New Beading Books

I have been unusually quiet online lately.  This is mostly due to the large amount of writing I've been doing in the real world.  In the last few months I've put the finishing touches on three beading books.  Teaming with our amazing Bead World staff, we've released a trio of fun instructional books.  These beauties have everything you've come to love in Bead World books -- lots of helpful pictures, step by step instructions and great project ideas!

• Seed Bead Basics: the Bead World Way!, by Lezli Goodwin with Mary Brown, Bailey DeGraff, Robynne Hughes, Nancy Katz and Kim Lucas, $12.99  This great seed bead primer has all the info you need to get started with simple seed bead projects.  Learn how to tie off threads, add new threads, connect various kinds of clasps and more!  Patterns include:
• DNA Spiral Bracelet
• Flower Garden (Fringe) Bracelet
• Sidewinder Bracelet
• Double Sidewinder Bracelet
• Peyote Stitch Bracelet
• Right Angle Weave Bracelet





Pictured: Right Angle Weave Bracelet


• Beyond Basics: All Tied Up! by Lezli Goodwin with Mary Brown, Breanne Determan, Robynne Hughes, Sara Martin, Kate Stanley and Karen Thompson, $12.99  Take your beading to the next level with fun twists on traditional textile techniques!  Utilize crochet, macrame and kumihimo to create hip, modern jewelry you'll love!  Patterns include:
• Beaded Hemp Bracelet
• Macrame Bracelet with Slide Clasp
• 3 Strand Wire Crochet Necklace
• Twisted Crochet Necklace
• Crocheted Cuff Bracelet
• Kumihimo Necklace
• Beaded Kumihimo

Pictured: Macrame Bracelet with Slide Clasp

                                   

• Chain Maille for Beginners, by Lezli Goodwin with Mary Brown, Judy Corning, Robynne Hughes and Lisa Kearn, $12.99  Everything you need to know to get started with basic chain maille, including how to choose the right rings for the project, closing jump rings properly and some beautiful classic designs.  Patterns include:
• Cha Cha Bracelet with Borosilicate Glass Beads
• 2 in 2 Bracelet
• 2 in 1 Earrings
• Copper Flower Earrings
• Fleurette Earrings
• Spiral Bracelet





Pictured: Copper Flower Earrings, Fleurette Earrings and 2 in 1 Earrings



New Downloadable Projects!

Okay, I'll admit that I'm a bit odd.  I really enjoy writing jewelry instructions.  I especially enjoy writing jewelry instructions with big color photographs that are clear and easy to follow.  So imagine my excitement every time I get to post new FREE downloadable jewelry instructions to our website.  (It's a good thing I found a job at a bead store -- I can't imagine getting this worked up over insurance claims!)  I've added two new earring patterns just this week, including the Wire Wrapped Scroll Earrings (pictured at left).  Just scroll down to the bottom of the Downloadable Projects page to find our newest additions!  Happy Beading!

http://www.beadworldinc.com/

Nina Designs Interview our own Lezli Goodwin

I love those crazy gals over at Nina Designs.  (I might have covered my love of them before, in a few zillion of my posts.)  So I was extra stoked when they asked me to be their first featured "Designer Success Story"!  They sent me a list of questions, and let me choose five to answer.  It was really fun working my way through the questions.  The responses flowed easily, and I was surprised to find I had an immediate answer for ever question!  (Not so shocking to those who know me, I'm sure.  I have an opinion about everything!)

Here's a taste of the article.  To read the whole thing, click on the link below:

"There are as many avenues into jewelry design as there are jewelry designers. Each story is unique and inspiring. In our first Customer Success Story we’d like you to meet Lezli Goodwin. Lezli is a well known jewelry designer, accomplished modern painter and creative director for Bead World Inc, an Arizona chain of boutique bead stores. Her modern beaded jewelry features metaphysically active gemstones, gorgeous sterling silver findings and exquisite handcrafted techniques.

What is one piece of trusted advice you would give to someone just starting their jewelry business?


“Be who you are and not who you’re not.” I think that’s Dr. Seuss. Make jewelry you love, and then find the market. Forget about trying to make pieces you think will sell — that’s a recipe for frustration and defeat. There is a market for everything, if it’s made with integrity and passion."

To read the entire article, click here!

Congratulations to the Beading Contest Winners!

Behold, the winner of our first ever beading contest at Bead World!  Karen Kissel of Glendale submitted this adorable earring and bracelet set which fit our theme Summer Love perfectly.  Every element of this bracelet is created by hand, from the torch fused fine silver chain to the Precious Metal Clay charms and wire wrapped bead elements.  Here's what Karen had to say about her piece:

"I created this Summer Love dangle bracelet and earring set using pure silver charms and Swarovski crystal beads. The charms are PMC molded in the shapes of the ocean and the beautiful blue crystals have the bright and shimmering feel of summer at the beach. The bracelet was assembled using the fine silver rings we fused and hammered in class, and I used the wire wrap technique you taught me to design the dangles for both the bracelet and earrings."

FIRST RUNNER UP: $10.00 in Bead Bucks
Rose Balazs of Scottsdale, Arizona

"Summertime can be equated with fun times and greens -- the sun shining through the green trees, green grass and lots of green shrubbery." This piece was made using intricate stitching and gorgeous Czech glass firepolish beads.  I've seen this piece in person, and it's even more beautiful in real life!  Delicate craftsmanship like this really inspires me to get out the tiny beads and expand my skills.


HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Best Wire Working: Lora Klosterboer

Most Innovative Use of Materials: Pam Harris

Best Jewelry Photography: Linda Seward
 
 

Sweet Gold Charms

I am usually a sterling silver girl.  Rarely does a gold item (14K, gold filled or vermeil) catch my eye for any significant period of time.  These beautiful 24K vermeil charms from Nina Designs, though, have me smitten.  The color is radiant, the quality is impeccable.  Plus, of course, they are super cute!  A sweet little vermeil charm is the perfect way to add a splash of gold to this season's trendy "mixed-metal" pieces.  I've gotta say, I really like them and have had fun showing them to our clients at Bead World!

24K vermeil Om charm

24K vermeil Lotus Flower charm

24K vermeil Evil Eye charm

24K vermeil Buddha charm

The Easiest Earrings Ever

Sometimes, it really is this easy -- find a great bead or pendant, put it on an ear wire and VOILA!  You have fantastic new earrings.  The craze for anything beachy or made of shell this summer has me reaching for cute carved shell pendants.  Most summers, we would use them to create necklaces.  This year, though, earrings can't get big enough. 

Some of the Bead World girls out to celebrate Kim's exciting new move.  (I'm in the lower left hand corner, wearing these earrings!)

My Best Necklace Ever

Every beader has an example of the one time they just hit it out of the park.  You know, that certain design that everyone comments on and wants to steal.  I made a necklace about six years ago that is still my all time favorite piece.  I was inspired by a picture in a magazine, purchased some gorgeous chalcedony rondelles and whipped it up one summer afternoon.  Never did I suspect that I would spend the next six years explaining that 1) it wasn't difficult to make and 2) I wouldn't mind if they copied it.

It's actually a really easy piece, you see. Just select approximately 4.5 feet of any oval link chain.  (Mine is sterling silver, nicely aged by throwing it on the bathroom counter and leaving it there for weeks, repeatedly.)  Cut it into a whole bunch of 5 link pieces, or whatever length you prefer.  (Really, it doesn't particularly matter.  My piece took 36 sections, plus 2 pieces of about 3 inches of chain for the back.  You'll need to adjust for the size of the chain you select.)  Pick out some gorgeous rondelles, somewhere between 6 and 10mm.  (Mine are 8mm chalcedony, but faceted Czech glass, Swarovski crystal and pearls have also worked out nicely.) 

Now for the fun part! 

1. Using 22 gauge wire that matches your chain, cut 18 pieces that are 3 inches long. 
2. Form a wire wrapped loop on one end of a piece of wire.  Add the end link of TWO of the pieces of chain BEFORE you wrap the loop closed.  Both chains should dangle freely.  Now, wrap that loop closed.  Cut off any extra wire.
3. String on one of your beautiful rondelles, then form another loop.  Once again, string on TWO of the chain pieces, and then wrap the loop closed.  You've now formed a chain unit. 
4. Continue in this manner until you have built a 12 inch section with open chain on each end.  Then repeat to build a second twelve inch section.  Lay the chains together and align the ends.
5. Form a wire wrapped loop on one end of a piece of wire. Add the end links of ALL FOUR of the end pieces of one side of the necklace BEFORE you wrap the loop closed. This will permanently attach the two sections together. Now, wrap that loop closed. Cut off any extra wire.
6. String on one of your beautiful rondelles, then form another loop. This time, string on the end of one of the 3 inch chain pieces for the back, and then wrap the loop closed.
7. Repeat this process on the other side of the necklace.  Add the clasp of your choice and Voila!

2010 Spring/Summer Jewelry Trends

Hot off the fashion presses, we have news about the Spring/Summer 2010 Jewelry Trends!  It's going to be a fun one, folks!  The powers that be are a little schizophrenic this year, showing super bright tropical colors in half of the runway shows and sleek neutrals in the others.  What's a girl to do?  I say pick your favorites from the colors at left and roll with it!  (Coral and turquoise, by the way, look gorgeous on everyone.)

Jewelry this spring and summer is all about BIG, bold shapes.  We're seeing the return of the big earring (yea!) and keeping last season's statement necklaces and stacked, chunky bracelets as well.  Choose ONE large piece per outfit, please.  Any more than that may just overwhelm you.  Actress Kate Hudson works this look perfectly here, with shoulder dusting chain earrings and no necklace at all.  No matchy-matchy if you want to look up to date this season!

Rock star looks are holding strong, too.  Returning with a vengence is, my all-time favorite, silver chain!  Layered, messy, knotted, mixed with other metals... any way you can pile that silver chain in there will work this season.  Other rock and roll elements are looking fresh this year as well: leather, studs, crystal.  Just keep it a little bit rough, and you're good to go.

One hot new trend that I KNOW you will all love is funky ethnic inspired pieces.  Mix together some wood, rough cut gemstones and African trade beads.   Maybe throw in some fabric elements or leather.  Keep the overall design big and a little bit random.  Voila!  Your own personal masterpiece!

Have fun, guys.  Use up all of your left over beads and bits of chain in super fun, messy masterpieces.  And send me pictures!  Lots and lots of pictures!  I'll post them and give you guys credit.

Happy creating!