Craft Diva

Loom Woven Bracelets

ABOVE: Loom woven bracelets by Lynn Smythe

Today's post shows a few of my loom woven bracelets featuring my original bead design patterns. The bracelets are created with Miyuki delica cylinder beads and one of my one-of-a-kind fused glass cabochons.

ABOVE: Garden loom woven bracelet by Lynn Smythe

My last post, Turtle Powered Beadwork, mentioned that I'm looking to purchase a bead design program. Once I decide on which software program to purchase, I'll get all of my loom woven bracelet patterns graphed out. I'll eventually offer the patterns for sale through my Etsy.com shop.

ABOVE: Detail of fused glass clasp created by Lynn Smythe for her Garden loom woven bracelet

Famous Craft Diva
My Garden loom woven bracelet, featured in this post, was featured in an article I wrote for Beadwork Magazine a few years ago. Pretty cool.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Turtle Powered Beadwork

ABOVE: Beaded earrings by Lynn Smythe. Turtle pattern on one side, bugs on the other!

Here's a couple of photographs of two turtle themed beadwork pieces I created. The earrings use tiny size 14/o seed beads, while the beaded needle case uses size 11/o Miyuki delicas.

ABOVE: Beaded sewing needle case by Lynn Smythe. The case features a beaded neckstrap so the piece doubles as a piece of wearable art.

The pattern featured in both pieces is my own original design. I'm going to be researching bead design software in the very near future. My plan is to start offering my original bead patterns for sale. Once I get my patterns all graphed out, I'll have loom woven bracelet patterns, beaded earring patterns, beaded needle case patterns and amulet bag patterns available.

The patterns will be available on my Etsy.com store: Craft Diva's Shop.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Seed Bead Earrings

ABOVE: Beaded earrings by Lynn Smythe featuring seed beads and bugle beads with a sterling silver French hook ear wire. Fringe beads are fresh water pearls, sterling silver and larger glass accent beads.

Years ago, when I first got interested in beaded jewelry, my very first projects were seed bead earrings. Earrings are very easy to make, and go together pretty quickly compared to most other beaded jewelry projects.

ABOVE: Amethyst trio of earrings by Lynn Smythe

Dull Designs
Earrings can even be a bit boring to make. I mainly create one-of-a-kind creations and don't like to repeat my designs. So after I make one earring, making the second one to create a matched pair can seem a bit dull. But that's just a weird quirk of mine.

ABOVE: A trio of topaz and amethyst seed bead earrings by Lynn Smythe.

Native American Beadwork
My first foray into beaded jewelry was inspired by Native American beadwork. There are many great books available which include patterns for Native American style designs. Once you follow a few published patterns, in either books or magazines, it's not too long before you want to try your hand at creating your own designs.

ABOVE: turquoise and aqua seed bead earrings by Lynn Smythe

I'll be posting up information on Craft Diva, in the future, about my recommendations for bead magazines, bead books and bead design software.

ABOVE: More seed bead earrings by Lynn Smythe

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Craft Diva's Favorite Glass Suppliers

ABOVE: Sculptural peyote necklace featuring 3 fused glass donuts by Lynn Smythe

In the coming weeks and months, I'll be posting up lots of photos and information on my various fused glass creations. I make a variety of fused glass cabochons, pendants and gift items such as plates, bowls and vases.

Fused Glass Classes
Not ready to place a catalog order, do you want to be able to pick out your glass in person? Visit your local stained glass studio. Many of the studios in my area also teach fused glass classes, rent kiln time and sell a variety of fused glass supplies. You can't just use any type of glass to make fused glass, it has to be tested compatible.

If you are new to the medium of fused glass, I highly recommend taking a basic/beginners level class. Check out bead stores in your area too. I've taught fused glass classes at both local bead stores and my local gem & mineral society.

ABOVE: Detail of fused glass necklace by Lynn Smythe

Fused Glass Suppliers

Here is a quick list of my favorite glass suppliers.

1. Delphi Glass - www.delphiglass.com
2. Ed Hoy's International - www.edhoy.com
3. Glass Crafters - www.glasscrafters.com
4. Slumpy's - www.slumpys.com

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Craft Diva's Fiber Woven Necklaces

I've been blogging about some of my pin-woven projects on the Craft Diva site. Today, I'm adding some pictures of a few of my one-of-a-kind pin-woven necklaces that I've made over the past couple of years.

ABOVE: Jewel Tone pin-woven necklace by Lynn Smythe. Featuring various yarns and fabrics, lampwork glass beads, sterling silver clasp.



ABOVE: By the Sea pin-woven necklace by Lynn Smythe. Featuring pearl cotton, cotton and wool yarns, enamel sea charms, glass beads, polymer beads, macrame neckstrap using waxed linen.



ABOVE: Buddha pin-woven necklace by Lynn Smythe. Featuring pearl cotton, cotton, wool and silk yarns, copper and bone beads. 4 strand braided neckstrap using pearl cotton.



ABOVE: Pretty in Pink pin-woven necklace by Lynn Smythe. Featuring pearl cotton, cotton and wool yarns, lampwork glass beads. Macrame neckstrap using silk cord and Venetian glass beads.

Links to Other Pin-Woven Posts
Warped Women Doll Pin
Pin Woven Objet d'art

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Pin Woven Objet d'art

ABOVE: Key to My Heart by Lynn Smythe

On June 2 I blogged about my Warped Women Doll Pin that I created from a kit. Once I learned the technique of pin-weaving, I started designing my own pin-woven projects including a variety of one-of-a-kind necklaces and objet d'art.

ABOVE: Detail of Key to My Heart by Lynn Smythe


ABOVE: Extreme close up of Key to My Heart by Lynn Smythe

Exhibition Pieces
Occasionally I enter my art pieces into museum and gallery exhibitions. The two objet d'art pieces shown in this blog post are part of my Heart Woven series.

The red and white piece is called Bleeding Heart, while the green and amber piece is called Key to My Heart. The third piece in this series has yet to be made, but will be created in shades of lavender and purple and will be titled Broken Heart.

The pin-woven portion of each piece is created first, using a temporary loom made from foam core board. Once the woven portion is completed, it is removed from the temporary loom then attached to a fused glass frame. I create the one-of-a-kind frames from tested compatible bullseye, wasser and uroboros fusing glass in one of my two kilns.

 

ABOVE: Bleeding Heart by Lynn Smythe

 

ABOVE: Detail of Bleeding Heart by Lynn Smythe

 

ABOVE: Extreme close up of Bleeding Heart by Lynn Smythe

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Craft Diva Store on Etsy.com

 

ABOVE: Glass Bead Assortment available from the Craft Diva Etsy.com store

I have just opened a shop on the Etsy.com website. I will be listing a variety of jewelry making, beads and scrapbook supplies for sale. 

I have a ton of inventory in stock, so it will take me awhile to get it all photographed and added to the website.

Craft Diva's Creations
In the future I may also list some of my OOAK (one-of-a-kind) beaded jewelry and fused glass creations for sale. If you are interested in any of my pieces that are showcased on the Craft Diva site, email me to ask if they are available.

ABOVE: Fused glass pendants and necklaces by Lynn Smythe

Craft Diva's Etsy.com Store
My user name on Etsy.com is Lynn Smythe Creations, so my Etsy.com Craft Diva store is located at lynnsmythecreations.etsy.com. Here's a teaser of some of the items that will be available on my Esty.com store.

Fused Glass Items by Lynn Smythe
Fused glass pendants
Fused glass cabochons

Jewelry Making Supplies
Delica beads by Miyuki
Seed beads
Glass bead assortments

Craft Supplies
Scrapbooking materials
Altered art supplies
Rubber stamps
Stickers

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Ceramic Art Doll Faces

ABOVE: Ceramic Art Doll Faces from Etsy.com

Last week I added a couple of posts to the Craft Diva site about two art doll pieces that I have created. On one of the posts, I mentioned that I didn't remember the name of the artist that made the ceramic doll face that I used to make my art doll pin.

ABOVE: Funky Ceramic Faces from All My Own Too

I did a search on the Internet, but still couldn't remember the name of the artist that made the ceramic goddess face. I kept searching and ended up finding two craft artists selling their ceramic art doll faces on the Etsy.com website. I purchased some funky ceramic doll faces from Marlene Gaige of All My Own Too and a bunch of ceramic goddess faces from Sheree Pechin of Fired and Fused.

ABOVE: Ceramic Faces from Fired and Fused

I can't wait to start creating some fun, funky and artist works of art using my new treasures. I'll post up pictures of any projects, that I make in the future, which incorporate the new ceramic art doll faces.

Other Craft Diva Art Doll Posts
6/02/09 - Warped Women Doll Pin
6/03/09 - Art Doll Pin or Necklace

ABOVE: A Plethora of Ceramic Faces by Fired and Fused

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Craft and Jewelry Making Techniques

 

ABOVE: Basket of scrapbook supplies

Craft Diva is a brand new site. I want to let everyone know about the various projects and techniques that will be covered on the site.

• Macrame
• Kumihimo
• Pin-weaving
• Beaded loom weaving
• Seed bead techniques
• Art Clay Silver i.e. Precious Metal Clay
• Fused glass
• Lampwork bead making
• Altered art
• Scrapbooking
• Art journaling
• Sewing
• Art dolls
• Art quilts
• Costume making
• Wire wrapping

Questions or Comments?
What type of art, craft and jewelry making techniques would you like to learn more about? Leave a comment on this post, or contact me directly at lynn@craftdiva.net with your tips, questions and comments.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Art Doll Pin or Necklace

Here is another art doll piece that I created a few years ago. I attached a special jewelry finding to the back of this art doll piece. It enables you to either wear it as a pin, or as a necklace. The pin finding has a loop at the top, that allows you to attach a thin chain or neck cord, if you would like to wear the piece as a necklace.

I made the fused glass piece which is shown below the doll face. I can't remember the name of the artist that I purchased the porcelain doll face from. I used to sell her doll faces in my bead store, but that was years ago. If anyone knows the artist, please let me know. I'll be doing some research to try and find her, as I would like to order some more doll faces from her. She does beautiful work, they are handmade so no two pieces are exactly alike.

I used the techniques of bead embroidery and peyote stitch to complete this piece. The fused glass and doll head were first attached to a piece of suede. The beading circles each piece then comes up and over the pieces to secure them in place. The back of the piece was covered with a piece of snake skin textured smooth leather, to create a professional finished look.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva