BeadStyle : design

Bonus design: Design alternative for "Multifaceted multicolored multistrand" necklace

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:48:00 GMT

If you made the "Multifaceted multicolored multistrand" projects in the November 2009 issue, you might have a few gemstone nuggets left over. After I made mine, I had two rubies and ten amethysts left, as well as a couple of strands of pearls.

So in the spirit of "less is more," I decided to make a superlong necklace with my extra supplies.

The meaning of "superlong" may be up for debate, but to me, 48 inches or longer seems very long. (That's an arbitrary assessment.)

I strung pearls and faceted gold spacers on .010 flexible beading wire. At 12-inch intervals, I strung a nugget.

I opted to skip the clasp on this necklace, finishing instead with a large-hole gold spacer. In retrospect, a clasp might have been a good idea: the strand is not quite the right length for a bracelet. So plan ahead.

Another thing I learned from making this: .010 wire tends to kink on the end, so trimming it when it got jammed made the stringing easier.

The necklace looks pretty when worn as long and short strands, or wrapped two or three times.

Design your own jewelry – on Nintendo DSi?

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:41:00 GMT

News of a recently announced video game from Ubisoft both intrigues and irritates me. It’s called Style Lab: Jewelry Design and it was designed for “tween” girls (ages 8–12) to play on their Nintendo DSi.

At first blush, the game sounds cool: An article from News 8 Austin explains that “users not only design their own jewelry from scratch but also run a virtual boutique, selling that jewelry and interacting with customers.” Teaching girls about jewelry design and entrepreneurship? I’m all for it!

The article goes on to say that girls can then virtually try on their jewelry creations. According to Ubisoft, girls can upload their photos into the game so they can “wear” the virtual necklaces, bracelets, and earrings they design. Now that’s got even me interested – so often I’ve sketched a design and thought, “Well, who knows if this would look good when worn.”

But then the game turns in a direction that let me down. According to Karen Louie of Ubisoft, “What you’re going to be able to do is design custom jewelry pieces, necklace, bracelets, and earrings, right in the game. You’ll be able to upload them to our Web site, and then order them from the manufacturer and they’ll be mailed to your door.”

Wait a second: So those burgeoning jewelry designers won’t even learn the art of bead stringing? They’ll design within the constraints of large-scale manufacturing? They’ll pay a laborer to make their own designs? Kind of puts a stopper in creativity and takes your hand out of handmade. But maybe that’s not the point of the game. Decide for yourself when Style Lab: Jewelry Design comes out in early December. As for me, I think I’ll stick to designing in the real world.

Summer reading list

Cathy Jakicic — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:43:00 GMT

When I was a kid, I used to spend most of my summers planted in a lawn chair with a pile of books. I don't have the luxury of that kind of a summer reading list now, but I did get a chance to browse three great beading books recently.

The first is Krystal Wick's "Fabulous Fabric Beads" (Interweave $22.95) I picked it up after taking a class from Krystal at the Bead&Button Show. The book contains everything to need to know about making fabric beads (like Krystal's Sassy Silkies) and turning them into beautiful jewelry. It is a tribute to Krystal's creative and generous spirit that she shares for many of reative secrets. It's a beautiful book.

The second to close to BeadStyle's heart. "Jewelry in a Flash" (Kalmbach $19.95) is the book version of our special publication "Under 1 Hour." As the title suggests, the projects are quick and fun, and though we weren't really stressing it at the time, they're also very budget friendly.

Finally, lovers of wirework and earrings should check out Denise Peck's "101 Wire Earrings" (Interweave $19.95). It has lots of great design ideas and it beutifully photograghed. Denise is editor of Step by Step Wire Jewelry, so she knows her way around wire!

Bird-themed pendant necklaces

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:54:00 GMT

Great minds design alike: Reader Teresa Lawhorn emailed us, "Imagine my surprise when I turned to page 70 to see Carol McKinney's "Frugal flight of fancy" design" (in the May 2009 issue).

In the version that appeared in the magazine (below), Carol strung the pendant with turquoise, her favorite gemstone:

Teresa also created a necklace with the branch pendant. To embellish the pendant, she wire wrapped bicone crystals in violet and light rose with two-toned glass flower beads. She also attached translucent green leaves. She says, "I plan to add some small beads to glue in the nest as eggs next!"

The pendant is available from Michaels or Jo-Ann.

You can see more of Teresa's work at Jewelry Designs by Teresa and Carol's at Lemon Leopard.

We love to see your work. If you have a project that's similar to or inspired by something you've seen in BeadStyle, send a jpg to editorATbeadstylemagDOTcom.

New Xilion bead

Cathy Jakicic — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:48:00 GMT

Though there’s been buzz about this for awhile, the official press release arrived this week about the new Crystallized – Swarovski Elements Xilion bead.

Called an enhancement of the popular bicone shape (5301), the Xilion (5328) has more facets and a hole with rounded edges to “amplify sparkle” and protect threads.

According to the release, the Xilion’s “harmonious design and dimensions make possible beautiful combinations with its predecessor, the bi-cone bead 5301.”
Good news for bicone fans, especially those with a stash. More good news – you can call your bicones ”vintage” soon. That makes a sexier label for the jewelry designs you sell!

The Xilion,which will be phased in gradually, will be available in 66 colors, 20 effects, and in sizes from 3 mm to 10 mm. The 2.5 mm bicone will still be available.

Bonus design: Design alternative for pearl necklace (July 2009 cover)

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:30:00 GMT

I just wanted to share a design alternative I made for the Pearlish Figure necklace (on the cover of the July issue). (For the main version, I used two strands of cornflake-sized white keshi pearls and a mix of pale grey and blue crystals.) In the design below, the bronze pearls below are much bigger — 20–22 mm.

If you use larger pearls, you can create a lush necklace with only one strand. This strand has a variety of shapes; some of the pearls are dense and puffy and some are smooth and flat. I strung the pearls with 4 mm light smoked topaz bicone crystals because I wanted the sparkle to match. (That's also why I finished with a copper clasp and chain rather than gold.) I bought the golden champagne pearls from Lucky Gems & Jewelry Factory. You may also want to try Pearlwear or Eclectica, 262.641.0910. Just make sure the pearls are top-drilled to get the clustered look.

For earrings, I chose two of the smaller pearls and strung them on handmade head pins from Lauren Hadley (available by phone order, 201.767.1229, or mariemarie103@aol.com).

I would love to see how you've made the cover look your own. Feel free to send a jpg to nfujimotoATbeadstylemagDOTcom.

Master class mastered!

Cathy Jakicic — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:49:00 GMT

These picture are from the master class I took at this year's Bead&Button Show and the resulting graduation ceremony. I took Valerie Hector's Chinese bead weaving class. It was wonderful!! I though after three day my brains and all urge to bead-weave would just leak out of my ears when I went to bed, but I was completely energized by the experience and can't wait to do more.

Most of the credit for this goes to Valerie. She's a remarkable teacher. Intelligent, funny, patient, prepared, and very encouraging.

And her knowledge and curiousty in the area of Chinese bead weaving and culture was really impressive. I also have to give a lot of credit to my classmates.

As anyone who takes (or teaches) a lot of classes can tell you, the students are always the big wild card. I'm happy to say that every single person in the master class was delightful - creative, generous, and fun.

For those of you at the show - what was your favorite class?

Great recessionista idea

Cathy Jakicic — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:23:00 GMT

Word of mouth is a fabulous thing for finding life's hidden treasures. My sister just told me about a jewelry line (that a friend told her about) that has hit on a great idea in financially challenging times for artists. The line is called "Circle of Friends." The necklaces feature a simple circle-centric pendant that is customized with a few gemstones. Each piece is only $10, and the many different styles offered make them really nice, personalized gifts for a range of different personalities and styles. It goes to show that with a really simple, adaptable idea, it's possible to keep material costs down enough to be able to offer a reasonably priced, but not cheap-looking creation.

Have you seen this bead?

Cathy Jakicic — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:31:00 GMT

I'm currently working on a cool project by designer Ute Bernsen of Silk Painting Is Fun that uses silk cord (naturally), a beautiful Clay River pendant, a number of Vintaj accents, and some random small beads, including the one that's currently giving me fits - a copper knot. I was sure we had one like it in our stash, but I can't find it. Any ideas where I can get one?

Design is in the details

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

I've been thinking lately about jewelry — not a specific piece, but in general. Jewelry making is another expression of my perfectionist tendencies (which Jane calls "sometimes endearing"). Starting with the beads: I prefer not to order online, because I like to handle gemstones to get a true sense of their size and heft, in addition to the color. Once I've thoroughly considered the beads, I move on to being picky about virtually every other aspect of the piece: clasp style and scale (I think box clasps are pretty, but I rarely deviate from lobster claws or toggles), accent beads (they should complement, not detract from, the focal), spacers used on a finishing — and throughout the piece, who am I kidding. I'm exacting about length, too, and check the fit numerous times before I commit to the finish. (Also, I never wear jewelry over a turtleneck — instead, I'll accessorize with huge earrings and a cocktail ring. But that's a style peculiarity, not a design one.)

With earrings, I prefer a 21-gauge wire with a coil. Not a ball, unless it's only 1 mm. If I use post earrings, I like a 3–4 mm ball — the exact size depends on the scale of the dangle. And the decision to use a plain or wrapped loop, that may seem arbitrary but rarely is. I sometimes worry that I'll get lost in the details and lose the bigger picture, but I find I don't enjoy the bigger picture unless the details feel right.

Yes, it's tiring. A person might not notice these details — and, in fact, they may be trivial. But that's the thing about jewelry: one person's minutia is another person's dealbreaker. What kinds of things are you fanatical about when it comes to making jewelry?

One editor's favorite BeadStyle projects

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:07:00 GMT

Every January, the BeadStyle staff does a one-day retreat at Cathy's house, where we talk about our goals and our wish-list for the magazine. We also review what we enjoyed from the past year. This year, we have a homework assignment: to bring our thoughts about our five favorite BeadStyle projects. In preparation for tomorrow's get-together, I thought I'd share my list here.

What does it mean to select our favorite projects? Could I just say, "Ornaments," because those are my favorite to design, year after year? Or should I evaluate the projects based on what struck me as the most dazzling? Or what taught the reader the most?

As it turns out, I used none of these criteria. Instead, as I paged through the issues from the last five years, I realized that the projects I liked best are the ones I still wear. Here they are, starting with the most recent:

• Pearly girl, by Naomi Fujimoto, September 2005. (Okay, it may seem narcissistic to pick my own design, but I hope you'll cut me some slack.) Even though the pieces are made mostly with round beads, the effect isn't boring. I also like the way the necklace, bracelet, and earrings work with other pieces, too.

• Facet fascination, by Diana Grossman, July 2005. Diana has a beautiful eye for color and has designed more elaborate pieces (like Chandelier cheer), but this is my favorite. I think her simple treatment of the huge glass bead is brilliant; these necklaces have a perfect sense of proportion. It can be challenging to create clean, pretty designs, but she makes it look easy.

• Heart to heart, by Brenda Schweder, July 2005. Brenda is a regular contributor and this is less bold than most of her designs, but just as interesting. The oversized, off-center heart is stylish and not at all cutesy. I layer my necklace with others (it's also very eye-catching when worn solo). You know you love a piece when you put together your outfit around your jewelry.

• Instant heirlooms, by Jan Kostura, July 2005. Apparently July 2005 was a good issue. This necklace is stunning: the combination of hot pink and turquoise with the scalloped settings looks both fresh and retro. And it gives me another excuse to wear a turquoise shirt.

• Hoop dreams, by Jill Italiano, September 2004. I didn't "borrow" these earrings (as I did the other favorites), but Jill's design is both pretty and basic. Plus, this design never goes out of style. She has an excellent design sense and top-notch craftsmanship (check out her portfolio to see more of her work).

So those are the pieces I'm still wearing. I'm curious about what Cathy, Jane, Erin, Stacy, Linda, Carole, and Serene will choose. And what about you? If you haven't already, try our search engine when you're looking for past projects — it's probably easier than going through five years of back issues.

Briolettes for January 2009 cover project

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:15:00 GMT

A few readers have had problems finding briolettes for the January cover project. When the magazine went to production, I had confirmed that the briolettes were available from Oriental Gemco and Dakota Stones, but it's occasionally difficult for vendors to reorder unusual items.

At Oriental Gemco, I just found these smoky quartz and whiskey quartz briolettes. I know $348 is a lot for gemstones, but the cost comes from the faceting, as well as the material. While you can score good deals if you search long enough, I think you also get what you pay for. That said, holidays (and the generally glum economy) can make reasonably priced gemstones more appealing. For one example, the rose quartz briolettes from The Earth Bazaar are a cost-effective option. Their deals last for one week, though, so don't spend too much time deliberating....

Here are some alternative options:

The Earth Bazaar has some moss agate arrow beads (toward the bottom of the page). Also, Rings & Things has a nice selection of 20 mm fans (also limited stock). Briolettes may also be described as pear-, heart-, onion-, or fan-shaped beads. (I'd suggest forgoing the onion shapes; their roundness makes them a little bulky for this design.)

Try deep violet amethyst twists or citrine marquises (from Earth Bazaar).

House of Gems has smaller (6–14 mm) pear-shaped briolettes (I especially love the ametrine, ruby, and pink tourmaline). You can string this design with smaller briolettes; just use a finer chain — maybe a flattened cable, figaro, or box chain with a bit of sparkle?

I hope this helps. Readers and vendors, we welcome links for any other sources. Thanks!

Notes on big briolette necklaces

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:07:00 GMT

I’m a fan of big briolettes.

To turn them into jewelry, I prefer straightforward stringing to the drudgery of wrapped loops. (One or two wrapped loops isn't bad, but for some reason, anything more than that seems like a lot of work.) For the January cover story, I simply strung the aqua quartz briolettes and attached each end to a chain. Voila! the busy girl's accessory.

The necklace I actually ended up wearing, though, is the clear quartz version (instructions are in the issue). Right now, I'm wearing more gold than silver and I like the organic-looking gold wire wraps. Plus, this version is more lightweight and wearable.

In another fit of big-bead mania, I found these zebra jasper flat teardrops (also called "fans") at a Rings & Things cash-and-carry sale. The $9 strand had ten 35 mm pieces, all the same size and shape. When strung, though, the effect is still very 3-D and biblike. The necklace works well with all the black and gray I've been wearing.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the January issue. We had a lot of fun putting it together!

Limited edition jewelry at Target

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:17:00 GMT

I just saw a print ad for Dean Harris' jewelry line at Target. Target's press release notes that the pieces are reminiscent of nature, "fusing organic shapes and designs to create feminine and delicate adornments." Harris, a self-taught designer who lives in New York, uses sterling silver, gemstones (especially pale shades of amethyst and quartz), shells, and pearls.

Prices range from $19.99 to $79.99. There are also two holiday pieces priced at $99.99 and $249.99 — perhaps a little high, but it's still an opportunity to own a Dean Harris design. (Pieces from his own line can set you back thousands of dollars.)

One of my favorite pieces is the sterling silver leaf charm necklace. (It's similar to Cynthia Wuller's Wirework project that appeared in the January 2007 issue of BeadStyle.) I also like the twisted vine heart pendant, maybe because it reminds me of Brenda Schweder's Heart to Heart project from July 2005. I like the simplicity and the flattering shapes in the collection.

The collection is available through December 26th. So check it out — consider it market research — and let us know what you think (and whether you buy any of the pieces!).

PS: If you like Brenda's designs or Cynthia's wirework, find out more about them here.

Alexis Bittar

Naomi Fujimoto — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Even though it's hard to let go of summer and transition into fall, it's easier when I can still find inspiration in fun, colorful designs. Like the ones by Alexis Bittar. He's best known for his hand-carved Lucite necklaces, bangles, earrings, pins, and rings. Mixing color and texture, he creates pieces in geometric shapes (circles, half circles, marquises), sometimes layering or linking them.

The jewelry has a very 1980s feel — Madonna is one of his fans — maybe because he grew up in the 80s. One of my favorites is the Brat Pack necklace. (About a decade ago, I was inches away from Judd Nelson, who walked his girlfriend to her seat before a taping of Suddenly Susan. Ah, if only I could have caught his attention with a fabulous accessory.)

Back to Bittar: Here's a quick tour of his studio, where he talks about the inspiration for his collections. Be sure to also check out his website, where you can see his semiprecious collection (where he embellishes with tiny "caviar" gemstones) and the sculptural (if oddly named) Miss Havisham collection.