Metalworking 101 for Beaders GiveAway!

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Hello, lovely people!  In honor of my guest curator spot on Crescendoh, next week is Bead and Button, my birthday was May 21, I'm teaching two metalworking classes next week, and I'm filming 2 segments for Beads, Baubles and Jewels at the end of the month….. 

I AM GIVING AWAY A COPY OF MY BOOK METALWORKING 101 FOR BEADERS! 

OK?

This is terrifying to me because what if nobody comments?  So here goes, I'm counting on you, folks.  Leave a comment answering "what is good about your life right now…" 

Did you water the flowers this AM?  Your kid graduated from H.S.!  You paid off your credit card bill!  I want to hear.  Tell your friends, tell your neighbors!  Entries are over this Sunday–June 5th at midnight EST.  Until then, tell me what's great… please! šŸ™‚

New Jewelry Book on the Shelf…

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Man, oh man this book is super cool!  It's by Linda Kopp who was also the editor for Metalworking 101 for Beaders.  It's called the Jewelry Design Challenge because all of the designers were sent the same materials to create one piece of jewelry for the book.  We could do whatever we wanted with the materials plus add one "wild card" material—this element made the challenge even more fun.  I chose fiber/felt.  I was really inspired and intrigued on so many variations with the same materials.  Here's a little snippet of my piece in the book…that looks way better in the actual book.  Shooting on polka-dots…what was I thinking?

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Links…a little late

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Here are your Bead Blogger Links served sunny side up…and a little late.  Something was "weird" with the internet back home late last week.  Hope that’s not the latest and greatest "blocked site."  I’ll just die!  I took a picture of the book that’s been on my work desk for awhile now because I wanted to share it with you.  It’s by my pal, Terry Taylor/Lark Books.  There are some really fun ideas in here and I think you’ll find that the projects are very versatile—make em’ by yourself or with your kids (or dog in my case).  Enjoy!

Links…

About.com 
Thinking of diving into the Etsy pool? Then you may want to take some of this excellent advice first.
Art Bead Scene 
Inspired ways to finish your designs – think of the claspossibilities!
Jewelry & Beading 
Cyndi’s stuck on V-pendants, and has decided to share another way to turn them into wonderful wearable necklaces!
Naughty Secretary Club 
Think you have an amazing idea for a piece of laser cut acrylic or wood jewelry? Well Jen will be the judge of that, literally. Jen is the guest judge at the Ponoko 10 day jewelry challenge. Did we mention the $10,000 worth of prizes?
PearlEsq. 
Check out where Robin’s going to be this weekend and what comes back to you from the love of making jewelry.
Savvy Crafter 
Candie shows a sweet little charm bracelet featuring, Tassels, Blossoms, and Beads, Oh Deer!
Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done! 
This lovely cover is a good example of teamwork. Teamwork has been on Jean’s mind lot lately. Check out the necklace Jean made for Simply Beads Magazine with a little help from her friends Lisa Kan and Green Girl Studios. Friends are truly gifts. Jean feels lucky every time she thinks about her wonderful, amazing friends! 
The Impatient Beader (is going to Paris) 
Madge shows a jaunty little necklace she’s sporting on her trip to the City of Lights. Yes, she’s going to Paris and she’s rubbing it in. Thanks a lot, Madge.

Button! Button! Who’s got the button fever!?!

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If you’re a lover of buttons, you might want to add this book to your wishlist for Santa.  Now that I think about it, you may want to add buttons also because this book has 50 button blooming projects!    Last Spring I contributed four designs for this—one of them is in the upper left corner of the cover.  It was fun to work on because I used up and got to add new buttons to my ever growing button box.  That’s a good thing! 

Can’t Wait To See This…

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This was a little project I worked on this past winter with Terry Taylor at Lark Books.  Several wonderful designers contributed fabulous projects.  I really can’t wait to try some of the projects out myself! Keep your eyes peeled for it this Fall.  Nothing beats fixing a mug of hot apple cider and needle felting the afternoon away.