May 9, 2012

Bead Table Wednesday

I haven't done a BTW in so long - so here is what's on my table today, a pile of urchin beads waiting to be finished.  These are for wholesale orders - and then I will start to work on a new pile of them for Bead & Button.

And here I have a few saved out for me, I'm looking forward to pairing them with some of the beads I picked up this weekend.  The wood reminds me of driftwood - a little flotsam and jetsam.

And while I sand those beads today I'm counting my blessings:
  1. New beads in the works for B & B, I'll be in booth 1212 again.
  2. Bead Cruise registration is filling up nicely, my classes are quite popular!
  3. Lima Beads loves me! Lots of new things coming their way.
  4. I have an article on the Soft Flex site that I wrote about bead retreats.
  5. We are 1 follower away from 2600 on the Art Bead Scene.
  6. I'm 25 sales away from 4000 in my Etsy shop.  (sincere gratitude!)
  7. I will be signing my book Jewelry Designs from Nature, at the Craft & Hobby Association's summer conference in Chicago.

So what's on your bead table?
Check out the BTW flickr group.
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May 6, 2012

Rings & Things Trunk Show

The Rings & Things Trunk Show came to Grand Rapids yesterday and I had been eagerly awaiting for them to roll into town!  I had my little list of must-haves: spacers, tiny faceted beads, wood and chain.  Mission accomplished!  Of course, I found a few surprises: resin strands in pretty muted shades, some lovely kynanite and bronzite faceted beads - yumm!  I had hoped to pick up tiny gemstones, but they were not in my price range at the moment.  My hunt was mostly for things for summer jewelry - more bangles, necklaces with wood and urchins and other beachy inspired things. 

I need a clone, because I would love to have a line of jewelry to sell to some of these beachy tourist towns dotting the Lake Michigan coast.  I had hoped to do the Artist Market here in town, but found out I missed the deadline.  Yep, definitely need the clone!

I didn't have to shop alone this weekend.  My sweet auntie Rosanne and my friend Heather (you may know her as the Peacock Fairy) drove to GR to spend the day with me.  They have no idea how much I needed some time to play and create! 

I showed them how I make my seed bead bangles and we enjoyed playing with beads and visiting all afternoon.

Rosanne was so productive - until Words with Friends called her name!

Here are the three bangles Rosanne made.

And the ones I whipped up yesterday.  This set features one of my Dandelion beads, a nice chunky raku bead from MAKU and an owl from PatinaWorx.

Here are a few bangles I made last weekend while hanging out with my sister.  We took a long drive to Muskegon and I made some of them in the car.  Then we watched Grimm all night while I worked on a few more piles. 

She kept slipping them on, I wasn't sure they were going to come off - but eventually she gave them back.  With the promise that I would make her set.  Nothing like having a jewelry-maker for a sister!
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May 5, 2012

One Crayon Blog Hop

I'm excited to take part in Sally Russick's One Crayon Color Challenge.  When I picked my color, I was thinking of sunshine, daffodils, sunflowers and other bright shiny hues.  But when it came to my bead box I was drawn more to the soft and subtle shades of sandy beaches and golden sunsets. 

I love the bangle tutorial from Fanciful Devices (Thanks Erin!) and a few of the techniques used in making my bangles were from the Ebook.  Of course, I added in my own flair.  I love the beaded bangle - it's created using a strand of seed beads wrapped around a wire bangle.  So easy and fun and inspired by vintage jewelry designs that have been on my mind lately.  The yellow fiber is gold sari fringe.  I paired that up with brass wire and tiny 3mm fire polish beads.  The last bangle features one of my urchins in gold with a wire-wrapped bangle.

In just a few weeks it will be summer and summer in Michigan is where my heart sings!  I can't wait.

1. Yellow Huts, 2. Yellow sand in Monkey Beach, 3. Yellow Boat, 4. Yellow Shell, 5. Yellow, 6. Yellow Shell

I'm looking forward to visiting everyone's blogs today.  First though, it's the Rings & Things trunk show and then I'm having a little bangle making bracelet party here with two beading buddies.  Can't wait!

Hosted by:

Red

Bobbie Rafferty   http://beadsong.blogspot.com

Orange

Rebekah Payne   http://treewingsstudio.com

 Yellow

Blue

Rebecca Anderson  http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache  http://allprettythings.ca
Charissa Sloper   http://blog.obsidiansoda.com
Sandi Volpe   http://sandivolpe.com

 Green

Jenny Davies Reazor   http://www.jdaviesreazor.com
Elizabeth Auld  http://beadsforbusygals.com

Purple

Jennifer Judd Velasquez http://jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

Brown

Diana Ptaszynski   http://suburbangirlstudio.com

Black

Birgitta Lejonklou  http://lejonklou.blogspot.com/
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May 4, 2012

Bright & Sunny

Tomorrow I'm playing along in the One Crayon Color Blog Hop.  I picked yellow for my color - it isn't a color I grab often and thought it would be a good challenge.  Yellow was the first color that popped up here in Michigan this spring and I suddenly couldn't get enough of it!  I have one piece done for the hop tomorrow, but I might pull out a few more beads and try another one.  Sometimes having limits, like a very limited color palette, can spark all sorts of inspiration. 

All beads can be found in my Etsy shop.
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April 30, 2012

Bead Cruise 2013

It's been a busy time as we finalized details for Bead Cruise 2013.  I'm super excited about the new classes I will be teaching next year!  I'm offering this Art Deco Tiger Lily class as one of our full day choices.  

My 2013 cruise is sailing out of New Orleans next year, so I'm really excited about playing with the theme of Jazz and the 1920's.  My next class is also vintage include:

During the Filigree Blooms class we'll delve into vintage-inspired cagework with seed beads and filigree.  I'll also share how to make those sweet French beaded leaves.

And my last class is my popular Nest Pendant.  This class is so much fun and students love walking out with several pendants and lots of inspiration!

Registration opens today - space is very limited so don't wait!

When: March 2-9th

Where: New Orleans, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica

Who: I have a great line up of national known instructors including Kerry Bogert, Tracy Stanley, Ronna Sarva Weltman, Beverly Herman and Erin Siegel.

What: A week on a cruise ship, taking classes, having fun with beads, friends and exploring tropical islands!

http://www.beadcruise.com/
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