Even if you don't have time to make a full-blown necklace design, you will usually be able to squeeze in enough time to make a pendant or two. Then you can add the pendant to a simple chain for some immediate jewelry gratification or save your pendant for a focal point on the day you do have to devote to a more involved necklace project. Most pendants just take a few supplies as well, such as wire and beads. Here are a few to get you started:

• Purple Peace Pendant (pictured above)
• Teapot Bead Pendant
• Wire and Pearl Cross Pendant
• Squishy Wire Heart Pendant

Art Jewelry magazine
Jill's teaching at a retreat; check out the information. Maybe it's time for a jewelry making vacation.

Carmi's Canvas Flower Bracelet
Carmi has a short demo using the new Sticky Back canvas.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter looks forward to the exciting year ahead and shares some photos from her time away from beads.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Gather some New Years inspiration from the Jangles Blog.

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi is hosting an educational blitz this month, and she's wondering if you know of classes she should add to the list.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Book Review from Jean: Add some sparkle to your New Year with Crystal Chic, a super pretty book by Debbi Simon

Strands of Beads
Looking for new shopping opportunities? Melissa suggests visiting your local rock shop!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew creates a buying guide of skull related beads and pendants.

Get away to Vegas and bead your brains out at Bead Away Las Vegas 2009. This even is scheduled for late March, but registration for it is already open.

If you are going to the Craft and Hobby Association convention this month or Tuscon next month, then head over to Margot Potters's blog to find out about some of the classes she's offering. Hint - Expect lots of sparkle!

For those not in the know, you can now follow Rings-and-Things over at Twitter.

MyCraftivity has a new earring project using pearls and lucite beads, a perfect beginner project, and you can download it for free.

Not necessarily targeted toward the jewelry hobbyist but still interesting is an on-line video from MVI Marketing about Simple Steps to Growing Your Jewelry Web Community.

Designer Bonnie Clewans has a pretty Glitter Cubed bracelet project up over at Beading Daily. It combines two-needle ladder and picot stitch and is finished off with a button clasp.

If you love Bead Stoppers, then you will love the ones with special red grips available at Soft-Flex, also found on Twitter by the way.