Free Issue of Stringing Magazine August 15, 2009

Stringing

If you’ve never seen Stringing Magazine, you’re missing out on a lot of great eye candy. I didn’t even know that it was available by subscription until I received Beading Daily’s latest newsletter. I’d always thought that these were special issues.

If you love to drool over juicy beads and tempting jewelry, you’ll appreciate the 80+ projects in each issue. Best of all, each can be made using easy wirework and stringing techniques and all instructions and resources are included. At a 31% savings over the newsstand price, the projects cost subscribers about 6 cents each. That’s a lot of inspiration for your buck. Try it risk-free. Just click on the photo to subscribe.

Be creative and be blessed,
Parthena

Don’t forget about the Vintage Challenge for Anyone. Deadline is September 1st:

Latest Free Projects and Contests

Never Worry About Money Again

jewelry making,beading,jewelry projects,stringing magazine,handmade,design,fashion

Strange Beadfellows August 14, 2009

This post is inspired by Tammy Powley, About.com's Jewelry Making Site Editor. Her recent newsletter focuses on unusual combinations in jewelry design and I remember making quite a few of those. In fact, the majority of my jewelry involves unusual combinations like polymer clay and wire, or polymer clay and semi-precious gemstones, or polymer clay with pearls or glass beads. I think the only exception is copper. I usually pair it with semi-precious gemstones or earthy beads because it really doesn’t look great with everything. I made a pair of earrings a while ago combining shells and swarovski crystals that I love and get a lot of compliments on. I don’t have a photo but I might try to take one and add it later. The shells themselves were unusual.

Fashion has always been about breaking the rules. I’ve had a few friends over the years who had a knack for combining things you’d never think to put together and always look great. This makes me wonder if edgy combinations come from actual designers or if they swipe them from people on the street.

I remember a time growing up when the strange color combination of yellow and purple became popular. My aunt loved it so much that everything in her house was yellow and purple! And the members of the Red Hat Society always look amazing in their defiant red and purple hats and outfits.

It’s been said that in order to break the rules you first have to know what they are, but I think the bottom line in handcrafted jewelry is the end result. You’ll know if a piece looks beautifully unique or if it looks like ca-ca, so do the “rules” really matter?

A few years ago, I made a piece that I thought was fabulous. While it got some attention on my table at a craft fair, it wasn’t selling.  At the end of the fair one of the vendors came up to me and said that she just had to have it – and I knew that the piece definitely suited her. So, sometimes when we create something a little funky it’s because it’s meant for that one special person.

Have you created any strange beadfellows? Please discuss, and feel free to post photos as well.

Here are some examples of unique combinations from Tammy Powley, although I don’t think they’re all that strange……

• Bamboo and Crystal Earrings
• Vintage Ribbon and Flower Bead Necklace
• Crochet Flowers, Pearls and Crystal
• Fiber, Bead and Copper Metal Earrings

Be creative and be blessed,

Parthena

What If You Had An Income That Allowed You All The Time In The World To Create?

jewelry making,beading,etsy,earrings,fashion jewelry,fashion,design,red hat society

Hair Jewelry Idea August 9, 2009

EZ Combs

Those closest to me know that I’m working toward meeting my goal of letting my hair grow to my waist, something I’ve always wanted to do but never have.  I’ve been at it for about two and a half years, I think, and have about four more inches to go.  It’s about a half inch past my bra strap now and I think I’ll make it.  I love being able to just tie it up when I’m running late or don’t feel up to messing with it. When my hair is short, it needs to be “done” every day, and I put in an awful lot of work to make it look “natural.”

When I was experimenting with jaw clips, I found that different styles of clips make your hair do different things, so I was intrigued by the EZ Combs commercial and bought a set. EZ Combs are two hair combs decorated with beads and joined by a criss-crossed web of elastic beaded thread.  The first one I bought broke the second day I had it. One of the elastic threads came loose from the comb, sending little beads flying all over the bathroom.  I was willing to give them another chance because when I examined them, I realized that they’d be easy to make but that making them durable would be a challenge. I exchanged them for another set. It seemed to me that they should have secured each end of the thread with a drop of glue and I planned to do that myself.  I never did bother, and I’ve used one at least twenty times without it breaking.  Once you get the hang of using them, they’re less likely to break. The comb teeth do, however, bend and the threads and beads get tangled up, so I don’t recommend them for daily use.  You can re-adjust them but they’re never quite the same. The combs give a ponytail a unique twist and they really hold a French twist nicely.  They’re light and less cumbersome than jaw clips.

Of course, the handcrafter’s mind sees something like this and begins to figure out how it can make and design a better one.  Most beginning level jewelry makers can easily learn how to make similar combs by simply studying one.  I ran across this free project on the eeBeads.com website and thought that it might be helpful to get you started.  They’re really cute, so you might just want to make a set of these, too.

Misty Tanzanite Hair Combs

Click on the image to go to the free projects area of the site.  I realize that some of the recommended materials are discontinued (so just let WordPress accuse me of using this blog to promote affiliate programs again, LOL) but I’m sure that you have a trunk or toolbox or plastic container or coffee can full of thousands of other possibilities like I do!

I’m sure that there are instructions for a complete set of combs similar to EZ Combs out there somewhere, and I will post them when I find them.

BTW, I have no affiliation with eeBeads.com other than their being one of my favorite suppliers due to their generosity in providing free projects. I’ve also used them as an example of how to increase your business by treating your customers right in another post.  Their newsletter and blog are further models for aspiring entrepreneurs.  Their newsletter is one of the very few that I open and actually read – and it usually gets me to visit their site and look around some more.  I’m not an affiliate with BeadingDaily.com, either. It’s just a great comprehensive site with almost all the information you’ll ever need to help you in your jewelry making business. Of course, I want my blog to be read and my intention is to provide helpful information that makes my readers want to subscribe to my blog.

 

I’ve been cross-posting and frequently updating my Squidoo lens,

Making Wire Sculpted Jewelry

I’ve just added a module where you can add your own free jewelry projects or other helpful resources for jewelry makers. Please visit and add your link. If you add your site, it’s doubly beneficial to sign up and rank the lens because this makes it more visible in the search engines – and that’s free advertising for you!

Don’t forget about your chance to win a $100 gift certificate or a bag of vintage goodies from eeBeads.com in the  Vintage Challenge For Anyone. The deadline for the contest is September 1st.

Have a creative and restful weekend.  Be well and be blessed,

Parthena

handmade,crafts,arts and crafts,jewelry making,how to,diy,hair styles,fashion,accessories

Earrings, Earrings and More Earrings August 6, 2009

Japanese Cascade Earrings With Pearls

I ran across these adorable earrings in my quest to bring you the best free jewelry making projects. This project is from Chain Mail Jewelry: Contemporary Designs from Classic Techniques by Terry Taylor and Dylon Whyte
and I found it on the Jewelry Making site at Bellaonline.com. I’m sure that the editor got the author’s permission based on my personal experience as editor of the Dreams Site. I know that the site owner would not allow an editor to post a project without permission. The new editor of the Dreams site has kept some of my articles with my permission and she’s doing a great job, so please give her some support as well.

The article brings up the question as to what the correct spelling of Chain Maille is. I suppose if Chain Mail was approved for a published book, both may be acceptable.

These earrings are beautifully light and delicate and would look great with the right outfit at work, with your jeans for a night out and would make some amazing bellydance jewelry! You could substitute any type of gemstone or bead for the pearls or use different sizes or tones in jump rings (hmm…I’m thinking copper) and really create a fabulous piece. Get the instructions by clicking on the photo or by buying the book or checking it out from your local library


Next, Jean Campbell’s blog at Beading Daily has a great post about Creating The Perfect Gift Earrings, very timely with the holidays coming up. I like Jean because when I sent her a question to be answered in her column at The Bead Bugle, she actually answered it! And she’s provided some great advice and projects as long as I’ve been following her; around four years now, I think.

Creating The Perfect Gift Earrings

There’s only a little less than five months left ’til the holidays – and if you’re doing craft fairs, you’d better have a huge trunk full to show by late September, so get crackin’ on those dangles!

On another note, please check out this article I wrote for the local paper, a great tribute to a great lady: The Wagoner Tribune. This one was a freebie, but they offered me another assignment and I’m so excited!

Be well and be blessed,
Parthena

What If You Could Make Enough Money To Work On Your Jewelry All Day?

wire jewelry,beading,earrings,handcrafted jewelry,handmade jewelry.fashion,accessories

Free Wire Ring Projects August 3, 2009

Curly Wire And Bead Ring

None of these get me terribly excited, but if you’re thinking about learning to make rings or just starting out, they could be quite helpful. I just got my long-coveted ring mandrel at the June GemFaire show, so I’m just beginning as well. Tammy Powley does a great job of running the jewelry making site at About.com. I was rarely stuck for ideas when I was the Dreams site editor at Bellaonline.com but I’m sure that coming up with fresh new jewelry projects has got to be quite a challenge.

This quick “Curly Wire and Bead Ring” (pictured) uses just a little wire and a bead and is pretty easy to make. On the site, Tammy shows two variations, one with a hematite bead and the other with a smaller ceramic bead.

Well, fooey – the leather on my favorite necklace just broke! I didn’t make this one, I bought it from a fellow vendor at a fair. It’s a chunk of turquoise with a coral bead. I’ve been wearing it in the shower and sleeping with it on for about three months. It’s pretty thick gauge leather so I’m surprised. Guess I get to re-make it now and put my own stamp on it.

Back to making wire rings – here’s the link to a few more simple wire ring projects from About.com

Wire Ring Projects

I also got a bracelet mandrel at GemFaire, so stay tuned for bracelet projects.  Please visit my Squidoo lens, Learn To Make Wire Sculpted Jewelry for links to more great free tutorials, suppliers and more.

Be Creative and Be Blessed,

Parthena

What If You Could Make Enough Money To Work On Your Jewelry All Day?

wire jewelry,beading,earrings,step by step wire jewelry,craft competitions,contests

BeadBabe.com Announces New Free Projects Site August 1, 2009

This is exciting! I’ve been reading The Bead Bugle online magazine, published by BeadBugle.com for a few years now.  This excellent e-zine was free at first and then went to paid subscription memberships. A limited amount of information was still available to everyone.  I just got an e-mail announcing that they are building an archive site making their articles available to the general public at no charge! Here’s the link BeadBabe.com

If you want to download a printable PDF copy of the article there is a $1.00 fee, projects are $2.99.  Premium members can download them for free.  Pretty reasonable.

So, if you’ve never read The Bead Bugle you can catch up. They’re adding new articles daily, so sign up for a free – or premium – subscription for updates.

BTW, I’ve ordered pewter charms from the site and am very happy with the service and quality.

Happy Creating!

Be blessed,

Parthena

Find more resources for your creative soul at The Dreams and Visions Shoppe

wire jewelry,beading,earrings,step by step wire jewelry,craft competitions,contests

Latest Free Jewelry Projects and Contests August 1, 2009

Free Project Idea From eebeads.com

 
I’m also updating my Squidoo lens on Making Wire Sculpted Jewelry frequently with contests and freebies.

Newest Jewelry Making Contest – Vintage Challenge for Anyone. Enter to win $100 gift certificate for a package of vintage charms and findings

Make anything you want using vintage brass items and beads from eebeads.com. Your creation can contain anything from eebeads.com plus vintage items. First place winner gets the gift certificate and second place receives a package of vintage brass findimgs. Deadline is September 1st. Click here for complete details. Join the eebeads.com mailing list to keep up with weekly bonuses and specials.

Beading Daily.com keeps an ongoing blog of contests and design challenges . Click Here to see the list of upcoming events.

If you join Beading Daily today, you’ll receive “How To Make Earrings – 5 Free Jewelry Projects.” The site is sponsored by Interweave Press, publishers of hundreds of beautiful and helpful books on the creative arts as well as my favorite magazine, Step By Step Wire Jewelry. I just got my hands on the Summer 2009 issue and it rocks! More discussion on that later.

Have a wonderful weekend. If it’s too hot where you are, you might want to think about playing with clay. Go here to be inspired: Creating Polymer Clay Artist Dolls

wire jewelry,beading,earrings,step by step wire jewelry,craft competitions,contests