Bead Crochet by Bethany Barry
Posted by Administrator on Nov 28, 2006
Bead Crochet: A Beadwork How-To Book (Beadwork How-To series)
I bought this book a year or two ago, based on the picture on the cover, which I think is really beautiful. I personally like freeform designs, and the necklace pictured incorporates lots of color in what looks like a semi-random mix, but done with a great eye for color and design.
The book starts with a section on the history of crochet and lots of how-to information on crochet stitches as well as beadwork techniques. For someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience with either beads or crochet, this section would probably be pretty useful - since I do have experience with the techniques, I mostly glossed over it.
Then there is an illustrated project section. The projects include jewelry as well as purses using several different bead crochet techniques. I liked some of them, others not as much - but of course, that’s just a personal preference. I’m more drawn to the freeform-style projects, and there was a mix of these and some much more structured designs.
Finally, there is a small gallery of bead crochet, by Bethany Barry as well as other artists, some of whom were familiar names to me from back when I did more beadwork. I would have liked a bigger gallery section, because that’s always my favorite part of a jewelry book, but otherwise I have no complaints about this section of the book.
Overall, I like this book. I refer to it now and then for inspiration (the pictures are good), but I find myself wishing it was longer - I’d like to see more projects, especially for someone a little more advanced, and an expanded gallery section. On the other hand, it was pretty inexpensive for a jewelry book, and I think it is a good introduction to bead crochet and some of the possibilities for using it as a design technique.
Links to check out
Posted by Administrator on Nov 27, 2006
A couple of my favorite art/craft/creativity blogs have great new posts in the past week.
First, if you have some time, here’s a long post on creativity, prioritizing, and all kinds of issues related to living a creative lifestyle on In A Minute Ago. Sharon also mentiones an older post she wrote on visual journals, which I think is worth reading.
Luann Udell has been adding to her series on getting started. She’s currently up to the tenth post on this topic, which is called “Why didn’t they buy my work?” This is a valuable post for me to read and re-read, as someone who is illogically afraid of the possibility that a store might not want to carry my work. Luann’s other posts in this series are also very good, and I recommend reading them all if you have, or want to have, a business selling your creative work.
Textile Techniques in Metal
Posted by Administrator on Nov 21, 2006
Textile Techniques in Metal: For Jewelers, Textile Artists & Sculptors
This book, by Arline Fisch, is one of my favorite jewelry books of all time, and was one of the first non-bead jewelry books I owned. It inspired me to learn how to knit and crochet so that I could try knitting and crocheting wire. It also inspired me to learn more about needle lace, basketweaving, and fiber arts in general. In addition to discussion of many techniques that can be adapted to metal, there is a very inspiring gallery section in the back.
Fisch has a new book out on crocheted jewelry, but I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet. I’ll post a review once I’ve gotten the chance to read it.
Felt
Posted by Administrator on Nov 20, 2006
I’ve started felting - the picture above is of a pile of wool felted beads I made (a few of them are now pendants and earrings, and I have plans for some necklaces and other things too).
I was reading a blog I like, In A Minute Ago, and came across a link to a felt dictionary. I can’t say I knew most of the terms!
Anyway - the process I’m using to make felt beads, scarves, and other things is called needle felting. It’s a time consuming but fun process where you repeatedly stab the wool fibers with a special needle called a felting needle. This pushes the fibers into each other, and they get so tangled that eventually a nice, strong fabric results. It’s a very sculptural process which is probably why I’m drawn to it - anyone who has seen my jewelry knows I like three dimensional, sculptural pieces. It’s also a really fun medium for playing with color. I have wool roving (the unspun wool fibers used for felting) in a bunch of bright colors, which is a nice contrast to the more monochromatic metalwork I do.
I think I’m going to display a whole bunch of felt earrings on a small fake Christmas tree at my Open Studio next weekend. Stop by to see everything I’ve been up to, and have a glass of wine or a snack and chat! I’ll be there from 11:00-5:00 on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 25-26, hanging out. It’s 2703 7th Street, Studio #355 in Berkeley (the Activ Space building, on 7th between Dwight and Ashby).
Resin Tutorial
Posted by Administrator on Nov 8, 2006
I found a good resin tutorial while surfing the web, and thought I’d share. The pictures on the page are great - lots of inspiration if you are starting out and want to try resin. One tip she shares is to hold a lit match near the resin if there are stubborn bubbles that won’t pop. I haven’t tried this yet, myself, but now I will. Of course, burning plastic is toxic, so if you try this wear a respirator & work in a well-ventilated area to avoid breathing the fumes!
Art Business Blog posts
Posted by Administrator on Nov 3, 2006
Luann Udell, a successful jewelry and fiber artist, writes a great blog that I often read when I’m feeling uninspired. When I grow up, I want to be as successful as she is, and have her ability to come up with so many good blog topics.
For now…I just wanted to share a couple of her recent posts that I think are very thought-provoking for anyone wanting to start (or grow) an art/craft business. Since they are called “Getting Started #1″ and “Getting Started #2,” I’m hoping that there will be a number 3, and maybe even some that go past getting started, in this series of posts.
Anyway - Getting Started #1 is all about finding your medium and your story, and Getting Started #2 is about making high quality work. Both are very worth reading, if you want to start an art/craft business, or even if you are like me, and have a business already, but like to get advice from people who have been doing it a lot longer and learn from their experience.
Drugstore Tool
Posted by Administrator on Nov 3, 2006
Often, tools intended for one thing work really well for another, unintended use.
One of my favorite examples of this is using the fom padded fingernail files sold at drug stores for smoothing metal, especially wire ends. They come in several different grits that correspond pretty closely to the grits I would normally use in jewelry applications. For smoothing rough wire ends, coarse grits (80 to 150) are great, and for finer sanding, they come in 200 up to around 600, *and* the multi-surface nail buffiers often have ultra-fine grits much like the ones used for polishing metal.
It’s hard to beat drugstores on price or convenience - there is one less than two blocks from my house, and another about five blocks from my studio, so I’m never far from a source of inexpensive sanding sticks.
