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All About Freeform Peyote ~Mandi
I love freeform peyote because its freeing like bead embroidery, but not as widely explored. I plan to write a project based book as a kind of launching pad on how beaders can begin to incorporate...
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Therapeutic Beads ~ Aurelio
Summer Flowerby Aurelio CastanoI have been making Jewelry for the past 14 years. Jewelry design was love at first sight for me when I took my first jewelry making as part of my two year Visual Art...
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Where Do I Begin? - Challenges, Competitions and Inspiration ~ Neva
Ever looked at other designers' works, whether online or in magazines, and thought to yourself:Well all these thoughts, and the feelings that accompany them, are very normal.... and some that most...
View ArticleComings and Goings
The news today is that two of our Mavens have flown the coop :)Due to personal issues and time constraints both Mandi and Val have decided to re-prioritize and the Maven's didn't make the cut. It...
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Escaping the Box ~ Mikki
We all get into design ruts from time to time, when everything we do begins to look the same and doesn't excite us in the usual way....so what do you do when this happens??rut 1 (rŭt)n.1. A sunken...
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Teaching Classes; Food for Thought! ~ Twyla
Back in the day when I was offered the opportunity of teaching my original designs at a local bead shop, I jumped at the chance, and thought it would be great fun. And it was!! But as usual, with...
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Inspiration - where does it come from?
People often ask me "Where do I get my ideas from?" and "what inspires me?" Also being a teacher I have heard students say they don't know what to make, don't know what colour/s to use etc etc.There...
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Starry Eyed Pendant ~ Twyla
This is my 2nd tutorial for the Bead Mavens. I hope you enjoy making what I created for you!If you would like a down loadable copy of the pdf you can DL it here:Starry Eyed Pendant
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Welcome!!!!
A special post this first day of April to welcome our two new Bead Mavens!I am delighted and excited to say that our two new Mavens are Heather Kingsley-Heathand Cristie Sawyer PrinceI think we're all...
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What a Difference a Bead Makes! Part One
If you're reading this blog then I can pretty much guarantee we have something in common.....a love of beads! As many will know there has been quite a tsunami of new beads recently, new shapes, extra...
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What a Difference a Bead Makes. Part Two
The second part of my exploration of the newer beads....no way I can cover them all....they are coming out too fast...lol! But here we go forThe 2-Hole BeadsThe RullaA cylinder shaped bead with holes...
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Bead Shows & Expos - How To Navigate Them and Sell at Them~ Neva
The anticipation of a bead show coming to a venue near you, releases a superfluous amount of endorphins to a beader of any skill level. The mere thought of fondling the colorful glass beads, gems and...
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Springtime on Park Avenue - a free earring tutorial
Refer to chart above for rondelle size clarification.For those who are unfamiliar with how I join FireLine go to either of these two...
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Fomo versus Mojo
FoMo and MojoSee where your path goesMaven Debut time!A topic that affects everyone who ever sat down to get creative is insecurity. In this amazing world of blogs, facebook, instant access to a...
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Are you Challenged??
Every once in a while my bead work seems to hit a standstill, or a beading plateau, if you will. I'm sure that happens to most of us at one time or another. Recently, I started to wonder what new ways...
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Getting The Most From a Beading Class
Getting the Most From A Beading ClassA design has caught your eye, and you've signed up for the class to make that beautiful piece of jewelry. How exciting! Now what? Over the years, I've had the good...
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Final Friday Freebie
It's the last Friday of the month and that means a free tutorial....and this one is hot off the presses....I finished it just moments ago :)The wonderful Perry & Kelly of Yorkbeads sent me some of...
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Post Bead & Button Post
Ahh.....the Bead & Button Show....the Mecca for those of us on Planet Bead.Last week I and a zillion other bead heads were in Milwaukee for the largest bead consumer show in the world. It was my...
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Essential Beading Tools ~ Neva
Every beaders' work space consists of a few things they think they'll need to get a beading project underway. But is what you have at hand, what you actually need? Some of the time, yes. But, most of...
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Something A Little Bit Different From Mikki
When you go to the Bead & Button show you just have to take some of your work for show and tell. This year along with my latest designs I took a piece that was a bit different, something I made...
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C is for Creative Growth and Keeping Things Fresh!
I can't tell you how many times I have heard someone proclaim that they aren't a creative person. I have even said that very same thing to other people about myself.... LOL! I have no clue what I was...
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MORE BEAD STORAGE IDEAS
I am aware other Mavens have shared their storage ideas and each has been valuable in their own right. Every beader is always looking for ways to store their 'stash' and I wanted to share an idea I...
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Tutorial - Patsy Earrings ~ Neva
A few technical glitches on getting the full tutorial on the blog so click the picture for a downloadable copy :)Patsy Earrings - you can change the colour of these earrings by one bead :)
View ArticleVacation Mode
Yes, the Mavens are going into vacation mode for August.August is very much a busy time for designers who teach, as class submissions need designing (myself included this year...eek) and quite honestly...
View ArticleNecessary Roughness
As you may have gathered by now all things are not well in 'Mikki-land' and it is necessary for me to close down the Mavens. I have to focus on my own business so I don't end up living under a bridge...
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