Show Craziness!

Well, it's that time again. We're crazy busy getting ready for the Bead Oasis show this weekend. Cynthia and team are busy preparing all of the racks. We'll be bringing our full selection of Delica's to the show, which complements the newest book we'll be bringing down - The Beaded Sphere, by Judy Walker! We only had 10 preorder copies, but we've just ordered another batch. If you miss out this weekend, we should have more early next week.







We hope to see you at the show this weekend! The Bead Oasis show runs Friday through to Sunday.

Friday September 19 2008 - 10am - 8:00pm
Saturday September 20 2008 - 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday September 21 2008 - 11:00am - 5:00pm

More information about the show along with directions can be found here.

Our store will be open as usual throughout the weekend, but with limited inventory.

Last night, along with a team packing up racks for 13 hours straight, we also had a visit from Craig and Tyler from Arrow Springs. Craig and Tyler have come down to help out Nortel Manufacturing at the show this weekend. Craig showed off some new tools, and Tyler showed everyone some tips and tricks on working with high silver content glass. What I thought would be a turnout of a few people, turned into one of the largest Toronto Lampworkers meetings we've had. It was really great to see everyone!

Fuel your passion with the Mint

It looks like the Royal Canadian Mint is hopping on the Swarovski bandwagon. The Mint has released a pure silver $20 Coin, set with a Swarovski crystal drop. It's quite pretty actually.

Speaking of Swarovski, last week the latest Swarovski newsletter hit my mailbox.

Here's a pretty project just listed on the Swarovski Site -




Going to Tucson this winter?

CREATE YOUR STYLE IN TUCSON
A CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements event where you can learn do-it and design-it-yourself techniques under expert guidance from the industry's top application, design, and trend experts. This creative forum is open to everyone from first time designers to advanced and ambitious do-it-youself enthusiasts. Join us in Tucson to explore new techniques and lean more about new innovative products.

5 Essential things you need to know to Make Jewelry - Part 4 - Jump Rings

The 4th thing you need to know to make jewelry - woohoo - you are almost completely edu-ma-cated-up here. Jumprings are an essential component for connecting things, i.e. adding clasps, dangles, chain extenders, etc. It also applies to opening ear wires and any simple loop. The basic idea is to twist the wire sideways, as pulling it apart will bend the wire completely out of shape and you'll never get it back, and it will also weaken the wire and make it more likely to break.

Bead Knitting is big at the K-W Knitter's Fair!

Our first show of the fall season was technically speaking not a bead show, but a knitting show. The Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter's Fair is arguably the largest knitting-oriented retail show in Canada, drawing at least 1600 eager buyers from as far away as Ottawa, Montreal and upstate New York.

There were only 70 vendors at this show spread over two large halls. This may seem small by bead show standards but, after all, yarn takes up a lot more space than beads do! BeadFX had a small booth selling beads and buttons for knitting and bead-knitting related books and tools. We were busy all day long as experienced knitters were interested in expanding their knitting skills to include beading. They brought their skeins of light-weight yarn to match with the large range of colours we have available in both Czech and Toho beads.

I demonstrated a way to add beads and charms to leftover scraps of yarn to make a glitzy necklace.

Site of the Week: If you sell on Etsy.com

Then you probably want to know about this site. Majaba.org gives you access to your stats in a slightly more comprehensive style than etsy does - showing you at a glance which of your items has been favourited (heart'ed) and compared to the number of views. It also shows who has favourited (heart'ed) you too.

A very useful little tool!

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Next week - we'll be at the Oasis show, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and so, in order to give the gals time to pack stuff for the show, we'll not be doing an update next Wed. But, the good news is that the sale on 4 mm Swarovski Bicones will continue for 2 weeks, instead of the usual one.

After that, we'll be resuming our regular schedule, with some lovely new sterling clasps coming, and some kool base metal clasps too!

Hope to see you at the show. However, our Scarborough store will remain open as usual. And, you put an order and want to pick it up at the show - please do call or email us to let us know and we'll bring it down for you!

CreativFestival

Mark October 17 to 19, 2008 on your calendars for the CreativFestival - formerly the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival. As usual, it will be at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, Toronto. We will be there this year, and we will be doing some great demos and working with Swarovski to present some fabulous projects. Come on down and see us and see the sparklies.

New Toy

This is entirely Dwyn's fault. Yes, I must place the blame completely on her..Ok, well not so much. About a year ago, Dwyn and I were talking about those cool die cut machines that are used for scrapbooking. Neither of us do any scrapbooking at all, and really couldn't imagine a use for this expensive, but really, really cool machine. We've both been coveting one though.

Yesterday, during an impromptu meeting regarding the our plans to redecorate the studio along with improving organization and lighting (YAY!) - we discovered that this nifty die cutter, also cuts vinyl. - We found a use, we can make our own decorations! And of course, have the ability to change them at will, only for the cost of new paper.

So, on my way home last night while making grossly over-substantiated claims to my husband on just how many thousands of dollars (heheh) we'll save on decorating expenses, by being able to create our own. I didn't tell him that our decorating budget is nil....I'd really rather buy more beads :-)
- We got a Cricut Expression. It's the new one that will cut 12" x 24". I set it up briefly last night, but it was pretty late by that point (2 AM). I'm hoping to have some more time tonight to see what it can do. You can get home decor, and shophelper cartriges, along with one called bags, tags and boxes. That one looks promising. You can make your own jewelry boxes and tags! - see ma, there is a use for this thing :-)

So, if you see fancy jewelry tags, and pillow boxes for sale in the store, it's only because I got really excited and made thousands of them. :-)

Stephanie Dixon Class

The staff got a little preview of Stephanie Dixon's Crochet with metal class. What happened was, we posted the class to our customers, and I then discovered that the class had completely filled up with staff! - no room for customers! That didn't seem fair at all, so I pulled all the staff out, and brought in Stephanie to teach just the staff. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it that day, but I heard the class was a huge, huge success. Rosemary reports that they got quite rambunctious in the classroom - tons of giggles and laughter were heard through the classroom walls. Everyone finished their necklaces during the class!

Here is a pic of what Dwyn made.



I know the next class scheduled is full (don't worry - not with staff!), but there is room in the next class. We're also working on adding a few more dates for this to be extremely popular class!

New Ads

Dwyn and I have been concocting some new slogans to use in our ads. Sometimes, we may get a little carried away. These sessions usually involve lots of laughter, and the slogans get a little more 'risque' each time. Sometimes, we think we've come up with an awesome slogan, until other staff members point out that it may be a little out there.

Which of the following do you like best? Or have we finally lost it? :-) - It's ok, we can take it!

Five Things you need to know to make jewelry - Part 3

Ok, now I'm getting a little out of order here. This week, instead of presenting them in the order I initially did, I've skipped ahead, because, er, this is the video I have ready.



As you may remember, I speculated that you really needed to know only about 5 things to make most basic jewelry, strung necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. I've already covered a basic secure knot, and how to crimp. This week, I want to show you how to do a wrapped loop. A wrapped loop is a very secure way to attach a bead, as there is no way for it to open up and fall off. Use these for attaching heavy beads, expensive beads, pendants or beads on bracelets - as bracelets get bashed about and get a lot of abuse.

This picture show wrapped loops (indicated by yellow arrows) - and shows ways you might use them.

The mark of a nice wrapped loop is a nice even wrap, without huge or uneven gaps between the coils. The end of the wire should be tucked in smooth, so that it is not a sharp end to poke or scratch you with.

It takes some practice to get all the hand movements down, but after some repetition, it will be second nature. Buy some basemetal (inexpensive) headpins and beads, and make a whole bunch for a necklace or bracelet. By the time you are done, you'll be very accomplished at it!

Take a Look at this Dragon

Just take a look at this dragon, how amazingly beautiful is this? Are beads not the perfect representations of a dragon's glittering scales. Can you imagine the work in this?

Breathtaking. Winner of the sculptural art category of the Treasures of Toho beading contest.

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Marg musta used a dump truck to bring back her last haul - we got more stones here. Some really big ones too - you might want to start working out so you can lift these suckers. Those are 18 mm rondelles - Porcelain Jasper.


Or how about these Red Tiger Eye beads - which are 50 mm long!!!!


Or this Kamabara Jasper Coin - which is also 50 mm across. Doubles as a coaster!

Yep its a load of stone for next week. Better start lifting weights in preparation!

We have picked a winner!

And the winner of yesterdays comment on our post contest is........ Mrssipe! Congratulations! Charmaine, we'll ship out your contest winnings this weekend. Please email info@beadfx.com - Lee will confirm your addy.

Hey that was fun. Maybe we'll make this a semi regular sort of thing :-)

The Grand River Bead Society Annual Bead Show and Sale

Put this on your calendar - the Grand River Bead Society Annual Bead Show and Sale. Saturday, October 4th, 2008. 10 am to 5 pm. at the Evergreen Seniors Centre - 683 Woolwich Street, Guelph, ON. One of our instructors, Marilyn Gardiner is a regular there and says it's a fun show!
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Win this!

Ok, something a little different today. Now that all the little kidlets are back in school, and it seems like as a good a time as any to get organized. Are you reorganizing your studio/workspace? It doesn't matter if you have a full room to call your own, or just a little corner of the dining room table. Post a comment with your best jewelry/bead related organization tip. Tomorrow at noon, I'll choose one of the responses at random. The winner will receive all of the components necessary to make our latest inspiration! This prize is worth well over $50! Whohoo!!

**Edit*** I just tallied up all the beads - retail value is $82.11!! There is more than enough to make lots and lots of 'blossoms', plus a bunch of sterling, and swarovski left over for other projects. Let's hear about your tips!

I'm hoping that I will finally be able to finish my basement studio at home. I started off with fabulous plans last year - well, life gets in the way :-) I've scooped pretty much the entire basement. It's unfinished, which is fine for what I want to use it for, but I'd rather it not look like the disorganized dungeon that it is. :-)

I'm planning on installing shelves on all of the walls. I've got them already, it's just a small matter of putting them up! Then I want to fill all of the nooks and crannys with my favourite things. Better lighting, and maybe even a bunch of strands of fairy lights. (maybe I'm getting carried away there!) It will be nice to have it set up, so that I enjoy spending time down there. - A little escape from the joys of parenting 3 and 5 year olds. ;-)

So let's hear it folks - Tell us your best organization tips, and good luck in the draw! After you post your response, please copy it into an email to info@beadfx.com - Please don't post your personal information on the blog! Ya never know who's reading this...

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

That's right - it's that time again - Back to School Time!

And with the kids off at school, the buses running more frequently and the weather cooling down (I know, 29C with a humidex of 34C is hardly cooling off! But with mid-teens an low 20's forecast for next week, fall is on its way.), why not take a class yourself?

With Dancing Dahlias, Byzantine Bracelets, and Art Clay Play Days, we have a range of classes to ignite your imagination and build your beading skills this fall. Looking to Lampwork? We have 4-hour Introductions, 8-hour Weekends and the mother-of-all courses, the 8-week Lampworking 101! For dates and times, check out our September and October course calendars and to register, give us a call at 416-701-1373 (toll free 877-473-2323) or drop by the store.

I'll be thinking of all the fun you're having, while I'm sitting in a lecture hall filled with 800 of my closest friends, pouring over anatomy and physiology notes ;)

Mad Men

Have you seen this series - Mad Men? It's been getting a huge amount of hype lately, and normally, I equate tv + hype = tripe and avoid it at all costs.

However, this long weekend, I stumbled upon a marathon of re-runs of it, and got snagged by the look and feel of the show, and before I knew it - 3 hours of my life had gone. I was entranced. The writing is really d--- good. B. amazing, in fact. No cliches, no platitudes - no likable characters (well - Peggy isn't too hatable - a sort of Ugly Betty character with more depth - played by Elisabeth Moss - remember Zoe Bartlett from West Wing? In fact, a number of notable luminaries from West Wing grace this, including some of the writers, which I suspect accounts for its superiority.)

I was really pleasantly surprised. But more important than twisting plot-lines and clever dialogue is - the JEWELRY! Omigawd - this is jewel porn! All the women are jeweled up pretty much all the time. They heading off to their day-jobs wearing their Shermans and Julianas and Haglers. Omigawd. Again.

Just look at this stuff. Huge sparkly brooches. Rhinestone collars. Drippy pearls. This is the stuff of dreams - well it's the stuff that got me started first collecting and then making jewelry, so for me, this is the motherlode!

I strongly suggest watching an episode or two just for the jewelry. Oh, and there are horses occasionally too. How bad can that be?

Back to School

Parents partying in the street - the kids are going back, the kiiids are goingggg baaaack! Kids moansing and groansing. Parents also chewing their nails off in anxiety. Will they be ok? Will they find their classes, will there be bullies? Oh yes - it's a double-edged sword.

So, once they've been back awhile and you can catch your breath, what about you? Planning any back-to-school for yourself? Learning keeps you young - apparently, all that stuff we learned about the brain being fixed in development at a young age was absolute rot. The more you learn, the better you get at it, and the more flexible your brain is. And learning absolutely new things is the best for staying young. Learning something that you have not done anything remotely like it before is the absolute best way to keep your brain flexible like a 13 year old gymnast.

And let me tell you - when it comes to finding something that is not like anything you've ever done before - making glass beads at a torch is waaaaay out there. This is an activity that will create new pathways in your neural network like nobody's business. Whoa nelly - feel those neurons growing! (I was going to say - "feel the burn" - but given the whole hot glass and torch thing - maybe we'll just avoid that for now.)

Why is flameworking so very different from anything you've ever done? Well - it's easier to try it and find out than to explain - but here's a few items.

Top Ten Reasons Why Flameworking is Not Like Anything Else.

• Flying insects in your workspace self-destruct
• The number of times you've judged the temperature of something by looking at it's colour is Zero
• People will be incredulous and impressed when you tell them what you do for fun
• You'll finally know how they get those flowers inside the bead
• Since when did blue and cream make black?
• Secret insider colour names like Rubino and Evil Purple
• Able to toss around technical terms like "flame atmosphere" and "Co-efficient of Expansion"
• Permission to play with fire
• A complete and total understanding of why a single bead would cost $60.00.
  
  and the number one reason why flameworking is NOT like anything else you've tried
  
  
• People won't ask you to do things for them when you have molten glass balanced on a steel stick.

Intro classes, weekend classes and an 8 week class, all coming up soon!

Crimping

 

Well - this week is the second of "Five Essential Things you need to know to Make Jewelry." Rather than do it all with diagrams and iambic pentameter, (what was I thinking?) - I've made a little video for you. Let me tell you - writing verse is easier. Much easier. I have a whole new appreciation for how slick the video and film that we take for granted is.

Anyway, in a nutshell - a crimp is a crushable bead that is designed to grab hold of wires and, after being crunched into place, hang onto the wires and hold them securely. Make sure that the crimp is sized proportionally to the wires going through it - not too sloppy - and crush the crimp so that the mark it makes down the side is between the two wires or cables or whatever you're stringing on. The next step, for a tidier look, is to fold the crimp up on itself. Note, this only works for crimp tubes - as there are round crimp beads - which you just crush flat. I find that it doesn't really pay to buy low end crimp beads - the aggravation of having them fail far exceeds the cost savings.

Then - to finish this off for a completely polished and professional look - add a crimp cover - also shown in the video. I hope. Gosh, I hope this works. And that you find it useful.