Bead for Life

Bead for Life
Eradicating Poverty One Bead at a Time
It's a pleasure to write about projects like the Bead for Life program. This organization has found a way for impoverished women in Uganda to generate an income, and to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Women are invited to join Bead for Life if they are living on less than two dollars a day.

The beaders make handcrafted paper beads and turn them into necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. The tailors make elegant jewelry bags from hand printed cotton fabrics.


Paper Bead Bangle Bracelet

AIDS and War
More than two-thirds of these women are women living with HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS has wreaked havoc in Uganda and throughout Africa. In Uganda alone, over 1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. More than 1 million children have been orphaned. Every family has been affected.

Many of these women are from the Acholi tribe that were driven from their homes in Northern Uganda by a brutal warlord. They left their agricultural way of life to avoid the violence and to protect their children from kidnappings. Over 1 million Acholi are now living in refugee camps. The Acholi in Kampala have built a mud village on the outskirts of town.

Living Conditions
The members of Bead for Life live in rented mud rooms without electricity, windows, or running water. Most of the rooms are small, measuring 10 by 15 feet. They have large families, and six or more people live in one small room. Several generations of siblings, grandparents, and cousins often live in one household. They cook outside over charcoal.


The Beaders and Their Village

Earning a Living
Before Bead for Life, the primary means of earning a living was at the rock quarry next to the Acholi Quarter. Sitting in the blistering sun, workers break rocks by hand to make gravel for about a dollar a day. Some earned a few shillings washing clothes or selling vegetables.

Many of the beaders have become entrepreneurs: they now hire others to help them cut paper and roll beads. Besides the 150 beaders and 15 tailors working with Bead for Life, another 300 people are earning a living from the beads. An average member makes about $100 a month.

In addition to buying and selling the beads made by these women, Bead for Life sponsors community development projects in health, education, vocational training, affordable housing, and savings programs.

Bead for Life Mission Statement:

Bead for Life creates sustainable opportunities for women to lift their families out of extreme poverty by connecting people worldwide in a circle of exchange that enriches everyone. Bead for Life is guided by the following principles:

• Creating jobs through local partnerships is a more sustainable approach to poverty eradication than providing aid. Rather than become dependent on handouts from abroad, the beaders build their skills and long-term capacities through meaningful creative work.
• Concerned citizens in resource-abundant countries care about the issues of extreme poverty and are willing to get involved.
• Paying our beaders fair trade prices allows them to meet their daily economic needs. Investing 100% of our net profits in community development projects for impoverished Ugandans allows for a long-term sustainable future.
• Partnerships formed between North Americans and Ugandan beaders enrich all of us.

Who knew beads could save lives?

SOURCE
Bead For Life

See full article.

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[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]

Jennifer Casady Jewelry Designer

Jennifer Casady Jewelry
Because understated elegance never goes out of style

Chainmaille
Chainmaille was originally used in medieval times to make flexible armor that couldn't be penetrated by swords. It is made of interlocking metal rings. There are many different patterns or weaves, the most popular being 4-in-1. This means that every ring is connected to four other rings. It makes a lightweight covering that flows like cloth.

The 4-in-1 weave and it's variations (6-in-1 and 8-in-1), are generically classified as European weaves. The European family of weaves is the most commonly known, and the easiest to create. So most of the Chainmaille you'll see in the Lord of the Rings movies is made with European weaves.

Jennifer uses Chainmaille in a lot of her jewelry, and it gives her work that extra touch of elegance and style, like this necklace:


Ocean's Away Necklace
These beautiful Lampwork Beads by Caroline of Crafted Gems have me daydreaming about clear blue water, palm trees swaying in the breeze and white sandy beaches...oceans away from where I am.
8x10mm Lampwork Beads on sterling silver circles that have been delicately hand woven in the Jen's Pind Chainmaille pattern.

Lampwork Beads are made by melting glass rods in the flame of a torch, and winding them around a metal mandrel to form a bead. There are many exceptionally talented Lampwork Bead artists. I don't think I've ever seen a Lampwork Bead used in a ring, and this one is gorgeous:


Lampwork Bead Ring
A beautiful pink Lampwork Bead wrapped in Sterling Silver

Artist Statement

I began my jewelry fascination when I was a little girl while attending gem shows with my parents and grandparents. As I grew older, I enjoyed going through my Mom's jewelry and listening to her tell me stories of where and when she received each piece. My father traveled around the world with his job, and he bought strands of gemstones to bring home. He taught himself how to make knotted jewelry, and made beautiful necklaces and bracelets for my grandmother, my mother, and me. Several members of my extensive family make their own jewelry, some of them have done so for many years.

I use various techniques - stringing, wire wrapping, and most recently, the ancient art of Chainmaille. Every gemstone is unique, and I want to express that individuality and beauty in my designs. My style tends to be somewhat conservative, as that is who I am and what I prefer. I believe jewelry is an accessory, an adornment, something to highlight and frame a woman's face, not to distract.

SOURCE
Jewelry by Jennifer CasadySee full article.

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Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

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Donna D'Aquino Jewelry Designer - 25 February 2008

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[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]

Heart Bead Art Glass

Kim Wertz and Greg Galardy "escaped" from the high-tech world, and opened one of California's premier bead stores in 1990. After five years of buying, selling, and admiring contemporary American lampwork beads, they began lampworking in the spring of 1995.

After a few weeks of learning what they could do using a "hot head" and vermiculite, they purchased a Nortel minor burner, and fabricated a gas-fired annealer for their studio. Fully self-taught, they always strive to produce beads unlike any they have seen.

I love these Fritter Beads:


Inspired by wild rivers, these beads use the properties of reduction frit to achieve their look. The colors vary from neutral tans and beiges to deep vibrant blues, greens, and lavenders, and the colors go from transparent to opaque and even metallic.

Lampworking
Lampworking is a skill that requires a great deal of practice and patience. You have to learn how much heat it takes for the glass to flow, when to add decorative elements, and how different colors of glass interact with each other. And that's only the beginning. There are many other techniques involved.

To create glass beads, lampwork artists melt narrow rods of glass in the flame of a torch. Early lampworking was done in the flame of an oil lamp, hence the name. Most artists today use torches that burn either propane or natural gas.

The molten glass is wound around a mandrel, which is a thin rod of stainless steel. By turning the mandrel and holding it in different positions, gravity helps the bead take form, but there are also tools that can be used to push and pull the glass beads into shape.


Lizard Eggs Necklace
Lizard egg beads, Chrysoprase, and Vermeil
Lizard eggs are the large round beads with tiny aqua dots.

Kim's and Greg's work has appeared in several publications, and is available in stores across the country. Taking their inspiration from their natural surroundings, their art has evolved to a point where the process is a pleasant step on the way to the desired end.

SOURCE
Heart Bead Art GlassSee full article.

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Add a Bead Jewelry - 06 July 2006

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[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]

Jeaniloux Jewelry

Jeaniloux Jewelry offers three different collections: Essentials, Extravaganza, and Event. I have selected one piece of jewelry from each category:

The Essentials Collection
These are the pieces that every woman needs to begin building her jewelry wardrobe. The basics that you will wear time and time again, for all of your business and daytime activities.


Cloisonne Bead Bracelet
Elongated Cloisonne beads with large white freshwater pearl center bead, round, peach pearls, Swarovski crystal disks, 14 karat gold-filled beads, Balinese silver and toggle clasp

The Extravaganza Collection
The jewelry in this collection defines your style. These are the pieces you'll be remembered for. To wear with your elegant new suit that needs just the right accessory. The color combinations are magical.


Murano Glass Heart Pendant
Chocolate brown Chinese silk omega with Murano tri-colored glass heart pendant

The Event Collection
These are the most outstanding designs for your most stunning occasions. Deep rich colors and charming styles that will provide whatever you need to complete your own jewelry collection.


Pearl and Sunstone Necklace
Orange freshwater pearls and lampwork beads with diamond-shaped orange sunstone and Balinese silver toggle clasp

About Jeaniloux

Jeaniloux was born out of a love of beauty. The beauty of natural stones, of rare semiprecious gems, of exotic Balinese silver and gold. Each piece is handcrafted and unique. As such, our quantities are very limited.

Jeaniloux Jewelry began in a small town in Pennsylvania. Our customers have worn our jewelry on vacation to various destinations around the globe, for business, and at gala events. This created a demand for purchasing Jeaniloux jewelry domestically and abroad.

Jeaniloux.com is our way of assisting our customers in obtaining these unique pieces. We hope this site gives you a sense of the beauty, quality, and romance of this exquisite handcrafted jewelry.

It is our philosophy that the classics always trump the trends. We use only the highest quality materials including rarely seen exotic semi-precious stones. These materials are used in the creation of exquisite unique designs to bring years of enjoyment.

SOURCE
Jeaniloux JewelrySee full article.

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[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]

Amethysts!

It has been so long since I last posted that I've almost forgotten how. Valentine's Day and its aftermath have kept me busy, then the indescribable sickness that comes from having fibromyalgia stole most of this last week away from me, keeping me bedridden and much of the time in a deep sleep ( asleep I don't hurt though!). I haven't managed really to get anything new posted on the site, much less make new jewelry (still working on custom orders, too).
The two bracelets here are composed primarily of amethysts, the February birthstone, and I've done something I don't usually do: I've used the same lampwork beads for both bracelets. These lampwork beads are very different from most borosilicate beads; they have different colours and a strange opal-like quality as well without really being opalescent. The colours led to the mixture that you can see in the bracelet above. Large faceted rondelles of pretty blue aquamarine mix well with the amethysts with the addition of the lampwork. And I do love box clasps with stones set in them.
The next amethyst bracelet uses the lampwork beads and dark and light amethysts in faceted nuggets and rounds for a more homogeneous look. Bali and Karen Hill Tribes sterling silver accent the two. They will both be on the Amethyst Bracelets page of the Cluny Grey Jewelry website.
I'm still rushing to catch up, so if you want some information about the amethyst gemstone, where it gets its name, etc. see last year's February post.
Meanwhile, everyone pray for Spring!


jewellery accessories jewelry fashion shopping beads handmade beaded jewelry beading helmi gioielli smykker taki juvelen The Jewelry Blog jewelry trends accessories handmade jewelry handcrafted jewelry beads handmade beaded jewelry amethyst bracelet

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[Source: The Jewelry Blog]

Donna D'Aquino Jewelry Designer

Donna D'Aquino was born in Newburgh, New York. She received her BS in Design from The State University of New York at Buffalo in 1989; and her MFA from Kent State University in 2000.

After teaching at the University level for a few years, she decided to focus on her business. She is currently residing in Mt. Rainier, Maryland, in an Artspace building, as part of the Gateway Arts District. She is a full-time studio jeweler and metalsmith.


Square Link Bracelets


Necklaces with Pearls
Styles shown left to right: Closed Spiral with Brown Pearl, Diamond Pattern with Green Pearl, Nine Square Pattern with Copper Pearl

Artist Statement
This line of jewelry, which is inspired by architecture, is hand-fabricated and cast using sterling silver, pearls, hematite, and epoxy resins. It was my goal to create an interesting, affordable line of jewelry with an overall appeal.

The pearls are freshwater cultured, and the color is obtained by heat-treatment. Pearl colors available are white, green, peacock, pink, silver/grey, peach, copper, red, navy blue, and a fuchsia tone.

SOURCE
Donna D'AquinoSee full article.

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[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]

Venetian Glass Beads

Venetian Glass is so named because it is made by Old World artisans on the island of Murano near Venice, Italy. They make some of the most beautiful glass produced in the world, and have done so for centuries. Combining the Old-World charm of Venetian Glass and the Space-Age flash of Dichroic Glass produces stunning effects.

Dichroic Glass
NASA developed dichroic glass for use in satellite mirrors. This glass contains multiple micro-layers of metal oxides, such as gold, silver, titanium, chromium, aluminum, zirconium, magnesium, silicon. Certain wavelengths of light will either pass through or be reflected, displaying an array of colors.


Dichroic Venetian Heart Beads
These hearts are available in gold, aqua, opaque black, herb green, blue, dark aqua, aquamarine, and rubino. Rubino is the hot pink color. Each bead is handmade in Murano by layering Venetian Glass with chips of Dichroic Glass, then encased in transparent glass.

Dichroic glass can be fused with other glass in multiple firings in a kiln. Due to variations in the firing process, individual results can never be exactly reproduced. Each piece of fused dichroic glass is unique. It makes stunning pendants and cabochons for jewelry.


Manuela Silver Foil Multi Bracelet
Venetian bead bracelet adorned with multi-colored silver foil disc beads and separated with .925 sterling silver sparkle beads.

Aventurina Glass
Aventurina is one of the most popular Murano glasses. It contains micro particles of copper filings or chromic oxide.


Aventurina Floral Heart Beads
Venetian glass painstakingly decorated with floral designs of Aventurina in a delicate pattern. Available in blue, red, topaz, and black, these handmade Murano glass beads begin as a mass of colored glass, then they are shaped and worked under the torch, adding the white gold and Aventurina detail in floral motifs.

This stuff is absolutely stunning!See full article.

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[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]

Inside Out Beads

Great Design Idea: Silver-Core Focal Beads
These beads have been designed to be worn with the Silver Core prominently visible. The openings of the silver cores inside the beads come in small, medium, and large. Small for a simple chain, medium for a larger necklace, and large for a very heavy necklace.

The concept is simple, but not so easy to explain. So, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.


Candy Egg Bead Pendant
This Candy Egg focal bead has a large Silver-Core opening, and looks great as a slider pendant on a thicker chain.

Can't get much easier than that. Anybody can do this stuff!

Bracelet Beads
I think these are the best of the bunch! What easier way could there be to make a bold and colorful bracelet?


Simple Silver-core Bead Bracelet
These beads are the smallest beads - approximately 14.5mm - 15.5mm in diameter. They have a silver core which is 4.3mm inside diameter. The beads can be added to the bracelet singly or in groups with sterling silver spacers.

I love this bracelet bead:


Molucca Sunset Bracelet Bead

Then, he has Kaleidoscope Beads that would definitely make a stunning presentation:


Five Ocean Paths
Five individual lampwork beads, six sterling silver disks, all joined together on a SilverCore tube. The beads rotate freely on a chain. Like a kaleidoscope you can spin the beads, and change the patterns. An absolute knockout on a thicker chain or cord.

Artist Statement

Hi, my name is David Palnick. I live in a small Atlantic seacoast town in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where I have a glass working and metalsmithing studio. My home is a short walk to four large sandy beaches, two parks, two yacht clubs, a wildlife sanctuary, conservation land for migrating birds, and a harbor with working fishing boats and ferries to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. From an artist's perspective, this is an area extraordinarily rich in visual stimuli, which is a continuing source of inspiration.
After working in the corporate world for a couple decades, I decided to follow my muse and become a full-time artist. Initially, I began as a metalsmith in 1995, and my focus was on traditional jewelry work with silver, gold and gemstones.
A year later, I became entranced with melting glass through studying Cloisonn enameling, and created many complex pieces which were then set in gold or silver along with accent gemstones. In 2003, I started working with flame work glass, and almost as soon as I could make a presentable bead I began searching for a way to combine the glass with a silver component.
My initial work focused on a single bead and a single riveted silver core. Now I am creating pieces composed of multiple bead and silver components. I hope to continue pushing the envelope of my work, and have many ambitious projects planned that I can't wait to get started on.

How clever!See full article.

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Beads for the Winter - 20 December 2005

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Valentine's Jewelry Finds on Etsy - 06 February 2007

Watch Out for Beads - 15 July 2007

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[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]

Fabric Jewelry

I ran across some fabric jewelry the other day. It's an interesting concept, so I looked for more, and I was amazed at how much I found. The attraction would be the infinite number of patterns and colors that fabric offers.

At Wilde Traditions, I couldn't figure out what they mount the fabric onto to make earrings, but the texture added by the weave of the fabric is quite attractive. They use textile patterns in combination with silver, gemstones, and glass beads to make jewelry.

They also roll the fabric around something - a knitting needle or something similar - to make tubular beads that they use in their necklaces:


Blue and White Necklace with Fabric Beads
Tie-dyed blues and white with blue goldstone and glass beads
Goldstone is a type of glass made with copper or copper salts.

One-of-a-kind fabric jewelry for the wrist, using everything from buttons and pins to felt appliqus and embroidery in a variety of shapes and colors, crafted with handmade simplicity:


Fabric Cuff Bracelets

NOTE: It appears that this lady is no longer making these cuff bracelets. I think they're adorable. If you're a bit crafty, give it at try. I think girls would love them.

This bracelet is metallic fabric wrapped around a bangle. It looks like metal at first. but it must be so comfortable to wear:


Metallic Woven Bangle

Once again, very clever use of materials.See full article.

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Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Jewelry for Fabric - 24 January 2007

Aluminum Jewelry - 06 February 2008

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[Source: The Jewelry Weblog]