Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet

After 25 years of creating art and teaching others how to do it, I've realized that so much of what I do is about making connections

Another one of my favorite books! This is a great book if you're just starting out with metals. Using a jeweler's saw isn't really hard (as you can see in Kazmer's Making Connections) but if you want to see what you can do with scissors, this is the book to use. There's a bit more filing with scissors than with a jeweler's saw but for the beginner it might be worth it - it'll make you a great file-er! :-) Lots of great projects here all beautiful! Another great book from Hettmansperger!

Get it from Independent Bookseller, Powell's Bookstore in Seattle

Brenda Schweder Channels Tim Gunn

Here's the $10,000 question

What a great first line to a jewelry book! I'll just say it now - I love this book!! Brenda Schweder has a quirky sense of humor which shows throughout but more than that, I think she's channeling Tim Gunn with this book and has seen my stash of vintage/antique/heirloom jewely collecting dust in a box on my dresser. How did she do that?

There are so many inspiring techniques and tips in this book. You can tell that Schweder does what she writes about and does it well. Just buy it - if you've got a stash of grandma's jewelry or want a stash of vintage jewelry to play with - this is the book for you. It will show you how to upcycle and create lovely jewelry - what's better than that?!

BeadLit Is....Sign Up!

Since BeadLit is fairly new and it's getting new subscribers everyday, some may wonder what the heck is BeadLit? BeadLit is a Twitter I was inspired to start when I read about TwitterLit. TwitterLit is a twitter that posts the first line of a piece of literature with an link to the actual book. I thought it was a cool idea to do with beads! Why would I think so? I'm a glass beadmaker who has been making flameworked glass beads for 8 years and selling them from my website for 4 years. I designed jewelry with beads prior to making glass beads and continue to design jewelry. I string jewelry, I wire wrap, I do metal work, I work with seed beads - you name the technique, I've probably done it and bought a book about it! So, I have a long love affair with the bead and only someone who truly loves them would have half of her studio dedicated to books about beads. I want to share the bead-love with you! You'll be able to read a line about bead and/or jewelry making on the go!

On Tuesdays, I'll Twitter the first line of a beadmaking/jewelry design book - beadmaking of all mediums, glass, clay, metal, paper - you name it! - I'll BeadLit-Twitter the first line of how to make beads, how to design with beads, history of beads, design techniques with beads - anything related to a bead and written in a book.

So, sign up to follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BeadLit

Until next Tuesday, Peace and Beads!

Crochet Jewelry

Crochet has been undergoing a wonderful renaissance in the last several years.

I was taught to crochet by my mother when I was about 8 years old. It was the late sixties and crochet was hot. I crocheted my way through the early 70's and insisted on it in the early '80's. I finally sold all my yarn and hooks in the late 80's. About 6 years ago, I picked up the hook again all because of a beaded crochet rope. I wanted to bead crochet, something I'd never done as a kid. I'm glad crochet is back and as with every revived craft, it's got a different twist on it. This time, it's jewelry.

Bead Journey: Jewelry from around the World

Everyone needs a bit of a vacation to distract them from day-to-day life, and visiting a new location, whether it's across the street, or across the globe, invites us to experience and appreciate cultures that are fresh and exciting to us.

The crafter-beader can depend on BeadStyle Books to publish books full of interesting projects. Reasonably priced with step by step directions supported with clear photos, it is a wise investment for one's bookshelf.

Cool Custom Jewelry by Melinda Barta

For me, making jewelry is not just about the beads, it is about the process it takes to get to a finished design

Melinda Barta's written a clever book for a quick jewelry fix. Techniques aren't too complicated and you'll find a large variety to choose from. If you've never jumped into the jewelrymaking pond, this is a good book to start with. If you'd like to try your hand at altered art style jewelry, this is a good book. If you'd like to expand your jewelrymaking repetoire, this is a good book. In fact, this is just a good book for anyone interested in the hottest trend in jewelry - altered art.

Zulu Inspired Beadwork

Zulu beadwork is multifaceted and has been studied, written about, and exhibited for cultural, aesthetic, and historic reasons.

Another jewelry design idea: Use Zulu style beadwork as the foundation of your designs. Continue to expand your repetoire of techniques and learn the easy Popcorn Stitch included in Fitzgerald's book.







Photo Credit Interweave Press