Craft Diva

Beadwork; Not Just for Jewelry

Above: dolphin pattern worked in single count peyote stitch using Miyuki delica beads. This pattern could be repeated, to make a 3D amulet bag. Left as is, and framed, this pattern can make an interesting home decor item. Original design by Lynn Smythe.

 

Decorative Beadart

I used to create a ton of seed bead jewelry. The smaller the bead, the more interesting. I got bored only making wearable art, so I decided to create some larger beadwork patterns. The larger patterns can be attached to a fabric covered cardboard backing, then framed, to create unique, beaded home decor items.

 

Above: large single bead peyote stitch beadwork pattern using Miyuki delica beads. Original design by Lynn Smythe.

 

Above: beadwork attached to a fabric covered cardboard backing and framed. Original design by Lynn Smythe.

 

Above: Three peyote stitch bead pictures; Angel Heart, Isis and Butterfly Fairy. Original designs by Lynn Smythe.

 

Beadart or Bead Jewelry

The three fairy/goddess bead pictures could be worked in a smaller bead to make a piece of wearable art. Try using size 15 seed beads to make an amulet bag sized beaded bag.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Greetings From the Craft Diva

Above: pin woven sculpture with fused glass display ring created by Lynn Smythe, AKA the Craft Diva

Greetings From the Craft Diva

Although the Craft Diva site was started in the middle of 2009, I never got around to writing the Welcome to the Craft Diva page. So here it is, better late than never!

Hello,

My name is Lynn Smythe, AKA the Craft Diva. I am the founder and editor of the Craft Diva blog. What are my qualifications to have a site devoted to various art, craft and jewelry making techniques? Here is a little information about myself.

ABOVE: Craft Diva's studio

Craft Diva's Qualifications

1. Level 1 Certified Art Clay Silver Instructor.
2. Teacher of various beading, fused glass and fiber art techniques.
3. Former bead store owner.
4. Former craft and bead show vendor - selling both my finished craft and jewelry items along with bead and jewelry making supplies.
5. Freelance writer of bead, jewelry and craft articles.
6. Working art studio setup with 2 kilns, diamond band saw, rock tumbler, dremel moto tool, grinder, professional photography studio and many, many tools of all sorts.

 

ABOVE: another view of Craft Diva's studio

Freelance Writer Craft Articles

In the past I have written how-to articles for a variety of magazines. Here is a listing of my published magazine articles.

Altered Arts

• May/June 2006 - Clown Album
  

Beadwork

• Fall 1998 - Beaded Needle Case
• Summer 1999 - Patterns
• Winter 2000 - How-to Start a Bead Society in Your Free Time
• December 2000/January 2001 - Flower Garden Loom-Woven Bracelet

Jewelry Crafts

• May/June 1997 - A Lovely Lacy Miniature Pouch
• November/December 1997 - Beaded Comanche Rosettes
• May/June 1998 - Beaded Beads & Macrame
• September/October 1998 - Amulet Bag Earrings
• January/February 1999 - The Art of Glass Fusing
• March/April 1999 - Make a Mini Amulet Bag

Lapidary Journal

• September 1997 - Bead-Netted Cabochon
• July 1998 - Macrame Beaded Earrings
• April 1999 - Loom-Woven Bracelet

Above: fused glass pendants and beaded necklaces by Lynn Smythe

Featured Craft Artist

The Craft Diva's bead work is featured in a few books and magazines including:

1. The Sea; Selections From the 1st International Miyuki Delica Challenge. My dolphin themed beaded amulet bag is featured on pages 44-45. Edited by Barry Kahn, published by Caravan Beads Inc.

2. Beading with Peyote Stitch by Jeannette Cook & Vicki Star. One of my beaded needle cases is featured on page 101 of this book. Published by Interweave Press.

3. Creative Cash; How to Profit From Your Special Artistry, Creativity, Hand Skills and Related Know-How - pages 19, 91-92, 242-243. 6th edition, by Barbara Brabec, Prima Publishing.

4. The New Macrame by Katie DuMont. I wrote two chapters for this book. My beaded macrame projects are featured on pages 27, 41-43, 96-98. Published by Lark Books.

5. Make It Profitable by Barbara Brabec; pages 21, 32, 124, 145, 154, 169, 171. Published by M. Evans & Company.

6. "Insight - Bead Artists"; August 2000 issue The Crafts Report; page 17.

7. "101 Things You'll Need for Every Craft Show" by Barbara Brabec; August 1999 issue The Crafts Report; pages 26-27, 61.

8. "Something for Everybody"; January/February 1999 issue of the Tampa Bay Bead Society newsletter; page 5.

Above: "Isis" - beaded picture by Lynn Smythe

Craft Diva's Awards & Recognition

1. 1996 - 1st Annual Havana Bead & Jewelry Festival - 3rd place seed bead jewelry.
2. 1997 - 2nd Annual Havana Bead & Jewelry Festival - 3rd place seed bead jewelry.
3. 1997 - 31st Annual Show, Gem & Mineral Society of the Palm Beaches - President's Award Best of Show.
4. 1999 - 4th Annual Havana Bead & Jewelry Festival - 1st place non-glass beads for 3 of my snowflake pattern beaded beads.
5. 2000 - 5th Annual Havana Bead & Jewelry Festival - 2nd place jewelry.

Above: pin woven necklace by Lynn Smythe

Craft Diva's Exhibitions

1. Spotlight 1997 - American Craft Council Southeast Juried Exhibition; June 21-August 3, 1997; Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory, North Carolina.

2. Gallery of Art; October 17 - November 28, 1997; Jupiter Town Hall, Jupiter, Florida.

3. Bead Dreams, Future Visions; March 22 - June 14, 1998; Goldstein Gallery, University of Minnesota.

4. 45th Florida Craftsmen Statewide Competitive; February 20 - May 10, 1998; Art & Culture Center, Hollywood, Florida.

5. 2"x2"x2"; May 22 - July 3, 1998; Gallery Ten, Rockford, Illinois.

6. Gleaming Treasures; 4th Annual Embellishments; July 17-19, 1998; Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, California.

7. Millennium: Fiber Moving in a New Age; March 30 - April 20, 1999; Fine Arts Gallery, Kennesaw State Universtiy, Atlanta, Georgia.

8. Bead Something; July 15 - August 15, 1999; Prairie Edge Fine Art Gallery, Rapid City, South Dakota.

9. Gleaming Treasures; 5th Annual Embellishments; July 16-18, 1999; Portland Convention Center, Portland, Oregon.

10. Bead Dreams 2000; 1st Annual Bead & Button Show; June 1-4, 2000; Portland Convention Center, Portland, Oregon.

11. Gleaming Treasures; 6th Annual Embellishments; July 14-16, 2000; Portland Convention Center, Portland, Oregon.

12. Gardensart; January 19 - February 28, 2001; Burns Road Community Center, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

 

ABOVE: Craft Diva's studio

Craft Diva Techniques

Here is a brief listing of the types of projects and techniques that will be covered on the Craft Diva 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

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

Warped Women Doll Pin

ABOVE: Fiber woven doll pin by Craft Diva Lynn Smythe

Yesterday I posted up a picture of my miniature art doll project. Today, I decided to continue with the art doll theme and post up a picture of one of my warped women doll pin projects. A pin back was sewn to the back of the dolls head, so that it can be worn as a pin, or attached to a tote bag, etc...

Warp & Woof Creations
The technique used to make the doll is called pin weaving, or fiber weaving. I purchased a kit years ago from Donna Rhodes and Kathy Stachowicz i.e. the Warped Women. I also purchased their book Warped Women and Material Men.

I'm not sure if they are in business anymore. I did a search on their company; Warp & Woof Creations, and found a website but it hasn't been updated since 2003. If anyone knows if they are still in business, and has updated contact information for them, please let me know.

Free Form Pin-Weaving
I made 3-4 warped women pins from kits before starting to design my own projects. I will be posting up information and photos on some of my pin-woven necklaces in future blog posts. I found the inspiration for creating my own pin-woven necklace designs after reading the book Beads & Threads; A New Technique for Fiber Jewelry by Helen Banes and Diane Fitzgerald.

Take care,
The Craft Diva

Art Dolls

ABOVE: Miniature art doll by Craft Diva Lynn Smythe

I have experience with a multitude of craft and jewelry making techniques including:

• Fused glass
• Beading
• Sewing
• Macrame
• Pin weaving

The photo at the top of this post shows my first attempt at making an art doll. I used one of my fused glass cabochons as the dolls face and embellished it with a lot of beads and fibers. It was a fun little project, which went together relatively quickly and didn't take a lot of supplies. I used a fat quarter batik fabric for the body and bits of leftover yarns and beads for the embellishments.

Take care,
The Craft Diva