Elbaite - gem from tourmaline group
International Women's Day
An Aussie beaders journey - Melissa Ingram
Fashion Colorworks 2014. Last notes
In the direction of dreams - Anja Schlotman
Perlen Poesie Magazine. Issue 20
Book shelf - Beaded Sculpture
Step by step - Curly Leaf
Upcoming events
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February, 2014
Happy International Women's Day!Winter is over? Spring is coming! Read in the February issue of our MyLovelyBeads.com newsletter: info@mylovelybeads.com.Best regards,
MyLovelyBeads.com Team |
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Elbaite - gem from tourmaline groupElbaite is a mineral species belonging to the tourmaline group. Elbaite forms three species with dravite and with schorl. Elbaite is the most well-known and valuable form of tourmaline, almost all of the tourmaline gemstones are of the elbaite variety. The mineral was after the island of Elba, Italy, where it was first found in the deposits of San Piero in Campo and nearby Sant'Ilario in Campo in 1913. These deposits have produced very old historic Elbaites, especially the classic Moor's Head Tourmalines with black caps. Elbaite is perhaps the most multicolored mineral, coming in virtually every color of the spectrum. Colors include green, red, pink and blue. White, colorless, black, brown, yellow, orange, and purple colors are less common. Many green and blue specimens are strongly pleochroic. When viewed through their vertical axis, such specimens appear darker in color than when seen through their horizontal axis. Certain elbaites exhibit a cat's eye effect when polished into cabochons. Elbaite is form of tourmaline used as a gemstone. Its popularity has greatly increased since the 1990's, now it's one of the most prized minerals, and fine crystals can be among the most beautiful examples in the mineral kingdom. Elbaite crystals that are highly valued by collectors. Elbaite is cut into all forms and styles for jewelry use but very often instead of being faceted extremely aesthetic slender crystals of elbaite are preserved for their beauty. Thick, elongated crystals are sometimes sliced into sections and sold as "Tourmaline cross sections." Since elbaite was originally discovered in Italy, it has since been found in many parts of the world. An immensely popular yet rare neon blue elbaite came from the Paraiba Mine, Paraiba, Brazil and distinctly beautiful raspberry to ruby-red elbaite (rubellite) from the Jonas Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The other very important localities include Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mynamar, Namibia, Mozambique, Nigeria. In the US, Southern California produces some of the most outstanding elbaites. On the East Coast of the US, in New England are some of the classic and famous tourmaline quarries. In 1994, a major locality was discovered in Canada, at O'Grady Lakes in the Yukon. |
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International Women's Day
International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as "Women's History Month".
International Women's Day 2014
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An Aussie beaders journeyMany have heard this name quite recently - Melissa Ingram, and fell in love with her unusual beadworks. Born in Darwin, Australia, Melissa lives in Brisbane. We can firmly say that she already worked out her own style that is liked by many. Read Melissa's story, look at her beadworks, - we're glad to introduce an artist from the land of kangaroo! Melissa says, "As a 2 year old I could be found placing fabric scraps together to make appealing collages to the delight of my mother. At the age of 5 I can remember being taken by the hand to the few classrooms we had at the village school, so that the Principal could show the other students a drawing I had done of a Japanese lady in a kimono. I had drawn and colored the piece so well that he was quite taken with it. I still remember his excitement introducing me to the classes and handing around the drawing. I have been an artistic soul for as long as I can remember. I have drawn, painted, dabbled in photography, fashion design and mosaics. In 1994 I was wandering down a windy street in Fremantle, Western Australia and came across a bead store. Curious, I went inside and stared lovingly into the many jars and containers housing millions of beautiful beads. I bought some gold bugle beads that day. I had no clue what to do with them, but they were just so pretty I had to have them; I still have them to this day. My first attempt at working with beads was clumsy, using sewing threads and needles. I drew a design onto a piece of calico and sewed the bugle beads onto it. The beads soon sawed through the thread and started falling off. Not deterred I started experimenting with different types of beads, threads and needles and began making appliques. After a few years I tired of this and put the beads away. It was not until 2004 that I came across a piece of beadwork (artist unknown) created using a stitch called "peyote" immediately I knew I had to learn how to do it (I had to learn how to pronounce it too!). At this time there were no Youtube videos and only one international beading magazine, "Bead & Button" was available in Australia. Beading supplies were limited and expensive in those days; but despite this hurdle I began teaching myself and experimenting with off loom beadweaving stitches. Bead and soutache embroidery research and sampling came next. My design journey has now embraced shibori silk ribbon as a design element within bead embroidery..."
Full article by Melissa Ingram
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Fashion Colorworks 2014. Last notesFashion Colorworks 2014 sponsor OktaBeads.eu, the shop selling beads and other supplies for beading, announced 15% discount for the contest participants. To be considered, when placing your order you must enter coupon code MLB2014. Discount doesn't depend on the amount of the order, however, doesn't apply to wholesale purchases, but you're not going to buy several kilos of beads by Miyuki, Preciosa or Matsuno to make a few competition beadworks, right? The submission process starts in a month! Good luck! We wish you success!
Fashion Colorworks 2014 rules
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In the direction of dreamsWe're not sure that the phrase "terra incognita" can be applied to a person, but many even known artists don't want to be in public prefer being not well known (what a word play!). Anja Schlotman is one of them. When we invited her to our newsletter she confessed that she accepted the call only second time. We have known Anja in person for years and believed she and her art deserve better recognition, and when we read her story we understood: she is a unique personality. Happy to have Anja in our newsletter! Anja says, "My life had become complicated (yes, that word will return later). Our daughter married and moved to Canada. Some of my dearest friends lived in Europe and yet my life was here in California, US. How could I ever connect those points? I was directing the tourist office for the active San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and leading a special team of seven part time employees. I learned a lot and liked my work but something was missing. I was not going confidently in the direction of my dreams and I knew it. It was time to do some serious soul searching and make the necessary changes. In 2007 I decided to travel for two months to Europe by myself. A dear Dutch friend took me to Paris where we visited the Rodin museum. Right there in the gardens I finally made up my mind. I still remember staring at "The Thinker", thinking about how Rodin was able to carve the marble into the shapes he envisioned, "If Rodin can manage to change the shape of that marble, I should be able to manage to change the direction of my life." No idea why that thought crossed my mind but it did and that day I started my brand-new journey. I had just discovered seed beads. I loved those little sparkly glass objects. Upon my return to California I decided to start designing. That summer I was fortunate enough to meet Huib Petersen. Huib took me on as his apprentice and the rest is history. His generosity helped me find my way. I finished my first workshop design "Night Time in Jerusalem" on January 21, 2008. The beads got a serious hold of me. Now they pretty much direct my life as strange as that may sound, and yes, they do talk to me too. I am fascinated by the fact that I can now say that I found that medium I was perhaps unconsciously always looking for. All of my life comes together in the projects which grow out of my heart, head and hands. I was four years young when my grandmother taught me how to crochet. I was left handed so everything took a little extra creative effort which was OK. I loved to crochet..."
Full article by Anja Schlotman
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Perlen Poesie Magazine. Issue 20March 10th, 2014 - PERLEN POESIE 20 is coming out! Painting with Beads: featuring the French artist AlexArgai and 17 charming jewelry projects, some evocative of painting. Check out design ideas using new types of beads. Also, a course in the Saraguro technique, tips and tricks, and the new rubric Bead of the Season. Last but not least, a presentation of the jewelry workshops that will be offered at the 4th BEADERS BEST Bead Art Fair. A fresh and beady spring full of motivation!
• The Beauty of Grey
Alexandra Le Houedec: The artist's jewelry designs are inspired by her home country. The finest of structures and subtle shades of color are reminiscent of the grasses, lichens and marine flora of Brittany. • 4th BEADERS BEST - The Workshops Mark it, get set and go: More than ever before! Classy jewelry, fabulous techniques - renowned national and international artists offer 3 days of workshops. Have fun choosing and planning! • Give It a Try Course: Saraguro, the stitch from Ecuador; you can create beautiful formations using this technique. • Trendy Shibori Elegant, shimmering material: Shibori ribbons. They can be artfully mixed with beads in works of embroidery. • She Dances with Wolves Portrait: Nadya Gerber - trained as a glass technologist, and has made a name for herself with her imaginative jewelry designs. • 17 Projects Something for everyone: Information about level of difficulty, time involved and cost help you find what's right for you.
Subscribe to Perlen Poesie magazine
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Book shelf - Beaded SculptureDo you want to become a Creator? Do you want to learn how to create sparkling fairy worlds inhabited by the most unimaginable and beautiful creatures? How to grow gardens and build temples? And even create wonderful images of people and fantastic creatures? Or do you just want to become a great bead artist and learn how to put your heart into works, so that they would begin to shine and come to life? And then do you want all shades of colors and depth of radiance could follow your thoughts about better world decoration? Perhaps, you dream to comprehend the secret of unlimited Inspiration and true Mastery, when every moment of work turns into a tale, which you don't want to finish, and each new sample is better and more beautiful than the previous one? Or do you dream to visit Fairyland you loved so much as a child and where you might still be remembered? Tiny trolls and dwarves are strolling there as before, and one of the Fairies will be flying around you all the time being ready to come to help at any moment and recalling memories that all things came from the Magic? You will be able to learn and find answers on all these questions with me - Merry Beads Book of Magic Inspiration.
Full description of Beading Wonder Space. Beaded Sculpture Book
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Step by step - Curly Leaf
When you ask a bead artist about his source of inspiration, you can often hear, "I'm trying to reflect the world around me." That's true and understandable, and many artists incorporate floral motifs into their beadworks: flowers, leaves, vines and so on. That's why tutorials on such projects are so popular among beadweavers. We have two tutorials on our website that are known to many artists: Russian Leaves and Russian Leaves on one thread, and Zoya Gutina decided to make a gift to beadweavers for the International Women's Day - another tutorial on leaves. It's based on the known pattern but leaves turn out "curly" and not flat, and weaving is processed by only one needle. If you are interested, you can download the tutorial and use it in your bead projects. Happy beading! |
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Upcoming events
April 8 - April 19, 2014 Will be presented:
• Kimono costume "Summer" with 1,650,000 beads (70in x 47in)
• Tapestry "Shibaraku" with 400,000 beads (55in x 29.5in) • Tapestry "Fibonacci's Roses" with 270,000 beads (39in x 27.5in) • Fans "Mt.Fuji","Cherry blossoms" and more (15.7in x 23.6in) 
March 14, 15, 16, 2013
March 21, 22, 23, 2013 Juried Fine Art & Craft Festivals since 1976. Find the unique handcrafted artwork of thousands of American Artists! Decorative creations for home & garden, exceptional fine art and crafts!
March 8 - 23, 2014 The Target Gallery and the March of Dimes are teaming up to raise money for both organizations with our 4th annual exhibition fundraiser March150 (formerly titled "March Madness"). The show includes 200 panels of artwork created by local artists, each only $150 (and only $100 the night of the Art Party on March 14). There will be two artworks by Zoya Gutina exhibited. Art Party Details: March 14, 7-10pm / $15 advance or $20 at the door. Presale ticket sales ends close of business on Thursday, March 13th. |
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February Issue
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