Pantone Fashion Color Swarovski Color Picks

I've been so busy lately finishing up the Earrings Visual Project Guide that I missed this great chart from Artbeads when it first came out.

Source: blog.artbeads.com via Artbeads.com on Pinterest

As I mentioned in my About.com post discussing Margie Deeb's latest Color Report, I've been finding these colors a little intimidating to approach. But seeing the matching hues pulled from the Swarovski palette is a huge help -- I'm developing ideas already.

Have you made anything with this palette yet this year?

Apply to Become a Cousin Ambassador

Cousin, a manufacturer and distributor of fashion-conscious jewelry components, is accepting applications to fill five U.S.-based product ambassador positions. The new program, called Creative Circle, establishes one-year renewable terms where ambassadors ("who are elite supporters and rock star jewelry makers") commit to help promote Cousin products on a weekly basis.

Responsibilities will include jewelry designing (using free samples), social media marketing (you should have a strong online presence to apply), and staying up to date with fashion jewelry trends. Ambassadors will share their own designs online and provide feedback to Cousin on upcoming products before they go to market. There's also an ambassador retreat in Florida for fun and team building.

Jewelry component companies sometimes create these programs to help spread the word about their products. They are typically unpaid positions, like this one, but provide perks, such as lots of free samples and online exposure for you as a designer. If you have the time to devote, and the passion for a particular product, this can be a good way to gain experience, become more well known, and add to your curriculum vitae.

Here are some links to help you investigate this opportunity and decide whether it might be right for you:

• Learn about the history of Cousin and their products.
• See the current Cousin catalog.
• See the official Creative Circle guidelines.
• View the application.

Have you worked with Cousin components? How do you like them? Do you have any questions about product ambassador programs in general? Please share in a comment!

Another Giveaway! Teach Yourself VISUALLY More Jewelry Making

Update: Mirrix has a winner ~ Congratulations, Aneva B! Watch your mailbox for your new copy of Teach Yourself VISUALLY More Jewelry Making.

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~

This week's book giveaway is happening over on Mirrix Looms' A Word From Elena blog. If you live in the continental U.S. and are at least 18 years old, hop in and leave a comment there for a chance to win. Comments will be accepted until midnight on Monday, May 7.

Good luck!

• Learn more about the book.

Time to Make Some of Those Wrap Bracelets

I've been receiving requests for wrap bracelet tutorials lately, and to no surprise. These things are ragingly trendy this year. Have you noticed? They're not a new concept, and there are lots of different approaches to making them. In fact, you might even remember my two-needle version from Wire Jewelry Quick Tips.

My new tutorial on About.com uses a different technique. You need just one beading needle and a doubled strand of beading thread. Each bead is stitched in place as if the leather cords were the warp threads on a beading loom.

For the beads I used some of my usual favorites: shiny magatamas and specialty-finish fire polished beads. My palette is a little boho-meets-almost-southwest, but these beads come in so many colors that you can change the look in endless ways. You can even use colored leather cord to mesh with this season's bold and bright fashion colors.

So - are you making any wrap bracelets this year? I'm thinking of putting together a reader gallery on About where we can all share ideas. Stay tuned!

Fire Mountain Gems Jewelry Making Contests

Each year Fire Mountain Gems holds several jewelry design contests. They're popular because the winners receive valuable gift certificates plus the chance to have their designs published in a future issue of Fire Mountain's catalog, which has a huge distribution.

Although it can be a little intimidating to browse through photos of past winners (many of which are truly magnificent designs), Fire Mountain does not discourage newer beaders or jewelers from entering.

There are different contests open at slightly different times throughout the year. Right now, the Seed Bead contest is accepting entries, with a deadline to enter of May 31, 2012. Next up will be the Swarovski Elements contest, which opens on June 1 and closes on September 20, 2012.

Within in each contest, there are several categories to choose from. For Seed Beads and Swarovski Elements, these are: Necklace, Bracelet, Home Decor and Doll, Wedding and Holiday, and Fashion Accessories.

There is no entry fee, and you really just need good photos and the willingness to loan your design to Fire Mountain if you're chosen as a finalist. Importantly, at least 50% of any design you enter must be composed of the component featured in the contest (e.g., seed beads or Swarovski Elements components), and at least 50% of your components must be available for purchase at Fire Mountain Gems.

To keep track of other upcoming contests, see my beading contest directory over on About.com.

New Free Download: More Jewelry Making Metal Templates

I just uploaded the PDF for the metal fabrication projects from Teach Yourself VISUALLY More Jewelry Making. You can grab them anytime at the bottom of the list on my Free Downloads page, or click the image below.

Remember that if you print these out (black and white printing is fine), you can use Mod Podge or white glue to glue them directly onto clean metal sheet, let them dry, and saw away. If you make a mistake, peel off the pattern and print out a new one.

As always, post a comment here if you need help!

New Reviews Are In!

Teach Yourself VISUALLY More Jewelry Making has received two more great reviews, and I'm shouting out to the reviewers with a big thank you for helping to spread the word.

Tammy over on About.com Jewelry Making gave the book 5 stars in her informative write-up. (Tip: Scroll to the bottom of the page to leave your own review.) Click here to browse Tammy's many other helpful reviews, including her recent look at Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects. 

• Sign up for Tammy's free newsletter.

Meanwhile, Pearl of The Beading Gem's Journal walked through lots of details about the book, and even shared some sneak peaks of technique pages. I'm very honored that she's added the book to her coveted Favorite Books list.

In addition to offering lots of other book reviews, Pearl regularly dishes up awesome free tutorials. Be sure to check them out.

Here's What a Kickstarter Pledge Confirmation Looks Like . . .

As a quick follow up to my post about the Bead-It-Up Loom, I thought I'd share with you the confirmation that arrives by email after you make a Kickstarter pledge. I think it helps to demonstrate how this whole thing works.

It begins by confirming that you are now a "backer" of the project. It also confirms the amount pledged and the "reward" that you're entitled to if the project gets funded. Handily, it provides the exact date that your credit card will be charged if the funding goal is met.

Pretty simple and straightforward. It's also kind of fun, because it gives you something to keep an eye on and root for.

Have you made any Kickstarter pledges yet? I'd love to hear about your experiences.