Look What Our Students Made!!

On Sunday, I taught a new course at beadFX called Introduction to Bead Embroidery to eleven students. The goal of the class was to learn how to bezel a cabochon onto a bead backing. They got to choose cabochons and seed beads from the large array available at the store. I was amazed how well everyone did. I thought I would show you pictures of everyone's work. This is what students accomplished in three hours. You can too!!

Dawn used a Lunasoft cabochon. 

Here is Deborah's multicolor seed bead mix around a piece of turquoise. 

This is a button that Angela made. 

Lynn used a Lunasoft cabochon as well. It's actually grey, but changes colour depending on the beads used to bezel it. 

Bonnie also used a Lunasoft cabochon. 

Connie used a beautiful jasper stone with metallic pink beads. 

Here is the piece that Sharon is working on. We had fun picking out beads to match the stone. 

Marigrace used Malachite in hers. 

BeadFX's own Rae did a fantastic job by adding in drops to her piece. I think she is going to turn this into a ring. 

Beth used a stone similar to Connie's, but embellished it with seed beads from one of BeadFX's ColourFX custom blends. 

Marion used an oval Blue Crazy Lace Agate bead that was sewn to the backing securely and then embellished. This screams Summertime to me. 

And here is the one I worked on with a huge Swarovski flatback from my personal stash. 

Don't be intimidated by new techniques! All the instructors at beadFX are excellent and break down each step in projects to easily doable steps. 

Check the class calendar and sign up for a new class today! You won't regret it! 

June classes - the learning doesn't stop!

Ah, June ... sunshine and last days of school! But, at BeadFX the learning doesn't stop. Within June's 30 days, we are offering 27 classes - of which 16 are brand new projects or classes!

We especially proud to be offering three classes by British instructor Jean Power whose classes are filling up quickly. Other new instructors include Liz Reynolds who is teaching all about Hadar Jacobson's metal clay - a powdered metal clay that you can mix as needed; Sureka Sriharan brings us a right angle weave bracelet that is stunningly beautiful; and Jenn Jevon is teaching how to create molds for silver clay.

There are also lots of returning classes available, but here are all the 'new' June classes and projects. For complete details on all the classes, go to our website; click on classes and click on June.

Sunday, June 2
Soutache Lesson #3: Leaves and Layers
11:30am - 2:30pm
Instructor: Angela Peace 

Thursday, June 6
Spiral it Up Bracelet
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor: Pamela Kearns

Friday, June 7
Peruvian Wire Crochet Earrings
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Instructor: Giovanna Paz

Sunday, June 9
Getting Started with Hadar's Clay
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Instructor: Liz Reynolds

Thursday, June14
Kumihimo Beaded Patterned Necklace
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Instructor: Angela Peace

Saturday, June 15
Three Exquisite Pairs of Earrings: Intro to Chainmaille #3 (left)
9:30am - 12:30pm
Instructor: Marilyn Gardiner

Turtleback Bracelet (right)
1:30pm - 4:30pm
Instructor: Marilyn Gardiner

Tuesday, June 18
Chicklets (left) and Cascading Twigs  (right)
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor: Maria Rypan

Wednesday, June 19
Fire in the Mountain Bracelet
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Instructor: Sureka Sriharan

Friday, June 21
Interchangeable Cuff (left) and Zinnia Flower (right) (2 projects in one class)
10:00am - 5:00pm
Instructor: Jean Power

Mold Making for Silver Clay
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Instructor: Jenn Jevon

Saturday, June 22
Frame Bangle
10:00am - 5:00pm
Instructor: Jean Power

Two Day Lampworking Weekend, Part B
10:00am - 2:30pm (Saturday)
11:30am - 4:00pm (Sunday)
Instructor: Amy Waldman-Smith

Sunday, June 23
Geometric Stars
10:00am - 5:00pm
Instructor: Jean Power

Monday, June 24
Embellished Peyote and Fringe Necklace
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor: Rae Huggins

Tuesday, June 25
Netted X's and O's Necklace
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor: Maria Rypan

Inspiration Monday: She Sells Seashells - Charm Bracelet

by: Rochelle Kilmer

She sells seashells, by the seashore - the seashells that she sells are sea shells, I'm sure!

Not only is it hard to say - it's hard to type! This seashell themed chain is the starting point for a lovely beachy bracelet. Perfect for that Caribbean Cruise, or sitting on a patio PRETENDING to be on a Caribbean cruise.

Jumprings lengthen the chain and connect the clasp, and give the clasp an adjustable length to hook into. Attach the charms with a jumpring as well - making sure that they are well closed so that they do not fall off. Alternate the charms with dangles of one or two headpins with 1 or 2 round beads on them.

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 - Make it easy for your customers to give you money

“Wow, I LOVE this, it’s totally fabulous! It fits perfectly and it’s so gorgeous”, gushes the customer as she puts your jewelry back on the shelf and walks away. Huh? Why didn’t she buy it? She loves it!

Who knows, maybe she just paid a huge car repair bill. Maybe she just bought a house. Maybe it’s a big necklace and she doesn’t have any special occasions coming up to wear it to. Maybe she doesn’t have any cash and she doesn’t know if you take credit cards and since you were busy with another customer she couldn’t ask you.

Not every customer will purchase every time they see you. Some customers will purchase one small item, get home and decide they really want more. (Yay!) It’s up to you to provide your customer with the opportunity to purchase when they want to, not just when you happen to be available.

Here’s 6 ways you can help your customer give you money.

1. Have signs everywhere about your terms of payment (credit cards, cash, cheque, email money transfer, whatever). Don’t ever make them ask. In your craft show booth these are physical signs. On your website this can be in the form of a FAQ (frequently asked questions) page, or large buttons saying “Credit cards accepted” or “Paypal accepted”.
2. On your website have BUY NOW buttons everywhere along with shipping information.
3.  If an item online has a variety of options list them. Don’t ever make them email for more information. Have a sign in your booth listing the options.
4. Let them know where they can buy from you in the future. Have your website address on everything. List all your craft shows on your website. Facebook upcoming events, tweet them, blog them, let people know where you will be. In your craft show booth have a flyer with upcoming shows.
5. Ask people to sign up for your newsletter and then SEND them the newsletter. It’s not the customers’ job to stay in touch with you, it’s your job to stay in touch with them.
6. In your craft show booth have your business card readily available. Or maybe a free postcard. 

Making it easy for your customer to give you money isn’t just about the physical exchange of cash for goods. It is about providing the customer with a variety of goods at a variety of price points to allow them to find one that fits their needs.

Back to our shopper from above. The piece she tried on was a very large statement necklace. True, she did love it however she couldn’t figure out where she would wear it, and really, at $500 it was beyond her budget. The customer here loves your work but you haven’t provided her with a way of giving you money. What if there was a smaller version of the necklace? Or a pair of earrings at $35 in the same style?

As another example, think of a painter who has created a stunning landscape painting, magnificent and 6’ X 8’ and $2500. No matter how gorgeous, it will be difficult for her audience (who primarily live in downtown condos) to find a space for this work. The painter could make smaller prints of the work for a more affordable price and at a size that people could envision in their living room. She could also make greeting cards, or create a calendar of a selection of her works.

If a customer just doesn’t have the money to buy your $500 piece, don’t deny them the chance to give you what they can afford. Maybe they can buy a $50 piece. They can always come back for more. 

Money is like water, it will flow where ever you direct it. Go ahead, direct as much as possible in your direction. 

Oh... Delica beads.

I've fallen hard for those itty bitty morsels of glass perfection. The delica. These are premium Japanese cylinder beads, in size 11/0. They are very consistent in size and shape and colour. There are so many gorgeous colours! 

I've started buying more thanks to some books and classes available at the store. 

First came Diane Fitzgerald. 

Contemporary Beadwork I is out of print, but available on CD at beadFX. 

Diane Fitzgerald is a bead collector and jewelry designer who works with a variety of beads large and small, old and new. Since 1989, Diane has taught classes at her shop, Beautiful Beads, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, across the U.S. and internationally. As a collector, she focuses on contemporary American art glass beads and European and Japanese vintage beads. Diane has traveled to South Africa to study Zulu and Xhosa beadwork and to Japan, Czech Republic, Germany, the UK and other areas to learn about the glass bead industry and meet beadworkers and beadmakers. 

Diane taught at the store when I still didn't like those "darn little beads". I didn't take any of her classes and could kick myself now. Luckily, we were both instructors on the recent Swarovski cruise, so I got to spend extended time with this amazing woman. We even beaded together waiting for our flights home at the airport. A real treat! Please visit her website at www.dianefitzgerald.com

Then came Jean Power and her book. 

Jean was a Designer of the Year for BeadWork Magazine in 2012 so every issue including a sweet taste of what would come with the launch of her book. Jean is coming to beadFX to teach this year and I will NOT miss out on this opportunity. 

Check the class calendar for her schedule. 

And then along came Kate. Kate McKinnon that is. And Contemporary Geometric Beadwork - by Kate McKinnon. Co-author and illustrator, Christina Vandervlist, taught at the store and also had a book signing. Seeing some of the magnificent pieces from the book in real life really inspired me. 

All of this stitched deliciousness inspired me to organize my delica collection. It's a sweet little collection. Pam laughed at me. Or rather at how few delica beads I have. Well, it's a start and golly gee, I love them. I have organized by colour family. My BBB (best beading buddy) Gail organizes her beads bottoms up so she can see what the colours are. I liked it so much, I did it too, but used elastics to hold them together. 

Well, back to the website I go to make of list of the delica's that I need and want. It's going to be a long list....

Did you Survive the Sunday Weather?

Holy Snake Snot, Batman - that was some weird weather. As we stood under a tree while the hail hammered down for the umpteenth time, my friend turned to me and yelled over the rattle of the falling frozen water, "Well, at least it's not lightening!" Highly conscious of the tree that was affording us almost zero protection from the elements, I screamed back at her, "Shut.Up." I know how this weather thing works - never say "At least it's not ... ." Ever.

So I suggest we not tell the weather that this is a long weekend coming up. In fact - I suggest we storm (ha ha) the weather channel and steal all their calendars so they don't know it's a holiday. Who's with me?

So I'm definitely not going to point out that our bricks and mortar store in East York will be closed on Monday for the Victoria Day Weekend. Nope - not going to say a word about that at all.

I will, however, point out that we do have lots of goodies new this week - should you be living in an apartment with one lonely flower box that takes you all of 15 minutes to plant and then leaves you wondering what you and your cats are going to be doing for the rest of the weekend. Why - beading, of course! And you can still have your flowers, because we have flowers! Pretty yellow flowers, exotic Lime Jello Flowers, James and the Metallic Peach flowers, pretty blue Periwinkle flowers, Candy Corn Mix Flowers, ... lots of everlasting flowers!








Serving up with the flowers is, as by now you might have guessed, one of my favourite beads - Firepolish Donuts! Not sure what it is about these beads - but I just love the shape. They seem so ... beady. So quintessentially beady. We have some lovely colour combos, like Azure Storm and Mermaid and Ivory. And Lost and Found, and High Times, and Cherry Bomb, and Moonbeams.
Check them all out here!


And some of the Ruby Velvet Quartz Glass which is such a sizzling shade of red - and very, very hard to photograph.









Lots of Japanese seedbeads coming this month! This week, we've added 20 more 11/0 Toho Rounds - Frosted and Inside-Colours like Frosted Transparent Dark Sapphire, and Inside Colour Purple / Orange and Mint / Light Amber. Colour combos that sound weird, but are surprisingly attractive!







Well, that's it for this week, have a lovely long weekend, stay safe, and, as always, 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!


Don't forget - we've started up our weekly sales again - but each weekly sale ends at midnight on Wednesday - so if you haven't checked out your shopping cart by then, your sale bargains will have turned back into pumpkins. Lovely, beady pumpkins, but pumpkins nevertheless!

On Sale This Week!

25% off

Wire Lace

& Wire Luxe

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Stone of the Month!

Dragon Blood Jasper
15% off for May

 

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