August, 2014

My Lovely Beads, e-Newsletter

Back to school!

Summer is coming to an end, the children went to school, and you have time to sit down and read the August issue of our newletter! In this issue:

Contact us with any questions at info@mylovelybeads.com.
Best regards, MyLovelyBeads.com Team

Stone of August: JADE

Stone of August:
JADE


Balances male/female energies. Stone of protection, provides barrier against attacks and illness. Encourages meditative travel. Helps in making the dream process productive and healing. Zodiac signs: Libra (Balance), Capricorn (Seagoat), Aries (Ram), Gemini (Twins).

More Info

Cuprite - mineral with copper content

Cuprite is a red to brown mineral with high copper content. Its crystals are transparent to translucent; the color is dark red to cochineal red, brown red, purple red, sometimes almost black. Cuprite is often associated with Native Copper, Malachite, Azurite, Limonite and Chalcocite. Cuprite is named in 1845 by Wilhelm Karl von Haidinger from the Latin CUPRUM - copper, in allusion to its composition. Haidinger renamed a previously known mineral that had been known by a wide variety of names.

Cuprite has been a major ore of copper and is still mined in many places around the world. Some of the most outstanding lustrous dark red octahedral Cuprite crystals and groupings come from Kolwezi, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo. Exceptionally large crystals, often coated with a shiny green coating of Malachite, are well-known from Ogonja, Namibia; the classic locality for fine Cuprite is Tsumeb, Namibia. Other notable occurrences of cuprite include Ural and Altai Mountains, Russia; Arizona, USA; Dzezkazgan, Kazakhstan; Queensland, Australia; Cornwall, England; France, China, Chile and other localities.

Cuprite can form both as bright transparent red crystals, and as lustrous, submetallic to brilliant opaque crystals. Even the opaque form will have slightly red edges and slight transparency upon back-lighting. The "chalcotrichite" (from the Greek, meaning "hairy copper") variety typically shows greatly elongated capillary or needle like crystals forms.

Though almost all crystals of cuprite are far too small to yield faceted gemstones, one unique deposit from Onganja, Southwest Africa, which was discovered in the 1970s, has produced crystals which were both large and gem quality. According to Joel Arem, one-time curator for the Smithsonian National Gem and Mineral Collection in Washington DC, faceted cuprite of any size is considered one of the most collectible and spectacular gems in existence, with its deep garnet coloring and higher brilliance than a diamond. Only the gem's soft nature prevents it from being among the most valuable jewelry stones.

Spring 2015 Pantone Fashion Colors

Fashion Colorworks 2014 Beading Contest

Spring 2015 Pantone Fashion Color forecast report from Pantone Color based on the New York Fashion Week Designers and fashion industry color trends is released. As you know, the annual International Fashion Colorworks Beading Contest uses those 10 top colors to make up three color combinations which should be implemented in the contest entries. The rules of the Fashion Coloworks 2015 will be published in our October issue. The game is not over, the game is starting over!

Spring 2015 Pantone Fashion Color Report

Fashion Colorworks. Flowering bead world

Have you ever wondered why some beadworks featuring flowers can cause joyful mood at the mere sight at them? Most likely because plants are one of the most beautiful creatures by nature! We guess, that's why jewelry with beaded flowers by Patricia Parker from Pennsylvania, USA is so popular, and her Summer Necklace won the Second Prize! Congratulations, Patti!

Patricia says, "My introduction to beads came during the summer weeks I spent at my grandmother's house as a child, a time that encouraged my love of needlework. She taught me embroidery, how to knit and tried to teach me to crochet. We made paper beads and I played with beads and her button collection while she sewed clothing and repurposed fur coats into stuffed rabbits and bears.

She also had beautiful flowers in her garden. When I was in high school I discovered seed beads at the local craft store and strung a cardboard loom with sewing thread. I made bracelets and barrettes for my friends and searched local stores and catalogs for more beads. I studied fine art in college and it was during that time I started making "drawings" out of beads.

The beads I use the most are seed beads. I like the way the colors interact, and how small differences like the color of the thread or combinations of beads can change the overall effect of the finished work. I like the similarity to pointillism when making pictorial weavings. The size variations help suggest ways to use the beads when I make dimensional flowers. Sometimes what I make is influenced by the beads I have and other times I buy beads in order to achieve my design idea.

I like to hike and I take many photographs of flowers, water, sunlight and trees. I make collections of images that have a commonality with my design idea and use them as a reference. Color is very important to me which is one of the reasons I enjoy the Fashion Colorworks competition. I like using flowers as an inspiration because their colors make an easy palette for any design. Purple and green are my favorite colors to use together, and there are so many different flowers to make out of beads.

My favorite theme is nature, especially flowers, space, water and landscapes. I like to make either realistic or abstracted representations of these subjects. The artworks of Van Gogh, Durer, and Mattioli are some of my favorites. I also like the art nouveau style. I am easily influenced by the surrounding environment and I tend to work when I am alone or I get distracted from getting anything done..."

Full article by Patricia Parker
 
Beaded jewelry by Patricia Parker
 
Email: pattiparker731@yahoo.com
 
Blog: roseblubeads.blogspot.com
 
Facebook: facebook.com/patti.parker.39?fref=ts
 
Etsy Shop: etsy.com/shop/RoseBluBeads

Fashion Colorworks. How my Dream came true

Is not it wonderful, if a person has a dream, he is committed to it and achieves his goal? When Julia Izerskaya first saw soutache embroidery, her dream was to learn that technique. In several years her soutache necklace "Inspiration" won the Second Place in the Fashion Colorworks. You made it, Julia, your dream came true!

Julia says, "I remember exactly the moment when my passion for soutache embroidery began. On the website which was not associated with needlework, I saw soutache works. Just pictures, there were neither a name of the jewelry nor the name of the technique specified. Just the photos. My heart stopped beating and my breathing stopped! I just could not believe that this can be done by hand. I've looked at the works for very long, but I did not figured out how and from what these splendors has been done.

But I remember my clear desire - I want to create such jewelry, here it is - it all my life. It took another half a year, and again I came across a photo of such a necklace, but this time it was written that it was soutache embroidery. And I "deepened" in the spaces of the Internet to find out, what it is - a strange and incomprehensible - soutache?

To my delight it turned out that soutache is a sort of tape that I had - once, long ago, I bought it in a hurry by mistake confusing with a hat band. There was nowhere to learn, then I didn't know about the existence of any workshops. But I had soutache, Chinese beads, photos of soutache works and a burning desire to do something as beautiful as I saw!

It was before the Christmas day, four years ago. I had a day-off, and I immediately sat down to "reinvent the wheel." My engineering education has prompted me a lot of technical solutions, and I've been crafting since literally three years, so I created the first jewelry pretty easily. And then I realized that my dream would come true.

I still wonder the patience of my husband because I've immersed myself in work for a long time. I forgot about cooking, cleaning and other household duties. Since then almost every day I pick up a needle and soutache and plunge into the magic world. About the same time I learned how many great craftworks is being done out of beads and soutache, and I love to read stories of other artists about their creative world..."

Full article by Julia Izerskaya
 
Beaded jewelry by Julia Izerskaya
 
Email: hottey189@yandex.ru
 
Blog: hottey-189.livejournal.com

Fashion Colorworks. Beading "Yellow Submarine"

We don't think that the Yellow Submarine Set by the young bead master Anastasia Kulakova from Novosibirsk, Russia, won its silver medal because of the famous 1966 song by the Beatles. Instead, her beadwork was awarded because Anastasia created a truly exquisite item! She is in the beginning of her creative career and we hope will continue to delight us with her beadwork.

Anastasia says, "Last summer I sincerely believed that the beads were created for teenager's bracelets and to embroider wedding dresses and costumes for dancing. But when in the fall I saw in social networks photos of stunning beaded necklaces, I was literally shocked - I couldn't really believe that it was possible to make such beauties from beads. And I madly wanted to try to create something like that! I began learning techniques and reading tutorials, visiting beadworkers' forums and ordered materials in online stores.

Since my childhood I like doing different kinds of crafts. I sewed and embroidered, I have been creating floral compositions for several years. I was fascinated, but the finished works and materials took up much space, and my desire and inspiration gradually disappeared...

When I became better acquainted with beads it immediately attracted me with its almost limitless possibilities in creativity. Making beaded accessories and jewelry is my hobby, I do not do anything for sale, I think it is too early for me, I did not reach the desired level of proficiency.

When I learned that competitions for bead artists are held, first I was very surprised and then took part in a pair of small "events." Despite the modest results, I liked the competitive fever. Contests, their themes and some restrictions give a powerful impetus to the development of fantasy and excitement and nervous trembling spice up a steady flow of life.

However, having read the conditions of Fashion Colorworks Beading Contest, I decided that participation in the competition of this level for me is premature. How can I compete with experienced craftsmen if I have just took beads in hands? But after having been thinking for about three months, I solved. Why not to be the contest "background"? I will take part in this festival and get new experience! The format of the competition and honest reviews about fair judgment added determination..."

Full article by Anastasia Kulakova
 
Beadwork by Anastasia Kulakova
 
Email: mitsoukobead@mail.ru
 
Facebook: facebook.com/anastasiya.bormp/photos

Perlen Poesie Magazine. Issue 22

September 10th, 2014 - PERLEN POESIE 22 is coming out!

Fireworks in Black. Let us take you into a beady and colorful autumn. 17 projects: Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and entire jewelry sets. Additionally, take our course to find out how St. Petersburg Stitch is done. And just to be sure: How to do a Brick Stitch. A journey of discovery to Saxony where - a century ago - the jacquard beaded-fabric loom was developed. Last but not least, witness a firework display of inspiration in the artist profile of Kris Empting-Obenland and her title piece, Cocoon.

• Creative Explosion
Kris Empting-Obenland: Creative in many disciplines, the mother of 4 loves all materials that lend themselves to not only designing... but transforming. She finds the predetermined and unchangeable boring. She does her best work implementing simple beads without special effects.
 
• Course
St. Petersburg Stitch: Learn how to make the soft and smooth yet durable lacy bands.
 
• How did that go again?
Square-Stitch: Pieces worked in square stitch have the same surface structure as woven jewelry: The beads sit in a square grid arranged in rows side by side and one above the other without any misalignment.
 
• Exemplary Design
Bead Weaving: The Saxons are known to be inventive. In Germany's Ore Mountains a method was devised in the 19th Century for producing beaded fabric on power looms - unrivaled in the world. The developers thus had the world monopoly.
 
• 17 Projects
Something for everyone is guaranteed; the information about degree of difficulty, time involved and costs help you to find what's right for you.

Subscribe to Perlen Poesie magazine
 
Perlen Poesie magazine in the USA

Upcoming events

40th Anniversary Book Signing Event

September 11, 2014, at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Join Torpedo Factory Members and Associates on Thursday, September 11th as we celebrate over four decades of creativity and collaboration at the Torpedo Factory Art Center with the launch of the book 40 Years of Art and Community.

Torpedo Factory artists will be available to sign your copy between 6 PM and 9 PM on September 11th. If you plan on attending the event and would like to ensure that you receive a copy before they sell out, please RSVP here: www.torpedofactoryartists.com.


Extraordinary Beads Exhibition

January 5 - March 1, 2015
Glass Doors Gallery
The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
2880 Mountain Rd, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060

Artist: Zoya Gutina   •   Admission: Free   •   Info: 804-261-2787

The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen offers residents and visitors in the metropolitan Richmond region an unparalleled opportunity to experience the arts, entertain new ideas, develop a new talent, and experience first-hand, all the best this community has to offer.

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