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Kyanite is an attractive gem that was discovered during the nineteenth century and named in 1789 by Abraham Gottlieb Werner from the Greek word KYANOS, meaning "deep blue", the common color of the species. Mineralogists through much of the 19th and early 20th centuries commonly used the French spelling, "Cyanite". The most highly prized kyanite is the vibrant blue or blue-green hue. It is also found in shades of black, gray, yellow, pink, white and colorless that is considered quite rare. Color varieties include recently discovered orange kyanite from Tanzania.

Kyanite has a nearly unique characteristic in that it has a wide variation in hardness in the same crystal face: it is approximately 4.5 (Mohs scale) when scratched parallel to the long axis of the crystal and approximately 6.5 when scratched perpendicular to or across the long axis.

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In ancient times it was believed that a kyanite suspended from a human hair could follow the earth's magnetic force like a compass needle. Early travelers took kyanite along with them to use it as a compass when exploring unknown territories.

Kyanite is used to manufacture a wide range of products especially ceramics. It has been used as a semiprecious gemstone, which may display cat's eye chatoyancy. It can be cut "en cabochon" and faceted, or used to produce beads and pendants. Kyanite is considered to be an "exotic" gemstone because it is not often used in jewelry.

Notable occurrences of kyanite include the United States (Virginia, Montana, Georgia and North Carolina), Brazil, Switzerland, Russia, Serbia, Austria, India, Myanmar, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

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It's always nice to discover new artists' names in the bead world. We've known Csilla Papp, a young bead master from England since 2011; and we can state that she made great progress and success. We are happy to have Csilla Papp in our newsletter and hope you will like her amazing designs!

Csilla said, "I have always had beads since I was a child; in my early age I've made lot of animal figures and Christmas decorations using them. Once, being in the high school I got a big box of beads from my friend, whose mother has made wedding dresses. I still keep this box, but my bead stash doesn't fit it anymore as I have many thousands of beads!

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I have never thought that one day these little treasures would fill my life. I always loved creative stuff such as arts, literature and painting. Salvador Dali is one of my favorite artists, and I adore the work of Ettore Aldo Del Vigo. I like these surrealistic creations as well as such jewelry.

One of my favorite jewelry artists is Dori Csengeri, whose works remind me surreal lines and colors. Her items are absolutely amazing. The same is about my preferences in fashion - I'm much more attracted to unique haute couture creations rather than ordinary mass produced costumes.

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Back to the beginning, like many others, I was browsing over the Internet and I found a lot of great beadwoven jewelry. I remember it was the summer of 2010 when I was sitting at home and suddenly something struck me. I thought, "I want to create jewelry!" - but then it was just a thought. In January 2011 I made my first beaded creations using peyote stitch - two key rings.

Now looking at the offers from bead shops I remember as until then my knowledge of the beads were very limited. I had no idea that so many different colors, shapes of beads and crystals were available. Then I slowly learnt everything. I started writing a blog admiring the beautiful beadworks. My favorites to this day are Betty Stephan, Sherry Serafini, Zoya Gutina and Alla Maslennikova..."

Full article by Csilla Papp
 
Beadwoven jewelry on MyLovelyBeads.com
 
Soutache jewelry on MyLovelyBeads.com
 
Email: csilla.papp4@googlemail.com
 
Etsy: etsy.com/people/ZoojaDesign
 
Facebook: www.facebook.com

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You've already met Natasha Machikhina, a bead artist from Moscow, Russia; we published the story about her art passion five years ago. Since then Natasha has developed her skills trying different media and styles. Today she wants to tell us about making one-of-a-kind beaded rings. We could pick up just one word to describe Natasha's work: awesome!

Natasha Machikhina said, "I've been making beaded jewelry for over 10 years, but was fascinated with beadwoven rings a little over two years ago. My first ring became a ring by accident. Once I twiddled in my fingers an element woven for a piece of jewelry and happen to understand what it reminded me and I realized - it had to be the basis of a ring! Thus a new phase in my creativity began. I love flexibility of the square tubular stitch and thinking of ring designs I always keep in my mind the advantages of this technique.

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In a relatively short time, I created designs for just over two dozen rings made in my favorite technique. Sometimes it's a series of several rings developing some idea (for example, a series of "Mirror Of Hecate"), and sometimes it's a completely separate design. All rings are made in a single copy, but beadweavers even beginners in square stitch can easily replicate some of them, and even myself can't repeat other rings.

I want to say a little bit about my rings inspiration. I see it this way: in the universe there is a cloud of ideas, some of them are sent periodically to the real world for implementation. But to be made live the ideas need "a guide" - the person who can accept the idea and put it into jewelry. I'm glad if I can sometimes become such "a conductor" from the universe of ideas to our world. Of course, according my ability to accept and implement them.

I wish everyone becomes such "a guide" - at least sometimes and learn to hear a quiet loving voice of the universe... And to make a contribution to the world of beauty."

Beaded rings by Natasha Machikhina
 
Story about artist Natasha Machikhina
 
Email: natalia3277@yandex.ru
 
Website: www.artreflection.ru

Here is a complimentary tutorial by Natasha Machikhina on beaded ring. The level of this project is "beginner to advanced"; it requires some knowledge of basic beadweaving techniques. The main part of the ring is woven using square tubular stitch that is taught in tutorials by Viktoria Katamashvili Beaded Letters and Beaded "Heart", and in this tutorial: Standard Square Stitch.

Tutorial by Natasha Machikhina: Beaded ring

Parallax 'Art' Fair in New York

May 10-12, 2013
The Prince George
East 27th St. between Madison and 5th Ave.
New York City, NY

Parallax Art Fair grew out of an international exhibition called Parallax that was conceived and curated by Dr Chris Barlow in London at the Royal Opera Arcade. Parallax AF New York will exhibit object makers of every kind from all over the world.

Like the original exhibition, at the heart of the fair is the practical exploration of new and radical ideas that developed within the professional discipline of art history. The fair becomes an attempt to make a statement about the very real problems concerning knowledge acquisition and objects designated as contemporary art.

Parallax Art Fair recognizes no "superiority" or extra-relevance of any form of object making of any kind and questions the ability to determine content in this way- a process that leads to undemocratic structures in the arts. At the edge of the fair's core is a contradiction: a problem of relativism is absolutism.

We are glad to inform you that some of Zoya Gutina's beadwork will be exhibited at the Parallax 'Art' Fair. You are welcome to The Prince George!

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