6 Reasons Not to Miss the Newest Series of Beads, Baubles, and Jewels

I get excited every time a new series of Beads, Baubles and Jewels comes out. Each one gets better than the ones before, and there's so much to talk about, I never know where to begin. The newest series is packed full of dozens of handcrafted jewelry projects by Beads, Baubles and Jewels favorites and top designers Katie Hacker, Mark Nelson, Leslie Rogalski, Kristal Wick, Danielle Fox, Stephanie Dixon, Sherry Serafini, Candie Cooper, Linda Hartung, and more.

It's a good thing cold weather is on the way, because I'm going to need a lot of time inside making jewelry from these favorite episodes of the new Beads, Baubles, and Jewels DVDs.

Mark Nelson's fused bead cap from BBJ episode 1502.

1. Episode 1502 is all about gemstones. Being a self-proclaimed gem geek and using gemstones and gemstone beads almost exclusively in my own work, I was naturally drawn to this one! This episode provides great options for using gemstones in beaded jewelry, including a fused bead cap from Mark Nelson that turns a gemstone into a bead and five trendy but affordable stones to watch from Danielle Fox. There's even a chain-maille necklace that incorporates carnelian beads, by Lauren Andersen.

2. Like most jewelry makers these days, I'm enjoying mixing metals in my designs. Episode 1503 is dedicated to the trend of mixing metals in jewelry making. Projects include bi-metal soldering by Mark Nelson, lightweight metallic polymer-clay beads from Syndee Holt, how to stitch metal beads with Leslie Rogalski, and more.

	Learn to make Mark Nelson's neck wire to show off your favorite pendant in Beads, Baubles and Jewels episode 1504.

3. One of my absolute favorite pastimes is walking on the seashore and picking up anything that catches my eye–shells, rocks, bits of driftwood, sea glass, and anything else I think I might make something with someday, and the cup holder in my car is full of pebbles I've picked up here and there, intending to use them in jewelry. It feels like episode 1504 of Beads, Baubles, and Jewels, Shells and Natural Beads, was made for me! Mark Nelson shares how to forge a neck wire to show off favorite shells, and Katie Hacker, Syndee Holt, and June Beach all create projects with natural flair.

4. Ever since Marcy Lamberson gave me fun lessons in lampworking, I've been even more amazed by lampwork glass beads than I was before. Knowing the work that goes into every single one and the skill and precision required to create them makes me both want to use them in my jewelry designs but also hesitant because I want to be sure my design does the fabulous bead justice! In episode 1505, I got a refresher on how to make lampwork glass beads from Nate Perea and then learned several creative ways to use lampwork glass beads, including how to turn thick silver wire into a floating bead bangle bracelet by Kim St. Jean.

June Beach's crystal and pearl strand necklace from Beads, Baubles and Jewels episode 1510.

5. Hold onto your hats–episode 1510 is all about PEARLS! You can learn about all kinds of pearls from Katie Hacker, and Mark Nelson shares a lesson I put in practice regularly: how to glue pearls on posts. (Ask me how many pearl ring mountings I have that have lost their pearls!) June Beach creates a stunning necklace that combines strands of pearls with crystal. Pearls + bling? Yes please! You'll also learn how to create pearlescent effects in your handcrafted jewelry designs.

6. As much as I like to comb the beach for natural treasures to use in my jewelry, I also like to comb through antique and junk shops to find other treasures, vintage and found objects like coins, old pieces of hardware, buttons, watch parts, and more. In episode 1513, Mary Hettmansperger talks about rusty treasures and how to safely incorporate them into your jewelry designs, and Mark Nelson shows how to use paint to add depth and color to a metal found object. Both Katie Hacker and Melanie Brooks share how to use bits of paper ephemera in your handcrafted jewelry, and Kristal Wick makes a bling-tastic souvenir coin pendant.

That's merely a glimpse into just six of the thirteen episodes of the new Beads, Baubles and Jewels 1500 series; there are also entire episodes dedicated to wood, vintage, seed bead, and other popular jewelry-making topics and techniques. Look what you'd be missing if you missed out on it! Get your new Beads, Baubles and Jewels 1500 series DVD set now so you won't miss a thing.