October Bead Trends

The October issue of Bead Trends is on the stands. I am thrilled to have two pieces in this months issue.

One is from a Rings & Things blogger challenge from back in April or May. I call it 'Char'd and Chunky'. It is a fun piece, with multi strands. It appears bulky, but don't let the size of the beads fool you, these lava beads are light. I had a lot of fun with this combination - over the top naturally textured lava beads accented with dainty shiney swarovski crystals. You just wouldn't think to put the two together.










The other piece is a fun whimsical piece I call Patsy's Candy. I was in Illinois visiting my daughter when I found the focal for this piece. We went to tons of little shops on the main street of her town looking for treasures. These little glass candies bring back so many memories for me as a kid. I remember my mom having a bowl of glass candies. I use to love them. I loved them so much, that many years later I started my own collection of these glass goodies. I thought it would be fun to showcase the candy as the focal on a necklace. I wanted to keep it young/hip.








Do you have designs that are fun and trendy? Why not submit them to Bead Trends. They accept submissions monthly and have the categories listed on their site. Go today!!

Bead Trends Magazine Submission Categories

Be a Star! A Bead Star!

Bead Star magazine is taking submissions for their 2009 issue. There are several categories -

Crystals
Glass
Heart designs
Metal
Pearls
Plastics
Seed beads
Stones
Under $25

They are taking submissions up until May 1, 2009, but are having an 'early bird' special if your entries are in by April 24, 2009.

"But I can't submit my stuff" I hear you say. Sure you can! Don't be afraid to submit your pieces. There is never failure in trying. You only fail when you let these opportunities pass you by. It is a learning experience.

Submit your pieces, learn from the experience, watch what they are picking, stretch yourself to a new teck-neek, or a new style. You will not grown in your craft if you do not change it up. The general rule of thumb is for every 10 no's you get, you will get 1 yes. If you have never submitted before, don't expect your first piece to get in, but get your stuff out there. Be consistant in your entries, they will notice you, and soon begin to look forward to your entries.

Here is the submission form!!! Go get em!!! keep me posted!
Submission form


On a side note. This morning I worked up a new piece with the left over lava stones. I used them as an accent to a firey summer piece. The focal glass pendant is from my mom and the many spoils I brought home with me from vacation. I for get what it is called - Muriano? (help me here)

Filigree Harvest, filigree beads (4mm and 8mm) and lava stones (roundells and round) from Rings & Things,
Carnelian chunks from Sedona Stones,
And a bunch of repurposed items to fill it out. It seem appropriate to have the lava stones with a red piece.

Aestas the goddess of summer