Oh - what a tangled web we weave ... Sneak Peek at this Week

 It's a good thing that all of us here like different things, have different tastes and backgrounds. Because it means that there is ZERO chance that any of us will get stuck in a rut. ;-)

Case in point - Marg goes to Philly - takes a class - and comes back with this glorious explosion of colour and textiles - that she wove in the class - AND - we are now a distributor for Mirrix Looms!

Just look at these glorious weavings - with beads incorporated. Using small quantities of yarn, silk, ribbon, fibres - add some beads - wrap the whole thing on a brass cuff, add an ultrasuede back - and BINGO! (And - you don't have to pre-string the beads - that was the first thing I asked!)

 You have something like this! Isn't it gorgeous?

The Mirrix Looms are a well-respected brand - being well-made, compact, durable and portable. We will have small looms - designed just for beaders! And we will be able to special order the larger looms too - in case you have bigger dreams - or just want to have multiple projects on the go. Mirrix has also pioneered some very interesting techniques - such as weaving onto Softflex cable - for a flexible and ultra-durable piece!

Yet another cool thing to do with beads, or another cool thing to do with your scraps of yarn - depending on your point of view!

Available on the website - as of Wed @ midnight!

Sneak Peek at Upcoming Weeks

A few days ago, I mentioned that the stuff I had sent back from Tucson had arrived. I thought you might l ike to see some pictures of what you'll be seeing on the website over the next few weeks.

First off, for you cabochon lovers, there's some gorgeous dyed Impression Jasper. There will be matching beads as well.



Then, there's a lot more of the large hole beads that proved so popular. The holes in these are in two different sizes. One is large enough to fit the Pandora/Troll bracelets. We will also be carrying sterling grommets that fit these beads for a finished look. The other large-hole beads have holes that are larger than usual, but smaller than the Pandora-sized beads. These are just right for leather or waxed cotton cords, or kumihimo cords.

Of course, there will be lots and lots of great freshwater pearls! Coins, Biwa sticks, baroques, and rounds in lots of colours. There must have been about a hundred pounds of pearls in the shipment







Of course I bought lots of metal beads as well. These are the plated, copper based beads which give you the look of solid sterling for a fraction of the cost. And of course, there is lots and lots of chain, in gold, plated silver, copper and a new enamelled black chain.







Last, but certainly not least, there are the stone beads. Everything from rough chunks of pyrite, pink quartz, amethyst, to ethnic-looking burnt agate, to the best Sleeping Beauty Turquoise.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Next week - it's Tool Time - without Tim Allen or blowing anything up. Tools like split ring pliers that really work and a copyright stamp for metal or metal clay!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Hopefully - you are having a quick look at this on Saturday morning - before you head on down to check out our amazing Lampworker's Trunk show. Handmade glass beads will be available for sale, and you can meet the artists, talk to them, see demos - and snack on some brownies too.

What's coming up next week? Stone beads! Stone of the month will be Kambaba Jasper - but there are lots more beside - like these amethyst nuggets.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

New Pressed Glass beads this week!

Cinnamon Mermaid, or Earth Magic?

Maybe Electric Orange Sherbet instead.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Polka-dot Peacock beads - er - should that be Pea-dots, or Po... no - let's not go there. Definitely not.

MOoooving right along - a bunch of metal stuff, caps and cones, in sterling, brass and copper.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Arrr, matey. Today is international "Talk Like a Pirate Day." So avast there, and set your course for New tools - we've got 'em both for wet-behind-the-ears landlubbers and old salty dawgs. And for those of you with a love of the old gold treasure look - and what pirate doesn't love treasure? - Vintaj is back! And now with matching wire and chain too, arrrr!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Pearls - the birthstone for June is pearls - and we have buckets of them! Coin, stick, bullet, potato. Tiny to humongous. Natural-looking colour to lurid. Smooth to textured. Pearls.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

More Stone beads - check out these very sexy Amazonite Rondelles. Ooooo - I'm in love.

Or how about this Indian Agate - look at that range of colours!

Lots more very yummy stone - Wednesday night at midnight!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Pearls! Funky, lumpy, chunky, bumpy!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

A jaunt to the Orient, with cloisonne tree peonies and cinnabar dragons.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

New colours of Softflex! Your favourite stringing material - in a whack of new colours. From 24k gold (my fave) to Champagne to Gemstone inspired colours, such as Pink Tourmaline and ... You'll have to wait to see them all!

More copper beads, findings, clasps, bead caps and chains. It's a copper-copia!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Does "warm and light" resonate for you? Then you will love our new Natural Touch(tm) Resin beads. In fun candy colours and a silky, matte finish - they are a yummy change for spring!

Tierracast has featured a really lovely bracelet using these beads too!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Last week I said "new colours" of Swarovski. I should have said "one of the new colours." This last week has not been one of my better weeks.

Anyhoo - This week - a colour to make you smile - Red Magma. This is as hot and vibrant as last week's colour (Air Blue Opal) was cool and etherial. Like a deeper, richer and somewhat redder version of Crystal Copper. Very scrumptious.

And - for the seedbead fans - a bunch of new Miyuki 15/0s.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Coming at ya - some not-quite-old-enough-to-be-vintage seedbeads - like these faceted 6/0s. There's something you don't see every day!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

What's coming up for next week? errrr. ummm. No, seriously - there will be stuff, but at this point - it's hard to point to a cohesive theme. There will be these rather nice Trumpet Lilies. I like the sculptural look of them when a whack of them are strung all together. These "saturn" shaped beads are kind of interesting too, don't you think?

Or, I can leave you with the description of next week's update, as speculated by my DH. "There will be beads. Small round things with holes. Makes the floor slippery." ;-)

Sneak Peek at Next Week

I just came in from 2 minutes outside with the dogs - which is about all they want to stay out these days. I reported to hubby that it was -16 (which I knew, from checking the thermometer) - but felt much colder - which sad to say, I also knew, because I was comparing it to the last 3 days!!!!!! Argh! This long frozen streak is putting the "old" in "cold."

What to look forward to for next week? More of these stunning Rondelle Rivolis and some other kick-ass Firepolish. To heck with the weather. Stay home and bead.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

What's up for next week. I HAD intended to put these Kazuri - oops - sorry "Kenya" beads up for last week - but it didn't work out that way. I'm still aiming to get them up for next week - here's hopin'!

These are the same African handcrafted ceramic beads that you know and love!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Next week - due to Christmas Eve falling on a Wednesday - we'll do the update on the Tuesday night instead. And boy - do we have some beautiful stuff for you! We have some daggers - with SPOTS!

And a new shape of firepolish - the Faceted Bicone Rondelle Rivoli - ok, that's more of a description than a name - but they are very sparkly!

Other stuff too, so keep an eye open on Tuesday night!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Seed Bead City - close to 50 new seedbeads - most the loverly size 11/0 Toho's - for precision, consistency and wide colour range!