Free Wire Jewelry Projects from Lark Books

Making Wire & Bead Jewelry: Artful Wirework Techniques is a brand new wire jewelry book recently released by Lark Books and put together by wire artists and workshop teachers Janice Berkebile and Tracy Stanley. This book not only has two dozen projects for you to work on, but is chock full of about 500 how-to photos that lead you through the many wire techniques you need to make them.

Making Wire & Bead Jewelry: Artful Wirework Techniques also includes a gallery of eye candy from wire jewelry artists such as Lisa Niven Kelly, Laura Gadzik, Cheryl Sweeney, Renee Corry, Mary Ann D’Amico, Rosanne B. Cox and Kimball Otterbein.

Best of all, Lark Books is giving you two FREE projects from the book for you to try out: the Cascading Spiral Bracelet by Tracey Stanley and Pod Pendant by Janice Berkebile.

To download your project instructions go here: http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/making-wire-and-bead-jewelry/

Call for Submissions

Lark Jewelry & Beading is looking for original, contemporary pieces of art jewelry to publish in its latest 500 series book entitled - Showcase 500 Necklaces. The book is scheduled to be published in 2013.

Lark wants high quality photographs of your original, handmade necklaces in any material and design styles. All work must have been created no earlier than 2010 and they prefer to see later work. Also, designs could not have been previously published anywhere, but especially in any Lark Book.

Lark will accept only high quality photographic images and artists will receive full acknowledgement in the book along with a free copy. Artists retain copyright of their work.

Submissions that do not meet the requirements will not be considered. There is no entry fee, but entries must be submitted between June 4, 2012 and August 1, 2012.

For more information, go to: http://www.juriedartservices.com/index.php?content=event_info&event_id=549

2012 Bead Challenge

Last month, Shirley Nowlin (Vice-President, Programs) issued a beading challenge. Since members had been treated to programs on basic weaving techniques such as peyote, brick stitch and right angle weave, the challenge was to take a basic turquoise donut and create something beautiful using one or a combination of those stitches. She asked Nancy Jones of Tiny Dog Seed Beads (http://www.tinydogseedbeads.com/) to judge the entries and the winners were awarded a $20 gift card. Here are the stunning entries:

Lillian Skogsberg is an expert at bead crochet! I really love the clever way she connected three donuts together with beaded bails. Lillian said she used right angle weave and a crochet rope in this stunning creation. As if that isn’t enough, check out the embellishments on the rope and that beaded clasp – whew!!!

Carolyn Slater created her beaded vision of loveliness using ndbele, brick stitch and peyote. Carolyn is a very prolific beader - in fact, we really believe this is probably only one of several she created the same night! Carolyn always creates wonderous beaded projects - and this is no exception.

Kathleen Stauber used peyote and right angle weave in her challenge. I love how she used rosy coral to accent the turquoise color along with gold – who would have thought to pair turquoise and gold? Beaded beads, a beautifully embellished turquoise donut and another surprise – grey pearls – makes this necklace a real stunner!

Kathy Musselwhite created this bezeled turquoise beauty using peyote. She told the group that she struggled to enter it into the challenge because she really didn’t think it was finished. But, many thought it would make a wonderful art piece to hang or even as a special talisman for a special place. I agree. Bead embroidery is one of my favorite techniques, but I would have never thought of using short bugle beads to bezel a donut. Just wonderful work.

Kim Butler is the long-time membership chair for HBS who has become known for her beautiful woven bracelets. Kim accented her turquoise donut with beautiful silk fibers and beads the colors of the Southwest. She then used some of those same fibers to bind her three brick stitch bracelets together and added some turquoise colored pony beads to the end of the fibers. We all fell in love with her creation and Shirley Nowlin (VP - Programs) even wore it on her wrist the rest of the day.

Lynn Lytle also used peyote to bezel her turquoise donut. What I love about her design is how her minimalistic design really focuses on the beautifully bezeled donut! A deceptively simple beaded rope in turquoise and black and that cute floral motif in the center makes this a real winner in my book.

Finally, check out this vision of beady loveliness created by Rachel Solis. Rachel used peyote, right angle weave and cubic right angle weave to create a vision in turquoise! I love how she created a simple beaded bezel for her donut, but then has all of these other spectacular elements – bead bezeled turquoise cabs, beaded circles and a pretty spectacular beaded clasp. Wow – what more can I say?

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On a special note, I was made aware of an entry created by Shelley Dearing that did not make it in. I nicknamed it the Bad Biker Chick Bracelet. Shelley used the new peanut shape beads and peyote to create a really neat flat band of peyote with a really strong, dense look - all without the need of adding an extra layer of beads! She added her donut to the face of the beaded strap and topped it off with a neat Route 66 button. Since she wouldn't allow me to photograph it, next time you see her ask – no demand – that she show it to you. I loved it!

Shirley and Houston Bead Society would like to thank everyone who participated. It was an amazing display of creativity and work.

Inspirational Words by Alan Alda

Photo by Tish Reed

Inspirational Words by Alan Alda

“Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself.”

Free Downloadable Book by Robin Atkins

If you love bead embroidery as much as I do, you probably know all about Robin Atkins' book:

It was one of the first beading books I ever bought and it is the one that got me hooked on bead embroidery. I still refer to my well worn, dog-eared copy today when I get stumped by a stitch.


According to Robin:
"In this book, you will see how beads, creativity, and healing are related. You will learn to stitch beads on fabric improvisationally, creating art work which is compelling, inspired, beautiful, fun, and satisfying to make. You will discover ways to break through the walls of doubt and criticism that prevent us from exploring our full artistic potential. This book is about improvisational bead embroidery as a pathway to greater creativity and source for personal healing. My intent is to inspire and to teach.

The techniques of bead embroidery are well illustrated with drawings, text, and photos with arrows pointing to the details of specific techniques. The materials and steps for beginning a project are fully described. For inspiration, see full-color photographs of more than thirty of the bead embroidered works I've created in the past 15 years, including purses and small bags, buttons, framed wall art, quilts, sculpture, artist's books, dolls, and medicine bags."


And, best of all, now it's FREE - that's right free of charge. Robin Atkins states that she has decided to retire the bound form of the book after five printings and make it available as a free pdf download. To get your copy just click on this link:  http://www.robinatkins.com/OneBeadAtATime_RAtkins.pdf

JUNE PROGRAM



Laury Hendry teaching HBS members to felt.
June 2012 Program

Medallion Halo Necklace by Arline Fisch

Medallion Halo Necklace created by Arline Fisch

Absolutely stunning!
http://mobilia-gallery.com/artists/afisch/

IT'S LAURA McCABE!

Lantern Lighter Necklace

Renaissance Necklace

You know her, you love her - it's Laura McCabe! And, she's making a return visit to Houston in August to teach two workshops for Houston Bead Society.

Click on the Workshops page above for more information and if you want to take her workshop, you better register quickly because she sold out the last time she was in town

Top Ten Reason Why You Should Support Your Local Bead Society

1. Find out about local bead sales.
2. Check out some really cool beadwork.
3. Enter contests.
4. Get the latest news in the beading world.
5. Learn lots of new stuff in workshops and classes.
6. Get to hear and see interesting presentations by major names in the beading world.
7. Buy, sell and swap beads and ideas with others in your area.
8. Meet some amazing beady people in your neck of the woods.
9. Two words: Bead Parties!
10. Hang out with other beaders! What could be better?

From: http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa102101a.htm

2011 Annual Bead and Jewelry Show

HBS JUNE MEETING

By: Shirley Nowlin, Vice President - Programs

June 2012 Meeting
Saturday, June 16, 2012 from 10:00 am to 12:30
Bayou Manor, 4141 South Braeswood, Houston, Texas (Auditorium)

In an effort to generate attendance, I always encourage everyone to enjoy the beautiful weather and join your beading friends at the monthly meetings of Houston Bead Society. Well, this month is already a scorcher and while we'll have some "hot and trendy" creations for our Bead Challenge, it'll be cool and comfortable at Bayou Manor. If you're a "first timer," our venue is located at 4141 South Braeswood. The meeting time runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., but you can arrive as early as 9:15 a.m. to see what's new in the library, shop with member-vendors or just enjoy showing off your latest beady creation and chatting with friends.

Please remember to park in the uncovered spaces in the rear of the gated parking lot. Covered spaces are reserved for residents of Bayou Manor only. Upon arrival, drive to the gate and if it's not open, buzz the receptionist to let you enter. After parking, walk back through the pedestrian or vehicle gate. Access the building through the main entrance and check in with the receptionist for an ID tag before proceeding to the auditorium.

PROGRAM:
Our very own Laury Henry will present the program with an exciting departure from the beading "norm."  You will be making a piece of felted fabric to take home and cut out shapes, add beads, glitter, fibers and whatever strikes your fancy. You'll be able to add cut shapes to add to your favorite shirt, make flowers for a beaded headband, sew to a beaded pouch or add to a handmade beaded greeting card.  

The possibilities are endless and your imagination will run wild with ideas after seeing this process. Sample ideas will also be shown and Laury will treat us to the added demonstration of die-cutting shapes. Your finished piece will be the size of a dryer sheet. As a matter of fact, you will be using a dryer sheet as your backing cloth. Recycle, upcycle, reuse or whatever green term you like!!

Supplies: 

Dish towel or hand towel

Kits with all supplies will be available for $10

CHALLENGE:
Now that we've learned peyote stitch, right-angle weave stitch and brick stitch, it's time to bring in those finished pieces for the HBS Challenge.  Many of you bought those pretty little turquoise donuts, so I know you'll fill the Show and Tell table with your beautiful creations. I'll have small cards for you to fill out with your name, stitch(es) used, etc.

LIBRARY:
Our Librarian, Lillian Skogsberg, has been checking out the beading book catalogs and is in the process of ordering some new books for the HBS library. Remember to stop by and say hello, peruse the selections and buy your library raffle tickets. Ticket sales run from 9:30 a.m. (or as soon as Lillian is set up) until the President, Diane Mayes, calls the meeting to order. Please be considerate and refrain from attempting to purchase tickets once the meeting is in progress.

MEMBERSHIP:
Our Membership Coordinator, Kim Butler, will be accepting membership renewals. Our financial year runs from May 1 to April 30 so it's time to renew your membership so you may continue to enjoy attending the meetings and participating in the programs and library offerings. Kim will also have an information table with lots of beady literature for you to enjoy.

Please remember to sign in at this table when you arrive.

VENDORS:
You must be a member for at least one month prior to vending at an HBS meeting. If you would like to reserve a 6' table for $10, please contact me by Friday, June 15. You may arrive at 9:00 a.m. and may sell until the meeting is called to order. At that time, vendors are responsible for covering their tables until the President adjourns the meeting, after which sales may resume. Please remember that we need to vacate the room no later than 12:30 p.m.

In addition to the challenge and the most excellent program, we'll be talking "showspeak" at this meeting. I'll see you there

Quick Tip

QUICK TIP:

A deviled egg tray makes a great storage box for those to go projects. Simply divide the beads in the sections, place your beading mat on top of the beads, add beading needles, thread, scissors and instructions. Snap on the cover and you’re ready to go!

Best of all, I only paid $1.00 for the tray at a garage sale.