I was thrilled today to pick up the latest issue of Interweave’s “Handcrafted Jewelry” magazine. This magazine fills a niche that’s been missing in many magazines, taking basic beading projects to the next level. Along with the beading skills jewelry makers already know, the magazine introduces resin, polymer clay, enamel, fabric, collages, and more. It’s definitely a must-buy!
Several projects really caught my eye, including Barbara Lewis’ enameled beads (I’ve been fortunate enough to take her classes). She shows how to incorporate fabric and fibers into designs, and the magazine even gives a “ribbon roundup” to get you on your way.
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| an example of Barbara Lewis’s work with her enameled beads and fiber |
As a collector of vintage tins, I’m also loving Candie Cooper’s dapped bead caps made from discarded cookie tins. She makes them extra-special by making beaded felted balls to place in between the tin caps to create a stunning pair of earrings.
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| earrings by Candie Cooper |
The rest of the magazine is an amazing and accessible blend of jewelry types, as you can see by the table of contents:
My recommendation — don’t miss a single issue of this magazine. If you think you’ve seen it all, buy this magazine. If you feel you’ve fallen into a jewelry rut, buy this magazine. You won’t regret it!
Purchase “Handcrafted Jewelry” magazine at your local bookstore or by clicking here.
Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site lorianderson.net. She writes the blogs Pretty Things and An Artist’s Year Off. She lives in Maryland.