Occasionally in the world of beading I have to use crimp beads. I usually don't have too much luck with the crimper tool and it takes a few tries to get things right. My problem was that I usually didn't get the crimp tight and secure enough and then later the piece ended up falling apart. The other thing is I usually end up crushing beads trying to get the crimp bead tight. It can become very frustrating!
I went to you tube to try to find some suggestions for how to perfect my crimps and found a review for the 1 Step Crimper. This tool is amazing!!!!!
In 1 squeeze you can achieve a tight and secure crimp in 1 step! I immediately bought this tool, and to this day do not regret it!
Watch the video below and you will see why this tool is so fantastic!!!
I use this basic netting pattern when I want to make something classy and delicate. It was a pattern I came up with many years ago when I wanted to make a simple, but lacy necklace.
Last October a friend asked me to make a necklace for her daughter who was going as Marie Antoinette. I used my basic pattern then with Swarovski crystals and cream pearls. Instead of a clasp I used a beautiful pink ribbon to complete the piece.
More recently a friend wanted me to make her something simple and she had seen this pattern and wanted something in a nice pale blue with matching earrings. So here is what I came up with;
I love how dainty this looks! The blue and silver mix of seed beads makes it a classy necklace.
The use of different beads gives these 2 necklaces a uniqueness of their own!
It is no secret that I bead almost everyday. I do occasionally take Saturday off, but sometimes when I get inspired, I just gotta bead! With that said, beading as often as I do, I can sometimes fall into a rut. The 2 books above usually help inspire me. They are both books which involve common seed bead stitches such as peyote, herringbone and even the common daisy chain, but as the title says they display a creative variation on the traditional techniques.
The books are written in such a way that you can take the patterns given, expand on the idea given, and create something unique and unusual, from a traditional perspective. For example below is the common daisy chain, but with a twist. Drop beads are added to one to make a beautiful Caribbean necklace and pearls to another to make something very vintage and antique looking! Same stitch, different viewpoint!
In volume 2, More Seed Bead Stitching, it amps it up even further. On the page below, we have the common daisy chain, now done in circles with pearls!
If you are in a creative rut, I highly recommend these two books to get your creative juices flowing!
I was taking inventory last week in my Etsy Store and realized all my Lariats had sold out!!!! So this week I made some more. I guess lariats are becoming more popular because of the popular television program, Downton Abbey. I have no doubt this trend will continue, especially since The Great Gatsby will be making its way to theaters this May. Here are a few which are in my store now. I will probably add 1 more next week.
I am a big supporter of beading tools!!!! If there is something out there that can make my work better and easier, I will purchase it without hesitation!
Two years ago I took a wire working workshop. It was more interesting than fun, is the best thing I can say about it. The instructor insisted in doing everything by hand, including large spirals which we had to make as connectors. Well, mine came out anything but lovely. They were uneven, squarish circles, that dented all the way around. I was saddened that the piece I created looked like a kindergartner did it!!! Then again the kindergartner probably could have done a better job!
The instructor gave us homework to go home and redo the piece and bring it back the next month to show to the class. A wave of panic hit me! I knew I could not get those spirals right and it would still look bad.
I had to find something that could help me. I refused to believe there wasn't something out there that could help me make the perfect spiral!
That night while I was purchasing a few bead supplies in http://www.auntiesbeads.com/ I decided to look into the tools section and here is what I found:
This beautiful tool helps you to make the most perfect spirals!!!! Not only was I able to recreate the piece with no problem I was able to make a pair of matching earrings as well. I would show you but someone bought the whole set....yay!!!!!
Not only did I buy it, but Karla Schafer, aunties bead designer, had the most fabulous video tutorial on how to use it! With her video I was well on my way. You can watch her video below.
I can truly say that there is one book that has impacted my bead work more than any other, and that book is Indian Bead Weaving Patterns, by Horace R. Goodhue.
When I started beading as a way to make extra money, this book was the first one I bought. At the time it was out of print and I lived in Staten Island. I remember getting on the ferry and riding into Manhattan where I had it shipped to a Barnes and Noble store. When I arrived they couldn't find the book!!!! After they realized I wasn't leaving, they got several staff members and they finally found what I consider to be the bible of bead work!
This is the first book that got me thinking about making my own patterns. In it Mr. Goodhue draws out patterns which is how I design my jewelry today. For example the page below is how he explains the Ogalala Butterfly stitch.
The book is also rich in history as well. You can tell by reading it, which I have done several times, that Mr. Goodhue was entrenched in the Native American culture. During the summer months he and his wife traveled throughout the country visiting Native American communities. He learned traditional stitches and then began to teach workshops and classes. The book includes an informational essay written by him entitled, "Beads" It is a brief history of beads and there connection with Native American culture.
Twice a year I get so excited I am beside myself!!!! The time has arrived again for the Whole Bead Show to come to New York City! Every October and every March beaders from all over New York head to the Manhattan Pavilion where this 3 day bead extravaganza is held. This year it will be held March 22-24th.
I usually go 2 out of 3 days and get there super early to avoid the crowds. I got there late one year and had to fight to get to the front of each booth!
What I love about the Whole Bead Show is that there is such a variety of everything! From beads to crystals, to silver and metal. Last year there was a vendor who even had actual leaves dipped in gold! In addition to all of the beads, there are workshops and classes given on different beading techniques.
The Whole Bead show was started by Ava Motherwell. She had a deep love for beads and knew that there were others out there like herself, so she started to give trunk shows in hotel suites, and different shops around the country. The first show was held in Washington DC and had roughly 8 vendors. Her focus was to sell only beads, and it became a frustration to her because a most often than not she would be the only one selling beads.
After meeting a representative of Colored Stone magazine, she was encouraged to have a bead show and they agreed to list it in there show guide. She called on friends and colleagues and booked a 3 day show in Tuscon, Arizona. With success on that first show she did one the following year in Monterey, California and now there are shows all over the United States!!!!
