The Crafty Princess Diaries

Tammy Powley’s Crafty Weblog

Become Bead Chic and Win a Bead Book Too!


Margot Potter’s new book is out, Bead Chic and available on Amazon.com. Here’s the description:

Bead Chic, Chic You

Bead Chic will show you how to take inspiration that you love and forge your own creative path. After learning basic jewelry techniques, you’ll be launched into 36 gorgeous projects. Each project comes with a variation, so you’ll learn how easy it is to adapt virtually any project to suit your individual style, making you your own designer.

• Each of 36 stepped-out projects features an inspiring variation, including some from today’s hottest jewelry makers, including Jean Campbell, Tammy Powley, Cathie Filian and more.

• Clear step-by-step photography and instructions allow beaders of all skill levels create projects exactly “as-is” in the book, while variations show how swapping out just one or two elements can make an entirely different look.

• You’ll get to play with beads, a variety of stringing materials—from coated wire, to shapeable wire to commercial chain—and findings, all easily found at local and online craft retailers.

Let Bead Chic bring out the designer in you!

I have to admit that I have been anticipating this book for a while because (a) I made some variation pieces for it and (b) I know that Margot took a different approach with this latest book, and I have been very curious about what she did exactly. I literally got my copy the other day, and I’m looking forward to relaxing this weekend and sticking my nose in this awesome book.

But, I may not be the only one enjoying a good bead read; you may be too very soon if you enter this super easy, no-brainer blog give-a-way:

Starting today and ending through Friday September 3, 2010 12 midnight eastern time, post a comment answering the following question and you will be automatically entered to win a free copy of Bead Chic:

Margot’s book focuses a lot on these design concepts: scale, color, texture, pattern, foundations, and focal elements. Of these 6 concepts, which do you tend to focus on the most and why?

Comments will be held for approval, so it may be a little while before yours shows up as I have to release each one in order for it publish.

I will randomly draw names from all those who posted. Make sure you include an email because that is how I will notify the winner. If the winner does not respond 5 days after being notified, I will draw another name from the comments list. Only one entry per person, please.

Author: Tammy

Welcome to the Crafty Princess Diaries, my weblog and site where I get to blab about my passion for crafts, primarily jewelry making, and my crafting career. My name is Tammy Powley, and I decided to call my blog the Crafty Princess Diaries because of this very dorky picture I have of myself and because my husband often refers to me as “the princess and the pea,” which is just another way to say that I tend to be particular sometimes. Along with this weblog, I have a number of jewelry making books published.

25 Comments

  1. I can’t say that I start a new project with any single element in mind. I will come across a bead, cab, focal, piece of scrap wire, a picture, or my personal favourite a found something or other and the hunt is on. What it says to me is what it becomes. Sounds crazy, but what fun. Bea

  2. I tend to focus on the focal element the most After you have the focal element it seems all the rest just falls naturally in place

  3. I tend to focus most often on focal elements or color. I make predominantly OOAK items, so most of my pieces starts with one of those two design concepts. Rarely do I start with the others. It would be great if I could train myself to use the others with more regularity.

    Thanks for the review of the book and the chance at the give-away. This books looks awesome. You were my introduction to Margot btw, and I thank you for it.

  4. I focus on texture the most. I don’t do patterns much because I am not symmetrical on purpose. I am very tactile and that is important to me when I wear jewelry. Thanks for the question and the giveaway.
    Belinda

  5. Hi Tammy, I tend to focus more on the scale and color of my designs. I spend a lot of time to match and contrast colors to make my work pleasing to the eye, and to balance the scale of the work in regard the sizes of the beads, crystals and findings.
    Linda

  6. The colors because I can then work out the focal point out after the color has been established. It all comes to me as I work on it.

  7. Hi, Tammy. I tend to focus on color first, and then I lean toward a pattern when designing my jewelry.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  9. My work is all about scale! I like designs that are bold, even to the point of shock factor. :O) Thanks Tammy!! Rock on!

  10. Usually my focus is on color and color combinations and the overall design scale. Often I design a specific piece with a specific outfit in mind. Often I’m asked to use an individuals’ favorite color and I design pieces with their personalities in mind.

  11. I always start with the design. Once I know which beads, findings, and endings I want to use, I then focus on color. Color is probably the biggest focus I have when designing jewelry. If the color is not right, it’s not going to work no matter how pretty the beads or the design.

  12. Gosh, do we have to pick just one?! I think I usually start with scale and tend to err on the side of smaller. Most of the people I make jewelry for want pieces that will adorn rather than overwhelm. Next would be color and finding elements that really pop against each other.

  13. I tend to alternate between the focal element and color with pattern following a close third. I guess it depends upon what mood I’m in! LOL

    Thanks for the great info you always give!

  14. As I work mostly with the wire bead crochet technique, the “fabric” that is created takes care of the texture. What I focus on is the interplay of bead colors and wire colors. Using the same colorway of beads on different colors of wire can create dramatically different results. Imagine turquoise beads and crystals on silver wire. Then imagine those same beads on a gunmetal colored wire. Totally different. Crocheting 150 beads on wire allows for lots of color play. It’s fun to play with harmonious colors, monochromatic schemes and complementary colors. Add in the wide array of finishes (ab, matte, etc) and the color combos are endless. Yep, color rings my bell!

  15. I tend to focus mainly on color.

    I love to see how the different beads I use work with each other.

  16. I work in many different mediums, and most of my work is OOAK. I have many times picked up a stone or created a glass focal piece, that just screams what is to be done with it.
    Other times I can sit for hours with elements in front of me.. wondering what can I do with this..
    My work is mainly with wire, natural stones and Dichroic glass pieces I make myself.
    Color would have to be my first choice..

  17. As a beginner at beading, I tend to focus on the focal element and pattern more then the others. For me, starting with the focal element and working from there helps me come up with some great patterns on the rest of the project.

    Thanks for all the info and help that you put out there. It has came in handy several times for me.

  18. I can’t say that any one thing focuses me on a piece. I may see a great focal piece and design around it, or maybe a great set of accent beads and then I’ll hunt for the perfect focal. I’ve been know to hold on to things until I find the “perfect” thing to go with it, and viola!! A piece comes to life.

  19. I work with beads and wire. When I am making a peice of jewelry I just look through my beads and see what hits me. Or sometimes I am inspired by something I see on a website. On occasion I have designed a piece to match an outfit or a person as a gift. But color is everything when I am designing a piece.

  20. Lately I’ve been focusing on color because I’ve realized that I don’t have any jewelery to match my clothes. 🙂

  21. Tammy, I tend to focus first on color, then on design. Sometimes I will find a focal bead first and go from there.

  22. Focal elements! Usually I run across something that inspires me. And when I do my mind won’t let me rest!

  23. Hey Tammy – love your posts (gratuitous suck-up!) no actually Really DO! When I make beaded items, I tend to focus on Focal point first, then Pattern, then color, as when making woven bead dangle earrings. If I’m in a store, see a nice focal item, I start designing a piece around it before I even Buy It! LOL – results? – many focal items in hand, much work to be *Started* & done! Keep the great ideas & techniques coming!

  24. I would say focal elements usually give me a “story” or a jumping off point for the rest of the design.
    ~Elena

  25. For me, it all begins with scale. If the balance and proportion aren’t right, it throws everything else off, no matter how beautiful each individual element (focal, color, etc.) may be.