I made this bracelet set because I saw the puzzle pieces last year on Artbeads

and I really liked them.

I also really liked the puzzle I photoed the set on(it includes puzzle piece earrings, as you can see), which Jim brought home.

The White Album is one of my favorite albums The Beatles ever recorded.

I thought that since Autism Awareness is symbolized by the puzzle piece, in ALL colors of the rainbow, meaning no one is immune to knowing someone affected by it, and no one is immune to being born with this disorder so far, and every single one of the people who have it are astoundingly different, I would take a cue from the great bracelet Artbeads designed last year and use multi-colored Swarovski crystals. Their bracelet had the links connected differently but for some reason I didn't have enough links to make a fully linked bracelet in that fashion. So my bracelet came out a different way! I like my bracelet just as much. Trust me, I wouldn't show it off to you if I didn't!

Wear your cause emblems with pride, people. And when you can, donate time, effort, money and love to your special cause.

As you know, I have five sons. One is nearing twenty. He lives at home with us and I love him very much. He is one of the sweetest people I know. This morning (or was it yesterday? I forget), we were having a conversation. Sometimes I initiate a conversation, and sometimes HE does. This time I did.

I said, "Hey, do you know what the word eccentric means?"<--trust me I was going somewhere with this.

He said, " Mom, you are wearing your shirt inside out."

I said, "OK, OK, I am wearing my shirt inside out, I do that. So do you know what the word eccentric means?" --still gearing up for my big declamation on this word.

He said, "Actually Mom, you are wearing your shirt inside out and backwards".

I said, "Well yes, I do that sometimes..." at which point he interrupted me and said, "Look. Look for the label. You will see that you are not only wearing your shirt inside out but backwards".

I was beginning to forget the point of my "eccentric" story which had to do with his grandfather who had many eccentricities and was beloved by all who ever met him. This had become a shirt issue. My father, mind you, had plenty of shirt issues, starting with the fact that he loved buying classic navy polo shirts, but then they always had to have a pocket inscribed with his nickname, "Bob", in white script, which sort of looked like he might be your 6'4" , very handsome, local gas station attendant. He had no interest in making impressions; he just like what he liked.

What he liked:

used Cadillacs when nobody drove Cadillacs where I came from. and ours had big fins, too.

Pacers--great for his long legs

reupholstering my mother's Buick in gold fabric when the seat fabric got worn out (he was in the garment district and got a deal on it)

sunglasses in many shapes and styles, all neatly arranged on a table as you would go out to the garage.

watching us decorate the Christmas tree from his chair after he had put up the ropes of tinsel

his collections of sterling Franklin mint coins

prints of fish

maps of the world

a pastel portrait of our dog my mother made him hang in the basement

the mail, the actual mailbox, receiving letters, writing letters

reading the New York Times and writing letters to the OP ED page

immediately discarding the New York Times after reading it, as if it were an emergency situation

the phone (black, like all the cars)

my homemade chocolate chip cookies (I have a secret). I made him 80 for his eightieth birthday.

---

well I guess I won't get to the actual word "eccentric" per se, today, after all

but I would love to share with you the reason I put that gorgeous photo up there which Jim took with his cell phone yesterday and sent to me. Not only did he take the photo, he gathered up so many of the petals that they filled three shopping bags (he was at the grocery store)...

and then, he brought them home, to me.

About.com Jewelry MakingIt is flower power time! Mix resin, real flowers, and beads for this necklace design.

Art Bead Scene Art beads don't have to be round, they can be toggles too!

Barbe Saint JohnBarbe will be at Unique LA promoting the Steampunk Style book

Beading ArtsCyndi has a copy of "Totally Twisted" that she's giving away! Come enter the contest now!

Carmi's Art/Life WorldStranded by the volcano, Carmi has time for a little more window shopping.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork DivaFor Cindy, yellow is the color of anticipation.

Earthenwood Studio ChroniclesMelanie sets up a trunk show at her favorite local indie craft gallery. Check out her display!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the StudioResin has become quite popular in jewelry design lately. It's a lot trickier than Lorelei had originally thought. She tries out the technique for the first time.

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!Do not miss out on Andrew Thornton's amazing sale and giveaway! It is fantastic!!! Go now! Really fun!

Strands of BeadsMelissa creates a sweet Spring necklace from wasabi-colored pearls and a beautiful Lillypilly pendant courtesy of Artbeads.com

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Be entered to win a one year subscription to Beadwork magazine! Find out how!

our beautiful tree is finally in bloom--pic by Jim with his trusty cell phone

Above, a Candice Wakamuto bead I was sighing over. Note the bee and the peony. I believe it is a peony



..

Look at this charming tiny shibuichi skull-- potential earrings for my dolls, for my column? I did buy two! This is by the great Bob Burkett! Here is what Andrew wrote about this bead:

"Bob Burkett, an artist and master metal-smith out of California's Bay Area, has hand-crafted this unique and edgy TINY bead. These would be perfect for earrings! The show-stopping bead is cast in shibuichi, which is a metal alloy of copper and silver. Shibuichi is an ancient Japanese casting technique once used for sword hilts, prized for both its rich color and strength. Bob's pieces are renowned for their glassy, mirror-like finishes and variegated patterning – encompassing cherry reds, mahogany browns, silvery gray, and pale peach. The skull measures 6mm long, 5mm wide, and 6mm deep with two 3mm hole running from the top to the base of the skull."

.... NOW YOU WANT IT, TOO@! YOU KNOW YOU DO!--jean

My friend Andrew Thornton , who is known and LOVED worldwide for his mesmerizing art and beading talents, wrote to me yesterday. This is what he said (well he said more than this but I will start here):















"Anyway...
To say THANK YOU to everyone who participates in my current sale in my online shop, I'm offering an opportunity to win a year long subscription to Interweave Press's Beadwork magazine. That's six issues of this inspiring and lovely magazine. To be entered to win, all you have to do is purchase something from my shop during the sale. At the close of the sale, one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive the year long subscription. http://andrewthornton.bigcartel.com/
Please pass this along to anyone who you think might be interested.








(Note: check out his Candice Wakamuto beads. Holy Wow! I show one at the top! They are stunning. And his glass jelly fish bead! Aye yi yi!! I was sighing my way through the entire store!--jean)

Thanks so much!

Simplicity Always,








Andrew

June's beautiful twins--if you go to her blog Simply Elegant Papercrafts, you will see her entries where she writes to see close up what she printed on the front of each T shirt! There are two separate entries to read there.
One is further along. Here is June:

April is Autism Awareness Month
Chances are you now know someone with autism.

Hi, I am June Houck, a proud member of the Cuttlebug Challenge blog design team.

I have fraternal twin daughters, both of whom have autism.

This is their story!

When I was a teacher I had one student with autism. I recall thinking, "Wow. This is the one kid I will meet in my lifetime with autism."

Why? Because the odds back then were 1 in 10,000 (currently termed the "classical" form of autism; children with fragile X chromosome). The epidemic I will write about in this post is mainly referring to the vast growing number of ASD (autism spectrum disorder) kids.

My fraternal twin daughters were diagnosed as PDD/NOS (pervasive developmental disorder/not otherwise specified) at 27 months, then given the label at age 3.

My girls were developing quite well despite the fact that they were born at 35 weeks gestation. At the 12 month well-check the pediatrician said,"These girls are amazing." They entertained the nurses with their waving, clapping, vocabulary, and ability to point to identify and follow directions.

I recall he checked off nearly every question he asked regarding their development.It was within a 2 week period following that appointment I watched Julia slowly slip into her "fog". The loss of skills is so gradual, but by 14 months I was very concerned; she had no speech left.

The pediatrician assured me she was fine, and probably focusing on gross motor skills. At the 18 month appointment Kathryn amazed the pediatrician with her vocabulary and her ability to identify colors verbally as well as A,B,C, and 1,2,3.

Then I watched Kathryn follow the exact same pattern of regression.

By 20 months both girls had lost all speech and receptive language (following directions).

I called and spoke with the pediatrician at 20 months, 22 months, and at the 24 month appointment. At the 24 month appointment he only checked two of the developmental milestones boxes.

We moved to northern Virginia when the girls were 24 months old. I immediately took them to a pediatrician who also said, "they seem fine to me," but at least recommended 3 developmental pediatricians I could see and tested for fragile X (negative...two perfectly healthy girls).

By the time she was able to see us, the girls were 27 months old and she was very sure it was autism, but preferred not to give an official diagnosis before age 3. By 27 months they girls had lost even more skills, including no longer able to feed themselves with a spoon. Julia could still point and identify letters (upper and lower case) but lost these skills by 30 months of age.

My heart was broken. I had infants that could walk.

Fortunately at this time Kathryn slowly started using words again.

This was the hardest year or two of my life.

The biggest obstacle for me was the stares from other parents in public when one or both girls went into autistic meltdown. The stare that says, "Can't you control your child?"

By age 4, Kathryn's vocabulary was above her peers, but lacked pragmatics (back-and-forth conversation) and Julia would say a word, rarely and never consistently.

My girls are now 7 3/4 years old.

Julia is starting to use words and short phrases a little more often. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for Julia & Kathryn to know exactly what they want to say, and yet they are unable to articulate it. Here are Julia & Kathryn today donning their Cuttlebug Couture shirts (a brief tutorial to follow.)

We are fortunate that we are able to attend the #1 elementary school in our county. Our school also has an autism program for more severe children (like Julia).

But there are many children on the autism spectrum that are moderately autistic (like Kathryn).

Our school principal encourages the ASD children to be mainstreamed as much as these ASD children can tolerate. The students there are patient and loving with these special children.

Can you imagine a basically non-verbal child who is popular with neurotypical children? The tolerance typically developing children have for our girls is heart warming.

These children realize that,"Not being able to talk is not the same as not having anything to say."

Recently one of their second grade classmates told me they were his favorite friends because, "they are always sweet never mean to anyone."

My girls are not like "Rain Man"; they are snugly, love to give hugs and kisses, and are fun, fun, fun!

If you have read this, I hope you will remember that every child with autism is different. My girls are a perfect example of that :)

Every child has their own quirks and unique strengths. Julia & Kathryn's story is hardly unique; if you have ever attend a conference on autism, the vast majority have a similar story to tell.

We have few friends whose autistic children were slow to meet milestones from birth and many more who regressed later on, but I have learned more from all of these special children than they could ever learn from me.Please leave a comment if you know someone with autism. I look forward to hearing from you. I have a link on my blog on the right side bar if you wish to make a donation directly to Autism Speaks.

Thank you!

TutorialSupplies: Provo Craft Cuttlebug flower dies, alpha dies, fabric, Heat n Bond, t-shirt, and Avery dark t-shirt transfer.1. I chose this yellow stripe remnant fabric for my daisies and Kathryn's "Autism" (QuicKutz Tangerine font dies). I ironed the Heat n Bond to the back of the yellow fabric, then die cut my Cuttlebug daisy lower dies and "Autism" from alpha dies.2. I decided on my text (computer-generated), I printed on the dark t-shirt transfer, *peel off the backing, then ironed to the t-shirts.*I forgot to remove the backing on one piece before ironing. I added some Heat n Bond to the back. Voila!

Thank you for your time. I hope you were inspired by Julia & Kathryn's tees! I would like to make a shirt for myself. I may have a shirt with a stain that could be nicely covered up by a Cuttlebug daisy...Link your Cuttlebug Couture shirts here. I would love to see your creations! And don't forget to become a follower and leave comments on each post for a chance to win a Cricut Cake & other fabulous prizes :)

June

Dear June: thank you for your heartfelt story. You and your family are very special to me!--Jean

Tammy Powley, the Crafty Princess...has some news!

she tells me that she has has discovered a forgotten stash of sterling silver charms she cast long ago and has them up for sale her her blog. This is a hunt for treasure you shouldn't miss!

Check it out here: The Secret Stash (as I call it)

don't you love treasure hunts?

--jean

Jim's flower, Saturday

A Bead A DayGive (inexpensive) beads a chance! Oh, the variety you can find at the craft store!

About.com Jewelry MakingWhere do you create your jewelry and other crafts? Show, tell, and look at some great craft spaced created by other designers.

Art Bead Scene Art beads don't have to be round, they can be toggles too!

Barbe Saint JohnPutting out the call for Steampunk art!

Beading ArtsCyndi has just finished up a floral necklace that features fabric!

Carmi's Art/Life WorldCarmi is photographing the jeweled decolletage on paintings in Paris again!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork DivaCindy's personal history finds its way into her work.

Earthenwood Studio ChroniclesMelanie mixes shell pearls from Rings and Things with metallic hardware motifs to create a softer industial look

Katie's Beading BlogShare your ideas about beading trends and be entered to win a copy of Jean Campbell's new book, Steampunk Style Jewelry.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the StudioDig out your button collection, because wonderful Keepsake jewelry can be made from it, and Lorelei shows some examples!

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!Join the fun and become a fan of the lovely jewelry design magazine, Australian Beading Magazine!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew teams up with Cathy Collison of Glass Garden Beads for this week's Thursday Giveaway. You could win a set of three hip bottle-cap beads!

'Love Sex Confusion' in stores now!
New album 'Love Sex Confusion' is out now!! Go pick it up at iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, etc...

hit enlarge on the video below so you can see it properly: "I Can't Stop" by the Ruse

Steampunk Style JEWELRYvictorian, fantasy, and mechanical necklaces, bracelets, and earrings
by Jean Campbell

Review by jean yates

So the first question on everyone lips is what exactly IS Steampunk?

This book, Steampunk Style Jewelry, by Jean Campbell, which offers a treasure trove of information packed into a beautifully produced and elegantly photographed volume, is the place to start if you really want to know what this amazing trend is and how it evolved.

Steampunk Style Jewelry opens with a foreword by the informative and enthusiastic Paul Di Filippo, author of The Steampunk Trilogy. His insights are followed by a thorough introduction by the author herself of materials and techniques which will be required to make the projects.

This is very easy to understand and very clearly explained. Jean Campbell is an excellent teacher as well as a delightful designer.

The reader, too, can make this jewelry, exotically beautiful and complex as it may first appear. The directions for each project are clearly explained.

Furthermore, as the book unfolds, the information within clarifies all sorts of aspects of what Steampunk is, from fashion, to a way of life, to a form of self expression for many people who gather together to celebrate its unique fascination.

Basically, if you don't know exactly Steampunk Style is, picture Victorian England (with all its rigidity, but with the posh sensibility of red velvet and brass-toned accoutrements as well) combined with home made science fiction bits and parts. This is similar to what you might recall if you have seen the movie "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" from the fantastic book by Jules Verne. Rivets, bolts, watch parts, hints of glittering ruby red jewels, gears and other oddities you might uncover from the past meld with futuristic, complimentary pieces. They curiously suit and enhance each other.

You will come to see that I have limited the powerful potential of the book, Steampunk Style Jewelry, with my brief definition. It is more complicated than that, and Jean Campbell will explain it thoroughly and in a fascinating manner, using the jewelry projects and historical facts, as well as modern day trends, to expand the reader's understanding. Basically the sky is the limit with Steampunk!

After the whys and hows of the origins of Steampunk fall into place via Jean Campbell's elegant hand, the reader will be ready to fall, too ... ready to fall in love with the curiously charming, imaginative and beautiful array of astounding projects from a group of energetic Steampunk designers.

This delightful book is one of a kind; perfectly beautiful, incredibly informative, and, frankly, alluring and mindblowing.

The author has several lovely projects of her own in it, including my favorite project of all: "Admiral's Secret Cuff". Totally lovely.

There is a great gallery of further Steampunk Style designs at the end of the book as well, to view and further incite your imagination.

Don't miss out on this one. Steampunk Style Jewelry by Jean Campbell is a must for your jewelry design library!

I love Kim's "Lime Vines Luminaria" buttons! What potential for use in a zillion chic/hip ways! Only Kim can think of things like this--they glow with inner beauty!

here is what Kim Miles wrote in an exciting email to me and others on her mailing list (what? you are not on her list? You are one cwazy wabbit! Go sign up--you have to be a beadist to take advantage of this sale)!

Dear Beadists,
There are a whopping 81 items listed for sale in my BeadShop.
This means I have too many beads, and you have too few...

To remedy this, I'm having a VERY BIG 25% OFF SALE
on EVERYTHING in the BeadShop,
from now through Sunday!!!

Use the Discount Code "BLOOM" on each item, before completing checkout.

FREE SHIPPING on totals of $50 or more.

Many items are already discounted, and many are on LAST CALL.
This is a great time to stock up on gifts. Get them before they go away...
Have a great weekend!

xo Kim


Kim Miles ~ Beadist Ashland, OregonWebsite - http://www.kimmiles.com/

Bead Shop - http://kimmiles.bigcartel.com/

Etsy Shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimmiles

Blog - http://kimmiles-takingthelongwayhome.blogspot.com/

Facebook - http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=71502616&msgid=952862&act=P30G&c=373455&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FKim-Miles%2F120807962967

I received a very exciting email from Heather Powers--you know how wonderful her polymer creations and fantastic jewelry designs are! If you don't, you absolutely have to check out her website, here at Humblebeads! She is having her very poplular Bead Cruise once again! Here is what she says in her email!



Hi Everyone,
It’s that time of year again - the Bead Cruise registration opens on Saturday.
Here is the basic info:
Bead Cruise 2011
March 27th

We’ll set sail from Galveston, Texas for 7 nights of beads, friends and fun!



We'll sail on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica.
Instructors include Dallas Lovett, Melinda Barta, Tracy Stanley, Heather Powers, Beverly Herman and Marcia DeCoster! All the fun of a luxury cruise combined with a great bead retreat. Classes, workshops, nightly open beading sessions, a cocktail party, gift bags, door prizes, a bead bazaar and more!



Registration opens April 10th! Space is very limited.



Visit http://www.beadcruise.com/ for more information.
This will be our 6th annual event. (<--now that is a fabulous testimonial to the fun and success of this cruise--and the teachers are topnotch!!!--jean)

a piece I did for my column, in the section What has Jean been up to?

GGS and Kim Miles beads with heishi pearls and crystals from Artbeads

Yes, this magazine is the one I write a column for in every issue and am I thrilled to be connected with this fabulous magazine! You bet I am!

Take a look here!

Click here: Facebook AUSTRALIAN BEADING MAGAZINE

I hope you become a fan! It is a really delightful magazine which offers plenty of different challenges for all levels of beaders, and lots of inspiration. Beautifully glossy and worth every penny if you decide to subscibe.

Ohhh I love this mag!

jean

A sneak peek at my project representing New York State

I made a necklace and earring set for BeadStyle magazine for their BIG issue this summer! Don't worry, I will be talking more about it as the time draws nearer! I can't believe how fast the time is flying anyway, as I recall the deadline for this project so well...Feb. 2010.
That seems like a blink ago.

I spent a lot of time thinking about what I would make and how I would express the moods I was trying to evoke with this set. It is all very much a part of me and who I am and where I live. I drew from all of that, with great love and a sense of wonder.

I love BeadStyle magazine for offering me this opportunity, and I love ArtBeads for the beautiful beads they so generously donated for this project. It is special to my heart and always will be.

I hope you like it, love it, and make it!

jean

A Bead A DayDo you have a knack for using unusual odds and ends in your jewelry designs? Lisa is looking for ideas if you have a minute to stop by!

About.com Jewelry MakingTammy looks at easy metal jewelry making this week on her blog.

Art Bead Scene ABS Editor, Cindy Gimbrone asks the readers to weigh in on where she should go next.

Beading ArtsCyndi has found a *lot* of seed bead tutorials lurking in her blog's archives!

Carmi's Art/Life WorldCarmi makes a jacket pin in order to justify another crafty purchase.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork DivaCindy follows her heart and stripz and makes some new beads.

Earthenwood Studio ChroniclesA mix of brassy metal components and chain from ArtBeads.com inspires Melanie to make a springtime woodland owl necklace.

Jean CampbellJean shares yet another travelogue. This time, it's Portland, one of her new favorite cities.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the StudioDesigning jewelry that is unique can be hard. Lorelei got some cute Signature tags recently and shows them off in this post.

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!Jean emphasizes the importance of checking out the auction of gorgeous treasures from tons of artists which is being held for Michele Goldstein, lampwork artist, organized in a stunning way on Ebay by Anne Mitchell and Gail Crosman Moore! It is not too late to bid on something amazing!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew hosts another Thursday Giveaway! This time, the prize comes courtesy of LillyPilly Designs!

John, lead singer

my kid Jim, lead guitar and writer, with John

Jason, drummer par excellence

my Jim and Mark, superb bass player

latest CD

So The Ruse (http://www.rusemusic.com/) has been touring the country
for fun and to publicize their new CD which is fantastic.

The bands which open for them are Honor by August, and Luna Halo. Really cool bands too. Check the tour schedule on the Ruse site to see where they are going to be next. They don't quit! All that practice, plus their completely sky high talent, combined with their sheer love of really good music shows every where they play!

You must hear them, at the very least by visiting youtube.com, or going to their website!!!

I really love their latest video on their site. It is so good I flip when I watch/listen to it.

There are some free downloads, too!

These perfectly exquisite felted earrings by Gail Crosman Moore are an example of the treasures you will find at this huge auction on Ebay, honoring and assisting Michele Goldstein. For more information, please see below!

I got the word from Anne Mitchell's blog about something that is important to me, and to every one of us who has been touched by the colorful and lovely lampwork made by Michele Goldstein. I had wanted to write about this as well, but when I saw what Anne wrote I really liked it. Because of this, I am using her words, directly quoted from her blog.

I own some wonderful work from Michele. Here is part of what Anne says"

"The Biggest of the BIG news, I am sure that most have heard about, is that the auction for my friend Michele Goldstein started last Saturday morning on Ebay. Click here Michele Goldstein Auction for the link.Here is the short story for those who are not aware of the situation. Michele Goldstein is an amazing Lampwork artist and dear friend. She had to stop working for several months in order to care for the father of her two boys. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he passed away after a very brief but debilitating illness. During those months that Michele cared for Steve things got tight on the financial end as you can imagine. So, Gail Crosman Moore and I decided to get our artist friends to all donate work for an auction to help out Michele and her two boys. There are 3 auctions that are ending in just under 3 days so take a look at them first.
The remaining 53 auctions will continue on for another 5 days so please check it out and bid often and bid high."

Thank you, Gail and Anne, for arranging this auction for Michele. The amazingly talented artists whom you will see, who appear in the auction, many of whom generously donated more than one thing, is jaw dropping.

Michele and her family: clearly loved deeply by everyone in the artist community!

Well we were together, engaged, for five years before we married, so this July kind of marks twenty five years together. We each already had two kids. Jim had two little girls and I had two little boys. Little did I know that when a date I had had before I met Jim read my palm and calmly stated: "You will have five sons" he was right.
Those oldest kids of ours are our age when we met!
Jim did NOT want to marry me. I had to force him. I knew what was best however, and as many of you already have read here, when I threw all of the deck furniture (the expensive kind) into the woods into our forest behind the house, he pretty much realized I meant what I said when I wanted to get engaged. He said, "I need to think about it" and went down to the driveway to his truck and spent quite a long time lighting off colored smoke bombs and smoking cigarettes (he still smoked then) , sending up signals like offerings to the Gods to ask for help in making his decision.

I was standing, simmering with righteous something or other, deck--chair less, on the deck, waiting, as he did this.

Finally he came up and said, "Do I have to move out and not see you and be with you anymore unless we get engaged?"
"YES!" I lied.
This was completely untrue but he didn't know it.

"OK let's get engaged", he said, and five years later we got married at my parents' house. I wanted a pink wedding cake with that smooth coating (fondant?) enrobing the frosting, and with pastel multicolored frosting flowers all over it and white swags. My parents made sure I got it.
I am a very lucky woman.
There were many family members there who are no longer with us, but we love them just the same and always will.

Simply Stylish Chain & Metal Jewelry

from the publisher of BeadStyle magazine

There are 30 stunning projects in this book. All are delightfully different enough to intrigue a novice or tempt a seasoned beader into diving into the world of chain and metal. Come on in, the water is great! Take it from me! Chain, and anything made of metal, are two of my absolute favorite basics to work with as well as to decorate with when I design.

It is like alchemy! Amaze yourself as your designs morph extraordinarily from one style into another.With this book guiding you, you will quickly see that if you just use your own discerning eye, and a pair of chain cutters, along with some other simple tools(handily mentioned in the introduction),you will be delighted with your creations. I have actually already made one of the projects in Simply Stylish Chain & Metal Jewelry. When it first appeared in BeadStyle magazine, I completely fell in love with this charming and innovative bracelet. I wrote the designer, and asked for permission to make her design and post it in my own site gallery, crediting her of course. She said that would be all right. One of my friends wears it now all the time, as a gift from me. Now I want another for myself! The project is called READY-TO-WEAR HARDWARE, designed by the wonderful Lindsay Haedt. If you like chain maille, and you have a hankering to hang around in hardware stores, this is one for YOU!
Take a look at the cover of Simply Stylish Chain & Metal Jewelry and you will get a bit of an idea of the diversity you will be finding inside. The largest cover photo is quite a remarkable bracelet which I would guess almost anyone would really love learning to make. The wonderful thing is, although it appears very complex, it is fairly simple to create! The amount of different sizes of the chains combined with the different colors of the chains look exotic, beautiful and absolutely enticing. Add to that the twists and turns this gorgeous bracelet takes, and the charms hanging from the front brass ring and you have what looks like a "one of a kind" designer bracelet coming at you from a mile away! It is so hip, and so chic, I dare you to not to page through until you get to Grab the brass ring, by Brenda Schweder to get a closer look.

Do you like color? Quick silver by Carol McKinney, a stringing project, is total perfection, employing stunning turquoise oval nuggets perfectly balanced with sterling rectangles used as the focal aspect of the necklace. It's a stringing project you can alter by using different sorts of beads (like ceramic), and there is a matching earring suggestion as well.

Despite the passing thought that you might look like Xena the Warrior if you are wearing loads of chain or metal these days, both are easy to work up into incredibly upscale feminine designs.

For example, Rupa Balachandar has a project which is luminous, original, and appropriate for many special occasions. Gemstone chips or Keishi pearls, and round or rectangular coin pearls combine with a delicate golden strand of long and short chain which acts as a longer pendant, accenting its "sister" pearl necklace by finishing with a double dangle of coin pearls and a pair of tiny gemstone chips or pearls: whichever you have chosen for your project. It's lovely.

Cathy Jakicic uses a bead board to make another feminine necklace. This one is wire wrapped. It is a triple strand of golden chain, composed of two different sizes, but similar oval shaped links. She cleverly makes the uppermost chain look different from the lowest chain by cutting the lengths between the links differently, then wiring the beads on. The beads are stunning. They are all Venetian and are tones of golds, greens, steely silvery blues, and one focal Venetian bead which is different from all the others. The focal is eye catching: a two tone rectangular Venetian bead on the largest chain. That chain is in the middle, perfectly wired and perfectly framed.

I would love to take you by the hand and walk you through this whole book, but I don't want to deprive you of the thrill of discovering what you will find appealing in Simply Stylish Chain & Metal Jewelry on your own: the gems with chain, the polymer clay with chain, the patinated copper links...
I think you will really get energized by what you find here!

I expect you will return time and again to learn more about what is just the right style for yourself as you read this excellent book.

FTC compliance disclosure: The book in this post from was provided as a promotional gift as part of a program for review.

Daisy and Cherise in Easter outfits--they are sisters--Happy Easter!



I worked so hard today (yesterday) to get my beadlogger links up. Never did manage - I apologize. Particularly to Andrew Thornton and to Lorelei Eurto whose beautiful collatboration on an exquisite necklace will be available to bid on until Monday at some cut off time, as a Red Cross Relief Fund for Haiti Charity auction! See Andrew's Blog:
http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/The Writing and Art of Andrew Thorton.

The above would be part of what my sister and I would find in our Easter Baskets, which were made of dark, shellacked, handwoven vines, were huge and had tons of Easter grass hiding so many things. The baskets had ribbons of satin and tons of luxuriant, real looking fake flowers twining up the handles, and had little books and tiny toys and candy eggs as well as things like Matroyskas, curious things you wouldn't expect ... of course way later I realized my mother's hand at work here. She really liked Easter.

... maybe she used it for hanging laundry outside???

A great photo by Tim Knight of a Gorilla named Pete, pretty similar

I used to LOVE Easter as a child!

It was so wonderful!

I would get so excited, that one year I decided to leave a letter for the Easter Bunny and give HIM some gifts.

I asked my mother to write the letter for me as I couldn't read or write yet.

It went like this:

"Dear Easter Bunny. Thank you for all that you do. Here are some presents for you, from me."

Then I gave the Easter Bunny a tiny folding travel frame with a picture of a gorilla in it, a picture of my mother (boy was she young!) playing with our dog, and one other picture I can't recall, plus an empty space for one last picture I hadn't chosen yet.

I also asked my mother if I could give the Easter Bunny a big wound up ball of rope I found in the junk drawer in the kitchen. She said it was OK for me to do that.

...Easter morning arrived, and my usual wonderfully decorated Easter Basket was there, and ALSO, amazingly, a letter from the Easter Bunny! I raced to get my mother to read it to me, scattering jelly beans and little toys in my wake.

It said,

"Dear Jeannie, Thank you for your thoughtful presents. I will take the rope but I want you to keep the folding picture frame. Happy Easter, The Easter Bunny!"

It took me until I became an adult to figure out why the Easter Bunny took the rope but not the frame! I remain one of the naivest people you will ever meet, and I prefer it that way!

PS: Important to me! Today, April 2nd, the more people who wear BLUE, the more people will be showing their support for the cause of Autism Research. Please consider doing this as it is an easy thing to do and it is so important to those of us...and there are so many of us at this point...who have been affected in some manner, whether indirectly, or usually directly!!!, by someone we know, or have in our family, who has autism or is on the autistic spectrum. THANK YOU

jean