The Beadful Life @ beadFX

New This Week!

2012-02-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's TWINS!!!

"Congratulations - it's TWINS!" - there's a phrase to strike fear into the hearts of many a brave parent.

However - these twins aren't terrifying - they are a new oval seed bead from Czech that have two - count 'em - two holes. They look sort of like those little oval domino masks for masquerades and carnivals. They also look like little pig snouts - but I'm thinking "snout beads" is probably not a winning name - so we'll just stick with "twins" - shall we?

There will be about 80 colours - so far we have about half of them - the rest to come.

These are from Preciosa-Ornela - and they have quite a few pictures and suggestions on their site for using them - so check them out!

Thread - you are going to need some thread to go with those seedbeads! We've just added the C-LON line of coloured threads to our line up! Available in two sizes - AA is a fine thread - suitable for complex weaves with multiple passes - D is a standard size, suitable for most bead weaving uses.

Flower Jade - we decided that this was pretty enough to warrant being a Stone of the Month. From New Zealand, Flower Jade gets it's rich and varied colours from "weathering" - when a boulder of jade is exposed to the elements - a "rind" or skin develops from the exposed side downward through the stone and makes colour changes that are more dramatic the closer to the edge of the boulder that the beads are cut. It ranges from translucent to opaque and colours are include white, cream, lemonade, caramel, ginger, ochre, sage, greys, and blacks

It has a hardness of about 6 on the Mohs scale.
Metaphysically - Flower Jade is said to enhance self-confidence, and help you hear your "spiritual side" better - especially through gaining knowledge from dreams.

And in case you missed it - or are new to the site! - we are at our new location - more info on our About Us page.

Wonderful stuff all over the site, as always, so go ahead, click on a link or a picture above, or start with the Main Page, if you are feeling intrepid, (there is a LOT of stuff there), or chunk it down into bite-size portions by checking out the categories: Click on a link and go crazy! Firepolish, Pressed Glass, Swarovski Crystal, Seedbeads, Stone and Pearls, Preciosa Crystal, Metal Beads, Other Cool Beads, Findings, Metal Clay & Supplies or Books, Kits, Tools. Look for the "new" tags!

Or maybe check out all our free, yes, free projects. A new one every week.

Hadar Jacobson Teaching in March!

2012-02-01T13:51:00.000-05:00

Patterns of Colour in Metal Clay - March 30 through to April 1st. 3 day class

I know many of you have been waiting for our update on this. The class is now confirmed, and up on the site. Run and sign up! We are still working out the details and cost of the student kits. More information as we have it.

In this 3-day workshop you will learn how to combine base metal clays to create different color patterns, such as bulls-eye canes and mokume-gane. These new techniques were developed to suit the nature of metal clay and are significantly different from polymer clay and metalsmithing techniques.
We will be using mostly copper, bronze and steel clays. The class will include a discussion and demonstration of the firing process. You will also gain practice of the finishing process from beginning to end.
Metal Clay Experience Required .
Technique Focus: Learn how to combine base metal clays to create different colour patterns.
Prerequisite: Experience in metal clay is required.

Price: $450.00 (+tax), deposit or payment in advance required
Supplies Required : A selection of clay and finishing tools are required. For the full supplies list, please email our class coordinator at jenny@beadfx.com
Kit Fee: TBA
Need to Bring: Enthusiasm and a smile!!

To enroll in this class, please call 416.701.1373
or toll free 877.473.2323
(877.473.BEAD)
General Class Deposit Policy: Deposits are non-refundable. Notice given 5 days prior will be converted to store credit. Cancellation after that will forfeit the deposit.

Open Beading Nights

2012-01-31T09:43:00.000-05:00

Our popular Open Beading Nights are now posted on the class schedule! Many of you have been asking about our upcoming classes. The classroom is still under construction, but coming along - stay tuned for more updates!

Thursday February 9th
Thursday February 16th
Wednesday February 22nd
Wednesday February 29th

Open Beading Night
Do you have questions about a beading project? Are you looking for inspiration or creative input? Why not drop by an Open Beading Night at beadFX?

Stephanie (and her sparkling personality!) will be in the classroom from about 6pm to 8pm most Thursdays to answer questions and give advice.
Calling in advance to reserve a seat is highly recommended.
Fees: Free!!!

About Stephanie : Stephanie Dixon is proud to be a CREATE YOUR STYLE with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Ambassador in Canada. She is a popular wire bead crochet and wirework designer/instructor in the Greater Toronto Area. Also known as The Dixon Chick, she is excited to be teaching in Tucson for Swarovski and on the 2011 CREATE YOUR STYLE cruise. For more info, please visit her blog,
www.thedixonchick.blogspot.com

Please register by calling 416.701.1373
or toll free 877.473.2323
(877.473.BEAD)
General Class Deposit Policy: Deposits are non-refundable. Notice given 5 days prior will be converted to store credit. Cancellation after that will forfeit the deposit.

How much would you pay for success?

2012-01-30T07:41:00.000-05:00

Got into an interesting conversation yesterday with someone who has retired from a career of being in the marketing and promotion and logo-design business. We got to yakking about how hard it is, in general, to convince people that "art" is valuable.

So as we were talking - he told me of a life-time of pitching advertising campaigns to business owners who, in his words, "acted like I was costing them money." He went on to explain that he had spearheaded re-branding projects for companies that literally had turned them from money losers to big, successful corporations (you would recognize the names if I told you). And the campaigns had run in the thousands of dollars (less than ten) - and returned millions many times over.

The phrase stopped me cold, so I'll repeat it. "They acted as if the advertising/logo/branding was going to cost them money."

Except that's exactly what makes you money - people remembering your name, knowing who you are and what you do, and coming to you when they need your product or service.

If you are new to making jewelry - you may not have yet run into the phenomenon of people not valuing your work. If you have been at it awhile, and maybe have tried making jewelry for sale - you will eventually run into people who think that your time and creativity have no value.

We live in a culture that deliberately devalues art and creativity - from stereotyping the "starving artist" to turning school art programs into time-killing and time-wasting afterthoughts. Art is a low-status career - ever hear of an important and powerful wedding photographer?

I don't have a solution for this - I just thought I would mention this as something to think about. I don't think it's right - but it's so deeply entrenched - I don't know how you would change it.

The Joy of Metal Clay: Saul Bell Award Finalist

2012-01-29T02:30:00.000-05:00

The Saul Bell Award Finalists have been announced and posted on their site. I shared with you the work submitted by Shannon Kennedy of Kitchener, Ontario last week.

This week I want to share a finalist's work that I think is fabulous. Christi Anderson of Marana, Arizona received recognition for two pieces she entered.

Christi Anderson, Finalist entry for the Saul Bell Award - Metal Clay

Christi Anderson, Finalist Entry for the Saul Bell Award - Metal Clay

Unfortunately the title or additional information about this pieces are unavailable but the detail and complexity of her designs are inspiring.

Christi's Website showcases her work and provides links to her Etsy sales. Lovely work.

The Business Chat - Know what you sell

2012-01-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

So you have made a pile of work andnow you need to sell it. How hard can it be? It’s really easy to sell a fewthings here and there, but oh, you made a BIG pile. Oh, you want to actuallymake some money, you might even want to make things for a living. Well that’sstill not hard but it takes a bit of smarts.

Step one of how to sell your work is:Know what you sell.

Most new sellers will blink, and thenwonder if this is a trick question. That’s easy, you think, I made asweater/pot/earrings/pillow. That’s what I sell.

No.

That is your product.

People don’t buy products. People buysolutions.

It’s your job as a salesperson tofigure out what their problem is and then position your work as the solution totheir problem.

Ihear you muttering away, just as I did when I first heard this. “There’s noproblem, they just want earrings/mittens/art.” I’ve said this before and I’llsay it again, if a customer just wanted earrings they’d go to a mall. Thecustomer has sought out (through a craft show or online) HANDMADE earrings.

Time after time in my booth I hear, “wow, there’s so much talent here, I wish Icould do something like this.” Are you listening? The customer’s problem isthat they think they can’t create, that they aren’t artistic. And they thinkyou are. The customer is looking for a creative story.

You need to sell you as a story. Give them a fully formed real live 3D artist.If you’re selling online presenting you the artist lends your work authenticityand depth. For those at a craft show I can guarantee at least 10 times a dayyou’ll be asked something along the lines of “how long have you been doing this?”or “where did you learn?”.

It’s hard when you’re starting out and haven’t yet fully claimed the wordartist as you. Some people never really know what to say and just hum andfidget. But you, the savvy craftista, will be ready to continue theconversation and communicate your story. For communication is marketing andmarketing leads to sales.

Thesecond step to solving your customers’ problems is to communicate to them whyyour product will make their life better. This is explaining the benefits ofyour work, not the features.

While features are important and should bementioned, if you want your customer to take out their wallets and hand overtheir hard-earned money you need to convince them of the benefits your productoffers.

What’s the difference between a featureand a benefit?

- A feature is simply a characteristic ofa product.

- A benefit explains what the customer hasto gain by using the product.

Thefeatures are about the product. The benefits are about the customer.
Anyone canmake a list of a product’s features. But it takes a bit of work to convert eachof those features into benefits. A handy trick you can use is to add the phrase“which means…” to the end of each feature.

For example: a pair of mittens

Feature – made with 100% handspun wool.
Benefit – your hands stay warm and cozy.
Feature - costs less
Benefit - saves you money
Feature - comes in multiple colors
Benefit - reflects your personality

Here’s your homework for this week.

Toget you started pick up your notebook and spend some time answering thesequestions on paper. Write several paragraphs on each question. If you feel tooself-conscious at first write about yourself in the third person until you getthe details down. Learn to spin your story.

How did you become an artist?
How did you learn your skill?
What training have you had? Have you studied with any big names? Taken a course at a well-known school?
How long have you been making your current work?
What did you make before this?
What was your creative path?
What is it about your current work/technique that lights your fire? Why do you do it?
What new techniques do you want to learn? What’s in your artistic future?
What do you love most about being an artist?

Now, take10 of your “products”. Write down the features of each product. At the end ofthe features list add the words “which means” and write the benefits.

Go.

Inspiration Friday

2012-01-27T18:20:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our newest version of Inspiration Friday. We thought we'd made a few changes, namely allowing folks to choose their own inspiration, and the biggie - we give you a lot more time! If you would like to participate in the next one, see the end of this post for complete details.

I love the idea of using an inspiration palette to base your design on. We all tend to stick with our own comfortable colour palettes, and this is just such an easy way to expand your range.

First up, we have this one from Lyndsey - A last minute one that turns out was well worth it to finish up. She sold it 5 minutes after posting it!

Here was Lyndsey's inspiration source.

Lyndsey McCollam
Jewelry Creations by Lyndsey
jewelry@jewelrycreations.ca
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lizardpoint
https://www.facebook.com/JewelryCreationsByLyndsey

Alicia worked from this image from DesignSeeds

Mysticism is brought to you by Alicia Marinache, owner designer at All the Pretty Things, a Burlington, ON shop of hand crafted wearable art and home décor. Taking her inspiration from nature, Alicia creates unique high-quality jewelry using sterling silver, semi-precious stones, pearls, and crystals. In today’s increasingly busy world, through her one of a kind designs Alicia brings you snapshots of beauty in an oasis of peace and tranquility. Her designs are elegant, versatile, classy and soft – the perfect accent for the modern woman. Read her blog on All the Pretty Things website and shop at her Art Fire store

I hope you enjoyed this months challenge, and I hope to see you (and more!) back next month. If you would like to participate in the next challenge, here are the details:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deadline February 23rd, 2012

Before the cutoff date, send your pictures to us, and we'll blog your inspiration source, and your finished project. Feel free at that time to send us along any other info you want to include. We'll publicize your blog or etsy/artfire/etc site as well.

For example, I think I'll make mine from this one:

You can make your jewelry/beadwork out of any materials you wish. This can be stringing, wirework, lampwork, polymer clay - whatever you wish!

(Many of us use Design Seeds as in inspiration source. Feel free to use any inspiration source you wish. Design Seeds just happens to be among my favourites.)

Here's how to submit:

* Send an email to jennifer@beadfx.com with a picture of your inspiration source (or a link to the source)
* include an image of your creation
* include any contact information you want us to include in the blog posting

Happy Creating!

New This Week

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Back to Business

We are BACK - back to business as (more or less) usual. The new store is open - the showroom is ... dazzling - and it's not even finished yet!

And so - we are back to bringing you our weekly selection of new yummies!

Check this out! Check out this fabulous new fancy chain that we found when we were in New York last month!

Actually - a whole whack of cool chains! We have Leafy, in Copper and Gunmetal, or if the stars aren't out tonight - you can wear your own with this Celestian Star Charm Chain (ok - say THAT three times fast.)

Or how about this 3 in 1 - three fine chains joined by a bead every inch or so. Or this Foxtail chain - (note - the grooves on the wire on this chain make it a little rough in your hand.)

Or this Loopy Charm chain (if you love our Sterling Frothy Chain, but need CPR everytime you look at the price - you can get really excited about the Loopy Charm chain!)

This heavy, matte-finished Rolo Chain is my personal fave of this lot - it has weight, substance, and drama. I'm really looking forward to using this!

Now HERE'S something you don't see every day - shoe clips.This nifty little finding is sort of like a clip-on earring on steroids. It has a much stronger spring, and teeth for gripping (if you put in on an ear - you would damage yourself!) The idea is that you make your decoration, bow, rhinestone, wired whathaveyou, and clip into onto the front of your shoes. It can be clipped off for casual, swapped to different shoes, and salvaged when you wear the shoes out. You can make your toes twinkle, wear bells on your toes, or even toe the line. ;-)

Other cool stuffs - When Jen was hunting for inspiration for her partridge-in-a-pear-tree earrings - she could have used these! It's a pendant or earring (large, but very light!) - with a pastoral scene of a tree on a farm! Dangle crystals or beads off the 5 loops on the bottom. We have them in goldtone, silvertone, and copper. She's getting all Valentiney - so check out her new inspiration!

Or, picture this - the Three Stooges. (bear with me). The mean dude asks the third dude to pass him a snake. He reaches into a barrel and pulls one out and says - in the weird squeaky accent with the giggle on the end of every sentence - "Soipently, nyuk nyuk nyuk."

I present, for your enjoyment - the Soipently clasp.
And if you conclude from that, that I am a basket case (not an altogether invalid conclusion) - you can celebrate that discovery with these knitted basket-like big hole beads! (Just call me the queen of the segue.)
Other assorted goodies, like magnetic bayonet clasps for leather, chain, or ribbon. Or a Bezeled flower - fill with epoxy clay and encrust with rhinestones. Or this key charm - also with a bezel for a stone, or not, if you just want to go with the plain key.
And a whole whack of new magazines, so you have lots of ideas for new projects.

And in case you missed it - or are new to the site! - we are at our new location - more info on our About Us page.

Or maybe check out all our free, yes, free projects. A new one every week.

Do you do Hearts?

2012-01-25T08:34:00.002-05:00

Yup, it's that time of year again. Valentines day is coming up. You either love it, hate it - or simply don't really care one way or another. ;-) To be honest, I don't usually even remember that it's Valentines Day until it's too late to bother planning anything. Hubby and I are usually far to involved in other projects to remember. This year though, the girls want to decorate the whole house in a variety of gaudy Valentines Day decorations. Sigh...

With all of these thoughts of Valentine decorations, I started thinking that maybe I should get busy making hearts. I find there are two camps when it comes to heart shaped beads. You either love em', or hate em'. Personally, I adore making them. I love the shape, and I enjoy making them in glass or metal. I'm not so crazy about wearing them, but then again - I don't generally wear jewelry. I should, I know - and in all of my years of running the shop, I was probably the least decorated person there. :-)

What about you? We'd love to hear what you think about hearts - love em', or hate em'?

Here are a few heart shaped beads I've done over the years. My goodness, and this only scratches the surface. Yup, it seems I like hearts!

Heart components made with Fast Fire Bronze

Lampwork glass heart with 24k gold leaf

Keyhole Heart made with Fast Fire Bronze

Lampwork Heart made with Iris Orange (raku)

Art Clay Silver Textured Heart

Copper sheet hand cut into a heart shape with paper and resin