Jewelry and Beading Magazines

I have a great conversation question for you this morning.  Which jewelry making or beading magazines are your FAVORITE?  This question stems from a post by my bloggy friend Sara Hardin with Soft Flex.  They are having a giveaway for a subscription to the eMagazine Hand Crafted Jewelry Studio here - so check it out!

When I made the decision to be my own boss and that I was going to make jewelry full time, I thought my ultimate goal was to set faceted stones and work with gold & silver as a metalsmith.  While I still might someday (because who doesn't like pretty fancy stones?) I've gotten lost in the land of beads and wire! 

I have been a Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine subscriber for several years now.  It's the only wire jewelry magazine I've seen.  While it gives me some wonderful ideas, I figured out this year that I'm being drawn more toward beautiful lampwork beads (click here for THE BEST lampwork glass beads I've found) and even more drawn toward itty bitty seed beads.  I've always loved the look of seed bead jewelry but for some reason I didn't have the confidence that I could do it myself. 

No worries, my mother in law bought me a magazine with the russian spiral tutorial and ever since I've been looking for a seed bead support group!  LOL  So that brings me to my question... what beading magazines do you love?

I have bought several off the magazine rack over the year as I'm going to the checkout at the grocery store.  I've received old copies from friends that are no longer making jewelry... some of these are true vintage from 1995 - WOW~  Those are some old school Bead & Button.  I've seen stringing, and always try to scoop up the copy of whichever magazine I read my blogger friends are featured in.  So I'm like a patchwork quilt... a little of everything.

How about you?
Make it a terrific day!  {Hugs!}
Dawn

Seed Bead Bracelet - Trying a new stitch

In my post earlier this week I spoke about trying new things!  I really think as individuals it's so important to try new things in order to grow - both personally and creatively.  Often when I try something new it sparks a fresh level of creativity that opens my eyes and allows me to create beautiful things.

This is a spiral curvy snake chain I made using Bugle Beads, Size 5/0 and 10/0 seed beads.  The way it twists is much like a ringlet of hair and has a beautiful bounce to it.  It was much fun to create and different than the styles I've been working with.  It's funny though, working with the smaller beads was truly therapeutic.  I felt so relaxed as I sat at my table and beaded... and today I woke up refreshed and the ideas just flowed to me. 

What do you do to re-energize your creative juices?  I'd love to hear all about your muse!

{Hugs!}
Dawn

Beaded Jewelry The Complete Guide

Trying New Things

I think it's SOOOO important - both in life and in profession - that in order to grow, we have to try new things!  That's why I love following other blogs that share tutorials for different styles and techniques for jewelry design and beading.  It allows me to play which = peace and serenity AND who knows when that new technique will become a critical "WOW" in a new piece!

So today, I want to share with you one of my favorite blogs for learning new things!  Mortira over at Inspirational Beading is often sharing different styles of beading.  Over the weekend I saw her tutorial for the double spiral rope for making bracelets and necklaces.  I LOVE IT!  If you remember, earlier this year I was thrilled to learn how to create a simple spiral rope with seed beads.  But now, a DOUBLE spiral.... is that like bliss for this curly girl?  LOL

If it's sparked your curiousity, head over here --> to Mortira's Inspirational Beading and check out her great tutorial.  What I love about Mortira's tutorials are her AWESOME how-to photos.  She makes it so easy to she exactly what goes where. 

Thanks Mortira for sharing your beady knowledge with so many people.  Your work is amazing and you are an inspirational teacher!

Book Giveaway!

I wanted to share with you about a new giveaway from a dear friend of mine!  Lisa Crone the author of A Bead A Day is giving away a copy of her incredible book, A Bead in Time! 

I purchased Lisa's book about a year ago.  What I loved about it is that she offers great illustrations with her written instructions.  So regardless of your skill level, anybody can follow her tutorials and create beautiful jewelry!

Here's how you can win - head over to Lisa's blog (click here) and leave a comment on her post.  I personally, would love for YOU to win.  I've gained TONS... seriously, tons of inspiration from this book.  Lisa shares with you her inspiration behind each project and it gets your creative juices flowing beyond what you might have imagined before.

If you're impatient Irish like me, you'll want your copy whether you win or not.  So you can purchase it directly from Amazon below.  Good luck and may your inspiration flow! :)

Spiral Stitch Beaded Rope Project

This week I tried something I have never done before... I went where my beads have never taken me... I traveled to the land of BEAD WEAVING!  I know, now you're thinking... "Oh geez Dawn, yet another obsession..." and you just might be right.  But how cool is it to be able to create chunky beaded chains like the spiral rope chain to hang beautious chunky pendants on? 

I have seen the spiral rope chain created by very, Very talented beaders on their blogs and in their Etsy & Artfire Stores.  I love the look of it, and I've wanted to try it, but had no clue where to start...

In steps my MIL.  She happened to see the Best of Step By Step Beads Magazine at JoAnn's when she was picking up her flags for Memorial Day.  She flipped through and saw the bead weaving and equated it to the wire crochet that I love so much.  So she picked it up and the love of seed beads continues from there...

So over the last week I couldn't wait to get my hands into some thread and itty bitty beads.  I created this pink and chocolate spiral rope chain, which I'm going to put some cone ends on w/ a clasp and call it mine forever because it was my first-born bead weaving project.  :) 

I also created a crystal necklace using some seed beads and 6 mm crystals.  It too turned out sparkley and beautiful and will go in my jewelry box as a treasure forever.  :)    I love trying new things, it opens the mind, expands the creativity and challenges us to create something new. 

If you're looking to break through a plateau, I encourage you to pick up a book, magazine or online tutorial about something you haven't done before.  Challenge yourself to complete it and see what you can learn!

Have yourself a wonderful weekend!  On Monday, I'll be sharing with you all about a new Sponsor we have for our Blogmania Giveaway!  You'll just love her - promise! :)

{Hugs!}
Dawn

All Things Bright & Beautiful

Happy Mother's day to one & all... The moms with two-legged kids, the moms with the 4-legged furry kids, and the Mr. Moms.  All of you are so important in sharing love, teaching responsibility and helping to raise wonderful adults.  I'm so blessed to have a wonderful mom that always taught me the value of honesty, kindness and being genuine.  Our family was so rich in love, we had enough to share with all of my friends, my siblings' friends and their siblings as well. 

One thing as a child, and then as I became a young adult that you could always, ALWAYS count on was something fresh out of the oven & delicious when I came home from school, with mom waiting, asking "What did you do today?"  And then the most precious gift of all... she really listened, creating what are now wonderful memories of years gone by! 

To my mom and all of my friends that are moms, your ears are worth so much more than their proportionate size! :)  Much love, many hugs, laughter to last a lifetime.  Happy Mother's Day!

Inspired Monday!

I start everyday by making my "To Do" list of what I need to get done today, and bigger things that need to be done this week.  After finishing my list today, two words come to mind.  Holy Cow!

I've got more things to do today than I have hours in the day!  Yikes... and still, I have this burning desire to wish you all a wonderful week.  My two big projects this week are going to be creating special jewelry for two of my nieces for their birthdays.  One turns 15, the other is turning 14.  So they are at that age where they love jewelry.  That's a win for me as the gift giver! :)

I also have something very special I'm putting together for Chris' mom for Mother's Day... but that's absolutely top secret.  So for now, I must abandon my computer and get busy!  Time's ticking!

Here's your bit of jewelry inspiration for the week.  One of the books I have thoroughly enjoyed reading is A Bead in Time by Lisa Crone.  Lisa also runs a great blog and really makes it a point to get to know her readers and her blog followers.  She's become a dear friend and inspires me every day to never be afraid of trying something new!

So here's a spin on one of Lisa's projects in her book, the Golden Gate Bridge Bracelet!  You'll have to get to book to hear how she gained her inspiration for this great bangle.  One thing I can assure you is that you'll absolutely love all of her projects!

Make it a terrific day and have an AWESOME week! :)

Inspiration...

Where does your inspiration come from? For some, it comes from seeing a painting... the colors just pop out and viola - your next work of art begins to take shape. For others, it's a song - a great memory or a catchy beat that creates a spark.

Recently, I've been searching for inspiration for something new and different. I've been searching the internet and read books like crazy. What really affected me profoundly were two specific books. These great books are helping me to channel my passion for jewelry design, at the same time sparking new ideas and creativity. I know from experience that when you follow you passion, you'll be happier, and success will find you! It's really about what you want... and getting a burning desire to achieve it.

Here's the two books that greatly inspired me! Check them out and I hope you get inspired by them too!



I hope you find your passion and follow it!!!!!!!!