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Monday, September 30, 2013

Monday Inspiration: K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple ... Sweetheart



InspirationFX
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K.I.S.S.
by: Vanessa Gardiner


K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple ... Sweetheart

So simple - so stylish. Just a handsome metal focal bead/finding/connector - whatevertheheck you want to call it, and some leather cord. For a necklace, add a colour-coordinated clasp - for a bracelet - just use a sliding "Chinese" knot to make it adjustable.





















 

Components

Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!
Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Sunday Inspiration: 50 More Shades of Grey

You may not have realized it - but our projects are all designed in-house by our talented staff! They have been so inspired lately that we are going to try and publish two per week!

Most of our projects are fairly easy - and we try to put enough photos so that you really don't need much in the way of instructions. We make a point of taking nice, sharp photos that show the details so that you can see how each piece is put together.




InspirationFX
Get your creative juices flowing

50 More Shades of Grey
by: Pam Kearns
Every great hit deserves a sequel - and Pam's 50 Shades of Grey bracelet is no exception.

This complementary necklace is a bold, chunky, statement piece - with a bit of sparkle - perfect for the holiday season.

It is a simple stringing project, but if you made it a little longer, you could leave out the clasp and just pop it on over your head.
















 

Components

Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!
Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

The Business Chat - You have 2 feet

Come on everyone, let’s walk down this aisle at the craft show, I can see some nice bright colours down there. 

Why this aisle you ask? Some people methodically walk up and down every aisle. Others randomly stroll wandering when something catches their attention.

And here’s our problem as jewelry designers. It’s pretty hard to catch someone’s attention when your product is 5cm in size. At a distance how does a tiny object compete with a bright painting, or a shawl or a chair in the neighbouring booth? 

Signs. Posters. Photos. 

That pair of earrings when blown up on a poster can be seen from a distance. 

Of course it’s not quite as simple as that. Where you place your posters is almost as important as having the posters. 

You have 2 feet to attract your customers attention.

Let’s look at this diagram. (OK, I make fabulous beads and great jewelry but I have zero talent when it comes to drawing. Use your imagination to make this pretty.)



Here’s 2 friends strolling down the aisle. 

Crafter A has invested in a gorgeous banner with her company name and she’s placed it on the back of her booth as a backdrop. As gorgeous as her banner is a lot of people won’t see it. You can only see a backdrop when you’re standing in front of the booth or just to the side. The trouble is that people will constantly look ahead and by the time they’re standing in front of booth A, they’re already looking halfway down the aisle. 

Crafter B has spent money on posters, and he’s placed them in the back and on the sides to fill in the wall space. Again, it looks nice when you’re standing in the booth but from the aisles the posters are invisible. How many people is Crafter B losing because they pass by without coming in? 

Crafter C has the winning combination. Crafter C has her sign right up front. Most important Crafter C understand that the most important real estate in her booth is the 2 feet on either side of the front. Those 2 feet are visible from way down the aisle. This is where you put your message, your biggest, brightest pieces, your attention getters. 

As the customer walks in to your booth, you have another 2 feet to deal with. 

Watch where a customer looks. Do they look down? Do they look up? No, they look straight ahead. They look at eye level.

You have 2 feet of prime display area. 

Display your work between waist height and eye level. The rest is filler. 

If you are using tables then raise them up. People don’t want to bend over to look at something. When a customer is standing in the aisle in front of your booth and scanning quickly they are not looking down. If you are using tables use risers and vertical displays. Get it up so that they can see it. 

If you are using shelving (hello Ikea) then those bottom shelves? Don’t even bother putting work on them. Seriously, who’s going to look at ankle level for a pair of earrings? Put a photo down there and put the earrings up top. 

You have 2 feet. 

Literally. 

A left foot and a right foot. 

Use them. 

When you are in your booth you are at work. Your job is to interact with your customers. Sitting in a chair is not interacting. Walking around talking to people is interacting. You need to be at eye level with the customer. I know it’s hard sometimes but you can sit down when you get home at night when you are off work. 

Yes, I have a chair in my booth. A tall bar stool that I can perch on. At least it keeps me closer to eye level. NEVER sit in a low chair, especially at the back of your booth. 

Using these 3 2 feet guidelines means that more customers see your booth and your work. More customers translates into more sales. More sales means that you can use your 2 feet to walk to the bank more often. 


ps. For those within driving distance from the Beadfx store, there are a couple of classes you might want to check out! October 21 How to Start and Run a Successful Microbusiness
October 28 How to have a Successful Craft Show
taught by ME! These are the only classes that I will be teaching until late spring 2014. Grab a seat now as space is limited! 

pps. At some point the classes will taught online. I'm working on that, in my "spare time". 

Friday, September 27, 2013

On Sale This Week! Swarovski Elements!

On Sale this Week: 25% off
Swarovski Crystal Elements
34767541001001 Swarovski Elements Pendant - 18 mm Faceted Butterfly (6754) - Crystal Golden Shadow (1)


Classic Shapes
(Bicones, Rounds, Cubes, etc.)
3476301s37321 Swarovski Elements - 10 mm Top-Drilled Bicone (6301) - Light Siam (1)

Drops
s37313 Swarovski Elements Bead - 17 mm Faceted Polygon Drop (6015) - Crystal Copper (1)
Fancy Stones
Pearls
& etc! 
Here's a Power Shopper Tip. Go to our Site Map Page, press control + f, and search for Swarovski - that's the fastest way to find them!
25% off!

All our Sales start on Wed Midnight.
and run to the following Wed midnight.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Collect the Rainbow ...

Bead the rainbow ...

tb6r0025b Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Toho Seedbeads - Silver Lined Rubytb6r0030bf Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Toho Seedbeads - Silver Lined Matte Hyacinthtb6r0022cf Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Toho Seedbeads - White Lined Matte Topaz tb6r0027b Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Toho Seedbeads - Silver Lined Bright Green











If you have "collect the whole set-itis" - you're in trouble now.

We've just added Toho 6s to the line-up. 

For those of you not steeped in seedbeads - allow me to translate.

tb6r0007bd Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Toho Seedbeads - Transparent Blue Zircontb6r0008d Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Toho Seedbeads - Transparent Cobalt Bluetb6rpf0567f Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Toho Seedbeads - Galvanized Matte Purple [Permanent Finish] Seedbeads by the Japanese seedbead maker - Toho - are famous for their consistency of shape and colour - much more so than the Czech seedbeads - which vary in width, and can vary in colour from batch to batch.

Size 6 - 6/0 - is a largish size - also known as size "E" and as "Pony Beads." They are large enough even for the seedbead challenged to use - and are a good "starter" bead. They also make very nice accent beads and filler beads. For instance, you can use them between larger beads that you don't have quite enough of to make the bracelet or necklace that you had in mind, or to just add a little splash of just the right colour where you need it.

So if you are already contemplating your neat rows of seedbeads - soothed by their colours and orderliness, or if you revel in untidy piles of colour - and are looking for your next fix - voila! Plunge into the 6/0s!

tb8rpf2104 Japanese Seedbeads - 8/0 Toho Seedbeads - Silver Lined Turquoise OpalOf course, if the 6/0s seem a little big for you - we have more of the Toho 8/0s as well. This Silver Lined Turquoise Opal, for tb8r712 Japanese Seedbeads - 8/0 Toho Seedbeads - 24k Gold Plated (2 grams)instance, is just yummy! And these gold-plated Toho 8/0s - well - wouldn't they add the perfect deluxe touch to your creation?


s37420 Stone Beads - 12-13 x 13-16 mm Faceted Nuggets - Tourmalinated Quartz (1)On the stoney and non-seedbeady side - we've just got a few interesting odds and bobs in. Tourmalinated Quartz - always interesting - these quartz crystals have needles of Tourmaline formed inside them. The crystals range from water clear to inky to milky. You just never know!


s37421 Stone Beads - 25 x 30 mm Faceted Hexagon Tablets - Dark Amethyst (1)
And this is - no - not Onyx. It's Amethyst - but such a rich dark colour that it looks black in some lights - with flashes of purple. Hold it up to the light, and the colour is rich and deep!


s37425 Stone - 50 mm Drop Pendant - Rocky Butte Picture Jasper (1)And some Picture Jasper Pendants - Mother Nature's paintings of the desert! Tres Magnifique!
So, click on a link above or start with our new products page! Don't worry - bead happy!

On sale this week* - 25% off Swarovski beads! That covers a lot of territory, so here's a Power Shopper Tip. Go to our Site Map Page, press control + f, and search for Swarovski - that's the fastest way to find them! Or this list will get you started!

*(Sale runs Wed midnight to Wed midnight.)














Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Last Day - 25% off stone beads!

Ends Wed at midnight!

All kinds of stone beads ... from Agate to Wildhorse Picture Jasper. 25% off!

s35978 Stone Beads - 14 mm Donut Rondelle - Matte Blue Dragon Vein Agate (1)
Stone Beads
 













All our Sales start on Wed Midnight.
and run to the following Wed midnight.

October kicks off with new classes

There are lots of great things about October: the beautiful autumn leaves; Fall Festivals, Thanksgiving and families getting together; Halloween and seeing kids in costumes - and classes at BeadFX! We're back in the full swing of classes and many of our instructors are offering new projects and techniques to keep creative juices flowing.

We're pleased that Iris Rogers Melamed has returned from her summer break. We also welcome Barb Scott as a new instructor to teach knitting with beads!


Take a look at all that is happening in the first half of October:

Friday, October 4
AS REQUESTED! Felt in the Round - Making Felted Ball Beads
Instructor: Dawn Liu-Smyth
4:30 -8:30pm

Saturday, October 5
Hot Connections Bangles (left)
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
10:00am - 4:00pm

NEW Tubular Peyote Pen (right)
Instructor: Tracey Neidhardt
12:30 - 3:30pm


Tuesday, October 8
BACK AGAIN! Kumihimo Spiral Braids (left)
Instructor: Angela Peace
12:30 - 2:30pm


NEW Knitting with Beads: Pioneer Cuff Bracelet (right)
Instructor: Barb Scott
6:00 - 9:00pm

Thursday, October 10
NEW Beaded Survival Bracelet
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
6:00 - 9:00pm





Friday, October 11
NEW Peruvian Malla Wire Ring
Instructor: Gio Paz
4:30 - 8:00pm





Tuesday, October 15
BACK AGAIN! Resin with Rosemary
Instructor: Rosemary Beasley
6:00 - 9:00pm

Complete information about all classes, including descriptions, class fees and kit fees are on our website. Click on 'Classes' and follow the link to 'October'.

Also, BeadFX is participating in:

Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6
 Grand River Bead Society Show and Sale
2-day Show in Guelph, Ontario
10:00am - 5:00pm both days

Monday, September 23, 2013

Monday Inspiration: Cafe La Iron Zebra



InspirationFX
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Cafe La Iron Zebra
by: Rochelle Kilmer

I saw these double-drilled ovals in the Iron Zebra Jasper and wondered what I could do with them that was a little bit different. I was intrigued by the patterns within the stones and the colours that are so rich and intense. The colours reminded me of a steaming cup of café mocha. Starting with the Iron Zebra Jasper as my inspiration, everything else fell into place, keeping the colours in a warmer tone. And to make the whole set, I only needed one strand of the double drilled ovals. (*note : you need 2 tubes of mb6b-3955 Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Miyuki Seedbeads - Baroque – Bronze (2 grams))


Necklace Instructions

Step 1 – Put the Iron Zebra Jasper Rhombus on the eyepin and make a wrapped loop on top.
Step 2 – Put 1 Firepolish Crystal Celsian on the headpin and make a wrapped loop.
Step 3 – Attach your rhombus and firepolish together using a 4mm Jumpring. This is your pendant.
Step 4 – Take the 2 feet of heavy softflex and cut it in half.
Step 5 – Lay out your beads in the way you will string it on.
Left to right ~ 1 firepolish, 2 baroques, 1 double drilled oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 6 firepolish, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 firepolish.

Step 6 – String left to right. Take the 2 pieces of softflex and put them through the 1 firepolish, leaving about 1.5 inch tail. Put 1 baroque on each piece of softflex, and then thread in through each hole of the double drilled oval. Continue until the last double drilled oval on the left side. Put 1 firepolish on each piece of softflex, then put both pieces of softflex through another firepolish. Put a jumpring on the pendant you made in Steps 1-3 and put both pieces of softflex through the jumpring. Take another firepolish and put both pieces of softflex through it. Now you can do the same on the right side of the necklace, following the reversed pattern. 

Step 7 – Take your Oval and Oval Goldplated and on one side crimp the tail you left with the softflex right to the end oval. Do the same on the other side. 

Step 8 – Cut your chain where you would like to attach your lobster claw with a jumpring. Clip the lobster claw to the oval opposite. 

Now your necklace is done.

Bracelet Instructions

Step 1 – Cut the fine softflex into 2 1 foot lengths.
Step 2 – Lay out your beads in the pattern you want.
Left to right ~ 1 double drilled oval , 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 1 firepolish, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 1 baroque, 1 firepolish, 1 baroque, 1 rhombus, 1 baroque, 1 firepolish, 1 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 1 firepolish, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval.
Step 3 – Leaving a tail of softflex put one piece of softflex through each hole on the double drilled ovals, place a baroque on each piece of softflex and then through the double drilled oval again.
Step 4 - Put both pieces of softflex through the firepolish.
Step 5 – Repeat Step 3.
Step 6 – Put both pieces of softflex through 1 baroque, 1 firepolish, 1 baroque, the rhombus and repeat on the other side.
Step 7 – Continue with the pattern you did on the left side of the bracelet.
Step 8 – Using the tail you left at the beginning crimp it to the loops on your 2 strand clasp. Make sure your clasp lines up together when you do the other side.

Earring Instructions

Step 1 – Cut your softflex into 2 1 foot pieces.
Step 2 – Lay out your earring pattern.
Top to bottom ~ 2 baroques, 1 double drilled oval, 1 firepolish, 1 dd oval, 1 baroque, 1 firepolish, 1 baroque, 1 rhombus, 1 baroque.
Step 3 – Put the baroque on the bottom in the middle of 1 piece of softflex and put both pieces of the softflex through the rhombus, a baroque, a firepolish, a baroque.
Step 4 – Split the softflex into 2 and put them through each hole on the double drilled oval.
Step 5 – Put both softflex through 1 firepolish.
Step 6 – Split into 2 and put through each hole on the double drilled oval and place 1 baroque on each strand.
Step 7 – Put both softflex through a crimp bead and the loop on the leverback. Thread both pieces back through the crimp and flatten with chainnose pliers.
Step 8 – Repeat Step 2 – 7 with your other piece of soft flex for the other earring.
Now you can enjoy a full set of your Iron Zebra Jasper stones. Quite nice statement piece, if I say so myself.


























 

Components

Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!
Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.