I am asking you -

I need a good source for knot tying -

i am getting request after request for elastic bracelets.

I cannot tie a knot to save my life - being the daughter of a sailor, my dad is disappointed.

I have been tying the standard surgeons knot, because I was told it was the most secure for beading, but still no hope. Is it my elastic?

What is a good brand of elastic?

Help me Bead-e-wan - you're my only hope!!!

Tiffany Stones

I got to visit with my friend Vanessa today. She is soooo excited about a new find.

Tiffany Stone

Have you heard of it?

Tiffany stone was first discovered at the Brush Wellman Beryllium Mines, in Utah. It is predominately a mixture of opal and fluorite, or opalite (not the glass opalite that a lot of us have heard about). The Brush Mines closed collecting of this stone for many reasons. The biggest reason was the possibility of Berylliosis, although a case of this disease has never been faced in the 45 years of mining. Other reasons were as the collectors scavanged around the pits for this material, the ground was soft and would give away, and there are rumors some have died due to the walls collapsing.

It has been considered rare and very pricey until recently a new vein was discovered in 2004. New deposits have been found in the Spore Mountain Lavender Mines.

The color of the tiffany stone is what is brilliant. From bright to royal dark purples, with splashes, swirls, dendrites, plumes, etc. It is considered the more colors and patterns, the better the stone.

This is a beautiful example I found at Gram Cabbers.

I love this piece. It reminds me of the cave paintings in Lascaus France.







I hope you learned something new today - I certainly did!

Flower inspiration and Art Beads

I am needing some inspiration lately. So I took some of my own advice and found an image that inspires me and will create a new necklace around that.

I love the multi layered necklaces, as everyone knows. This month one of the Bead Trends categories for the March 2010 call is multi layer necklaces. Oh Joy!! (The are taking submissions till Sept 25th!) It got me to thinking. I wanted to challenge myself to make a multi layered necklace that was dual season, March and Sept - but how.

Traditionally fall colors are warm and rich, and spring colors can range from pastels to bright, so how can I make a piece that will reflect both.

I did a google search for fall flowers and found this:

Just lovely. I have no idea what it is, in the mum family possibly. Look at the colors. So rich and warm, perfect for fall, and the bright pinks and yellows scream of spring. This is what I used to get my inspiration. Off to Art Beads I went.

I love the "My Favorites" option that is available while you shop. I remember so many times jotting down item numbers on a pad of paper as I shopped so not to forget which items I needed, or more likely, wanted :)

So I shopped and began to add things to "My Favorites", then went back in and narrowed it down and this is my final pick.



Green Spider Jasper Cubes

Topas 8 mm Glass Druk Bead

Rainbow Carnelian Squares - oh how I love these!!!

19mm Resin Roundelle - Lavender

19mm Resin Roundelle - Salmon - These are beautiful!!


Donut Rust Ripple - I love the pendant selection at Art Beads!

Small Light Purple Dream Hand Painted Scroll - Just a little message in the necklace to remind you to never stop dreaming.

What is on you favorites list???

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!