Faux Bone - Phone Home?

Marg took a workshop on one of her recent trips - working with a new product called "Faux Bone.(tm)" 

She used it to make this wrap around bangle bracelet.

The manufacturer says:

Faux Bone™ is a new, user friendly, inexpensive and extremely versatile material. Faux Bone™ can be cut, and carved, sawn and sanded. It can be filed, hammered, polished, drilled, stamped, riveted, inlayed, dyed, and painted. It can look like ivory, have the patina of aged ceramic, be polished to a pure white, or, of course, look like bone. You can heat and bend it with nothing more than a small embossing heat-gun. It is so strong you can rivet on it, die form right into it, or hammer metal around it. Faux Bone is perfect for artwork as varied as jewelry and book making, sculpture, or printmaking. It can be easily embossed to make texture plates for PMC or to simulate Scrimshaw. Rounds of Faux Bone™ can be heated and dapped (formed into a bowl shape) and filled with other materials or combined to make hollow beads. Its strength makes it ideal for use in tool making such as bone folders for bookmaking or as handles for files and stamps. It can be carved and used for printmaking and then the Faux Bone™ “plate” can be patinated as a finished piece itself.

Additionally  - it cures cancer, solves world hunger and slices bread.  ;-) 


Marg reports that it is very easy to use.

So - what do you think? Should we carry this? Are you interested? 

New This Week

On fire for you, baby

Oh - we're on fire for you, baby! Fabulous new firepolished beads!

I tell you - it's getting harder and harder to even FIND new firepolish beads because, well - we have them all! All the regular production stuff, and most of the limited edition stuff too!

Well - there's some really UGLY stuff out there that we DON'T carry - hope you don't mind about that!

Anyway - some new firepolish beads - some faceted window beads. These have a flat "window" cut on each side - giving the transparent ones an almost cathedral stained glass look. The opaque ones have an air of mystery - with the hint of alternate colour on the side - like they have been freshly mined and polished.

Pressed Glass too!

Our quest for daggers continues - and we have added new daggers in each of the three colour categories, Warm colours, Cool colours, and Neutrals.

Speaking of the slightly dangerous-looking dagger beads - (really - they are silky smooth and not at all sharp!) - we now have "Spikes." These new beads are pretty interesting, especially if you have been following Laura McCabe's work and using her patterns. She uses gemstone spike beads, and these look like a very good and reasonably priced alternate.

And even if you haven't - they still look like pretty interesting beads!

Oh, and a few more twins - the two-hole seedbeads. We're starting to get these in colours now!

Update on the Lampworking Studio!

We have a functioning lampworking studio now! The first Happy Hour will be next Thursday - February 23 - barring unforeseen complications. If you will be coming in for this - please call ahead to schedule. The studio may be available before that - we'll keep you posted.

Next project will be the unpacking and setting up of the Metal Smithing Studio - but that will be Rosemary's project - She says she has it all planned out in her head!

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.

MOVED!

Just a reminder - we are at our new location - more info on our About Us page.

Getting organized?

Thinking about getting organized? Maybe a little spring cleaning? Or looking for ways to sort out your stash?

We've been searching for the perfect display/storage bins for some time - and we think we've found them! (Just added to the site last week!) For us, the perfect bin had to not detract from the beauty of the beads, be big enough for a sizable handful, available in large quantities, and fit together neatly. And have lids so we can pack them up and take them to shows.

Your criteria might not be quite the same - but there is a lot to be said for bins you can see into! And if you are anything like me - your stash keeps expanding - so new storage ideas are always welcome!

My own personal stash gets stored sorted by colour - as that's the way I tend to use items - in colour groups. The different metals have their own drawers, and stone and glass beads are sorted into colour groups, i.e. turquoise and turquoise-like beads together. Smaller Swarovski's - bicones and etc - tend to wind up in small containers as truly delicious mixes, like rose/crystal/gold, or vitrail/aqua/amethyst. It's easier to pick the ones I want out than to store them all separately.

Leave a comment if you have another way to store your stash!

New This Week!

Hearty Heart Heart!

Jen's recent set of heart inspirations (Lock & Key, Hearts Ablaze) reminded me that Valentine's Day is coming up. You'd think the sea of chocolate in all the stores would have made that point, but I've been a little distracted lately - what with the move and the studio renovation and all.

It did spark some conversations about hearts - or specifically the "heart shape" - which some folks adore as being a pleasing shape with positive and fond associations, and others despise for being a representation of everything overtly sentimental and "precious" - I think was the term someone used. 

Even if you are not a big fan of the heart shape - you have to admit - these new faceted firepolish hearts are pretty yummy! They are a vertical heart - the hole runs from top to bottom, and have a stepped or barrel cut faceting pattern. We have them in two sizes, and yes - more colours than just "red." (The red is really awesome though!) Find them all here on their own page, Firepolish Fancy Hearts.

If the hearts don't move you - well perhaps something in a pearl? We have a couple of choices for the pearl-fans this week! (You know who you are!) We've started to add the Swarovski 7 mm pearls to the Swarovski pearl line-up. They aren't available in the full range of colours - but if you are wanting to make a graduated pearl necklace, and needed the 7 mm to fill in the gap between 6 mm and 8 mm, then here you go - 7 mm Creamrose, Black Pearl, and Bronze. 

For a funkier, and made-by-nature, pearl - check out the big-hole, freshwater pearls. Pearls traditionally have these tiny, tiny holes - which limits your stringing options. These, however, have a 2.5 mm hole - which opens up the possibility of stringing them on satin cord, leather, ribbon, and even fine chain. (They are not large enough to go onto Pandora style chains - you need a 3 mm hole for that!)

Other Stuff!

New Pave beads too - a slightly smaller version - 12 mm, in silver or gold plated. 

Some awesome new buttons - now THESE are Swans a Swimming!

Copper anyone? New copper beads and bead caps and cones too!

If you've been into the store lately - you may have been admiring our new storage bins! It's taken us years to find these fabulously perfect containers! Just the right size for handful of beads, and a crystal clear plastic that not only makes the beads easy to see, but isn't ugly! So clear, they almost disappear! Square - to fit together nicely, and available with lids for storage or moving.

We are offering these bins for sale if you'd like to store and organize your own stash of beads! Available singly, or as a special order for those who really need a LOT of them.

Other cool new stuff, like the Spirograph Mandala, the Foil Ball Magnetic Clasp, the Multi-cable Stainless-Steel necklace, or even these Squashed Bell Cones in Gold plated.

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.

MOVED!

Just a reminder - we are at our new location - more info on our About Us page.

New This Week

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.

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.

Wire - Colour Variations

Rosemary wanted me to point out to you all that the new wire colour "Rose Gold" has a little more variation from gauge to gauge than you might expect. You can see here from this photo of them hanging on the rack in the store that some are definitely more "Rose," others more "Gold."

Just so you know, in case you are purchasing different gauges and expecting them to all be exactly the same colour!

We are going to re-label the darker ones- the lighter colour is the intended colour of "Rose Gold" - and is what we expect from future batches.

Sorry for the confusion!

Also new!

Geez - I'd forget my head if it wasn't nailed on! Totally forgot to mention these Kawaii (Japanese for cute) seedbead charm kits that we added. We've been discussing them on our Facebook page, and the consensus is ... they are pretty darned cute! Look for them on our Seasonal page, along with the Frog Prince, Angel and Reindeer.

New this week

It's Snowing!!!

Oh - the weather outside is frightful, but my beads are so delightful, and since there's no place to go, let it snow, let it snow let it snow.

My beads are brightly gleaming, with ideas, my head is teeming; my Ott lite has a merry glow, so let it snow, let it snow let it snow.

My family is hungry and whining, but beads are still a'shining, so as long as there are beads to go, let it snow, let it snow let it snow.

Have you Buttoned up your Christmas list yet? Well - a little bit of snow should help get you in the mood - and these buttons could finish the job! Sure, you can use them as clasps on bracelets, or as a decorative cabochon, or wire them up into a handsome ring - but hey - you could always use them as BUTTONS! You know, for fastening clothing? How awesome would these be on a hand-knitted sweater, hmmm?

Jaded about stones? Of course not - stone beads are too awesome. But Nephrite Jade from B.C. is our featured stone of the month for December! Tough, durable jade has a rich history as a good luck talisman - just the thing for the new year! It is said to bring on feelings of calm and well being - and increases enjoyment of life - which is certainly true of any piece of well-made, attractive jewelry!

Limited Time - Amethyst and Aqua Hearts!

Swarovski has brought out these designer heart shapes in two new colours - well - not NEW new, but new for the hearts - they are now available in Amethyst and Aqua, and just for the next year.

More flatbacks in the store too - if you are looking to bling up your cellphone or something for the season. In sizes from small to extra-beefy!

Other assorted goodies around the site, 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.