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We've already written about one of the most notable gemstone families - beryl group and about some varieties of beryl: green (emerald), blue (aquamarine), golden (heliodor) and pink (morganite). You'll wonder but the most valuable beryl, emerald, tends to have the most inclusions and the least transparency. But emerald is famous for its incomparable color. Beryl has also raspberry-red variety that's called bixbite and colorless to white variety named goshenite.

Goshenite is named after the very small town of Goshen in western Massachusetts where it was first described. Goshenite is found in relatively many beryl deposits around the world (Brazil, China, Burma, Canada, Mexico, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia and the United States), so it is perhaps the most common and least expensive form of beryl.

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Thanks to its excellent transparency, goshenite was once used for manufacturing eyeglasses and lenses. These days, it's commonly used as a gemstone and is also considered a source of beryllium. Before the introduction of diamond simulants such as cubic zirconia, goshenite was often used as a diamond replacement.

Since goshenite is relatively plentiful, usually only very clean and transparent specimens are cut as gemstones. White goshenite is usually opaque and never used a gemstone. Goshenite is similar to the other colorless gems such as quartz, white topaz, white sapphire, and white zircon. It can also resemble diamond, but lacks the fire and dispersion and is also much softer.

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Grown up on Long Island, New York, since 1996 Kathy King has lived in North Carolina. Here she invented a new beadweaving technique she calls bead quilling, that allows Kathy design and create quite unusual structural beadworks. There is no wonder because Kathy loved doing crafty things her whole life, from drawing and coloring, to making furniture and clothing for her Barbie dolls in her childhood. Today Kathy is world known bead artist and we're glad to greet you in our newsletter!

Kathy says, "I started playing with beads for fun while living in Virginia. I am not sure what started me making jewelry, probably just one of the many things I picked up wondering around the local craft stores looking for new projects. Bead weaving came into my life after moving to North Carolina in 1999, when the local embroidery guild in Raleigh brought in Carol Wilcox Wells for two summer workshops. After the first class, which introduced me to peyote, I was hooked. I loved it and understood it. I have always liked miniature things (still own my dollhouse and all the trimmings up in the attic somewhere) and the small beads really attracted me.

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Over the last 15 years, the little seed beads have slowly taken over my creative life. I still love doing many other crafts (scrapbooks, metalwork, and coloring) but I always come back to my beads. Ever since taking my first beading class, I have been the type of student who never makes exactly what is being taught. I like to experiment and need to make something different. I think that is what led me to create the bead quilling technique that I use in so much of my work today. I didn't set out to develop a new technique but happily stumbled upon it while trying to create a new beaded bead design.

Over the last five years of playing with the technique I really love the many design possibilities it gives me. And the bead quilling has led me back to my love of math and has me incorporating more geometric shapes into my beadwork. The sturdy nature of the bead quilled pieces really allows me to build with the beads and experiment with structure. I still get excited about my first weaving love, the beaded bead. I teach beaded beads a lot and find the unending embellishing possibilities and chance to play with color very exciting.

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Inspiration for my designs can come from absolutely anything. As with most creative people, nature is always a wonderful source of inspiration. The color and texture I see just looking out my window can lead to lots of design ideas. But I also really enjoy looking through fashion design books and architectural books. The shapes and colors presented there are always inspiring and can lead to very interesting designs. I also own a small library of pattern books from around the world, floor tile design from Spain to a Japanese pattern sourcebook (a number are in the Agile Rabbit Series of books).

A majority of the time, when I sit down at my bead table to start a new design, I have no plan in my head. I sit, pick a color I'm in the mood to use and start playing with shapes. Even with a plan, once I start playing with the beads it often changes and I just let the beads lead me. I have also filled a number of sketch books over the years with design ideas but only follow through on a small percentage of them. These books are good place to go to on those rare days I have no idea where to start..."

Full article by Kathy King
 
Beaded jewelry by Kathy King
 
Email address: kathykingnc@gmail.com
 
Website: www.kathykingjewelry.com
 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Kathy-King-Jewelry
 
Twitter: @kathykingadorn

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At first glance, Cleopatra Cosulet from Romania is still looking her way in beading. That's true because she likes experimenting with colors, materials, shapes and texture, but just a part of the whole truth. It's in Cleopatra's nature to try everything new; we think nothing can stop her in different challenges, and the results are exciting! Let's say "hello!" to Cleo and wish her success!

Cleopatra says, "I started "thinking crafty" about almost everything. I've discovered different materials that can be used: beads, gems, wire, cotton thread, leather, buttons, and even plastic bottles. And I learned different techniques: stitching, embroidering, wirewrapping, crocheting.

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I've been doing that slowly, with curiosity and patience. Looking for my own way, trying to be myself every time. I love working with colors. And beadweaving. And embroidery. And crochet. And recycle. And also wirework. And I also love to express myself freely and without being stopped by rules. Maybe that's the reason why you may like my work or you may not.

I've enrolled into several Romanian craft groups, where people like me could exchange their opinion about each others work. I liked this personal creative environment. I've participated in challenges because they allow to develop my skills. There were contests organized in Romania which encouraged the participants to create their beadworks using a specific technique. They helped me find the courage to approach fearlessly many things.

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I learned to combine materials and techniques making one item. And someday, a contest jury found my work worth to get a prize: the Silver Flow Purse - March, 2012. It was the fuel I needed to move forward. I realized then that I might have something special to share with other beadweavers, and my hobby turned into a great and growing passion.

Other challenges has come, and I entered them all. Some of the creations that submitted were awarded: Silver Romance (detachable collar/necklace) - April, 2012; Crystal Flight (beadwoven necklace and ring) - April, 2012; Leatherish (bracelet and necklace for man) - January, 2013; Silver Dance (beadwoven bracelet and earrings) - February, 2013 ; Fall's falling parts (bead embroidery necklace - my first item in this technique) - February, 2013; Playin' Chess (necklace) - March, 2013. Between all these contests, my other jewelry related passion, recycling was a part of a telecast. The "Plastic Ballad" bracelet was filmed during its entire making process and appeared in a television broadcast in January, 2013..."

Full article by Cleopatra Cosulet
 
Beadwork gallery by Cleopatra Cosulet
 
Email address: cleopatracosulet@gmail.com
 
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/JEWELand/107003372805780
 
Etsy Shop: etsy.com/shop/RattleTattleAround

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