Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads by Stephanie Sersich , published by Interweave Press (April 1, 2008).

I am not quite sure why I was so surprised by how much I actually like this book. Maybe it is the too clean, almost stark uninspiring cover that just didn’t catch my imagination. But upon further inspection I am really quite delighted in this book.

Firstly though - this book is not about making glass beads, rather how to use glass beads you have purchased (or made). The begins with an essay on the history of glass beading and then moved on to an explanation on the various types of glass beads - how they are made etc and then a discussion about the elements of design, looking at colour and contrast, repetition and texture.

The main part of the book is full of projects, some techniques and some artist showcases on various types of bead making and some fabulous images of the author in her bead making studio hard at work. There are some quite unique pieces here, such as the Trapeze necklace - which has a combination of fibre, bone, shell and glass beads. I also quite like the whimsical and simply designed ribbon necklace and the more ornate pearly collar (pictured).

I really enjoyed the colourful designs and the simple way the projects are explained and broken down. Highly recommend.

Author website

Fabric Jewelry: 25 Designs to Make Using Silk, Ribbon, Buttons, and Beads by Teresa Searle published by St. Martin’s Griffin (January 8, 2008). Distributed in Australia through Allen and Unwin.

A colourful and eclectic collection of fun and simple designs and projects. I am glad that this book made it out there, in the world of mixed media and fibre jewelry books (that I am loving), because there are some good and interesting techniques used to make, on the whole, some lovely projects (if sometimes a tad over the top with extra decorative effects).

I was happy to see the humble yoyo make it into two different designs. The projects in the book use the qualities of different types of fabric to good effect - knitted fabric, woven and raw fabrics, soft and silky chiffons and satins too. There are plenty of techniques to help the beginning sewer learn as well as add some variety to more experienced sewers projects.

future girl has a bag pattern in the new anticraft book - I designed this lined crochet tote bag so it would be a canvas on which you could add your own personalized design. I submitted two designs for the book. …

treefall I made this bag yesterday and I’m really happy with it. I’m not very good in general with bags, but this one just worked so nicely. I obviously didn’t use a pattern, I just made it up as I went along and actually managed to make the whole thing from beginning to end in Bella’s nap time. I don’t think that you can tell from the photo’s but the whole top of the bag folds over to create the flap.

evil mad scientist Adding a seat belt buckle to a commuter bag improves its accessibility and usefulness. It’s a pretty easy modification, and super cool if you can find just the right buckle. Airline safety belt buckles (fasten low and tight across your lap…) are becoming more readily available and have a certain industrial charm.

wheelchair tote bag by my recycled bags wheelchair tote bag crochet pattern using regular acrylic yarn. I crocheted several of these handy totes lately for a special needs project for our local VA hospital. I made these with red, white, and blue scrap and recycled acrylic yarn to have a patriotic look for the Veterans.

wardrobe refashion - I fused the grocery bags using this tutorial. then i just sort of winged it on the pattern. Simple construction really. i just cut out a front piece and then the back with a flap and a strip for the sides and the bottom. i sewed in some belt loop things around the perimeter for the red scarf to run though.

wasp bag - pattern [via u-handbag]

baby tote pattern at whispering pine

This month’s whiplash them is fibre & mixed media inspired jewellery - to find out more about how to enter - go to the whiplash page - to post your link go this forum thread and also see and comment on the other entries.

We are offering some prizes for this months Whiplash (last day to enter is NOV 15) one copy of French inspired jewelry: creating with vintage beads, buttons & baubles by Kaari Meng, Published by Lark Books and kindly donated for this whiplash series by the author Kaari Meng and to go with the book a really beautiful bracelet kit from Kaari’s store at french general.

I am really excited that Kaari Meng has generously agreed to give one of our whiplash entrants one of these books and this is what inspired the current whiplash theme. Mixed media jewelry, found jewelry, fibre and textured and free form jewelry. I love all that - so get your thinking caps on and let your creative juices flow to be in the running to get your hands on this great book.

Kaari has a store in Hollywood, where she sells vintage buttons and notions, French fabrics and linens and textiles as well as bath products and other romantic and vintage inspired homewares. Her shop, books and style have been featured in Martha Stewart Magazine, on Oprah and she has designed jewelry for Anthropologie. Has anyone been to her store - it looks just wonderful and her online site is pretty too.

This first image is a page layout from this new book French inspired jewelry (the last three photos are taken from the jewelry kits on the website but the first two of these are also in the book), while Kaari does not live in France (she lives in California) she travels a great deal and picks up wonderful finds from flea markets and out of the way village stores in France - what a wonderful lifestyle that would be. And this book reflects that romance and mystery and history of Europe. In the very last chapter of this book Kaari says that when in France she visits lots of churchyards and is inspired by the feeling of history in these places, the churches often have collections of old handwork and she is interested in the women and their quiet industrious lives from times gone past. This last chapter was inspired by recollections of these women with jewelry using religious iconography, mother of pearl, vintage beads, lace and old photographs. I really love the page layout of these pages too, with the jewelry and beads and buttons photographed with paper ephemera, textured linens and fading photographs.

Other chapters focus on flowers, gardens, vineyard, fancy court ladies, the orchard and the flea market. One of the other chapters though that really captured my imagination was Le Circe (the circus), with the page layouts consisting of various old circus memorabilia like magic cards, and tickets and advertising postcards, as well as the amazing array of fancy buttons and beads with comedic and colourful combinations. Most of the jewelry in this section is centred on the eclectic menagerie of the charm bracelet.

Technically speaking the instructions are pretty clear. Even for a jewelry gumby like me, no experience needed, just a keen eye for detail and a steady hand. There are lots of technical instructions in the front of the book, as well as explanations of all the materials needed - what sort of adhesives and stringing materials, advice on design, beads, findings and tools to use.

This month’s whiplash them is fibre inspired jewellery - to find out more about how to enter - go to the whiplash page - to post your link go this forum thread and also see and comment on the other entries.

The themes for whiplash are always just a starting off point - a way to get you started and get your creative juices flowing - perhaps inspire you to try a new craft or to find new ways to utilise your already amazing skills in a particular craft.

Fibre and mixed media jewellery is a wide theme and open for plenty of interpretation. Fibre can be felted, crocheted, knitted, spun or woven and mixed with other media too, mixed media - is pretty much anything all mixed together - usually mixed media might relate to paper and stone and fabric with found objects to create something a little 3D, collage and sculptural all in one piece. Lots to have fun with and experiment with here. what this theme is not - is traditional gemstone and wire jewellery - but of course traditional jewellery making techniques can be used to create something else.

Some inspiration:

this piece is from sea glass designs and is a piece of china sea glass, most likely from a teacup or plate that somehow found its way into the ocean many years ago.

this next piece is a crochet bracelet from milk

This felt and crochet necklace is from kjoo

this found object necklace is from lorimarsha

and this found item piece is from opulent oddities

button rings are from anna kate jewelry

and this indian spice ring is from beadkeepers

This month’s whiplash them is fibre inspired jewellery - to find out more about how to enter - go to the whiplash page - to post your link go this forum thread and also see and comment on the other entries.

Some inspiration for fibre inspired jewellery. (fiber jewelry)

The themes for whiplash are always just a starting off point - a way to get you started and get your creative juices flowing - perhaps inspire you to try a new craft or to find new ways to utilise your already amazing skills in a particular craft.

Fibre and mixed media jewellery is a wide theme and open for plenty of interpretation. Fibre can be felted, crocheted, knitted, spun or woven and mixed with other media too, mixed media - is pretty much anything all mixed together - usually mixed media might relate to paper and stone and fabric with found objects to create something a little 3D, collage and sculptural all in one piece. Lots to have fun with and experiment with here. what this theme is not - is traditional gemstone and wire jewellery - but of course traditional jewellery making techniques can be used to create something else.

Some inspiration:

this first piece comes from cherylavenue etsy store and is faux suede with mohair and camel felted beads, hemp and glass beads.

This next piece is from the funky felter etsy store and is needle felted wool ring.

this next piece comes from tigerlilly etsy shop and is made from handmade buttons that are made from recycled bicycle inner tubes.

This next piece is a pendant made from handmade clay tiles from Jewelry by Evinglenside etsy shop.

This next piece is called swing time earrings and they are made from beads wrapped with soft merino wool from lindsay streem designs

Rodney Rayner - Square Talon Ring, Mogul Pendant, Marquis Mogul Earrings…

Andrew Lamb - Pear Pendant Necklace, Alexandrite Ring and Perspective Brooch…

From the 14th to the 18th of September, Sotheby’s, London is holding a selling exhibition of some of the countries leading jewellery work. In addition to the wide array of beautiful jewels that will be on display, there will be the opportunity to meet many of the makers and to hear them talk about their work and what inspires them.

The exhibition encompasses many leading names in the jewellery industry, from established jewellers in the high-end luxury market such as Stephen Webster and Theo Fennell to designer makers [whose work is more often seen in Galleries] such as Wendy Ramshaw and David Watkins. It is wonderful also to see the inclusion of newer faces on the scene such as Andrew Lamb [work pictured above] and Zoe Arnold….

You can email londonrocks@sothebys.com for more information about the exhibition.

I am sad not to be able to make it down to see this exhibition myself as I am sure this will be a wonderful event…but I would love to hear from any of you who are able to attend - please leave comments here and let us all know how it was if you make it. The catalogue is also beautifully produced with stunning photography and interesting biographical details about each jeweller, so is well worth picking up too.

The Jerwood Applied Arts Prize for Jewellery, which I mentioned here late last year and again a few months ago, was finally awarded last night in London, by the Vogue {UK} Editor Alexandra Shulman. The prize was awarded jointly to Adam Paxon and Susan Cross…who will now share the £30,000 prize.

The judges said…‘Both artists work was considered to be complex in construction, exquisitely made and showing superb standards of craftsmanship’…they also praised the substantial body of new work both makers had generated for this exhibition.

Congratulations to both jewellers! The exhibition, which is always fabulous, runs in London until the 22nd of July before touring to Lincoln, Edinburgh and Bradford. To see the exhibition schedule…click here.

Peter Chang - widely regarded as one of the greatest working jewellers of our time is having a large retrospective exhibition of his work, entitled ‘Unnatural Selection’ at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, England…it will run from the 15th of June through to the 30th of September.

This is the first time early work and sculptures, along with drawings, paintings, prints and pieces from private collections from across the world will be brought together alongside his more recent jewellery explorations.

Peter Chang works with various plastics, such as Acrylic, Polyester, Resin and PVC and developed many of the techniques he uses himself…a true and original pioneer of the material. Read a short essay about Peter’s life and work here …

I read that the exhibition may also be touring to London and Glasgow [where Peter lives] after the Liverpool show closes…so I will let you know as soon as I hear venue confirmations.

I think this is one show not to miss!

Marie from the sampler, kindly sent over a package with a few goodies inside.

There were some great little crafty items, seems there was a bit of a theme of mirror/badges and even a very cool coaster, and paper goods too. So for the low down. Fantastic self published book ‘I will have an army of clones: and they will be so charming’, a collection of blog entries by Tina Seamonster from www.ilikeseamonsters.com.

Its an honest sharing of life in the mother lane and starting an indie craft business. I also really liked the magnetised notepad from de marco designs. Very cute coaster by etsy shop button arcade, wolfie and the sneak sent the most adorable (and fabulous idea) colour-it-yourself drawing together with textas,

I have one of the bears - and I love it. Pocket mirror from my favorite mirror - they do custom mirrors too. Button storm do pocket mirrors too - very nice.

I also enjoyed the sense of humour and sarcasm behind the 16sparrows card set - well done!

From Maisonette:

We designed the blanket as a small limited edition, these blankets feature a map of Sydney’s coastline appliquéd onto a traditional red and white gingham backing. The blankets are to be customised by their owners and come with a needle and thread; favourite picnic destinations are marked with cross stitches and labels. The blanket is slowly overlaid with places and memories and can be passed onto future generations of picnickers. This whimsical project was inspired by the geography of Sydney and the seemingly endless supply of beautiful picnic spots. We love whipup, and used many of whipup’s tutorial links to get this project underway!!

Something that I absolutely love to see with any applied art work, is the artist/makers process drawings alongside their finished pieces…I think it adds such richness to the work, and gives you the most wonderful insight into the artists thought process.

Since first seeing Klaus Bürgel’s work I have visited his site many times to view his beautiful jewellery, paired alongside his deliciously complex drawings of facets and form. I particularly admire his aesthetic, which successfully fuses simplicity and complexity - that wonderful contradiction that makes work shine and always grabs my attention.

Klaus studied at the Akademie d.B. Künste, in Munich {as did Bettina Speckner who was the first jeweller I wrote about here!} which is a wonderful institution that produces some seriously amazing jewellery talent {I have visited the jewellery department there, and the workshops alone are inspirational!!}…and he has since gone on to teach at some of the most prestigeous art schools in America {including Maine College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design and Parsons School of Design in New York}. You can read a brilliant interview with Klaus on his website here which gives a little more insight into his work, his inspirations and his background.

I hope one day to see this amazing man’s work in person…I really do admire it a lot!

etsy wrist cuff from marymo

domino wrist cuff from fruitcake

wrist or cup cuff from orbitpie

embroidered frilly wrist cuff from easy street vintage

I have been planning to post about the glorious work of Cal Lane for a while now…but when I saw {in my new copy of Selvedge Magazine} that she was taking part in the exhibition ‘Radical Lace and Subversive Stitching’ which is currently showing at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York I thought this the perfect opportunity [and perfect for WhipUp!] to do so!

Cal’s work first jumped out to me because of it’s delicacy and beauty…initially I was wowed as I thought she must have created the work with a fine piercing saw, cutting all these striking fretwork lace-like patterns into the steel - I was even more blown away when I found out she achieves this degree of delicacy with a industrial blow torch…working to burn out the organic patterning as she goes.

With this [sublime skill set] in mind…I so enjoyed browsing her website where her portfolio shows work ranging from Fine Art installations to more object based sculptures and pieces that have an almost jewellery-like finesse and lightness to them…the images above show Lanes ability to take an every day object and through applying her unique style and process, can turn our notions of functionality on their heads, revealing beauty and [an etirely different] form through the removal of material and the addition of pattern.

If you are in New York, the Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting exhibition runs until the 17th of June…I think it is great that a metalworker has been included in this show [I dearly wish I could see it!] and I think Cal Lanes inclusion will be a wonderful, and truly subversive, contribution to the other great work on show.

Smaller than an ATC and with wonderful wearable possibilities, fabric charms are worth exploring. The photo above is from this blog and if you look at this photoset from Ruth Rae you can see the charms in detail. Her work is due to be featured in the May/June issue of ClothPaperScissors.

You’ll find a tutorial here from Sue Bleiweiss and the results of an Australian swap here.

Participants in the Just Simply Charming swap show their work and some processes here.

Since first seeing Anya Kivarkis’ jewellery a few years ago, I have been keeping an eye on her work…and am delighted to be seeing it popping up all over the net!!

…Having graduated with a BFA in Craft [Jewelry/Metalsmithing] from the University of Illinois and an MFA in Metal from the State University of New York, it is not suprising Anya’s collection of work is so beautiful and well considered. I love her visual language…the construction and deconstruction of shape and form and the play of the real against the surreal. Being a lover of history, I adore the glimpses of Victoriana seen in her pieces, through referencing doilies and lace…chadeliers and shadows. The partial hiding and simplification of form that she achives through dipping the work in resin {although it looks like glass enamel} really serves to give the work a highly modern edge. I really enjoy her colour palette of icy, juicy blues, stark whites {through the resin and blanched silver} and the burnt looking black edges…

Having recently won the prestigious ‘Emerging Artist’ award from Sienna Gallery it really does go to show what a bright light Anya Kivarkis will be from now on in the jewellery world. I am very much looking forward to seeing more work from her soon…..!!

Anya Kivarkis’ website seems to be down at the moment, but be sure to bookmark it for visiting in the future.

Musee du Luxembourg, Paris

Having just returned home from a week in Paris - I thought I would share with you all a wonderful exhibition I saw whilst there…’René Lalique - Bijoux d’exception’ on show at the Musee du Luxembourg until the end of July this year.
I went on the first day and it was just stunning! René Lalique is perhaps best known now for his glass but his jewellery is every bit as beautiful and striking…and to me {as a jeweller}, much more interesting ;)

Haircomb - Bone, Gold, Diamonds - paint-up

What was most fascinating for me was to see such a great number of Laliques’ own sketches, designs and paint-ups [a traditional technique for depicting jewellery where you paint the item to scale in perfect detail, so it looks like you could pick it up...mostly executed in ink, watercolour and gouache]…when in the modern world, jewellers and designers are increasingly using the crude and personality-less method of computer rendering rather than drawing by hand and keeping this tradition alive. Seeing this work - which looks as fresh and invigorating as the day it was painted, really is a breath of fresh air.

Haircomb - Bone, Gold, Diamonds

Paint-up … watercolour, ink, crayon

What I couldn’t get over was the stunning and absolute level of extreme skill involved in creating these pieces - and also the scale. Many of the pieces are tiny, and often in catalogues or books, you never really can appreciate how intricate and amazing the pieces are. It is hands down one of the best ‘historical’ exhibitions I have ever seen - and as I write this I am wishing I could nip back for another look!! I would urge anyone who could possibly see this to do so - the collection of work has been brought together from all over the world {many of the pieces being in private collections} and really does make for the most splendid group!

10 Euros to enter, and the exhibition runs from the 7th of March - 29th July 2007. Catalogue, available only in French, is 39 Euros.

Jenny Vorwaller, founder of Queenthings, was kind enough to recently do an interview about Chapter One of her new line of jewelry.

Your photos are all so beautiful, and the flow of your first Chapter in the collection is sublime! Please tell us more about telling stories.

With my own personal jewelry collection, I found that each piece I owned told a story; from travels, gifts that I had received from special people in my life, heirlooms, and so on. I wanted my work to have the same meaning and I also wanted to create some room for me to grow as a designer. So the whole idea for creating chapters and stories for my collections came to me as a way to help me focus. Though I’ve seen artists create wonders being fed with just one source, I felt too confined to limit myself with one genre. Being an avid reader, somehow the idea of each collection that I put out being a story made sense. It has a beginning (the concept) a middle (the creating) and a happy ending (others enjoying what I put out there.) With painting, most ideas seem to communicate more strongly when worked as a series, and I see “stories” being told in fashion all the time, why not in jewelry?

You recently made a huge move to South America. Can you tell us a little bit more about your new surroundings?

I step out of my home here and into a new world. Everyday I am in awe at this beautiful world, the places yet undiscovered, how people live and their way of life. Travel truly transforms. Picture old ornate architecture, lively fruit and vegetable stands, panaderias (tasty bakeries), antique cars, miles and miles of beautiful beaches, a rich political past that is deeply sad at times, wonderful artisan feiras, the most tranquil people on earth, the breeze cooling the summer from the rio de la plata…

To read more, click here.

Very cute brooch / pins made from zippers by Kate Cusack.

Silhouette Pins - Arthur Hash. Mild steel and Paint

Brooch Installation - Arthur Hash. Mild steel and Paint

I discovered Arthur Hash and his stunning jewellery the other day whilst browsing the website for Velvet da Vinci gallery…as someone who loves silhouette in many forms, I was especially drawn to his wonderfully striking installation of Silhouette Pins in the form of figures in various poses.

Made from Mild Steel and Paint…these pins, even in isolation, are striking in their simplicity - but as a group become even more witty, stylish and graphic. Often, in jewellery photography, the scale of the piece is entirely lost to the viewer….I love how this group of work {shown as a whole, and also as individual pieces} really throws that into focus, and plays with the notion of ’strength in numbers’…..

Arthur graduated in 2005 from Indiana University with an MFA in Metalsmithing and Jewellery Design - I look forward to following his work, and it’s progression through his website as well as through his flickr stream …with his varied and ecclectic approach to jewellery design - I’m sure there will be many more good things to come from him in the future. One to keep an eye on for sure!