May still abounds with classes

Yes, it's coming up to the middle of May (already!), but there are still lots of classes to be found, including some new ones:

Thursday, May 16
*NEW* Box Style Knotted Bracelet
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Angela Peace
Unfortunately, Angela's class is full, but (GOOD NEWS), Angela is repeating this class on Saturday, July 6; 9:30am - 12:30pm

Open Metal Studio - Soldering
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Facilitator: Iris Rogers Melamed
This is your opportunity to work on unfinished projects, new projects or just practise your soldering skills. Note: This is not a class and participants must have soldering experience.

Saturday, May 18
Charmed I'm Sure - Intro to Art Clay Silver
10:00am - 5:00pm
Instructor: Heather Bell Denison
This class will introduce beginners to metal clay. You will learn the basic skills and techniques to create with this flexible medium.  Students will learn to roll, cut, shape, refine and dry their metal clay pieces.  Once dry and finished they will have the opportunity to observe and try out torch firing.   Heather will share tips and techniques to work with the clay.  You can also try to embed a lab created stone if you wish.  In this class you can make charms or pendant, since we start with clay your options for design are endless. This class fee includes one package of 20 gram Art Clay Silver.  Additional clay is available for purchase.

Metalsmithing Basics: Introduction to Sawing and Piercing
2:00 - 5:00pm
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
Learning how to use a jeweller’s saw will open up endless possibilities in jewellery design and construction. In this class you will first learn about the tools (saw frame, blades and bench pin) followed by instruction in their proper use. Finally, you will start to develop your skills by sawing lines, shapes and cutouts.

Sunday, October 19
*NEW* Intro to Bead Embroidery
1:00 - 4:00pm
Instructor: Stephanie Dixon
Learning how to use a jeweller’s saw will open up endless possibilities in jewellery design and construction. In this class you will first learn about the tools (saw frame, blades and bench pin) followed by instruction in their proper use. Finally, you will start to develop your skills by sawing lines, shapes and cutouts.

Tuesday, May 21
Fun with Wire
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Rae Huggins
Let's play with wire and have fun!!! In this class you’ll learn: How to make wire beads;Horizontal Wire Wrapping;Coiling around a bead;A Caged Bead;A Wire Bail. There will be opportunities to make wrapped loops too (one of the fundamentals of wire work) and a spiral headpin.

Thursday, May 23
*NEW* Discovering Tubular Herringbone
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
It’s soft and supple – and very easy to do! Using two-hole twin beads, you will learn how to make tubular herringbone spiral to create a slinky bracelet. Once that is complete, you'll learn how to make a beaded bead using the twin beads to slide onto the bracelet.

Friday, May 24
*NEW* Peruvian Wire Crochet Rings
5:30 - 8:30pm
Instructor: Giovanna Paz
Using 28gauge wire, a crochet hook and a simple pattern and a hammer, students will create an amazing wire ring.

Saturday, May 25
Hot Connections Spinner Ring
10:00am - 4:00pm
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
Take your soldering and metalworking skills up a notch! Starting with a strip of sterling silver sheet, we will design a wide band ring that is flared at the edges to contain a moving wire ring. At each stage of this project we will explore the technical skills required for the successful completion of this ring.

Friday, May 31
Jewellery Making 101
6:00 - 9:00pm
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
Do you want to create jewellery for yourself but have no idea where to start? Join us for this 'newbie' course and discover just how easy creating jewellery can be. Participants will be able to create up to three of pairs of earrings and a bracelet. You'll learn how to use headpins, open and close jump rings, create wrapped and simple loops, and discover out how to use crimps. Prepared projects are not used - you will create your own designs using your own assortment of beads brought to class; time will be available during the class to select beads. Silver-plated findings are included as part of the kit fee.

Join us at the Toronto Bead Society's 2013 Spring Bead and Jewelery Fair!
Saturday, May 25 (10:00am - 5:00pm) and Sunday, May 26 (11:00am - 5:00pm)
In addition to a surprise 'Show Special', we'll be bringing an assortment of beads, findings and general jewellery making supplies.

Of course, Open Beading Nights continue through May on Wednesday evenings plus Happy Hour Torching on Mondays and Thursdays. Note: BeadFX is closed for the Victoria Day holiday on Monday, May 20th.

For complete details about each of the classes, including class fees, kit fees and supply lists, please consult our website.

Monday Inspiration - Ivory & Sticks Bracelet

by: Rae Huggins

Rae says about this bracelet:

Oh I just love these two together – I can visualize myself stepping out with this bracelet and a simple pair of earrings (that I’m in the process of designing). Where am I going? Well I haven’t decided yet, but wherever it is I’m gonna have a grand time!!!!

You too can come on this journey by using basic stringing. Initially I was just going to use the ivory pearls and the sticks to make a single strand bracelet, but it felt incomplete. I also loved the look of the Crystal AB Firepolish with the sticks, so two strands – one bracelet. Or you can make two separate bracelets and when you’re done we’ll step out in Ivory & Sticks.

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.

The Business Chat - Be a Stalker.

“How often should I blog?” “Which social media platforms should I use?” “Should I do any of the Thanksgiving craft shows?” “How can I double my sales this summer?”

Here is my answer.

I have no idea.

You are unique. Your work is unique. Your goals are yours alone. This is your business that you are running. Your situation is unique and special and only you can decide what you should be doing.

I can help you with how to set up a blog. I cannot tell you if you should be blogging. No one can. What if you hate writing? Or know that you can’t/won’t spare the time for it on a consistent basis? Or don’t feel comfortable with sharing your process? Only you know these answers and only you can make that decision.  

There is no formula for running your micro crafty business. If you are looking for a business with a formula and guaranteed success, find a lot of money and buy a McFranchise. Someone will tell you how to say “Would you like fries with that?”

You must make your own map to success.

While there is no formula for you to follow, a really interesting exercise is to look at other people’s maps. There is a reason that biographies are so popular, we all want to know how someone else made it.

If you want to know how someone succeeds it’s really easy these days.

Stalk them.

(not literally, that would be illegal).

Study their business. See where they sell. Read their blog, follow them on facebook, follow their tweets. Check how often they post on Instagram, see what groups they belong to on Flickr, study their Pinterest boards. Do they post free tutorials on any craft blogs? Do they guest post? How often do they update their online shop? And what online shop platform do they use?

Whenever I am making a decision about joining a new social media platform, or contemplating a major step, I check to see what the people I follow do. I currently follow 14 people closely. These are people in all different businesses, not just jewelry. I follow people in different industries because sometimes you have to think outside the box.   

As you do your research, think a lot about what you are learning and ask yourself what you want to do. Just because someone you admire blogs twice a day doesn’t mean that you have to in order to succeed. If you hate blogging then don’t blog. You’ll find another road to success.

It’s interesting to see someone else’s path to success. Do remember that this is their path, not yours. Trying to duplicate someone else’s road will not work. Because they are not you. You must find your own path.  

Voyeuristic peeking into the lives of businesses that are bigger than yours can be a lot of fun, but remember this: what really counts is what you’re doing, not what they’re doing.

Happy Mothers' Day!

Yep - jumping the gun a little bit here - but, what the heck. Happy Mothers' Day to all the moms and moms-to-be (You know who you are!) and all the kids from 0 to 110 who wouldn't haven't gotten to be here without their moms.

That about covers everyone, doesn't it. But hey - it's May - some of us have had a few days of decent weather, and any excuse to celebrate - that's what we say!

If you thought you might mosey on down to the store and take Mom bead shopping this weekend - that's a heck of a good idea, and so - we're having a little sale -Swarovski 4 mm Bicones are 16% off. Starts Thursday - runs through to next week. And, if you're not within moseying distance - well - that's what the website is for! Because - it's a big country and we can't be everywhere.


Mother's Day, beads, you might think that a sale is the cherry-on-top - but actually no. The cherry-on-top is Cherry Quartz. We have a new shipment of Cherry Quartz - in all the usual shapes and sizes. Actually - the colour is more salmon than cherry - but I suspect that calling it Salmon Quartz might not have had the same appeal. Would have worked for me though - I like salmon.

Salmon Quartz - or Cherry Quartz - is a "manufactured" stone - inspired by strawberry quartz - which is a quartz variety with iron oxide inclusions. When you examine Cherry Quartz closely - you see that it is colorful, translucent inclusions in a fine, clear matrix. Because of the way it is made - it is manufactured in blocks - it is then carved, shaped, ground, cut, and polished exactly the same way as any other stone bead. The labour remains the same - only the original starting point differs.

In fact - we have two more new stones this month! Also new, and available in all the usual shapes and sizes is Mexican Red Snowflake Jasper. Jasper - as you may have figured out from the huge number of varieties that we carry (Currently 16 and counting) - comes in many different flavours - some pretty specific from the part of the world that they come from. This is much like regional food - pasta may be everywhere - but a noodle is not just a noodle. In fact - the cooking analogy is a good one - Mother Nature cooks up variations depending on the available local ingredients - a dash of iron oxide here might get substituted for another element somewhere else. All that remains is for you to pick your favourite! This Mexican Red Snowflake Jasper is a variation on Ocean Jasper, and has different colours - but the patterns are similar. MRSJ is roundish patterns of red, orange, and cream on a black and grey background.

Also new this month is ... TA DA! ... Dragon Vein Agate. Dragon Vein Agate reminded me right away of the Fire Agate we used to have - and indeed - that is what it is. This is also a stone that has had a little help to look the way it does. Also known as "Fire Crackle" agate - this starts as an agate, which is then coated and heated and cooled rapidly - to create the distinctive vein pattern on the surface. It's pretty cool-looking stuff, and for some reason - reminds me of sea turtles.

Oh, speaking of Dragons, which I frequently do, we also just got a big re-stock of Dragon's Blood Jasper in - which is our stone of the month - and on sale for the month of May! This is a mottled green with splashes of red - so another earthy look. Earth Dragon look.


That's it for this week, hope you and your mom have a lovely day, and we hope to make your day happier with lovely beads. Please click on a link or an image above, or just go here for all the wonderful new and fabulous old beads this week!

Oh, and I almost forgot - you can get her some flowers here too. Pressed Wild Flowers.
...I cut down trees, I skip and jump, I love to press wild flowers ... . ;-) Your earworm for the day. You're welcome. :-P

Sparkling Hearts Necklace for Mother's Day

Sparkling Hearts Necklace

Jewelry, designed by CREATE YOUR STYLE TEAM, Austria

 

If it takes just one heart to let the world know the wearer is loved, imagine the story told by a necklace featuring six rows of them! Let her feel the love this Mother’s Day with a waterfall of sparkling hearts in warm tonal shades of brand new Light Silk color and Crystal Rose Gold effect. A gift of hearts straight from the heart.  

You can find the directions for this spectacular necklace at www.create-your-style.com 

Supplies List:

6mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls

18 mm Swarovski Heart Pendant

Chain, silver, 1.3 m
1x Head pin, silver
64x Jump ring, silver, 4 mm
3x Jump ring, silver, 7 mm
1x Lobster clasp, silver,
Wire, silver, 20 gauge, 1.2 m

When you click on each of the supplies listed, it will take you directly to the product page on our website for easy ordering.

Don't forget to share your projects on our Facebook page. We love to see what you make with the products you buy from us.

Hammering Dreams into Shape

The sound of metal on metal is clearly heard during Open Metal Studio evenings. Take a peek in the studio and you'll see torches melting solder and annealing copper (and other metals!). The Metal Studio was an exciting addition when we moved to our Waterman Avenue location in January 2012. With it, we are able to offer more classes in a wider range of metalwork techniques such as fold forming and soldering.

Earlier this year Iris Rogers Melamed and Cindy Goldrick, two of our metalwork instructors, started facilitating Open Metal Studio evenings.

The Open Metal Studio: Soldering is hosted by Iris and is held once a month. Although not a class, Iris is on hand to answer questions from students who recently took a soldering class and to offer tips and techniques to advanced students. The evenings are also great for recent 'graduates' from the Introductory Sawing and Piercing class who are working on new projects.

Cindy hosts the Open Metal Studio: Metalwork. During these evenings you can get to know the many tools with a knowledgeable metalworker. If you're looking to purchase tools, you can 'try before you buy'. Bring a project with you and Cindy can help you solve design dilemmas, or suggest ways to incorporate metal into your design work to take it to the next level.

It is advisable to call ahead to reserve your spot for the Open Metal Studios. A nominal price of $20 + HST is charged to cover costs. To register, call BeadFX at (416) 751-1911; the store staff will be happy to help you!

Upcoming Open Metal Studio sessions:

Open Metal Studio: Soldering
Thursday, May 16
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Open Metal Studio: Metalwork
Friday, May 10
5:30pm - 8:00pm

Friday, June 14
5:30pm - 8:30pm

Inspiration Monday! Fairyland Bracelet

by: Rochelle Kilmer

Pretty pink pearls and a fairy charm. For those days when you need to feel all girly-girly!

The clasp really makes this piece, but if you are inspired to make this for a younger girl - maybe go with a less high-end clasp, or even string the whole thing on stretchy stuff instead.

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.

The Business Chat - You're fired!

This week I did something for the first time in my ten years in business – I fired a customer.

I love my customers, I really do. Most of them are lovely people who appreciate and value my work. They return time and time again, all thrilled with their jewelry. Many have become friends. Working with them is great fun.

Yet sometimes someone comes along who is just a nasty ornery person who is looking for something to complain about. Someone who wakes up every day determined to be miserable and take you down their little road to hell with them.

Oh the joys of retail and customer service.

                                                                                           

When a nasty one pops up you must always keep your cool. Maybe that person is just having a bad day and is looking to vent a little steam. It sucks that they decided to use you as a whipping post but they did.

It is really hard not to get defensive when someone attacks your business or your work. When you have made something you are putting a piece of yourself on the line. Having someone criticize or complain feels like they are attacking you personally.

Many who are new to retail or new to business have a somewhat shaky level of confidence. It takes real guts to put yourself and your work out there in public. Having a bad customer can make you question why you do what you do and if it is worth it. That is just not right.

When you are dealing with your miserable customer always watch your language. Don't show impatience or place blame on other people or organizations.  Try avoiding curt, negative, dismissive, or accusatory language or phrases such as never..., I'm too busy to..., it's not my fault that..., you must have..., etc. Sure, it can be really hard not to get defensive, but it will save you time and energy in the end when you patiently send a professional and friendly response at the outset.

Stand your ground. Do not let them talk you into giving them something for free, a discount or whatever else they want. It won’t make them any happier and you will have shown that you can be bullied. Your work and your time has value even if they refuse to acknowledge it.

Stay professional no matter what. Stooping to someone else’s level of pettiness won’t make it any better. Go ahead and write that scathing email reply but DO NOT send it. Take a deep breath and then respond.

Ask yourself these questions.

Is their complaint justified? Did you make a mistake? Sometimes it happens. If the mistake is on your part, acknowledge it and fix it. Sometimes an apology can go a long way to defusing a situation.

Did you communicate clearly along the way? Is the problem that the customer doesn’t understand what is going on? For online orders make sure you have your shipping policies and procedures and your refund policy clearly on your website. For custom work, make sure every single detail is written down.

Have you done your best? If you have, then the problem is not you. It’s them.

A mean customer can be a like a dog, they can sniff out fear. Add to that a feeling that “the customer is always right” and a crafter with a low level of confidence can find themself being beaten into giving the customer whatever they want. We try to bend over backwards to fix the problem because a sale is a sale, right?

Wrong. Sometimes the sale is not worth it.

If fixing the problem will take away too much time from your other work, walk away.

If a customer is rude or abusive, walk away.

When you are faced with a miserable customer ask yourself, would I tolerate this behaviour in my personal life? If the answer is no, walk away.

I have seen crafters put up with a lot because they think it is part of being in business. It is not. Do not allow your customers to mistreat you, you deserve better. It is important for us to stand up for ourselves.

Sometimes the best move you can make is to refund someone’s money and cut your losses. As much as we want to do everything you can to turn them all into smiling satisfied happy shoppers, there will be times when you are better off letting go.

For every one customer you have to fire (I literally told my miserable customer never to order from me again!), there will be thousands of others who make you smile and bring joy.

Shake it off and move on. Moving on is just part of business.

Easy and Glamorous bracelet for Mother's Day

Just in time for Mother's Day, we've brought in a huge selection of the Pavé beads from Swarovski Elements. Making jewellery really can't get any easier than buying a Euro-style sterling silver bracelet and adding large hole beads from TierraCast and Swarovski Elements.

Start with a beautiful sterling silver bracelet.

Add large hole beads such as the new Swarovski beads available here and here.

To see the rest of the Euro/Pandora Style beads we carry, take a gander over here.

Here are some bracelets put together by Swarovski Elements:

And here are some of product pictures from Swarovski Elements of their BeCharmed collection.

Swarovski Elements Bead - 14 mm Becharmed Pearl (5890)

Swarovski Elements Bead - 14 mm Becharmed Helix (5920)

Swarovski Elements Bead - 14 mm Becharmed Rondelle (5940)

Swarovski Elements Bead - 14 mm Becharmed Pave (8010)

Swarovski Elements Bead - 15 mm Becharmed Pave (8020) - Crystal (1)

Swarovski Elements Bead - 10.5 mm Becharmed Pave (8030) - Crystal (1)

It's International Decoupage Week!

Yes - it is the international celebration of glueing pictures onto things and then shellacking the heck out of them. Fortunately - we have come a long way in the advancement of the Art of Decoupage. Long gone are the tin cans with catalogue pictures glued to them of our childhoods (and us glued to just about everything else too!) Although - I would swear that these paisley motif beads have not come a long way from the 60's, at all, at all!

These beads are fun and super-lightweight - which makes them great for summer jewelry - speaking of which ... it's warmed up! Hey - maybe we're going to stop getting spring on the installment plan and really get some nice weather! I can hear a lawnmower already - that's a good sign, right?

In fact - it would be a good time to think about sneaking outside and reading a book. Omigawd, yes - a real book, with pages and everything! Because, if you've ever tried to read a tablet in strong light, swat a fly with it, dropped a sandwich or a drink on it, or had it fall in the pool, you can appreciate the value of the, ahem, "more mature" technology. And if you're going to do that, how about your own, custom bookmark? We have some totally awesome ones in - and they make great gifts too.

And if you are giving someone a book already - maybe planning on picking up an inspirational volume (or a blank book for writing?) for that special graduate coming up, maybe slip a personalized bookmark into the book with their birthstone dangling from it? Dragons, Feathers, Horses, Mermaids, oh, and this one, which I think might be a letter opener, actually. Anyway - that's how I'm using mine.
Hey - I love my tablet - but books still have a place in my heart, and 90% of my wallspace. (And to the handful of you who recognize the model book in the pictures and want your own - I will accept bribes of chocolate for the source.)

Also new this week - new cloisonne beads and some restock too. These colourful beads are also quite lightweight. I really love the intensity of the colour in these Cobalt Scallop Shells, but these peachy hummingbirds are pretty cool too.







New issue of Beadwork Magazine, which has our very own Pam prouder 'n a puppy with two tails! She has been breathlessly awaiting the publication of her project: Boho Bangle - featuring Regaliz leather with Peyote Stitch adornment!



Anyhoo, lots of "thinking about summer-fun" beads (hey - check out these Batik Bone Tree of Life beads!) to feed your addiction and make you happy, so click on a link or an image above, or just go here for all the wonderful new beads this week!

Meet The Professor of Crystal!

Make sure not to miss the premiere of the newly released CYS online series starring the unrivaled Nick Regine as “THE PROFESSOR OF CRYSTAL”!

The Professor of Crystal video series is suitable for everyone passionate about SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and Do It Yourself.

In each video The Professor gives expert instruction that makes it possible for every Do It Yourself crystal adicionado to achieve their own vision with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. The videos feature a range of topics including gluing, epoxy clay, hot fixing, soldering, mechanical application, basic jewelry making, felting and much more.


Nick Regine, aka, The Professor of Crystal, has been with Swarovski for 29 years. Currently, as the Swarovski Elements Product Application Manager, Nick works with designers & manufacters ensuring they are familiar with the diverse application possibilities of Swarovski Elements to make just about anything sparkle!

It was a one of the designers who gave him the alias, The Professor of Crystal, because of his vast knowledge of Swarovski Elements and how to incorporate them into everything from jewelry to clothing to electronics, even on motorcycles and automobiles! Nick began his career at Swarovski in jewelry manufacturing, where he learned everything there is to know about crystal stones, gluing, soldering, mold making, and plating.

He later became involved in new product development before joining the Swarovski Elements team as Product Application Manager. Nick travels the globe teaching seminars, workshops and demonstrations to designers and manufacturers in a variety of industries, from infamous designers to the do-it-yourself artist.