New York Fashion Show

That's certainly a joke, I mean Fashion Show! Here is Paulina, my adorable and lovely granddaughter showcasing my beaded jewelry. On the first photo Paulina features Poppy Field Necklace.


On that photo Paulina displays Midsummer Night's Dream Necklace. What can I say? Though Paulina, my love and happiness, is a little bit more than 11 months here, she feels very comfortable with my beadwork on! Go, my lovely baby!

Hot copper warms me up!

Is it Russia? Is it Siberia? Oh, no! That's Alexandria, VA, on February 6. In D.C. metro area a snowstorm totals around 1.5 to 2 feet are common, with some places up to and past 30" or 36". Unbelievable! And I'm glad, that these severe days I'm warmed up with the stuff I received from from Artbeads.com.


For sure, Valentine’s Day beads and components can make happy any beadworker because of coming holiday, but copper elements did warm me up this weekend when I worked!

Don't wonder please, as a focal of my first copper necklace I used Copper Heart Toggle Clasp; and I added a mix of copper beads, bright and dark copper color seed beads, copper coins from oriental countries, jasper donuts and leopard skin jasper rounds, some other elements, and I'm done! Hot Copper Mix Necklace is ready.


Close-up of Hot Copper Mix Necklace.


The focal of my second necklace is a regular Copper Heart Shaped Leaf Pendant; Delica beads and teardrop beads with AB coating were a nice addition, they helped me create Copper Heart Leaf Necklace.


Close-up of Copper Heart Leaf Necklace.

New life of old earrings

Recently a friend of my friend has brought me a pair of old vintage earrings (Sterling silver, labradorite and pearls) and asked me to create an unusual piece of jewelry using those earrings.


Create a new pair of earrings using the old ones? Oh, no! I decided to keep the old design, and put the earrings together on a blank beadwoven bracelet. I picked up seed beads matching labradorite and pearls for the bracelet, and added a few seed bead branches with amethyst rounds, pearls and some gemstone chips. So, here we are!

Indian Summer At The Door

It's already autumn outside... the grass is getting yellow... the leaves turn to red, brown and yellow... Some people can say, the nature is dying, I say it's falling asleep, and it makes us enjoy with its fantastic, cheerful and festive colors - Indian summer at the door!


When the sun rises, autumn colors flash out showing fall beauty, and water drops after night rain sparkle like diamonds! I like this season, and once I've already created the Autumn Splendor Necklace. This year the spring was pretty long and cold - but the fall is warm and beautiful, that's why I returned to the autumn theme.


Remembering my Tropical Blossom Necklace, I decided to use Swarovski pendants again, and that brought me to Artbeads.com. My husband said, "Good choice!" I have no idea what he meant, whether Artbeads.com or beautiful pendants they sell. In general, it doesn't matter, I found out what I was looking for.


I received red magma, olivine, light topaz, and copper Swarovski crystal pendants, and bought silk ribbons of bright autumn colors at the closest craft shop. Appropriate Czech glass teardrop and leaf accent beads, and TOHO 15/0 yellow and green seed beads should have been good much to my staff.


I wrapped up memory wire blank necklace and used it as the base of my piece, and embellished it with Czech beads; then I wound it with bead strings and made fringes with crystal pendants. The last touch was the brass leaf closure. The necklace could be named Autumn Wreath, but I call it Indian Summer, because Indian summer is outside!

World of Beads VIII

The exhibit World of Beads VIII: A 20 Year Retrospective held by
The Bead Society of Greater New York on June, 19-21, had a great success. This three-day juried exhibit featured the unique beadwork of The Bead Society of Greater New York (BSGNY) creative and talented members spanning the 20 years of the organization's existence.


Yoshi Marubashi, Leah Becker, Evelyn Letfuss, Nina Libin, Linda Rettich, Marsha Davis, Masami Sato, Ruth Oisteanu, I listed just a few from many artists whose artwork attracted common attention. All artists brought the excitement, passion and beauty of this timeless art form to the public. Beadwork demonstrations and free workshops were presented throughout the event, other activities included bead vendors, sale of bead books, raffles and a children's table. Congratulations and Bravo to all BSGNY members!

My daughter as a model

It can happen not very often when I make pictures of my jewelry on models. Here my daughter Ivanna is serving me as a model. At that time she was just back from the Burning Man Festival, she grabbed my necklace and put it on! I called that free-form necklace Southwestern Taste because of its color combination.

Art Activated at the TFAC

I had to post that at least a month ago, but better late, than never! A great event took place in September at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, where visual art came alive during the Alexandria Festival of the Arts. Artists demonstrated throughout the day pottery on the wheel, drawing, bubble glass making, beading, spinning, weaving, knitting, limestone carving, etching, and much more. Visitors could try their hand at different art techniques including clay throwing, sculpture, and fiber art at special "Try Me" stations.


Hands-on projects also included Champagne Cork Chairs workshop, Bubble Gum painting, Create Your Own Button workshop, Screen printing workshop, Mask Making workshop and so on. Lots of fun for both, adults and kids!

Native American Necklace Contest

Drawing your inspiration from the movie DANCES WITH WOLVES by Kevin Costner, we propose that you put into beads your personal vision of a necklace that could have been worn by a Native American woman.

1. Your necklace must be original work of your own creation.

2. Imposed technique: peyote stitch.

3. Imposed colors: brown, beige and three colors of the entrant's choice.

4. Materials:
      - seed beads of any size (Miyuki round or Delica, Toho round or Ttreasure, or other seed bead brands);
      - any other materials of your choice like wood, feather, bone, metallic tubes, etc.

5. The contest is International, worldwide beaders may participate.

6. Photos make the judgment by the panel of five independent jurors.

7. Jurors will score each entry upon three criteria:
      - creative capacity;
      - technical quality;
      - appropriateness of the entry with the theme of the contest.

8. Photo requirements:
      - size - 800x600 pixels maximum;
      - the entry must be shot against white background;
      - no distinctive signs must be put onto the photo. The entrant's name will be revealed upon entries announcement.

Entry photo is to be sent until Midnight September 1, 2011, at following email address: perlesetdentelles@yahoo.fr. The sending of your photo will validate your registration.

Please indicate in the email your full name, your nickname (if exists) and the link towards your site, blog or album if you have one. It is not obligatory to have a site or blog to participate in the contest. Also indicate the country of your residence. Languages to be used in your correspondence are: English, French or Russian.

Fashion Colorworks

Fashion Colorworks

 

Fashion Colorworks 2011. Winners!!!

The second international Fashion Colorworks 2011 Beading Contest is over! We would like to say THANK YOU to all entrants, jurors, and sponsors who helped us make the contest successful. 99 participants from 25 countries submitted 149 entries! Today we celebrate our bead holiday together, with our winners, all participants, jurors, sponsors, and bead lovers. In general, we reached our goal and feel happy! We are looking forward to seeing all of them in 2012 and hope that the next year contest would attract more artists!

First Place Winners

Beaded Jewelry:
Margarita Kruchinina, Rostov-on-Don, Russia for Original Rus Set

Finished Jewelry:
Julia Turova, Krasnoyarsk, Russia for Harlequin Beetle Necklace

Beaded Objects And Accessories:
Evgeniya Semina, Orenburg, Russia for Falling In Love With Life All The More Wedding Dress

Second Place Winners

Beaded Jewelry:
Fumiko Sekine, Yokohama, Japan for The Power Of Nature Necklace

Finished Jewelry:
Svetlana Karimova, Slupsk, Poland for Jurata Neckllace

Beaded Objects And Accessories:
Angelika Motzkin, Ashkelon, Israel for Magnolia Handbag

Third Place Winners

Beaded Jewelry:
Svetlana Dubinsky, Beit Shemesh, Israel for Tropical Vacation Necklace

Finished Jewelry:
Ulyana Moldovyan, St. Petersburg, Russia Dream Of Fisherwoman Set

Beaded Objects And Accessories:
Aleksey Soloviev, Lugansk, Ukraine for Dream Of Flight Tie

Special Award Winners

People's Choice Award:
Evgeniya Semina, Orenburg, Russia for Falling In Love With Life All The More Wedding Dress

Best Use of Color:
Svetlana Dubinsky, Beit Shemesh, Israel for Tropical Vacation Necklace

Best Use of Materials:
Liudmyla Heggland, Rennesoy Island, Norway for Undine Dream Necklace

Perlen Poesie issue 10

Perlen Poesie number 10 is coming out! In that issue:





• Beadpassion with the love of nature... Zoya Gutina implements that into all of her designs. Using many different techniques she adds enchantment to her necklaces opulence of which is unparalleled;



• Workshop Spiral Techniques - everything turns... Impressive designs can be achieved with these techniques;



• Scrumptious Beads... Angela Brackrogge: Jopanda - her artist name stands for handmade glass beads with subtle gradient colors and elaborate shapes. Look and enjoy!



• Winners of IBA 2011... Look at the winning pieces of the international jewelry contest IBA 2011. Savor the diversity of ideas and - maybe - participate next time!



The magazine is published in Germany by Beaders Best Verlag Company, you can subscribe it. If you live in the USA, you can directly or via Internet buy single issues of the magazine at the Beads by Blanche bead shop.



Subscribe to Perlen Poesie magazine

Perlen Poesie issues 10 and 9

The 10th issue of Perlen Poesie magazine is coming out soon! For now we know just a cover page.





The 9th issue of Perlen Poesie magazine is filled with 51 pages of instructions:



• Science and Art. Since childhood Melissa Grakowsky was interested in both. She completed her education in physics and painting. In school she was not able to decide...



• Improvise with Beads. Brick-Stitch varies a lot in terms of popularity;



• Combined. Designer threads, antique beads, buttons are used by Doris Dohse in her freestyle crochet work and is modeled directly onto the body;



• Taking measures. Are you sometimes confused when buying supplies like wire? You don't know what the details of all those sizes indicate? Don't worry, just open page 83!



• Steampunk. Gears, lace, metal and glass - jewelry in nostalgic techno-romance;



• And a lot of info about the BEADERS BEST Bead-Art-Fair in Hamburg, Germany, August

20-21!



The magazine is published in Germany by Beaders Best Verlag Company, you can subscribe it. If you live in the USA, you can directly or via Internet buy single issues of the magazine at the Beads by Blanche bead shop.



Subscribe to Perlen Poesie magazine

Buy Perlen Poesie magazine in the USA

Art Nouveau Restored

On August 20, 2011 the winners of the International Bead Award Contest were announced at the Beaders Best Bead Art Fair. It was an exciting event! And good news: my Art Nouveau Restored necklace won two awards: First Place in Off-Loom Category and People's Choice Award.

Photo Credit: Friedhelm Ott | Perlen Poesie

First place winners are:

Lampwork Category

       1 Place: Helix - Jacky Teuchert-Rimkus, Germany
       jackys-glas-art.de

Loomwork Category

       1 Place: Spring Has Sprung - Erin Simonetti, USA
       simonetti.com

Off-Loom Category

       1 Place: Art Nouveau Restored - Zoya Gutina, USA
       mylovelybeads.com

Bead Crochet, Bead Knitting Category

       1 Place: Diagonal Bubbles - Jolanda Violante, Italy
       sinfoniediperle.blogspot.com

Embroidery Category

       1 Place: Cascade - Angelika Kenner, Germany
       schmucksyndrom.de

Paper, Textile Category

       1 Place: Altes Kyoto - Dorit Koppen, Germany

Polymer Clay, Ceramic, Porcelain Category

       1 Place: ...Love way... - Natalya Leitman, Russia
       flickr.com/photos/madllen/

Wirewok Category

       1 Place: Beach Dreams - Chris Wrinn, USA
       gildedowljewelry.com

Mixed Media Category

       1 Place: Born in the Sands - Svetlana Sametis, Latvia
       orubis.ucoz.lv

Public voting

       Art Nouveau Restored - Zoya Gutina, USA
       mylovelybeads.com

Our warmest congratulations to all winners!


Full list of International Bead Award Contest winners

Bead Art Fair, Hamburg, Germany

Soon we will meet again! Perlen Poesie Magazine is proud to invite you to the Second Beaders Best Bead Art Fair that will take place in Hamburg, Germany in August 18-19! International artists, manufacturers, retailers and beading friends from all over Europe and Overseas will meet at this unmatched event.

The program includes different jewelry making classes that will be taught by internationally recognized bead artists: Zoya Gutina (USA), Ute Kluwe (Germany), Heather Kingsley-Heath (UK), Svetlana Sametis (Lithuania), Anja Schlotman (USA), Sabine Lippert (Germany), Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany), Daniela Donzelli (Germany), Huib Petersen (USA), Olga Haserodt (Germany), Lana May (USA), Sian Nolan (UK), Birgit Bergemann (Germany), Peter Sewell (UK), Petra Tismer (Germany), Melissa Grakowsky (USA), Laura Andrews (USA), Luz Rodriguez Gonzales (Spain), Dianne Karg Baron (Canada), Jutta Tolzmann (Germany) and other artists.

Workshop "Grape Leaf Necklace"



Workshop "Poppy Flower Necklace"



Workshop "Pink Rose Brooch"

Jewelry Making Classes at the Bead Art Fair 

Perlen Poesie issue 12

It's already being sent to subscribers. In issue 12:

• Floral jewelry made from rocailles, baroque beads or using soutache;

• Workshop: embroidery;

• Artist portrait and exclusive instruction by Sherry Serafini;

Perlen Poesie issue 11

Did you buy it? Not yet? Hurry up! In issue 11:

• Lady in RAW. Marcia DeCoster: The artist is a stylish woman, knits fine tunics and loves to bead her jewelry mostly in RAW technique. We met her in Bonn, Germany, where she held workshops for 3 days. She let us have some of her treasures, which we are able to show to our readers. You will also find an instruction for a fancy bracelet.

Your Designs Rock 2008

At the very end of April the winners of "Your Designs Rock!" 2008 Jewelry Design Contest were announced. I'm happy to tell you, that the second year in a row I won the First Place in Glass category (necklace "Mermaid's Garden").