Rhinestone Friendship Bracelet

I never went to summer camp as a child, but some of my friends did. Regardless, I don't need summer camp memories to help me like this sweet little Rhinestone Friendship Bracelet by the blogger at Love & Rosen. And, my love of fibers is no secret to anyone so for me, this bracelet is a winning combination of fibers and bling.

Photo and Project by Love & Rosen

The thing about this project is that it can be very sophisticated or hippy chic depending on the fibers that you use. I would love to see this bracelet using black floss or even with tans and turquoises with a string of turquoise color beads to wear with my favorite white shirt.

Regardless of what colors you decide to use, it's bound to be a hit. Click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

Super Easy Bead Soup Bangle

Who among us does not have our own bead soup? In case you don't know what bead soup is - it's usually just a mixture of leftover beads from various projects. Actually, some beaders have several soups going in various colorways; but - me - nope, it's all in one big container.

So, what to do with this bead soup? Make a bracelet of course. Like... this one, for example.

Super Stylish Bead Soup Bangle
By: Eva for Crafts Unleashed
As seen in favecrafts.com

Eva for Crafts Unleashed created this beauty from bead soup beads, a pre-made wire cuff and 24 gauge wire. 

Don't have your own bead soup (really???), no problem, get thee to a bead store and create your own.

Click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

Aimee Ray's "Sweet and Simple Jewelry" - Book Review

Do you want to create enchanting and very pretty, fresh, chic styles of jewelry while expanding your knowledge to include techniques like needlework, resin and the use of filigree? Then Aimee Ray’s book, Sweet & Simple Jewelry is just the inspiration and direction you need.

Image by Lark Books

While probably not for an advanced jewelry maker, Sweet & Simple Jewelry is a nice option for an artist moving into making jewelry from another craft or even for a beginning jewelry maker. The book features 32 projects by 17 designers and utilizes different products like felt, fabric, embroidery floss, buttons, filigree shapes, wool roving, polymer clay, air drying clay, epoxy clay and shrink plastic. It even shows you how to create your own molds using two part molding putty. Whether it’s rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings or even hair accessories you are sure to find a pretty and easy to make project in this book.

Sweet & Simple Jewelry includes templates and some basic techniques on wire wrapping, the use of resin and even a nice short tutorial on embroidery techniques just to mention a few.

Regardless, all of the designs are very sweet and sure to give you the inspiration you need to try some of the different techniques. My favorite – the Dandelion Wish Necklace on page 118 – is something I am definitely going to try.

The book is published by Lark Books and will be available in the HBS library starting next month.

Now go bead something.

Hey! What's a Bugle Bead?

Bugle beads are long, thin, cut glass beads. They come in sizes 2mm to 12 mm and Miyuki even makes one that is 30mm. They can be round, smooth, twisted and hex cut. The problem with most bugle beads is that their edges are sharp and they can cut right through your thread. I don't use them very often because, frankly, they can be difficult to design with, but I have used them in my bead embroidery and some fringe - but, they are hardly ever the focus of my design.

So, take a look at this Bugle Bead Fringe Torque Necklace created by Miss P.

Photo and Project by
Miss P

A not too over the top fringe necklace using the "dreaded" Bugle Bead. She even shows you how to create the wire collar to hang the easy to make bead fringes and you don't need an expensive necklace mandrel either.

One of the good things about this project is that you don't need to invest a huge amount of money in bugle beads (especially good if you've never worked with them) and, of course, you can always use what color (or size) bugle beads you just happen to have.

Click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

Circle of Hope Campaign Against Breast Cancer

Circle of Hope
Sponsored by Fire Mountain Gems & Beads

Just a reminder - Fire Mountain Gems & Beads is sponsoring a campaign against breast cancer and you can help by donating handmade beads or purchasing a handmade bead like the ones pictured above.

Click HERE for more information.

Now go buy a bead from the Circle of Hope campaign and bead something.

Creative Blocks and Monkeys?

Photo and Drawing by Danny Gregory

It happens to all of us at one time or another - we are sucked dry of ideas. Or, if we do create something that inner critic comes out and says "That looks horrible" - "You're not good enough" and so on and so on.

Danny Gregory is an author and artist extraordinaire known primarily for his whimsically delightful drawings. I have followed his blog for a very long time and I am a huge fan. My best friend, Sharon Hendry (check out her blog HERE), introduced me to his blog many years ago because she knows how much I long to draw. Oh, I can draw things - certain things - but it takes me a long time and it is very frustrating for me. Sharon, on the other hand can probably draw with one hand tied behind her back. Did I mention she works for Houston Community College? She teaches classes in the Digital Department and one of them is drawing fundamentals. Yes, I've taken her class and it was awesome. But, my inner monkey (as Danny Gregory refers to that inner critic) came out and I gave up drawing once again.

But, I digress - this blog is about beading after all and what does Danny Gregory and drawing have to do with beading? Well, Danny Gregory wrote this most excellent post about creative blocks and that inner critic/monkey today and it is probably one of the best things I've ever read that deals with that subject.

So just what does he have to say about that inner critic?

"Just start. Do one small drawing on one small piece of paper. A Post-It. Or draw a loose grid on your sketchbook page and fill in one single square with a line drawing of your foot. Whistle while you do it. If the monkey starts to grumble, hum louder. Push off that inner criticism for 120 seconds until you can get something down on the page.

Creating something, anything, can break the logjam. And it can give you something to look back at hours later, to get excited about. Initially, the monkey may sneer about your tiny attempt but go back at it and look at it again. Find something to love in it. It’s in there.

Don’t talk about it. If you are having block, don’t endlessly discuss it and seek solace from others. The more you do, naming it and broadcasting it, The more you solidify the block, the more of a living entity it becomes. Give it a name and you give it power. Stress over it and you become twisted and jailed.

My words here are a double-edged sword. I want you to be able to see that your problem is a common one, that you don’t suck any more than the rest of us. But the more we dwell on this discussion, the more attention the monkey gets, and the less time we are spending making something."

"The more we dwell on this discussion, the more attention the monkey gets, and the less time we are spending making something." 

"You don't suck more than the rest of us."

WOWIE! The entire post is so awesomely written, but it was these these paragraphs and, in particular, these two sentences that stuck out and resonated with me more than anything else - probably, because one of my biggest problems is that monkey. Sure, he aimed his post at people who draw; in fact, you should check out the drool worthy Facebook page for Everyday Matters, but how can his advice not apply to painting, sculpting, woodworking - any artistic effort - even beading!?

I would highly recommend you click HERE  right now to go read his entire post - you won't regret it! Actually, he has dedicated several posts to this subject and you will find them all well worth your time.

So, thank you Danny Gregory for once again inspiring me and probably a host of others to take up the pen, pencil, beads, paints or whatever their chosen media is and start - right now.

Now go bead something - right now!

Ready for Spring Bracelet

Well, this project might be a wee bit late for Spring, but it also works for Summer. From Bead and Button is this Ready for Spring bracelet.

Ready for Spring Bracelet and photo by
Bead & Button

I have tried bead crochet and knitting with beads - and I found knitting with beads much easier (though, I'm not giving up on bead crochet just yet), so I just may give this project a try.

Click HERE to get the instructions. By the way, the one pictured on the instructions is a a gorgeous "chartreusy" green! Even more of an incentive for me to try this one out.

Now go bead something.