Blog for Beaders

The piece I created resulted from several different things. The biggest thing is that my sister, Cynthia Thornton, just released a book called Enchanted Adornments: Creating Mixed-Media Jewelry with Metal Clay, Wire, Resin & More from Interweave Press. To celebrate the release of the book, we became sponsors of the prize for Art Bead Scene’s November challenge. The prompt for this month is Richard Dadd’s The Fairy Fellers’ Master-Stroke. I just moved and unearthed a box from Artbeads.com during the unpacking process. To pass the time while unpacking, I’ve been listening to Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell on book on tape. As soon as I saw the Russian pendant, I was instantly inspired and the fairy theme came together. It took a couple of tries and some patience, but I finally figured out how to put the piece together seamlessly.

To learn more about the necklace and its inspiration, visit my blog post.

- By Artbeads.com Customer Andrew

[Read more →]

Inspired by a Michelle Shocked song as well as being a Shakespeare quote from “The Merchant of Venice”, the “Quality of Mercy” necklace was created with turquoise nuggets, Bali silver beads and a gorgeous Bali silver clasp, all from Artbeads. The focal piece cross is my own creation handcrafted of polymer clay embellished with a found angel charm. See it at www.LonesomeRoadStudio.com

- By Artbeads.com customer LonesomeRoadStudio

[Read more →]

Just like in the background of the picture I wanted a lush green background to the necklace. To achieve this look, I braided three strands of the Green Spider Jasper Cubes. I attached the druk beads to the filigree to represent the unopened blooms peeking out from the leaves. With a blast of big bold color, the double strands lead you eye to that beautiful ripple pendant, just like the pedals lead your eye to the center of the flower. That is my inspiration and my bit of summer to take with me into winter.

Here are the ArtBeads products I used:
Donut Rust Ripple – Product Code: SBRB4
Green Spider Jasper Cubes – Product Code: 48760
Rainbow Carnelian Squares – Product Code: LTD-1447
Glass Druk Bead Topaz 8mm (25 Pack) – Product Code: DRUK-TOPA8

- By Artbeads.com customer Tish McDermott
http://www.justatish.com

[Read more →]

The necklace is titled “Japanese Lanterns” and also features a polymer clay pendant created by me using an image transfer technique.  The image depicted is of a vintage Japanese woodcut.  I was drawn to the colorful graphics, but it sat on my worktable for weeks while I searched for the perfect gemstones to complete the necklace design.   Beads I picked up had too much cherry red in them, and I felt it needed something in the Chinese red family of orange-reds, or possibly a chameleon bead that would adapt to more than one color palette.  I knew I found that when I saw the Salmon/Peridot Czech glass rondelles!  They are perfect accents and bring out the reds in the pendant. 
 
Thank you so much!

- By Artbeads.com customer Lynda
www.scdiva.etsy.com

[Read more →]

My inspiration was doing something with fall colors by using the new Swarovski color, Red Magma. 
 
3 – 26×16mm Topaz Leaf Pendant
7 – 4mm Tanzanite Bicones
24 – 4mm Olivine Bicones
8 – 8mm Faceted Red Magma Rounds
31 – 1/2″ headpins
11 – 6mm 20 gauge jumprings
3 – 8mm jumprings
20 gauge wire
1 – twisted toggle clasp
 
Make simple loops on all 8 Red Magma rounds
Make simple loops with all 31 – 4mm Bicone beads with the 1/2″ headpins
 
Attached two 6mm jumprings to one end of clasp and then one 8mm round and alternate and end with added two 6mm to the other end of the clasp.
 
Attach the 3 Topaz Leaf Pendants with the 8mm jumprings spacing them evenly along way.
Attach one 4mm Tanzanite bicone to each 8mm jumpring

- By Artbeads.com customer Jeannie Dukic
www.jkdjewelry.com

[Read more →]

I’d like to share this piece with your Customer Gallery of Designs. The lariat is made with gold-filled chain, Swarovski bicones and a Swarovski Teardrop Pendant in Crystal Volcano, and twisted gold wire.

Hope you like it!

- By Artbeads. com customer Moira McEvoy
www.mysticpesto.artfire.com

[Read more →]

Hello, I used Fresh Water Pearls & Andalusite Briolettes wire wrapped with sterling silver wire on sterling silver threaders. I love texture & movement…that was my inspiration for this piece. Thanks - Artbeads.com customer

[Read more →]

Hi! I created the “Outlaw” necklace using stabilized turquoise beads and copper components purchased from Artbeads. The focal piece is my own, created of polymer clay. It is available in my Etsy shop.

- By Artbeads.com customer Angie

[Read more →]

Hi, my name is Bridgette.
I found your site while trying to find inspiration for new jewelry to add to my small beading business, which I started this summer (www.beadingbee.webs.com). I found the Flat Teardrop Pendant Amethyst Swirl and thought it was gorgeous and had to try making something with it. I bought 2, and while playing around with ideas for them, I decided that they would make very cute earrings. I think the hardest part about making these earrings was I used 18 gauge wire and was having trouble figuring out how to make the beads rest nicely looped onto the wire, but I’m new at working with wire.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show off my earrings!

- Artbeads.com customer Bridgette

[Read more →]

I recently made this necklace for the etsy-beadweavers August challenge, First Ladies of Style. I started with the drool-worthy 40X27mm fancy pear in montana sapphire, bezeled it in size 11 delicas and size 15 seed beads, and then wrapped 4mm crystals all the way around it. It looked a little lonely, so I added more montana sapphire rivolis (2 14mms, and 3 12mm on each side)and hundreds more 4mm crystals. Finished it off with some herringbone braids and a sparkly wheel for a toggle. Please visit www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com to see more lovely creations. To hear more about the construction of this piece, please visit my blog at www.libeado.blogspot.com

Thanks!

- Artbeads.com customer Gretchen Coats

[Read more →]