Sphene - gem with titanium content
Fashion Colorworks 2015 started!
I have an idea! - Christina Neit
Bead Fair 2015, Hamburg, Germany
I opened door to Wonderland - J. Bushukhina
November upcoming events
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October, 2014
From MyLovelyBeads.comWe enjoy the last warm days of the year. Halloween is already behind us, and we face Thanksgiving! Have fun with your family this Thanksgiving, but don't forget to say "thank you." A word of kindness can spread immense happiness. Meanwhile, take your time and read in our October issue: info@mylovelybeads.com.Best regards, MyLovelyBeads.com Team
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Sphene - gem with titanium contentSphene (from the Greek SPHENOS meaning "wedge" because of the usual shape of its crystals) is a mineral, that's also known as "titanite" due to its titanium content. These are translucent to transparent, yellow, orange, brown or green or red gems with many gradations between those colors. In 1982 the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names adopted the name "titanite" and discredited the name "sphene" although initially the mineral was identified by both names. The name "sphene" still continues to be publishable in some scientific literature and persists as the informal name for titanite gemstones. Sphene is found primarily in Madagascar, Mexico, Canada and, historically, in Austria. Other notable localities include: Pakistan, Italy, Russia, China, Brazil, Switzerland, USA. Although reasonably available in the marketplace, it is virtually unknown to the general public. Recent finds in Brazil and the Far East have brought more and more of the material to the market which has resulted in an increased awareness of this gemstone. Several gemological characteristics make it beautiful and desirable as a collector's stone or, with care, for jewelry use. Its dispersion (fire) is one of the highest of all gem materials and is higher than diamond. The body color, degree of inclusions, cutting orientation and cutting style may enhance or obscure this feature. If well-polished, the luster can approach or equal that of diamond, but the gem is difficult to polish well. A preference exists for stones that are lighter in tone, especially yellows, light oranges and greens which are able to best exhibit this gem's magnificent dispersion. This gem is somewhat risky as a jewelry stone due to its softness and brittleness, but beautiful if set protectively and worn occasionally. Like tanzanites and some other stones it won't take a lot of heavy, rough wear. But as earrings and pendants (where the light can react with it best anyway) you will have no problems. Shield this gem from knocks, heat and exposure to acids; do not clean with steam or ultrasonic, and it will be a spectacular addition to your gemstone collection or jewelry case. |
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Fashion Colorworks 2015 started!The sixth International Fashion Colorworks 2015 Beading Contest is hosted by My Lovely Beads. Entries should be made using one of the color combinations made up of three colors announced by the Pantone Color Institute, the world-renowned authority on color and provider of color systems, as top 10 fashion colors for spring 2015 ( fashion colors spring 2015 ) :
Fashion Colorworks 2015 rules
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I have an idea!The name "Good Quill Hunting" is well-known in bead world but not many know the real artist behind it. Christina Neit - Good Quill Hunting - a bead artist, a teacher and a hostess of the Haute Couture Beading Contest is our guest today! Read Christina's story and enjoy her beautiful beadworks! Christina says, "I have been beading for nearly 10 years and started out by beading up a pair of brick stitch earrings with porcupine quills on them, my childhood influence. I had dabbled with a loom when I was much younger and beads came back into my life while I was cross stitching. I am a self-taught beader and have yet to take a class. Inspiration comes in many forms for me and often in an unusual way. I can be anywhere, doing anything and suddenly an idea is upon me. It can be a color, hardware, clothing... anything goes. I often say, I am genetically creative, I come from a blood line of creatives and schooled artists; it is a curse and a blessing. My husband hates it when I say, "I have an idea!" That will probably be my epitaph on my tombstone. Since I range in my work equally from bead weaving to bead embroideries, how I start a project is dependent on a few things. If I am sitting down to create a new pattern/tutorial, I will generally have beads in front of me and just "play". Most times, I will have a certain type of bead to work with, usually a new bead that has just come to market, or is on its way to market and ideas will proceed from there. If I am planning an embroidery, I usually have inspiration in front of me, a cabochon, button, brass stamping, Swarovski crystal or all of the above, something larger I will use as a focal, those are my guides. Occasionally, it will be a predetermined shape of the piece I have drawn out. I never draw out the thoughts in my head, just the occasional shape is all I ever use a pencil for. The question I have been asked the most is: "How long does it take you to do a piece?" I have yet to give a straight answer to the question. There really are too many variables to answer precisely with a number. My questions back would be: "Bead weaving or bead embroidery?" - "From the initial thought of the idea or just from start to finish?"
Full article by Christina Neit
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Bead Fair 2015, Hamburg, Germany
5th BEADERS BEST Bead Art Fair Do you love handmade jewelry? There will be a wealth of beads and other materials exhibited: the smallest seed beads, lampwork, ceramic and sparkling crystal beads, fine fasteners, findings and accessories, tools, instructions and books, and kits as well as finished pieces complete the offerings. The entire assortment is of particularly good quality. Come to an extraordinary fair!
MesseHalle Hamburg-Schnelsen |
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I opened door to WonderlandJulia Bushukhina is a young beadweaver living in Russia. Although her beading experience is about five years her lovely pieces are valued by many bead lovers. The range of her items is from jewelry to accessories, Julia especially like designing small works. In 2012 she won Best Newbie Award in Fashion Colorworks and succeeded this year again. We hope you'll like Julia's story and her elegant beadworks. Julia says, "How did I start started beading? With flowers. Once I was searching over Internet gerbera flowers, just to remember how they look like. I found and liked one bouquet, very beautifully decorated, with beautiful flowers. On a small photo they seemed to me real, but when I opened the big picture, I was stupefied - the flowers were manmade from beads! I knew about beads, when I was a child my cousin introduced me with them. The most usual story - we've woven simple baubles from Chinese beads... Flowers were created by Elena Bashkatova, one of the best masters in the field of beading (I think, that opinion is not only mine). I clicked the link and opened the website - like Lewis Carroll's Alice opened the door to the Wonderland, and there was no return to me from that Land. I found there lots of beadweavers - a whole galaxy of bead stars and lots of beginners like myself. It was 2009, March, spring! From the beginning I tried to do all in my own way. If this was a pattern - I changed it, if I was inspired by someone's design - I didn't make an exact replica. My friends praised all my creations, even the first ones woven from Chinese beads. I liked them too... For the time being! I made a new step, and old work already seemed childish crafts. Then I found the opportunity to buy Czech beads in my city, and for me, these small bright balls became an accomplishment. They looked so smooth in comparison with the production of Chinese factories! I still remember how I was happy I was holding my first bag of Czech beads! Only later I discovered online shopping and learned about Japanese seed beads, and then I did stopped buying anything else. In 2011 I had my debut in competitions. Until then, I read a lot of bead contests, but didn't dare to participate - I thought it was too early for me. Then there was a "home" contest announced on the same website where I came across the wonderful flowers among beadweavers whom I knew. Moreover, by that time I have already started designing my beadworks from scratch. This organizers even planned prizes and awards and participation promised to be interesting..."
Full article by Julia Bushukhina
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Upcoming events
November 14-16, 2014 It's Northern Virginia's grand opening celebration of the holiday season! This spectacular, award-winning holiday show features more than 250 fine artisans from more than 20 states. Readers of Sunshine Artist Magazine voted this popular event as one of the best 100 arts and crafts shows in the USA. Artisans offer a diverse selection of fine arts, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, wood, photography, fiber arts, as well as thousands of one-of-kind Christmas collectibles. Extraordinary Beads Exhibition
January 5 - March 1, 2015 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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