Some New Ink!

2/14/2013

My new issue of Stringing magazine for Spring 2013 arrived this week. I've been submitting pieces for publication since 2009, and I was anxious to see what was new. Well, it's my "Maria" bracelet made with tagua nut. It's a "no-metal" bracelet for those who cannot wear metals because even the toggle clasp is made with tagua, a sustainable material from Ecuador (and other Central and South American countries.) It's also commonly called vegetable ivory and is widely used in colorful jewelry.

Cover of the Spring 2013 issue. It was cropped to remove my address label (not a pretty addition).

Here is page 25 in the magazine.

"High Voltage" is the theme for these bracelets.

Smooth tagua nut pebbles, nuggets, slices, and even the clasp. Can you spot the only glass bead there?

Tagua nut is one of my most favorite stringing materials. I love the way it works with glass, especially lamp work beads, and metals. Many colors are saturated, and the texture is smooooooth! Plus it's lightweight, perfect for the longer earrings. .

I have several bracelets in the Mixed GlassWear section of the website where you can see where I've used those together. Also fun are the tagua bangles in those hazy, not quite pastel hues that I'm just loving lately. Here are a couple of those to see what I mean plus a pair of clip earrings.

RAIN FOREST: The lovely apple green triangle at the top is tagua nut. I've included lamp work, Czech, and vintage glass on this bracelet. Love those greens!

REDS! Double-drilled tagua nut flats are gathered into a bangle that stretches. Red faceted glass separates the flats, and a large dangle of "dragon feathers" is featured on the side. A fun one to wear. And it's also without metal except for the jump ring.

Although these are pretty long, they are very light. Perfect for summer.

I am scheduled to have a necklace published in the summer issue, and I'm working on pieces to submit for the fall issue. So when they "debut", I'll let you know.

1 Comment

Robin Butler link

9/19/2023 08:41:33 am

Con’t’d.
Can’t wait to study your website. I’ve always wanted to make jewelry and sell it but life got in the way. Now I’m 69 and I’ll just have to make it a hobby. BUT…..I have a MOUNTAIN of beads, pearls, wires, strings, leather, etc. In other words, it’s a store. I’ll just make it up and have a sale. Prices are so high I’m going to make some beads with clay.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?????❤️

About Me . . .

I am a beader.
I love it. . . all parts of it: planning projects, buying beads, accumulating tools, reading articles, organizing my studio, auditioning designs, researching other artists, and hopefully inspiring myself to continue courting the beading muse.

I have been designing handmade beaded jewelry since about 1995,
and always my focus has been on What Women Buy for Themselves (although I have LOTS of customers who are men too!)

All pieces are designed and made by me in my studio here in Camas, Washington.
Czech glass in bold colors is my main "fabric." In addition, copper, brass, vintage German glass, handmade lamp work beads, and copper and silver wirework are mixed with metals, gemstones, pearls and found objects in one-of-a-kind designs.