Best Candy Ever

Today I made best candy ever! No kidding :) 

I am typing this and my mouth waters.

 It's easy to make this delicious dessert.

Tutorial: Wire Business Card Holder

 Having a home product party or going to art show to sell your stuff ? Show off your business information in your style.You will need only 40cm (16") of heavy gauge wire and a couple of pliers :)

Are you ready to make it all by yourself?

Do You Like Abstract?

About a year ago I found a new (for me) media. It was a polymer clay :) It has endless possibilities to create one-of-a-kind pieces.

I want to share with you some of my favorite designs with abstract pictures. When I was making them, it was like magic- after cutting a slice of clay you see new picture. What do you see here?

Some people see a dog, others- angel or rabbit. Everybody sees his/her own picture. It's like the Rorschach test, right?.

Tutorial: Beaded Jump Ring

Did you try to slide a nice big bead on a jump ring and it did not "want" to go there? Today I want to show you how make jump rings with gemstone, or any “beads” on them. In other words, you will be able to create fancy jump rings, which can be used as connectors in a variety of projects.

 Materials:

·  Wire 22ga or thicker (it has to fit bead’s hole), round, half hard

·  Gem beads 3mm, or seed beads size 6°or 8°, or gem chips

Tools:

·  Chain nose pliers

·  Flash wire cutters

Tucson 2011

A week ago I came back from Tucson where I was teaching jewelry making classes. I am a teacher in the third generation, so I  really enjoy this work. While teaching in Tucson, I caught myself at calling my adult student "kids" :)
I had 24 kids students this year , so  I got 24 new friends from all over the world.
To make long story shorter, I'll show you pictures (I am a bad writer, by the way).

This is a really international class: Catherine from Australia, Ida from Colombia, and me- from Russia:)

Beaded Flowers

Once, my Russian friend living in Japan sent me a beautiful, red beaded rose as a Christmas gift. I thought, "Is it possible to make something as lovely as Mother Nature creates? Probably not, but sometimes copies can be worth that of the original." That is when I fell in love with beads and wire.

Gerbera

I am in a Hearty Mood

It's still January , but I am in a Hearty Mood :)

Tutorial: How to Make Bead Spinner

A bead spinner is not required, but if you string many seed bead strands you may find this simple spindle tool a reason to celebrate! 
And you do not have to spend $15-$65. You only need one wooden chopstick and small plastic jar(container). I used one from apple sauce, and it holds up to 100 grams of beads!

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

For the last five years every February I go to Tucson, AZ. What do I do there?

The February gem shows in Tucson are ‘the place to be’!

For two weeks Tucson, Arizona hosts dozens of different gem shows, hundreds of dealer displays and many special events throughout downtown Tucson, AZ and nearby hotels during the annual Tucson Gem Shows.

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Tutorial: Spring Flower Earrings

This lesson shows how to make 3-D (three-dimensional) spiral and use it for making earrings, pendants, etc.

Materials:
•    15” (38cm)* of 18 ga Round Soft Wire
•    Jump rings -2
•    Ear wire -2
* The length of the wire depends on the mandrel’s diameter and the number of coils.
Tools:
•    Chain nose pliers
•    Wire cutters
•    Round mandrel (or pencil)