Gorgeous BoHo Style Earrings

I am so in love with these earrings that I am simply at a loss for words.

So, just click HERE to get the instructions from Rings and Things.

Butterflies are Free
created by Mollie Valente
for Rings and Things

Cool Knotting Tutorials

Have you ever seen those cool knots made mostly with rat tail cord - like this Monkey's Fist Knot?

Monkey's Fist Knot and picture
by PandaHall.com

I know I have and always wondered how is that done. Well, wonder no more because PandaHall.com has posted a tutorial on how to create your own Monkey's Fist knot.

The step-by-step directions are accompanied by clear, close-up photographs of the techniques so you should have no problem creating your own knot.

Click HERE to go to their site and get all the directions for this knot as well as several other decorative knots.

Now go bead something.

Super Easy Stone Ring

I love gemstone chips and I have a pretty good stash of them; but, sometimes I'm at odds as to what exactly to do with them.

Stone Chip Ring by Tarun Upadhyaya
Picture courtesy of Instructables.com

Then, I found this super easy tutorial by Tarun Upadhyaya on the Instructables website for a stone chip ring using a ready made ring blank, stone chips (or beads even), a round glass pebble and...wait for it... superglue! Sure, these rings probably aren't store or gallery ready, but they work up quickly and certainly make a statement.

So get out your stone chips and click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

Crystal Chandelier Pendant

So many beaders often create other art too and based on the conversations I've had with some you - so many of you use (and collect) all sorts of wonderful papers. Whether you are into scrapbooking, collage or mixed media - how often have you had a scrap of paper that you love too much to toss? Well now you can wear that little scrap on a gorgeous antique or new crystal from a chandelier!

Crystal Chandelier Pendant by Mitzi Curi
at FaveCrafts

Mitzi Curi at FaveCrafts created this sweet Crystal Chandelier Pendant and now you can too.

Click HERE and head on over to FaveCrafts to learn how to create your own.

Now go bead something.

Broken Porcelain Earrings

Have you every broken a treasured piece of porcelain? Maybe it was your grandmother's teapot or teacup or something from your mom's wedding. I know I have. Unfortunately, there was no rescuing it and I ended up having to throw it out.

Broken Porcelain Earrings
by www.create-your-style.com

Now, thanks to create-your-style.com, you can keep that piece of broken porcelain and still make it something memorable - something you can wear - like these Broken Porcelain Earrings.

Best of all, you don't need a soldering iron and if you have enough broken porcelain pieces, you can probably  make enough pairs to share with your sister, cousins,  mom - you get the picture.

All you need is your broken porcelain pieces, some epoxy clay, ear wires and, of course, Swarvoski crystal elements. If you've never worked with epoxy clay (it's all the rage right now), I think this is the perfect project to get your feet wet.

The written instructions are accompanied by really great illustrations that clearly walk you through every step in creating your own unique pair of Broken Porcelain Earrings.

Click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

Seed Bead Finishes

Opaque, translucent, transparent, fire-polished - does that sound Greek to you? Never fear, all is not lost. Thanks to Fire Mountain Gems, you can now find the definitions and samples of all those seed bead finishes on its site.

Did you know that Ceylon has a beautiful pearl luster finish (and it's one of my favorites), but that the color of these beads fades when exposed to strong sunlight? Or that silver lined beads usually have square holes to enhance the beads' reflectiveness? Or that you really should test the permanence of galvanized or metallic beads by soaking them in bleach, acetone or alcohol? Nope - neither did I.

But, you can learn more about seed bead finishes by clicking HERE. The link will take you directly to the Fire Mountain Gems resource page on seed bead finishes.

Now go bead something.

May Meeting

When: Saturday, May 18, 2013
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 pm
Place: 1st Floor Auditorium at Bayou Manor, 4141 South Braeswood, Houston, TX
Program: Mary Alice Stinton - Powerpoint Presentation on Japanese Bead Embroidery

Parking is available in the uncovered spaces in the rear of the gated parking lot. Covered spaces are for residents of Bayou Manor only. After parking, walk back through either the pedestrian or vehicle gate and access the building through the main entrance. Please check in with the receptionist for an ID badge before proceeding to the auditorium.

Please Note: That because Tish Reed will not be at the meeting, the Bead Dangle Swap has been postponed until the June meeting.