Tuesday, September 23, 2008

More Online Beading Classes

I get a lot of hits from people looking for online beading classes so I'll take the time to list some (feel free to add your own links to tutorials in the comments) new and maybe previously mentioned links for finding beading tutorials, in no particular order;



JewelryLessons.com just launched July of 2008 and it's a very stylish site. The site has articles, tutorials (both free and for sale), a gallery, community boards and other great features. You can also write your own tutorials and then list them on this site for a profit. It is free to register and I really liked the free tutorials as well. There are some really good free beginner tutorials, including making bead links, basic chains, and wire wrapped briolette earrings.


Beaducation.com is another very stylish site! This site offers video lessons for both beginner and advanced projects. Right now they have at least 50 lessons with a lot of them dealing with silver and working with metal. Some of the free videos they offer are Intro to Seed Beads, Intro to Chain Mail and Felted Beads.



Artist Connie Fox's website has photos of her beautiful metal and wire work. She has some free tutorials and videos as well as a studio tour that I highly recommend! I also recommend you check out her gallery as well as her students' gallery for inspiration.

: Jewelry Making
I could not have a list about learning to make jewelry without putting a link to About.com's Jewelry Making page. Tammy Powley has a wonderful collection of links that covers a wide selection of jewelry making topics. She even has a Beginners Corner. This guide covers the instructional, creative and business sides of jewelry making and is a definite place to poke around.


I am a loyal Fire Mountain Gems customer. I have been ordering supplies from them for at least 10 years. They have a huge supply catalog. They also have free learning videos, project ideas and a large gallery of ideas.

Other places to find project ideas are: Michaels, Joann's, and Hobby Lobby. You could also search on Youtube.com for some videos. Please feel free to share your favorite online tutorials or if you have one on your own site.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Bracelet


Bracelet
Originally uploaded by Alicia G.
This photo is a bracelet I recently made. I'm starting to check out where I can start sending magazine submissions. With the ease of email submissions I thought I might as well give it a shot. Not sure what I'll submit yet. I did enter a project for Venus Zine's Craft Off competition which ended September 18th. I figure it's a good way to keep my mind going.

I still am planning on having an earring making class for my friends and some of my kids' teachers. It's all hinging on me finally cleaning out the formal living and dining room which has had random 'stuff' sitting in it since we moved in. It has dwindled a little bit and I think I'm going to try hard to pick away at it this week. I am growing a pile that will be donated, so that's always a good thing. I wish there was a magic organizing fairy that would just wave her magic wand over my house and make it all wonderful.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

I love felt flowers.

I'm so crazy about making felt flowers. I have bought pre-made felt flowers, but nothing is as fun as using my Sizzix to cut my own. My 3 year old daughter loves helping me. She likes to peel the cut flowers off the mat after we take it out of the Sizzix. I have a big stack of felt that needs to be cut. Most of these flowers will wind up as hair accessories or pins for my etsy shop, some plain cut flowers will also go over there.

All of the felt I have now is the acrylic type, although I've seen some wool and wool blend types on etsy that I think I may treat myself to in the future.

I have been making some jewerly and I will take photos as soon as I can get a nice day to be out on the deck. I want one of those photo light tents so I can take nicer photos of my stuff. Although I did see a 'nearly' free diy light box with instructions here.