GIVEAWAYS - FEB. 2012

I love giveaways. Never won one:-(

The principle is simple, you leave a comment... and you are entered to win.

These are some of the giveways I found today (and entered of course)

Giveaway in Beading arts: BEADS (look at the colors!!)

 Giveaway in Lark Crafts: BOOK (looks interesting)

 Giveaway in Artbeads.com : Russian Artist Pendant (amazing art!!)

JEWELRY FOR THE NEW ROMANTIC - New Book by NEALAY PATEL

The book was written by Nealay Patel. The readers are learning to use creative techniques to make ten unique sets. The projects present a modern, Victorian style look with a new twist.

The author is talking about his new book in you tube

Here are some of the reviews (which are excellent by the way)

The beading Gem's journal review

Soft Flex Girl review with instructions to one full project!!

Born to be worn review

Looks to me as a book that has new ideas and expand the reader's creativity.. Don't you agree?

2012 Beading contests. 1 - BeadDreams competition

Bead Dreams Competition

Each year, Bead&Button magazine sponsors Bead Dreams, a juried competition of exceptional bead artistry from around the world.  Bead&Button display the accepted pieces at the Bead&Button Show and award ribbons in nine categories.

If you like to Join: click here for the application be quick. Entry Deadline: March 6, 2012

You can see some of the finalists in 2011

Good luck!!

Learn to bead -A Unique, Creative, blog

Learn To Bead is one of my favorite blogs.

Artists write about everything that interests us, beading artists.

Two of my favorite articles: 

1.  Pricing and Selling Your Jewelry

2.  About Good Jewelry Design - principles of composition

For interesting, practical, tips you can visit Tips and Tricks.

The approach in this blog is interesting and unique. 

"Learn to Bead" is not a blog that takes creativity as a subject to talk about, but it (creativity) characterizes their approach.

and I quote:  

"Insight, exploration, elaboration — tools for better jewelry design and smarter business and marketing strategies for handmade products. This is what this (Learn to Bead) blog is all about."

מדובר באתר אינטרנט מיוחד במינו עבורי. כשרק התחלתי ליצור בחרוזים הרגשתי "צמא" לבקר באינטרנט ללמוד וללמוד. עברתי מאתר לאתר, למדתי המון מאמנים מדהימים עליהם אני מתכוונת לכתוב בבלוג הזה, אבל האתר המסוים ואולי קצת מוזר הזה גרם לי לחזור אליו שוב ושוב, לקרוא ולתהות, למה באמת "התכוון המשורר"? אני זוכרת את התחרות "התכשיט המכוער." האם חשבתם אי פעם כמה אפשר ללמוד על דרך השלילה?

מאד מאד אוהבת את האתר הזה:-) ומזמינה כל אחד לבקר בו, לנסות ולעמוד באתגר שהוא מעמיד בפני קוראיו. 

New book - by the artist Diane Fitzgerald, coming in March 2012

Sometimes I am amazed and cannot believe my eyes ...

This amazing work of art is made by the artist DIANE FITZGERALD. Her art is astonishing.
She writes amazing books. "Diane fitzgerald's favorite beading projects"  is going to be bublished soon.  

I have one of her books "The beaded garden". I find it useful and inspiring: 

Diane is well known and appreciated artist. Just lately she got the Spun Gold Aword from the Textile Center  for lifetime commitment to fiber art!!

In her site you can find very interesting articles. Her site is worth visiting. Inspiring indeed.   

הספרים של דיאן פיצרלד מצויינים. הצילומים "מעוררי תיאבון". ההסברים מדויקים. הפרחים שיצרתי מהספר שלה בוצעו  ללא קושי. הספר "the beaded garden" בעל ערך ומומלץ ביותר. אני מניחה שגם הספרים האחרים שכתבה מצוינים כמוהו. אולי אקנה חלק מהם בקרוב.

בחרתי לכתוב על דיאן מכיוון שהיא אמנית נפלאה. הטיפול שלה בצבעים - מעורר הערכה ואינו מובן מאליו. כך גם העיצוב ששומר על שיווי משקל ונעים כל כך לעין. היא, אגב, כותבת על שיווי משקל בעיצוב במאמרים שלה. ניתן למצוא מאמרים רבים באתר שלה. מבחינתי זו אמנית שמהווה דוגמא למה ניתן ליצור בחרוזים, משהו שהוא הרבה הרבה מעבר ליכולת טכנית. 

אני ממליצה לכם בחום לבקר באתר שלה.

KITS AND WORKSHOPS - by the artist Cynthia Rutledge

Cynthia Rutledge is one of my favorite artists. 

"Cynthia is a contemporary artist and teacher focusing on beadwork as her medium. She specializes in peyote stitch and off-loom weaving techniques with an emphasis on developing sculptural unsupported shapes in beadwork. Her work has been exhibited in national and international shows and has appeared in Nicolette Stessin'sBeaded Amulet Purses, Carol Taylor's Creative Bead Jewelry, and Carol Wilcox Wells' Creative Bead Weaving: A Contemporary Guide to Classic Off-Loom Stitches..." (from her webside)

Most of her kits and  workshops are for the advanced level beaders, which is nice. I like the idea that a beautiful, complicated piece of work is going to be my challenge. 
Look at these examples..  beautiful!! 

And what do you think about this coming soon retreat? 

Three of the leading artists Carol Wilcox-Wells, Laura McCabe and Melanie Potter join Cynthia at the Edna Valley Winery for a promising workshop, this summer. It must be the best retreat ever!!  Don't you think?

FREE PATTERN - By the artist Smadar Grossman

Free pattern: Beaded Beads

Smadar Grossman is a well known bead jewelry designer. Her art work and beading patterns are published in books and magazines, such as Bead & Butten, Beadwork, Perlen Poesie. 

This "RIBBEAD" (which is a ribbed beaded bead) free tutorial is published in her blog - SMADAR'S TREASURE.

These are few of Smadar's stunning work of art.

INSPIRATION - Amazing bead art work - Beaded Tapestry Competition, 2011

This Beautiful beading art is from the "MYSTERY GENRE BOOK COVERS - 2011" competition, runs by LAND OF ODDS.

Here are some rules of the competition taken from the "land of odds":

"Here we use the concept of "Tapestry" in its broadest sense as a stitched, sewn and/or woven wall hanging. Your tapestry may be woven, loomed, stitched, quilted, cross-stitched, crocheted, knitted, sewn, braided, knotted, embroidered, macramed, beaded and the like. Your tapestry will combine fibers/threads/and/or cloth and beads in some way, and the surface area must consist of at least 70% beads. Beads may be used in many ways, such as forming the background canvas of your piece, and/or embellishing your canvas, and/or as fringe, and/or as stitchery covering parts of your piece. Your piece should be mounted or framed in some way, ready for hanging on a wall. Your tapestry may utilize many different techniques".....


You can vote for your favorite, It is still on..