Beaded Ornaments

Kalmbach Publishing just released a new book called Beaded Ornaments. It's filled with some pretty projects for ornaments that can be used year round. You can view a sample from the book by clicking on the title above. Enjoy!

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Bead By Number Patterns

Louise Hill has a new website and Etsy shop! Her website is called Bead By Number Patterns and features gorgeous images of nature for the art lover in you. Her patterns are 5 x 5 inches and can be used as jewelry or for embellishment. Click on the image, left, to visit her new website.


Louise's Etsy shop is also called Bead By Number Patterns. At her Etsy Shop, Louise is featuring Dichroic Cylinder beads (Aikos). Dichroic cylinder beads have a special secondary surface coating of dichroic glass. The glass gives them a beautiful metallic surface effect with loads of color. These beads are available for a limited time (They're also the ones she uses in her exhibit pieces). Click on the image, right, or title above to visit her Etsy shop. Enjoy!

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Beautiful Metallic Charlottes

Dear Friends of Beadweaver;

I've listed some lovely charlottes in my new shop over on Etsy. They include the "Terra" or permanent finish Charlottes in gorgeous metallic colors of Meadow, Wisteria, Peony, and Marcasite Silver. I've also listed a few precious metal charlottes - 24k Gold and Sterling Silver. These are all size 13o charlottes and are the true Czech charlottes with a gorgeous cut and lots of sparkle! Stop by when you get a chance - click on the title above or images below. I hope to see you there!


















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Color Theory: Memory, Tradition, & Inspiration

What is it that inspires you to choose the colors that you do? Is it a childhood memory of walking along a sandy shore, gathering seashells? Perhaps it's the memory of sleeping out under the stars on a midsummer's night. No matter what it is that inspires us, at one time or another we all struggle with finding the "perfect mix" of beads for a project. Join fiber artist Alice Starmore and journey along a path intertwined with memory, tradition, and inspiration as she discovers the source of beauty in her colors:

"This blend is the result of my wish to capture the effect of the tide coming in over rocks at mid-day in high summer. The sea at this time is full of bright and lively blues, peppered with the glint of pebbles underneath. My favourite place to watch this happening is a cove called Geodh a' Chuibhrig near the village of Swordale in Lewis. It has a shingle beach of marvellous pebbles; a mysterious cave, and various massive rocks of different sizes and colours. There is one particular smooth black rock about twenty feet high, and it is from the top of this rock that I like to watch the summertide coming in. What follows is a story of absolutely no relevance whatsoever, apart from the fact that it has its denouement on this very beach near this black rock, so if you have no interest in tales of mutiny, murder and Spanish silver dollars, you had better skip...." (or read on)...

As you meander ("stravaigin") through her Hebridean collection, pay careful attention to her sources. It reminds me of the old saying to wander close to home when looking for inspiration.... Click on the title above to begin the journey... Enjoy!

StrandsofBeads Reviews Bead Dreams Exhibit

Many, many thanks to Melissa Lee of Strand of Beads for taking the time on Sunday to snap a few photos of the Bead Dreams exhibit and to report on the PMC and Seed Bead category ribbon winners! To see the artist's works (including Melissa's gorgeous Natural History belt buckle made of PMC & found objects) click on the title above. She's also listed a few of her favorites (treats!). Congrats to all the finalists and thanks again Melissa :)

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SoftFlexGirl Reviews Bead Dreams

Sara from SoftFlexGirl has a wonderful sneak peak of the first place ribbon winners from the Bead Dreams exhibit. To see the video, click on the title above. Congratulations to the winners!

SoftFlex Girl Reviews Convergence Exhibit

Sara from the SoftFlexGirl blog is at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. She's posted a lovely little video of the Convergence Exhibit. To learn more about this exhibit and to view her video, click on the title above or the image, right. Enjoy!

Bead & Button Show Opens in Milwaukee!

WAUKESHA, Wis. — More than 370 vendors and designers from around the world will be on hand selling their handmade, authentic creations. The Bead&Button Show marketplace is a unique opportunity for jewelry buyers to talk with jewelry artists, purchase one-of-a-kind pieces, order a custom-made piece, or go the DIY route and learn how to make their own.

The USA Today recently highlighted the Bead&Button Show as one of the country's top 10 great places for a hands-on craft experience (March 24, 2009). More than 13,000 people attended the Show last year. The Bead and Jewelry Marketplace is open to the public:
Friday, June 5
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 6
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 7 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The 120,000-square-foot Marketplace is located on the third floor of the Midwest Airlines Center in downtown Milwaukee. Admission is $10. Children under 12 get in free. A $2-off coupon is available at www.BeadAndButtonShow.com/coupon. On Sunday, two people get in for $10 with COUPON!


***I am absolutely honored this year to have my entry "Fiesta" appear on the Editor's blog today at BeadandButtonshow.com (BIG smiles!) Click on the title (or image, right) to see what's happening at this wonderful event. Bead Dreams finalists will be on display this week and subscribers to the magazine will be able to download a Special Issue of all the works coming in August. I can't wait to see all of the beautiful entries!!!
(Thank you Louise & Matt for sending the info along!)***

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