Summer Carnival Blog Hop !

 It's been a busy busy busy ........ summer! Where did the time go?  When Lisa sent me the beads months ago I had all kinds of plans for them. Well you know the adage - Best laid plans of mice and men - that's me this summer. Lots of plans and Lots of interferences!

Beads I had to work with. I think most of these came from Znetshows.com which has a wonderful selection of beads including this sea glass at very reasonable prices.

                                                     I love sets soooo......

I wanted to match an anklet I had made last year to make a complete set. These beads were perfect!

This is the anklet I made last summer for the Summer Elements Blog Hop by Rita with Toltec Jewels.   I wore it when my husband & I went on our first solo couple vacation for our anniversary to Cabo San Lucas. BLAST!!!

Not a great picture. Definitely need a new one. But I'm in Houston, TX & the anklet is in New Braunfels (at home), soooooo.... This will have to do!

Thank you Lisa for putting on this wonderful blog hop! I will be creating more items with the rest of the beads at a later date. I have some fantastic ideas for those lovely blue crystals!

Now I'm off to take a wonderful carnival ride! Join me by clicking here - CARNIVAL RIDE!

The Ocean Blog Hop --- 2nd Reveal!

To kick off the summer, I joined in the Ocean Blog Hop. Lisa Lodge of A Grateful Artist is our wonderful Hostess! Thank you Lisa for hosting!

Here's the beads I received. 

This hop was fun because I love walking on the beach & collecting shells & sea glass, swimming & scuba diving in the ocean.
I've seen so many beautiful beaded items lately that other creative artists have done, I was inspired.

Playing with the beads 

Sewing the "islands" together

Ocean Blog Hop June 14^th Reveal:

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends (Posting Later)

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes (Posting Sunday)

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware (Posting Sunday)

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Jill Bradley, Chat 2 Jill
Rebecca Ednie, Eclectic Endeavours 

Book Review! - Stylish Jewelry Your Way

Compiled by Karin Van Voorhees

Published by Kalmbach Books

Fabulous, Simply fabulous book!  Kalmbach has done it again! This book is a compilation of projects, styles, techniques, and designs to wet the imagination and inspire one to "get busy creating"!

Put It In Reverse with Polymer Clay by Sheryl Yanagi

All of the 32 projects of stringing, stitching, wirework, metalwork, polymer clay, metal clay, and resin have been formerly published by Kalmbach in Beautiful Jewelry Make It Wear It, Bead&Button, or Bead Style magazines. The most wonderful addition in this book is the Bonus DVD featuring 28 techniques.

If you love to create, experiment with new techniques and materials, or simply want to stimulate your creative muse for a new design, this book will do that. I just love it! The step-by-step directions are easy to follow. Pages 89-94 give Basic instruction in stringing, stitching, wirework, metalwork, clays and resin. The DVD also explains basic skills with close-up demonstrations of 28 techniques. I personally enjoyed several of these. I have tried for quite some time to get my tubular peyote stitch to look right. Seeing it close-up on the DVD was very helpful. I also enjoyed the metal clay demonstration. The DVD run time is 77 minutes; however, it is designed to watch for assistance, to refine a skill, or as a confidence builder as you work on a particular project.

Newfangled Bangle, pages 82& 83, by Sherri Haab.

The book is divided into 5 categories: Romantic Allure (7 projects), Tailored Classic (6 projects), Urban Edge (8 projects), Bohemian Beauty (6 projects), and Modern Art (5 projects). Each project also offers a Budget option to make it more affordable or a Design option for more creativity. In addition, each project lists the materials, tools and supplies, techniques, and DVD review locations. Some projects even list a location from which to purchase particular materials.

Bracelets in Bloom, page 14, by designer Naomi Fujimoto

This project is found under Romantic Allure. It has a Design Option for a ring strung on memory wire with a showcase of Lucite flowers. 

Wrap and Weave, pages 31-33, is a Tailored Classic project by Kris Silva. It has a Design Option turning the bracelet into a choker!

These Lovely Latch-backs found on pages 52 & 53 by designer Leanne Elliott Soden use metalwork and wirework techniques. Learn how to cut your own disks on the DVD!

Last but not least, a project I made!

This is the bracelet I made from the project by Kim St. Jean under Tantalizing Triangles, pages 56-58 in conjunction with the Patina Compass Blog Hop by Kathy Lindemer of Bay Moon Designs. I have already worn it & received so many complements!

This book definitely is worth adding to your collection! It instills confidence to try new techniques or just to "dabble in something different"! Try it, I think you'll like it! :)

Soutache & Bead Embroidery - Book Review!

Soutache & Bead Embroidery

by Amee K. Sweet-McNamara

Published by Kalmbach Books

What is Soutache (pronounced as "su-tash")? It is embroidery with or without beads that many have called cording or braiding. It has been around for hundreds of years, used on upholstery, uniforms, wedding dresses, and used in making tassels. I myself have used it in upholstering furniture without really knowing the names of what I was doing. 

When I received this book, I was rather unsure of what Soutache  was. However, upon further study, research, and internet exploring, I found that this technique, art form, and jewelery design is very popular. Old has become "new" again - what goes around has come around again! 

Aren't these gorgeous!

The book begins with a wonderfully detailed Supply List - which is so important for those of us who don't know where to start. Next comes eight fabulous pages of Techniques. Each technique is named with a picture & detailed description. These pages were extremely helpful as I worked through a project to refer back to for assistance.

Chapter One: Creating Basic Shapes has 6 projects. Each building techniques so that your knowledge and ability to recognize these basics grow as you go! These core concepts begin even the most elaborate of projects or designs.

Princess Earrings on page 19

This first basic shape is also known as the "lollipop". It is the nucleus for many other shapes and projects. It is finished with the "Eskimo slipper" to make a complete basic shape.

Each project gives the basic shape learned, tools to be used, materials needed, & instructions with detailed picture.

For example, the Pinwheel Bracelet highlights the Basic Shapes of pinwheels and spirals. The Bonus Skill is embellishing edge beading.

Chapter Two: Adding Elements expands on talents learned in chapter one, adding in cabochons, flat beads, rhinestone chain and more. The instructions are simplified in this chapter but if you need help, refer to the Techniques pages 10-17 at the beginning of the book.

Suspended Stone Necklace on page 41

This is the first project in Chapter Two. Each of the projects in this chapter "Concentrates" on working with certain designs, techniques, materials, etc.. with an added Bonus Skill.

The Suspended Stone Necklace project concentrates on working with large, flat beads. The Bonus Skill is working with metallic braid. Obstacles that would be encountered are addressed and overcome.

Chapter Three: Layers and Light introduces techniques to use to break up the volume of your Soutache work so that it doesn't become "heavy" both in actual weight and visual mass.
 Each project in Chapter 3 also has a Concentration Skill and a Bonus Skill.

Blissful Abundance Necklace

For example, the Blissful Abundance Necklace project on pages 79-83 concentrates on designing with multiple techniques with a Bonus Skill of Soutache-wrapped straps. Incorporating multiple techniques into a single piece increases the perception of complexity and detail. I found these projects very intriguing to my creative muse. 

"Dangerous Liaisons" necklace, 2013 from the Gallery

This book has 18 detailed projects designed to challenge the beginner and the intermediate beader. However, I think even the most advanced beader would be intrigued. The book ends with a gallery of 16 beautiful Soutache & bead embroidered jewelry creations by the author.

I have totally enjoyed this book and my interest in Soutache is piqued!

Thank you Amee Sweet-McNamara and Kalmbach Books for publishing this beautiful book!

Book Review! - Project Necklaces

Project Necklaces 

by Kalmbach Publishers

This book has a wonderful variety of projects - 30 in all - using wirework, stringing, and stitching techniques. It is designed for beginners as well as the more experienced designer.

Beginners can benefit from pages 10 & 11 with Necklace Fitting 101. These two pages are designed to help you find the perfect length for your designs; choker & collar length, princess length, matinee length, opera length, and lariats & ropes. Learning how to custom tailor your necklaces to fit each individual you design for is a must!

I liked the way this book was divided; Stringing, Single Stitches, Combined Techniques, & Wirework. Each section has projects that a beginner would find simple enough and at the same time could spark the imagination of the more experienced.

The first section is simple stringing projects. Totally designed for the beginner.

But the second Section of Single Stitches has a little versatility in it. For example, the Peacock Fan on pages 22-24 is a fairly simple beading project.

and the Get to the Point necklace on pages 31-33 is a little more advanced single beading stitch.

I totally fell in love with the Autumn Garland necklace on pages 39-41 in the third section under Combined Techniques and .......

the Elementary Engineering project on pages 54-57. This project is actually two necklaces with the same techniques but allowing for creativity in design & imagination for the more advanced beader.

My love is actually in the last section under Wirework. The project on pages 66-67, Raining Petals, gave me inspiration for my latest project with ZnetShows' Pearl Challenge.

This is the necklace I made for the Pearl Challenge.

One of my next projects will be inspired by Sew Wired on pages 73-75. This is a combination of buttons, wire, and chain. I can totally see incorporating beads & copper into this project to personalize it.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Kalmbach did a wonderful job with the pictures, instructions & art work.

BOOK REVIEW!

Metallic Seed Bead Splendor

by Nancy Zellers

published by Kalmbach

Recently I received this book from Kalmbach to review.  I found it to be an extremely interesting and very beautiful book!  Sometimes I feel like metallic can be gaudy, but that is obviously NOT always the case! The 29 projects in this book have something for everyone and are rather elegant, NOT gaudy.

Nancy begins the book with a fabulous, yet simple explanation of metallic beads, the differences and the similarities. This I found useful in how I would make my choice on which beads to use with a particular project. She even explains how to determine whether a bead will hold up over time or will damage easily based on your skin type. Good to know!!!

There are great pictures, photographs, and illustrations of bracelets, earrings, necklaces, charms, and pendants.  Each project is laid out with materials, stitches, and directions for the project with details and tips. These are very easy to follow, especially for those of us who don't regularly seed bead.

For example, I love the Opposites Attract Bracelets on pages 19-21. She shows how to make two bracelets with peyote stitch by using opposite colors in each pattern. By alternating the color this way, two unique bracelets are made and yet similar if you look hard enough. I love making adaptions of projects I see pictures of or read about. There are so many possibilities with these bracelets, I honestly can't wait to give it a try. Then if you throw in the color contrast, you can really let your imagination run wild because you wouldn't HAVE to use metallic beads!

 Isn't this interesting looking? Just let your imagination run wild!

There are also simple projects for the beginner. For example, the St. Petersburg Choker and Earrings on page 22 or Going Baroque With Pearls bracelet on page 41 are simple enough for a beginner to do. 

 Pretty and dainty, too!

I'm definitely no expert, but recently I adapted the Going Baroque With Pearls bracelet to make an anklet for the Anklet Blog Hop hosted by Kashmira Patel. I didn't have any metallic beads that matched pearl beads I had and since it was extremely late the night I decided to give it a try, midnight, I couldn't really go to the store for beads. However, I was able to lengthen the bracelet to an anklet (10 inches instead of 7) and change the beads with a little adjustment in numbers. It worked very well!  The best part is I can repeat it any time with other colors and beads.

Then there are projects for the more advanced beader; The Dragon Pearls Necklace and Earrings on page 68 or the Gold Lace Cuff on page 29.

At the end of the book, Tools For Beading, is a great page of information for the beginner seed beader. It is very informative and easy to understand. This is followed by 7 pages of Stitch Basics which are a great reminder and very helpful to those of us who only seed bead occasionally. I was able to refer to these pages throughout the book refreshing my memory on certain stitches I haven't used recently.

It's a great book for all! I highly recommend it. You can even go to Kalmbach for another preview of a few pages and projects. :)

Anklet Blog Hop - The REVEAL!!!

In April, I heard about the Anklet Blog Hop that Kashmira Patel was hosting. How fun! Since, I've never made an anklet before, I  HAD  to join in!  Yes, it has been a blast!   &  Very interesting too! I've never looked at my ankles so much :)))

The first anklet I did out of chainmaille. It's the European Rosette pattern. Next I added coral & tiger's eye chips. It dangles on the skin so nice!  This anklet turned out to be 10 inches, which from everything I've read is average for an anklet or else I just have big ankles!

At first, I added only a few beads, but then decided it didn't look finished so.....

Added more beads to finish the bracelet. I think it looks better on the ankle & it definitely feels great.


Since I was on a roll, I still had time before the reveal & was looking at a new book that Kalmbach sent me to do a book review on: Metallic Seed Bead Splendor. (Book Review will be coming soon!) I couldn't resist making another project! Page 41 is "Going Baroque with Pearls". Well.....

The pearls and seed beads I have didn't really look right together, therefore.... it was time for adaptations!  Purple crystals & iridescent pink/purple seed beads.  Sorry seed beaders - I'm still learning the names of all the crystals & seed beads. There are sooo many!!!!

This anklet is also about 10 inches long. It looks so good on the ankle and is so pretty, I think I'll make earrings & a bracelet to match.

This was fun! I've learned some new techniques & a new style of beading that I love. Thank you Kashmira! :)))

Here is a list of our wonderful hostess and the 27 participants. HAPPY BLOG HOPPING! :)
Name  Blog Kashmira Patel http://sadafulee.blogspot.com Kaushambi Shah Will post on Kashmira's blog Jean Wells http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/ Mischelle Fanucchi http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/ Shellie Grindie http://www.creativeeclectica.com/ Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/ Monique U http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com Cynthia Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com Libellula http://libellulajewelry.blogspot.com/ Kay Thomerson http://www.kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/ Mimi Gardner http://othercuriosities.blogspot.com/ Anindita Basu http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/ Rita (Toltec Jewels) http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/ Gina Hockett http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/ Tammie Everly http://ttedesigns.blogspot.com Jessica Murray http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/ Dyanne Cantrell http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com/ Ema Kilroy http://emakaye.blogspot.com/ Emma Todd http://www.apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com/ K Morgan www.TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com Sharyl McMillian-Nelson http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/ Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/ Rochelle Brisson http://acreativechelle.blogspot.com/ Michelle Buettner http://www.misheldesigns.blogspot.com/ Sandra McGriff http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/ Stephanie Weiss http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/ Shelley Graham Turner http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/ Vickie Foley http://ohabbyday.blogspot.com/ Lynda Carson Roxanne Mendoza Dagi http://freshbakeddesigns.wordpress.com/ http://roxidesigns.blogspot.com/ http://kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/
Sorry for the long length of "blank" that follows but it has something to do with the way the list of participants copied & I can't get it to delete off. :(