Night Cap?

I picked up the latest edition of Beadwork magazine, packed to the gills with inspiration. I love the direction the magazine is headed, thanks to the new editor and very talented designer, Melinda Barta. If her name sounds familiar she is the author of Custom Cool Jewelry, one of my favorite bead books from last year! Interviews with Kate McKinnon and Lisa Peters are great reads along with a ton of creative projects. I love how they have been using smaller beaded components in the designs, very beginner friendly!

Katie Hacker has a new column in Beadwork, "Katie's Bead Secrets." This month she offers alternative uses for bead caps. You'll have to pick up the article for the scoop. She interviewed a few designers and I happen to be one of them. Here is an example that I gave for the feature.

You can just barely see the bead caps at either end of this long tube bead. They have the small end pointed toward the bead. The top holds a nice big smoky quartz bead, the bottom has a bead and loop for an extravagant tassel.

Here are a few other ideas I scrounged up where I used the bead caps upside down.

A bead cap becomes a water lily in these Lotus Lantern earrings

A bead cap is a crown for this little prince of the forest.

Back to the bead table for me. Not a very romantic Valentine's day, but having my partner's support for my creative pursuits is the best gift!

Too many...

Too many orders, too many emails, too many ideas, too many behind the scenes details...

Not enough hours, not enough hands, not enough me!

I thought I should take a moment to say hi, amidst all the busy work here in the studio.

I've decided to throw myself a life preserver here and announced that Monday, the 16th will be my last day for orders.

I need a little breather to settle all of the details for the cruise and to give myself some time to spend with my family. They are put out with me, leaving them behind for the 4th year in a row while I run off to my dream vacation.

Cue the evil laughter...mawahaha

I leave in 14 days!

Catch of the Day

This necklace is currently featured in Bead Style magazine. That is a Mamacita Beadworks button, one of my all time favorite beadmakers!

I've been so swamped with Van Gogh bead orders, I am just now getting these lovely little ones up in my etsy shop. I leave for the Bead Cruise in 16 days, these beads have me in the mood for a day of seashell hunting, snorkeling and soaking in the sun.

Ocean inspired wafers

OMG!

Look who is on the cover of the next issue of Stringing! That is my Cinderella necklace right smack in the middle. I also have a bracelet and a few pairs of earrings in this issue. The best part though is the Show & Tell interview, featuring little ol' moi.

I'm beside myself. I may have to get a hold of some octopus DNA and become a multi-armed mutant beadmaker! You guys are keeping me busy.

It's an embarrassment of riches over here with the current press. Hard work and determination do pay off. Now I must steal away back to my bead table to get more beads done before another round of shipping tomorrow.

Did you know Lorelei is on the cover too! She is such an amazing designer. Don't forget to check out the sale she is having this week in her etsy shop.

This is a bracelet from her shop featuring a small Humblebead lentil in copper and sage along with lampwork glass beads and a stamped copper band that reads, "By letting go it all gets done." I need to keep telling myself that!

No Way!

In 22 days I'll head out to New Orleans for our 4th annual Bead Cruise. My to-do list is long, my goodness is it long. How does the time between the new year and February fly by so quickly? It's a mystery to me. I swear there must have been a time warp there. (Okay, I think it's called fighting a flu bug, I'm finally feeling better today.)


I'm looking forward to teaching the Sea Beads class. We have a full class and I know everyone is going to have a blast. After all, beadmaking is rocking fun. Somewhere between here and there I need to make a spectacular urchin necklace to wear on the cruise. Hmm, I must channel my inner mermaid.

I'm looking forward to so many fun things this time around. 4 ports with tropical beaches await. Who doesn't love to be treated like a queen, they really go all out for you on a cruise! I can't wait to spend time with my mom and Rosanne. I look forward to visiting with the incredibly talented instructors. My Bead Cruisers are such a sweet and creative group of women, we have many returning guests and I know I'll enjoy meeting all our new participants. That's the best part of the cruise - the amazing women we get to travel with. Okay, back to that list...