Adding Beaded Decor to Your Garden and Landscape

Gonna Be a Bright Sun Shine-y Day

I have been wanting to add some beads to my outdoor patio and garden area for a while now.  I mean - why should that area be left out?! Lord knows, there are beads almost everywhere else in the house! And by that, I am saying that there are tons of beads in my carpet.  That counts - right?

These projects gave me the perfect opportunity to use the embossed copper foil hearts I made the other day. Plus just a few glass beads from my stash. 

I came up with two different designs and created step by step instructions for all of it.

Using Copper Embossing Foil and Beads in Jewelry Making

Foiled Again

Today is something a little different - part of a larger project that I am hoping to get done by the weekend.

I am working with thin sheets of Copper and Aluminum Embossing or Tooling Foil. This is very fun stuff to work with and I have fond memories of using it in art class in elementary school.

Getting Started with Bead Embroidery

Sew, what's new with you?

Bead embroidery is not new to me.  I used to do it quite a bit when I was in college - more to embellish clothing than to make jewelry. It works wonders to cover stains. (I kid you not).

But, of course, everything is different when you decide you really want to learn how to do it the right way. That means identifying the materials, tools, techniques, etc.  Apparently, you can't just stitch your beads to an old t-shirt to make bead embroidery jewelry.

So, that's where I'm at right now - starting over and trying to do things the right way my own way while considering what the generally recommended way of doing it is.

Yes, that's the truth.  I just have trouble accepting point blank what I read and I'll just have to find out myself.  And I also hate it when there are supplies I need that I can't buy in the store. Here's where I'm at with bead embroidery materials so far...

4 Cool Tools for Wire Workers and Jewelry Makers

Climbing the Ladder

Some time ago, I wrote about what I thought were the 5 essential tools you need to make wire jewelry. Those are truly what I think you need to get started. It's your initial investment in learning how to make wire jewelry.

But the reality is - you will only get so far with those basic tools. And you'll get so much more enjoyment from making jewelry if you slowly invest in a few more that will help you make things faster and better.  That's what this post is about - the tools you should consider buying next and why they are important.