Some Hobbies overlap!

Hi again! Are you a jack of all hobbies but just a master of one? Have you noticed how a lot of art overlaps in style, technique and even supplies? We meet many from Altered Book artists, knitters, mosaic artists, quilters, scrapbookers of course who need embellishment choices! This morning a knitter was making stitch markers from toggles dangling with beads! Now, I don't know a lot about knitting, but when I grow up I will learn but it is always interesting on how these hobbies overlap. We got shipment yesterday, fun findings for embellishing. New bracelet blanks and rings for gluing, oval & teardrop brass stamping pendants, some screen parts just waiting for beads including a box clasp, a butterfly and a crescent moon and a ring! If you're wondering what you might do with these items, stop in and we'll through some ideas around with ya!

CROWS, what do they have to do with beading?

We have been thinking about starting a local beaders group! Perhaps just one night a month for some beading and socializing. I had though about naming it the Crows Club because I amongst others have an affinity for sparkle, glitz and glamour! Now mind you, not the "old" crows club as some have suggested we will be called by not so friendly sorts perhaps...but the Can't Resist Objects With Sparkle or C.R.O.W.S club...much better! If you have any thoughts on this please comment! Finished my pearl bracelet yesterday. I am a pearl girl at heart too. I like pearls in any shape or form or color they come and they encompasses alot of beads you'll know if you're a pearl girl too. Check it out....

So many beads, so little time...

Wow, it is so exciting to visit other bead stores and "see how they do it"! Yesterday Peggy, Katherine and I went on our road trip through Forest City and Charlotte. What I've noticed is that there are so many different beads and materials out there it would be quite impossible to actually duplicate what another store carries. This is GREAT for store owners and beaders alike because the possibilites for you projects and designs are truly endless. It also creates the desire in us to continue to search for just the greatest bead out there in case it is better that the last "find" we made our favorite jewelry with! Isn't this one of the things we love about beading? FYI too, Kim St. Jean will be back in March to teach us etching and we will be making an etched pendant from a book! This class will include some cold connecting so for all you altered art junkies be sure and sign ASAP as this class will definately fill up fast.

It's a good Monday morning here in beadland! We've had a wonderfully successful trunk show in fact the vendor was so excited about our success, she wants us to keep it a week longer! We will have semi-precious strands at fantasatic prices through Saturday Feb 3! If you haven't had a chance to stop in, make the moment! This weeks Thursday night class is such a fun one, and just in time for Valentines day. If you've always wondered about wire wrapping and coiling come join us and make and adorable sterling silver coiled heart pendant! Tomorrow I am on the road to Charlotte and will be stopping at Off the Beaded Path in Forest City to say hi to Kelly, then on the Expressive Impressions in Charlotte to stock up on some tooling for our cold connecting and soldering junkies! Hope you have a great day and Happy BEADin'!

Good Wednesday morning! What's happening in the beadin' world? Let's see, had some snow yesterday so we didn't get the store opened until 1p, good timing, we got to watch history being made! I did get a new beading book read and I highly recommend it. Beadwork Inspired by Art, Art Nouveau Jewelry and Accessories by Judith Durant and Jean Campbell. Sherron P has already made the Villa Igeia Palermo necklace featured on page 68. It is here for sale at the store and would be a fabulous addition to your spring wardrobe! It's delicate and fresh. So many beading books offer tips and techniques and this one will not disappoint. I finished my peyote button bracelet, you can view it at www.mygardenofbeadin.com. We will teach this technique on February 28th and we'd love to have you! This morning I am headed out to pick up our semi-precious trunk show! The event will run tomorrow through Saturday! One thing that excites me about this new vendor is they offer 8" strands, long enough for a bracelet and earrings, buy 2 if your designing a necklace too! Be sure and stop in and if you heard about the trunk show from this blog, just mention it to Holly or me and get 10% beads from the show! Happy BEADin'..Abbie

Happy Hump Day! Let's see what will we be BEADin' today? Didn't finish the button bracelet but I should today. I attached each button with peyote too. It needed to be flexible so as to be comfortable to wear, while I might have prefered a "harder" connector by design, it needs to function. Do you think of your designs in this way? It can't just be beautiful it does need to function. Sometimes this "bead logistics" as I call it, has more control over the finished design than we'd like. But, if it steers me in another beading direction and I learn something from it I'm good! We also have some repairs to do today, then I'll be working on the March workshop calendar!

Time Flys!

Good morning! It is January my least favorite month, it's always cold and grey. The excitement of the holidays are over, but what I do like is the feeling of looking forward to the new. New ideas, new opportunities for growth, things to look forward to. As I'm typing they are putting in a new sidewalk in front of the store! It will look so fresh and clean. Think they'll let me put some beads in it? Today I will be finishing my peyote button bracelet. Watch for a picture on the website as it is a class scheduled in February. We are also looking forward to Kim St. Jeans Steam Punk class Saturday! We'll be packing heat too girls and soldering old watch parts! Next week, Thursday-Saturday come check out our semi-precious trunk show! Lots of variety, and when it's over it's gone. We are also looking forward to attending the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee this year! Will we see you there? Have a great Tuesday! Happy BEADin'.