Chain, chain, chain

I am a member of our local gem & mineral group and have met great, creative people through this venue. Jacolyn & Roger Campbell, both members as well, are a jewelry making couple! She specializes in wire wrapping and Roger is a champion at chain maille. Jacolyn teaches for us here, (her next scheduled class in April 18th) and Roger usually comes along and this last time he brought me some chain maille beads from brass. I was anxious to create something fabulous from them and here is my creation. I love chain and I love a brass finish. I also love to layer my vintage jewelry and this is the perfect piece to do this with. If you'd like to learn chain maille, Roger is a willing and able teacher too, just let us know and we will schedule a class.

If there is a Gem & Mineral group near you, I'd recommend it.

I guess I'm an addict....

Funny thing, these beads. Yesterday, I went on a bead buying trip to a local vendor and came home with 3 large Ziploc bags full of beads. My son, who is home on spring break this week said, "Where did you go to buy all those beads?" I said, "This vendor sells from the basement in her home." He laughed and said it sounded like some kinda drug buy! Yeah, it's weighed in grams & kilos, it packaged in Ziploc bags, it cost a few bills, I went to the secret basement to buy.....and it's highly addictive! Yeah, you could classify it as a drug. Yeah, I'm a bead junkie, an addict. Too funny, but you know us obsessive compulsive types. I'm always looking for my next fix...gees it really IS like a drug! I wouldn't have it any other way! So to all you bead addicts out there, keep on beadin'. Last I checked you can't get arrested for it.

Why I like fuchsia....

Well now I know why I like fuchsia...(or magenta, as I called it, but will never refer to it again by that name) it eludes luxury, it has texture, it's a color of nature that seduces. I'm seductive! Did you hear that? Ha ha, maybe my beads think so....as I seduce them in to another jewelry design! I do love color, it does evoke texture and I prefer to layer it. I like monochromatic designs but they must have texture in size, shape, hue and feel. Color is so much a part of your design but...once you have that decided on the color, how does it all go together? This is what I lovingly refer to bead logistics. For example, I've been comissioned to design a triple strand pearl necklace for a bride. It needs to be simple as the dress is beaded too. We are using 4mm white swarovski pearls spaced by silver lined crystal seed beads and interspersed with bicone crystals! She will wear it twisted for the wedding but it can be worn untwisted as well. My logistic problem arouse when I found the perfect vintage rhinestone clasp, a 2 strand rhinestone clasp. Now how could I use this 2 strand clasp for a three strand necklace I asked myself. The solution: attach a chain of 5 jump rings the the rings of the clasp and then attach my clam shells to the 3 center jump rings. I used 4mm OD (outside diameter) jump rings and the bit of extra finishing hardly shows. Today's bead problem solved but fear not, there will be more to come.

What's your Color?

Color, what does it say? Moods, trends, desires, strengths? I have never liked purple, but I love magenta and I can't get enough of sea glass blue and any shade of green. (pretty obvious, huh) I was reading the 2009 color trends at www.pantone.com and it was suggested that the color for 2009 is Mimosa. Check it out..... is it your color for 2009?

Love still prevails....

Yesterday, near the close of business, a gentleman ventured in the store with a Valentine request. He informed me he was going to pop the question on this special Valentines Day and had purchased 2 crystal champagne glasses to share a toast with his intended bride. What does this have to do with beads you're asking? Well, fortunatley for me the proprietor of the Purple Sage kitchen store on Main St could not offer wine glass charms fit for this ocassion but knew of this great little bead store just one block over that may be able to help. So the request...Michael, the groom, made wine glass charms (with a little help) all in Swarovski crystals and pearls in valentiny colors complete with a rose pink heart dangle. They were perfect. This is my Valentine Story for you. It put a smile on my face and I hope it has for you too. Now, if you're in need of wine glass charms for a special ocassion or really for no ocassion at all you know where to come! My Garden of BEADin'

We're so excited! I just talked to Barbara McGuire, THEE Barbara McGuire and she is coming to teach here! Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 25th. I have been interested in learning how to transfer an image to polymer and this is just what she is going to show us! Check out her website, www.barbaramcguire.com and check out just what she is doing with this exciting technique.

Blog, blog, blog

Happy Spring? Er, for a little while anyway. I'll take what I can get, but spring fever has already kicked in. The feeling of renewal and a fresh spirit and chance for a new perspective on lots of things! It encourages me to try new things in the beading world too! In the last blog I mentioned some new fun jewelry making findings, mainly the screened items. Screen for jewelry is old school but we can make new fun designs with these old school pieces. Check out this Spring Ring!

A bit of twisted wire crystals and voila'. Make a Ring Statement!