Saturday, July 15, 2006

Earrings for Mom


nerdcraft: Earrings for Mom: "They're made of glass fish-shaped turquoise beads, with coral-colored round glass beads on top. I got the beads and accoutrements (love that word...haha) at the Original Ornament in Carrboro. To be honest, I haven't beaded since I made plastic pony bead bracelets in middle school, and I have no idea what I'm doing. I think these turned out okay, though, and I'm working on some more pairs. "

These are cute!
Felicity 8-)

Friday, July 14, 2006

Necklace revamp



viva metal! - Princess: "I redid this necklace tonight. I made a new chain for it with smaller rings to make the pendant stand out more and redid the beading to be more substantial. And now it's up on Etsy!"

I love seeing before and after photos!
Felicity 8-)

Thursday, July 13, 2006

BlossomLuxe Jewels : Wish me luck...


BlossomLuxe Jewels : Wish me luck...: "Tomorrow (July 14, 2006) the 25 finalists are being announced for the Creative Beading Swarovski Awards of Excellence, an Australian competition to design a piece of jewellery using only Swarovski beads.

My entry is a scarf-style lariat, made from what I estimate to be over 1200 individually wire wrapped Swarovski crystal bicone and round crystal beads.

The design was inspired by the art-deco style square frame crystals, that in the Jet colour reminded me of 1930's hollywood glamour with an oriental twist. I chose to stick to a monochrome palette (because black is the new black this year) and graduate the colour from Jet through to Crystal, with all of Swarovski's grey/silver shades in between including some of the newer beads like Crystal Silver Shade."

This is gorgeous!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Craft Sale Check Sheet - Items to Pack for a Craft Sale

Craft Sale Check Sheet - Items to Pack for a Craft Sale: "Craft Shows can be an exciting time. You've created a product and now you're ready to promote and sell it at the local craft fair. However, it can be challenging to pack, load your vehicle, drive to the sale and then set up.

An organized system with a good check sheet is essential. Keep the check list on your computer and update and print it whenever you need it. If an item is forgotten, it may result in a poor display and a loss of income. Load your vehicle a day in advance so you have extra time to think of last minute items. Pack as compactly as possible, and arrive early so you can unload before the vendor parking area is congested. Use a dolly or cart to move your load quickly in and out of an event."

I found this article really interesting, so if you regularly participate in craft shows, I'd recommend you go and read it.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Beading until it hurts!

To win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths. -: "Beaded like a crazy person last night - made a wire coil bracelet, some odd twisted wire tree earrings, a choker of sorts with beads and wire, and am 2/3 of the way through an experimental square-stitch necklace. Photos when I have a few more things finished, I think. I beaded so much that my right arm actually feels sluggish today!"

Now that's what I call a creative spurt!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Friday, July 07, 2006

Antique Typewriter Key Beaded Initial Pendant



Antique Typewriter Key Beaded Initial Pendant: "You can make this fun Antique Typewriter Key Beaded Initial Pendant for yourself with just a few basic beading supplies. Antique typewriter keys are available on auction sites. If you have an old typewriter, you can remove the keys and file the little nib off of the back or have someone with a grinder do it for you. You can also find old typewriters for sale a second hand, thrift and antique stores just about everywhere.


What an interesting piece of jewelry - something different for someone who perhaps likes antiques? Click on the title to get full instructions
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

I love this clasp!



blog.myspace.com/marymuffin: "I love this clasp, but alas, it will be replaced by a sterling silver one of a slightly different design (but my wrist will enjoy it anyway - and anyone else who would want this even though it isn't sterling silver)"

This is a gorgeous clasp - I haven't seen one like it before.
Felicity 8-)

Bead work cover story

Bead work cover story: "On her fourth decade of creative adventures and a serious beader since 1997, Deni Whaley this month reached an artistic pinnacle.

Her innovative scented beaded beads are the featured cover story in the August issue of Bead and Button Magazine, a top glossy publication for avid bead-lovers around the world. The cover photo features a rainbow creation she made six years ago and inside her step-by-step article lays out the basics of recreating her idea.

Getting top billing surprised her for an idea she pitched last fall, got approval for around Christmas and wrote up this spring. She just found out recently that her necklace, one of four she sent to magazine staff at their Milwaukee, Wis. headquarters for photos, would be the cover art."

I really enjoyed this article, I hope you do too! Some unusual beading ideas in there too.
Felicity 8-)

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Beading : Discover the Fun, Benefits and Beauty of this Popular Hand Craft By Rose Mary

Beaded items are very popular nowadays. In shopping malls, department stores or designers’ stores, we will not fail to find lots of beautiful beaded items for sale such as bags, purses, bracelets, necklaces, wall hangings, cushion covers, etc. A lot of people find beads not only attractive but irresistible. Beads come in many different shapes, sizes, textures, colors and designs. Designers of accessories, jewelry, and interiors make use of the richness of their colors and the diversity of their shapes to create astounding pieces. Items made with beads are indeed captivating and useful. People use completed beading items such as bracelets and necklaces as accessories to enhance their appearance, while beading items like wall hangings, cushion covers, etc are used to decorate their homes. Fabrics with beads could help to add to the decor of homes.


Beads have been valued for centuries. Since early times, people have been acquainted with beads, primarily in the form of berries, seeds, stones and shells. Later, beads came to be manufactured from clay, glass, metal and crystals and, more recently, acrylics and plastics. People have been involved in beading for a very long time. They enjoy selecting beads and combining them to form an attractive piece of work. It is a very popular form of craft work for both old and young. Some do it for work, others do it for hobby. People enjoy beading because they find it extremely rewarding. It offers them an opportunity to unleash their creativity and helps to enhance their lives. There are those who believe that beads can become an obsession. Some say that it could be addictive. Nonetheless, it is indeed satisfying to use beads to make beautiful masterpieces for yourself, for your home, or even as gifts for your friends.
The beauty of beadwork is its versatility. There is a wide range of beads you can choose from the market. An extensive range of beading supply is available. You can select the types, shapes, sizes, colors and textures of the beads to create the pattern you want. Besides, there is a wide spectrum of beading techniques that can be applied to beads – wiring, threading, weaving, sticking and embroidering. You can choose to use the method you like. Beading techniques could be either threadless or threaded. Although there are relatively few ways of uniting beads without thread, such as with glue or tile grout, however, there are hundreds of ways involving the use of thread. As each completed item would be a result of your own selection, creativity and skill, you will certainly derive great satisfaction from your work.


Beading is considered an economical craft work. You do not need a special workshop. You only require a table, good lighting, some beading equipment and selected beads. With these, you can design and make really exciting pieces of beaded items. You can even create a piece of jewelry that will become a family heirloom!


The basics of beading are easy to learn. There are many resources available with step-by-step beading instructions to enable a starter to learn doing beading projects. When you have learned the basic techniques, you can go ahead to create even more pieces using a multitude of your own ideas. This could be as simple as changing the colors on one of the beading patterns you have learned or using beads of a different size. You will be surprised at how much these small changes can alter the look of the original piece. The possibilities of creating new designs are endless. You can attempt to test your design after creating it. If you find that your idea doesn’t work, you can take it apart and try a new one. Beading is fun and interesting. Be adventurous, always experiment and you’ll enjoy it.


More information on beading techniques can be obtained from the below link : Beading Instructions


Rose MaryEnjoys and appreciate beading and beading items. Beading Instructions
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rose_Mary

Hope you enjoyed this!
Felicity 8-)

Friday, June 30, 2006

Patricia's beading designs



Patricia sent me these great beading projects. The bags are really cute, and apparently the foot thongs are very popular with young girls. So perhaps you can get some gift ideas! These also sell very well, apparently.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Friday, June 23, 2006

:::::Kate::::: - Beads are addictive

:::::Kate::::: - Beads are addictive: "I was talking into going to a beading class. I think I'm now officially addicted. I figure if I can go to one class and end up dreaming of beads and all the things I can do with them, I guess that's a sign I'm getting obsessive.

On the plus sign, after getting comments from everyone who saw my very first pair of earrings, I could start selling them, and in terms of income, it makes perfect sense. The cost of putting a pair of earrings together is less than $1, and I can easily sell them for $5 a pair. I've also learned to make charm bracelets and necklaces and all sorts of professional looking things. I had had ideas of perhaps selling some of my knitting, but selling jewellery looks like it can be much more lucrative. So I might see what happens. Even if I don't sell them, I have birthday, Christmas and just-because presents for people that can be unique and yet not cost me a fortune - depending of course on what sort of beads I use."

I love to read posts like this - partially because it's nice to know there's another addicted beader out there, but also because it's great when people can do something they love and get paid for it.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Summer Bouquet Pins


Liz posted this in the forum recently, and it was so gorgeous I had to add it here!
These are her comments:

"Just a way to use up any extra beads you have lying around.
Make a "Summer Bouquet" pin... Ps...Mine sold three hours after it was made."

Even better, she chose my favorite colours!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Monday, June 12, 2006

Stitch Markers


Rachel Knits: Stitch Markers: "Behold my stitch markers (and blurry picture)! Yep, these beaded stitch markers are functional quality artfully created beaded alright. Actually, if you pretend not to see the wire coming off the side of one of them, they aren't too bad for my first try. Especially if you consider that I have no idea what I'm doing. The closest I've ever come to beading is picking out pretty beads at the bead store/head shop and having someone else string them into a pretty necklace."

I think these are a great first effort!
Maybe there's a market out there for stitch markers, if you're keen to find an untapped niche market!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Beading Frenzy


Beading Frenzy: "Another part of the extravaganza consisted of a beading workshop. Dolores, my aunt Lynn's mother, is 82 and still as spunky as ever. She told my family bead experts Mimi and Ann that she'd like to learn how to bead, so that turned on the green light for a beading frenzy. Dolores definitely looks like she enjoyed herself."

What a great photo! And wonderful to see this 82yo lady enjoying herself so hugely.
Of course I'm also drooling at the site of the blue box holding all the beads - that looks like a very handy way to have all your beads at your fingertips!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Monday, June 05, 2006

Flight of Fancy


Copper Moon Studios: "I made this last year for one of my sisters for Christmas... A girl recently saw it and wanted a set for her wedding this Saturday (as well as a copy of a bracelet I did for her earlier this year in sterling and peridot). "

This is gorgeous - such lovely colours and a very elegant design too.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Another Beader heading for success!


Check out her blog: "We're up and running, finally! No website, yet... but we've got a couple of things up on eBay. Anyway, there's much excitement and some plans (big? maybe) in the works... we'll eventually have some crystal suncatcher dangles, and some interesting chainmail necklaces, chokers and bracelets. There's also been talk of watches, bracelets, and rings made out of silverware... and possibly some Renaissance style jewelry. Eventually, there will be some silver band rings, and other assorted pieces, with yellow gold, white gold, and platinum by request. Of course, we're always coming up with new designs in beading... so you'll just have to keep an eye on us."

It's always great to see someone up and running with their beading business - congrats!
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Monday, May 22, 2006

What's New In Beads

Hello everyone
I took a walk along St Kilda Esplanade here in Melbourne on Sunday. Brrrr!!! It may only be autumn here in Victoria, Australia, but it felt like Winter. My ears suffered.
Anyway, there's a whole string of craft stalls along the Esplanade on Sundays, so it was interesting to see what the jewelry makers were selling.
On the whole, my impression was that jewelry was very simple, and quite chunky. Lots of chunky silver bracelets and necklaces, with only minimal beads (curses!). A very common style was to have a solid silver necklet, with one bead hanging off it.
As for the beads, resin and lampwork beads were definitely in. Very colourful, long tube shaped beads, particularly in earrings.
So I found it quite fascinating, it will be interesting to see if the trend appears in the mainstream.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Crystal Bracelet


Surprisingly Non-Flammable Crystal Bracelet: "Here's the first one of the new set. I'm getting started with a big, orange bang. Try to wear this and not get (favorably) noticed!
Fantasticly orange Swarovski crystals, sterling silver components, and the best beading wire. 7 and 3/4 inches long."


I like this bright and cheerful bracelet, great for livening up your summer gear. Orange isn't my colour, but it would look great on my sister.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Interesting Beads


My Mil Gayle gave me some beads so...: "My Mil Gayle gave me some beads so...
I did some beading!"

I particularly like this necklace, unusual beads.
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)

Beading Loom


Beading Loom: "So here's my latest obsession:
It's a beading loom for making bracelets. My friend Linda, from work, gave it too me in exchange for me burning her a cd. Only thing is I HATE IT! God, it's infuriatingly slow work >< However, I'm determined to finish at least one bracelet."

Ahhh, it's amazing how many people end up obsessed by beads... not that I'm one of them, of course hehehee
Keep smiling
Felicity 8-)