Beading Supplies We Love : Crystals, Pearls

New Portable Bead Organizer from Ezel Findings - Meet the Beading Pal!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

One of the many things that I love about my job is when I get to see new beading products before they're available to the general public. My friend Sunyoung Park of Ezel Findings made my day last week when she sent me their latest innovative beading and jewelry-making product, the Beading Pal.

The Beading Pal is a fantastic organizer and built-in beading surface, meant for beaders on the go. It's sturdy construction is great for times when you want to just toss it into a tote bag and head to your beading group or favorite cafe for an afternoon of beading time. The faux suede interior and bead tray has rolled edges to prevent beads from spilling or running away, and the elastic loops and mesh pocket are perfect for organizing any seed bead tubes, beading tools, and beading thread that you'll need while traveling.

What I love the most about this new bead organizing and travel system is that it really is a convenient all-in-one way to pack up and play with your beads. Even when you're not traveling any further than from the living room to the dining room of your own home, the faux suede beading surface is one of the nicest that I've ever used. Soft, sturdy, and the perfect color to make all your tiny seed beads, crystals, and pearls easy to see.

The outside of the Beading Pal is just as luxurious as the inside, with a silky, metallic faux leather, and metallic gold accents. It really makes you feel like you're beading in the lap of luxury, no matter where you are!

With dimensions of 10 1/4" long x 8 1/4" wide x 1 3/8" thick, it's the perfect size to tuck into a tote bag or backpack, or even just to carry as you go with your beading projects tucked safely inside.

Ezel Findings will have the Beading Pal available for sale at all their major bead shows beginning in June, 2013, or you can check their website, Ezel Findings, for updates and product information.

Contact Sunyoung Park at info@ezelfindings.com, or at 1-800-977-9904.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bead Hoard Curiosities Club for April 2013: A Sneak Peek and a Contest!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Are you a member of the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club from A Grain of Sand? If not, April might be your lucky month -- A Grain of Sand is having a Design Challenge using a special vintage jewelry-making component included in the April club boxes. The staff of A Grain of Sand will choose the design they like the best from the A Grain of Sand Facebook page, and the winner receives a $100 gift certificate! Check out this preview of a few of my favorite picks from the April 2013 Bead Hoarders Curiosity Club box:

		Are you ready for a design challenge? This is the funky, cool April Design Challenge piece. It's solid (no holes), and the back is slightly curved. Put on your beaded jewelry design thinking caps and GO!

		The only thing I like better than genuine freshwater pearls are vintage Japanese imitation pearls, and the April Bead Hoard Curiosity Club box includes a strand of these enormous, beautiful, silvery-grey vintage Japanese pearls. Use one or two in a design, or re-string the entire strand and finish with a crystal box clasp for a stunning beaded necklace!

		Do you love chain? The April Bead Hoard Curiosities Club box also includes an amazing assortment of chains! You'll find finished chains (with clasps that can easily be removed), unfinished chains, shorter lengths, and some very cool metal jewelry-making components tucked into this month's club box, too.

Are you ready to start designing for a chance to win that $100 A Grain of Sand Gift Certificate? You still have time to sign up for the next month of the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club! You can find all the details over at the A Grain of Sand website! Good luck, and happy beading!

Jennifer

Do You Rizo?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Sabine Lippert, one of Beadwork Magazine's Designers of the Year for 2013 has started distributing her newly-designed Rizo beads here in the United States. So far, the response has been fantastic!

What is a Rizo? Sabine designed the Rizo bead to fill in the gap in sizes between a drop and a dagger. Rizo beads measure approximately 2.5mm x 5.5mm, and come in about fifty different colors and coatings.

Rizo beads are incredibly versatile when used in bead-weaving and beaded jewelry design. They pair nicely with the Czech glass spikes and gumdrop beads that I'm so fond of, and they make a wonderful addition to beaded fringe. Mix them up with freshwater pearls of crystal rivolis and crystal stones for some truly unique and dimensional beading projects!

Rizo beads are available from both Whimbeads and York Beads, or check with your local bead shop.

Bead Happy!

Jennifer

Bead Hoard Curiosities Club for February 2013

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and keeping with the theme of love and hearts and all things sparkly, A Grain of Sand's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club had some beautiful vintage jewelry-making supplies in it this month! Take a look at my favorite pics:

		I loved the fun jewelry in this month's box. A pair of beautiful pearl clip-on earrings, a funky vintage coin bracelet, and a pair of bamboo earrings were welcome additions to my collection of vintage jewelry!

		I'm not usually a fan of hearts, but these metal hearts, bezels, and even earring findings made me swoon! The textured metal hearts are perfect for coloring with inks, dyes, or even just inexpensive nail polish. Punch a little hole in them, then dangle them from a beaded bracelet or necklace.

		The way to this beader's heart is definitely with vintage seed beads, nailheads, and vintage Czech crystal beads, and, oh, look! There just happened to be a sampling of all three in February's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club box!

		Finally, if you love vintage plastics, there was a great selection of vintage plastic "ice" chips and faceted dangles. A small sample of vintage cabochons rounded out this month's very romantic selection of vintage beads.

Suzanne has also shared a sneak peek of what's going to be in next month's box, too. If you're a fan of Downton Abbey, you won't want to miss the March Bead Hoard Curiosities Club shipment. A selection of opulent vintage metal jewelry-making components will be included in each box! Imagine what you could do with these beauties!

You can find more details about the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club, and how to become a member, over at A Grain of Sand. While you're there, spend a little time browsing Suzanne's fabulous selection of new and vintage beads, clasps, and jewelry-making supplies!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

August Vintage Bead Treasures from the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I have to say, since I've been receiving my monthly shipments of vintage beads and jewelry making components from A Grain of Sand's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club, I really look forward to seeing what's in each month's box. I love the challenge of designing beaded jewelry with the vintage glass beads and jewelry findings in there, especially because some of them aren't items that I'd usually choose to work with.

August's box of goodies contained so many great vintage beads that I don't have space to write about them all, but I'll just post some pictures of my favorites and tell you about them!

		First, this month's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club shipment included a huge strand of glass pearls and a gorgeous vintage chunky Lucite bangle bracelet. So glamorous! And the vintage glass cabochon was a favorite pick of mine, too. I still have to figure out how I can bezel it so that the beautiful stripes on one side remain visible in the finished piece.

		There were two large pieces of vintage chain, as well. The brown chain was some kind of plastic (not specified) and the copper chain matched it nicely. The two of them used together would make a fabulous statement necklace with some wire wrapped crystal beads! Also included in this month's shipment were a couple of beautiful vintage Italian wired flowers. I have visions of using these in a couple of hair clips with some of my favorite Czech pressed glass beads and freshwater pearls.

		Finally, the selection of metal findings and beads in this month's shipment was outstanding! I love the textured brass pieces because they'll look beautiful once I paint them with some metal patinas. The two wire bracelet blanks worked up into gorgeous and easy beaded bangle bracelets! I get such a kick out of using vintage jewelry making components in very modern beaded jewelry design ideas.

If you're crazy about vintage beads and love a good bead surprise, head on over to A Grain of Sand and find out more about joining the Bead Hoard Curiosities Club. You can join for a single month, or as long as one year! Each monthly shipment also includes a special coupon code just for Bead Hoard Curiosities Club members. Shipments go out on (or close to) the first of each month, so make sure you sign up before August 30th, 2012 for the September shipment.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Inspired By Cabochons!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT

When I was in Tucson back in February, some of my favorite purchases were the gorgeous cabochons that I saw popping up everywhere. Cabochons have always fascinated me as a beader, and I love figuring out new ways to incorporate them into my finished beaded jewelry. I have a huge collection of gemstone cabochons and handmade ceramic cabochons, but some of these vintage cabochons made from Lucite, resin and glass are just irresistible!

I've been scouring the internet, looking for new cabochons to use in my jewelry making and beading projects, and I've found some unusual and beautiful vintage cabochons from a few sources!

The Beadin' Path. One of the first purchases I made in Tucson were these vintage resin cabochons from The Beadin' Path. The colors and the floral designs were just so classic that when I held them up against a couple strands of the vintage Czech glass pearls, I knew they were coming home with me. Resin is such a lightweight material that it makes these cabochons perfect for intricate beaded necklace designs.

Nikia Angel. Most folks in the beading world know Nikia Angel from Buy The Kit, her online and traveling beading kit shop. But Nikia also makes absolutely stunning beaded jewelry with crystal beads and has opened her own Etsy shop, Nikia's Good Things. If you're looking for sparkling vintage Swarovski crystal stones, new Czech glass cabochons or vintage German glass cabochons, Nikia's Etsy shop will be one place you'll check often for new cabochon listings!

A Grain of Sand. Vintage cabochons of all types are hot right now, and I love the unique selection of vintage cabs available from A Grain of Sand. The cabochons pictured here were included in my monthly Bead Hoard Curiosities Club shipment for April, but there is a great regular stock of all kinds of vintage cabochons on the website. You'll find shaped and molded glass, Lucite, resin and even vintage gemstone cabochons! My favorite find so far from A Grain of Sand is a gold plated shell cabochon with a Lucite core that looks like it was taken right out of a 1930s black-and-white movie!

Have you tried beading around a cabochon yet? There are so many ways to make a beaded bezel for your favorite cabochon! Take a look around and see if you aren't inspired to try beading with cabochons!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Shell Pearls from Lima Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Part of my bead stash is one, large drawer that is filled to the brim with strands and small bags of freshwater pearls. Yes, I'm a Pearl Junkie. Stick pearls, baroque pearls, coin pearls, button pearls, potato pearls -- you name it, I have a strand (or two) of those pearls in my collection.

So when I was browsing the Lima Beads website a few weeks ago, I was curious to find out what their new shell pearls were like. These new pearl beads were described as being closer to a natural pearl than other types of imitation pearls, and the prices certainly fit right into my budget.

According to the Lima Beads website, these shell pearls are created with a core of solid, carved seashell instead of crystal or glass. They are perfectly round and extremely consistent in size and shape. The coating of these pearls, which is manufactured in the United States, contains real mother of pearl. It's the mother of pearl in this coating that gives the shell pearls their beautiful color and luster. This carved seashell core also makes a shell pearl more like a real freshwater pearl than a glass pearl bead.

Because the process is so highly controlled, you'll find little to no variation in shape, size and color between lots of these shell pearl beads. Shell pearls are less likely to chip or fade than other types of glass pearls and are less sensitive to perfumes, soaps, and other substances that can affect natural and glass pearls.

Shell pearls come in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 14mm round sizes and in sixteen different colors, plus one variegated color. Prices range from around $4 for a 16 inch strand of 6mm pearls to $11 for a 16 inch strand of 14mm pearls, representing a good value for a good quality pearl bead.

The only aspect of the larger pearls that I wasn't entirely happy with was the irregularity around some of the bead holes. I noticed that some of the coating had been chipped off, presumably during the manufacturing process. However, when I tried to chip off more of the coating using my fingernail, a beading awl and a cutting blade, I was unable to do so. The coating of the rest of the pearl is also very resistant to scratching, making these new shell pearls quite a hard-working bunch of pearl beads!

I used half a strand of the new shell pearls from Lima Beads to make my two Cluster Beaded Beads for the Beadwork magazine 15th anniversary beaded bead contest, and I was extremely pleased at how they worked for bead-weaving. I was afraid that the bead holes wouldn't be big enough to accommodate several thread passes, but I got my Tulip beading needle and 6 lb. Fireline through each bead multiple times with no problems at all.

Head on over to the Lima Beads website to check out their selection of shell pearls, and if you've used these new shell pearl beads before, leave a comment here and let me know what you thought of them! Will you be buying any more of these pearl beads?

Bead Happy,

Jennifer