Summer Fun

I am not ready to let go of summer :)

I had that little focal for a while. Just a little plastic textured star with a tiny purple flaw. Embrace the flaw I say, and use it to bring the design together.





4 separate strands -
One of random beads from the Designer collection (this was a close out deal, but you should see their bead assortments!! ) at Rings & Things
One of seed bead - peridot - from Michaels
One of seed beads - lilac (Michales), with added dyed crazy lace agate coins from Sedona Stones
And the last of light blue seed beads and the strand woven thru the design to give it a floating feel.

This piece thrills me - It is so fun to wear, and a real mood lifter!

Did you know???

Did you know, back through the ages, the peoples of Asia have been swallowing pearls whole and in a powdered form as a medicine for sicknesses? Did you know that pearls are mostly made of calcium carbonate, which is a antacid, so about the only thing they are curing is an upset stomach.

Eat these






Create with these!!!
On clearance at Sedona Stones, stupid cheap!


$1.80!!!!



0.99!!



$1.94!!

Not Knots!! or How memory wire saved my life

I am going into a busy busy time. I have something every weekend from now till the week before Christmas. On top of that I have product in five stores and have to get them ramped up for their holiday shopping.

I don't have enough time!!

I need something quick that will bulk out my inventory, give my customers a choice and work in a retail setting as well.

Something that I can crank out without looking like it came off of an assembly line.

*think* *think*

One thing I get quite a call for and haven't been able to provide to my customers are elastic bracelets. I cant' tie a knot to save my life. I have gotten some great tips from my readers when I reached out for advice on just this very problem a while back, sadly, my fear of elastic has kept me from trying any.

While at Walmart yesterday, I did a quick stroll thru the craft department (one of the few Walmarts that still has a craft dept.) and I saw memory wire. Me and memory wire don't have the greatest history. I used it years ago, when I first started making jewelry, and didn't understand the principles of it and became very frustrated. I thought I would try it again. I got a 5' coil for $2.67. It was worth the risk.

This morning I played around with a couple ideas when the flood gates opened. Out of that 5' length of memory wire, I got six bracelets! They are fun and versatile. No clasp to worry about and no knots!

Here's what I used:

Vintage Italian Lucite Marbled Red w/ White Rounds 12mm 20pc *- A Beadin Path
Glass pearls- Walmart
Bright Sterling Silver Twisted Jump Rings, approx 8mm - Sedona Stones
Round banded agate
Square banded agate
Czech Fire Polished Bead Jet 6mm - Art Beads
Faceted jasper roundelle
Sterling beads
Faceted AB Czech crystal
Repurposed black crystal
Black seed beads

Spice jasper round beads approx.12mm -Sedona Stones
Sterling daisy spacers
Glass pearls - Walmart

Coral
Dyed Magnesite
Sterling daisy spacers


Re purposed wood beads
Sterling barrels
6mm howlite - Rings & Things



Round Snowman Head (Limited Stock) (White) Glass Bead *- Rings & Things
Re purposed plastic beads
Seed Beads

Thanks for stoppin by!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things and Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Carnelian and vintage lucite, with a dash of pearls, Recipie for a fun holiday necklace

It's Thanksgiving, you just bought a new sweater to wear to Aunt Sarahs for dinner and you want a new necklace to go with it.

That is what was running through my head as I was making this piece. I got caught up in the memories of watching my mom when I was little, getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner with family and wearing her new outfit and fussing about her appearance. It was important to her, and to her family to be their best on the holidays. Family would come in from all over the country for a long weekend of catching up, eating, sleeping, eating again and facing the Black Friday crowds at the local department stores to kick off the holiday shopping.

Loaded with fall colors, warm and inviting, the carnelian rectangles definitely make me hungry. They look sweet, like butterscotch candies, or pumpkin pie.

Your shopping list:
Carnelian rectangles - Sedona Stones
Vintage lucite Dark Rust Moonglow Heishi Rondells 4 x 8mm - Beadin Path
Citrine coins - Sedona Stones
Vintage lucite Cube Beads 10mm Smoky Quartz - Beadin Path
22-gauge Copper wire - Rings & Things
Fresh water pearls - Sedona Stones
Faceted red agate - Sedona Stones



Wrap seven carnelian rectangles with the copper wire.
Add copper links with vintage lucite beads - set aside.



String a pattern of pearls, vintage lucite, citrine and red agate and work into the design.
Add a clasp



Polish off the fingerprints (this step I forgot)
Wear with a smile.



Perfect recipe for a great holiday necklace

Found treasures

I started to organize my work room - *gasp* - yes, yes, you heard me. I need to get it organized and get a bead inventory, there is a bead show here on the 31st, and I know I need a few things. Having it organized will allow me to make a list and stick with it and not let 'my eyes get too big for my stomach' so they say.

So......

The way I organize my studio is to drag everything into the middle of the room and work from the middle out. In doing so, I found these awesome marble beads I had ordered from Sedona Stones. They had fallen out of the ziplock bag and were in the bottom of my show kit. This put a screeching halt on my organizing because I got a great idea for a necklace and immediately set to work.

These lovely, lovely purple and cream marble ovals are captivating to me. I wanted a classic look, a multi strand look and of course, random - just like I like em :)

Marbled ovals, faceted moonstone heishi beads, lampwork beads, and pearls are all from Sedona Stones. The vintage glass beads, seed beads and sterling are from my inventory.

Random Elegance






I also found some fun fancy jasper (my favorite) beads. These beads have an awesome texture, I just love them! They remind me of arrow heads - the way they are cut. They look like they have been chipped with another rock.





I don't know that I will ever get organized if I keep finding these fun treasures and making jewelry from them!

Little bit about lapis

Octobers twilight is so crisp, and unhindered by summer's humidity and haze that the color reminds me of lapis. Deep blues surrendering to the peaceful deep purples of nights warm blanket. I love the variety of blues that lapis provides. Some of them seem unnatural they are so blue. I have added a few tidbits of information I have found about lapis and added links to suppliers where you can get your own!

Lapis or Lapis Lazuli has been a favorite for eons used for amulets, seals, to decorate crowns and shields.

Lapis was the first stone to be worn as jewelry.

Lapis was ground into a powder and mixed with binding agents to produce paint, known as ultramarine. The color was so brilliant it wasn't until 1834 that a synthetic color was produced that could be used as a substitute for ultramarine. Powdered lapis is still used when restoring the masters paintings.

Lapis is the stone of friendship and truth.

Where can you find lapis for your next project?


Rings & Things

Puffed Oval Gemstone, 10x14mm (Lapis Lazuli)



Art Beads

4mm Lapis Lazuli Rounds


Sedona Stones

Lapis nuggets approx. 8-9mm 15-16 inch #gem010


Beadin Path

Lapis Lazuli Puff Rectangle Dark Quality w/Ore 18x30mm Beads 16" strand




Aunties Beads

Lapis Faceted Puffed Oval, 25 x 35mm



What will you make with yours?

Consignment and special order necklaces

I have been passing myself this week, I am so busy. Busy at work and busy with special orders and consignment pieces.

I am feeling a bit guilty being so busy and not getting to the final part of my Rings & Things Sept. blogger challenge - I will, this weekend, I promise.

Here is what I have gotten done so far.

Magnesite, citrine and sterling. I wish this was my piece. I would submit this to Bead Trends for the March 2010 issue. Want to submit your pieces? Click Here.






This one, is also made of the magnesite, and I did the mixing metal no-no. I mixed sterling and copper in the same piece!! I am such a rebel! I honestly dont' know why you don't see more of the mixed metals. They compliment each other so well.






This is part of my Frida collection that will be carried at a local store. Dyed crazy lace agate and wood beads with a Blue Moon - Global Nomad base metal focal. I added the metal bells from Rings & Things and a red jasper focal





I like this one too - this is also part of my Frida collection. This is cinnabar beads with black and gold crackle fininshed beads. This is the Blue Moon - Global Nomad focal, of which I added faceted tear drop Czech crystals from Rings & Things and faceted citrine roundells from Sedona Stones.








Off to do more work. Next two weeks is gonna be busy!

September bead shows - retail and wholesale

I got an email the other day from Megan of Omega Gems letting me know she is going to be at the bead show here in town over the weekend.

*cue Mormon tabernacle choir*

September has to be the BIGGEST month for bead shows - there are a ton of them, and I am going to give them to you now!!!

If you can't make it to one of these shows, never fear! Great Labor Day sales are going on right now, even as you are reading this!! Stop by and see some of my favorites sites and enjoy the great savings they have to offer -

ArtBeads is killing me with a store wide 20% sale for newsletter subscribers - what!?!?! you haven't subscribed yet?!! *puts on mom voice and wags finger* What am I gonna do with you!! Sign up here!

Rings & Things is having a great close out on select CRYSTALLIZED™ items savings from 25% to 75% - what are you waiting for?!!?

Sedona Stones has some beautiful stones on clearance, great fall colors!

BeadinPath has a great selection of items some discounted up to 50%! The only place to get your Lucite fix!

Hope you have a great weekend, and if there is a bead show in your area - GO!!! it is such an experience to be able to see and feel your choices and not look at them on your monitor. It can make you buy more too, so be careful kids!!


Sep 4-6: CA: Gem Faire: Santa Barbara, CA: Earl Warren Showgrounds, Exhibit Hall, 3400 Calle Real

Sep 4-6: FL: International Gem & Jewelry Show: Ft Lauderdale, FL: 800 NE 8th St

Sep 4-6: LA: International Gem & Jewelry Show: New Orleans, LA: Pontchartrain Center, 4545 Williams Blvd

Sep 4-6: WA: World Gem & Jewelry Show: Bellevue, WA: Meydenbauer Convention Center, 11100 NE 6th Street

Sept 5-6: KY: Bead Mercantile: Louisville, KY: Fern Valley Hotel & Conference Center
2715 Fern Valley Road

Sep 11-13: CA: International Gem & Jewelry Show: San Mateo, CA: San Mateo County Expo Center, 2495 South Delaware Street

Sep 11-13: MA: World Gem & Jewelry Show: Wilmington, MA: Aleppo Temple Shrine, 99 Fordham Road

Sep 12-13: FL:Down the Street Bead Shows: St. Augustine, FL: Elks Lodge., 1420 A1A

Sep 12-13: NC: Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show: Asheville, NC: Asheville Civic Center, 87 Haywood Street

Sep 13: MN: Rings & Things BeadTour - Minneapolis bead sale: Minneapolis MN: Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport (Ballroom A,B,C & D), 3800 American Blvd E, Bloomington, MN 55425 (12-5pm)

Sep 15: WI: Rings & Things BeadTour - Green Bay bead sale: Green Bay WI: Suamico Ale House, 2310 Lineville Rd, Green Bay, WI 54313 (12-4pm)

Sep 16: WI: Rings & Things BeadTour - Milwaukee bead sale: Milwaukee WI: Clarion Hotel Airport (Ballroom), 5311 S. Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207 (1-5pm)

Sep 17: IL: Rings & Things BeadTour - Chicago bead sale: Chicago IL: Comfort Suites OHare Airport, 4200 N. River Rd, Schiller Park, IL 60176 (12-4pm)

Sep 17-20: CO: Bead Renaissance: Denver, CO: Crown Plaza. 15500 E 40th Ave, I-70 & Chambers Road (exit 283)

Sep 18-20: CA: Gem Faire: San Rafael, CA: Marin Center

Sep 18-20: GA: Down the Street Bead Shows: Norcross, GA: North Atlantic Trade Center

Sep 18-20: NJ: World Gem & Jewelry Show: Edison, NJ: New Jewelry Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave

Sep 19: MI: Rings & Things BeadTour - Grand Rapids bead sale: Grand Rapids MI: Grand Inn & Conference Center (Stars Room), 3221 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (12-4pm)

Sep 19-20: PA: Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show: Pittsburg, PA: Iceoplex at Southpointe, Southpointe Boulevard, Canonsburg

Sep 20: MI: Rings & Things BeadTour - Detroit bead sale: Detroit MI: Radisson, 17123 Laurel Park Dr N., Livonia, MI 48152 (1-5pm)

Sep 22: OH: Rings & Things BeadTour - Cleveland bead sale: Cleveland OH: Sheraton Independence, 5300 Rockside Rd., Independence, OH 44131

Sep 24: NY: Rings & Things BeadTour - Rochester bead sale: Rochester NY: RIT Inn & Conference Center, 5257 West Henrietta Road, W. Henrietta, NY 14586 (12-5pm)

Sep 24-27: OR: Interweave Bead Expo: Portland, OR: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

Sep 25-27: CA: International Gem & Jewelry Show: Santa Monica, CA: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St.

Sep 25-27: MI: International Gem & Jewelry Show: Novi, MI: Rock Financial Showplace - Hall A, 46100 Grand River Road

Sep 25-27: OH: Gemstreet USA: Cleveland, OH: The Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 164 Eastland Rd, Berea OH

Sep 25-27: PA: World Gem & Jewelry Show: Oaks (Philadelphia), PA: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue

Sep 25-27: RI: The Whole Bead Show: Providence, RI: Rhode Island Convention Center, Hall A, One Sabin Street

Sep 25-27: UT: Gem Faire: Salt Lake City, UT: South Towne Exposition Center, Exhibit Hall 5, 9575 S. State St.

Sep 26-27: TN: Bead Mercantile: Franklin, TN: The Factory at Franklin, Jamison Hall,
230 Franklin Road
http://www.beadmercantile.com/nashville2info09.html

Sep 26-27: Qld: GEMEXPO: Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Queensland Qld: Caloundra Indoor Stadium, North Street, Caloundra, Sat 9am - 5pm; Sun 9am - 3pm - Kids Face Painting Free! - caloundralapidary@hotmail.com

Sep 26-27: FL: Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show: North Largo, FL: Minnreg Hall, 6340 126th Avenue

Sep 26: MA: Rings & Things BeadTour - Boston bead sale: Boston MA: Hilton Garden Inn Boston-Burlington, 5 Wheeler Road, Burlington, MA 01803 (12-4pm)

Sep 26-27: NC: Down the Street Bead Shows: Charlotte, NC: The Charlotte Merchandise Mart, 800 Briarcreek Rd

Sep 27: CT: Rings & Things BeadTour - New Haven bead sale: New Haven CT: Holiday Inn North Haven (Emerald Ballroom 1), 201 Washington Ave, North Haven, CT 06473 (1-5pm)

Sep 29: NJ: Rings & Things BeadTour - East Hanover bead show: East Hanover NJ: Ramada Inn and Conference Center (Ballroom), 130 Rt. 10 W, East Hanover, NJ 07936 (12-4pm)

Sep 30: PA: Rings & Things BeadTour - Philadelphia bead show: Philadelphia PA: Ramada Inn Airport (Ballroom B, C & D), 76 Industrial Hwy, Essington, PA, 19029 (12-4pm)

August - Peridot

August's birthstone is Peridot - say it with me - Pair-uh-doe.

Peridot is a beautiful stone, the best known gem variety of olivine. Some historians believe that some of the "emeralds" worn by Cleopatra were actually peridot. Peridot is worn not only for its beauty, but also for the belief it is supposed to bring the wearer success, peace, and good luck.

Here are some stunning examples of jewelry I have found online that use peridot, or use a classic peridot color in their designs.

Peridot Stacking Ring Set - BlackLotusDesign



Apple Tree of Life - wearmejewels


Spring Blooming Vine Necklace - SimplyAdorning



Peridot chainmaille Sterling Silver earrings - Cheli



Dramatic Dimensonal Filigree Medallion Necklace with Intaglio - Dawno



Life is But a Dream...Peridot Vesuvianite Green Tourmaline Vermeil Gold Filled Drama Filled Signature Original Draped Gemstone Scrolled Necklace - bellajewels




Now that you have seen these beautiful designs, I know you are itching to get your hands on some peridot, or some peridot colored glass/crystals. Where can you get them??

4-4.5mm Peridot Rounds - On Sale! - ArtBeads



Bead, Gemstone, Chips (Peridot) - Rings & Things



Swarovski Art 6007 Peridot 7x4mm 20 beads - BeadinPath



5 Strands Carmina Glass Pearls, Peridot (026), graduated 6 to 12mm 16 inch SedonaStones




Now I know you are itching to make your own desings using peridot - why not post a link when you are finished and share your work with everyone!