I am the "spotlight designer" for Artbeads on Facebook! This makes me very proud! You can find my picture and my designs I have done for Artbeads here . Just remember, my name is Jean, not Olga, who did those gorgeous pieces I admire so much which precede me and my work!

for BeadStyle magazine, July All Stars Issue: all beads contributed by Artbeads! "Shades of Light and Dark" set, representing this area of New York State.

beads from Artbeads (and some friends) for Australian Beading magazine: "Under Reef" necklace

earring by me, art bead by Cindy Gimbrone

"Jewels"

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

SueBeads has generously supplied an assortment of goodies for this week's Thursday Giveaway.



Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!

Jean is totally WOWed by the fabulous Margot Potter's latest book: scroll down to read the truly intriguing review of this unique book--it is SO worth it!



Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

Lorelei shows off her loot from her Bead Fest Philadelphia trip!



Katie's Beading Blog

Katie shares a couple of ideas for jewelry using crystals and pearls, plus, announces a giveaway winner.



Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Melanie shows off the treasures of her shopping spree at Bead Fest Philly



Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva

While Cindy's off enjoying the bead-ch, let's get ready for the upcoming HalloweenMas newsletters by checking in on a re-wind. It's Barbe Saint John's magic with Cindy's Calaveraz.



Carmi's Art/Life World

The new Katiedids components are responsible for Carmi's new pearl necklace design.



Beading Arts

After receiving a wonderful package of crystals from Auntie's Beads, Cyndi set out to make a bracelet that would show them off!



Art Bead Scene

While Art Bead Scene Editor, Cindy Gimbrone is on vacation, she's left us a gem from Studio Saturday - her box of inspiration!



About.com Jewelry Making

Tammy announces her first About.com jewelry making video.



A Bead A Day

Do you like to mix crafting with jewelry making? Lisa is looking for crafty ideas for using a filigree pendant to create a unique piece of jewelry.

How pretty these beads are in Lot 1, the green collection of glass beads of all sorts, and below that, in Lot 37, the starry night blue art bead by Calvin Orr.

... Where can you find them?

They are in Andrew Thorton's big studio clearance sale, which is being held now!

But Hurry! You don't want to miss your favorites! Here is the link to the sale!

Follow me over! Andrew always has a collection of the most fascinating things and they make for very unique, out of this world jewelry designs for your delight!
When he has a sale, it is wonderful!

--jean

an example of what we will learn to create in Chapter Three, "Dimensional Beading", of Cyndi Lavin's e-Book, Every Bead Has a Story. Look at the beautiful colors!



Chapter Three of Cyndi Lavin's wonderful e-Book, Every Bead Has a Story is now ready to purchase, for a very nominal fee, at her site. This super chapter is called "Dimensional Beading". In Cyndi's words, it shows how to "take beadwork from flat to fluffy"! In my words, it is amazing!


It has the same careful instructions which take you right from the beginning concepts required for this sort of bead work, to the fabulous finish. There are two projects which are lovely. Finally there is a super gorgeous gallery of jewelry designs by the author appropriate to the chapter's subject matter.

Before I knew Cyndi, I used to go over to see her creations at her website, and say to myself, "I don't know how this person does this!" I still have the same admiration for the author of this great, clearly written and photographed e-Book, but now, thanks to her, I know how she does it!
 
Cyndi Lavin provides fantastic step by step instructions, and the most remarkably well done close-up photographs for her beautiful creations.
 
If you are curious about working with a master teacher who can help you with your understanding of color, seed beading, multimedia art jewelry, dimensional embroidery involving different sizes of seed beads, crystals, shells and other items, please continue to follow Cyndi Lavin's fabulous e-Book. It is a MUST HAVE!
 
Thank you, Cyndi for this great e-Book, Every Bead Has a Story. With your gentle yet informed guidance, the title proves true. 
 
--jean

My friend Kim Miles wrote me an email (I am a faithful member of her email list! You might want to consider joining it, too) and she has changed her ongoing August bead and jewelry and button sale to OUR benefit!

Here is what she said:

"Hello Dear Beadists!




I got tired of changing the Beadist Discount Code every day,

so from now till the end of August, get a generous 31% off all available beads!

Find the Beadist Discount Code in the right hand column of my


travel blog, Taking The Long Way Home.

Be sure to use the Code before you complete checkout." 
 
How great! she has some really wonderful creations up right now! Do not miss out!--jean

Apples for Cheyenne


A story about

autism,horses,

and friendship.



by Elizabeth King Gerlach

Illustrated by Kim Miller



This is a book ostensibly for children, but it will draw in anyone who reads it in a powerful manner. The subject concerns therapeutic horseback riding for children with all sorts of disabilities. You will meet Rachel, a girl with autism, Ben, a boy who requires a wheelchair when he is not riding, and another disabled child named Julie who seems to have a form of ADD-ADHD. However, the point is not what is different about these children, therefore it is not exactly specified, except for with Rachel. The riding therapy program which they all attend makes them equals. It bonds them in a way. They are united in a special sort of friendship which is also definitely connected to the horses they ride. As you read the book, you will understand more and more that it hasn't got to do with what is different, it is about what they share which is the same.


The main character is Rachel. You see the book through her eyes. The other main character is the horse she rides every Monday, Cheyenne.



Remarkably, the author, Elizabeth King Gerlach, is able to write through Rachel's eyes completely smoothly and unobtrusively. It is as if it is possible for her to convey what Rachel senses and feels without any sort of third party intervention. Therefore, finally, you will get a profoundly intimate idea of what it is like to be autistic.



The great thing is, the illustrator, Kim Miller, who is now 22, but drew the beautiful illustrations when she was 16, has autism herself. Although most of us know that no two autistic people are alike (I can attest to that; two of my children are severely autistic and very different!), it is eye opening to see her drawings. Her point of view is completely fascinating. Her illustrations are very three dimensional, very focused on what is important for each illustration, and very appealing. I love her use of color and her fascination in depicting little things like Cheyenne's braided mane and bridle. She is a true artist! Her consistency is unfailing when she draws Rachel's friends, the other children who ride. This is also the case when she draws the horses whom all three ride, and also Lana, the riding therapist who volunteers at the program. The angles of the drawings, and what the artist chooses to enhance in her special, sculptural style of illustrating are wonderful to see. To tell the truth, it is uniquely moving to see how these pictures enhance the words Ms.Gerlach has written. This book is a one of a kind in the sense that no one else has ever combined words in the manner Ms.Gerlach has with drawings like these. I therefore consider this storybook a watershed book, new and original in concept. To have accomplished it so well is a great feat.



This book should be in every school library. It should be purchased by everyone who knows or cares for a person who is disabled. It is a treasure of a storybook without a single misstep. It glows in a simple yet perfect manner, like the love between Rachel and the horse she rides and brings apples for, Cheyenne.

Not a fairy tale, Apples for Cheyenne is something better. It is a "real life" story with a happy ending.



I love this book! I think it is perfectly amazing to read. Everything about it is beautiful. I recommend this book for all ages and all types of families. It is a remarkable, lovely book to read and share, over and over.



Elizabeth King Gerlach is the author of Autism Treatment Guide and Just This Side of Normal: Glimpses into Life with Autism.Her son has autism, and he loves to ride horses. Visit her Web site at http://www.fourleafpress.com/



Kim Miller is an artist who has autism. She and her mother, Eileen, wrote The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures (JKP Publishing), a book about her life.Her artwork has been featured in art shows, in other books, and on greeting cards. Visit her Web site at http://www.thegirlwhospokewithpictures.com/

the illustrator with the author


Apples for Cheyenne










Note: In the back of Apples for Cheyenne are listed some great resources, as well as the main site for the American Hippotherapy Association. What is that? It is the technical term for therapeutic horseback riding.--jean

Margot Potter gave me this lovely vintage style box pocketbook which she made, titled "Anais"...Wren's Song and Zephyr, two custom girls of mine, are celebrating the late afternoon sun while seated on it

A Bead A Day

Do you have plenty of beads in all the right colors? Lisa is exploring the meaning of the color purple and discovers she might need to do some bead shopping!



About.com Jewelry Making

Have you ever thought about expanding your jewelry business but need a little mulla to do so? Then you may want to learn more about this jewelry grant.



Art Bead Scene

It's the Art Bead Scene Monthly Carnival Blog! Join us as we embark on an exploration.



Beading Arts

Chapter three of Cyndi's e-book is available for download! "Dimensional Beading" looks at how to use textural stitches in your bead embroidery!



Carmi's Art/Life World

This week Carmi makes a floral tribute necklace with fabric flowers.



Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva

This week Cindy's Mad for Monday is about the frit.



Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Melanie shows the results of her experiments with Ice Resin and LEDs... Light! Science!



Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!

Jean reviews Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry: not to be missed!



Strands of Beads

Melissa unveils her new Saturn charm.



The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

For this week's Thursday Giveaway, TWO winners will walk away with beautiful bead sets created by Gaea Ceramic Beads.
 

Bead Chic

36 stylish jewelry

projects and

inspired variations

by Margot Potter

This is an immensely charming, delightful and educational jewelry design book. Author Margot Potter, who has written many popular jewelry design books and contributed to countless more, has a history of going her own way. Part of her statement as an artist is, "I color outside the lines".

With this, her latest book, Bead Chic, she demonstrates how the reader can take a basic design premise and build upon it from all sorts of directions. That truly is following her premise of coloring outside the lines. It brings freshness and a unique flavor to jewelry to view variations upon basic initial premises. Bead Chic offers these variations, at times by other designers. It is then explained what is the same and what is different about the variations. I think this is uniquely cool, and very illuminating to the reader to see the results!

I believe Bead Chic contains within it a very original concept which we all need to grasp. As Margot states,in her introduction, "My goal is to inspire you to be creative. I know you're busy and I know you're crafting in the spaces in between. I am here to give you solid technique advice and the creative tools you can use to free your vivid imagination. Think of this as a beaded jewelry recipe book.Jot down notes. Add your own variations and original ideas. Before you know it, you'll be a master designer!"

It is a great promise, and Margot Potter has the experience to demonstrate the techniques to perfection. She always takes great care to show how to do each technique in the book very clearly. I appreciate that in a jewelry design book. You will not be left in the lurch with Bead Chic. Right off the bat you will be able to see what materials and tools you will need, and then there is a good, well photographed technique section at the beginning of the book.

After that the author covers chapters as follows: Scale, Color, Texture, Pattern, Foundations,and Focal Elements, with resources at the end.

These interesting chapters show the author's ability to fling classic traditional design books off to the side a bit and lead the reader to the same beauty and excellence by addressing brand new ways of seeing creativity in making jewelry. When was the last time you saw a design book discuss scale, for example? And yet it is imperative to understand how critical scale is when you design a piece of jewelry.In the "Scale" chapter, I fell in love with a glamorous necklace called "Chaos in Pearls". It is a black and white fabrication using gunmetal chain in two sizes and Cream colored Swarovski Elements Crystal pearls, with black faceted rounds . Totally fabulous and, furthermore,easy to make and not expensive! I would grab this one for night or day wear and feel really hip and pretty.

The author then shows how scale alters this design by creating a bracelet called "Mod Bubbles" on the following page. It is clearly explained what is the same and what is different about the two pieces. This is what is great about this book. You will learn as you go how to perceive these similarities and differences for yourself, and then you are free to design your own original pieces, using the same solid premises you now understand.

Margot is a great teacher!

What else did I love in this book? "Steel City Earrings" were fabulous, and the divine variation by one of the contributors, Barbe St. John, called "South Beach" had the same wire segments, yet used different colors of beads and added an extra segment. So fun and lusciously colored!

Speaking of color,for a really different look, in the "Color" chapter, check out the "Psychedelia Bracelet", made of striated rainbow calsilica ovals counterpointed with one onyx oval of the same size.Each stone is "pseudo-wrapped" between each bead with funky silvery jump ring spacers. It is a great stand alone bracelet by Margot! I love it;I want it! Don't forget to check out the three-color co-ordinated beaded dangles at the clasp! Turn the page, and you have Andrew Thornton's bracelet, "Woodstock Summer": using the same color scheme, but changing the style of the bracelet to a more fully charm-like dangle style. The dangles now take center stage, where before they were accents to Margot's design.

I confess I do have a favorite piece in this wonderful jewelry book. Although all of the designs are great, I love "The Grid Necklace", in the "Foundations" chapter. As Margot quotes in the beginning of this chapter, "Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." -- Henry David Thoreau.

This means, for jewelry designers, learn to use the correct materials when you are designing.

I suppose I am drawn to "The Grid Necklace" because it is wire wrapped and has crystals. These are two things I find irresistible. However, it is also totally original and really mod looking, as the author herself mentions. I love the mod look! Check out Melanie Brooks' variation: "Keyhole Grid". It is fantastic, too. Completely different in style due to changing the color from silver to brass, her grid is built around one lovely focal bead instead of the whole necklace.

I am delighted to review such a different type of jewelry design book. Margot Potter is a very special, energetic, and talented woman. She never stops turning over new leaves and learning new things for her own benefit and to share with the world. Bead Chic is a fantastic collection of beautiful learning experiences for the fortunate reader to expand horizons as a designer!

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

the mod girls mentioned in the jewelry newsletter, above

from a post card concerning the Vintage at Goodwood Festival, in Sussex, G.B.

It is our first day of summer vacation, and I am sitting here listening to the rain, and the "back to school" TV ads. It is OK, we don't mind rain; we need it! The back to school stuff I don't need so much right after the kids stopped summer sessions for special ed.

I have been reading my email. The first thing which caught my attention was an invitation to join "Creating The Hive" from Margot Potter . I had heard of The Hive but never knew what it was. Now, "Voila!", I am a member. I still am not sure what it is going to do for me. How am I gonna get to be the Queen Bee of this hive thing if I cannot figure out what it is? I really need to try harder to get a profound understanding of stuff like this! With a profound understanding of stuff like this, I could "rule verdlt!!!", as Natasha always said on the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. I am pretty terrible at promoting myself. In my profile, where they ask "Where do you sell your jewelry?" I answered "I am on hiatus". I am not really, and I am not on sabbatical either, I just couldn't think of a brilliant and amusing answer. In all honesty, I have a stuffy nose! I am a Queen Bee with a stuffy nose!

In other interesting arenas, I got this:

Jewelry / Accessories
By Carly Wickell, Jewelry / Accessories Guide
Vintage at Goodwood Festival who wrote:
"Britain's first annual Vintage at Goodwood Festival just ended. The festival was a celebration of British music and fashion, with performances, fashion shows, dance and other events that showcased styles from the 1940s onward. Some guests dressed in period attire, like these two very Mod looking ladies[note from jean: shown in a photo] (and their Rocker counterparts). Classic sundresses were a favorite, and were mostly accessorized with chunky necklaces."

I think this festival above sounds fantastic and fun. Who doesn't love to dress up? I would have gone as a mod, for sure. I still have all my old make up from the Twiggy era: Oh! de London, by Yardley! Good times, good times. I loved that era!

jean

I got this in an email today from Artbeads. The email also had plenty of other GREAT beady things to read about!

I recommend signing up for Artbeads emails. They are always lots of fun! If you are thrifty, they are worth your while in that way, too! They frequently have lots of really great sales!

Here is the info about the Bead IQ Trivia Sweepstakes:

Bead IQ Trivia Sweepstakes Are you a bead genius? Test your "Bead IQ" with a fun quiz featuring bead and jewelry trivia, and then enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a fabulous "Bead Genius" prize package valued at $250! The prize package includes a $100 Artbeads.com Gift Card and $150 worth of fantastic beading and jewelry supplies.

This sweepstakes is open to all United States and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) over the age of 18.

The trivia test is not a requirement to enter the sweepstakes. Be sure to submit your entry before the sweepstakes ends at 9am (PT) on September 16, 2010.

Heading over to try my IQ at something I might (hopefully) know a little bit about, right now! And if I flop...well I shall devote my next few weeks to research and figure out WHY! :)

jean!

Here is Nefertiti, a famous figure of beauty and power both in her time and throughout history, even up until today, as recreated in a collaboration by Cindy Sowers, who sells hats and soft art dolls on Etsy, and me.

I made the jewelry and had a great time getting the help of Jennifer at Jangles for the ceramic leaves which comprise a large part of the necklace.

I also used a Lilypilly etched MOP shell with the eye of Horus on it for the focal of the necklace, and lotus beads as spacers. I used brilliant blue glass dichroic beads for Nefertiti's bracelets.

She has a snake bracelet as well, made of gold and amethyst art craft wire with one of Jennifer's lapis colored beads for the snake's head on it.

When I braided Nefertiti's hair, I put Swarovkis in the front braids for fun. and made her some exotic earrings as well.

This was all inspired by Cindy, who had sent me the costume, entirely made by her. It is embroidered and pleated with the stiff pleats favored by the ancient Egyptians. I love the bodice and the color contrasting sash and the embroidery at the bottom! The HAT is a work of art and I recommend you enlarge the photos to study it. There is also a shawl which she included which is terrific as well, but unfortunately my photos did not come out of it.

The shawl is pleated with knife pleats and embroidered like the dress. GREAT!

Re the Hat:The double gold snakes are made of gold colored polymer and are the perfect finish to the totally remarkable and perfect hat--what to say about the hat? It is phenomenal! Cindy certainly knows her stuff.

Talk about getting me out of the doldrums of summer! I love to daydream about ancient Egypt, and this was the best challenge I have had for ages! Collaborating with Cindy was a trip and a half! Hope you all like this project as much as I do!

jean

Making Mixed-Media

Art Charms and Jewelry

keepsakes, swappables, trinkets

by Peggy Krzyzewski & Christine Hansen

We all have our own personal reasons why charms appeal to us, but there is no question that for most of us they hold a very special place in our hearts. I myself have even shared a book on the history of charm bracelets with my sister; we each own a copy of it. Our family charm bracelets are irreplaceable to us because they speak of the legacy we carry on from our grandmothers, our mother, and our own selves.

Now here comes a new book with a very fun and artistic way of looking at charms and charm bracelets! As the authors say at the beginning, "Welcome to Charm School!"

I embraced their wonderful attitude toward charm making wholeheartedly. These are not classic gold or silver charms which you would find available pre-made at stores. These are fresh, fanciful, colorful charms made of all sorts of materials. As one of the authors, Chris, says at the end of the book, she loves Faberge' because "he treated each material as precious, even if it was something as mundane as wood." Couple that with a statement from her partner author, Peggy, who says, "a big part of my self-expression has to do with fun", and you have a recipe for a great book filled with fascinating new ways of seeing the classic beloved charm.

These charms are cool and new "art charms"! Make your own memories, starting now. Make them fresh and new, and make them super special by trying projects from this fantastic book!

The materials, what you will need in your tool kit, and the techniques required are all at the beginning in the first chapter, "Charm School".

Following that are nine chapters packed full of different media: a basic project begins each chapter, and then there are three variations! The initial project chapter, after the Charm School introductory chapter I just mentioned, concerns paper art charms and the many things the reader can do to embellish them. The authors' energy level is downright kinetic as they urge you to "Seal it, Stick it, Shape it, and Style it"! They suggest you look at your crumpled old maps (I have one of those!!!) in a new way, try using vintage sheet music: anything which catches your eye. You have to honor copyright laws, but we all do know about that. It is a good reminder, however.

Then, in the Paper chapter, the authors teach the reader how to make Mixed-Media Paper, Collage Charms(using the Mixed-Media Paper in a fabulous way!), a Mini Lotus Book project, which is enchanting, and the final project for the paper chapter, My Lucky Shooting Stars. As they say about the stars, "These charms are so fun and easy to make, you'll find it hard to stop! Use washi paper, scrapbook paper, or wrapping paper, or decorate copy paper with rubber stamps, calligraphy, or doodles. You'll be amazed at how many charms you can get from one piece of paper!" As you can see, it is easy to be caught up in their enthusiasm and they are both excellent teachers. Each chapter has a wealth of ideas and tips.

The next chapters include projects (and variations) of found objects, polymer clay, plastic, wood, fiber, resin, metal, and glass. They are fantastic, wonderful to see, and very inventive.For example, I loved the stark black and white Op-Art Bicones of polymer clay and the cool Totally Tubular charms (clear plastic tubing containing tiny treasures).

I also fell for the Resin Art charms. This chapter really is a boon to people who have never tried resin. It gives you a crash course on using resin right in the middle of all of the rest of the fun.

When you get to glass, try the Meet Me in Paris charm. It is a total winner and very clever!
I appreciated the authors' ideas in the chapter toward the end, "Putting It All Together".
In this one,they even suggest a chatelaine ( keys and jewelry once worn as a belt in medieval times by fine ladies ) as a way of displaying your charms! Yes, you can be your very own "mistress of the castle" as you hang your charms on your wall for everyone to admire!

Then they further expand upon ways of wearing charms and displaying them so that the charms are visually appealing, comfortable to wear, and appropriate to the design and the space.This is very very helpful to new designers.They show some of their charm bracelets assembled, some art charm earrings, and a fabulous Princess Necklace which will knock your socks off. There are even more suggestions and then ideas on how to start a charm swap.
Concerning the charm swap, the authors have a conversation with the "Queen Diva" of Art Charm swaps, Amber Dawn Goldish, and the reader's interest is kindled further by this creative, playful, wonderful area of jewelry making, sharing your art.

Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry, by Peggy Krzyzewski & Christine Hansen, is a pure delight from start to finish. Why shouldn't we have tons of fun while we create lovely, innovative art charms? I can't think of a single reason. With the help of this fabulously complete, delightful book, the reader can dive in and will instantly see that the water is FINE!

I love this book! Great for mothers and daughters, sisters to use together, wonderful for friends to try out and learn new techniques from.

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

The Infamous Quads: someone always has to be different!

A Bead A DayLisa's exloring the concept of "happy jewelry"! Stop by and share your thoughts on expressing happiness in your jewelry designs.

About.com Jewelry MakingTammy has spotted several celebrities who have new jewelry lines and wonders what you think about this.

Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene gets creative with storing supplies.

Beading ArtsMetal clay is a great material to have in your jewelry-making repertoire!

Carmi's Art/Life WorldCarmi whips up a one hour brooch project with left over chain.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork DivaCindy learns that the fourth time can be a charm.

Earthenwood Studio ChroniclesMelanie's friend David Erk Nelson shares a free project from his upcoming book Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred...a stuffed Cthulhu sock toy!

Katie's Beading BlogSee 3 bloggers' ideas for painting metal, stringing crystals and making custom toggles using Katie's new components.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the StudioLorelei visits a cool lampwork artist in Atlanta, and tries her hand at making a bead.

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!Jean explains a bit more about "The Jean's List", an ongoing selection of her favorite jewelry designers selected from all types of jewelry!

Strands of BeadsMelissa is giving away one of her new fine silver charms this week. Enter now!

one of Cyndi Lavin's neckpieces, wonderfully mysterious and sensual, entitled "Midnight at the Oasis" to be found on one of her sites, here

Marcia DeCoster's "Butterfly" necklace, below, so evocative of the past and the present combined, and so very chic!

Marcia DeCoster's "Abrege" bracelet, below--Marcia--please correct the name if I am wrong. The precise nature of this bracelet combined with the glorious colors remind me of the sun setting at Versailles. A very regal piece.

Jean Campbell's "Star of India" necklace, below, entrances the eye with lovely colorplay and jaw-droppingly inticate detail. What a beauty of a piece! I would feel like a queen wearing this.

Jean Campbell's "Le Cirque" bracelet, below, dances and shimmers and scintillates like an energy filled party celebration! What a delightful bracelet in every way!






THE JEAN'S LIST
An initial list of wonderful seed beaders and weavers I have chosen for my blog entry this time around. There are many more seed beaders whom I love for specific reasons. They will appear later on in separate entries.

1) Jean Campbell , Jean Campbell's blog: What to say about la kewl and witty Campbell?

Her intelligence combined with her passionate soul mull a magic potion for some of the loveliest seed beaded jewelry around.


I particularly enjoy her seed beading books which interpret famous paintings and eras through her use of seed beads. I am thinking of Beading Works of Art: Art Nouveau (with Judith Durant), Beading Works of Art: Impressionism (with Judith Durant) in particular. It is quite a feat to translate a beautiful art work, or to portray the style of an era in a specific and lovely jewelry design. It is remarkable!
Her sense of color deserves an award in and of itself. Her abilities are
never ending. She is not just a seed beader, she is a seed beading ICON.

Jean Campbell never stops surprising and delighting us with her joie de vivre concerning these little, colorful shiny glass beads and what they can do in the hands of a true artist!




I give her *FIVE Tohos* for her brilliant, unique, trendsetting creations!

MADdesigns:

or

Marcia DeCoster,



here is her blog: maddesignsbeadsblogspot.com:


I have only recently met Marcia DeCoster on Facebook, but we seem to have a kinship, possibly based upon our mutual love of beauty, or maybe based upon something I am not sure of yet. Anyone who calls her website "MADdesigns"(Marcia) has to have some sort of connection to a person who collects any and all songs which are titled "Crazy", the way I do. I am not certain exactly what this says about her except I do sense that she is terrific, unafraid of life, and enthusiastic to the nth degree. I like her as a person a lot! I also know that the book she authored, which is called Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence: Elegant Jewelry Projects with Right Angle Weave, is incredibly amazing to read and should be treasured. We really have some great seed beaders and weavers, and Marcia's abilities are impeccable and SO lush. Her imagination is unstoppable as well. She loves what she does. It shows! She is a leader, not because she wants to be, but because people cannot help but be so attracted to her style they are compelled to follow!


I give her *FIVE Tohos* for her brilliant, elegant, RAW!!! creations!

Cyndi Lavin, and also her other site Wildest Dreams Designs

I have known Cyndi for a while and had the pleasure of reviewing part of her recent E book, here: and here:

The interesting thing about Cyndi is she is a true mixed media artist with a strong accent on the seed beads. I put her in this category because she is so accomplished at what she does with seed beads, and ignites her readers' and followers' creativity so fabulously with her vividly colored pieces and her eloquent designs. I love to look at Cyndi's work, and only wish she had sent me one more piece to display on my Jean's List today, but if you go to my reviews of her E book you will see some other gorgeous pieces you can learn to make from her. Her ingenuity and her excitement for what she does makes her a triple AAA beader and such a fantastique!!! contributor to the seed beading world. I find her work completely one of a kind and so fun to look at. Her energy pulses through every piece!

I give her *FIVE Tohos* for her hip, special Cyndi-ness--it is mesmerizing!

Well, this took longer than I thought it would. I have been working on this all day, and I had three other seed beaders planned for this entry. It is my loss that I couldn't include them today, but I hope you enjoyed this blog, entry #2, of The Jean's List --I hope you will come back again and see what I have for you next time! I really hope you like what I wrote!

jean

The photo below is why I personally do not seed bead. Pretty scary, huh? However, I used a good button for the clasp, a pretty pewter heart from GGS --and it almost saved my effort from complete perdition!!!

I am having a discombobulated week so far (and it is only Monday!!! And some people, like me, think that Monday marks the beginning of the week, no matter what the calendar says. Sunday just isn't the beginning of the week. Face it)!

I want to do a very good job on my second selection of favorite beaders/designers. See my blog here for entry number one of "my favorite jewelry designers".

I need to collect some photos, and explain exactly why I have chosen this first set of favorite designers drawn from the category I have now challenged myself with. It is a very difficult category for me; namely, seed beading.

I cannot seed bead myself, as you can see, above!!!-- so I have to use my "Spidey senses" and gather up all my good judgement as a designer to figure out exactly why each of the bead designers I have selected for this go-around are so very, very good.

I don't rely upon charts, or reviews, or anything but my own good taste when I make up these lists.

I look for visual appeal, a unique tingle up my spine which says, "Stop right there! Look again! You are viewing something terrific!", the pull which cannot be denied which calls out "This is great art!".

It doesn't matter whether it is a painting, a piece of jewelry, or any creation made by man or woman which sighs to me...of beauty. Only in this case, in my entries on this blog, I will be dealing specifically with jewelry.

I have decided to call this series of posts on jewelry designers I love, and all their different types of jewelry which they make, be it metal work, designs using polymer clay, ceramic clay, seed beading, or designing with art beads of glass and / or gem stones

...

The Jean's List

the above is a little light humor on my part, and is meant to refer to the Dean's List at any college or University here in the States. Buuuuuut you knew that! However I am quite serious about my intentions. I don't put anyone's name on here if I don't think they are GREAT at what they do. And I will tell you why.

If you don't make The Jean's List the first time, hey! -- don't worry. I have so many designers whom I love, in so many different categories of jewelry design, I will be coming around plenty of times in all of the many categories, repeatedly. I hope you like this week's choices, because I really do.

I will be very proud to present them to you later this week.

jean, creator of The Jean's List

Daisy, a Primadolly Marigold. wearing her Cecil the cat T shirt, made by Squeakymonkey

A Bead A DayA new beading component is on the market, created by and named after our fellow bead blogger Katie Hacker.

About.com Jewelry MakingAs part of the "Start a New Hobby" theme running through About.com's hobby blogs this week, Tammy takes a moment to think about jewelry as more than a hobby. What about jewelry as a job?

Art Bead Scene Want to capture a bit of the summer? This week's collection of sea beads will keep those summer memories alive all year 'round.

Beading ArtsWant to get in on a fantastic giveaway? Cabbing Rough is offering a Kingman turquoise cabochon on Beading Arts!

Carmi's Art/Life WorldCarmi was at CHA in Chicago and has a fabulous post about Prima Marketing.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork DivaThis week's rewind makes a statement.

Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!Jean reviews a SUPERfantastic new book by all star stamper and metalworker, Lisa Niven Kelly!

The Writing and Art of Andrew ThorntonAndrew's blog recently marked its four year anniversary. Celebrate with him, by entering to win a HUGE bead stash via this week's Thursday Giveaway!