Artist Profile: Summer Brights Contest Winner - Aurelio Castaño

Caribbean Sunset by Aurelio Castaño

We are very pleased to share the US winner of our "Summer Brights" contest, Aurelio Castaño. Aurelio's Caribbean Sunset bracelet uses seed beads woven into an intricate bangle bracelet in bold summertime colors.

We asked Aurelio to tell us a little bit more about himself and his work so that we could share it with our readers.


Tell us about yourself:

My name is Aurelio Castaño, I was born in Colombia, South America. I moved to the US in 1994. My life literally revolves around beads and Mechas, my shih-tzu. Even though I have silversmith formal training, it is my bead work that is so fortunate to count with so many fans around the world.

How did you get interested in beading/jewelry making?

My Art/Jewelry work started in metal more than a decade ago, but I craved the bright colors of my Latino heritage. Beads gave me that palette and allowed me to create even more sculptural, wearable designs.

What are your favorite materials to use in jewelry making?

I don’t have favorite materials per say, I use whatever catches my attention, I am a big fan of thinking outside the box.

Who or what inspires your creative process?

I find great inspiration in the form, color and texture that 'Nature' offers. That is who and what inspires me.

Is there somewhere people can see/purchase your work?

www.aureliocastano.com
www.facebook.com/Aurelio.clau
www.etsy.com/people/clauart

Mamaroneck Artist Guild
126 Larchmont Ave.
Larchmont, NY 10538

Congratulations again Aurelio, and thank you for sharing you work with us. We wish you all the best in your future creative pursuits.

Spotlight Saturday: Beaded Fringe Earrings

Summer is not over yet and those outdoor music festivals are just heating up.  One of the best parts about going to a crowded music festival is that you have so many different people from so many walks of life that it truly makes for the best people watching.  

Featured Video:  How to Make Brick Stitch and Fringe Beaded Earrings

This video walks you through the step by step process of making these beautiful earrings.  They are inspired by traditional Native American styles.  You will learn about the brick stitch as well as the ladder stitch.

Featured Project: Fringe Festival Earrings

What I love about these earrings in particular is that I can picture these looking great for so many occasions.  All you have to do is change the colors.  Think of it this way: if you are going to a folk festival make them in a Bronze.  If you are attending a surf rock festival on the beach go with Turquoise.  Headed to a country music festival, go for Pepper Red.

Featured Product:  Toho Bugle Tube Beads Size #3 

Did you know that Toho in Japanese translates to "Eastern Treasure" in English?  These bugle beads truly are a treasure but I realize that most people shy away from them because they don't know how to use them.  I hope the project and video will inspire you to use this type of beads in your work.  The Toho Bugle Beads come in so many colors and finishes that you can really mix it up.  Pictured here is the Silver Lined Teal. One of my other favorites is the Gold Lustered African Sunset.  Talk about eye catching in the sea of people at the music festival.  So go rock out in your Fringe earrings, bob your head to the music and let the fringe fly!

Happy Beading!  

Spotlight Saturday: Beaded Beads

Beaded beads are so beautiful and there are so many ways to use them.  Both bicones and round beads work well with this technique.  This is not a particularly difficult technique but sometimes it can take a few tries to get it just right.  My recommendation is to watch the video once, all the way thru, without doing anything so that you can see the process.  Then, go back and work with the video to start your beading.  Experiment with this bead in different shapes, sizes and colors.

Featured Video:  How to make a Beaded Bead Using Right Angle Weave

This is a very elegant use of beads and once you learn this technique you will use it for all kinds of beaded bead projects.  If you have about 30 left over beads you can use this technique to tie them all together.

Featured Project:  Callista Necklace

There is just something about this necklace that speaks to me.  I love the mixing of the gold and silver as well as the understated but glamourous use of the beaded beads.  This is an eye catching piece that will have everyone saying, "You made that yourself?"  To which you simply reply, "Why yes, I did."  And while you are in the beaded bead making mode be sure to make yourself the matching Callista Earrings to complete your look.

Featured Product:  Cherry Quartz Glass Small Round Beads

Although the Callista Necklace uses 3mm metal beads, I love the idea of using these glass beads that look like gemstones.  They are the same size, so the technique will translate.  Imagine how beautiful these would look as a beaded bead.

Beading Table Wednesday: 07/10/13

This week Megan has been kind enough to teach the newbies, Kat and Karlin, how to do some basic bead weaving and peyote using Miyuki Seed Beads.  Check out what they have been working on!


Kat

I love this color combo.  This is a great example of what peyote looks like when you alternate every row to be a different color.  I find this is the easiest when you are starting out; it's very easy to keep track of where you are.  Megan showed me how to properly start and tie off the thread as I continue weaving.  Megan's such a great teacher! The possibilities for color combinations are endless.

Karlin 

This was so much fun! It was my first time bead weaving and I really enjoyed the process. It was so relaxing. I used some of my favorite colors (light pink, black and cream) in a striped pattern. This will eventually be a peyote stitch bracelet & I can't wait to see the finished product. I loved learning this new technique and I can't wait to bead weave some more.

ENDED: Giveaway #4: Three Beading "Master Class" Lark Books and Supplies!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED. A WINNER WILL BE CONTACTED AND ANNOUNCED SOON. 

 If you love to bead weave, then this is the prize for you! For this giveaway we have selected three Master Class beading books: Sabine Lippert's Beaded Fantasies, Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes, and Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance. We thought it would also be fun to include all the supplies you'll need to do one of the projects from the books. We selected the "Sweet Eighteen Earrings" on page 66 of Beaded Fantasies. The ingredients for this include: Toho seed beads, Fireline beading thread, needles, sterling silver earrings hooks, and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS bicones and rivolis. Then, just because we where having so much fun, we threw in some more seed beads, bicones, and rivolis!

(Tray is not included; for display purposes only)

Estimated prize retail value: $140.00

To enter, post a comment to this blog post NOW! Giveaway ends on Monday Dec. 10th at 7PM ET (4PM PT). Winner will be chosen at random.

Bonus sale: All seed beads (Miyuki, Toho, Czech glass and metal) plus beading books & DVDs are on sale today only, Friday, December 7th, at Beadaholique!

Remember, only comment once per giveaway and do not comment anonymously. You can comment on as many giveaways as you like, but you can only win 1 Beadaholique giveaway every 12 months. Visit Beadaholique's official 12 Giveaways of Christmas page for even more details. For a complete list of terms and conditions, please click here. 

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED. A WINNER WILL BE CONTACTED AND ANNOUNCED SOON. 

Inspiration Monday Book Review: Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue

The latest addition to Lark Crafts' Beadweaving Master Class series: Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue is simply stunning.  I had the pleasure of perusing this breathtaking book, and I have to say, it's left me charmed and inspired.

The first thing I noticed when browsing through this book was the striking visual aesthetic of the photography.  Each project is shown on the same model.  She is lovely and classic-looking, and appears in black and white.  The jewelry she wears is in full color, and stands off the page in an eye-catching contrast.  It's a really beautiful way to showcase the jewelry.

And oh, the jewelry!  Sonoko Nozue has used beadweaving to create some of the most delicate, feminine and beautiful pieces of jewelry in this book.  It feels like such a treat to look through the pictures and know that the instructions provided will enable us to recreate these exquisite pieces.  It left me with my fingers itching to pick out some beads and get to weaving!

The projects range from simply beautiful one stitch pieces to more intricate, advanced skill level pieces.   But even these harder projects are built upon basic stitch foundations which have been combined in very interesting ways.  The instructions are mostly visual, with clear, easy to follow diagrams, and just a bit of written guidance to bring you step by step through the project.

Beadweaving is one of my favorite jewelry making techniques.  So all of the books in the Beadweaving Master Class series are particularly inspiring to me, and this one is especially lovely.  If it looks like something you might also enjoy, pop on over to Lark Crafts' website, where you can download a free PDF of one of the projects in the book: the beautiful Crystal Rose Necklace.  You can get a taste first hand, and you may just become as big a fan of Sonoko's work as I have.

-Megan

Quick Tip Tuesday - Labeling Beads for Patterns

Many beading patterns will label the different beads you are using with letters (A, B, C, etc) and then refer to them only by letter in the instructions.  To keep your beads organized, and save yourself the hassle of constantly referring to the supply list, simply place a small post it note with the letter label next to each pile of beads on your mat.  Then, when your instructions tell you to add 16 "A", you won't have to think twice about which beads to add.

-Megan

BTW: Beading Table Wednesday 02/01/12

Happy February!  Valentine's Day is coming up, and it's got me using a lot of soft, romantic colors, like these Tila beads in Matte Transparent Crystal AB and Delica Seed Beads in Transparent Pink Mist.

I'm having a lot of fun playing with the Tila beads and trying to figure out different ways to weave them together!  What I'm working on right now is sort of a combination of ladder stitch and right angle weave, and I love how it almost makes the Tila beads look like they're floating!

-Megan

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 10/26/11

Julie's Table
This week on my table is a bead woven toggle clasp I just created. I always have a hard time finding the right clasp for my bead weaving projects, so this week I was inspired to make one! The base is a 20mm quick links round and I am using size 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads. It's a technique which combines brick and peyote stitches. I am taping a video right now showing how to make this, it's so much fun I think I will make a bead weaving project which somehow uses two toggles in the design!

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 7/6/11

Andrea's Table
This Bead Table Wednesday calls for a little playfulness.  I figure since the week began with July 4th, and ends (for me) with a trip back to my hometown, I'd have a little fun this week.  This is not actually very different from any other week, since beading generally IS fun!  Anyhow... I am revisiting the "beaded bead" this week.  By using R.A.W. and some cute colors of Czech glass or Swarovski bicones, I've made quite a little collection of these awesome orbs in preparation for an upcoming video tutorial on them!

Julie's Table
My table is actually neat and tidy this week as I just finished two projects and am in the process of typing them up. The very colorful necklace and earring set uses red Cinnabar beads combined with Salwag seed wood round beads and splashes of Czech glass turquoise beads (one of my favorite color combos). The other necklace and earring set is a stark contrast, simple and sleek it combines copper and gold tones and then a has a bright punch of intense purple Czech glass beads. 

BTW: Bead Table Wednesday 6/22/2011

Andrea's Table 

The featured item on my bead table today is waxed linen.  I am extremely excited about getting this stuff in-- it is so perfect for making macrame wrap bracelets; absolutely made for knotting.  I'm experimenting with using the "cobra" knot, and adding beads as I go.  Pictured here is a wrap bracelet using 8/0 Toho beads woven into the natural waxed linen.  I also made a triple-wrapped bracelet using the brown waxed linen with some antiqued copper metal seed beads along the outside.  Watch for upcoming instructional videos on both bracelets!

Julie's Table

I love the look of bead weaving, especially when combined with brass filigree or other unexpected elements. Front and center on my table is an earring which only needs the hook to be added. Using a circular brick stitch, I've combined 3 shades of Toho beads to make each round pictured. If you have yet to try beadweaving, give it a try - it's addictive! There are lots of instructional videos on the Beadaholique website on different bead stitches and more are soon to come.

Staff Pick: Thread Zap II, Thread Burning Tool

Every so often, while working on a project here at Beadaholique, one of us will begin extolling (aloud) the praises of a certain tool or device that he or she has either just discovered, or which has come through for us once again, like a tried and true friend.  Rather that just stand around the office shouting about it, we have decided to share with you, our loyal readers, our very favorite stuff-- and explain to you why we love said stuff. Case in point: The BeadSmith Cordless Thread Zap II Thread Burning Tool.

ZAP!

It is quite a long and ostentatious title for a tool that basically does one thing-- it burns thread.  However, it does it so exceptionally well... I, for one, cannot live with out it. Whether you are a seasoned beadweaver, or you have just learned your very first stitch, I'm sure you have come across the annoying fact that no matter how sharp a scissor, that tail of thread that you just severed is never cut close enough to your gorgeous finished piece.  Unsightly!  The precision of the Thread Zap II is such that you will never again have ugly little thread tails poking out, mocking you.  Watch our handy-dandy video on this cool tool, and I'm sure you will agree that this is a must-have.

My Fine Feathered Friends

My beau and I moved into our current home one year ago in April.  We instantly fell in love with the balcony overlooking our new overgrown yard--we had just moved from a small apartment where the concrete balcony looked out on another apartment building.  One day, while taking in the view from our new second-story porch, we noticed a striking blue bird hopping around our yard with an entire peanut (in the shell) in his beak.  We watched while this funny fellow found just the right spot and, using the peanut as a shovel, dug a tiny hole for his treat.  He then carefully placed the peanut in the hole, tamped it down with his beak, and covered it up with some dead leaves.

   We were terribly amused by this unusual bird, and began to pay close attention to his antics every time we were outside.  We soon noticed that he was not alone: he had a mate. And they both had a penchant for peanuts in the shell.  After doing some research, I found out that our beautiful cerulean friends were called Western Scrub Jays.  Unlike many other types of birds, the female and the male have more or less the same brilliant coloring.  I also discovered that they are extremely intelligent as far as non-human animals go, and that they can be trained to eat (peanuts, of course) from one's hand.

Naturally, I went out and bought a big ol' bag of peanuts.  At first, we would just set the peanuts on the back railing and watch from a distance as the Scrub Jays would come pick up a treat and then hunt for a good spot in which to bury it. We slowly got closer and closer to the birds, until one day I placed a small pile of peanuts on my outstretched palm and watched with wonder and amazement as one of these wild creatures perched there for quite some time, picking out the perfect nut from the pile.

We've been feeding these lovely Jays for nearly a year now, and each day they become more accustomed to their human benefactors.  They even go so far as to hop into the house if I leave the door open, begging for their beloved peanuts.  

Inspired by the amazing coloring of my honorary pets, I created these "Scrub Jay Way" earrings.  I used Swarovski crystals for maximum color saturation and bling, and I loosely followed a pattern made famous by fantastic jewelry artist, Laura McCabe.  Enjoy!

Have you made any wildlife-inspired pieces?  We would love to see them!

Bead On,

Andrea