Monday, May 23, 2011

A Sneek Peek

We just got a preview of an exciting new class! My BFF Marcia DeCoster has done it again! Take a look at the picture above of her Dream Keeper Vessel Ring and reserve Sunday, August 14th on your calendar. It's a class you won't want to miss. Need I say more? In this case, a picture does say a thousand words....

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Crazy for Serena - still!!

Since I can't play favorites, I'm highlighting another version of Serena. My friend Maclovia, Mac for short has recently learned to weave with seed beads. We have another addict! She finished three Serena bracelets. I've talked about this design before. It's from a book by my BFF Marcia called, Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Oppulence. Mac wove her piece in a beautiful metallic chocolate brown and the embellished top is with a matte metallic chocolate brown and Swarovski Elements Sand Opal. It is super elegant!!

Monday, May 9, 2011

ISSUE WATER: The Magazine For Individualists

If you haven't checked out the inaugural issue (in this soon-to-be annual publication) by Create Your Style with Swarovski Elements, run to your nearest bead store and take a look. This beautifully created magazine is filled with artistic inspiration and design projects and instructions created by Swarovski Ambassadors. There are NO advertisements and the pictures are beautifully photographed. For $10, it is a steal! Swarovski does include a section about their design contest, cruises and shows and also devotes a section to the world's water crisis; a must read. At the end is a listing of Swarovski Recommended Stores, globally. We will be listed in the next issue, which is way exciting!!

Having fun with Carousel!

My BFF Marcia gifted me her kit from Beading by the Bay called Carousel. I just finished it! It never ceases to amaze me how truly talented my 'beady' friends are. The spinning component, which is aptly named, is really genius. Not that all my friends aren't geniuses...
The way the layers of the 'Carousel' fit together is brilliant. The piece was exclusively designed as a project for Beading by the Bay, but I'm telling you as soon as Marcia begins to teach it, sign up quick!! 

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

"Almost Famous"

I was told that I was famous the other day! I got quite a chuckle out of that. It appears that some of my designs and those that I collaborated with my friend, Ron Rock, are now on Swarovski's website.  The pieces were designed for the DIY (Do It Yourself) market of Swarovski Elements and we were told would not be for publication. We were to create designs using the latest innovation products at that time. Working with a color palette of Jet, Crystal and Golden Shadow got to be a bit of a challenge though. Also, that of using big holed beads! Honestly, how many ways can you string up big-holed beads? So why are they now appearing on the website? I know not. However, if I'm asked again, I will name my pieces and then send it off to Austria! Hopefully, I'm a little more creative than calling a necklace piece "Bracelet". A big lol.