A Great Little Bead Show

The annual Heart of California Bead and Adornment Expo is in 4 days! This will be the fourth ? or fifth one. It's from 10:00~5:00 Saturday and Sunday. It's held at the Ramada Inn in Fresno. Ahhh...some more Summer weather! So I've been busy packing beads and clothes to take. Jewelry is polished, (mine as well as a little jewelry to sell) The freezer is full of food for hubby and the laundry is caught up for the moment! One of the things I like about this show is that it is mostly small vendors from the local area. Not a lot of imports! It's a friendly venue and Stephanie and Penny go beyond the call of duty to make the vendors feel welcome. The customers are friendly, they offer classes and make and take projects. If you're in the area, stop by and say hi! And if you would like to vend at the show, please contact them through their website.

Bead and Button Show

The day is near...I leave tomorrow for Milwaukee to attend and sell my wares at my first Bead and Button Show. I would like to again thank the ISGB for this opportunity. I received a place in the show among 2 other artists as a marketing opportunity from the Society after applying about 3 months ago. Bead and Button is the largest consumer bead show in the U.S. it is 2 weeks long with many, many classes by expert teachers. The Marketplace is open to the public starting Thursday evening with a sneak preview and continues through Sunday.

I forget from time to time, how much goes in to doing a show not to mention, putting on a huge show like this. I have been making beads for months to set aside so that I don't deplete my Etsy shop and forget about my loyal customers. Making beads for both has been a challenge. I have a carry-on full of beads and some stashed in my suitcase too! Display items, lights, cords etc. have been mailed to the hotel so they will be there when I get to the check in. List after list of thing to remember, things to take, don't forget this, don't forget that....

The worst part (if there is one) is not knowing what to expect. Since I have never attended this show, I have no clue as to how many beads to take! But, I can only take so many and whatever is left will be listed in my Etsy shop as soon as I return.

Free Tut Friday!

The second in my Free Tut Friday, we'll explore making headpins. This is a style and technique I cam up with that has been very popular.

You will need: Reichenbach Iris Orange #RL- 6208 (aka Raku) CIM Stone Ground #511251 Effetre Black Transparent #591064 20 Gauge copper wire. Pliers Clamp tool Wire cutters. Make some twisties with the Iris Orange as a base and Black lines. I pull them about 3mm. Cut the copper wire about 4" long.

To hold the wire, I use a "Broach Holder" from Arrow Springs, but you can use hemostats or even make one of these with an alligator clip. Some people also use a pin vise, but I find it cumbersome to get the wire out and into the kiln.

Heat a gather of Stone Ground and barely heat the end of the copper wire. Apply the gather to the wire. This takes several applications. Remember, hot glass does not stick to hot glass, so take the bead out of the flame to apply the new hot glass. It should end up about 8 to 10mm. Be sure you keep the wire out of the flame or it will burn right though it.

Next apply the twistie in a sort of back and forth "S" around the bead.

Heat to melt in still keeping the wire at the edge of the flame, only the bead should be in the flame.

Don't let it get too drippy either! When the twistie is all melted in, hold the bead upside down so the gravity will form it's shape. Sorry for the blurry photo, the camera phone does not want to focus on the bead!

Last step is to slowly heat the bead for about 5 seconds at the top of your flame. This will help bring out the colors in the raku. They will develop more in the kiln too, so don't overdo it! Pop it in the kiln by unlatching it from the clip. After annealing, I swipe the wire with steel wool, then polish with Renaissance wax to prevent further rusting.

I hope you enjoy making these, they can be addicting!

Southwest Summer Beads

Welcome to my first blog tutorial! This is a simple design, using the Zoozii's Chunky Crystal Trio press.

A popular color combination, these beads have sold extremely well for me. You will need: CIM Celadon #511402 Effetre Coral La Mesa #591420 Effetre Apricot Orange #591419 (the batch out now is much more orange, so if you can get any of the older batch it's more yellow, and Effetre Orange Zucca might be a good substitute) You will also need some silvered ivory stringer and fine silver wire, 28 or 30 gauge. Pull some 2 to 3mm stringer with the Celadon.

Make a small bead out of the Coral La Mesa, about 8mm. TIP, *The glass you use first uses more* Next add right next to, and overlapping the coral, the Apricot.

Melt together and press in the 14mm cavity of the press. Remember, you are going to be adding more glass, so it should not fill the cavity yet.

Apply the Celadon stringer around the center of the bead, melt in and press again.

Next apply silvered ivory stringer on both sides of the Celadon, melt in and press. Your bead should now fill the cavity. if it squeezes out on the corners, you have too much glass. If it's not too much, you can warm it a little and repress. Sometimes that works to smooth out the edges. Also, remember not to press too hard, let the weight of the press do the work.

Now you are ready to add the fine silver wire. Holding the end of the wire and the bead just under the flame, position the wire where you want it and bring the bead slowly up the the flame until it catches on the glass. Your bead should be pretty warm too. Wind the wire around and melt off the end, then melt on the rest of the wire at the top of the flame. Make sure you melt it in good so the drops of silver won't fall off. If your bead gets too roundy for your taste, you can give it another press. Pop it in the kiln to anneal.

Sorry that last photo is blurry! This combination makes a great focal bead too! Here's one where I added a section of EDP. (Effetre #591254)

December ABS Challenge

Meant to post this sooner, but it is a busy month for everyone, I'm sure! Art Bead Scene Blog has a monthly challenge and the December one is a very nice palette to work with, very neutral. I love working with a neutral color palette like this, there are so many options, especially in gemstones. Lampwork beads also offer a wide variety of neutrals. Bead makers can enter this challenge also and win a months worth of free advertising! Just make a bead in the color challenge tones and enter on the Pinterest page. I hope to be blogging on a regular basis next year, so keep an eye out for lampwork and bead design tips and tricks as well as some of my own glass recipes and free tutorials.

Bead Soup!

I can't wait to get started on my jewelry with my Bead Soup from my partner Melissa Muir of Kelsi's Closet a very talented wire work and metal artist. Below is the Soup she sent me for Lori Anderson's 8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party. (Thank you again Lori for all your hard work!)I can't wait to work with those copper pieces, which I think I will torch for a little patina and then hammer for texture.I'll probably make a special set of my lampwork beads to go with the beautiful silver pendant that Melissa made. Below is a photo of the Soup I sent her. The Blog Hop Party reveal day is May 3rd...so stay tuned!

Giveaway!

I'm almost at 500 Likes on my Facebook business page! To help me reach this goal, I'm having a giveaway! This beautiful scallop shell bead will be given to the 500th Like. So tell a friend and good luck! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stone-Designs-Lampwork-Glass-Beads-and-Art-Jewelry/288413853646

As 2014 fast approaches, a time to set new goals with fresh ideas, I have decided to place my Blog on my website as well as here. Truthfully, I am not a very dedicated blogger...a goal to reach for! With that in mind, I also have many new bead ideas, jewelry designs featuring the new Shibori ribbon and Soutache. I have tutorials that I need to get out and practice, like my new one from the uber talented Lydia Muell. I have had a very successful and happy year and hope you have too! Without my customers I would be lost...or buried in beads! Look for exciting new changes to my website too...like a shopping cart! In March, I will be participating in a collaboration between a wonderful metalsmith, named Jennifer Lawrence Bennett from Seattle. We are 2 of over 80 artists ( 40 glass bead artists and 40 metalsmiths) in this art project called 3 X 2 Redux, which will culminate in a gallery tour starting in Seattle in April at Facere Gallery, then on to Fisherton Mills in Salsbury, England and last to the Contemporary Crafts Museum in Portland, Oregon. Needless to say, I am very excited and honored to be a part of this wonderful project. There will be 3 pieces designed and they will be for sale. I will keep you updated on this venture! In the meantime, Happy Holidays and a very happy and prosperous new year! Sheila

Ramblings

Every time I check in on my blog to share something, I can't believe how long it's been since the last time I blogged! Where does the time go? It's been a busy summer, what with canning and freezing food out of the garden, bead shows, keeping up with Stone Designs on Etsy, and the day to day routine. Even though I am "retired" I am busy as ever. But Fall is definitely upon us! We went for a drive yesterday and the Fall colors are beautiful right now. Very inspiring for a bead maker! My bead fans will be happy to learn, I bought a new camera! It's a Canon Rebel DSLR. I am just learning how to use it but the pictures are so much more clear. Until next time....

Interview

Being interviewed is always hard for me. When I was little, I was always the shy one, making my brother and sisters guess what it was I wanted instead of me just asking. They learned to read my sign language! But being married to my husband has helped me overcome that...he is far from shy! Today's feature in Holly Dare's blog Glass Beads Daily is about moi! After reading it I realized I really need a new picture of myself...one that doesn't show the gray!! I have also been enjoying reading a new blog (for me) from Kat O'Sullivan AKA Katwise. What an ambitious young woman! So, after reading her wonderful writings, I am determined to blog more often. We'll see what comes out of these pages in the next few weeks!

I've been steadily making new beads for the upcoming show, The Heart of California Bead and Adornment Expo in Fresno, California on September 7 & 8 at the Ramada Inn. I'm close to being ready, but there's always "just one more bead"!And that's in between canning pickles, green beans, freezing peas, broccoli and the tomatoes are coming on fast! Until next time...here's some new eye candy!

Bead Star Competition

Jewelry Stringing magazine is hosting their annual Bead Star competition. The deadline for entries is Friday, May 24. I would love to see my lampwork beads in a winning entry! Speaking from past experience, take the best photos you can, even if you have to have someone else photograph your pieces. You can have up to 5 photos for each entry this year. They have totally changed the rules, for the better! There is over $4000.00 in cash prizes this year! There is also an Emerging Artist category, so if you have never had your work published before, now is the time to strut your stuff!! There is a fee to enter this year too, but I think it makes people take it more seriously. The judging is handled by the staff of Jewelry Stringing and Beadwork magazines, not by popular vote....much better. I'm off to photograph my two entries!

Pinterest

Pinterest can be very addicting! Although I'm not one of those addicts, I find some very beautiful inspiration there for my beads. I've created a Pinterest board featuring jewelry made by my customers using my beads in the designs. If you would like to be invited to Pin on this board, just leave a comment in the section below with your email. If you don't feel comfortable leaving your email on a public site, just contact me through my Etsy shop and I'll add you!

Mismatched Beads

I often have leftover beads after making a set, so I was inspired to make this bracelet and earrings set with a few "leftovers".I just love this denim color. It pairs well with silver or copper and is very popular right now. Balancing the beads aesthetically and physically is always a challenge when you are working with odd shape beads. Just remember your design basics, line, balance, rhythm, movement, pattern and color. Sorry for the iphone photo!

Fun with Tools

I'll admit... I'm a bit of a tool junkie! I have recently purchased a new bead roller from CG Beads Donna makes great tools and I love my stubby bicone shaper. This denim blue color has been so popular lately, I made this set with silvered ivory and fine silver wire. I am learning the trick to these tools is not too much glass to start with. Otherwise the bead gets too wide and you end up loosing your "dimple"

Inspiration

Someone recently asked how I can put together such asymetrical sets (or maybe they were referring to jewelry!)I've always loved monochromatic color schemes. When I had my flower shop, customers would come in just for one of my bouquets made in all pinks, lavenders or peaches. So when I'm looking to create a set of not so matchy-matchy beads, I look for a color palette that will make a pleasing to the eye set of beads for jewelry making. Not all the glass is the same and sometimes even diggerent shapes go into the set. I look for color inspiration in magazines, Google images, clothing catalogues and of course...Design Seeds.

New Pinterest Board

I have created a new Pinterest board called "Jewelry Other People Have Made with My Beads" Here's a link: http://pinterest.com/stonedesigns/jewelry-people-have-made-with-my-beads/ If you have made jewelry with my lampwork beads and would like to be featured in this board, just contact me through my Etsyand I will add you! Meanwhile, here's a new beadwork necklace from me.

Cabochons

I was fooling around with some new necklace pieces on my bead table and came up with this great use for my lampwork cabochons using a filigree component from Filigree and Me Gently bending the edges of the metal around the cab, secures it in place and adds a beauitful backing to the piece. I just slipped a jump ring through the back and it's ready to use in my new necklace.

Bead Soup Blog Party

It's time for Lori Anderson's annual Bead Soup Blog Party 7! I have a great and talented partner, Rain Hannah of Honey and Ollie. Here's a link to great Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/honeyandollie?ref=search_shop_redirect I recieved my bead soup and it has so much inspiration! I'm thinking at least 2 designs from all that. Our reveal date is March 30, 2013. So with 500 participants this year, Lori divided it into 3 reveal dates. Lots of blogging going on!

New Series

My newest series of lampwork lentil focal beads is named after exotic hardwoods. While researching names for the beads I learned that American Hardwood is a sustainable and abundant resource as deemed by the U.S. congress. I love the look of hardwood floors. These beads are a loose interpretation. This is 'Cherrywood'

New Look

After reading alot of blog posts in the recent blog hop, I decided to change the look of my blog. What do you think? I still can't get the lettering on the right hand side to change color..but I guess it looks okay. I think it will make a better background for my beads and not so hard to look at as the black! I've been busy working on a trunk show for my niece and sister-in-law's bead store, but I'm done now so will be posting lots of new beads this week...especially now that the weather has warmed up a few degrees, I can work out in my studio without freezing!