The Elusive Snake Knot

Sneaky Snake Knot-Moonstone bracelet by Sherri Haab

Years ago I bought a bracelet in Santa Barbara, CA made with this knot. I wore the bracelet until it was shredded.  I didn't know what knot it was tied with and spent quite a long time trying to figure it out.  Later I found out it was a snake knot and found a few tutorials online.  This knot is a challenge to tie and is very time consuming, but well worth it.  I love the feel and the thickness the knot provides.  I used the knot to make this moonstone bracelet for a friend.  I feel the need to put up my own tutorial since this knot will not be featured in my new book coming May 2015.  In the meantime, search snake knot and practice, practice, practice!  Try Chinese knotting cord, waxed linen or nylon to tie the knot with.

Speaking of knots, here is a sneak peek of my new book,  coming this Spring!

Bead Unique Review: Sherri Haab Inspirations

If you are a fan of Bead Unique magazine like we are, you may have seen this review of Sherri's book, Sherri Haab Jewelry Inspirations. Besides the wonderful review, this issue is filled with lots of great ideas for inspiration.

If you're not familiar with Jewelry Inspirations, you should definitely check it out. See Sherri at home in her studio and the people and things behind her ideas. Truly an inspiration!

The Art of Metal Clay revisited

Sherri's groundbreaking book, The Art of Metal Clay, first came out in 2003 and quickly became a classic. It recently underwent a renovation and emerged with a fresh cover and the most current information about this evolving art. Bead and Button magazine ran a nice review in the February 2011 issue.

Metal clay was a new product when Sherri first started experimenting with it, and since then, it has expanded and new products and techniques have been developed by Sherri and other metal clay artists. New material in the book includes:

• The new bronze and copper clays, with must-have instructions for successful firing
• up-to-date, detailed information on firing with stones
• an improved method for calculating accurate ring sizes
• two recently developed techniques for etching metal clay
• new techniques for adding color, including working with pigments and enamels
• all-new, inspiring galleries of work by prominent metal clay artists

Check Sherri's shop here for more information.

The Buzz about Beading Across America

The editors of Beading Across America chose Sherri to represent Utah in their book which features a project, instructions and an inspirational story from each artist. The focus of the book is seed bead projects. Sherri used metallic seed beads in an innovative bracelet design with macrame, various larger beads and a silver bee focal point made from precious metal clay. Utah is nicknamed "The Beehive State" or "The Deseret State" in reference to the early Mormon settlers who were known for their hard work, and also to commemorate the industry, perseverance and thrift of the early settlers. Sherri's ancestors were some of the first pioneers who, at great sacrifice, traveled across the plains from the east coast to settle the barren desert where Salt Lake City now stands. This bracelet is a stylish representation of that theme. You can find more information on Beading Across America here. If you are interested in more projects that combine beads and macrame, Sherri's book Beaded Macrame Jewelry is a great place to start.

Sherri's New Book - Jewelry Upcycled!

Sherri’s latest book, created with daughter Michelle, is here! Order from the shop, or better yet, check out tomorrow's blog for a chance to win the book.

When I was watching these projects evolve on Sherri’s kitchen table, I picked up a beautiful bracelet that looked like an avant garde crystal piece. Sherri casually remarked that it was made out of a plastic soda bottle. This is what I thought: “!” Seriously. I give Sherri a hard time for using too many exclamation points (New classes! Click here!), but Jewelry Upcycled! deserves its punctuation. You’ll be looking at your recycle bin and junk drawer in a whole new light.

Here’s the synopsis from the publisher, Watson Guptill:

Before you recycle that soda bottle, scrap that old T-shirt, or toss that broken china plate, ask yourself: “Could I use this to make something fabulous?” Impossible? Think again!

In Jewelry Upcycled!, jewelry expert and bestselling author Sherri Haab has teamed up with daughter Michelle Haab to show you how to transform metal, glass, plastic, fabric, and found objects—items you might otherwise recycle or throw away—into fun and exciting jewelry designs.
Explore the creative possibilities of these everyday materials in resourceful and innovative ways: Repurpose plastic bottles into pretty charms, turn broken cassette tapes into braided bracelets, and fashion one-of-a-kind pendants with found objects.

A word about Sherri’s co-author, Michelle: While she was creating projects for this book, she was also creating the uber cute baby Adeline. If you’ve ever been around Michelle or Sherri, you understand the concept of perpetual motion. Non-napping Adeline shares this apparently genetic trait.

Coming soon....Baby Bottle Bangles?

My New Book

My new book, “Clay So Cute” was released today. The book contains projects for tweens and kids but I suspect some adults will find it inspiring too. My history with polymer clay goes way back, it was my medium of choice for making jewelry and miniatures. Very few people even knew what it was back then. It’s been almost 20 years since my sister and I wrote our first book together, titled “The Incredible Clay Book”, it turned out to be one of the best selling kids crafts books on the market and is still in print today. It was the book that launched both of our careers. The “kids” that remember the first book are now in their mid-30s and its a bit weird to hear adults tell me they had the book when they were young-how is that possible? I am very excited to have a new book in print for a whole new generation of crafty kids. My favorite projects are the claybots and of course- candy bracelets.