BSBP Deconstructed: Crystal Spinner Ring

For those of you looking for my BSBP reveal, it is here - I hope you'll click the link and check out the whole reveal!

This is the 5th in a series of posts devoted to breaking down the design process that went into each of my BSBP creations. The series so far:

1. kumihimo lariat with gemstone chips
2. sari ribbon and enameled bead necklace
3. Vintaj charm/cha-cha bracelet
4. sari ribbon cuff with bluebird

Today we'll be looking at my crystal spinner ring:

When we last left off, I had met the criteria for the Bead Soup Blog Party Challenge, having used both a clasp and focal sent by my partner. The reveal date was approaching rapidly, but Kate had sent me this red striped paper bag chock full of interesting stuff I never use, including wire solder and this cool copper "flat wire", which she told me she liked to use for ring shanks.

That stuck in my head, and I really wanted to try to solder a ring using this neat stuff, plus one of the huge purple iris Czech crystal beads she had sent.

Very coincidentally, this tutorial popped into my Pinterest feed one day about 3 weeks ago, and I hoarded it away, thinking it was a great fit for this ring idea I had.

On Tuesday of last week, I gathered the materials together, set up my iPad so I could follow along with the tutorial, and started making the wet manila paper insulation:

manila folders, a bowl of water, and the tutorial on my iPad

bowl of torn-up manila pieces, soaking

While the manila pieces were soaking, I set about to prep the shank:

flat copper wire

The first thing I did, as with most of my metal work, was create a paper template of the ring - allowing for size, shape, placement for the crystal, etc.

I finally got the paper model of the ring correct, with marks where I would bend the copper and drill holes for the crystal (a beadweaving needle holds the crystal in the paper ring)

Once I had the paper ring correct, I laid it on the copper and cut accordingly.

 copper ring shank, with marks where I will bend and drill

Next, I drilled the holes, bent the shank, and filed all the rough edges:

ring shank, bend, drilled, and filed

All the easy stuff is done now - time to pull out the torch. This particular ring didn't require soldering, but I would be drawing a bead on each end of a piece of copper, to create a pin to hold the ring suspended at the top of the shank.

I used my acetylene torch, because it has a much finer flame than the MAPP torch I use for enameling.

I didn't get any shots of me drawing the first bead - pretty straight forward, as the ring itself isn't involved in this first torching.

Once I had a bead on one end of a piece of copper wire, it is time to draw the other bead.  For this step, I would be placing the whole ring in a third hand (bead and all) and insulating the bead with the wet manila. In theory, the wet manila will keep the bead from getting too hot, without catching on fire.

ring, suspended in its manila insulation

When I drew the first bead, I measured how much copper wire I needed to flame to get the size ball I wanted on the wire - then after placing the pin in the shank with the bead in place, I measured  and cut the copper wire extending from the other side so that I will (in theory) get the same size ball on the other side. That's the amount of copper wire you see hanging down in the pic above.

And then I aimed my flame at the copper wire, and this is what I got:

ring after firing

Instead of my copper ball beading up right next to the ring shank, it stopped, about 4 mm away.

10 times.

Yes, I kept repeating this step over and over, thinking I was doing something wrong. And I re-watched the tutorial. Several times. It always worked for the girl in the tutorial!

Yet no matter what I did, I kept getting the exact same result.

I held the flame on the wire/ring for a long time - so long that the manila paper was bone dry and smoldering. And no longer serving as insulation. Ultimately, since the bead seemed no worse for all that heat, I gave up on the manila altogether, and just pinned the ring to my firebrick and fired it - and got the same result. (that's the pic you see above) - I had thought that maybe my 3rd hand was drawing heat away from the copper wire I was trying to ball, so I switched to the stainless steel T-pins to hold the shank - but it made no difference.

Then I decided to do a test on some 24 gauge sheet copper:

It worked perfectly, right away. No prolonged heating - it just balled right up like a champ! Just like on the video.

At this point, I decided that the whole, thick, copper shank must be acting as a heat sink, drawing the needed head for the balling process away from the copper wire - so I went with plan B

I left the pin the way it was, and wrapped a very small amount of 28g orchid-colored artistic wire on either side of the shank to take up the slack - and that's what you see in the final result.

It was fun!

BSBP Deconstructed: Sari Ribbon Cuff with Bluebird

For those of you looking for my BSBP reveal, it is here - I hope you'll click the link and check out the whole reveal!

This is the 4th in a series of posts devoted to breaking down the design process that went into each of my BSBP creations. The series so far:

1. kumihimo lariat with gemstone chips
2. sari ribbon and enameled bead necklace
3. Vintaj charm/cha-cha bracelet

If you've been following along, you know that so far, I have used 2 clasps AND bunches of beads sent to me by my partner, but I haven't yet used any of her focals, so I still haven't met the BSBP challenge - gotta make something with one of the wonderful focals Kate sent me!

The Vintaj charm bracelet I made started out as a design for one of the focals, but as often happens, the creative process took on a life of its own, and edged the blue bird right out of the finished piece.

{Reminder: this is how the charm bracelet started}

I had specifically shaped and  patinated the (formerly silver) bird blue FOR this charm bracelet, and I really wanted to use this happy bird, so I started ruminating on bracelet designs that could accommodate this focal.

I have a huge stash of sari ribbon, but it's not something I am real comfortable using - I want to work with it more and figure out innovative ways to add it to my designs! I had some gorgeous grass green sari ribbon that looked terrific with the bluebird, so I started playing around with ways to work both elements into a bracelet.

I finally settled on a wrapped cuff, using this copper-plated steel lattice-style cuff as a base:

I have used this cuff for a number of different designs, and it looks different every time! This BSBP cuff used up my last one - I need to get more!

I started carefully and methodically wrapping the ribbon around and through each section of the cuff, taking care to make sure the ribbon didn't twist and get folded, and still covered most of the cuff, just letting the twisted dividing pieces show through. I crossed my fingers that the long piece of green ribbon in my stash would make it all the way through the wrapping!

view of inside of ribbon-wrapped cuff

Once the ribbon was secured, I used some fine gauge copper wire to attach the bird, as invisibly as possible, to the front of the cuff:

I love this piece - it is out of my "normal style," and reminds me of a bird flying over a green field. I love the textural variations: the soft ribbon on the hard cuff, and the bright colors!

And this fun size 7 cuff is now available on Etsy!






Stay tuned - more deconstructing tomorrow!

Wednesday Worktable

The Bead Soup Blog Party (BSBP) is winding down; folks are still hopping (I finished hopping on Sunday, yay!!) - but the creative part is over, so it is back to my regular routine.

I am taking a break from describing the various pieces I made for BSBP because it is Wednesday, so it's time to show what's on my workbench! But don't worry - I'll be back tomorrow with more creative sagas from BSBP!

Remember a couple of weeks ago, when I had the twisted herringbone bracelet on my workbench? It got pushed aside as I worked on Bead Soup projects, but here is a reminder of how it looked:

I was almost finished stitching the 4th (and last!) strand -

Here is how it looks today:

The 4 strands are done (almost ... more on that in a minute). As I discussed the last time, the pattern calls for several large-hole slider-type beads to be placed on each strand. I don't have any, so I have been stitching some up - I still need to stitch up a few more, and then I can start attaching the other end of the bracelet.

I attached one half of the clasp yesterday, and got a better idea of the length. Turns out the clasp doesn't take up much space, and I need to stitch about 1/2 inch more onto each strand so the bracelet will fit.

So:

• stitch 4-5 more slider beads
• add 1/2 inch to each strand
• attach end piece to the 4 strands
• attach other end of clasp

And, I'll be done - hopefully, today! (I should never lay things out in a plan like that - it makes it seem so easy, like I'm almost done... and then one thing turns into another - little obstacles that have to be designed around - why IS that?? Now that I've put it out there, it may take me another week to finish!)

Happy Wednesday! What are YOU working on?

BSBP Deconstructed: Vintaj Charm Bracelet

For those of you looking for my BSBP reveal, it is here (3 posts down!) - I hope you'll click, and take a look at my entire reveal!

This is the 3rd in a series of posts devoted to deconstructing my design process for the Bead Soup Blog Party reveal, providing the nitty gritty, behind-the-scenes details than went into one of my creations. The first project I deconstructed was the gemstone chip kumihimo lariat, and the second was my sari ribbon and enameled bead necklace.

Today's post focuses on my Vintaj Charm (or cha-cha) bracelet.

Thus far in the BSBP process, I have created 2 pieces, but only succeeded in using 2 clasps sent to me by my partner, Kate. In order to meet the BSBP challenge, I need to design a piece using one of the fabulous focals Kate sent. So that was my goal when I started this bracelet.

generous selection of focals I had to choose from

I chose the bird, because he (she?) seemed most suited for a bracelet. After all, I had already made 2 necklaces! I was ready for a bracelet!

I had a lot (a LOT) of bead choices from Kate, and many of them were of a palette that seemed perfectly suited for Vintaj Natural Brass, which I love. However, the silver bird did not go so well with the Vintaj, so I decided to patinate him, and settled on iris blue - I just love Vintaj and blue together. And many of the beads I wanted to use were blue, so this seemed perfect.

silver bird, before patination

bluebird, after patination and doming (to sit on the wrist better)

The patination process is described here.

Next, I started piling up all the beads and findings I wanted to use for this bracelet.

 Vintaj chain for the bracelet core, luscious kyanite up at the top left, freshwater pearls (top right), faceted Czech glass in smoky quartz at bottom right, and some beads and headpins I enameled to match the kyanite and my bluebird!

 Huge purple iris Czech faceted beads, some blue glass cubes I adore (and wish I had more of), and some rustic carved beads that look wooden to me, but are glass (according to my partner!) - also wish I had more of THESE!

I no longer had a clasp in my stash to use for this bracelet, so I created one (beadwoven):

beadwoven toggle (the purple jumpring is a place holder, to remind me of where I reinforced the toggle ring, so when I attach it to the bracelet, I'll attach it in the reinforced spot!)

OK. Time to quit prepping, and start making a bracelet!

bare bones of the bracelet completed, with the chain, focal, and clasp

It fits great, it lies perfectly on the wrist - time to start attaching dangles!

First to be attached was my sweet little bee charm from Kate, which I had patinated to a bronzy color:

At this point, I named this bracelet "The Birds and the Bees" - clever, huh?

And now we must pause, and you must use your imagination. Because I made dangles with all those beads you saw in the above photos - the kyanite, pearls, glass, enameled beads, yada yada yada - and attached them on either side of the bird, and I have to admit, it looked awful. The bracelet was too chunky on either side of my streamlined focal, and the proportions were just all wrong. When worn, it looked great, because you could only see HALF OF IT AT A TIME - either the nice, streamlined bird lying on the wrist, or the other side, with all the chunky dangles. But when it was lying on the table? Yuck. I couldn't even photograph it. [At this point, the bracelet was renamed "the Bluebird of Crappiness"]

After a few days of pondering, I made that decision to take it all apart, and I started over, basically, with just the chain and the toggle, adding dangles. I needed a few more, because of all the space opened up by the departure of the bird - so I was able to add these beauties from Kate:

these gorgeous blue beads were my favorite thing from my soup stash!

So here are various shots of my finished bracelet:

I absolutely love this bracelet - it is heavy and chunky, the color are divine, and it makes a delicious sound as the beads clank against each other.

But here's my dilemma - I have made 3 BSBP pieces, and I still haven't used a focal - now what do I do?

Stay tuned!

BSBP Deconstructed: Sari Ribbon and Enameled Bead Necklace

For those of you looking for my BSBP reveal, it is here (2 posts down) - I hope you'll click, and take a look at my entire reveal!

This is the second in a series of posts devoted to deconstructing my BSBP (Bead Soup Blog Party) reveal, providing the nitty gritty design details.

Yesterday I  described how my gemstone chip kumihimo lariat came about, and today we'll look at my Sari Ribbon and Enameled Bead Necklace.

I fell in love with this sari ribbon, sent to me by my partner, Kate:

It is a deep, rich hunter green with a shiny gold pattern interwoven.

I knew I wanted to use it for the BSBP, but I just couldn't make it mesh with any of the beads Kate had sent. So I decided I would just make my own beads to showcase this gorgeous ribbon. I didn't have any enamels the right color, so I spent a day mixing and blending colors at the torch until I finally hit upon the right combination of 3 colors that when combined in the right order, did the trick.

I didn't have any clasps in antique gold, but since I had already mixed and match Kate's toggles to suit my lariat, I had a leftover toggle ring and bar that went together very nicely, only they were silver....so I patinated them to a matching antique gold. I also patinated some ribbon crimp ends the same color, anticipating a need for them at some point!

I enameled 6-8 beads each in 5 different styles/sizes, figuring I'd rather have too many than not enough, and have to come back and fire up the torch again. And it's a pretty color, so any leftover beads will eventually get used in another project!

Then I set about stringing the beads. After several missteps, I hit upon the combination you see in the finished necklace. At the front, I used 3 of the "squash" beads as a focal point, separating them with some antique gold metal wave beads - I really like how this looks!

I continued stringing, decreasing the bead size as I went, for a graduated look. I kept having to stop and remove beads and restring, because I wanted to use them all, but the necklace was approaching crotch-length, which is never really attractive!

As you can see, stringing these hollow beads presents the problem of visible bead wire. I used antique gold Accuflex wire for this necklace, and it shows if you look hard inside the filigree beads, but....it is what it is.

Small antique gold Czech fire polish beads separate the enameled beads. This shot also shows how my patinated toggle matches the ribbon.

When it was time to crimp the beading wire, I had to start thinking about how to finish off the strand AND connect it to the sari ribbon. Probably should have started thinking about this earlier....but it turned out well.

I didn't want to have to fold the sari ribbon, so I wanted a wide ring for it to go through. I tried several large jump rings and connectors, but none of them worked well. The jump rings were too small, and the larger connectors were hollow sterling, and the silver didn't go with my antique gold. I decided to enamel them green to match the beads (thereby blowing my plan to NOT have to go back to the torch!) - but they actually didn't hold up to the heat of the torch. I finally remembered all the copper washers I have hoarded away, and I enameled a couple of those, and they are perfect!

I strung seed beads onto the end of my Accuflex, making a loop with them to go through the washer, and then crimped off the Accuflex.

I brought the doubled sari ribbon up to the clasp, and connected it with the patinated ribbon crimp ends:

This is actually my favorite piece of all the ones I made. It is very different from what I normally design - I am not much of a stringer, preferring to beadweave, or work with metal or chainmaille. It is much simpler than the bold statement pieces I usually create, and I love the color!

Stay tuned ... tomorrow we'll look at one of the bracelet designs.

BSBP Deconstructed: Kumihimo Lariat

For those of you looking for my BSBP reveal post, it is here; I hope you'll click and look at the whole reveal! (one post down).

THIS post is the first in a series of posts giving the gory details on my BSBP journey. Thanks for visiting, and if you like design minutiae, this is the post for you!

The first piece I made for my recent BSBP (Bead Soup Blog Party) reveal was the kumihimo lariat, using semiprecious gemstone chips.

When I first opened my generous bead soup, I saw so many delightful elements, but knew I wanted to work with the "wing." toggle.

I was drawn to the wing toggle on the right

I wanted it to be front and center, so I turned my thoughts to deciding what I could create with a front closure. I love lariats, so I looked to the box of treasures I had received from my partner, Kate, and latched onto the semiprecious gemstone chips - and decided I would try to make a kumihimo lariat with them. I envision a long mulitcolored gemstone kumihimo braid, with the wing on one end and the toggle ring on the other - when worn, the wing would drop through the toggle ring and hang down.

I knew I would need to sort the chips by color, because I am far to anal to have them all randomly mixed up in my kumihimo. I separated them into 4 piles by color, and soon discovered that I didn't have nearly enough chips to make a kumihimo lariat, because kumihimo eats up a lot of beads! So I went digging in my stash, came up with more chips, (and I had to make an emergency run to Michael's to supplement my own meager chip stash!) Kate's gemstone chip strand consisted of amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, and peridot. Michael's didn't have any aquamarine chips, but they had blue topaz, which was very close, and once I had combined the aquamarine and the topaz, it was impossible to tell which was which.

I wanted to make a clear boundary between each separate gemstone in the kumihimo, so I enameled some large-hole beads to match the gemstones:

For those of you that are into enameling, these are the colors I used:

For the amethyst gemstone chips, Iris Purple enamel was a perfect match.
For the citrine, I blended  a base coat of pumpkin, followed by 2 coats of nut, then 2 coats of egg yellow.
For the peridot, I blended 2 coats of egg yellow on top of 2 coats of spruce green.
For the aquamarine/topaz chip mix, I used 1 coats of transparent turquoise on top of 2 coats of transparent aqua.

I got off to a lot (a LOT) of false starts on this project. Finding a stringing material that was long enough for the lariat, and thin enough to go through the chips, was a challenge. I finally settled on size 4 Griffin silk cord. It already has a needle attached, so it didn't have to be doubled to do the stringing, and it's fairly strong. I tested it on a few random chips, and it was a good fit, going through without too much difficulty.

The amethyst was my favorite of these 4 gemstones, so I decided it would be the beginning and end segment of the lariat. I started stringing the chips (tedium!) - and it took a couple of days to get all 8 warps strung, with the chips counted equally on each one. Plus, I was guessing how many chips to use in each color segment, because I couldn't find anything published about the number of chips per inch for kumihimo. And I wanted the different segments to vary in length a little, just to be a little bit random.

I placed the warps on the kumihimo disc, braided the first amethyst segment, and got ready to add my first enameled bead. I had chosen large hole beads, thinking that I would braid a little bit of silk cord without any beads to end the segment, and then cover this with the bead, and then start braiding the next color. I knew I would have to add the bead very carefully, so as to not disturb the braiding pattern. But I had neglected to think this through very well - there was absolutely no way those strung warps of chips was going to pass through the hole in the enameled bead. Duh!

So I had to unstring all the unbraided chips. Very sad face!

I added the first enameled bead, restrung JUST the chips for the next segment, and completed that segment, added a bead, and moved on to the next segment. Soon, the third segment was done, and it was time for the peridot. These chips were about half the size of the others, with, (duh!) much smaller holes. And I hadn't tested the silk cord on the peridot. For awhile, I was afraid I would be starting all over again, switching to #2 silk cord, but I eventually discovered that some of the peridot would go over the needle if forced (and some wouldn't - oops!), and by going back to Michael's and buying even more peridot chips, I finally had enough chips with large enough holes to complete the lariat. Yay!

I think I took the kumihimo apart a total of 7 times before it was done - the last time, because my plan had been for it to be twice as long as it actually is. I wanted it to drape around the neck twice. I figured I was ingenious enough to figure out how to add another piece of silk cord to each warp, covering the knots up with those large-hole enameled beads, because the 2 meters of silk I started with wasn't long enough for the 60 inch lariat I envisioned. I knew I would have to add cord. I kept braiding until I ran out of cord, at about 45, 46 inches of lariat. With considerable trepidation, I carefully added the next length of silk, tying knots, using glue, etc - then let the glue dry over night. The next day, I cut the ends close to the knots, and began the process of feeding the next enameled bead (the all-important knot-covering bead!) onto the lariat. I got it over 2 strands, then over the 3rd, and then discovered that there was no way that even this large-holed bead would fit over the jumbled, glued mass that was my 8-warp knot. So I started manipulating the glued knot with my pliers, squeezing it, trying to make it smaller, breaking off little hunks of glue, pulling the strands, pushing the bead, and after about 20 minutes, when I was trying to get the very last strand inside the bead, the knot gave way, and the newly added strand came flying up into my hand. Oops. Insert bad word of your choice HERE.

So, plan B. Or, plan E, or F - I've lost count. I decided the lariat would no longer wrap around the neck twice! I cut off a lot of the already braided kumihimo, arriving at the final length I now have.

At this point, I felt like the silver colored wing toggle was too much contrast for my rich, jewel tone lariat, so decided to patina it to match the amethyst. Details of the patina process are here. However, one last little change in plans - the toggle ring that went with the wing wasn't wide enough to accommodate the amethyst sections of the lariat (which were slightly wider than the citrine and topaz/aquamarine, and a lot wider than the peridot.) So I switched rings with the other toggle Kate sent me:

I think the wing goes nicely with the scrollwork on this toggle ring.

I also enameled a couple of filigree cones with the iris purple.

So there is the saga of the gemstone chip kumihimo lariat - it actually took a couple of weeks from start to finish, what with all the false starts and do-overs along the way.

kumihimo braid detail

this picture shows the disparity in diameter caused by the sizes of the different chips

the wing that started it all!

Stay tuned - I'll deconstruct another BSBP project tomorrow!

My BSBP Reveal

This is my second time to participate in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party (BSBP), and once again, I found myself challenged! [If you're interested, my first BSBP reveal is here.]

Here's how the BSBP works: you submit your name; get paired with a partner; exchange a focal bead, a clasp, and some coordinating beads with your partner; design a piece (or pieces) using the focal, the clasp, and incorporating some beads from your own soup, plus the extra beads from your partner if you wish, then wait until the reveal day to post your designs on your blog.

As a reminder, here are the beads I received from my partner, Kate Richbourg:

This box was crammed full of treasure - here are some "outtakes:"

semiprecious gemstone chips, kyanite, glass, howlite

3 silver clasps and some sari ribbon

various silver focals and charms

copper wire, solder, polishing pads

Amazing, right? I had no idea where to start!

Here are my completed designs - I will save the design chit chat for another day, so if you want the gory details, I'll be sharing them here over the next few days.

 kumihimo lariat, with Kate's gemstone chips and wing toggle (with amethyst patina)

enameled bead necklace, using sari ribbon and toggle (patinated antique gold) from Kate

copper cuff with sari ribbon and Kate's bird focal (patinated blue)

copper cuff, different view

charm/cha-cha bracelet, chock full of beads from my partner

charm bracelet detail, showing the sweet bee charm from Kate (which I patinated antique gold)

Spinner ring, using copper and large Czech glass crystal from my partner

If I worked from now until Christmas, I don't think I could use up all the beads my generous partner sent me!

As a reminder, here are some of the beads I sent Kate:

enameled beads in blue and brown, plus brown freshwater pearls

copper toggle with enameled bar

copper wire-wrapped pendant

I can't wait to see what she's created! Please pop over and see Kate's reveal, and I hope you can spend some time hopping around and visiting the other BSBP participants - we appreciate your comments!

Here is a list, to help you with your hopping:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog

Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs


Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog, and to leave a comment. I really appreciate it! If you are interested in design details and behind-the-scenes creation tidbits, please come back over the next few days, as I will be going in-depth into the creation of each of the pieces I've shown you today. Thanks!

edited to add: kumihimo lariat design process is detailed here! 
                       enameled bead necklace with sari ribbon is detailed here! 
                       Vintaj charm bracelet design process detailed here! 
                       sari ribbon cuff with blue bird is detailed here!
                       crystal spinner ring is detailed here!