Wrap-up October with a 'spook-tacular' class!

No, our classes aren't scary; we want you to feel comfortable when you come to take classes at BeadFX. We just love getting into the Halloween spirit! Hmm...I wonder how many beads it would take to cover a pumpkin?

We have several new classes coming up with Sue Henry, Christine Woollacott, Maria Rypan, Gillian Clarke and Jen Rosen! We also have many encore classes in all jewellery-making mediums that you'll enjoy, including revamped classes with Bonni Poch for bead crochet. Unfortunately, we needed to cancel our classes with Hannah Rosner due to lack of sign-ups, but don't worry - we have several visiting instructors coming in 2017.

Here are the classes scheduled October 21 - October 31:

Friday, October 21
NEW Make your own Toggle/Bar Clasp with Copper Metal Clay
Instructor: Sue Henry
Style your own custom findings!

Saturday, October 22
NEW Plique-a-Jour with Fine Silver Metal Clay
Instructor: Christine Woollacott
10:00am - 5:00pm
Learn an enamelling technique that resembles the beauty of stained glass! Class continues Sunday, October 23; 10:00am - 5:00pm

Intro Weekend to Lampworking

Instructor: Amy Waldman

10:00am - 2:30pm

Make your own glass beads! Class continues Sunday, October 23; 11:30am - 4:00pm

Tuesday, October 25
NEW Tapered Net Bracelet
Instructor: Maria Rypan
1:30 - 4:30pm
Learn a new way to use 2-hole beads!

Wednesday, October 26
Introduction to Art Clay Silver
Instructor: Jenn Jevons
11:00am - 7:00pm
Create your own fine silver pendants, charms and other jewellery components!

FREE Open Bead Night

Facilitator: Bonnie Cottingham

6:00 - 8:00am

Bring your project and join friends for a fun evening!

Thursday, October 27
FREE Afternoon Bead Tea
Facilitator: Pamela Kearns
1:00 - 3:00pm
Bring your project and be among the first to see the new weekly items!

Embellished Rivoli Pendant

Instructor: Sureka Sriharan

6:00 - 9:00pm

Learn how to bezel a rivoli for a beautiful pendant!

Open Metal Studio: Hot and Cold Connections
Facilitator: Iris Rogers Melamed
6:00 - 8:00pm
Bring your metalwork project and get help and tips from Iris!

Friday, October 28
NEW Shaggy Loops and Scales
Instructor: Gillian Clarke
6:00 - 9:00pm
Learn the basics of chainmaille!

NEW Wild Wire Flowers

Instructor: Ann Shewan

6:00 - 9:00pm

Jigs will be your new best friends for wirework!

Saturday, October 29
REVAMPED Bead Crochet: The Basics and Beyond
Instructor: Bonni Poch
Part 1: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Part 2: 2:00 - 5:00pm
Learn how to do bead crochet and what more you can do with it!

Hot Connections: Connecting Components

Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed

10:00am - 5:00pm

Take your silver soldering skills to the next level!

Sunday, October 30
Resin: A Mixed-up Media Approach
Instructor: Anne Marie Desaulniers
11:00am - 5:00pm
Discover how to use resin!

NEW Wire Wrapping: 2 Finger Ring

Instructor: Jen Rosen

12:00 - 3:00pm

Create your own trendy ring!

Complete information about each activity is available by clicking on the title. You can also go to www.beadfx.com and click on 'Classes'. Follow the links to the October class calendar and click on the individual classes, events and sessions.

Fall 2016 jewellery trend round-up

By Cindy Goldrick

It's that time of year again! I've scoured the fashion magazines' reporting on the fall jewellery trends to bring you this summary. Then you can look in your jewellery box for styles that are back, or can be easily upcycled to look current. And never forget that your favourite jewellery store has all the components ( and classes) that will allow you to custom-make on trend jewellery at a fraction of the department store prices. 

Chain chain chain: we're not talking about tiny chains or masses of chain. We are talking about padlock the door chain. It's part of the punk revival in jewellery. 

Speaking of which...

Safety pins. Yes safety pins. Big ones in your ears, dangling from your lobes and even as components to join sections of chain in necklaces. I'm not kidding. 

Big big big: big slices of agate on long chains as well as worn like big plates on your ears as earrings. Also big pearl ropes piled up. Big coins on chokers, as earrings. The XXL necklace that piles it on, stacks it up and looks like it will weigh you down is your best accessory. 

More more more: pile on those rings - the bigger the better. Finally style has caught up with me. Lol. 

Charms, charms and more charms: on rings and big chunky bracelets. But what I'm loving is the talisman style necklaces that a small company I work with, Bench Artisans, has been making and selling all summer. 

Eye glass chains: on the chain theme, these are in your face chains that make your glasses a major fashion accessory. 

Chokers: get out the velvet, lace and other tactile textiles. Create or buy a buckle for the back and add pearls, semi precious stones or a brooch. 

Ohhhhh, brooches! Look out 80s ladies - brooches are back. Wear them as pairs on lapels with chain draped between them. Attach them to headpieces for instant glamour. Pile two or three on one side that have a theme to bring them together.  

What's still in style from the spring:

Tassels galore as duster earrings, on talisman necklaces, on hand bags.

Asymmetrical looks, especially one duster earring. 

If you have noticed any other trends, please add them below. 

InspirationFX: Simply Grey

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Simply Grey 

by: Anne Marie Desaulniers

There comes a time of the year, when we realize that summer has passed, and the grey skies of winter will soon be upon us. Grey has a certain soothing appeal, and will easily coordinate with many of the colours in your wardrobe.
Simple in appearance, and simple in both style and construction. Dress it up, or dress it down! Inspired by a piece I spotted on the internet, a couple of weeks ago. The original necklace showcased pearls, but I decided to put my own stamp on it, by using large hole, stone beads. I'm happy with my choices!
Instructions:
1. Cut leather into three lengths - 2 X 22 inches; 1 X 12 inches (there will be a little waste, so adjust lengths as desired). If you want a longer necklace, then you should probably bump the amount you purchase up to 2 metres.
2. Fold each of the 22 inch lengths of leather into two, and string 3-Distressed Barrels, on each of the doubled up lengths (three on one set; three on the other, by squeezing two of the round leather pieces, into each of the Distressed Barrels).
3. Adjust spacing of the Distressed Barrels as desired.
4. Reserve the 12 inch length of leather, until later.
5. You will have four cut ends of the leather. Attach one 2mm End Cap with Loop to the first end, by adding a single drop of Super New Glue to the inside of the end cap, then adding the leather, and gently squeezing shut with your pliers. Repeat this process for the other three ends and let dry.
6. Attach each of the doubled up lengths of leather to the top of the Radiant Flat Round Ring, with a Lark's Head Knot. You now have two sides of your necklace, almost complete.
7. On one side, join the 2-2mm End Cap with Loop, with a 9 mm Jumpring. Repeat for the other side.
8. On one side, attach 1-7mm Jumpring to both the 9mm Jumpring, and the Swivel/Rotating Medium Hook Clasp.
9. On the other side, attach 1-7mm Jumpring to both the 9mm Jumpring, and the Swivel/Rotating Link.
10. Now you?re ready to use the 12 inch, reserved length of leather.
11. On one of the cut ends, string in the following sequence - 1-Nuggett Heishi/1-Picasso Jasper/1-Nugget Heishi/1- Picasso Jasper /1-Nugget Heishi/1- Picasso Jasper /1-Nugget Heishi.
12. Knot the leather, with a simple overhand knot, close to the end.
13. On the other cut end, string as follows - 1 Nuggett Heishi/1- Picasso Jasper /2-Nugget Heishi/1- Picasso Jasper /2-Nugget Heishi/1- Picasso Jasper /1-Nugget Heishi.
14. Knot the leather, with a simple overhand knot, close to the end.
15. Fold the length of leather, and adjusting so that one side is slightly longer than the other.
16. Attach the folded length of leather, to the bottom of the of the Radiant Flat Round Ring, with a Lark's Head Knot.
17. Adjust the spacing of the beads, as desired.
18. Congratulations your necklace is complete!

Don't be afraid to change up the colour scheme, the beads, or even the length of the necklace. It's incredibly easy to do!
Equipment needed: two pairs of pliers, to open and close the jump rings; and one to close the End Caps with Loop. I used my Chain Nose pliers for both, but you could also use Bent Nose or Flat Nose pliers.

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.

20% off Swarovski Bicones!

Swarovski bicones - if beads were food and lived in your pantry - then Swarovski bicones would be the bag of sugar - the staple that you just can't make anything without.

Actually - even Swarovski has used that analogy, but calls it's crystals "Salt" and names it's magazine "Salt" for the ubiquitousness and usefulness of their crystals.

But I like a sweeter metaphor than that.

Anyway - however you mix your metaphors, crystal bicones are sure to spice and sweeten your designs.

And they are currently 20% off - so sprinkle them on!

3 mm Bicones		4 mm Bicones		5 mm Bicones		6 mm Bicones		7 mm Bicones
8 mm Bicones		10 mm Bicones

Monstrously Good

We were working at the bead table late one night,
When our eyes did behold a beady sight,
For our Kheops beads on the mat did fall
and they spelled out words in a message for all

We are the beads - the Kheops beads
Like a pyramid shape, we are not seeds
We are the Beads - we fulfill your needs
We are the beads - the Kheops beads!

They're a range of colours from Matte Light Gold
To a Coral Red that's very bold
And all you could hear in the light of the day
Was all the gals singing "My mummy likes it that way."

They are the beads - they are two-hole beads
Like a pyramid shape, they are not seeds
The holes go down the sides, and out the base
They assemble into patterns with ease and grace


Of course, that's not the only thing that's new
We have some beads that are 2mm and true
Tiny firepolish for your beading pleasure,
Genuinely 2 millimeter if you'd like to measure!

They are the Firepolish - the True 2 millimeter
Get 'em by the package - not by the litre
They are the Firepolish - the True 2 millimeter
They might be fiery but you don't need a heater



And then we thought, how about some thread?
If we don't get some colours then we're going to be dead
So we got some Toho beading line
It's called One-G and you'll like it fine.

It's a thread - it's a beading thread
You'll like it fine - that's what we said
Its colours are great, like Mint and Orange
Nothing on the planet rhymes with orange.


And that's the way it is this week at BeadFX - with profound apologies to Bobby Pickett. Wishing you all a great week and see you next week, with more beady nonsense. Bead Happy!"

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What's on my bead mat - October edition!

I thought that it was time to give you an update, on my beady activities! Well, my bead mat is actually a disgrace right now, so I decided to do my bead mat update, off the bead mat this time!! But the good news, is that I finished off a couple of projects this month.

First, my “Silly Goose” doll is now complete. Isn't she adorable? All the beading was finished in September, but I still needed to work out her hair. I normally add it right after I bezel the face, but this time the doll was telling me to mix up her media, and give her some needle felted hair. I had the needles, I had the hair…..all I needed to do, was…..wait for it…….actually do it!!!! I anticipated a lot of down time, at the recent BeadFX, Artisan Trunk show, so I used that free time, to do the deed. I’m not sure why I waited so long, but I did, so no excuses! As a freeform diva, I’m thinking that this doll is my favourite! I’ve been told that she doesn’t really look like a goose, but I’m committed to that name, and am not able to think of her in any other way. So much so, that I’m thinking that a wire nest is in order! What do you think? Although not green, I’m thinking that her riotous hair reminds me of someone else’s hair. I wonder who that could be? Giggle!

Next, I worked on a leaf shape, that I had hanging about. I quickly sketched a flower shape, that I’ve been doodling since I was a teenager, and then proceeded to bead it. This flower would normally have five petals, but there just wasn’t room for all five on this piece, so I elected to go with just four (although it doesn't follow my rule of one, three or five!). As a side note, I’ve drawn, painted, collaged, and free motion stitched this shape in the past, so I just had to bead it! The stitches used are a combination of beaded back stitch, and boucle or moss stitch (I also know it as the bocce stitch, but as I’ve never seen anything about that stitch in writing, I’m going to ignore that name). I’ll let the piece rest for a while, but I think my muse is trying to persuade me to incorporate it into a freeform necklace. Hmm, we’ll see!

Last, but not least, the little bead embroidered pendant, is something I finished off in my Nature’s Mood: Bead Embroidered pendant workshop, this past Saturday. It’s a class sample I started the last time I ran the class. My students were absorbed by their stitching, and the quiet was almost deafening! I hadn’t planned it that way, but It did give me time to get some stitching of my own done. Lucky me! After I initially planned the piece, I thought the stone/shell combination, reminded me of a rickety fence. However, now all I can see are sailboats! I'm not sure how I'll finish it off, but I suspect that leather might be part of the solution! It's not scheduled yet, but if you're interested in taking the class, I do plan to run it again in the spring.

Where will I go next? I have some ideas percolating, about the driftwood I picked up a couple of weeks ago, or perhaps my muse will let me start working on the naked purple doll! Or better still, I should clean off my bead mat! Sheesh! What are you working on, and what does your bead mat look like today?

Catch BeadFX 'at the show'!

I love going to trade shows that deal with beads, art products and crafts! They are a hub of energy, creativity and inspiration. And, it gives us a chance to meet established customers and greet new customers.

Fall is the time for trade shows and two that BeadFX participates in all of the time are sponsored by local beading societies:

Toronto Bead Society
Fall Bead and Jewellery Fair
Friday, October 14; 1:00pm to 6:45pm
Saturday, October 15; 11:00am - 5:00pm
Central YMCA
20 Grosvenor Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto
(north of College, west of Yonge)

Admission: $7 for one day; $10 for 2 days (pick-up a postcard at BeadFX to get $2 off your admission)

Grand River Bead Society
Bead Show and Sale
Saturday, November 12
Sunday, November 13
10:00am - 5:00pm both days
The Best Western Plus Royal Brock Hotel and Conference Centre
716 Gordon Street, Guelph

Admission: $3

Bead Societies are a great way to meet other like-minded people and see what other members do. Don't let the name deceive you - membership in bead societies cover the entire gamut of jewellery-making techniques! BeadFX will, with proof of membership, provide a 15% discount on regular priced merchandise to all bead society members! For more information, call or email our order desk.

The following bead societies are found in the Greater Toronto area:
Toronto Bead Society (http://www.torontobeadsociety.org)
West Toronto Beading Guild (https://sites.google.com/site/wtbeadingguild/)
East Toronto Beading Guild (https://www.facebook.com/ETBeadingGuild/)
Grand River Bead Society (http://www.grandriverbeadsociety.com/)

Check out what is organized in your area!

InspirationFX: Trick or Treat

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Trick or Treat

by: Erin Singleton
 
Walking home from work the other night, a strong breeze blew through the trees. The light from the street lamps danced across the pavement, while an eddy of fallen leaves rustled over the sidewalk. It's that time of year again... Halloween!

Inspired by the Jack o' Lanterns now lining the neighbours porches, this bracelet gets into the festivities. Black and orange leather braid together with bright copper and metal noir findings.

To begin, cut 6 strands of black leather and 4 strands of mango leather, approximately 10" in length. This gives you enough length to knot you strands together at the beginning and then snip the knot off once braided. Group the leather into two bundles of black and one bundle of orange and create a simple braid. Once the braid is long enough to go around your wrist, secure the either end with a wrap of painters tape and trim. Remember that the findings and clasp will add about an inch to the bracelet.

Place one end of the braid into an end crimp, dab on a little super new glue and squeeze shut with a pair of nylon jaw pliers. Repeat on the other end and remove the painters tape, once securely in the end crimps. Add a black jump ring to either end crimp and a bright copper lobster claw to finish.

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.