhu's tummy getting its beads.

The Lampwork Diva, Cindy Gimbrone has opened her ArtFire shop (yay!) for her jewelry creations and shows us some beautiful looking glass nuggets charms she's added to her other web store. I think I will have to add those to my stash very soon.

Margot Potter the Impatient Crafter - Last week was a lot of fun on Margot's blog - a tutorial for a cool back to school denim book cover, lovely necklace patterns you can purchase from e-Patterns Central, her thoughts on the evolution of a design (which I read with great relief - she doesn't always like the first try, either!) and yesterday I got a thrill when I saw that she linked to my review of her wonderful Beyond the Bead book.

SmuTopia was getting ready for this weekend's big show - I hope it went great for her! She also dedicated her Friday Finds to handmade display pieces she found on Etsy.

Silver Parrot shared Back to School thoughts and a beautiful Nevada Lapis and borosilicate drops necklace, and a post I just loved about a number of fun and random things plus a gorgeous necklace and some "bead porn" as she calls it - you will love the beads she features and nothing is X-rated!

I've just added a new blog to my follow list here at Blogger - Runako Designs by Dee. You'll probably be seeing some links to her blog in future Wanderings.

You don't want to miss any of last week's posts from SoftFlexGirl - she took wonderful pictures of London and posted about them over several days (starting here). Then yesterday she had a guest blogger, Jennifer Wilson. Jennifer shared about working with her father to prepare some necklaces for an upcoming show. He looks like a fun dad!

Congratulations to the winner of the Rings & Things "I Wanna Be a Blog Partner" contest - featured in the Rings & Things blog on Friday, Angela Bannatyne. A couple days before that they talked about "The World's Longest Beaded Necklace".

Artbeads shares a gorgeous Swarovski and gold-filled chain lariat necklace from their customer gallery and a great "Using ICE Resin" video.

Beadalon Blog has great info on Fall jewelry trends and their most popular tools.

Not exactly a blog, but occasionally the founder of Blue Buddha Boutique, Rebeca Mojica, posts some relevant news on its homepage and this week they're asking folk to consider voting for them in the Shine A Light award from American Express and NBC Universal. They could be in the running to receive up to $100,000 in grants and marketing support. The deadline is today (Sunday, September 13th) so please visit the Shine a Light site to register and vote!

That's it for today - I'm sure this was a lot less exhausting than the Art & Wine wandering will be - but definitely easier on my pocketbook! See you for tomorrow's Monday Miscellany where I'll share some of the new work I've managed to get done between bouts of workroom clean-up (it seems to be a neverending task!).

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-09-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday, so you know the drill - grab your walkin' shoes (aka, mouse) and let's go wandering around the beadosphere...

Lisa at A Bead A Day had a great week of beads (and hemp cord, too) - On Tuesday there were frosty white beads, on Saturday she featured a beautiful Italian glass bead. Be sure to check out every day of the week.

Just A Tish had a short week - glad you're feeling better in time for the holiday weekend, Tish! On Thursday she let us peek into her thought process on "Creating for the Model" then she posted a great public service post on Friday about bead sales & bead shows.

Wednesday at SmuTopia Jessica shared a wish list item, and on her Friday Finds she featured beautiful Harvest Gold work by various Etsy artisans.

On Thursday over at Erthe Fae she showed off some lovely earrings. and on Friday we see she's working on Cthulhu's arm - I've been following her progress beading a plush Cthulhu with interest and can't wait to see the finished work.

Davinia at Deez News shares what she considers her successes and failures. I love her cool grungeboard necklace.

At The Beading Gem's Journal you'll adore the lovely beaded clutch her mother made for her using tiny seed beads (15/0) in beaded cross-stitch look like petit-point tapestry by a master of the craft. She also shares info on upcycled tie jewelry and a how-to for jersey t-shirt necklaces.

Lori Anderson talks about fidgeting and her fidgety bracelet at Watch Me Create

Addictive! Objects and Elements blog such amazing creativity featured there.

Soft Flex Girl, Sara, is in London! Here's her day one post.

This week's Weekly Beadditude with Dara is full of good advice about Selling Your Beadwork and Jewelry.

Rings & Things shared the October birthstone for those of you who plan ahead, and speaking of planning *way* ahead, info about the 2010 Design Contest. What to pair with the basic 'little black dress'? The featured bead on Friday was the basic black bead.

Artbeads shared a lovely pair of earrings, an Outlaw Necklace and a cute pair of earrings by a new crafter - all of Friday's posts were customer creations, which is such a nice thing to do.

Speaking of suppliers - don't forget to peek back at my Supplier Sales Saturday post if you missed it to get the scoop on some good sales - some are ending today, others pretty soon, so don't miss out. I hope to make this a regular feature every Saturday.

If you have the time tomorrow, do drop by, I'll be sharing a new piece which is *finally* using the last of the Rings & Things gluable challenge (and it was back in March) bracelet blanks that's been sitting on my worktable mocking me since.

I visited Michael's on Friday to pick up, oh, one or two things (ha! thank goodness I remembered my 15% off coupon) and found a whole bunch of gunmetal items from Plaid. One of them inspired me to grab that bracelet blank and make something! Hint: it's not a bracelet and there's no glue involved.

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter

2009-09-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Image from Wikimedia Commons, in the public domain

Beyond The Bead: Making Jewelry With Unexpected Finds

I was so excited when this book finally arrived. Margot's work is fun, imaginative and inspires me to try and think more creatively about what I'm doing. I've done a few things in the last year that were well outside my comfort zone as a result of following her blog and admiring her work for Beadalon and Swarovski. In fact, when she made a kind comment about something I made with a Rings & Things product earlier this year (choker forms), I could hardly believe it! It helped me gain even more confidence about pushing back the edges of my creative envelope.

Well, enough about me - what about Beyond the Bead?

Basic facts: 8 1/2 by 11" full glossy color book with tons of great photographs, which is what I expect in a how to book, but the artful way the pages are composed makes each page a pleasure to the eyes. 128 numbered pages - there are a few extra pages as well that deserve attention - the acknowledgment and bio pages are not to be skipped, Margot's writing style is a joy to read.

The book starts off with sections on Building Blocks, Tools, and Techniques. Even though I'm getting fairly practiced and feel confident about most techniques, I always check these sections out - you never know when you'll pick up a new tip or get a refresher that improves your skill.

Then each of the next sections has a lovely introduction before going into the projects which are thoroughly and artfully described and illustrated. There are 26 in all. As I read I realize that almost anything you might find lying around the house could become a unique and eye-catching piece of jewelry.

Most of the projects require a bit of specialized equipment or a few specialized products that crafty people probably already have, but even if your work room only has beads and wire, you will be anxious to get out to the crafts store (or go online) and grab some new items. Rest assured, you'll use them again and again once you're hooked.

Margot is all about mixing it up - using many different media to create interest and depth. There's glitter and grunge, wire and washers (not the laundromat kind), and lots of fun with glue.

One of my favorite projects in the book is right at the front - the Vogue Slide necklace. Aside from a memory glass slide and frame you probably have all the rest of the materials on hand. The look of the piece is all about what image you choose and everything else can be adapted from there.

The other piece from this section, the next project on using embossing powder on glass, I liked was the gallery piece "Optically Stained" - Margot listed that piece on Etsy and I snapped it up the moment I read about it! It's gorgeous and gets many, many compliments when worn.

There's another project section I want to try soon, it's the "Scrapped - Working with Scrapbooking Supplies" - especially the faux enameled jewelry using chipboard shapes. You can go really big with these and they're so lightweight it won't matter. That's important to me as heavy necklaces give me horrible neck aches and sometimes even headaches.

The one piece that seemed the most complicated was the glass etching - lots of specialized materials to buy and some soldering. Even so, I can't see the tools and materials going to waste, I'm sure I'd have other ideas once I had the products.

This book was well worth the wait - but I recommend you get it right away! Here's a link (below) even - if you buy it here your purchase will add a penny or two to my piggy bank. If you'd rather the pennies go in Margot's bank - here's the link to her blog and she's got her affiliate link to the book in the sidebar.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed the review (enough to buy Margot's book, even!)

I'm hoping I'll have the energy to do a Friday Pick - if not, I promise to try and share something interesting.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-08-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's another Sunday, so grab your walkin' shoes (aka, mouse) and let's go wandering around the beadosphere...

Just A Tish is having a giveaway (and hurry - must comment before Tuesday!), had an ee-piff-any about using tags (the blogging kind) and talked about developing one's own design style.

A Bead A Day ponders how to spice up some wooden crafts bracelets, what to do with curled sterling silver tube beads, and some 5 hole spacer bars (among other posts - she does post daily!). I mention those 3 because I made some suggestions in the comments - you should, too!

Blanche's Sha-sha Handcrafted Jewelry Blog has been quiet this week. I hope she'll be posting again soon!

Jessica at SmuTopia will be at Designer's Downtown Market in Raleigh, NC, Sept. 12th and shared this gorgeous seahorse and labradorite necklace she'll be featuring as well as a peek at some of the earrings that will be there, too.

Over at Silver Parrot, Friday is "New Bead" day - and wow, what a beautiful haul! The earrings she features at the top of the post are really lovely, too.

At This Artist's Journey she shares about easy, safe and natural way to oxidize silver. Anyone know if you can oxidize other metals this way?

One of the designers I follow on Twitter would like you to become a fan: Shiny Adornments on Facebook.

How about getting in on another giveaway? Really fabulous prizes! Jeannetebix gives you 3 ways to enter!

and one more: Art Bead Scene Blog giveaway.

Here are some of the designs created for the Artbeads' Blogging for Beads seen last week

A beautiful design from designer, Staci, Pink Pooch Design, with a beadweave bezel set rivoli.

And Katie Hacker used a Crystal Red Magma disk pendant bead for her Artbeads Blogging for Beads design, with a tubular peyote stitch bail.

Supplier Blogs

The SoftFlex Trios Flex Your Creativity contest deadline is almost here! See Soft Flex Girl's Seven Days of Inspiration.

The Rings & Things blog talked about dapping and hollow silver beads last week.

The Artbeads Blog featured an amazing, gorgeous Montana Sapphire necklace from their Customer Gallery of Designs (I keep meaning to submit...one of these days!)

The Beadin' Path's Dara and her Weekly Beadditude talk about collectable vintage beads

Thanks for keeping me company on the journey!

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - How My Book Didn't Get Here Yet, So I Imagine a Roadtrip to Dollywood

2009-08-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Mail Chute" Image from Wikimedia Commons
Image file is in the public domain in the United States

I had hoped to have a very special book review this week, but instead I'm going to rant a bit about my experience with it being shipped via DHL.

I got a gift card for my birthday (thanks, sis!) and went online to get the aforementioned book, plus another one I wanted to read. I also renewed my B&N membership. All in all, just getting the order done was cumbersome with much back and forth and restarts. Perhaps more my problem than B&N's, but really, their order entry site could be easier to use. Anyway, I got free standard shipping for some reason, so I selected that.

Finally, all done and confirmed, I just need to wait for the delivery. Free standard delivery, they say, takes 3 - 8 business days. I made the order on the 17th, today (as I write this the night before posting) is the 26th. That's 7 business days for the books to reach California from Kentucky - which they've done, though I don't have them yet - I'll get to that in a bit.

In that amount of time, I could take a leisurely drive to Kentucky with a couple of day long stops, because, remember, they didn't count the weekend, so it has actually taken 9 real days, so far. I'd have gotten a chance to check out the sights in Salt Lake City, then I think I'd have visited Mt. Rushmore, seen a bit of Chicago, maybe even visited Dollywood before I turned around to come home...perhaps that's what the DHL driver did - and I say driver because it certainly wouldn't take 10 days by air-freight to have gotten here.

Image by Brian Stansberry. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.

To be specific about the routing, it took two of the days for the books to reach the DHL hub in Kentucky and the rest of them to reach Union City, California (this morning) where, and this is what stunned me, at 6 am this morning, they hand over the package to USPS to deliver. Union City is 24 miles away. I could have driven there at lunch (it's even closer to where I work, maybe 15 miles) and picked it up faster, but instead the Post Office gets to haul it the last 24 miles down the road and that, of course, means they will take it somewhere to be sorted first, so it didn't get into today's (the 26th) mail. *sigh*

It will probably show up tomorrow. It just befuddles me. Next time, I either can't care about how long it takes or pick faster shipping.

Image from http://commons.wikimedia.org User:Rootology licensed under CC Attributions Share Alike 3.0

While this 'review' has nothing to do (at least directly) with beading, although the book I'm waiting on does, there is a valuable lesson (well, for me). I've never had a complaint from anyone I've shipped anything to when I use USPS Priority Mail. It moves much faster than you'd expect - I've heard tell of things getting from coast to coast in 2 or 3 days. It's easy - you can get the boxes free (they'll even deliver them to you), do the postage online and track the progress, too.

I'm hopeful I'll have the book in plenty of time for next Thursday's review.

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-08-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome back! It's been a busy week out there in the beadosphere, and without further ado - read all about it:

Tish of Just a Tish explains the artist exchange she's launching at her blog & gives a tutorial on the earrings she's made for the Beading Daily earring exchange.

A two for one deal over on Lisa's Friday Bead a Day post about Melissa Lee's designs for Soft Flex Trios over on Strands

I'm not the only one wandering the beadosphere! Wendy T. Gibson at Craft Dinner does too, on Wendy's Wednesday Web.

A gorgeous Alice in Wonderland necklace from a fellow Artbeads Blogging for Beads partner Blanche at Sha-sha Handcrafted Jewelry Blog.

Janeen from Janeen's 365 grabbed a picture of this gorgeous plate with patterns and colors that could inspire all sorts of creative ideas for beadweaving, stringing or polymer clay designs.

Zoya Gutina has a blog called Gem and Beaded Jewelry where she's shared how the Artbeads picasso painted onyx pendant necklace inspired her.

Silver Parrot's fabulous bead haul - it's all wonderful, but those polymer clay beads are just *wow* -

Don't miss Lampwork Diva Cindy Gimbrone's gorgeous Art Nouveau bronze metal clay pendant either. If I had more free time I would so love to start working with the different metal clays.

Melanie Brooks at Earthenwood Studios did a Rings & Things 'product playtime' post featuring the R&T copper blanks and had Russ Troll standing by to check out the results.

Now and then I sneak in a blog that has nothing to do with beading but another artistic endeavor, like this picture posted by Nikon Sniper - what an inspiring palette of colors - I imagined this inspiring a design in Swarovski colors of padparadscha, golden shadow, chrysolite, olivine, light sapphire, light peach...

Magazine posts

Katie Hacker shares about her Beading Daily featured download necklace pattern

Great article from Bead and Button on using dyed beads

Lori Anderson talks about her Beadstyle Magazine 52 Bracelets feautred bracelet which she's now got on sale (as well as a version in coral and turquoise)

Suppliers & Manufacturers

Want to know more about the Swarovski Create Your Style Ambassadors?

Great pictures and story about the Rings & Things Alabaster Anniversary.

The Beadin' Path's Dara talks about how to buy vintage beads in this week's Weekly Beadditudes.

Sara the Soft Flex Girl with a great new Soft Flex online feature & a post featuring one of my recent re-work designs with Soft Flex Trios Romance colors. Thanks, Sara!

2009-08-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Well, are we ready to wander? Another fun week to share:

Tish from Just A Tish has had some great ideas this week - a grassroots artist's exchange and another on an Artist's Challenge. Plus beautiful pendants.

Lisa from A Bead A Day has been sharing her great buys this week from ConsumerCrafts.com. I'm still waiting for my package to come, I responded later to their invitation. However, you can take advantage of the free shipping code they sent me right now if you like - enter XPV3CCQ at checkout, it's good until 09/02/09.

Jessica of SmuTopia! shows off her lovely Etsy treasury.

I know I mentioned this the other day, but it's worth repeating - see Blanche's Use the Muse II design on her Sha-sha's Handcrafted Jewelry Blog.

Janeen entered one, too - she hasn't posted it on her blog yet but you can see it here.

Wonderful designs, and a fun, conversational style of writing on Selepharia's blog

I love these ideas for finding unusual findings in re-use stores on Art Bead Scene from Jennifer Heynen of Jangles

Supplier Blogs/Blog Partners

Dara at The Beadin' Path shares her finished Ugly Bug.

Rings & Things is having their Anniversary sale at their Spokane warehouse this weekend but last week they blogged about some useful business tips and their contest to get to be a guest helper at one of their Northeast bead tour shows.

However, Sara "The Soft Flex Girl" was there - here's her post about the day (with great pictures!) and she also points us to the August articles at the Soft Flex site and an article by Margie Deeb on color + more.

And speaking of Margie Deeb, are you following (or subscribed to the feed for) her Color for Beader Artists blog? Well, why not!?

I followed some links to Cindy Lavin's Beading Arts blog where she gives a lovely step by step tutorial on making a beautiful Swarovski necklace for the Artbeads Blogging for Beads program.
Margot Potter also has also created a lovely necklace for Artbeads with Swarovski crystals, called Black Forest. The darker colors with gunmetal are a great combination for fall and winter.

Not beading posts but good reading for beaders anyway:

Shiny Adornments shares 15 ways of Maintaining Sanity at Work

What does this blog have to do with beading? Oh, I'm sure you'll see the parallels!

Well, that's it for this Sunday's Beadosphere tour - if you've missed any of these in the past or my Thursday Reviews & Interviews they're all archived at Dawno's Beadosphere.

Thanks for Wandering the Beadosphere with me today!

P.S. I've caught up with my Art Fire listing goals - here's four new pieces:

Dawno

Buy Handmade

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - Steve Groenier of Artbeads

2009-08-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today I present an interview of Steve Gronier, VP of Search Marketing and Customer Service at Artbeads.

I'm so very honored to be part of Artbead's Blogging for Beaders program for almost a year now. While I knew that some of the 'stars' of the beading world did designs for places like Beadalon, Soft Flex, and other suppliers, I'd not imagined that a relative newbie like myself could have this kind of opportunity.

Artbeads was the first to reach out to me and that opened many new horizons. It gave me a chance to explore new materials I might not have thought about purchasing, and provided me a great deal of inspiration via the others in the program whose blogs I now follow. It really was a turning point in my blogging and the start of making jewelry become more than just a hobby for me.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Steve, the creator of, and Duchess, the current community manager for the program, for their support of my efforts and great partnership.

Now, let's learn more about Steve!

Dawno: Your bio on Twitter says "I enjoy amazing beadwork and beaded jewelry, collecting cool beads..." Is this something you became interested in because of Artbeads or is there a story you can share behind it?

Steve: I’ve always admired beaded art that I’ve seen in various galleries or from independent artists at summer fairs and music festivals. But, I had no idea how much I was missing until I started working for Artbeads. I’m still overwhelmed by how many beautiful beads I’ve seen from all over the world and made from so many different types of materials.

Dawno: You've had an interesting career in varied industries - I noted on your LinkedIn profile that you've been with Disney & a wireless company, among others, and now Artbeads.com. What is the common thread that ties these together and what did you learn from your past roles that has helped you be successful in your current role?

Steve: What ties these all together is my work in online marketing and advertising. For the past 13 years, I have been focused on helping companies market online. I think what has helped me grow most in my career is having a passion for learning new things, being creative and taking action. Online marketing is always changing and you’ve got to stay on top of it to get the best results.

Dawno: Do you think businesses, like Artbeads, can improve the customer experience by using social media? How would that work?

Steve: Absolutely! In any business it’s critical to listen to your customers and build strong relationships. Social media has enabled us stay more connected with our customers and listen to what they want and what they don’t want. It’s also allowing our customers to be better connected with each other. Buying beads and jewelry supplies online can be very confusing for people. The quality of products, service and pricing can vary by a large degree. If a supplier fails in any of these areas, people talk. I think this has worked to our advantage because we do put so much time into making sure our products are of the best quality and that our customers are 100% happy no matter what.

Dawno: Do you think independent artisans can/should leverage social media better? How do you think building community or being part of the conversation is important to that.

Steve: I think social media is helping independent artisans get their work in front of more people. Usually when you see or buy something that you’re excited about, you want to tell others and show it off. I see this process happening more and more on social media sites as photos are taken with cell phones and posted to Facebook with the links to an artists site. When artists stay in touch with their fans through social media they increase the chances that word about their work will spread. I would definitely recommend all artisans have a Facebook profile or fan page and a Twitter account and promote those anywhere they can - websites, email, business cards, etc.

Dawno: Should the independent artisan perhaps brand themselves (I'm thinking of Margot Potter, who does this very well) to be more successful in their niche?

Steve: It’s important for people to easily understand what it is that you do, what you stand for and then to be able to connect that with your name. Part of this means carving out that niche for yourself. The other is creating a name for yourself. For jewelry designers, this brand image could be their personal name or a business name. Margot’s got a bit of both going on. She does a great job of promoting her name and explaining what she is about with her tagline, “The Impatient Crafter” which by itself is presented as a brand. She’s then used the “Impatient” idea in her books with titles like “The Impatient Beader.” All of this branding works to help make you more memorable, findable, shareable. So yes, brand yourself.

Dawno: What types of things is Artbeads doing to support independent artisan jewelry designers?

Steve: Independent jewelry designers are really our core customer at Artbeads.com so on a broad level everything we do from products we purchase to our wholesale volume discounts is designed around their needs. Something new that we recently created is a section on our site called Sellers’ Secrets to provide resources that help jewelry designers grow a successful business. It includes things like tips for preparing for the holidays, pricing your jewelry and discounts on services. To get this started we’ve partnered with Ruby Lane who has lots of experience working with artisan jewelry designers.

Another thing we have done is put even more focus on our Learning Center which provides inspiration and education. This section has been given a complete facelift recently and now includes over 500 jewelry design ideas, ideas for upcoming events, handy jewelry making tips and video tutorials.

Something else that’s exciting is to see how the Artbeads.com Facebook fan page has become such a great gathering place for jewelry designers to connect and share ideas. We now have over 7,000 fans posting comments on everything such as how they get inspired, favorite findings, tips on selling jewelry, etc. They also share a bunch of their jewelry photos and links to their Etsy shops and websites. It’s great fun.

Again, thank you, Steve, for taking the time to answer the questions and provide your insights. You can follow Artbeads and Steve on Twitter @Artbeads @BeadGuy.

This post sponsored by:

Dawno

Buy Handmade

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-08-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning! This Sunday it's a beautiful, sunny and warm day here in Silicon Valley where I live. I've still got a ton of work to do to finish my workroom re-organization and clean up, but I've taken a bit of a break to wander around the Beadosphere and share some great spots to visit!

Lisa at A Bead A Day answers my question "Do people macrame anymore?" and shares a gorgeous bracelet with a square Swarovski Crystal Volcano bead.

From Tish at Just A Tish - August Peridot and What do the stones say? And check out Tish's booth!

Melissa over on Strands shares The Tides, a necklace using mosaic turquoise and one of her fine silver Sea Pendants.

AJ at ErtheFae's Meandering Thoughts: Chthulu gets a beaded makeover

Art Bead Scene - The August Challenge is here. The artwork picked to inspire you for the challenge this month is Kanagawa oki nami ura (Great Wave off of Kanagawa) by Hokusai Katsushiki. This print is one of the series of block prints known as the Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (circa 1826-33). The prizes.

Silver Parrot - fabulous bead haul from Pasadena bead show with tons of pictures

On Thyme2Dream help the Fae Elven Fashionista win the contest

Janeen's 365 - what will these become?

Karolyn at The Bead Blog beautiful metallic beads and Ekho crystals beads

SmuTopia has a new camera and provides some suggestions for shopping for a good jewelry photographing camera.

You'll spend hours admiring the photos from the 2009 Bead Dreams feature.

From The Beadin' Path, Great discussion of Steampunk in Weekly Beadditudes with Dara

Rings & Things blog: Carnelian and Russ Troll has a Facebook Contest going on (you'll need to scroll down a bit) with the lucky winner getting to be a "GUEST BEAD WORKER" at a genuine Rings & Things "BeadTour" bead show!

Soft Flex Girl reminds you that your opportunity to enter the Flex Your Creativity contest ends soon!

The Artbeads Blog for Beaders talks about a visit to the Swarovski concept store and shares a beautiful necklace by Linda Moseley in their gallery of customer designs

Objects and Elements Challenge: Color deadline: Aug 21

Hope you enjoyed the trip - have a wonderful week, 'til next time!

This week's wandering sponsored by:

Dawno

Buy Handmade

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

After a two week break, I'm back to Wandering Around the Beadosphere and sharing my favorite finds!

Via Margot Potter and a comment on my Wandering's archives Blog, welcome Davinia of Deez News to the Beadosphere! She's been blogging for a while, but she's new to me. Love these frames using Opals embossing powders and the bracelet made from memory frames in this post - and the necklace in that post is darling as well - read this post to learn about the beads she created and used in it.

Also, please welcome Nicki from Nicki's Reef! I just discovered her blog today, as well. She's got some lovely pictures of her work, her bunnies (I love bunnies) and much more. She's living in Germany, according to her profile info - I love getting to know other beaders from all over the world, something that would have been impossible (for me at least) before the internet and blogging!

Speaking of Margot - check out her beautiful Rings & Things design project mixed media necklace "Fire and Water"

It's been a while since I've mentioned NiftyKnits and her darling Meerkats - so to make up for lost opportunity: the Meerkats now have new clothes and Craft Fair day.

Tish from Just A Tish Designs has been busy with her Rings & Things challenge pieces (with a cool picture of "our Tish" in her design as well!)

Lisa at A Bead A Day shares about Crystal Volcano beads from Artbeads here (what a lovely necklace!) and here. She also, among other great posts last week, featured a Swarovski flower pendant and now I want to make something with them, too.

And Blanche of Sha-Sha Handcrafted Jewelry Blog was inspired by Lisa's shell bracelet post a while back to make this lovely coneflower brooch with shells. Plus, she's won 2nd place and some great goodies with her beautiful interpretation of Victorian Mourning jewelry

Robyn Hawk has the August Gemshows up - darn it if I'm not missing a good one up in San Francisco this weekend. I just can't fit it in after the last two busy weekends. If you're on Facebook you can become a fan of her Fly on the Wall family of blogs.

Not about beading, but with pictures to inspire, Hilary at The Smitten Image has posted some gorgeous 'after the rain' shots. The orange flowers especially inspired me - I need to do some pieces in orange!

ErtheFae Designs is thinking about Autumn - good idea, it's nearly here. Where is Summer rushing off to?

Silver Parrot succumbs to the lure of Roman Glass beads.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva and Russ Troll have a nice cup of coffee and discuss designing with Bronze Metal Clay

Over on supplier's blogs we have

New White Beading Wire on the Beadalon blog

Rings & Things thinks it may have set a record with the "kazillion" new Design Gallery uploads they've recently made.

SoftFlexGirl is home from CHA - check out the whole week of posts (not to mention the one featuring yours truly!)

Dara at The Beadin' Path talks about The Ugly Bug Ball and shows that her ugly bug is almost done!

Well, hope you've enjoyed the wandering and will visit again!

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - Links Inspired Bead & Wire Jewelry Creations

2009-07-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

In addition to buying Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry: Fresh Techniques, Projects and Inspiration by Shirley Rufener and Bead And Wire Jewelry Exposed: 50 Designer Projects Featuring Beadalon And Swarovski by Katie Hacker, Fernando DaSilva and Margot Potter, I also picked up Links: Inspired Bead and Wire Jewelry Creations by Jean Yates. This book was published in 2007, but the tips, techniques and patterns in it are timeless.

Jean has provided full construction details and materials lists for 38 projects, in this 81/2 x 11", full color illustrated, soft bound, 128 page book. As the title implies the book talks about many kinds and types of links - not just jewelry component links like jump rings or chain, but the kinds of links inspired by connecting ideas, memories, imagery - and how these can be transformed into jewelry that tells a story - much like the stories told with every piece in the book.

I was drawn to the book by the chainmaille link earrings on the cover (and on page 62), but compelled to buy it when I looked inside and saw projects like the Charming Teacup Bracelet (pg 22), Nancy's Dancing Pearls Bracelet (pg 40) and the Edward the Sheep Bracelet that shows how to transform a great enameled button into a keepsake bracelet.

I can wholeheartedly recommend this book for its clear and well illustrated step by step instructions, complete materials lists, extra hints and tips, and inspirational messages from other jewelry designers.

Also, you can visit Jean Yates' blog to see more of her work.

If you think you'd like a copy of this book, you could always click the picture above to buy it from Amazon and a couple pennies would go towards Dawno's bead fund!

See you tomorrow!

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-07-19T06:00:00.001-07:00

This is going to be a rather abbreviated Weekly Wandering's post - and a day later than usual because on Sunday I was invited up to Berkeley to have a "beads and books" day with some friends of mine. It was a lovely day with both the weather and the company being fabulous. If you're ever in Berkeley, CA the Baubles and Beads store on Shattuck is worth a visit.

So, on to some of my favorite stops this week in the Beadosphere:

Sara the Soft Flex girl with some pointers to Soft Flex spotlight articles, including this one: Soft Flex spotlight on Color featuring Margie Deeb
Tish from Just A Tish with a filigree earring how-to and Style on a Budget
Lisa at A Bead A Day with a fun new challenge
Jessica at SmuTopia with some lovely "Friday Finds" in black and white
Don't forget Weekly Beadatudes with Dara on the Beadin' Path site
Or the Rings & Things blog, either
Beautiful new glass pieces and the inside peek at Willow Walker Design's bead storage solutions

This is my birthday week and my daughter is visiting, so while I try to keep posting every day, it might be a challenge!

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry

2009-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today's review is of Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry: Fresh Techniques, Projects and Inspiration by Shirley Rufener.

This book provides a wealth of information about working with Polymer Clay - from tools, to mixing colors (section 1), to 18 step by step projects (section 2), as well as a design gallery featuring beautiful clay designs by various artists (section 3). There are also sections on the use of Liquid Polymer Clay and Metal Clay, as well as how to do basic jewelry assembly, including how to make and use fabricated bails made with metal clay.

What I liked most about this book is the clear descriptions of techniques with illustrations and photographs - even things as simple as how to pierce clay beads to make holes in them and then how to arrange them on a baking rack - no assumptions are made that would cause one to need to look things up in other books or online if one didn't already know even these basics.

As for the mixed media, as promised in the title, she shows how to use chalk-scraping, decoupage and layering images made with a printer and special transfer paper, a faux dichroic glass technique incorporating resin, and using embossing powder. She also describes the final jewelry assembly using a variety of beads, crystals and metals.

I'm very happy to have found this book in my local bookstore - there are answers to a number of questions I had and it will be a great reference book for when I finally start working with polymer clay in earnest. You can click on the Amazon illustrated link above to get your copy and a couple pennies go into my polyclay materials fund.

Tomorrow I'll be doing a Friday Picks post featuring D&I beads!

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-07-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday my wanderings didn't get posted because of the holiday, but this week there were some great posts around the beadosphere and I'm glad I got a chance to check them out - hope you will too!

Lisa at A Bead A Day featured one of her Rings & Things July goodies - the star connector - and made a two strand stretchy bracelet with new jade stones and light citron bicones. Lovely!

Tish from Just A Tish shows off the beautiful necklace she designed around the Artbead's painted onyx pendant stone of Matisse's Blue Nude. The stones she used - oh my! Lapis, white jade, blackstone - gorgeous complements to the focal piece. Earlier in the week she shared some other lovely new pieces, so if you don't have her blog bookmarked, you should so you won't miss out.

All week at Willow Walker Designs she's been sharing how she organizes her tools and supplies - some really great ideas there. My workroom is a real disaster zone right now and it's starting to seriously impede my productivity and inspiration. Well past time to do a major clean up and I really appreciate any ideas, like the ones Willow Walker shared, that will help me work smarter.

Sara at Soft Flex Girl shares how she glamorized her evening bag with a cool beaded strap. Think of all the different ways you can take a simple smaller bag and make it uniquely yours by adding beads, chain, ribbon, etc., to it - inspirational! Don't miss her three lovely bracelet designs using Soft Flex Trios, either.

Want an insider peek at setting up a display for a crafts show? Jessica at SmuTopia! has a lot of great pictures of hers to share.

Karolyn of The Bead Blog is a very talented artist - she makes the most stunning glass beads. I love these Terra mini-bicones - wouldn't they be great with so many different metals and stones? You can see more of her work at BeadAbundant.com.

Cindy Gimbrone talks about working with Bronze Metal Clay - there are a number of posts about her efforts, Wednesday through Friday of last week, so I recommend reading all of them.

Art Bead Scene has a new Monthly Challenge - the Lascaux Cave Paintings. The prizes are great, too. If you love working in earthy tones or doing pieces inspired by nature, this challenge might be right up your alley.

Did you know that Beadalon has a blog? Great source for beading tips and event news.

Margot Potter talks about customer service and how it applies to the crafting/jewelry making biz.

On the Rings & Things blog last week they shared a great video on "metal stitching" - something new to me! Check out the info on August's birthstone: peridot and using brass bezel cups for making resin charms. Don't forget to enter their "review a product" drawing - ends July 31st!

Artbeads Swarovski sale (15% off) ends Tuesday the 14th

Lima Beads has a $500 shopping spree contest going on thru August.

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - Bead And Wire Jewelry Exposed

2009-07-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

Hi again. Sorry to have been away for a week, between my family's visit and changes at the day job, I've been a bit busy and wasn't able to squeeze in the blogging, but I'm hopeful that I'll be able to find time again now that I've caught up after a few days off.

I bought Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed by Katie Hacker, Fernando DaSilva and Margot Potter the other day. In it the authors share design ideas which use beading wire and components in a variety of different ways. The book has 7 different design chapters plus sections on exposing your creativity, materials, tools, techniques, resources and an index.

The book takes you through design ideas with colored wire, metallic wire, coiled and shaped wire as well as some bead-weaving techniques. Throughout there are large, full color step by step photographs and detailed instructions. I'd say someone with just a bit of experience would be able to do any of the projects and anyone can learn valuable new techniques for more complex designs.

The book features use of Crystallized Swarovski Elements and Beadalon products in the creations, but one could use their own beads and alternate supplies from their own stash. They also show how to use things like rubber tubing, bead bumpers, clasps and crimps as integral and exposed (thus the title) design components.

For example, one of Fernando DaSilva's designs uses rubber eyeglass holders to form the links between beads wrapped in Colourcraft wire (page 66). Margot Potter uses half circles from bracelet sized memory wire and E-Z Crimps to make a fabulous necklace (page 90). Another DaSilva design puts a slide-bar clasp front and center instead of hidden at the back of the neck (page 84). Katie Hacker's bracelet design on page 60 uses large twisted wire jump rings you make from colored craft wire to beautiful effect.

I've gotten great inspiration from this book and highly recommend it. If you click on the Amazon link above to buy it, a couple pennies go into my beading fund, too.

Hope you'll be back tomorrow for my Friday Picks featuring Rings & Things products.

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-06-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to A Bead A Day for being asked to join not only the Rings & Things blog partners program but also for being asked to join a blog circle that shares links every week - if you follow Margot Potter, The Art Bead Scene or Earthenwood Studios, among others, you'll have seen these weekly promos for each other. Don't miss any of her daily posts, but I really enjoyed the one yesterday about the Swarovski sculpture ring she created, what a cheerful and fun piece!

Just A Tish is running a contest! Enter soon, she picks a winner on July 1st. The whole week was great on her blog, with a game and a Rings & Things challenge post, just to pick two.

I particularly liked Willow Walker's "Peachy Keen" this week - very elegant, and check out the beautiful cabs she photographed on Thursday and Friday!

That Russ Troll really gets around! See him at his visit to Silver Parrot Designs. Then check out what Wendy T. Gibson has done. She's put up a cool Google Map to follow the adventures of Russ Troll. There's a Rings & Things Flickr page with lots of Russ "sightings" pictures, too.

ErtheFae has a lovely blog and designs gorgeous jewelry, if you're not following or bookmarking her blog, I highly recommend it. She works in all sorts of media, too. Very inspirational!

Check out Cindy Gimbrone's (aka Lampwork Diva) post about the Rings & Things Bead Tour stop she visited.

Margot Potter did a post on slick surface embossing - something I would love to try one of these days. It looks like a great technique for making unique and customized focals, among so many other things.

I'm usually a bit hesitant to toot my own horn here, but I certainly was thrilled when I saw that Soft Flex Girl mentioned me on her blog the other day - I'm such a fan of hers!

I completely understood the way Jessica felt in her post "Adventures in Asymmetry" on the SmuTopia blog. It's always a bit scary to move out of ones comfort zone, but she did a beautiful job.

The Daily Jewel posted about the Saul Bell Design contest - I won't duplicate her effort except to say the deadline is September 1st. Please check out her post for more details and also check out the rather sad post about the Japanese cultured pearl industry.

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - Soft Flex Trios from Rings & Things

2009-06-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

This month Rings & Things provided their blog partners with the opportunity to select what product(s) we wanted to review. I've been reading about the Soft Flex Trios on the Soft Flex Girl's blog as well as at the Flex Your Creativity Contest and the free patterns on the Soft Flex site. So my selection was a variety of Soft Flex .019" diameter, 49 strand Trios. Each Trio has three coordinating colors on 10' rolls.

The wire is color coated stainless steel with a test strength of 26 lbs. They say it can be knotted, which I tried with some light yellow quartz beads and the bone color from the Harmony Trio (Bone, Lemon Quartz and Copper)

The beads curved instead of lying along a straight line when I tie simple knots between them, so I went to the site to see what they recommend, which is a figure 8 knot. I couldn't figure out how to get the knot tight to the bead, however, and until I learn how, I won't be using this for knotting.

The pricing at Rings & Things is lower than the list price, but you do have to meet their minimum purchase requirements and there's a small additional cost for purchases under $50. The plus side is a full selection of trios, quantity discounts, and great customer service (plus a candy treat in the package).

By the way, if you do get a product from Rings & Things, there's a contest on this month - you only need to submit a review to enter.

There are several things I want to try, but first I decided to make a quick and fun necklace using some glass beads I'd gotten from various bead mixes. I used three strands, quartz (white) and Rhodocrosite (light pink) from the Romance set and Pink Tourmaline (a bit darker pink) from the Mystical set. I used a large sized tube crimp that all 6 strands fit into (unfortunately, I don't know the exact size) to form the loops for jump rings at the ends so I could add a clasp.

I also knotted the strands as tightly as I could against the last beads on each side and then left the rest of them bare to show off the color. Unfortunately, I had to do some adjusting and one side got a bit kinked. I'm hoping that the weight of the beads might pull out the kink, but I'm not too optimistic. Next time, I'll forgo the knots. The small pink beads between the larger glass ones are strung on just one of the three wires, by the way, to allow some additional color to show.

(click to enlarge for detail)

I'm having fun thinking up new things to try with these colors and may even make something I feel good enough to enter in the contest (deadline is September 1, 2009).

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-06-21T00:02:00.000-07:00

~Happy Father's Day to any dads who happen to be reading. I'm enjoying my dad's company this weekend, but I made sure to schedule this post in advance~

Had a busy week? Not able to peruse a lot of beading, crafting and other artisan's blogs? Dawno's traveled the Beadosphere and has these "catch up on the week's highlights" suggestions for you:

As usual, it's been a bright and fun week with Lisa at A Bead A Day - check out her pictorial with Russ Troll. But the highlight of the post is the insider story she tells about Russ Nobbs, the 'model' for the bead. The rest of the week is fabulous, too, so don't miss a day.
Tish of Just a Tish features a wisteria themed piece featuring a Mirage bead and how she has THREE pieces in the June issue of Bead Trends. Go Tish!!
Not only does this mom travel the world with her family on bikes, she beads and has a gorgeous collection of finds from her travels! From her "about me" section on the site: "Nancy and her family have recently embarked upon a year-long adventure bicycling around the USA, and it is inevitable that even more beads and more stories will be added to her bead box. There in one thing that is sure: Nancy's life is anything but "typical" and so is her beadwork!" You can follow Nancy on Twitter, too.
Earthenwood beads shows what Russ Troll is up to there.
So does the Crafty Princess! Russ Troll and cats seem to have this 'thing' going on...
Cell Chic - a clever niche crafter with lovely products.
This post from Archivia worries me as an Etsy shop 'owner' - hope Etsy does something about it. The Archivia blog also has great vintage resources (long post - towards the bottom is the Jewelry section with great links - do scroll down and check them out!).
A Must See post on photographing sterling jewelry from Jen Kiaba's blog, Picture Today. Be sure to click on the main link and read more - good stuff!
At Daily Jewel a post about a call for project designers from Lark Books. For the submission page at Lark , click this. To download the entry form, click this.
Soft Flex Girl mentions A Bead A Day! (hope you read my interview of Lisa on Thursday, too!)
Rings and Things blog has a new page up about their blog partners program
Want to get some awesome tips about baking poly clay? It's a Rings & Things forum post, but I'll make an exception because it's worth reading.
Speaking of Rings & Things, are you still wondering about Russ Troll? The collected sightings can be found at Flickr, too. I'm sure it'll be updated regularly, so bookmark the link and visit often!
Heather at The Beadin' Path talks about vintage findings. I have got to get to Freeport, Maine one of these days!
On Friday I posted about the Lima Beads "Fresh Pick" feature - here's a little info on their planned move. Looks like a great new space!

Thursday Feature: Reviews & Interviews - Lisa from A Bead A Day

2009-06-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs in the Beadosphere is A Bead A Day. It's a daily dose of cheer, with shiny beads tossed in! Lisa, the author of the blog, has also been a steadfast commenter here, bringing her enthusiasm and support to my blog and efforts to become better at my craft. I am so grateful for that and her generous feature of my work not that long ago on A Bead A Day.

On February 5, 2008 Lisa said in her first post "This is a new site geared toward all beaders who appreciate the individual beauty of beads and the unique works of art they are used to create." And indeed, each day since she's done just that.

You can also follow Lisa on Twitter. Now, let's hear what Lisa has to say!

Dawno: How did you get started blogging about a bead a day on A Bead A Day? It's a great idea!

Lisa: Thank you! I am working on a jewelry book that is being published by North Light Books at the end of the year. Prior to the Acquisitions Editor presenting my proposal, she suggested that I begin a website or blog. I wanted to get something up and running that day and the first thought I had was to talk about beads since they make me so happy. I didn't realize then how much joy this blog would provide and how many friends I would make in the process. It has been a wonderful experience!

Dawno: Did you have any goals or hopes for your blog when you started? Has that changed? How?

Lisa: I wanted to maintain consistency and produce something the publishing company would think was appropriate. I never dreamed I would get to know so many talented and wonderfully encouraging and kind beaders and crafters! I also had no idea of my potential for rambling on about beads!! : )

Dawno: Have you always been interested in beading and are there other crafts you like to do?

Lisa: I've always loved crafts, but until I started to bead, I had no idea of the wide variety of crafts and products available. I started to bead in 1990 after a vacation to San Francisco where I purchased my first piece of beaded jewelry from a street vendor. It was a strung bracelet using all the same hematite beads. It dawned on me when we got home that I could probably do something like that and I started buying beads at Joann Fabrics and Hancock Fabrics. I didn't have any awareness of swarovski and glass designers, etc. until much later. Several years later I got hooked on memory wire. In the last 8 or 9 years, I have taken classes and started reading every book and magazine I could find about beading techniques.

I also enjoy decopauge and anything having to do with hot melt glue and glitter!

Dawno: What has been your most challenging project?

Lisa: Good question! Sometimes I find projects challenging that do not even appear to be challenging. That's when I know I need to step back and realize this is supposed to be fun! That usually happens when I know I am making something for a specific person or purpose. Otherwise, since I'm not doing craft shows right now, most of my beading is for fun or gift giving.

Several years ago I made a woven bracelet using hemp cord and wooden beads that required every bead to be reamed in order to get 2 strands through each bead. That was definitely a tad challenging, but it wasn't until a couple of craft night friends admired it and I decided to teach them how to make it that the challenge began! I then had to ream beads and prepare kits for 5 other people. That was a bit of a challenge and my fingers were pretty sore afterwards. The reward was that they all turned out great and everyone was happy!

Dawno: What kind of beading do you like best?

Lisa: I have a love for memory wire. It is easy to use and has so many possibilities. You can make formal or informal pieces with it and technically just need one pair of pliers to turn the ends as long as you have a heavy duty pair of scissors to cut the wire. If you plan to use a lot of it, definitely invest in a memory wire cutter! It's a wonderful medium to teach because it is not intimidating to most people. It is usually adding a clasp and crimping that many people are concerned about learning. With memory wire, you can focus more on your design.

Dawno: You have a great eye for colors - any idea how that developed or if there was an early influence?

Lisa: That is very nice of you to say, thank you! I haven't thought of myself in that way, I just sort of go with things.

Dawno: If I were just starting to think about getting into making my own crafty jewelry, but was on a hugely limited budget, what "must have's" would you suggest starting with?

Lisa: Memory wire!! As I mentioned above, especially if funds are limited, you can get away with using a $2.00 pair of pliers and some kind of cutting tool you might have around the house, if you begin by using memory wire. Once you buy a package of memory wire, all you need are beads! As many or as few as you like. There are just a few limitations regarding beads. If they are too long or too fragile, they might not produce the results you are looking for on memory wire. However, most beads work great and if you are looking for immediate gratification, most projects are quick and easy!

Dawno: Sort of a "desert island" kind of question - you're going away somewhere and you can't buy any supplies while you're gone. You can only take a small tote full of stuff to work with to keep you sane, but you can also use anything you might find in your hotel, as well as your tote stuff to craft with. I'll be kind and let you come back to the world in one week :-) What is in your tote?

Lisa: Lots and lots of crystals!! They don't take up much space, but they provide lots of sparkly happiness wherever they go. You don't even have to make anything with them really, just LOOK AT THEM! I promise your mood will improve!

What do you think you could find to use? Gosh, I'm stumped! All I can think of is taking the laundry bags to put more stuff in! : )

Dawno: You can buy $500 worth of only one type of stone or bead to use in your jewelry - what would you pick and why?

Lisa: How funny, as I just mentioned above, I would buy crystals and for the simplest reason of all, the happiness factor. I don't know how you could look at even $10 worth of them and not become happier. Looking at $500 worth of all shapes, sizes and colors would be heavenly!

Dawno: As a beader/crafter, why is blogging and/or social networking important?

Lisa: Up until a year ago, my world was so much more limited. Once I began blogging I was able to better communicate my thoughts and feelings associated with beading/crafting. I have learned about many more techniques and products available. I have had the privilege to "meet" some of the brightest, and most popular, jewelry designers who are all so encouraging and willing to share what they have learned.

Once you begin meeting others on blogs or through facebook and twitter, you just can't go back! It restores your faith in humanity because everyone who is out there doing self promotion is also willing to take a minute to help you do the same. I would definitely encourage individuals hoping to promote either their craft, their art of themselves in general, to get on twitter and facebook and begin building relationships.

Thank you so much, Lisa, for letting us get to know you better. I hope everyone will bookmark or subscribe to ABeadADay and enjoy her fun and fascinating posts every day!

PS: There are no pictures of Lisa on her blog, so I thought I'd share pictures of her adorable pups, who you can also read about in: "The Magical Doggie Bead"

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-06-14T11:07:00.001-07:00

I'll start off with some of my favorite bead/jewelry/crafts blog posts of the week and wrap up with other sites of interest (I hope!) for you to visit and hope you'll consider adding to your RSS readers or bookmarks.

JustATish had been rather busy, so her blog was quiet for a while, but she's come blazin' back this week - Father's Day ideas, Rings & Things challenge catch-up - silverplated serpentine chain, gold plated serpentine chain, Russ Troll (that guy gets around!) and this month's challenge where we each get to pick our own assortment to review (haven't even started looking yet, gotta get to it!)
Lisa at A Bead A Day shared a lovely green stone she identified as Russian Jade, a "harmonious diversity" of glass hearts, some blue beads she's taking out of older pieces and re-purposing, a bead that looks just like her darling pooches, and you won't believe this gorgeous bracelet was made in 3 minutes! (the story behind it is a blast to read).
Margot Potter shared her "Blogging for Artbeads" featured product Chagall Pendant and the design she created for it. She chose one of the Russian painted onyx pendant focals, like I did, but the necklace she designed - wow! I'll be making my final design for the focal I got one of these days, and I must say Margot's idea has given me some inspiration.
I couldn't help but salivate over Humblebead's Bead & Button Show booty
WillowWalker's experimentation with gold decals that she fuses into her glass pendants looks like a success to me! (I'm glad she's blogging again too - was quiet for a month!)
Check out the colors in this Nikon Sniper picture! If I'm ever at a loss for ideas, his blog always has a lot of inspiration.
Shoozles makes a really good point. Let her know you appreciate it, if you do.
Melanie at Earthenwood Studios is going copper crazy with her Rings & Things challenge (and that Russ Troll is right in the middle of it - hope he avoids getting dapped!)
More photographic inspiration (from England) on NiftyKnits - and earlier in the week she featured some beautiful work from a couple of very talented designers, too.

There is one other post from last week at A Bead A Day that I didn't mention above - it's her Friday Featured Designer post. The designer, Molly, has a lovely banner and does a great job with her Etsy store and photographs of her lovely vintage button (and other media) creations.

Then I visited Whimsy House's blog. I wish three things:

she'd post more - I like her friendly 'voice' and she's got a fascinating niche
she'd change from white text on black background, which is very hard to read, at least for me
she'd not center all her text which is also difficult to read.

Maybe nobody has mentioned it to her so she didn't know? How often do we visit blogs that might have promise but not go back and establish a rapport for any of the above reasons or others? I'm guilty as charged, but working on it.

That brings me to wish #4 but it's for myself - I wish that if you ever have constructive criticism to give me, that you will. I want my blog to be a place you'll keep visiting. If I'm doing something that might prevent that, let me know!

Apparently there's quite an overlap in the tech world and the crafts world - I guess I knew that some techie folk liked papercrafts (my husband helped me realize how many techies are into Origami), and I knew there were a number into Steampunk, but I really didn't know the extent of it.

Take Maker Faire, for example. Since it was the weekend right after Bay Con, I didn't go, but you can see from the Maker links at the 2009 website, where the two interests intersect.

Speaking of Makers at this year's faire, one of the crafters linked above (link: "two") was Absolutely Small who is a new friend of mine on Twitter. Get over to her site and get in the know about Chickenpants!

Another intersection of tech and geek and craft (and so much more) is BoingBoing, where many arts and handcrafts are often featured, like the Trekkie Meerkats or Steampunk jewelry.

Also, this week Wired magazine featured an article about Geek Art: Needlework Brings Together Programmers, Crafters and shows some beautiful embroidery and quilting with a techie slant.

Via a tweet from Dave (@Rings_Things), I wandered over to Flapper Girl, where she showcases this wonderful Vintage 50s Bead Kit.

Artbeads "Tweet your Prize" Twitter promotion is going strong - there's a new contest through Tuesday synched up with their Express Yourself sale.

The Beadin' Path has finally opened for business in their new space - here are a couple "work in progress" pictures Heather posted - from the floor and the next day - wow, the colors! I wish it were possible for me to visit in person (and probably break the bank on vintage beads).

SoftFlexGirl Sara posted about Beading Wire Diameters - extremely helpful! Thanks, Sara!

I got a Lima Beads newsletter the other day informing me of the creation of a new community section: The Garden

This week, we launched an exciting section on our web site. It's called The Garden, and it's a community section dedicated to meeting new beaders, sharing ideas, asking questions, and more.
...

Get started by seeing who's online, creating a profile for yourself, checking out groups to join, or browsing the beader directory.

Ok, I think that's plenty to keep busy with for today - see you tomorrow, I hope - I'll be showing a re-make I've been working on this weekend, if you visit.

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-06-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you to NiftyKnits for giving me such a lovely feature post on her blog! And, putting me in an Etsy Treasury, too! In this post she also talks about how we became acquainted.

As always, it's been a week of great beads at A Bead A Day, be sure to scroll down and read the whole week's worth!

Tish told us on Monday that Corporate was in town and she's been quiet since. Hope she gets back to her usual chatty self next week!

Jessica at SmuTopia "spaced out" on Friday. Ok, not really, but she did share some great space/sci fi themed finds on Friday - including the NiftyKnits Trekkie meerkats mentioned above!

Blanche at the Sha-sha Handcrafted Jewelry Blog shows the Canvas On Wood Pendant she chose from Artbeads to review and the lovely necklace she created for it.

The other day I was looking around for Twitter-themed graphics and happened upon the lovely blog of Amanda Davies, "articulations". She has created the most adorable birds she calls "Tweets" which are available in her Etsy store.

I recently bought some lovely vintage buttons from The Beadin' Path to add to a stash I'd started collecting and this post from Design*Sponge about making your own 9-hole buttons is great synchronicity!

Speaking of The Beadin' Path: do I ever love this Betty Paige Necklace (when I was young I thought Paige would be a cool first name. Guess I was reading a lot of 50's books as a kid in the 60's).

How do you get from 'dapping blocks' and Russ Troll beads to 60's era anti-war songs? Follow me, @Rings_Things and @wendytgibson on Twitter! Also, Rings & Things has a new contest for June, write a product review, get entered for a drawing for a $50 gift certificate!

Tammy Powley at The Crafty Princess Diaries talks about Project Ties that Bind, which asks bloggers to spread the word about their raffle "with 100% of the proceeds going towards the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund." I hope you'll help spread the word, too.

Margot Potter's ReclaimU Radio interview was great. Valuable insights, interesting life story, well worth the time.

Dee at Watch Me Create blogs about the inspiration for, and shows the steps used to create, her beautiful African Sunset piece.

Lots of folks last week were getting ready for, going to, and arriving at the Bead & Button show. Wish I could be there, too! Here are some links I rounded up:

Well, that's enough of a round up for today. Please remember that I archive these at Dawno's Beadosphere and would love to have you bookmark or follow there. Also, that blog has a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. Which means you are welcome to copy and use those posts, or pieces of them, at your blog non-commercially (and other stuff you can read about if you click the link) if you'd like to spread these links around, I wouldn't mind one bit. It would be especially nice if you'd add a kind word about my blog, too.

Dawno's Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2009-05-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

Summer isn't far off now (officially starts June 21, 2009 at 1:45 A.M. EDT) and that has me thinking of sandals and shorts, beaches and shells, bbq's and picnics. What summery ideas are out there in the Beadosphere this week?

Margot Potter's fun flip-flops project I don't have any rubber flip-flops but it still gave me an idea for sprucing up my plain black Reefs (my pair are the 'black/black' shown at the bottom right of the color choices - so very comfy and 3 summers old and still holding up, worth every penny)

Mad Designs, Marcia deKoster shared some kaleidoscope designs she captured from a sculpture at an outdoors San Diego art installation. What kind of summery beading project ideas could you get from kaleidoscopes? I immediately thought of a filigree assemblage with pearls and chain and glittering faceted beads - look at the diamond shape in the middle of the pictures she features - Swarovski gem, perhaps?.

Lima Beads lets you search through their listings and create a "Fresh Pick" montage. You can put different beads, stones, pearls and findings together and get an immediate look at how the colors and picks look together. Give it a try! (I ended up buying my picks - the feature puts them on one page together so you don't have to hunt them down again). You can also see other picks on the front page or browse pages of picks.

SmuTopia shares a Sailor's Valentine - made from shells

Heather at Art Bead Scene shares a whole assortment of sea-inspired picks

A Bead A Day would love to hear from you if you're familiar with the purple stone she featured last week. It's a great color for a deep hued design inspired by standing under the stars in the middle of a short summer's night - perhaps in the mountains near a clear lake or maybe on the beach of some tropical island?

Krista QQ posted about some bead and jewelry fashion trends on the SWCreations blog

Other blogs of note:

JustATish had an important interview and gave us some insight into how she created a 'tantrum' necklace to help her channel energy into something positive.

Artbeads products for May were sent out for review and although I got mine last week, I was too busy over the weekend to do much with the bead (or talk about it). I'll have a review up tomorrow, though. Meanwhile you can check out what Hammi Jammi Jewelry did with their Venetian glass, or what (and how) Jennifer Perkins did with the Garden Snail stoneware pendant, libeado used Swarovski rivoli's in a lush woven seed bead creation.

Sugee Andersyn published an important warning on her blog about the new Amazon Kindle Blog publishing service. I immediately went and claimed my blog. It was easy to do. Once it's up (48 to 72 hrs) I'll post more about it.

Would you like some back issues of beading magazines, or some how to books? Simply Shiny is de-stashing!

And, lastly, something that has simply nothing to do with jewelry design, beads or trends or summer - typewriter art posted on the Blankney Journal, a blog by Rodney Garlant. I found it via JustATish and became a follower (you should to, it'll bring a daily smile to your face). It's an adorable blog full of trivia and interesting tid-bits. I wish I could leave him a comment to say how much I enjoy his blog!