Enamel E-Course Giveaway!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Fn2xN9RK3i8

Barbara Lewis is having a giveaway on her blog of her Torch Fire Enameling eCourses! This is something I've never done before and would love to learn. If you would too, then click here to enter!

Bead Trends Cover!!

Welp, I don't have my copy yet, but I've heard from others that have already received the March 2012 issue. That's my piece on the cover!! I couldn't tell a soul until the release date, but am doing a happy dance now!!! I've been published before, but never a cover...until now.

I submitted the design to Northridge Publishing many months ago. When they told me they wanted it for the cover, you could've knocked me over with a stick! I was super excited but had to keep it quiet till now. Of course it will be more real once I have the actual magazine in hand and my necklace back. Can't wait. In the meantime, please check it out.

Bead Board With Folder by Creative Options

 

Look what came in the mail this week! This lovely new bead board from Creative Options! Let me begin by saying that it's got great visual appeal. The lovely padded cover incorporates all my favorite colors; purple, turquoise and green. There's a bit of orange too, but barely noticeable. The company name is even embroidered on in the lower right hand corner. Did I mention the visual appeal?? I couldn't wait to open it up to see what the inside looked like!

On the left it has green elastic stretch webbing material to hold all your tools. On the right is a bead design board where you can lay out your design. It has a plastic cover which will hold your beads in place too. The bead board is held in place by elastic in the 4 corners, but is removable so you can set it up wherever you like while working. Also, on the lower left is a small zippered pouch which will hold any other small miscellaneous items you might have, such as needles, beading thread, tubes of beads, etc. A sturdy velcro tab holds it all closed for traveling. They've thought of everything and at a very reasonable price! I found it on Amazon for $17.94. You can also check your local craft shops, Michaels, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby, etc. If they have it, you can use your weekly coupons for even more savings. I absolutely love mine & can't think of a single thing I would change about it! If you go to their website, you'll see lots of other craft organization products that they carry.

Right-Angle Weave Stitch Workshop

 

I've been a subscriber of Bead & Button magazine for over 10 years, loving all the beautiful projects. However, right angle weave is probably one of my most challenging stitches. So I was looking forward to reviewing this book and trying out some of the patterns. I flipped through the pages and earmarked just about all of them to try. Shock, I know! lol! This book is chock full of beautiful projects from the beginner to the more advanced. I decided to try the Crystal Ribbon pattern. This is a photo of the one in the book.

 

I made a few changes to it to make it more personal. Here's my version, without the longer ovals.

All in all, I find this book to be a wonderful compilation of RAW (right-angle weave) projects for those wanting to tackle all sorts of projects. The only down side is that I personally would've liked to see more 2-needle RAW projects. I prefer it over 1-needle, but that's just me.

Featured Artisan: Allurynn - Creations by Moonlight

This week's Featured Artisan is Allurynn - Creations by Moonlight! Beautiful creations by a very 

talented artisan! You can find Creations by Moonlight on:

Website

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Bead Soup is Here!

 
Lookie what came in the mail today....a lovely package from my Bead Soup Blog partner, Kristie Roeder. She makes lovely pendants out of artisan clay, hence her shop name. Ready to see what she sent?

When I opened the gift box, I found this baggie with all sorts of fun wood beads mixed in with beautiful seafoam glass beads. At least I think they're glass, not quite sure. They might be Amazonite. So, what's behind the 3 bright pink wrappers?

She sent not 1, but THREE focals for me to choose from and a darling silver clasp. Now to think of something special to make with these lovely beads so I do them justice.

And here's a pic I took of the beads I sent her way. I feel OK about sharing since I know she's received them already. I'm sorry for the crappy pic. I took this at night before quickly packing them up to send them on their way to her. Hopefully she took a better picture than I did. I sent her a lampwork glass focal and 4 matching rounds (made,by me :-) ) a strand of beautiful purple freshwater pearl drops, some copper beads and a matching Tierra Cast copper toggle clasp, 1 of my favorites. This being my 1st Bead Soup Blog Party, I hope I did OK and she likes what I've sent her.