A Mookaite bracelet created by one of The Beading Gem’s students!

The Beading Gem’s Journal is definitely not your typical bead jewelry blog chronicling jewelry being created each week, nor is it a site designed to sell all the beautiful jewelry being created and featured on it. Instead, it is a journal exploring all the informational and inspirational topics that are of interest to jewelry artisans, whether they are beginners or experts. The blog is run by, you guessed it, The Beading Gem whose real namesake just happens to be that of a “certain cultured gem”!

What can you expect to find at The Beading Gem’s Journal on a typical day? You can read about a local artisan she came across, see some wonderful jewelry created by some of her students, learn a little history about gemstones and jewelry-making, see some absolutely gorgeous jewelry creations designed and built by beginners and experts, see a schedule of classes taught by The Beading Gem herself, learn about new bead jewelry sites on the internet and even pick up a few tips on jewelry design and learn about new beads! And that’s all just in the last month’s worth of posts!

The Beading Gem explains her site and what excites her the most in her own words:

I do sell some of my own jewelry creations locally but not in a big way for I enjoy teaching beginner beading at home parties and workshops far more. One of my best friends (Widgets Beads) also helps me instruct so we get to see each other regularly. We all have a great time creating one of a kind jewelry with us helping the beginners design and finish their jewelry. The biggest reward I get from teaching beginners is the look on their faces when they see their completed designs. Such achievements changes the women who may have started out with a poor view of their own talents and abilities. I have met so many lovely people and have made many friends. Yes, they still talk to me after I got some of them hooked into becoming beadaholics!

I started up “The Beading Gem’s Journal” initially as a “braggin’ blog where all the budding designers got the thrill of seeing their creations online, not to mention being able to show off to their friends and family far away. I am frequently “blown away” by how good many first-timers are. Many beginners may not have made jewelry before but clearly love wearing them and they demonstrate a flair for colour and placement like Marlies or like Diedre. Susan who originally came to a workshop and has had many of her designs featured since then. She does fabulous bracelets and with my encouragement, is starting to sell her creations locally. It is hard for me to pick one from all her work. My favourite Susan designs include her Carnival bracelet, her Rainbow bracelet, her Black and White Lampwork bracelet, her Swarovoski crystal and Mother of Pearl bracelet and her latest art clay silver bracelet.

The blog is not about technical know-how – like how to form a loop or attach a clasp nor are there tips on resources and vendors and current beading events. Those things are well covered on the internet already! There is more to jewelry making than that. The world’s oldest beads are some 80,000 years old so there are many stories to tell about the beautiful materials used in jewelry making, the people who make and/or wear them, both past and present, and pleasing design elements. I do feature professional jewelry artisans whose work highlights a particular skill or material or approach to inspire us like the luscious lamp work beads of the Thatgirl or Alilsumptinsumptin’s attention to detail and flair for putting it all together. Sometimes their lovely work helps me instruct readers on a particular gemstone like Peridot: The Evening Emerald or a jewelry item with a history like posy rings. I am always on the lookout for innovative artisans from all over the world so suggestions are welcome.

The Beading Gem is also one heck of a great writer! Her blog is actually a lot of fun to read and explore and it’s completely filled with all sorts of links and comments and gemstone facts and amazing book suggestions. When she’s not working on jewelry she also enjoys all sorts of reading and learning about history and science! If you enjoy learning about and creating bead jewelry, you have to make The Beading Gem’s Journal a regular site to visit! You’ll love it!