Follow Elena Adams on her jewelry adventures. www.elena-adams.com
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry & Design Events, Jewelry News on Jul 23rd, 2010
I have been working crazily the last few weeks getting ready to release a whole new collection in time for fall. I’m finding the slightly industrial look, combined with smokey grays and blacks really inspiring, and using fall favorite colors like deep purple and endive to brighten them up. Here’s a little peak at one [...]
Posted in Jewelry News on Jul 13th, 2010
For those of you that don’t know it, Polyvore is a site for creating fashion-themed collages. Brands, designers and users can bookmark clothing, shoes and accessories from the internet, and then users can create little showcases for blogs and other media. I’ve used it a few times to show how to wear some of my [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Jul 6th, 2010
If you’ve been keeping up with my chain maille videos, you will have seen the double helix chain instructions. It’s one of my favorites, and when you wind two strands together they form a thick rope. When I was teaching classes at The Bead Shop one of my popular sessions was hand-making small amounts of [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Jul 2nd, 2010
It seems that the better you know someone the more trouble you have finding just the right gift. I get into a ball of stress every year trying to find something meaningful for my sister, but every now and then I hit on an idea that works out beautifully, if I do say so myself. [...]
Posted in Jewelry & Design Events, Jewelry News on Jun 21st, 2010
On Saturday I hit San Francisco for the Thread indie designer showcase. There was such a spectacular range of creators, super high energy, great music and even a central fashion show. I thought I’d post a handful of photos I snapped throughout the day. You know how addicted to chain I am, so of course [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Jun 18th, 2010
This long-strand necklace was really therapeutic to make. Normally making chain is a lot like knitting, in that I can just sit down and go for hours, but I always need to pay a little attention here and there, counting rings, checking symmetries and so on. This necklace formed very organically. Most jump ring lovers [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Jun 15th, 2010
I have a terrible memory. There’s a reason I write things down, because if I don’t and I see a moth, the thought is gone for good. After a bead show I come home with a truckload of things that caught my eye, and I spend a long time finding homes for all my new [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on May 11th, 2010
The design for these earrings came like a lightning bolt. I’ve had lots of requests lately for shorter earrings, and I’ve been trying to work out how to incorporate my style with less room to work. I love the herringbone setting; it creates the perfect bail for stones, adding delicate detail while letting light shine [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on May 7th, 2010
When I first learned how to make full Persian chain maille, I could not get over how flexible it was. The chain can easily make tight coils, and it feel spectacularly fluid. Of course my first response to learning a new weave is seeing how tiny or delicate I can get away with designing in, [...]
Posted in Jewelry & Design Events, Jewelry News, Other Announcements on May 4th, 2010
That’s right, folks, it’s been five years since I decided to put a couple of my pieces online to see if people liked them. Five years later things are fantastic. I’ve learned plenty, my style has evolved a lot, and I’m just as excited about making jewelry as I ever was. I have a lot [...]
Posted in How To Make Jewelry Video, Jewelry News on Mar 27th, 2010
It’s time to learn another essential skill: how to wire wrap beads. Practice this one lots because we’re going to use it to embellish our chain projects in the near future. See the video and get the ingredient list. See the free video archives.
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Mar 7th, 2010
I don’t often use carnelian. I love the color, but I rarely wear anything that works with orange so it doesn’t occur to me to try it. These slave earrings were simple, but fun to make. I haven’t made any slave earrings in a while, so I started digging through my component container for ideas, [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry & Design Events, Other Announcements on Feb 9th, 2010
Many thanks to Holly Reisem Hanna from The Work at Home Woman. Her incredible blog is featuring a short article by me about the trials of teaching you friends and family that you’ve transitioned from hobbyist to business owner. Read When Your Hobby Becomes Your Business here and if you work from home or have [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Feb 4th, 2010
Every designer hits a creative road block from time to time. It’s common to look back and realize you’ve created four pairs of earrings with essentially the same design in mind, and looking for new ideas seems almost impossible. I love making jewelry, but I’m no different. Here are some things I do to get [...]
Posted in Jewelry News on Jan 15th, 2010
Feeling like your accessories need a refresher? Try these tips to breathe new life into necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Try Your Necklaces as Chunky, Multi-Strand Bracelets Choose necklaces with lobster clasps and extender chains for easier latching. Wear your new “bracelet” a little loose to avoid tight bunching where the strands cross over to clasp, [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Jan 2nd, 2010
Believe it or not, this necklace started life as a bracelet. I’d been playing with a new chain maille bracelet design a while back, but I was unsatisfied with how open the 4-1 European weave turned out. After working on the charity necklace, which used a more densely packed 6-1 version, I thought I’d just [...]
Posted in Jewelry & Design Events, Jewelry News, Marketing and Web Design on Dec 7th, 2009
Help a child this season, by contributing to Child’s Play. Created by the writers of Penny Arcade, Child’s Play aims to improve the lives of sick children by providing toys and games to hospitals. With nearly 70 partner hospitals, it’s a wonderfully direct way to spread some cheer. Make the holidays a little brighter for [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Nov 6th, 2009
I fell in love with a strand of these gigantic serpentine pieces about two years ago. One of my very discerning jeweler friends rolled her eyes at me, but I was addicted to oversized rocks at the time and happily ignored her. I knew they’d make great pendants on chain maille and might even have [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News, Other Announcements on Nov 6th, 2009
Place your holiday orders early and avoid the dreaded December shipping crunch. Order now and let me know your purchase is a holiday gift and I’ll extend the 60 day exchange and customization policy until the end of January. It’s always stressful buying expensive gifts, and with jewelry everyone has slightly different tastes. Make sure [...]
Posted in Designing Jewelry, Jewelry News on Oct 23rd, 2009
I don’t use a lot of jade in my designs, but when I saw these beautiful carved flowers, I had to have them. Made by hand, no two are the same and they make perfect centerpieces for jewelry. I’ve been trying to come up with some new slave bracelets and these flowers are just perfect. [...]
