I recently enlisted my best friend/maid of honor/graphic designer to create the images that will appear on my wedding invitations. She was tickled pink to be asked, but flatly refused payment. As an artist myself, I knew that she deserved compensation for the hours this project would require and the years of experience she would bring ...

Last Friday, I attended Chicago’s International Expositions of Sculptural Objects & Functional Art (SOFA). I saw some innovative jewelry creations, such as the woman who showed me a ring that, when not being worn, fits seamlessly into a freestanding, abstract sculpture. “Form and function,” she explained simply. I was particularly taken ...

A few months ago, Bead&Button Editor Ann Dee Allen blogged about the efforts to help The Bead Museum in Glendale, Ariz., keep its doors open despite distressing economic times. The Bead Museum is the last of its kind in the world after the bead museum in Washington D.C. was forced to close earlier this year. Today, I’m happy to report that ...

I’ve just discovered Kumvana Gomani’s fabulous recycled-materials jewelry. Her fashion-forward collection is created from reclaimed PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic and aluminum. I particularly like her snö jewelry, including this necklace and these earrings – what cool holiday gift ideas! Plus you can rest easy knowing that your purchase ...

This week, in addition to taking one last look at the pages of BeadStyle's January issue before it heads to the printer, I start editing the 2010 Bead&Button Show class catalog. "But the Bead&Button Show is months away," you say. Is it, or is it right around the corner? Here are some upcoming dates to keep in ...

Craftstylish.com recently covered Jessica Jones and her blog How about orange…, which currently features an awesome paper project: DIY gift bows made from magazine pages. I knew this project had to be adaptable to BeadStyle readers, but how…? Certainly I would never advocate the dissection of back issues of BeadStyle, but there had to be ...

Swarovski has released a PDF of this year’s holiday project ideas! Download and print their “Twinkling Yuletide” inspiration guide as a PDF, or view the projects on Fire Mountain Gems and Beads’ Web site. My favorite projects are the ornaments: angels, wreaths, and Christmas trees, all aglow in sparkling crystal! If I start now, I should have ...

As a soon-to-be-bride, I’ve got my finger on the pulse of the wedding industry, and I’m especially on the lookout for fun ways to add a beaded touch to my big day. So were Alanna and Benjamin of Morristown, New Jersey, whose wedding is featured at marthastewartweddings.com. Check out their photo album to see Alanna’s beaded bouquet (photo 6), the ...

I have a rule: I don’t plug stuff I don’t believe in. So when I previously blogged about Addie Kidd’s “Learn to make your own clasps” video from Jewelry Classes on Demand, it was because I was excited to try her techniques. And I did! Some backstory: My fiancé wears a gold cross on a chain around his neck that was a gift from his parents on his ...

Lately, my dressy work heels have been causing me pain – turns out walking on your tip-toes does all kinds of funky things to the muscles in the lower half of your body, and my lower half has had enough. Time to retire those heels! In honor of their memory, check out these high-heel pendants from designers Azumi and David. When you open the link, ...