For our November 2008 issue , Ron Pascho contributed a great article on an innovative way to etch metal by using saltwater. Part of the etching process involves using Press-n-Peel (or PnP) paper as a resist. The paper, originally invented for etching... Read More

Melissa from Strands of Beads wins my inspiration award this week (not that I don't love everyone's posts this week--they are all gems after all). First, her clever headline made me smile. Second, her story got me thinking and it suddenly occurred... Read More

We've just posted a new how-to article on our Web site exclusively for subscribers. It's in conjuction with Marie Cristine Knuff's article "Forge and Easy Chain" on page 58 of the newest issue (November 2008) of Art Jewelry magazine... Read More

If you live in the Pacific Northwest and are looking for an artistic weekend getaway, check out the 14th Annual Whatcom Artist Studio Tour, in Whatcom County, Washington. The free, self-guided tour is a juried fine art and fine craft event. On October... Read More

A massive diamond was found in Africa earlier this month. At 478 carats, it's not the largest diamond ever (it's only the 20th). But the remarkable thing is that it's the highest color grade available (D) and it's practically flawless... Read More

First, let me send out some birthday greetings. Cathy , editor of BeadStyle magazine, and my sister Alice shared a birthday this week, so I want to say happy birthday to both of them. And speaking of celebrations, I'm in a bit of a celebratory mood... Read More

If you like polymer clay jewelry, chances are you've seen work by Ford Forlano ; that is Steve Ford and David Forlano, with Maryanne Petrus-Gilbert doing metalwork. We first featured Ford Forlano's work in "A Rarefied Medium," an article... Read More

There are only a handful of museums in the United States with big, beautiful, permanent jewelry collections, and one of them is located in the Midwest, not too far from Milwaukee. The Racine Art Museum , located in Racine, Wis ., has a metals collection... Read More

Rounding the curve to our parking lot this past Friday, my heart did a little skip as I sighted a Quad Graphics truck parked near our building. Quad prints our magazines, and the truck sighting meant that copies of the November 2008 issue of Art Jewelry... Read More

I spent yesterday exploring another side of my creativity—I attended the Wisconsin Quilt Expo. In addition to all the great fabric, I saw beads, felting, and heat-set crystals, all to be incorporated into fabric projects. My creative brain is in high... Read More

If you're an artist trying to make any sort of money by selling your jewelry, self-promotion is key . But let's face it, talking about yourself can be tricky — what do you say, whom do you tell, how do you show off without sounding like a show... Read More

If you work with metal clay, you probably use oil paste to join fired pieces of metal clay before refiring. In our newest video, Jill Erickson demonstrates the process for making oil paste at home using lavender oil, metal clay slip, and distilled water... Read More

The folks who participate in our forums are always helping each other out and sharing their latest experiments. By following a recurring thread in the AJ polymer clay forum, I've read lots of different approaches to tumbling cured polymer clay to... Read More

I have to get one of these rings by Hafsteinn Juliusson ! They grow Icelandic moss! Tea Benduhn, an associate editor at Bead&Button (one of our sister magazines), sent me this link today, and I am eternally grateful. I would love to wear and care... Read More

I'm trying to spread the word about my jewelry gems of the web, so I'm including them on BeadStyleMag.com , BeadAndButton.com , and ArtJewelryMag.com this week. Check out what my jewelry-making friends are up to. About.com Jewelry Making Have... Read More