Ooh, another website for supplies!!!

One of the fun parts about blogging is getting to meet new people and see what they're about. That's why it's fun to link to all the different places you go and people you blogstalk...

So anyway, I got a tip from drive by comment on Rings & Things in Washington State. A lot of online stores have some info on their products, but Rings & Things has an extensive library's worth of information regarding different gemstones which is really easy to use. They sell wholesale supplies as well as small quantities for hobbyists. But get this- twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, they have A FIVE DAY SALE!!! Ok, so I had to check this thing out, right? The first time I clicked through to the website, I obviously missed out on the sale. Yes, yes, I know less is more and we're all spending less these days. There are some REALLY nice strands on clearance, but I haven't bought any yet. Need to pay off the bills first... but I definitely bookmarked this place and am passing it on to you!

Tackling the African Helix

Ever since reading this article from Howto.com, I've been dying to try out an African Helix. In all honesty, though, the sheer size of the spiral really intimidated me.

After surviving the Dutch Spiral, Russian Spiral, and Herringbone stitches, though, I think I'm ready to try it out. While putzing around on youtube, I found this great tutorial made by a lady who obviously knows a lot more about beading than I do. Actually, I really love her tutorials. She explains things so clearly I actually think I can follow her directions and end up with the desired outcome.



If anyone else is willing to try out this stitch with me, please shoot me an email or leave a comment with links to your blog or website showing off your African Helix projects!!!

More keiki bling

Here's a cute little bracelet inspired by a suggestion made my incredibly crafty and imaginative friend Myra. Naturally, as moms, we are always on the look out for cool stuff for the kids that is also safe and practical for them! This bracelet is perfect for kids ages 3+, made in a cuff style, so no messing with clasps or worrying about size. Unlike stretchy and other styles of bracelets made for kids, the crystals will not come off of the wire cuff unless you cut the wire. There is also no worrying about getting caught on playground equipment, since it is not a closed loop. And check out the light this thing throws!!! Older girls will like this too!

The only challenge I'm having is in capturing the cuteness of this bracelet. It looks a lot better on than just laying flat on a piece of cardstock. I threw the question out on Twitter a few days back and got a suggestion back from Meanbean to *gasp* use an actual child to model the thing!!! Oh wow, why didn't I think of that??? By the way, I took a gander at Meanbean's line of custom made purses. Let's just say that I am eyeballing some things for when I actually have a real paycheck!!!

More Pineapples

I love pineapples. Seriously! If you know me, I'm from Hawaii, hate wearing Aloha attire (too bright), don't like coconut (except haupia- YUMMY!!!), and pretty much don't like most Hawaiian music (unless it's an original or traditional Hawaiian song... most popular Hawaiian music is really just country or R&B with a ukelele... think about it). But I can't get enough of fresh Maui gold pineapples! Not that junk you get in a grocery store, but one that's sun ripened and freshly picked. *Slurp!*

Anyway, was making a bunch of these pineapple earrings and realized they would make great stitch markers... they're smooth- no sharp edges, weighted enough to lay nicely but still light, and just really pretty. So, I did up a set. I don't knit, but Sara turned me onto making stitch markers. I enjoy the wire working aspect of making stitch markers. It's really challenging to make round loops and even wire wraps... even harder to make a set with all of them the same. But each of these is neatly done with the ends tucked in AND all with the same number of wire wraps!

Leftovers?

Ok, so I started out the year saying I was going to blog daily and post lots of pictures. You know, I'm usually pretty good at sticking to New Year's resolutions. But, life is what happens while you're making other plans, right?

Here are some keshi pearl hair pins I made last night. I bought this particular strand to make my own bridal hair piece, and it's really beautiful. Since you pretty much have to buy pearls by the strand, I have tons of beautiful creamy keshi pearls. It seems a shame to call them leftovers, because they really aren't. Well, maybe they are. Here's a blurb on keshi pearls which I paraphrased from a couple different websites:

Unlike regular pearls, which are formed when something (called a nucleus) is embedded in a mollusk and coated with a substance (called nacre), keshi pearls are formed in one of two different ways. Sometimes, the mollusk rejects and spits out the nucleus before the development of the pearl is finished. The second way is happens when the nucleus fractures and forms two separate circles of nacre that do not have nuclei.

What this means is that keshi pearls are especially bright and lustrous. Their highly unique and irregular shapes ensure that no two are ever alike. Due to advances in pearl culturing techniques, keshi pearls are increasingly rare and now very difficult to find.

Well, I love them! The luster on this strand is just incredible. When it comes to pearls, you just can't cheap out and get the low end ones. They just don't compare.

Blogging for Beads with Artbeads...

So, I signed up for this program called Blogging for Beads with an online bead store, Artbeads. It's an interesting idea in that they offer bloggers the option to receive one of several new products for free in exchange for blogging about their program. I opted for an copper enameled pendant, with the Chinese symbol for Faith on the front. (It's written in English on the back.)

Honestly, I've had a bit of beader's block with this one. Originally, I envisioned something like this project, which is a copper necklace with freshwater pearls. It was pretty, but I wasn't quite satisfied and pulled it apart. Then I thought I would try making my own wire bail (similar to example #2 shown here) and string the pendant between pearls. That was pretty too, but I wasn't too sure when anyone would wear something like that, so I pulled it back apart. Then, I saw a facebook update from a friend whose mother passed away several years ago, and another idea popped in my head.

I scored a great deal on some hand dyed silk ribbons (again, on Artbeads- I swear they are NOT paying me to say this, but I do get a lot of my beading supplies there!!!) and decided to make a choker/yoga style bracelet with the pendant. Not a whole lot of beading going on here, but I did buy some 8mm sterling silver ribbon ends to finish the ends of a lightly pressed black silk ribbon. The pendant itself is hung on the ribbon with a sterling silver Awareness Ribbon bail. I tried a light pink ribbon first, since her mother passed away from cancer, but the look was just too whimsy for what I was going for. I also wanted to incorporate chain as part of a focal piece, but with the vibrant color of the pendant and the relatively large bail, it was better to keep it simple.

This piece was finished using a sterling silver infinity clasp and delicate silver chain as an extender with a Swarovski crystal drop in black diamond and jet. Anyway, rather than attempt to sell this on Etsy, I am going to send this to my friend. I hope it inspires her to have faith that even grief and loss are part of "the Plan," and that her mother is in good hands.

Mothers' Day sale

I scored a couple of really nice strands of pearls at Bead It! Best part is that the pearls were 50% off due their Mothers' Day specials. :) Can't pass up a good deal, now, can I???

For some odd reason, I've been on a sewing kick this weekend, so I haven't actually finished anything with these pearls yet. We'll see. :)

Something different

Maybe it's a mom thing, but I have no idea where April went!!! It's almost Mothers' Day, and Bead It is having a sale on pearls... all their freshwater pearls are 50% off until this weekend. So of course, I stopped by and scored a few really nice strands of colored/dyed pearls I've been eyeballing for a bit, and another strand of irregular chunky ones with an incredible luster. I also picked up a small sterling silver hoop with 1+1 loops to make a Mothers' Pendant for myself. (Swarovski crystal in birthstone colors.) And a pair of faceted semi-precious briolettes... the precise stone escapes me at the moment. I guess today's project is to take some photos, huh?

So what on Earth is this picture of a card doing on a beading blog? Well, those are the wedding invitations!!! (Thanks to Myra at Kassidy's Kreations for the help with the red sakura seal/focal piece. Sorry, I have no idea what you would call that in paper crafting terms!) Anyway, by doing some comparison shopping, I found Taylor's Paperie on Etsy, who did a spectacular job printing the flat invites (see the Cherry Blossom branch?), matching RSVP cards, and mailing envelopes with return addresses. Her service was absolutely incredible, shipping was the fastest I've ever experienced, and proofing the invites was the LEAST STRESSFUL part of the wedding planning by FAR!!! (Naturally, she also has some wonderful samples of invites for a multitude of occasions...) The price was very VERY good for such a small quantity. Perfect for the DIY destination bride!

I also got some pre-made pocketfolds and pre-cut mats/inserts at Cards & Pockets, an online store run by a mother-daughter team. The best part about Cards & Pockets is that once you hit the minimum quantity (usually 10 units), you can order odd numbers of items. We made 40 invitations and ordered a few extra pieces just in case. Could you buy the paper for less money? Sure, but I've got other things to do with my time... like bead! HAHAHAHAHA.