Featured Artists Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Good Morning,

Today I am pleased to present fellow Forum member and handmadeartists.com shop owner April, the Brooklyn Bead Goddess.

April has always been intrigued with glass, and remembers watching the Glass Artists along the boardwalk of Cony Island, captivated by the sparkling and delicate sculptures they made.  As an adult April has taken that childhood fascination and turned it into a business.  She is also  a registered SRA member G-122, and SRAJD # 2147 member.

 

Created by lampworking or flameworking, April takes glass rods turns them into beautiful glass beads, which she then incorporates into her own lovely jewelry designs.  She over sees all aspects of the process including kiln annealing and final cleaning with a special bit for her dremel tool.

Recently  she has started to make large hole beads that are so popular right now, like the Pandora bracelets.  I like hers better, though.

Handmade Lampwork Bead Large Hole Wearable Art

Product Details:
Works on the big hole bracelets and necklaces like the Pandora, Chamilia,Troll, BiagiWearable Art ~ Or on a plain silver necklace, leather cord, ribbon as a pendant.  Black, White, Red colors
All lampwork glass beads are made by myself in a torch flame. They are digitally kiln annealed for added strength and durability. I clean the bead holes myself using a special dremel diamond drill bit. They are closely inspected before using in my designs. I take pride in my work and you will too when you wear a piece of Wearable Art.

Registered SRA member G-122 and SRAJD # 2147 member.

My jewelry is always packed well to ensure safe shipping. I send them gift boxed too.

Thank you for supporting independent artists and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Lampwork Glass Bracelet Handmade Beads Handcrafted Wearable Art Jewelry SRA and SRAJD

 

Product Details: Ten lampwork glass handmade beads made one at a time in a torch flame. I created these using a mixture to make a deep red base with opaque mauve/purple designs and opaque medium orange yellow. I love the combination of colors and the swarovski crystals in a deep ruby color really brightens the look. Also added are sterling silver 4 mm and 6 mm ball beads. Wearable Art~

Sterling silver toggle clasp, crimps,wire guards.

  Measures for a 7 1/2 inch wrist End to end measures 8 1/2 inches.   My jewelry is mailed in a padded envelope .I send them gift boxed too.

All lampwork glass beads are made by myself in a torch flame. They are digitally kiln annealed for added strength and durability. I clean the bead holes myself using a special dremel diamond drill bit. They are closely inspected before using in my designs. I take pride in my work and you will too when you wear a piece of Wearable Art.

Registered SRA member G-122 and SRAJD # 2147 member.

Thank you for supporting independent artists and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Lampwork Earrings Handmade Glass Beads Handcrafted Wearable Art Jewelry SRA SRAJD

 

Product Details: Handmade brown and green glass beads made by melting glass in a torch flame. I love the contrast of these two colors. Bottom brown bead has a green swirl design, top brown bead has raised green dots and drops of crystal clear glass on each dot. Intricate, one of a kind pair of earrings.
Sterling silver ball beads on top, middle and bottom. Sterling silver wire wrapped onto a soldered jump ring connected to Sterling silver french ear wires.
Measures from top of ear wire to bottom 1 1/2 inches.
These lampwork glass beads are made by myself in a torch flame. They are digitally kiln annealed for added strength and durability. I clean the bead holes myself using a special dremel diamond drill bit. They are closely inspected before using in my designs. I take pride in my work and you will too when you wear a piece of Wearable Art.

April has more wonderful items for you to shop through, and you can find her creations or just follow along with her projects and new skills at any of the sites below.  

Etsy
Facebook
Blog
Twitter
Website
  
Thank you for stopping and having a look, we hope we have inspired you to stop by and have a look at her marvelous handmade glass beads and jewelry.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day. 

 

 

 

 

Monday Means New Jewelry

Hello,

Monday brings me once again to the new goodies listed in the shop. 

A new Watch is available, two necklaces of opposite sides, colorful bottles and new bracelets.  Some of the items are only available on the handmade artists site.

On both sites you may find

Hour Glass Chainmaille and Czech Glass Beaded Wrist Watch

Description: Time keeps on ticking and this lovely timepiece will make sure you can count your grains of sand more easily. Perfect for the office or a night out on the town, or that casual outfit that could use a little jazzing up. Adorned with a Swarovski Crystal Heart charm for extra shine!

8-1/2′ total length. Stainless steel watch face is 26mm, the safety tab remains in place to save the battery. Band is created with hand-spun, beaded and linked silver–plated wire jump rings and woven in the Full Persian Chaimaille pattern. Accented with Silver-lined Crystal Czech Glass beads and a accented with an adorable Swarovski Crystal Heart charm. Finished with a locking (screw down) magnetic barrel clasp for a secure fit.

Arrives boxed, ready for gift giving.

Customizable to wrist size. Please include wrist circumference in inches when ordering.

Also available in Red, Pink and Purple.

Available here as well.  Hour Glass

Exclusively on Handmadeartists.com, are these super simple and very pretty Memory Wire Bracelets, created with sparkly glass bi-cone beads in a variety of colors.

Rainbow Memory Wire Wrap Bracelet

 Lights Out

Wrath of Grapes

Skyline

 Also only on Handmade Artists at The Alchemists Vessel, colorful pendants of hand-dyed rice grains in a bottle.  Rice has been a symbol of abundance, plenty, and luck for generations.  Invite abundance into your life with one of these cute necklaces.

Joy 

Prosperity

 Plum Good

Abundance 

Last are two necklaces that may look the same but have subtle differences.  The wings are Left and Right sided, one is available with a Hematite Czech Glass bead the other with a Ruby Red one.  Both may be found in the Ravens Nook shop seciton of T. A. V. on Etsy.

Pendant – Black Wing with Hematite Glass Bead

Description:  Mysterious, Gothic and shiny, this pendant is just right for a night out on the town, or a fun accessory for any occasion. One of two, the fashionable feathers are perfect for Rocker, Biker or your favorite Goth!

Black metal wing is set with clear and black Rhinestones, and suspended from a matching gunmetal chain, interrupted by a single Czech glass bead in Hematite. Finished with a Lobster Claw clasp.

Chain measures 18″, pendant is 2-12/” long.

Arrives boxed, ready for gift giving.

Pendant – Black Wing with Red Czech Glass Bead Necklace

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant work week. 

  

 

Thursday Featured Artist – Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Hello,

This morning we feature another wonderful artist from handmadeartists.com, April, the Brooklyn Bead Goddess.

 

 

 

April, makes wonderful lamp-work glass beads and incorporates them into her work, making earrings, bracelets and necklaces.  There is a such a variety that it was hard to choose which pieces showcase her unique vision and talent.

Earrings:

Necklaces:

Bracelets:

What April says about Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Bio:
 Hello and welcome ~ My name is April. I am a glass bead maker and jewelry designer. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York gives me the style and flair unique to my jewelry. I’ve always been intrigued with glass. When I was young I remember seeing glass artists along the Coney Island boardwalk. I loved seeing the sparkling delicate sculptures they made. Today I am pleased create my own glass beads and incorporate them in my jewelry designing. I use a technique called “lampworking” to make my glass beads.

You can find and follow her at any of the sites and links listed below.

Brooklyn Bead Goddess – Website
Brooklyn Bead Goddess– Facebook
Brooklyn Bead Goddess – Etsy
Brooklyn Bead Goddess – Blog

We hope that we have inspired you to take a look at some of April’s fabulous offerings.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

Friday – Links and Promotions

 

Good Morning,

The weekend is here and I am looking forward to it.  Means that I will have some time to sequester myself in the Office and get some stuff done.

I was cruising around the interwebs looking for something interesting to share.  I found a couple of videos on glass-making, and thought it might be fun to search for glass beads, this is a neat little video about glass beads and how they are made.

Have you seen this yet?  My very favorite Twisted Little Thing from my friend and very talented sculptor Ralph Cordero.  If you’re in to unique collectibles don’t miss out on these gruesome cuties!

Hal I Toesis

Description: Twisted Little Thing – Hal I Toesis – Approx 3 inches tall 4.5 inches wide. Solid cast resin, detailed mini sculpture collectible. 

I knit, and I just love this idea!  I must find patterns to make these for myself. I found them on Etsy and I know at least two of that read this are just going to go nuts for these macabre creations fresh off the needles!  These are just awesome and lots of fun.

Amigurumi Zombie Head

Description: While zombies are generally looked down upon as uncouth and uncivilized members of society, they’re really just trying to get by the best way they know how and want nothing more than to get along with (and eat) their fellow man.

This handsome gent has pink eyes, black hair, and a lovely crimson gash along his right cheek.

Zombie heads are approximately 2.5″ high and are made with acrylic yarn, wool felt, embroidery floss, cotton and/or polyester thread, polyester fiberfill stuffing, fabric glue, and fabric ink.

This item may present a choking hazard and is not intended for small children or pets.

****************************************************

And while we are on the subject of random weirdness, let’s take a little segue and ask the readers:

Just what the heck is this thing?

Yes, I know it’s a spider, smarty pants.  What I want to know is what kind of spider this is.  I have never seen one before.  I was sitting at the workbench and up the wall it crawled.  This is big, too, you could put it on a leash and take it for a walk.  No, I didn’t squish it, I caught it and put it outside.  It has a reddish-brown thorax and legs, it’s abdomen is black and striped in white.  Creepy little arachnid.  Any ideas on what it might be?

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant weekend.

 

In My Studio – Beginning Jewelry Classes

Hello,

As many of you may be aware, I was offered a Contracted Instructor position at a local Craft Supply store here in lovely Boise, Idaho.  After much thought, weighing the pros and cons of the situation, and the offer, I have decided that it would be in my best interest to not participate in the program.

However, a little enamored with the idea of teaching in a social atmosphere, I have decided to start up my own class.  The complete and solid details have yet to be worked out and right now I am putting feelers out to see if there is any interest in a Beginning Jewelry class.  If response and class / lesson plans go well, or some people would like to continue past the basics, Intermediate and Advanced classes will be offered.  If you’re interested in private lessons those may be taught as well.  I hope to schedule the first class for sometime in June.

Open to the public and all who wish to attend.  Before everybody get’s excited, these classes will not be free.  You will be expected to provide your own tools, materials and a fee will be charged to include class time, forgotten materials (provided from stock on hand), and of course classroom space.  A list of all the materials, where to buy them and their cost will be provided along with printed instructions and a completed projects to take home when class is over.

Beginning Jewelry or Jewelry Basics will cover the very basics, a sample of class instruction may include and will not be limited to:

What is a finding?

– head pin

– eye pin (difference in pins and their uses)

– jump rings (aka O-rings)

– Clasps (spring, Lobster Claw, “S”)

Ear wires (styles and variations) 

Gemstones, Crystals and Glass beads (Birthstones and alternatives)

Opening and Closing Jump rings properly

Using a head / eye pin

Wire vs. Beading Wire or “Tiger Tail”

Wire Wrapping (We may have a special guest to demonstrate another process / form of wire-wrapping)

Threading or Stringing beads

Metals and their composition (Copper, Bronze, Nickel, Sterling)

Design Elements (Fibonacci Numbers, Focal Points, Accent Beads and Caps)

A completed pair of earrings or project made by you to take home and wear!

There are also other projects that may be offered, such as a Seed bead Flower-chains, a simple charm or crystal bracelet or an easy to string beaded necklace (lanyard for your glasses).

Techniques taught will cover a wide range of how to’s and don’t do’s along with basic finishing touches.  No special equipment is necessary, I bet most of you have at least several pairs of pliers at home, those will work great!

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  If you are interested in the class you may leave a comment, e-mail, or phone, details will be given at a later date.

What’s New In The Shop? Beads and Bracelets

Happy Monday!

Is everyone ready for a fabulous work week filled with fun and excitement?  No?  Can’t say as I blame you.  Busy with Easter activities last weekend and inspired by spring and the beautiful things mother nature has to offer, I sat down, racked my alleged mind, and came up with these Springtime festive and fashionable beaded beauties! Yes, they are available in the shop!  Finally something new!

First, however, I would like to give an example of the weave without all the additional beads.  Although jewelry is a very forgiving medium / art form that allows you to play with ideas and styles, patterns, textures and colors, the traditional pattern must be incorporated as a basis from which to start.  So let us begin at the beginning, as that is usually best.

Here we see the Full Persian Chain Maille weave, completed in 6mm *Nickel silver jump rings, which have been hand spun and linked.  A strong, supple, and striking pattern, it is appropriate for either men or women.  Would make a great gift for a Boyfriend!

I should mention that “Nickle Silver” is not Silver, and has no Silver content at all.  Also called “German” or “Indian” Silver it is actually an alloy containing copper, nickle and zinc.

The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc.  

Nickel 

These next two pretties are designs and patterns of my own creation.  Full Persian Chain Maille is not usually beaded, but the creativity bug grabbed me and said, “You SIMPLY MUST bead these bracelets”.  So like a good Craft-person, I listened to my inner muse and went with its decision.  After all if I didn’t, it would annoy, pester, harass, harangue me, and be a nuisance in general until I did so.

Dubbed “Chunk Maille” for their large size, which is all the rage this season.  Big, bold, colorful jewelry or statement pieces, are very in vogue this year.  I have created two distinct patterns for these bracelets, Walking Beads and Serpents Spine.  Although I am sure other Maillers have thought of this before, I haven’t seen / found an exact pattern to match.

Done in Black and Red Silver lined Czech Glass beads, is March of the Lady Bug, in honor of my friend Shelly Moody.  The beads appear to walk, or march across the surface of the bracelet a versatile pattern the beads may also be worn “in front” instead of on “the top” for a different look.  The Walking Bead pattern is available in a variety of colors, single or multiple as seen here.

March of the Lady Bugs

This is one of my favorites and has two versions, the second is not shown here, and is a basic bead addition to another version of the Full Persian where a single connector ring is beaded.  That pattern will be shown later.  Serpents Spine is modeled after Dragons, Sea Serpents / Monsters (Nessie!), and of course, snakes.  The beads appear to be tucked or set inside the bracelet.  Using even intervals of non-beaded units to allow the pattern to flow and move, the beads appear to undulate through the bracelet like something through the water, a snake in the grass, or a Dragon in the clouds.

Dragon’s Back

We also have some new Chain Maille Earrings and some fun and simple jewelry for those that like something a little more understated, but still shiny.  Shown here in Gunmetal jump rings in Dragon Chain and Byzantine weaves, and Red round glass beads, these are also available in a variety of shapes and colors.  At $5.00 a pair and Free Shipping, you can’t go wrong!

Chain Maille Dangles 

Red Dragon

Busy Byzantine

Light

Light Blue Splatter Paint Glass Beads (Also available in Purple)

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  We wish you a pleasant work week.