Looking for inspiration? Perlen Poesie

If you are looking for an additional source of inspiration, you have to pay attention at the 2-year-old European bead magazine: Perlen Poesie. You are always supposed to read beading world news, you can learn beading techniques and of course take excellent instructions from international artists.


On December 10, 2010, the new issue of Perlen Poesie will be out! In that issue:

• Anna E. Draeger: A portrait of the popular artist and Swarovski Ambassador;

• Perlen Poesie visited seven bead artists from France;

• The workshops of the First Bead Art Fair on 20-21 August, 2011, in Hamburg, Germany;

• 16 wonderful projects from well-known bead designers: Anna Draeger, Zoya Gutina, Claudia Steens, Melissa Grakowsky, Peter Sewell, Sabine Lippert, Carol Dean Sharpe, Claudia Cattaneo, Birgit Bergemann and some more (yes, I'm in it, too!);

• And more, and more, and more!


The magazine is published in Germany by Beaders Best Verlag company, but everybody 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

Fashion Colorworks 2013. Meet the sponsor: Rings & Things

Rings & Things - Beads and Findings

Rings & Things provides professional craftspeople with wholesale beads and jewelry supplies for turning craft into wearable art jewelry. The company works to offer
quality parts at reasonable prices, and is happy to explain uses for findings and suggest ways to combine particular products. With over 18,000 beads, jewelry
findings and supplies, plus free how-to information and design inspirations, their goal is to be your jewelry-component source for decades, not just one or two orders!

Rings & Things offers wholesale quantity pricing for those who need it, and smaller-quantity options for those just starting out, and those who want to try a few things first ($50 minimum order; $25 with a $4 fee). Shopping Rings & Things is easy, because you have so many options:

•  Order online at www.rings-things.com

•  Call 1-800-366-2156 for friendly, personal service from in-house staff (M-F, 8am-5pm, Pacific Time)

•  Visit in person at their Spokane, WA, showroom (details at
www.rings-things.com/showroom)

•  Attend one of their traveling bead shows! (full schedule at
www.rings-things.com/show)

     
     

Rings & Things is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business and a Certified Spokane Sustainable Business. Co-owner Russ Nobbs started his jewelry career in the 1960's, selling handmade pins and earrings at state fairs. In 1972, he opened a small retail jewelry store in Spokane, WA, and Rings & Things was born. Now primarily a wholesale mail-order business, the company continues to grow, thanks to fellow craftspeople like you. Rings & Things looks forward to serving you!

Fashion Colorworks 2013 Beading Contest Rules

Flying Critters 2013

I'm hooked on Art Nouveau. My interest in this style began a year and a half ago, when Nancy Reinke, an artist from the Torpedo Factory Art Center (Alexandria, VA) presented me antique beads she took from her grandmother. Beads were Czech charlottes and were produced at the end of XIX century. No wonder, that I started reading about that time and learning art of this period. I expressed my love in several jewelry pieces: Lady Winter Necklace featuring painting Winter by Alfons Mucha, and Judith Necklace featuring... of course, artwork Judith by Gustav Klimt!


So, when Artbeads.com announced its new blogging challenge "What’s Old is New Again!", I was happy because it was a great opportunity to continue my own Art Nouveau challenge. I have to confess - and I'm glad to do that - they paid a lot of attention at vintage style products, and my search wasn't to long. Steampunk? Not now, maybe, later on...


So, I came to just launched Kabela Design that carries a very beautiful line of brass antique styled products. Art Nouveau art pieces widely featured elements of live nature such as threes, flowers, birds, insects, lizards, butterflies, etc., but number one is a dragonfly! How come? Who knows! I think, some explanations can be found. Try "Art Nouveau butterfly", and Google Image search will return you hundreds of jewelry pieces with those critters!


I finished my search very quickly, I selected two Kabela Design Antique Brass Dragonfly Pendant "to support" the center piece, and Kabela Design Antique Brass To Thee Pendant as a frame for embroidery: a piece of genuine leather and TOHO charlotte seed beads 15/0, in the center I attached a charm featuring hummingbird, the same charm I used as a small pendant. Swarovski crystal pearls of bronze and blue color, and Extreme Trios (24K gold plated) thread by Softflex helped me finish my light-weight necklace.


Art Nouveau must go on! And here is a piece of jewelry created just from beads I mentioned in the beginning of my post. It also features my lovely style. If you like that necklace you can cast your vote for People's Choice Award in the International Bead Award Contest:

Art Nouveau Restored Necklace

Disclosure. Being a reviewer of Artbeads.com products and a participant of its blogging program I received Kabela Design brass components free of charge. This post reflects my honest opinion; and Artbeads.com is not compensating me for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

The Injured Insect

I was busy as usual. Exploring new designs... I have one broken bead which is torn to 2 pieces, I have been wondering what design I can make out of it. And today, I came across an insect in my garden and I have decided to make an insect out of the broken pieces. Here is the outcome from it. Does it look like an insect to you? If it does, what insect would it be??

Download lots of free jewelry making tutorials at DiyLessons! Are you a jewelry (jewellery) making teacher/ tutor? You can also list your tutorials here too. Don't miss a post! Subscribe to Handmade Jewelry Club by Email FREE

Fashion Colorworks 2011. Meet the sponsor: Artbeads.com

Offering Inspiration with Quality Products at Competitive Prices

Artbeads.com is one the web's largest suppliers of beads, Swarovski crystal and jewelry making supplies. The company offers a variety of beads from all around the world, including Thailand, Israel, and New Zealand, and works closely with Swarovski to provide high-quality crystal to its customers. Along with providing quality products with competitive prices, Artbeads.com also offers tips on jewelry making, and offers over 800 free bead and craft designs. Artbeads.com prides itself on being able to sell products to amateur jewelry makers on a budget and wholesale buyers, including offering free shipping on orders of $10 or more. Artbeads.com also ships orders to Canada for $1.99.

They have also created Beadsnap.com, a new website dedicated to artisan jewelry designers and bead stores to make wholesale ordering easier. Those buyers who spend over $2,000 a year on jewelry making supplies will find this website helpful.

The company started in 1999 by owners Devin and Cynthia Kimura, and has grown to become one of the best known online retailers of supplies to create wonderful jewelry and crafts. Their idea was to serve their customers by providing quality products, outstanding products and the inspiration to create something beautiful. The company continues to make contributions to its local community in Gig Harbor, Washington, as well as making global donations. For every order received, Artbeads.com will donate to Conservation International to protect 25 square feet of tropical rainforest.

Artbeads.com owners Devin and Cynthia Kimura

Visit online at www.artbeads.com

Email address: support@artbeads.com

For friendly customer support call (253) 857-3433 OR toll free at 1-866-715-BEAD (2323)

Fashion Colorworks 2011 Beading Contest Rules