How To make a French Twist UpDo →

Did you buy a hair pin from me, but forget how to use it to put up your hair? Maybe you are getting tired of the mask strings getting caught in your hair. Or maybe you want to look more professional on Zoom… Either way, the world wants to see your lovely face. So, the easiest thing to do is put your hair in an updo, away from your face. I made a short video, demonstrating how to pin your hair up in a modified French twist. I’ve got a variety of hairpins available on my Etsy shop. All you’ve got to do is decide how much of the pin you want to expose as decoration. Here is the video link: https://youtu.be/6pxfKp1KMAk

YouTube Video: Meet Deirdre Bialo-Padin, Jewelry Maker and Designer →

I have been very delinquent about maintaining my website. If it was three-dimensional, it would have a thick layer of dust on it! However, the pandemic has provided me with an opportunity to develop some skills which might actually help me improve the site. This summer’s big adventure was learning how to make videos.

I was asked to make a video about what inspires the designs for my handmade jewelry and accessories. I wasn't sure what this video should look like and, at the beginning, I didn't realize just how personal this project would be. It wasn't easy to put down my tools, step away from the studio, look at my work over the past 15 years, and find words to describe my creative process. I've got to say I am much happier wielding a hammer than I am sitting in front of a camera or making voiceovers! Did I mention that I've no experience making videos? It has been quite a journey. So, what is this video? I was aiming for a fancy slide show with music and voiceovers. Do the voiceovers make it a creative travel-vlog? Whether you call it a visual calling card or a video portfolio, I hope you enjoy the experience of watching it!

The Covid Roller Coaster

These are challenging times. As a designer and maker of handmade jewelry, I’ve always enjoyed interacting directly with my customers, and most of my jewelry sales have been made in person. With the pandemic, all shows but one have been cancelled, and I have come to realize that I have to re-think my business model.

At first, I made the best of the situation by taking online art and gemology classes and spending more time in the studio working new projects. It has been an incredibly productive time and, except when I’m not overcome by anxiety over the state of the world and sadness at the loss of face-to-face contact with loved ones, I have enjoyed myself. Yes, I have been making sourdough bread weekly since March; I’ve sorted and bagged clothes to give away; I planted seeds; I’m working my way through the mysterious contents of our food pantry; and I have read many many books. I have also been on Zoom too much: hanging out with friends; attended lectures; and singing with folks from all over the world. Did I mention that I taught myself how to dye cotton yarn, and that I’ve made 1 wool sweater and 3 cotton sweaters? Oh, and I’ve been making a jewelry. At the same time as I’ve been making my way through my yarn stash and food pantry, I’ve been coming up with ideas that use the metal and stones I already have in my studio. I’ll post more about that later.

With the future still so uncertain, I’m now temporarily shifting my focus to moving most of my inventory online (onto my Etsy shop, www.etsy.com/shop/bialopadindesigns). And I’m using this time as an opportunity to learn how to use various tools to establish a more vibrant presence on social media. This has included developing new skills, such as making and editing videos, and learning how to connect my Instagram posts to my Etsy listings. It has been telling to discover just how strongly potential customers respond to compelling photographs of merchandise, as well as demonstrative videos. There’s a lesson there, and I will be paying attention!

I will soon begin the process of reviewing and revamping my web site, which is seriously out of date. I have treated the site as a historical repository of images of work I’ve done over the years, but I haven’t posted new work in ages. I’m hoping to make this site a little more engaging, so stay tuned!

I’ll leave you with a photo of one of my latest pieces of Covid themed jewelry: a Covid Crown, because it is a “crown virus”.

Visit Knitty City, your local yarn shop on the Upper West Side of Manhattan!

Visiting the Upper West Side? I am thrilled to announce that my twisted cable needles (patent pending) and fibulas (shawl pins) are now available at Knitty City. It is a cozy yarn shop with knowledgeable staff, and filled nearly to the ceiling with gorgeous yarn. So if you live in the neighborhood or are just visiting, stop by and explore.

Bialo Padin Designs featured in Knitscene Magazine

I’m excited to announce that my twisted cable needles (patent pending) are featured in the Gear section of the Fall 2019 edition of Knitscene Magazine! I’ll be selling them in person at 3 upcoming fiber festivals (Vermont Sheep and Wool, Kings County Fiber Festival, and at Rhinebeck). They are also available on my ETSY shop, BialoPadinDesigns; or at Knitty City in Manhattan, NYC.

Source: https://www.interweave.com/store/knitscene...

Joomchi

I recently took a joomchi workshop with Jiyoung Chung.  Joomchi is a traditional Korean method of paper making, where mulberry paper is manipulated to create unique textures and shapes. It was a great workshop, and now I am inspired to incorporate joomchi into my jewelry!

Thoughts of Spring: what's on my workbench

As the snow melts, my thoughts are of Spring. I've been playing with copper and silver leaf forms, using my favorite hammers, anvils and metal stakes. I'm thinking of incorporating these forms into earrings, pendants and pins.

My grandmother's linens

I am preparing for next week's craft show, and inspiration strikes! I inherited some of my grandmother's linens. They aren't in the best condition, but I can use them to line the old wooden drawers I use to display my bracelets. I love the fact that I am using both my mother's and grandmother's fabrics in my display. Thank you, Esther and Margaret! You inspired me then, and now.

Come to BUST magazine's 10th Annual Holiday Craft show on Saturday, December 19, 2015, in Greenpoint, and try on my latest pieces! Here is the link:  http://bust.com:8080/new-york/bust-magazine-holiday-craftacular.html

Woven silver collection

Just in time for BUST Magazine's Holiday Craftacular on Saturday, December 19th, I have a new line of earrings and pendants, the woven silver collection. 

BUST Magazine's Holiday Craftacular in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, December 19th

After a very successful experience at the Kings County Fiber Festival, I am now back in the studio, preparing for the next event, BUST Magazine's annual Holiday Craftacular. You can expect to see more pieces inspired by textiles (think woven silver fabric and woven chains), and the popular hair/shawlpins (excellent stocking stuffers)

Kings County Fiber Festival, October 10th, 2015

BialoPadinDesigns will be a vendor at the Kings County Fiber Festival on Saturday, October 10th, 2015, in Park Slope. The festival will be at the Stone House in Washington Park, 5th Ave and 3rd Street, from 10 am - 6 pm. Spend the day with natural fiber artists, crocheters, dyers, felters, knitters, quilters, spinners and weavers in the second annual fiber fair. The full day event will include a marketplace for independent fiber artists from the tri-state area, demonstrations, an art exhibit and more! If you forgot to make a button hole for that lovely handmade sweater, if your gorgeous shawl keeps slipping off your shoulders, stop by my booth for a solution: handmade shawl pins of many shapes and sizes.

Silly Ad for my fold-formed bracelets

 

Do you want a bracelet that has heft and presence? are you looking for a unique and bold accessory to complement your style?

 

Diamonds, pearls and understated jewelry all have their time and place. Sometimes a delicate chain is just the thing.  But there will be days when you want a bracelet that makes you feel strong,  powerful, confident and impervious to toxic stares and circumstances. That is when you’ll want to slip on one (or more) of these copper fold-formed cuffs!

 

Claim more space in this world! Step forward and channel your inner superhero! Wear a bracelet that shows the world that you are ready for any challenges that come your way!

Silly Ad for my hair/shawl pins

Aren’t you hot? Wouldn’t you like to get that hair off your neck? Looking for a way to anchor that braid, put up those locks?  Looking for something more decorative than those tired hair elastics and ugly plastic clips? You have beautiful hair.  You can do better than those plain wooden chopsticks from last night’s Chinese takeout.

 

Did you forget to make button holes for that sweater you just knit? Is it windy?  Do you wish you had a pin to stop that kilt from flapping in the breeze? How about that shawl? is it too bulky to tie, does it slip off your shoulders? Maybe you need a pin to hold everything together! 

 

So, take that pen out of your hair, and try a handmade hair pin! 

Use it in your hair, or just stick it in your shawl or sweater.

Out in the Streets: 2 days of music, art (that's me!) and food

Thanks to the Ridgewood Market, BialoPadinDesigns will be one of the crafts vendors at the Out in the Streets music festival on August 1st, 2015, from 2pm until 10 pm. Out In The Streets takes place on two acres of stunning parkland at the historic Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, 18-20 Flushing Ave, in Ridgewood,Queens. This remarkable site is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City. The grounds feature a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline, as well as lush gardens, a large picnic area, a bonfire pit, and the legendary Arbitration Rock. The large stone sits at the center of the property, historically marking the dividing line between Brooklyn and Queens. This seemingly rural location that lies smack in the middle of the city makes the event a hugely memorable experience.

This is a cash only event, but purchases at my booth can also be made with credit cards, until my phone battery dies (hopefully that won't happen), or check. There is an ATM located a block way on Flushing Ave. Bring sunblock, a blanket and bug repellent, and hang out with me.For more information about the music, go to www.outinthestreets.com. For information on other vendors, contact www.ridgewoodmarket.com.

BUST Craftacular's Primped 2015: Sunday, April 19th

BialoPadinDesigns will have a table at this juried craft show, which will be held at Brooklyn Bazaar, 165 Banker Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11 am - 6 pm. Come by and try on our fold-formed bracelets and selection of hair pins/shawl pins. Each bracelet can be adjusted to fit your wrist.