Simple sparkling stones in Vail
Friday, February 29th, 2008Simple sparkling stones in Vail Sparkling stones set in gold - it sounds so simple.
Archive for February, 2008
Nicole Kidman at Oscars
Friday, February 29th, 2008
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Nicole Kidman arrives at the 80th Annual Academy Awards, 2008
Nicole Kidman’s rope-like sautoir necklace is reportedly set with 7600+ diamonds of different types, including rough, faceted, and polished stones. The piece was designed by L’Wren Scott and overall it contains about 1400 carats of diamonds.
Cartier at Fashion Preview
Friday, February 29th, 2008
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Lariat Necklaces
Friday, February 29th, 2008
You may have seen the lariats draped around the necks of celebrities at places like the Golden Globe Awards. Lariats are traditionally very long necklaces–long enough to wrap around your neck two or more times–with unattached ends so that you can tie and knot them in different ways to suit your style. Some necklaces have the lariat look, knotted or clustered in the front with a decorative tassel hanging down from the center, but are secured with a clasp in back or some sort of hook in front. You’ll find both types in this lariat necklace collection.
Image © Blue Nile
Weekly Feature - Falling Leaf Bead
Friday, February 29th, 2008
I have to admit I was probably more chicken about making my first PMC project than I was learning to solder. I have little experience with clay, and since it isnt exactly cheap, I didnt want to make any mistakes. However, after flipping through Tim McCreights book Working with Precious Metal Clay, I found this project on how to make a leaf bead. It looked so easy that my confidence was restored, and I thought this would be a good way to get started.
To make a leaf bead, youll need:
a small ball of PMC (This depends on the size of your leaf.)
a leaf (I used one from a pepper plant.)
a clean surface to work on
8 playing cards
a small rolling pin (I use a piece of pvc pipe.)
olive oil
Exacto ® knife
2 inch piece of plastic straw
kiln
vermiculite
jewelers file or emery board
1. Start by placing a small ball of PMC in the middle of your work surface.
2. Set two stacks of card with 4 cards each on either side of your clay.
Vintage Key Necklace
Thursday, February 28th, 2008Bead Blog Babes 02/24/08
Thursday, February 28th, 2008Art Bead Scene
Here’s a tool just “bent” on becoming your favorite!
Here’s a tool just “bent” on becoming your favorite!
Jewelry & Beading
Heather Powers of Humblebeads catches us up on what’s going on with her this spring!
Katie’s Beading Blog
Katie’s giving away 2 copies of Vintage Style Jewelry from the editors of Bead & Button. Comment on her post to be included in the drawing!
PearlEsq.
Read Robin’s funny stories of her latest CHA trip and what a friend of hers has deemed, “Nailgate”!
Savvy Crafter
Candies sharing the dove-love over on her blog! Check out a pair of earrings she made using peaceful dove chandelier findings. While youre there, leave a comment for a chance to win your own dove charms!
Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!
Jean made a pretty spring-like necklace using a Russian bead and Vintaj findings. It is titled, “Looking Out Her Window”.
The Impatient Blogger
Margot shares stories of her first day at CHA (The Craft and Hobby Association Show) and why she prefers to do “fake demos” at book signings.
Expanding My Horizons
Thursday, February 28th, 2008With Faux Bone on the back burner until hubby gets home and we jerry-rig a vice mechanism on my apparently extra-thick card table that serves as my “dirty work” table…I’ve had the desire to do alternate things. It’s that time of year where I feel like I need to expand my horizons.
I’ve considered bead crochet. I know how to crochet, I just can’t decide if I want do it or not, simply (and this is retarded) because if I do a crochet project, I have these hanks of these little tiny pretty white seed pearls. Probably the WORST type of bead to use for a first bead crochet project.
So, I’ll still ponder that one for a bit.
The next thing? Over a year ago, I had the urge to do some seed bead bevelling around a really pretty sodalite cab I have, combine it with a really nice little wood piece I have, and make a brooch out of it.
That project won out. I started it yesterday afternoon, and because the project sat so long (I had already glued the cab to some Stiff Stuff at the time), the glue was no longer adhering. I got the first row done around the cab, and it was futile. I had to take the backing off, cut a new Stiff Stuff backing, and glue it again. I got three rows done last night, and while I’m not real sure if I like my first effort, I have to remind myself it is a first effort. I think I need a few more rows, and I need to eliminate a certain number of beads to make the beadwork draw up tightly and nicely over the edge of the cab. I am looking forward to finishing the bevelled edge, and moving on to the rest of the piece. I haven’t decided what kind of finish I want to add to the beading, but experience has taught me I will figure it out as I go along. If I sketch it out, it won’t turn out that way anyway. Just go with the flow…
I’m off to school–I’ve got a lab and a quiz today. Sounds like a good excuse to come home and bead for a while to relax! 
Be BOLD.
Miachelle
This one I love
Thursday, February 28th, 2008I was just messing around with the photo editing stuff and this was the picture I happened to select—and it’s a piece I really love. The stone is called chrysacolla and it’s a gorgeous green and blue with really vibrant tones. Want to take a closer look? Click here.
Name that Gem - Helpful Hints!
Thursday, February 28th, 2008 
Great guesses, you rockhounds! For those of you still trying to decide which type of gemstone this is, here’s a little hint:
May’s traditional birthstone gem,
Is a close cousin to this stone.
And a clue about the color
Manganese gives it its red tone.
Leave any guesses or insights in the comments section below the post. To read what has already been guessed, here’s a link to the previous post. Check back Monday when we reveal this stone’s identity!