as seen in BEAD STYLE MAGAZINE for Summer 09!
Monthly Archives: May 2009
The Loot
The bead show was a success. It was kind of a pain to drive there, about an hour and a half. And the show is really quite small when you think about Bead & Button. But there are several good vendors at this show every year… I bought beads from Green Girl Studios, Keith O’Connor beads were offered at the GGS table, Park Avenue Beads, and Veni Vidi. Some of the vendors there were selling lots of art beads, but I wasn’t quite sure it was legitimate- like were they really selling Marsha Neal beads or were they knock-offs? I also felt like a lot of the prices for stones were a bit high, so most of my loot was glass, a few stones, Ceramic and pewter of course!
Top Row: Faceted Amazonite rounds, Glass drops in clear and green, and some jasper nuggetsSecond row: Faceted Briolettes, I’m not sure what they are, but like the color A LOT!
and then several strands of Fire-polished glass beads in some nice summer colors.
I picked up a couple of hanks of seed beads in some colors
that were not as obtainable, and good for summer desgins. Coral, Pewter(so unique!),
a summer mix of teals, and the hank all the way on the right, the beads have this really cool shape, I’ve never seen before. Click the pic to see it bigger.
I had a nice time chatting with TJ at GGS. TJ is Greg Ogden’s college friend, and always does the Albany show. He lives in Boston now. Some day I’d like to show up there and see Andrew. That would be a real treat!
The GGS table was selling Keith O’Connor’s ceramic beads, and the colors are out of this world, so I picked out a few. They were also selling glass beads from CNY Glass (they are local actually so I can find their beads readily)
And of course, picked up some pewter and Shibuchi beauties. Tried to
get a few pieces that I have never used, like the Mermaid ring, and the little
sparrow head. And the little frogs, and rings on the bottom row, I plan
on making into earrings.
Now it’s time to play!!!
Button it!
I’ve gone a little nuts lately with the acquisition of some ceramic buttons to my collection. I can’t help it! They are so versatile, and there are some really super talented ceramic artisans out there making them. No, I’m not using them on hand-knit sweaters, or handmade bags. I’m using them in jewelry and it’s a blast!
I contacted LeAnn of SummersStudio Etc. a few weeks ago about making me some buttons and in return, LeAnn wanted a cuff bracelet using one of her pieces. LeAnn sent me some gorgeous buttons. The details on each one, and the beautiful Summery colors- I’m in heaven!
So I sat down and made LeAnn’s bracelet using this Yellow sunflowery type button, some wood cuff beads, and Ceramic Mykonos beads in cream, brown and coppery pink. I like how the Mykonos beads spin as you stretch it over your hand
I also discovered another ceramic artisan on Etsy. Leaves of Clay! What’s not to like about leaf impressions on a clay button! GORGEOUS! And so earthy, and right up my alley really. So I ordered a few from Michele, and they arrived this week.
I’m getting ready to head to Albany today. BEAD EXPO HERE I COME!!
I’ve got cash in hand, and a mental shopping list, and I’m praying I don’t spend all my cash at the Green Girl Studios booth. 😉
Goddess
Melanie at Earthenwood Studio, sent me these pretty Face cabochons recently. I received this leafy green one, and also another that has a matte brown finish. I’ve never used a cabochon before now! I wasn’t really sure what to do with something that didn’t have a hole in it of some sort. Thinking and thinking, I figured the only thing I could do was try another never-tried-before technique. Filigree! I am sure you’ve noticed that I have not really played around much with filigree wrapping. Yea, I’ve used filigree beads, but just as BEADS. So awhile back, after I had gotten the cabochons, I ordered this Vintaj Brass Co. filigree piece from Bello Modo, hoping that it would fit around the face. Looking at it, initially, it didn’t look like it was the right size, it looked too big. Well don’t you know, I started bending the edges around the face, and it worked out perfectly! Next challenge, finding jumprings small enough to fit through the holes in the filigree wrap. Luckily I had some itty bitty jumprings that worked.
I like the overall design of this necklace. The small brass cable chain looks so great in large quantities. I attached like 8 strands of chain together using small jumprings, and thread them all through a larger jumpring attached to the top of the filigree wrapped cab. This necklace has a very regal feeling to it, doesn’t it? The rich faceted glass rondelles in a pale gold, and the brown glass pearls. The leaf clasp pulls the whole piece together, implying that this Goddess is one with nature.
This piece is available for sale in my Etsy shop. On sale, today only for $39!
That’s $9 off the original price of $48!
You’ve gotta watch this
Every owl needs a good head scratch. Can I get one of these for a pet?
Innovative Bead Expo, Albany
I am planning on finally going to a bead show. It’s been over a year since I’ve been to one. The Innovative Bead Expo is coming to Albany NY, this weekend. I like going to this show over the one in Syracuse because Green Girl Studios does the Albany show, but not the Syracuse show. Fortunately, Joe will be working this weekend, so I’ve got Saturday free!
In honor of this fun trip, I want to have a bit of a sale so that I can take some extra cash with me to get some beads! I’ve discounted some of the bracelets in my shop, discounted $5-$8 below regular prices. Here is a shot of what is there now. I’m sure I’ll be adding some throughout the day.
Book Recommendation: Enchanted Adornments
You’ve probably read a thousand book recommendations about Cynthia Thornton’s new and upcoming book called Enchanted Adornments.
It’s the talk of the town. Everyone is discussing it.
I thought I’d jump on this bandwagon and tell you that you HAVE to pre-order this book TODAY. Seriously.
There is a super special reason that I can’t share the details about just yet,
But just know that it will be in your best interest if you have this gorgeous book in your library as soon as it comes out.
Probably around Nov. 15th!
Another cool thing about this is that there is a Facebook page for the book! Not only that but, for every 100 Fans (GO BECOME A FAN RIGHT AWAY!!) they offer a Green Girl Studios beads giveaway! AND they are also showing little behind the scenes stuff like images of some of the pages from the book. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve seen. Every page is gorgeous. And of course, there is a nice project in the book with an owl- can’t help but LOVE that!
What a fun way to promote the book. Facebook is amazing.
SO you have a lot to do today.
1. pre-order the book
2. Become a Fan of the Enchanted Adornments Facebook page
Better get on it, time’s a wastin’!
Back to work
It’s been so nice having 3 days off. We were busy bees around the Eurto household. Actually feel like I accomplished a lot! I made a ton of jewelry…. going into the shop this morning. I forgot to figure out the next giveaway though, so that will be on my mind today. Stay tuned, I promise it will come soon. The weather has been so nice the past few days! I think we finally are seeing some Spring weather. It’ll be hot in no time. I am a little nervous about this, because the second floor of my house can get pretty steamy in the summer. Without an air conditioner in the bead studio, I might have to be a travelling beader. The bedroom? The family room perhaps? A temporary table somewhere cooler?
Anyhoo, back to work today. Here are some new bracelets going into the shop this morning. Have a good Tuesday ya’all!
Birds of a Feather
“Birds of a feather are flocking outside
Like whippets they dance in a curly-queue dance
Of pulses and ringing and campfire chants
Of ritual drumming although at first glance
You thought you could run but you won’t take a chance”
-Phish, Birds of a Feather
loreleieurtojewelry 
