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Corals are marine animals typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton. Precious coral or red coral is the common name given to Corallium rubrum and several related species of marine coral. The distinguishing characteristic of precious corals is their durable and intensely colored red or pink skeleton, which is used for making jewelry.

The hard skeleton of red coral branches is naturally matte, but can be polished to a glassy shine. It exhibits a range of warm reddish pink colors from pale pink to deep red; the word coral is also used to name such colors. Owing to its intense and permanent coloration and glossiness, precious coral skeletons have been harvested since antiquity for decorative use. Coral jewelry has been found in ancient Egyptian and prehistoric European burials, and continues to be made to the present day.

At the beginning of the Christian era, there was a great trade carried on in coral between the Mediterranean and India, where it was highly esteemed as a substance endowed with mysterious sacred properties. It is remarked by Pliny that, previous to the existence of the Indian demand, the Gauls were in the habit of using it for the ornamentation of their weapons of war and helmets.

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The origin of coral is explained in Greek mythology by the story of Perseus. Having petrified Cetus, the sea monster threatening Andromeda, Perseus placed Medusa's head on the riverbank while he washed his hands. When he recovered her head, he saw that her blood had turned the seaweed (in some variants the reeds) into red coral. Thus, the Greek word for coral is "Gorgeia", as Medusa was one of the three Gorgons. Poseidon resided in a palace made of coral and gems, and Hephaestus first crafted his work from coral. The Romans believed coral could protect children from harm, as well as cure wounds made by snakes and scorpions and diagnose diseases by changing color.

Various coral types and colors are found in different parts of the world. The best quality red sea corals are found in Italy around the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and the sea around Japan. Pink coral is found in a limited quantity in the Mediterranean region, Japan, China and India. The pink Hawaiian coral is also fairly famous. Blue coral is found in the coral reefs in the sea around Philippines. The black coral gem is gathered near the Hawaiian island, Australia, Red Sea, West coast of Africa and other parts of the Mediterranean region.

The dream and goal of Mikki Ferrugiaro, an American bead artist from St. George (Utah, USA) is to create beauty and inspire others to create beauty and to keep the crafts alive. Mikki is an internationally known beading teacher who not only designs amazing beadworks but also creates tutorials for all level beaders. We are happy to introduce Mikki to you today!

Mikki says, "It is said by my family that I came out of the womb as an artist, which was a surprise because no one else in my family is artistic. Born in England, I grew up around the art of local greats David Hockney, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.

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However, when it came to drawing and painting my influences were not the modernists but the classical masters, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and I sought out a classical art training at a local college. I didn't reserve all my artistic abilities for painting and drawing, I have taken my artistic eye to many crafts.

Northern England, where I was growing up, had a heavy fiber industry which stimulated me into the crafts of knitting, crochet, spinning and weaving. I did inherit the sewing skills of a great aunt and a love of jewelry from my paternal grandmother which are probably contributing factors to my being a bead artist today.

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Though I had used beads to make jewelry for myself for years it wasn't until I started creating knitwear that I discovered seed beads. At that point I knitted them into garments and used them for embroidered embellishments. It was while designing knitwear that someone brought me a couple of antique Victorian beaded lace collars to repair and I began to really learn about beading.

Almost five years ago I found myself needing to create a new career for myself and after a few false starts I began making and teaching jewelry making beginning with the basics and chain maille which I had taught myself a few years previously..."

Full article by Mikki Ferrugiaro
 
Bead artwork by Mikki Ferrugiaro
 
Email: mikkiferrugiaro@gmail.com
 
Blog: thebeadedcarpet.blogspot.com
 
Online Store: mikkiferrugiaroDesigns.artfire.com

Our second feature today is Marina Nasyrova from the city of Bugulma, Russia. She is a hobbyist in making beaded jewelry, but her designs make many people amazed with Marina's sense of colors, creativity and craftsmanship. We hope you'll find her story interesting and jewelry beautiful!

Marina writes, "When I get home in the evening and when the entire house goes to sleep then the magic begins! Irresistible force draws me to where the boxes and jars are full of my jewels - beads, gemstones, crystals, bronze elements, pearls, bohemian glass beads and so on. It seems to me that my stuff lives its own life and do not want to be inanimate objects. They jingle and rustle, make friends and quarrel and already in boxes agree who with whom goes into one ornament.

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I often repeat the phase, "I'm just a humble servant of stones and beads. I'm just weaving and embroidering, they all come up by themselves!" Beads and stones are my everything: my hobby, my nirvana, my song, my story, and my love!

As I came to the beads - or how they came to me - it's hard to say. They have always been in my life, at first were kept in a small box (the baubles I have created were given to my friends on their birthdays), and then they were scattered on the floor of my college apartment (at that time I surprised my parents with beaded Easter eggs), were carried in parcels from the post office in my kid's stroller (relatives' apartments were adorned by beaded dolls and amulets created then).

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One day, coming to work from my maternity leave, I picked up a pair of beaded dolls to show to my colleagues, and they asked me, "Marina, why do not you make any jewelry?" Then I discovered bead art of Sherry Serafini and the entire universe of woven and embroidered beauty and splendor! Opportunities of beading hit me - they were endless!

Contrary to all the "laws" stated by beadweaving gurus, I never draw sketches. In the realm of my gemstones, I like a predictor of the future: I look at each one of them and immediately see the "image" of a piece of jewelry where this gem will live. Exactly like that all my jewelry is created: first somewhere in an online shop the Star, Prima appears and immediately a picture in my head is formed: shape, color, length, width; and I know all further transformations and buy this gem...."

Full article by Marina Nasyrova
 
Beadwork gallery by Marina Nasyrova
 
Email: bestya78@mail.ru
 
Website (in Russian): biser.info/albom/28843

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Having some knowledge about composition and design will give you a better understanding of why people are either attracted or not attracted to a piece of jewelry. You can be a style leader who sets new trends when you become a jewelry designer, especially if your jewelry is sold in popular retail stores or worn by celebrities.

You might be a jewelry artist who earns a lucrative income selling hand-made jewelry to buyers who appreciate your work and are willing to pay more for unique pieces. If you start your own jewelry design business you will enjoy the flexibility and freedom of being your own boss, plus your earning potential is almost unlimited. And perhaps most importantly your jewelry design "work" will be fun, interesting, and personally rewarding.

No need to re-invent the wheel, you can find in the Internet enough information on designing jewelry, but we would like to share with you the link to very useful website that can perfectly help you:

Learning jewelry design

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