HELLO VISITORS

Hello: My name is Jacqueline Marchant. I am a Jewelry designer /creator and book reviewer for some very famous crafting publishing companies. When you check out my book reviews you will learn who they are. In these reviews you will receive loads of information and my feelings about the publication. I have learned an extraodinary amount about all the many facets and mediums in designing and creating jewelry from these books and I am over the moon that I have them to refer to , they have been a god send to me. IN THIS BLOG YOU WILL FIND TONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS I HAVE FOUND IN MY SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE,THESE VIDEOS HAVE BEEN GRACIOUSLY SUPPLIED ONLINE FOR US ALL TO LEARN FROM BY SOME VERY TALENTED, BRILLIANT ARTIST. i HAVE LEARNED FROM THESE VARIOUS VIDEOS FROM YOU TUBE AND OTHER PLACES ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AND PLACE THEM ON MY BLOG SO I CAN READLY REFER TO THEM FROM TIME TO TIME AND I HOPE YOU FIND THEM HELPFUL ALSO, I HOPE TO ONE DAY BE AS BRILLIANT AS THESE VIDEO TEACHERS.To learn more from these various artist just click on title of videos to link to all their other tutorials...thank you ... YOU WILL ALSO SEE SOME PICS OF MY WORK, AND SOME OF MY ADVENTURES. I ALSO LIKE INCLUDING OTHER ARTISANS SITES FOR YOU TO EXPLORE. I FIND THE MORE YOU EXPLORE THE MORE YOU LEARN AND BY DOING THIS YOU GET INSPIRATION TO CREATE YOUR VERY OWN ONE OF A KIND MASTERPIECE. HOPE YOU ENJOY MY BLOG AND COME BACK AGAIN . WHILE HERE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN MY BLOG.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY......BYE FOR NOW, JACQUELINE MARCHANT

Thursday, July 25, 2013

SOUTACHE by Anneta Valious

Soutache, 30 gorgeous bead embroidery designs by Anneta Valious and published by Lark Books an Imprint of Sterling Publishing Co. Anneta Valious was born in Moscow. She studied psychology at the University of Moscow. Her destiny led her to France where she has lived for years with her husband and 2 children. In 2007 Anneta discovered the world of beading. For a number of months, she looked at photos of beadwork online and day dreamed. But she finally tried her hand at beading. Anneta is self taught. She learned to beadweave and do bead embroidery from books and the internet. She was already familiar with jewelry made from ornamental trims known as passementerie, having seen it exhibited in decorative art galleries in Moscow. So it wasn't long before she began incorporating Soutache into her own work. She became deeply passionate about creating her own Soutache jewelry designs and she now can't imagine life without beads. Bead embroidery with soutache allows her to create very feminine jewelry with graceful curves and to experiment with shapes and colors, even to dare to build up layers to make dimensional pieces. After launching into jewelry frabrication, she discovered the brilliance of crystals too. When she is designing pieces of jewelry she finds inspiration from pretty stones and color combinations. To begin with Anneta Valious gives us a bit of history on Soutache through time. She then makes sure you have everything you will need to make her projects by giving you lists of materials, tools, and what they are used for. Anneta takes you through the different techniques you will use. These instructions are explicitly shared and accompanied with numbered photos. Just a few of the techniques you will learn are stitching, finishing the ends of soutache, attaching soutache around a bead, making bands, and attaching soutache to a prong setting, just to mention a few. There are many more techniques available for you to learn. Now for the projects. As mentioned before there are 30 amazing projects. Each project has step by step thorough instructions accompanied by step by step photographs. Each project also has a list of items to gather. You also get a list of items needed to make the project possible such as, scissors, tape measure, needles, pencils, etc. These projects are stunning, elegant, and breath taking. Anneta makes it all possible for us with her easy to follow instructions. At the end of all the projects you will be treated with a gallery of gorgeous soutache jewelry. My overall opinion of this book is that it is a beautiful book very well planned out and written. The jewelry is stunning. I think this is a must have for all you Jewelry Artisans. If you pride yourself in giving all avenues of jewelry designing a try, then you will be as excited about Soutache as I am. This is a fun book with enough projects to keep you busy for a long time. Anneta's brilliance shines. She is just amazing. So I hope you want miss out on this publication. If you are interested in Soutache and want more information please contact Nicole McConville at: nicole@sterlingpublishing.com or Lark Jewelry and Beading at: www.larkcrafts.com

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Jewelry Making Fun: Tassel Focals With Spools, Thimbles, Bead Caps From ...

B'SUE BOUTIQUES IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BUY UNIQUE AND FUN SUPPLIES FOR ALL YOUR BEADING NEEDS

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

DIY Jump Ring Bracelet

Monday, July 15, 2013

FOXY EPOXY By Kristal Wick

FOXY EPOXY written by Kristal Wick and published by Lark Jewelry and Beading an imprint of Sterling Publishing Company Inc. Kristal Wick is an international award winning designer and Swarovski Ambassador. Kristal has been represented in galleries spanning the globe including Canyon Road Sante Fe, New Mexico; Alaska; the Cayman Islands; Italy; Germany; and the Virgin Islands. She was previously the editor of Beading Daily.com . Kristal is the author of the books: Sassy Silky Savvy, Fabulous Fabric Beads, and Metal Clay 101 for Beaders. Kristal also has two DVD's: Mixed Media: Beaded Bracelets with Fiber Beads, Crystals, Resin and wire and Mixed Media: Jewelry Making with Handmade Beads, Crystals, Resin and More. Kristal is a jewelry design expert and blogger. Kristal teaches world wide at quilt and bead shows and cruise ships. She is a frequent guest on HGTV and PBS. Her designs have been featured in over 45 publications. Kristal has a free online newsletter at KristalWick.com. This 135 page soft cover book has 44 great epoxy clay projects. In the beginning of this book Kristal takes us through the basics on using epoxy clay. She gives you all the different techniques you will use while making these 44 projects. Then you get a run down on all the different materials, tools, and equipment you will need. Then we are introduced to all the very talented project designers. Then the projects begin. Each individual project has a material list, tools list, tips on some of the projects, and templates where needed. To all you epoxy enthusiast and those wanting to try their hand at epoxy for the first time, this book is the one to own. This book, the author and all the contributing artist are absolutely brilliant. The photography is stunning . Kristal Wick's attention to detail is meticulous. Thank you Kristal and Lark Jewelry and beading for this amazing publication.

CREATIVE SEED BEAD CONNECTIONS using wire, jump rings, and chain By Teresa Meister

Creative Seed Bead Connections: using wire, jump rings, and chain was written by Teresa Meister and published by Kalmbach Books. Teresa holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from Mason Gross School of Arts, Rutgers University. Today Beads are at the heart of her Jewelry designs. Teresa was profiled in the German beading magazine Perlen Poesie (issue 6). She has also contributed to Bead Unique and other beading Magazines. She teaches nationally. Okay honesty has always been very important to me. So I have to admit, I have never been very partial to seed beading. It always overwhelmed me to the max. But Teresa Meister has helped me over come my fears. Her projects in this book are not overwhelming at all. Teresa takes her time and shares her knowledge with us all. I love the way she incorporates wirework techniques in these seed beading projects. Those techniques give her designs that extra pizzazz and elegance. At the beginning of Teresa's book she tells you how to use her book so you can gain the most from it. Then she goes through the bead weaving materials and tools used in her projects. Then you get a break down of information you will need on : beadweaving techniques, wirwork techniques, and working with chain techniques. Now the Projects begin. Each project is supplied with a list of tools and materials you will need for that particular project. There are tips and detailed figures you can follow for each round. There are 13 projects but each project is for a set including necklace, bracelet and earrings. So in all actuality you are getting a lot more projects. At the end of her book, Teresa generously supplies you with a list of her resource. This book is a refreshing journey through creative seed bead connections. I give this book 2 thumbs up. If you are interested in purchasing this book you can go to your local bookstores or call the Kalmbach store at (800) 533-6644 and order your book directly. You can also go online to www.KalmbachStore.com .

Monday, July 8, 2013

Jewelry Projects from a BEADING INSIDER by Cathy Jakicic

Cathy Jakicic is from Chicago but she moved to Milwaukee to attend Marquette University in the early 80's and made it her home. She made jewelry in the early hours of the morning while working the late shift at a Milwaukee daily newspaper right after college. In 2005 she went to work as editor of Bead Style which was her dream job. After decades of beading, Cathy is still learning new skills at the annual Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. She frequently donates her beaded work to Non Profit Organizations- primarily those who support the arts as well as health and welfare of women and families. Cathy shares her Beading secrets, tips and tricks with us all in this amazing, educational and inspirational publication. I am a very proud owner of this publication. There are certain questions I have had for a long while and just couldn't get a clear answer to. Well no more, I got my clear answers from Cathy Jakicic Brilliant Book. Cathy packs a tremendous amount of information into this 95 page publication. She even explains how to use her book to get the most out of it. She even covers the materials she used in this book such as: Beads, stringing materials, finishings, and findings. Cathy then moves on to show you the tools she used in creating the projects in this book such as: pliers, gliders paste, swellegant, sealants, patinas, and many other helpers like: calipers, beadboards, thread conditioner, buffers, and color wheel. Next you move onto Skill-Building Workshops. Cathy points out and I quote, "Making, wrapping, plain loops, wire wrapping, and crimping are the building blocks for most projects. And Mastering these crucial skills comes with a bonus: the confidence to focus on designing." Cathy helps you to realize and accept that you don't have to be perfect to make gorgeous jewelry. She points out that a quest for perfection sometimes paralyzes the creative spirit. You are taught how to wrap loops, wire crochet, gilding and buffing, bead weaving, plain loop,and crimping . Cathy points out that learning the crimping skill is very important for you to nail. It is escentual that your jewelry doesn't fall apart on the person you are gifting or selling it to. You are taught multistrand, how to wire wrap briolettes, how to custom color dye pearls, and color combinations. After learning all the skills listed above there is a very fun pause for a creativity boost. In this section you do learn how to make the most out of your bead stashes and gather inspiration from them. There is even an updated project that is kid friendly. The only hint I will give you about it is- Childhood memories revamped. In the designing with section of this book you learn how to design with gemstones. You are even given some extremely smart shopping tips that I'm so glad to know. You will marvel at the use of earthy materials such as smooth river rocks. You are taught how to over come the stumbling blocks of using lampworked and other focal masterpiece beads. Sometimes the fear of not doing those particular types of beads justice can paralyze your creativity and your quest for inspiration. Cathy thoroughly covers designing with charms, lucite, crystals, chain, ribbon, bold stones, silver, gold, copper, clear stones, exotic, and asymmetry. I have been beading for over 13 years and I have never used memory wire. I had planned on buying it many times but I literally had too many irons in the fire at the time. Cathy's memory wire project has inspired me to stop putting it off and go for it. Cathy even shows us all how to take an old piece of jewelry and restyle it to make it more you or more current. I absolutely adored the classic update on pearls, it is stunning. At the end of the book you are given a list of materials and supplies used in each amazing project. Cathy also very generously shares her resources with you. Then as if all that wasn't enough Cathy takes us all through a quick techniques review. This amazing lady covers all bases for a major home run. I highly recommend her book. Cathy is a very kind and generous author and teacher. This book is available in book stores and from Kalmbach Publishing Company. To order directly you can call (800) 533-6644 or go online at www.kalmbachstore.com

Bulletin Board ReVamp

Beadphoria: Spring Cleaning Bulletin Board Redux

by Beadphoria

Happy (almost) Spring, Beadphoria friends! With this being the first Monday of the month, it is time for the Designer Crafts Blog Hop! The theme this month is March, and what it means to you. For me, March means the arrival of spring. A time for renewal. What was once barren is now brought back to life.

With the feeling of being renewed, we often want to bring beauty into our surroundings. One way we can do this is by doing some spring cleaning. This simple project will bring new life to a boring bulletin board and it will help organize your jewelry!

The bulletin board pictured above had been on the wall of the Beadphoria, Inc. for quite awhile. It became one of those things that you see, but didn't look at every day. As you can see, it was in desperate need of a makeover.

Materials for the spring cleaning makeover

Here are the materials we used:

-Bulletin Board

-Fabric Remnant

-Brown Velvet Ribbon

-Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

-Picture Hangers

The fabric was spread out onto the floor and the bulletin board placed in the middle.

Next, hot glue was put onto the frame on the back of the bulletin board to hold the fabric in place. From there, we flipped the bulletin board over. Using the glue gun, we tacked the brown ribbon in place around the edge of the frame.

How much prettier is that!

Of course the work had to be inspected by our quality control manager and customer service rep, Lola.

We placed the bulletin board back on the wall, and started putting the picture hooks in.

Close up of the picture hooks.

Only thing left was to add the jewelry!

We now have a beautiful showcase for our jewelry with a little bit of spring cleaning effort!

How to cover a bead with peyote stitch

How Do I Cover a Bead with Peyote Stitch?

Nov 20, 2011 by Vanbeads


This spectacular peyote stitch Bloomin' Bead was designed by Carol Dean Sharpe of Sand Fibers.

Beaded beads are fascinating for so many reasons. It's more of that Zen-like quality of beadweaving for me: imagine making a bead out of beads! Where does one bead stop and the next bead begin?

Before I get completely off topic, let's talk about covering a bead with beadweaving to make a beaded bead. It's a fabulous way to turn ordinary wood beads into something spectacular, and these little peyote-stitch beading projects usually don't take a lot of time to finish.

To make your own peyote-stitch-covered beaded bead, you'll need the following tools and materials:

Round wood beads. Start with round beads at first, since their shape makes it easy to shape peyote stitch around them. For this tutorial, I used a 20mm round wood bead that I found in an assortment from my local craft supply store.
A small strip of double-sided tape, also available at your local craft supply store.
2 grams of Japanese cylinder beads, size 11^o in color to match or contrast with your wood bead.
1 gram of size 15^o seed beads in a color to match or contrast with your cylinder beads.
Beading thread of your choice (6 lb Fireline recommended).
Size 12 beading needle.
Scissors or thread cutter.
Additional beads for embellishment, if desired: fringe beads, drops, daggers, bugle beads, or larger seed beads.

Let's get started! Here's how to cover your wood bead with peyote stitch in ten easy steps:

		1. Take a small strip of double-sided tape and wrap it around the center of your wood bead. This will hold your first few rows of peyote stitch securely in place and will also provide an anchor for your finished peyote-stitched beaded bead.

		2. Pick up an even number of cylinder beads. Always make sure you have an even number of beads before stitching so that your rows are even as you go. Tubular even-count peyote stitch requires that little "step up" at the end of each round! 3. Pass through the first bead picked up again and pull snugly so that you form a tight ring around your wood bead on the double-sided tape.

		4. Start working in tubular even-count peyote stitch until the beadwork starts to pull away a bit from the wood bead. You can flip the bead over and work some peyote stitch on the other side to keep your tension even and tight.

		5. Stitch a size 15^o seed bead in the first stitch and then alternate cylinder beads and size 15^o seed beads for one round. 6. Add a size 15^o in every stitch for two rounds. 7. Stitch a size 15^o in the first stitch and then make a decrease. (Pass through the next 2 beads and pull snugly.) Repeat around.

		8. Pick up beads for netting: 1 size 15^o, 1 cylinder bead, and 1 size 15^o. Pass through the next "up" bead in the round.

		9. Pass through the first two beads added at the beginning of the previous round. Work peyote stitch through the cylinder beads from the previous step until the opening begins to close up a little. Work peyote stitch for a total of three rounds.

		10. To secure the last row, pass through all the beads in the round just added and pull. Weave your thread into the beadweaving, tie a few knots, weave in a bit more, and trim. Repeat for the other side of the beaded bead.

		You can either leave your beaded bead as it is or add some fancy beaded embellishment. Try covering your beaded bead with beaded netting, stitching a pattern of bugle beads around the center of the bead, or adding fringe beads or daggers to the ends of your beaded bead. The sky is the limit when it comes to embellishing these little beauties!

A tip for maintaining even tension when working peyote stitch around this kind of beaded bead: when you pass through the first bead in Step 3, leave a thread tail that is approximately one-half the length of your beading thread. This way, you can flip the bead over and work peyote stitch on the other side of the bead without having to add a new thread!