Happy New Year

Just a quick little post to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

I would like to take this opportunity to send out a big Thank You to all of you that like my work.

Thanks for all your purchases over the course of 2010 and before.

Thank You for your encouragements, comments and support.

I truly appreciate all of you and the friendships I've managed to build online.

I hope you will all have a very Happy and prosperous 2011.

I am looking forward to another year of exciting interactions and conversations with you all.

Don't forget if you are coming to Tucson for the Big Bead Shows and Gem Shows be sure to stop in and see us at The Best Bead Show in the side hall booth H21-22 My good friend Vladislav Ivanov of Golem Design Studio and I will again be sharing.

All the best to everyone for the New Year.

Crystal and Blue almost icy

Finally I got the time to actually make up one of my new Slide sets myself.  This one is the one I call Fancy.  I just love the design on this set.  This set as well as a couple of the others in the collection were created using architectural accents as a starting point.  As is frequently the case when developing new designs and ideas a few adjustments must be made.  Currently I am in the process of refining and re-shaping some of the cone ends for these sets to give a greater variety which will better accommodate more types of cords.  I may also make somewhat smaller holes in the slides available as and option.  These refinements will serve to make the collection much more versatile.



The pale blue with palladium accents really gives this one a sparkly icy winter look to it I think.  I used a variety of strands for the Kumihimo braid on this one.

I used a 'silver yarn', blue and white braiding cords and 4 strands with 4 different types of beads for a total of 10 strands. 

I used two types of large 'e' beads or size 6 in pale blue and a clear silver lined.  Also some small round silver beads and clear silver lined seed beads.

I was quite pleased with the look this combination gave me.  I added a large clear crystal to the bottom of the slide completing the icy look.

This style of slide is available in my Bead Shop Currently in the 'NEW' category.

And Don't Forget that EVERYTHING in the Bead Shop is on SALE at 25% through Christmas.

Red is for Christmas Right?

Check out this beautiful Red Flower Necklace that Linda Roberts of Beads for Ever on Etsy has made.  She used of one of my New Sliders and a pair of end caps that I made to match the slider along with a beaded Kumihimo rope.

There are a variety of different designs of sliders, most with end caps available in the New Section of my Bead Shop

This one is made up in a length that is just slightly longer than a choker but still riding high up on the chest.

The beaded Kumihimo rope matches perfectly and  this is yet another illustration of how you can really make a lovely necklace in a pretty short period of time with these sliders and a Kumihimo Cord.

It is my experience that Kumihimo is one of the quickest ways to work up a beautiful beaded cord.  With the ability to also include a variety of fibers you can make an almost infinite variety of looks with the combination of Kumihimo and my new sliders.

As you can see in the photo to the left the matching porcelain end caps make for a very neat looking and matching way to finish off the ends of a Kumihimo braid or a viking knit or even a crocheted or bead woven cord.  With holes in both ends you can secure the rope to the clasp with thread or wire and do not have to depend on glue to hold it all.  Furthermore you can seal up the ends of fibers with glue to prevent any loosening or fraying without worry of it showing.

If you don't see one you like right now be sure to check the Bead Shop frequently.  As I will be adding more colors and designs regularly.  Also I will have more cones/end caps that are available separately as well as sets.