Handmade Artists' Forum Blog » beading

Beading Excellence

Handmade Artists' Forum and Shop — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:24:48 +0000

4 His Glory Creations by CJ

Some people talk about creativity and passion, while others live it! Such is so true about CJ Bauschka who is the sole caregiver of her mother as well as wife and mother of eight children as well as Grammy to four grandchildren! She is passionate about her family and loves to make large meals to feed her hungry boys. Even with all that family, CJ has become a full time artist and instructor who has been featured in some hot shot places.

CJ was an art lover from an early age.She recalls a time in first grade, looking through a book of 17^th and 18^th century artists and becoming so enthralled that all thoughts of class were gone.She pursued her budding creative streak by using the sketch pads that her parents happily supplied and learning to sew Barbie clothes from her grandmother.CJ is convinced that she would have loved school much more if she would have been allowed to just take art classes…and to this day thanks her art teachers for their encouragement.

CJ, like so many of us artists out there, has dabbled in any number of mediums including tole painting, crocheting, sewing, knitting, felting, oil painting, drawing, scrapbooking, card making, dolls and teddy bears, and more!After all of that, she found what really gets her heart racing…beads! CJ once bought a book of Native American beadweaving and began collecting all kids of beads with high hopes of learning to use them. After flipping through magazines and seeing others creations, she decided that if they could do it so could she and she set out to teach herself everything she could about her newfound passion. I’m sure that many can relate to her feeling of pure happiness and excitement when she steps into a bead store.

CJ began her business, 4 His Glory Creations by CJ in 1999. She made angel pins that represented various jobs. She has to laugh when she sees all her carefully chosen components for those pins are now considered vintage! She grew in her business and began selling at craft shows, farmers markets, art fairs, and to friends and family.

Now that CJ is an accomplished beader, she passes her love of the art along to others in the form of teaching others as well as submitting patterns to bead magazines. In June 2009, CJ’s piece Eye of the Twister was published in Bead and Button Magazine. Later, in June 2010, Bead and Button published her design entitled Mirror Mirror. Just to add to the fun, that same year the hard bound book, Volume 5, came out and CJ’s piece, Eye of the Twister made the cover! In July 2010 she was published in Bead Trends for her design titled Lady Adaline and she has another publication coming out in October of this year.

CJ is even more than a wife, daughter, mother, and extremely talented bead artist; she is also generous. CJ believes that her talent is God given and that she needs to pass her blessings along to others. In order to do this, CJ gives a portion of her sales to a local non-profit and founded a ministry in her community to help provide groceries to families in need.

Are you ready to see more from this talented artisan?Well, you can find her on the HandmadeArtistsShop or on her personal website as well as her blog and FaceBook

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Why I Knot Between the Beads

beadbear — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:40:18 +0000

Knotting between the beads is important for a variety of reasons. Bead stringing, properly speaking, is a form of rigging. Where a knot is placed, it strengthens the cord three-fold. Consequently, if cord with a tensile strength of 17lbs. The cord is strengthened to 51lbs.10lb-test becomes 30lbs, etc. Thus, it secures the beads. This is especially true when a variety of different sized beads and materials are used. If the cord breaks, there is only one or two beads to pick up off the floor. Losing precious metal beads, or gemstones, can make it costly to repair.
I use a variety of different stringing material as well. I use anything that will take a knot. Generally, I will use silk, or linen. These are natural fibers, and are quite sturdy and durable. Cotton is too weak. I also use braided kevlar, of varying thicknesses. Kevlar is used in bullet-proof vests, as well as the suits astronauts wear. I often use kevlar with beads that have rough holes.
I never use tiger-tail, or any of the coated wires that many others use. Wire eventually will cut the beads, particularly pearls and opals, which are quite soft. Furthermore, when metal fatigue sets in, which it will, sooner or later that wire will kink. That kink will not only weaken it, but will cause the necklace to not to wear properly. Wire is just too stiff for necklaces and bracelets, in my opinion.
Second and more important, a knotted necklace will lay better against the body. Indeed, knotted necklaces will conform to the body of the wearer. Thus it actually becomes a part of the wearer. And you will wear the jewelry, rather than the other way ’round. So there is no “Afghan hound” effect. That is particularly vital when wearing a large piece.
Yes, it takes longer to assemble a knotted necklace. I knot each bead into place, by hand. I do not employ any of the bead-stringing devices that are available, because it does not allow me to place the knot closely by the holes on each side of the bead. Again, this is of particular importance when using beads of differing sizes, shapes or material (metal, glass, gemstone). I create my jewelry the time-honored traditional way, one bead at a time, and one knot at a time.
Beads reflect a tradition dating back to 3000 BC These beads were worn to promote good luck, and for protection from misfortune (the evil eye or malocchio). Archeological evidence suggests that concepts linking eyes and protective magic to beads evolved in western Asia and Africa, and were carried west and east with developing trade routes. The oldest eye beads made were drilled stones like agate and carnelian.
I see both antique and contemporary beads as a link to the past through work that will last into the millennium. Beads and jewelry reflect where we are today, what we were, and who we will become. One can neither break nor ignore the thread of history, for like a strand of beads, the result would be chaos.
Wear your beads in good fortune!
Thanks,
Beadbear

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Myriad Design

MyriadDesign — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:25:25 +0000

I am new to Handmade Artists Shop and the Forum blog. So I though I would give all of you a short blog to start off by, providing my links to where I sell and what forums I belong to:

Handmade Artists’ Shop: http://handmadeartistsshop.com/shop/MyriadDesign

Etsy:http://www.etsy.com/people/Myriaddesignjewelry?ref=si_pr

Blogspot: http://myriaddesignblog.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Myriad_Design-Artisan-Crafted-Jewelry-and-more/211888015504463

Artisan Jewelry Designers: http://artisanjewelrydesigners.ning.com/profile/LindaEkblad

Twitter: http://twitter.com/myriad_design

Check these sites out to find out a little more about me, what I sell and my interests. I am glad to be a part of another Artists’ forum.

Myriad Design Jewelry

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Bead Weaving by Hanny Beads

Handmade Artists' Forum and Shop — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:05:51 +0000

Over the top? Or just right, I guess it depends on the person. All I know is that Hanny Beads makes some amazing pieces of art in the forum of jewelry for the most part. Hailing for the Czech Republic of Chornice and a mother of 4 this jewelry artist does not mess around. Her work is just stunning.

This necklace in particular I found quite stunning.

As well as this lovely headband.

Hanny’s work is just stunning to say the least. I’ll leave you with one more beautiful necklace.

Necklace element Earth, the mother of all flesh, plants, waters and seas. Middle part indicates fertile earth with flowers, grass and fertile soil, the connecting part is the rain that irrigates the earth, the upper part of the life-giving sun heats up everything It consists of 3 parts. First – the center is sewn on sequins, rocailles, chopped rocailles and plastic beads attached to the felt, which is still lined with orange-red deerskin The upper part is made of fiberglass with a cabochon cut rocailles. The two main themes are linked rocailles two color sewn plastic balls, mounting is several rows rocailles over other plastic balls. On one side is attached to a carabiner rocailles 4 The Council, on the other – the shorter strap sewn to the ring. Overall length is 51 cm, fastened to the snap hooks and rings. The necklace is designed asymmetrically

To see more of Hannybeads check out her shop on The Handmade Artists’ Shop

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Gifts from Gifted Hands

MakinTheBestOfIt — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:08:34 +0000

A registered nurse named Pam is the vision behind Gifted Hands. This talented lady began making jewelry about 4 years ago and her friends and family couldn’t get enough! This encouraged her to take her talent to the world and we are very appreciative.

Her designs feature beautiful beaded jewelry from glass, gemstones, crystals, and anything else that catches her eye. Her designs are beautifully put together with an eye for detail and color.

Gifted Hands makes everything from earrings, necklaces and bracelets galore! She even had put her beading talent into her clasp.

Many of the designs by Gifted Hands would be perfect for everyday wear; but look again; how about a gift for a bridesmaid? These designs are just dainty enough for a wedding, but with a touch of color and flair to give your day a bit of personality. Of course, there is nothing wrong with picking out a treat for yourself either!

Ready for more? Check out Gifted Hands’ designs on the HandmadeArtistsShop and oh and ah over these delicate designs.

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Follow your Desires

MakinTheBestOfIt — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:41:15 +0000

There are full time artists in the world…and then there are the rest of us! Desirable Intentions is one such multi-tasker. She and her husband actually lay floors as their “day job,” but her real passion lies in jewelry.

She experimented with many things; cake decorating, refinishing furniture, cross stitch; before stumbling upon the joy of creating beautiful pieces of wearable art.

Ready to see more? Check out DesirableIntentions on the HandmadeArtistsShop and prepare to be amazed.

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Buddingcreations on Etsy

buddingcreations — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:04:16 +0000

Hi, My name is Danielle . I have been a bead artist since I was 18 years old (6 years). I found my passion for beaded flowers when i came across someone selling them on ebay and I had to know more. So, I did alot of research and bought alot of books to show me how. Now I am an avid beader. I love creating new patterns and ideas and pushing the limits as to what I can do with them. My mother, who passed away in 2000 from lung cancer was a big part of my descision to create these flowers. She had a huge passion for real flowers and spent the majority of her days outside tending to her garden. I never had the talent she did at growing the real thing but being the creative type I now have the ability to make flowers that will never wilt or die . So now every time I make a new flower it reminds me of the love and care my mom once had for her flowers and for me!

All of my pieces are heirloom quality! Each piece must be strung and then sculpted to form each petal . then those petals must be attached in just the right way to create a life-like flower. I put alot of time into every piece that I make. Everything in my shop is fully customizable, so you will get exactly what you want at an affordable price!

So stop on by my shop and have a look around! Remember custom orders are always welcome.

www.buddingcreations.etsy.com

FOR UPDATES AND SPECIALS!
FOLLOW ME ON:
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www.twitter.com/beads2blooms
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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Budding-Creations/121401318365

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