There's a new challenge over at Art Bead Scene. They're looking for some great jewelry designs that combine pearls and art beads. Check out the rules, details, and prizes listed on their blog post . And then get those creative fingers in gear. And if you don't have the beads you need, check...

This weekend, I made 14 pairs of heart earrings. They're part of a gift bag that winners at the Team in Training bachelor auction will receive. So far, I've made 24 pairs, using glass hearts, Lucite, and plastic. (By the way, the auction website isn't up yet; give them a few days.) I didn't...

We’ve been working fast and furious around here on a special issue called UNDER $25 . The issue will be coming out in May. UNDER $25 will have several projects that cost less than $25 to make, several projects that cost less than $20 to make, several under $15, and several under $5. It’s always fun to...

Lately I've been pouring my creativity into redesigning my bedroom. After reading up on feng shui and Moroccan design, I painted the walls a deep fuchsia and got a garnet-colored velvet duvet cover. Now, I'm hunting for gold, amethyst, and turquoise accents (pillows, vases, picture frames, etc...

When our re-designed January issue comes out, we'll be including more information about our designers. Salena Safranski, who used to work for the Kalmbach Books department, designed a beautiful double-drilled pearl necklace and earrings. She's a big fan of coffee and says that her inspiration...

This weekend I bought a strand of turquoise from Planet Bead. I loved the organic-looking slices, so this was a must-have. Now I'm pondering the design. I prefer the simplest of designs, so I'm tempted to string silver Charlottes between each piece, or maybe between groupings of slices. Or, I...