I got an email yesterday from Rio Grande. I like this company a LOT, and now that they are making use of the Internet far more than they used to, their service is seamless. I used to phone them all the time and make my requests using their wonderful catalogs, but now ( by now I mean within the past five years) their online presence has been much upgraded and I really appreciate that as I do a lot of research quietly, via my computer!
This email, which I thought might be of interest to many of you, has to do with their tool catalog, which is massive and therefore quite comprehensive. I would wager if you receive it by mail you will turn down the corners of so many pages  even at your first glance  you will drive yourself  NUTS with seeing all the things which you need. That is what happens to me!  That is Rio Grande for you, in a nutshell, whether it is their tools, packaging or jewelry making catalogs.
In the old days you used to have to prove you were a jewelry designer or involved in a jewelry class to get a catalog.  When I got my first catalog, after taking a jewelry design class it Silvermine Arts Guild in CT, I was PROUD.  I haven't looked back whenever I receive my catalogs from Rio Grande, and  they have been leaders in the world of jewelry firsts for many years. Some items you simply cannot get elsewhere. I urge you to look into developing a relationship with Rio Grande. Just don't run off with them...I need them too. OK???!!!
Here is the newsletter which I got from them:

here is the link for the Dura-Bull page

Vulcanizers, casting machines,

tumblers, collectors . . .

Whether you manufacture hundreds of pieces a week or fill custom orders in a studio setting, there’s a Dura-BULL™ machine for you.

And best of all, you can trust that each machine is backed by the Rio Grande name and made in the USA.
See your 2011 Tools & Equipment catalog or click below to learn more.

I guarantee if you take one look at their  wonderful, huge collection which they offer for you in any and all of or their catalogs, or online, you will be as hooked on this fine company as I am!

--jean

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70904815/aardvarks-jean-has-had-enough-mask-bead

"I wanted to make a bead that has had enough of everything. I decided to throw your name in there because you're in that boat, too. I hope you don't mind. I can change it if you want." -- Cathy Lybarger, beadmaker nonpareil

I believe I have NEVER had such an honor bestowed upon me, and I accept this with far more excitement than if it were an Oscar or a Grammy. Or a SAG, whatever that is. I therefore commmit myself to expressing my feelings honestly, openly and colorfully, to whomever wishes to read what I write forever and ever and ever. And I shall plan to live happily ever after, due to having a fabulous bead named after me: the Jean Bead.  

Thank you, Cathy, you truly rock! I think the likeness is uncanny, frankly.

Incidentally, you can buy me on Etsy!  See the link to Cathy's Etsy shop Aardvark Art Glass!

This is Azure Dragonfly, known by her Celtic name, which is *big breath--get ready*
 "Cruinneag Liath". I call her Liath . She is a Prima Dolly Ginger customized by Amy, Zaloa27, who is my favorite customizer.

BEADBLOGGER'S SUNDAY

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy combines wire, chain, and crystal teardrops for some dramatic earrings.

A Bead A Day
Interested in learning more about decopauging your jewelry projects? In response to a reader question, Lisa provides
some info to help you get started.  

Art Bead Scene
The ABS is serving up a free project courtesy of Ornamentea.

Beads & Books
Enter a jewelry, beading, or mixed media contest or challenge this spring. Michelle shares links to nearly a dozen opportunities.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a two part beaded sachet tuorial this week on her blog.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
This week's Tuesday Tangle is about taking up a challenge!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean writes about a book she was given years ago concerning Elizabeth Taylor's astounding jewelry collection

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
To celebrate National Craft Month, Andrew guest blogs for Beaducation.

Look at this fun email I just got from  Dave at Rings & Things !

"Hi everybody, I hope this has been a great week for you :)

Here's the update on Rings & Things' blog "Design Challenge"...

Because of your help, we had a record number of entries!  (239 comments at that blog post!)

Now, if you'd like, you can update your blog/social media to help us congratulate these 15 people randomly picked to receive packs of those brushed copper beads...(that is what I am doing--jean!) (It's going to be fun to see what they create with these beads, and pick a Design Challenge winner at the end of April!)  

THANK YOU FOR BEING A BLOG PARTNER with Rings & Things!!! -- Shall we do this again soon? -- Dave" (YES!--jean and congratulations, everyone! )

Here is the list of winners!

1. Penny Neville, 

http://copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com/2011/03/take-our-design-challenge.html 

2. Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp, 

http://skyejewels.blogspot.com/ 

3. Lisa Garcia/Bella Boutique Jewelry, http://www.bellaboutiquejewelry.com/blog.html 

4. Erin Prais-Hintz, 

http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/ 

5. Erin Strother, 

http://www.studioegraphics.com/ 

6. Francine Vorbeck, 

http://www.exclusivelyoursdesigns.blogspot.com/ 

7. Jenny Mac, 

http://jennymacoriginals.goods.officelive.com/default.aspx 

8. Amy, 

http://spritecreations.dnsdojo.com/ 

9. Nadya Parfyonova, 

http://nallyblue.blogspot.com/ 

10. Kristi Bowman, 

http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/ 

11. Melissa M, 

http://melissameman.blogspot.com/ 

12. Kym Hunter, 

http://kymhunterdesigns.blogspot.com/ 

13. Tina Lawrence, 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/statementsinsterling 

14. Jenny Vidberg, http://shymessmycken.blogspot.com/ 

15. Laura Staley, 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurastaley 

Dave  Robertson

Internet marketing: Rings & Things 

Review our merchandise to win prizes!SHOP ○ FACEBOOK ○ TWITTER   ○ BLOG Partners

Of course I am so sad that such a remarkable, upstanding, alluring and groundbreaking woman has died, namely, Elizabeth Taylor. She knew what she stood for and she never backed down, as far as I can see, from certain causes which were deemed unacceptable at the time. She would pick up the torch and carry it with incredible grace.

I was given a spectacular book by a friend of mine about Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection  while she was still alive. I treasure this book.
Here are some of the reviews from Amazon about it:

From Publishers Weekly

Taylor has presumably had love affairs with many things over the course of her illustrious life. Her acting career might be one, and her seven husbands might be others. But perhaps her one constant love affair is the lifelong one she's had with baubles, bangles and beads. In this dazzling book, Taylor shows off her collection, complementing the gorgeous color photographs with snippets about the provenance of each piece. "I mean, how many young women get a set of rubies just for doing something wholesome like swimming laps? Or win a diamond ring at Ping-Pong with their husband...? Well, I did, and for all of these memories and the people in my life I feel blessed," Taylor writes. She then launches into descriptions of the "glorious" ruby and diamond Cartier necklace from Mike Todd, the 33.19-carat Krupp diamond from Richard Burton ("When it came up for auction in the late 1960s, I thought how perfect it would be if a nice Jewish girl like me were to own it") and a crystal and diamond lily of the valley brooch from Rex Harrison ("You're the stingiest man alive," Taylor told Harrison, "...your giving me this pin would be doubly important because it would signify a personal triumph over your naturally stingy nature"). The photographs, many never before published, are a mix of catalogue-type photos and shots of Taylor wearing the items, creating not only a tremendous feast for the eyes but an entertaining waltz through a Hollywood icon's decadent life.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Known for her beauty, her seven marriages, and her stunning jewelry collection, screen star Elizabeth Taylor treats us to a first look at her jewelry, in gorgeous actual-size photos and in personal photos-some never before seen publicly-of herself wearing them. Taylor reminisces about the occasions when these pieces were given to her by the men in her life. The two greatest loves of Taylor's life, movie producer Mike Todd and actor Richard Burton, gave her some of the most famous jewels: Todd presented a stunning Belle Epoque diamond necklace, diamond girandole earrings, and a diamond tiara, while Burton made world headlines when he gave Taylor the famous 33-carat Krupp Diamond ring. Every piece in Taylor's collection has sentimental meaning, some as poignant as the gold charm bracelet celebrating the birth of her children. This stunning book is more than a catalog of Taylor's jewelry; it serves as a very personal autobiography that will delight both Taylor's fans and lovers of fine jewelry. Recommended for all public and academic libraries where there is interest.
Therese Duzinkiewicz Baker, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

As you can see, it is no longer in print, either in hardback or in paperback. Here is an image of the cover:

As an iconic beauty for the twentieth century, Elizabeth Taylor was also an empowered person even with all her frailties and weaknesses. She was very human and never tried to hide that aspect of her personal life, it seems to me.

Did I have fantasies about her always staying with Richard Burton, and living happily ever after?  Yes I did.
Did Jim like watching them act together in Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"? Yes, he did.
Did I enjoy hearing my Grandfather Baldrige telling me he saw them boarding a ship together once with so many purple and green flowered (probably hand made for them by Louis Vuitton) leather edged trunks and suitcases  it was as if they were going to be travelling the rest of their lives? I certainly did!
Glamor and reality clash and combine when you think about Elizabeth Taylor.
Try to locate this book in your library. She wrote it herself with another author helping her.  It is fabulous and inspirational, just like Elizabeth herself was and always will be.

--jean

STEEL WIRE JEWELRY
Stylish Designs
Simple Techniques
Artful Inspiration

by Brenda Schweder

review by jean

Hold onto your hats, your tools, your love of jewelry making! If you enjoy working with intriguing, edge-y materials, you are going to be blown away by this extraordinary new book, STEEL WIRE JEWELRY, by Brenda Schweder.
I do not think anyone could have done a better job of inciting the reader to want to attempt this playful, beautiful, "green" (the author cleverly points out that steel is ecologically green in one of her projects, a leaf pin), incredibly fascinating type of wire than author Brenda Schweder. You are going to want to try one of the fabulous projects out immediately when you acquire this book, STEEL WIRE JEWELRY.

One wonderful aspect of this book which I would like to mention right off is the excitement generated by the many photos of the work of all the artists which the author has chosen to show along the way in the beginning of the book. This assists the reader's comprehension of exactly how amazing steel is, in all its many forms and variations. There is only "one steel" (although you will see that there is a project offered where the colors of the steel vary from blue to rust), but there are so many things a reader can do with this great, inexpensive, fun to work with material. Brenda takes it to town and you are going to LOVE it!

I enjoyed the foreword by Keith Lo Bue, "Steeling Beauty", and felt honored to read that this gentleman has been working with steel for so many years. He opened my mind to steel instantly with the recollections which he wrote for us.

Following his foreword, the author's charming and easy going  introduction took me by the hand right to the point of no return. One thing she says as she finishes her introductory words is this: "So I've decided that within the ordinary, lies the profound"...
That made a great impression upon me. It seems that steel is a thing of beauty when worked with by people who love to create with their hands and like to make great things out of simple things.
Above the author's wonderful introduction is a photo of one of her creations, "Bale Ring", which she made in 2009, of steel and pyrite, which is going to knock your eyes out!

Following the introduction, there is fine coverage of basics ( it is wryly called, "meet the new guy in town"), and some worthwhile explanations of steel's origins and properties.
I repeat, the photos throughout are breathtaking.

Then, as an additional and completely wonderful illumination, we get to read a piece by Charles Lewton-Brain entitled "Iron and Steel Jewelry, A Global History". I loved this. You will too.

Following this we get to the basic tools and techniques; well and thoroughly done. Then begins the entry into what will become one of the main parts of the book: the jewelry building blocks section. In this section, the reader will learn how to work with this specific metal. It is very important to understand that this is not the same kind of metal most of us are used to working with. If you read this part carefully, you will do yourself a great favor.
Following this are the projects. You will see that you begin slowly and work your way up to more complex projects. You begin with chic ear wires (love them!) and divine dangles to attach to them which the author has designed to entice you to further progress. I liked the Giraffe's Eyelashes earrings in particular! They had my name all over them!
After the earrings section is a jump ring section. This is very useful as jump rings are the duct tape of the jewelry world, if you know what I mean. They can do almost anything! Brenda shows the reader  how to create all sorts of sizes of jump rings from steel, and then how to make a lovely bubbly necklace ("Practice Makes Perfect") using them.
I was entranced by the bangles, including the one which required a power drill to twist two wires into one. That bangle was called "Twist on a Twist" and incorporated a found object (one of the author's favorite things are found objects) as part of the clasp. I found that bangle very satisfying to look at. There was something so complete about it.
When I arrived at the All-Calder Revue, I was really looking forward to seeing what motifs would be offered for the reader to learn to create. Alexander Calder is a famous modern artist whose mobiles and stabiles were made primarily of colored (or sometimes plain) steel. I was not disappointed by the author's interpretations of his delightful style with her necklace she dedicated to him. What a passionate artist he was and what a lover of life! STEEL WIRE JEWELRY is a great love letter to Calder in many ways. I believe this book has at its core his spirit in many ways.

Within this book, STEEL WIRE JEWELRY,  the reader will find much to inspire him or her and much to admire.

I always wonder: "What is the point of acquiring a new jewelry design book if not to show to the reader something new, or made in a different manner, or to give the reader a springboard to a new point of view"? 
We get many kinds of ideas from STEEL WIRE JEWELRY to mull over and to delight in, as we look at and consider making the earrings, necklaces, bracelets (and even some belts, and the "green" pin["When Grey is Green"] previously mentioned). This is the sort of book which makes me want to keep on trying out new kinds of jewelry fabricating and designing.
This is a book which is timely, it is striking, it is unique, and it is a success fou as far as I am concerned. I truly believe that you will feel as excited as I do if you add STEEL WIRE JEWELRY, Stylish Designs, Simple Techniques, Artful Inspiration, by Brenda Schweder to your jewelry library. It is wonderful. Thanks, Brenda! You rocked it!

--jean

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

as Sinead O'Connor used to sing..."No one compares...no one compares...to you..."

She could have been singing about Charles Addams, who shaped my early life more than I express. Before I could read, I was examining his giant collection of cartoons, culled from the New Yorker magazine, many cartoons of which (OK, most of which) made no sense to me, but I loved them anyway. The drawings were amazing.They stayed burned in my memory until they ultimately DID make sense. For example, there was one cartoon which was a series of drawings at the Hayden Planetarium when the planetarium was putting on a show which depicted the moon's phases. In it, a creepy observer (was it Uncle Fester?) got odder and odder looking until, finally, at the full moon he was a sort of a werewolf, and then this subsided again as the moon grew smaller, until the lights went on and the show was over and ultimately he resumed his regular appearance. As usual with an Addams cartoon, no one noticed this happening which made it funnier.

I remember taking a walk with my Aunt Tish once. We were passing a large, imposing Victorian house (it was sort of creepy looking). She said casually, "I knew Charles Addams." I was so agog I couldn't think of anything to ask her about him.
But really, didn't he say it all in his amazing cartoons?
I was introduced to his work as a non literate very young child at my Baldrige grandparents, in Washington DC. I am sure I have mentioned this before, but I like to tell stories more than once, as many of you know. We went there every Thanksgiving and they didn't have too many toys so I would go immediately to the lower drawer in the hall where the large book you see above was kept. It would preoccupy me for hours. I would study the drawings and try to puzzle out what was going on. My grandparents lived in an apartment hotel with not much room (although it was really fancy).  The other thing I would do while there was tell my grandfather when the big hand was on the six and the little hand was on the four or something along those lines, so he could watch Wagon Train, his favorite show. It was cool to visit them in many ways--different from our regular life. They ate pink grapefruit every morning, for example.
I had to sleep in a crib! The humanities! My older sister got a bed.
Later they moved to Washington, CT and had more room. This was wonderful! To move from Washington to Washington, for a word nut like me, just was fabulously satisfying.
I do admit I liked the apartment hotel in Washington DC, because we could go to the zoo with my mother (it was within walking distance) and I could be reunited every visit with my favorite book of all time, The World of Charles Addams, which I later gave to my oldest son as a gift when he was a teenager. When you love something that much, you are compelled to force it upon other beloved members of your family--let's face it. Not sure if he loves it as much as I do,but he is a comic book freak so maybe it planted a seed which didn't fall far from the family tree.
I have since spent my life drawing lamps with cobwebs on them and spider pull strings. My mother would stick them up on a cork board in the pantry of our house. They got better as I got older.

Today I present to you the reason I was prompted to write this short entry about the wonderful Charles Addams. One of his cartoons in that book--and I never understood it--had Morticia and Gomez in bed at night and Morticia was saying to Gomez: "You know I can never get to sleep waiting for the other shoe to drop..." and there, on the floor, were pictured already two shoes.
So when I saw this sight in the kitchen today it all came rushing back, and I had to share it with you.

Long Live Charles Addams!!!

--jean