Instructions are included, and I really like the look of this clasp – would be great with some chunky, funky beads.

She includes a good list of which gauges you might want to use for specific types of projects as well as a discussion of hardnesses in wire.

This might be a good article to keep around for future reference.

I have used a similar tool for making jumprings, but hadn’t seem this “coiler” before, nor thought of using coils as beading spacers or as wraps for larger beads, as can be seen in this pictures.

You can read the article and look at the informative images here.  Also, be sure to check out the commentary below the article to see which coiling gadgets other readers found useful and to pick up some helpful hints.

Bonus: To celebrate their 10th Anniversary – if you spend $20 you can buy this BeadFreak Tee-shirt for just $1.

I think the most exciting part is that the projects are not just basic beading projects but rather are based on mixing traditional techniques, stitches and styles from folk beading in many cultures.  The author also mixes materials such as wire work, and many different types of seed beads to get these unique looks.

They have an entire page full of great jewelrymaking tips lfrom making interesting findings like the Clover leaf Toggle to how to make your own flex shaft stand to resin jewelry ring to fused glass and SO much more!

• How did you start doing jewelry (or bead making) as a business? 
  After creating a sculpture of a woman bound by forks, University of South Carolina’s art professor Fran Gardner (Perry) suggested during a critique that I incorporate this sculpture into a shrine in order to make it more special.  The gallery owner and director, Christina Chastain agreed and pointed me in the direction of personal shrines.  My shrines became smaller and smaller until they were almost wearable.  I started putting chains and beads on the shrines in order to create necklaces so people could carry their personal shrines with them.  My style has evolved into incorporating found objects, vintage items and artistic elements as well as creating the shrines.  I find that each object that I come across has a supernatural energy within it that is secretly telling a story that only I can hear.

• Do you remember the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
  My first piece of jewelry was created out of a fork and art glass.  I bent and twisted the fork.  Then, I added the art glass using a two-part epoxy.  The final touch to my project were chains and beads so it could be worn. 
• You are stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take 5 things to make jewelry with-what would you take?
  Wire, dremel with a really small drill bit, steel block, pliers set, dremel reinforced cutting wheel – I could use the other stuff on the island to help me make jewelry.
• What would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn that you haven’t yet?
  Wow.  There is so much that I need to learn!  I would like to learn more about etching metal.  I’m afraid of chemicals because I have a toddler around so I’ve not dabbled in the etching yet. I would also like to learn how to fuse glass.

• What do you do when you aren’t making jewelry?
  I am a freelance graphic designer.  I also paint and create mixed media art pieces.  I’m a board member for the Artisan’s Center and Galleries in Lancaster, South Carolina.

More about Madame Teasley:
I am from Savannah, Georgia, which has allowed me to grow up exposed to all areas of the arts.  My husband Michael and children, Erin – 12 and Joel 4 – are the most wonderful inspirations that a gal can have.  I live in the Metrolina region outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.  My formal education is in Computer Information Systems and Computer Science.  Art has always been a solace for me in order to escape from the hectic world of IT.  I can be found on Etsy at http://madameteasley.etsy.com and my constantly under construction web site is http://www.oncepossessedstudios.com.  You can also keep up with my ramblings at http://madameteasley.blogspot.com.

Today’s Artist Mini-Interview is wth my new friend Deryn Mentock.  Deryn is an extremely talented mixed media artist and her work is outstanding, as you can tell by the teaser photo.

How did you start doing jewelry (or bead making) as a business? 
I finally decided that I needed to find a way to pay for my passion!  Much more than that though, I found a personal, spiritual voice, expressed through my jewelry.  It’s important to me to share that.

Do you remember the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
Probably, the first piece of jewelry I ever attempted to make was a beaded headband, created on a beading loom when I was in Camp Fire girls.  I think I got about one inch completed.  Needless to say, that type of beading isn’t my thing!  I also remember a lovely, colorful telephone wire ring made in CFG.  I wish I had that ring today!
 
You are stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take 5 things to make jewelry with-what would you take?
Well, I’d have to have an endless supply of wire, of course.  Also, pliers, nippers, a hammer and…sheesh, I can’t decide on the fifth thing…can I have a laptop with internet? One of my favorite tv shows is Gilligan’s Island so I know a lot about island survival.  I could probably use a rock as a bench block, make  beading thread from palm fibers and beads from rocks and shells then I’d…oh, do I have to be stuck on a desert island???
 
What would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn that you haven’t yet?
I’d like to learn lampwork bead making.  That would open up a whole world of new supplies, equipment, tools…possibilities.
 
What do you do when you aren’t making jewelry?
I love creating collage, artist’s books and artist trading cards.  But, when I’m not doing any of that, my favorite thing is camping with my guys.
 
All about Deryn:

Deryn Mentock has been passionate about art, especially jewelry design, for as long as she can remember.  Her designs mingle unique, worn and well-loved finds, religious pieces and faceted, semi-precious stones as well as one-of-a-kind handmade elements, combined in unexpected ways. She prefers the look and feel of vintage, unusual and found objects and delights in blending these treasures into her work.  Each composition, infused with color and texture, reveals an intuitive message of faith conveyed through the artist’s hands.
 
She enjoys teaching nationally and is a design team member for Susan Lenart Kazmer’s “Objects and Elements.”  Her artwork has been featured in several books including “Mixed Emulsions” by Angela Cartwright, “Exhibition 36” by Susan Tuttle  and, most recently, “Collaborative Art Journals and Shared Visions in Mixed Media” by LK Ludwig.  You can also find her work in many articles and publications, including Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Belle Armoire, Art Doll Quarterly, Stampington’s Gallery, Correspondence Art and Stampington’s book Artist Trading Cards. 

You can see more of  Deryn’s work at her blog; http://somethingsublime.typepad.com and her online store; http://mocknet.etsy.com.   She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Creative Souls.

Thank you so much Deryn for the interview!

photo copyright Avalon Potter

When making seasonal themed jewelry, it’s important to think of what evokes the thoughts & feelings of that season for you. For Summer jewelry, its usually tropical or beach/sea inspired. Using yellows, bright orange, red, lime green and hot pink color brings a tropical flavor to your work; while using cool sea colors of aqua blue, sandy beige,and natural objects like shells and drift wood will evoke memories of a seashore.

All summer long, I’ll be posting themed jewelry to get you inspired to create your own Summer Jewelry wardrobe.

Our first sea themed inspiration piece is by a young lady with a lot of talent, Ms. Avalon Potter. “Siren Song” is a simple yet elegant combination of just a few components that make a gorgeous statement necklace.

Avalon used a miniature canvas pendant from Art Beads,, Beadalon Quick Links and chain and jet black CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements briolette pendants to create this piece. I love what she did and am going to get one of those pendants for myself.

I’d love to see YOUR summer themed jewelry too! Leave a comment with a link to your work and perhaps you’ll be next on the Summer Inspiration post!

photo copyright Turtlebay Jewelry

 I love wire cage beads but couldn’t figure out how to make them.  Someone recently sent me the link to this Wire Cage Bead Tutorial from Danielle at Turtlebay Jewelry.  She makes it look so easy!

Kerry at Kabs Creative Concepts has a really easy to  make wire toggle tutorial.   They are fast, easy and look great as is or embellish by wirewrapping them or hammering the ends.

 Art Jewelers Susan Lenart Kazmer and her business partner Linda Larsen ; owners of Objects and Elements webstore,  have been busy the last few months.  They’ve been updating the store with all kinds of unique goodies you won’t find anywhere else  like Ancient Roman Glass beads,  antique African   Dougan, unique bezel settings and cast bronze Ammonites . 

I’m a big fan of ICE resin  and it’s what I use in my jewelry work.  You can buy that online at the Objects & Elements store  .  There is also lots of unique  bezels,  fibers,  resin molds and tools for your art jewelry making needs.

In addition to searching out great jewelrymaking supplies, they have just revealed a new blog and a new Objects and Elements Design Team. 

The Objects and Elements blog has just gone live and will soon have lots of content such as  jewelry by Susan Lenart Kazmer and Linda Larsen, design team jewelry inspirations, updates on new store items,  guest artist features, reader challenges and more. You don’t want to miss out on any of the fun, so be sure to add the RSS feed to your blog links or add to bloglines or Google Reader

I am extremely happy to announce that I am on the Objects and Elements Design team. The other Design Team members are:  Jen Cushman, Deryn Mentock, Kristen Robinson, and Jane Salley .  In the coming weeks, you’ll be able to see the design teams creations on the new Objects and Elements Blog.  The team wil be creating some lovely projects using the amazing supplies from the Objects & Elements store, along with various found objects, beads, wire, etc… to inspire you to create your own unique jewelry.

If you are unfamiliar with Susan and her work, please check out her amazing  jewelry work, check out her blog , get her book “Making Connection” or  look at her workshop schedule  to take a class with her.

photo and design copyright CraftTutorials.net

From crafty ladies over at Craft Tutorials blog, a wonderfully organic and chunky wire wrap ring tutorial . Called The River Troll Ring, I love the way she combines all these elements into a fantastic statement ring!

I am totally in LOVE with this snake bracelet tutorial from Mackintosh Jewelry.   Its a dramatic bracelet that will have people asking you WHERE did you buy that.  Only $10.95 for the instructions but HURRY!!! The website says its only available until April 30th, but I was sill able to buy it today.

Wire Jewelry VISUAL Quick Tips by Chris Franchetti Michaels

Just like Visual Quick Tips Beading book I reviewed last month, author Chris Franchetti Michaels  Visual Quick Tips Wire Jewelry book is a winner!!!!

Along with tons of tips, tricks and how to’s, it  also has the  coil wire binding so it can lay flat while you have 2 hands full of wire and pliers. I really think ALL jewelry instruction books should be bound this way!

As with the Beading Visual Quick tips, this book has lots of  detailed color photos and concise instructions so you never have to second guess how to bend a piece of wire or guess what size gauge you have in your hand. This book  is a MUST for anyone who wants to start making wire jewelry or as a handy reference guide for more advanced wirewrappers.

Chapter 1 is all about jewelry making wire-types of wire, wire shape, gauge, temper finishes and care.

Chapter 2 goes over wirework tools. From pliers to wire cutters, hammers, block, mandrels, files and more. There are pictures of each, so you can tell the difference between a rubber mallet and a chasing hammer.

Chapter 3 is all about safety, storage and organization-all important!

Chapter 4 is when you start working with the wire-Basic wirework includes making jump rings, eyepins, basic wire clasp and more.

 Chapter 5 is more advanced techniques. You’ll learn how to make a wrapped briolette, wave finger ring, herringbone wrap and more. 

Chapter 6 is wire chain. Make S hook chain, double spiral chain, byzantine chain and other fun chains.

Chapter 7 is using a wire jig. From basic techniques to wire jig patterns.

There is an appendix with the American Wire Gauge chart, coils per inch reference char, millimeter and inch conversions, oxidation methods, polishing techniques and resourses. I love this book and you will too.