Saturday, July 4, 2009

Feature Friday on Saturday!

Welcome to this week's features from members of the Artisan Beaders Team. First off, I want to thank Meri for stepping in for me and posting the feature friday for all of June. She did an awesome job!! You can check out Meri's lovely shop here. Now, getting back to these beautiful new handmade jewelry pieces. All I can say is...it's good to be back stalking member's etsy shops, and it's all about the ear candy this week!!! Click on the photos and links for more information and where you can purchase these beauties.


silver flowers and pink gemstone earrings - Clematis
**Lovely handcrafted earrings from Jo @ Gem Heaven**


Topaz and Pearl Earrings on Sterling Silver Orchid Posts with Cubic Zirconia - Orchid
**Sparkling handcrafted earrings from Patty @ Broken Teepee Designs**


Goldie Texture Earrings Turquoise Vermeil
**Gorgeous handcrafted earrings from Deb @ Crysallis Creations**


Triangular Thinking . Frosted Cobalt Blue . Earrings
**Striking handcrafted earrings from Vicki @ Orion Designs**



TEARS - Handmade Copper and Sterling Silver Earrings
**Beautiful handcrafted earrings from Donna @ Creative Treasures**

Thursday, July 2, 2009

CoTW: : Red, White, and Blue!








  1. Royal Blue Kyanite, Burmese Ruby and Akoya Pearl Necklace ~ BrokenTeepeeDesign's

  2. Nymph Pearl Ruby Silver and Vermeil ~ CrysallisCreations

  3. Blue Skys - Artisan Handmade African Sodalite Gemstone Sterling Silver Necklace ~ The Jewelry Box (brenda45)

  4. Kyanite Nugget . Garnets . Necklace ~ Orion Designs (vickiorion)

As we head into a holiday weekend here in the states, it seemed appropriate to celebrate our red, white, and blue by featuring some beautiful creations using the same by our talented team members. These are just a few of the gorgeous reds, whites, and blues you can find by the ABSTEAM! Enjoy and have a safe and happy weekend!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Technique Tuesday :: Chainmaille Tutorial (Part I)

This will be the first part of my chainmaille tutorial; in the second I'll show you how to do one of the more basic weaves. Bear in mind that I've only been making maille for about a year, so I may do this somewhat wonky (also, it's hard to get a picture of my own hands!).

There aren't many tools that go into making maille, so it's a pretty inexpensive kind of art to get into. Even pre-cut jump rings are pretty darn inexpensive (I use pre-cut aluminum usually- sometimes I'll make my own smaller rings, but usually I just buy them since it's easier). Of course, if you use gold or silver, it would be more expensive of a hobby.

These are the tools I use:

Two flat-nose pliers, a jump ring opener ring, and lots and lots of jump rings.

Here's a close-up of the jump ring opener ring:

And this is how it works:


It's basically just a metal ring that goes over the first knuckles of your finger, and you stick the jump ring into the size slot that fits the jump rings you're using, and use that as leverage for opening the ring with the pliers in your other hand. This comes in handy if you're currently using the hand with the ring to hold the maille (as in the picture below), or the pliers in that hand are occupied with holding the maille and you need another ring opened.

When I use the jump ring opener ring, this is usually what my hand looks like, with the second pair of pliers at the ready:

Technically, if you have a jump ring opener ring, you'd only need to have one pair of pliers (since it can serve the purpose of the second), but I find that it's much easier to make maille with two pairs. The jump ring opener ring isn't even a requirement- I rarely use mine because I'm used to just having two pairs of pliers (I only got the ring opener ring a few weeks ago), but it does come in handy sometimes. Plus, it's a very inexpensive tool (I found mine for about $2 on eBay), so it's probably worth trying out; it may make your maille working easier.


I'd recommend checking out http://theringlord.com/ if you'd like to get into chainmaille weaving; that's where I get most of my supplies, and everything is great quality. The other useful site I've found is http://www.mailleartisans.org/weaves/ where you can get all sorts of info on how to make the different types of weaves.


Thanks to Susan of MeriGreenleaf for sharing this great tutorial. Stay tuned for Part II, coming soon.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Feature Friday

It's that time again! Here are some more new, pretty, and unique items from the Artisan Beaders street team of Etsy.


"Labradorite and sterling silver necklace - Stormy skies" by Simply Heaven



"Contrast Hoop earrings with Rainbow Moonstone and Black Spinel" by Crysallis Creations



"Captured Amethyst . Earrings" by Orion Designs



"Catherine of Aragon - Rubies Lepidochrosite in Quartz and Pearls" by M. Augusta Woodland



"Ruby, Sapphire, Citrine and Artisan Lampwork Bracelet - Red Hot Blues" by Broken Teepee Designs

Thursday, June 25, 2009

CoTW: : Cool Copper





    Safiya - polymer clay art beads by karooart

    SEDONA - Artisan Handmade Shawl Pin or Brooch with Lampwork Beads and Copper

    by Ctydonna

    Handmade coin lampwork bead charm bracelet - Bellydance by ShinyAdornments

    Copper Sands - Artisan Handmade Bead Embroidered Bracelet - ON SALE by RosevineDesign

Copper ~ cool, colorful, and perfect for hot summer afternoons, warm summer evenings ~