Getting to know...Marilyn Gardiner

Marilyn Gardiner

Marilyn Gardiner is a welcome fixture in the Toronto GTA beading world! As an established artisan, Marilyn has brought beading and chainmaille to many of us through her easy-to-understand kits and classes that lead her students to exquisite jewellery.

Being creative was a family tradition in Marilyn’s family. “My grandmother did embroidery and rug hooking,” explains Marilyn. “My mother was an excellent seamstress and made all my clothes, including my wedding gown.” In addition to on- and off-loom beadweaving and wirework, Marilyn crochets and has worked with stained glass.

 

Marilyn has always loved jewellery and, while working, amassed a large collection of purchased jewellery. “Soon after retiring, we visited a bead show in Tucson, Arizona, just for something to do,” she explains. “I was totally enthralled!”

“While in Tucson, I signed up for every class at a local bead store. That summer, I took a week-long class with William Hodge in Haliburton. I also bought kits from Maria Rypan and Cathy Lampole,” adds Marilyn. “I devoured beadwork books, especially those by Carol Wilcox Wells. I continue to take classes from experts in all areas of jewellery making.”

Marilyn actively collects and records ideas for future projects and classes.  In addition to learning about new chainmaille weaves, she also decides how to best show off the patterns. “I love to acquire special beads, such as  art glass focal beads, gemstones and crystals, to combine with a weave for a new piece,” explains Marilyn. “A project may also be the result of problem solving or a challenge such as a multi-strand bracelet or an asymmetric design.”

“I’m inspired by colour, texture and geometric designs. In an effort to record ideas I sketch, take photographs, make notes and collect web references. I collect them in Evernote, a free software program,” adds Marilyn. “I do get behind in these tasks so I end up with notes all over!”

An accomplished instructor, Marilyn enjoys teaching. “I love seeing beginners walk away excited and happy. I also get to see experienced chainmaillers happy that they’ve mastered something new or have learned a different way of doing something they already knew.

When she’s not in the classroom, Marilyn (and her team) are busy doing all the background work that it takes to run a successful business including preparing for bead shows; working on her website and on-line store; creating, writing instructions and preparing kits for new projects.

Upcoming classes with Marilyn Gardiner:

Sprite Delight in Argentium Sterling

Sprite Delight in Copper

Sprite Delight Bracelet

Saturday, November 16

9:30am - 12:30pm

Foxtail in Argentium Sterling

Foxtail in Copper

Foxtail Bracelet

Saturday, November 17

1:30pm - 4:30pm

Crossover Bracelet in Argentium Sterling

Crossover Bracelet in Copper

Crossover Bracelet
Saturday, December 7
9:30am - 12:30pm

Beez to Butterflies in Argentium Sterling

Beez to Butterflies

Beez to Butterflies in Copper

Saturday, December 7
1:30pm - 3:30pm

Sunday Inspirations: Spidey on a Pumpkin

InspirationFX
Get your creative juices flowing

---

Spidey on a Pumpkin
by: Rochelle Kilmer
Here's a Halloween-inspired pair of earrings that would look great any time of the season.

Thread the seedbead, metal bead, glass bead, beadcap and 2 more seedbeads on the headpin, and make a loop. Hang from a pair of earwires, and you are good to go! Go and be scary!

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 are the product.

One day I was reading a marketing book when I came across an idea that stopped me dead. One little sentence so mind blowing and yet so obvious that I forgot to finish my cookie. (And if something comes between me and cookies you know it’s a big something). Here it is.

People don’t buy products, they buy solutions.

DOH!!!

They have a problem, they buy something that solves the problem. 

This means that our job as salespeople is to listen to the customer, work out what their problem is and present our work as the solution.

I hear you muttering away, just as I did at first. “There’s no problem, they just want earrings.” I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, if a customer just wanted earrings they’d go to a mall. The customer has sought out (through a craft show or online) HANDMADE earrings.

Time after time in my booth I hear, “wow, there’s so much talent here, I wish I could do something like this.” 

Are you listening? 

The customer’s problem is that they think they can’t create, that they aren’t artistic. And they think you are. 

The customer is looking for a creative story. They want a piece of art, they want magic.

From an outsiders' perspective the life of an artist is a bit of a fantasy, it sounds glamorous and romantic. We play, we create, we bring visions to life, we give them something different than driving the kids to soccer and grocery shopping. 

Whatever your skill is, it is something the customer can't do. It's magic. It's a little piece of your soul and they are willing to pay for it.

YOU are the product.

You need to sell you as a story. Give them a fully formed real live 3D artist. If you’re selling online presenting you the artist lends your work authenticity and depth. For those at a craft show I can guarantee at least 10 times a day you’ll be asked something along the lines of “how long have you been doing this?” or “where did you learn?”.

It’s hard when you’re starting out and haven’t yet fully claimed the word artist as you. Some people never really know what to say and just hum and fidget. But you, the savvy craftista, will be ready to continue the conversation and communicate your story. For communication is marketing and marketing leads to sales.

To get you started pick up your notebook and spend some time answering these questions on paper. Write several paragraphs on each question. If you feel too self-conscious at first write about yourself in the third person until you get the details down. (Or have a glass of wine and talk it out loud in an empty room). 

1. How did you become an artist?
2. How did you learn your skill?
3. What training have you had? Have you studied with any big names? Taken a course at a well-known school?
4. How long have you been making your current work?
5. What did you make or do before this?
6. What was your creative path?
7. Where does your inspiration come from? 
8. What is it about your current work/technique that lights your fire? Why do you do it?
9. What new techniques do you want to learn? What’s in your artistic future?
10. What do you love most about being an artist?

Tell the truth. Spin your story. It’s yours and it’s what makes you unique. 

Sparkle Pumpkin Inspirations

So, I'm innocently pinning the latest beadFX Inspirations to our Pinterest page...

Here's the latest from the wonderfully wacky and creative mind of Rochelle:

I thought, just for the heck of it, let's see what comes up when I search sparkle pumpkins...
WOW!!! Quite a lot, actually! Here are some Halloween or Autumn time inspirations for you.

We have Swarovski crystal flatbacks!
We have sequins!
We have beads!
We have chain!
We have MetalFX (mica powder - super fine "glitter")!
We have glue!

You will need your own pumpkin!

To see the original sources for all these beautiful pumpkins, please visit our Pinterest page.

On Sale This Week! Toho 8/0s and 11/0 Triangles!

On Sale
this
Week

25% off!

Toho size 8/0s
seedbeads

Toho 11/0
triangles

25% off!

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

New this week! Hot Studs ...

A Bead Stud is a Hot Guy with Beads ...

Well - no. I mean yes, it is - but that's not what we're offering you this week. Not that we don't think there is a demand for hot guys with big beads, baby, but we're fairly certain that there might be some legal issues with selling them ... .
But actually we are referring to ANOTHER kind of bead stud - which is the short pyramid with two holes that you might have seen in projects in magazines and online.

Rising majestically from a square base, these 4-sided pyramids are squat and solid and beg to be played with - positioning them into patterns and scooting them around on the desk like markers from some unknown game. They have twin holes - so you have lots of options for stringing and bead weaving! We've started out with the 12 mm size and have them in the Bright Neon and the Dark Neon to start. More are coming in the weeks ahead too.


Other than that - we have new firepolish glass for you!

Spaghetti Ovals are longer and thinner than regular ovals. You can see from our photos that we were having fun just looping and draping them - they look really pretty by themselves! But of course - you'll want to dress them up with some accent beads and spacers and bead caps - or maybe use them to accent some other beads. The slender oval is such a graceful shape!


The TwoWay Cut is another faceted firepolish bead. First - it is faceted into a short oval, and then two sides are faceted into a barrel cut, for a chic and sophisticated look that is neither oval nor flat. Many of them have a bronzey coating on the sides for extra richness!

You can go to our New Products page, and find all the new items here, or click on a link or image above to go directly to that item!


On sale this week* - Toho size 8/0 seedbeads - all 503 colours! and Toho size 11/0 triangles - 152 colours! 25% off! Woohoo! Go Crazy!
All our Sales start on Wed Midnight.
and run to the following Wed midnight.

*(Sale runs Wed midnight to Wed midnight.)

Stay Beady my friends ... 

A Sparkly and Spooky Halloween

A Halloween special brought to you by our friends at Swarovski!

Everyone can use a little sparkle. Don't scare off your friends and neighbors this Halloween, show them your sparkle! Your creativity could win your own "treat bag" of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS!

Get inspiration and contest information here.

 

1st Prize: $500.00 worth of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS
2nd Prize: $250.00 worth of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS
3rd Prize: $150.00 worth of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

There will also be a random drawing from all entries so everyone from the novice crafter to the advanced designer can have the chance to win!

SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS are available at your local bead shop, craft chains and online resellers.

 

 

For more Halloween jewellery ideas, visit www.create-your-style.com

 

Big News Regarding Swarovski 4 mm Bicones

Newsflash!

All our 4 mm Swarovski bicones have been repriced to much lower prices!

Better sales volumes give us an opportunity to pass the savings on to you! This is NOT a sale - this is a permanent change - with prices from 25% to some as high as 45% better prices! Woohoo! 

New prices are live now! 

Last day to save! 30% off Czech Firepolish!

Sale Ends Wednesday Midnight! 

30% off

Czech Firepolish

Woohoo!

30% off!

Asteroid

Bicones

Briolettes

Cathedral / Lantern

Chevron Nugget

Cut Cubes

Donut

Drops

Faceted Round

Fancy Shapes

Ovals

Rich Cut Round

TwoWay Cut

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