Bead blog recap weeks 15-16

I'd didn't forget it this time. It's a new round-up of my last two weeks of blogging at my other blog, Manekis Pärlblogg. This time you'll find everything from how czech glass beads are made and the latest contests to pearl glossaries and frog closure necklace projects.

Enjoy!




Crackled beads
About crackled glass and quartz beads -- including a few warnings: don't do like me and pick up a broken crackled glass beads in your hands. You don't want those glass particles in your fingers!

Bobby pin necklaces
Bobby pins can be used for more than just keep your hair in line. Why not make necklaces out of them? PS! Just found a bobby pin earring project to add to the post.

Recycled art/altered art themed contest
Swedish beadshop Stareyes have announced their first design contest of the year. The theme is recycling and you have to use at least one recycled item in your design.

Birds of a Feather Contest
A new international contest from Good Quill Hunting where you are challenged to add bird feathers to your seed beads.

Twin beads vs. SuperDuo
You know about Preciosa Ornela's two-hole bead Twin, but have you heard about the likewise czech glass bead SuperDuo. Same shape and design, what's the difference between the two -- and which one should you choose?

How Czech glass beads are made
Have you ever wondered about how your beloved beads are made? I've written about seed bead making before and this time pressed glass beads and fire-polished are the main topic, followin my discovery of a czech bead manufacturer that have online videos available, showing the different steps of glass bead making.

Monthly bead soup: April
My new monthly feature is a colour inspiration post. You will also find these posts here on this blog under the label monthly colour inspiration. Feedback -- and requests for colours to feature-- are welcomed!

Scrumble
Scrumbles are mostly associated with knitting and crochet, but as argued on the BeadFX blog, it's also a fun idea for jewellery making and beading.

BTW -- Bead Table Wednesday
You've probably already heard of Bead Table Wednesday when beaders and jewellery makers show snapshots of what's at their desks and worktables at the moment. Join in or just let your self be inspired by seeing what others do.

SoftFlex Pantone Colour Challenge
A new monthly challenge from SoftFlex with a chance to win gift certificates in their shop. The challenge is isnpired by the Pantone fashion colour trend forecast and this month's colour/theme is pink Cabaret.


Wine cork jewellery
Learn how to make fun or sophisticated jewellery from wine corks.


Pearl glossary
Pearl-guide.com has a most comprehensive glossary of anything pearl related. A must read for anyone interested in pearls of any kind. Also include a short glossary in Swedish and a link to my earlier post/glossary on faux pearls.

Frog closure jewellery
Frog closures are made from cord, making them useful as no-metal clasps for jewellery apart from their usual use on clothes. Theornate styles of many of the closures also makes them useful as design elements. Here you can find one example of a necklace project made intirely with frog closures.