Happy December First Everyone

Create Your Style has a Christmas Calendar for its Facebook fans. It's 25 days of sparkling surprises. Check it out and see what you think! The picture above is for today, December 1st.  If you decide to enter the contest to choose the name that went with this design project, your name will be entered to win one of five "creative jewelry kits". Pretty cool!

Swarovski Recommended Store

 Last weekend TBF had its official celebration of being a Swarovski Elements Recommended Store. We started the morning with a wonderful brunch catered by Astaria Restaurant & Bar. There's Ron and me checking out all the yummy food.


Next we had a great Trends Presentation (given by you-know-who) featuring inspirations Fall/Winter 2012/13. For this time period, Swarovski detailed five current cities that impact and influence modern design, capturing them in a snapshot of time; Chicago, Copenhagen, Shanghai, Berlin and Istanbul. Swarovski says "It is here, in these clusters of collective creativity, that cultures merge and different views and values are not only afforded but actively encouraged. This season, the design world seeks greater acceptance and expression, and the city is the canvas upon which we paint our understanding and ideas. May we all find inspiration in the cities we choose to live."

After the presentation, guests were treated to a "make and take" project designed by Team America.  "Who doesn't love crystal?" is demonstrated by our guests checking out all the crystals placed on the work tables.

The rest of the day included our friends Sarah and Julie (left to right in their matching aprons!) from TierraCast demonstrating resin techniques using their wonderful radiant rings (which I love to use), charms, spacers and of course Swarovski Xilion chatons and flatbacks.

Thanks to everyone who made our day so memorable!

Fun With Filigrees will be in Tucson

Well, where has the summer gone! Honestly, I can't believe that I haven't blogged in so long. Lots of things have been happening. I've been busy doing some simple designing for Swarovski. I'm one half of Design Team America; the other half being Ron Rock, my friend, and Key Account Manager for Swarovski North America. We were tasked with designing simple projects for the DIY segment, which can be found on the Create Your Style website under the 'mini projects' section. 

For the summer, we designed using Swarovski's filigree components. These components seem to be under-utilized. These beautiful filigrees are set with luscious point-back crystals which create a serious sparkle to these components! Apparently, they were a big hit in Rhode Island too and Team America was asked to teach a selection of lovely filigree jewelry in Tucson. I've included a picture of one of the pieces. They seemed very 'royal' to me so the whole collection was named after Queens or Princesses! The one above is Isabella. I believe registration is open for all of the wonderful classes and 'make and takes' being offered in Tucson. If you'll be there, I hope you will stop by and say hi.

Beading by the Bay

Atlas by Rachel Nelson Smith

Asis by Sherry Serafini

Aelia by Marcia DeCoster

Beading by the Bay is back for its third year in March of 2012. The pieces for the upcoming retreat are fantastic. A bead-weaver's dream! Swarovski Elements will be hosting our Thursday night Meet and Greet with a special Trends presentation by their Key Account Manager for North America, Ron Rock (My BFF). General registration begins on September 15th. It's shaping up to be another sell out event.

Eating Blog Crow

Okay, I'm the first to admit that I made a big boo boo. On a previous blog, I stated that I don't like hook and eye closures as I was referring to a bracelet called "Diamonds are Forever". I was informed that the piece actually called for a snap! I stand corrected. I don't mind the hook and eye in itself, but I just don't like sewing them in place! Go figure....

Summer Fun With Filigrees

A few blogs ago, I mentioned that when Create-Your-Style with Swarovski Elements posts "Summer Fun with Filigrees" by Design Team America, I would send you the link. The directions are now on the website under the "Design" heading and then under "mini projects". 


Encourage your local bead store to carry these wonderful filigree components. They can be made in all sorts of color combinations and metal finishes. It does take a couple of weeks to get them in though. 


I love show and tell. So if you design something you want to share, please let me know. It can also be submitted to Swarovski as well. I'm not sure how it works, but they do post designs that are submitted by their followers on their website.

Sunday Beading...

Why is it that we seem to find ourselves in the middle of a dozen or so projects at the same time and still want to make something new? I was getting ready to watch the ballgame on T.V. - Mets vs Giants and I needed some inspiration. So, I began flipping through some old beading publications. On the cover of Beadwork, Dec. 09/Jan. 10 is a piece called "Diamonds are Forever" and just so happened to be designed by my BFF Marcia Decoster.

The piece is made up of matching medallions using ladder stitch, netting and making picots. I recall seeing Marcia wearing one in oranges and fuchsias with dangles wired in between the medallions that was fabu. Just the ticket, I thought. Using a beautiful chocolate matte seed bead for the base with a matching metallic brown to complement, the piece was coming along. I added pea-green firepolish with Swarovski Elements Bronze Shade crystals and dark brown pearls as accents. My dangles are made up of vintage crystal and Czech glass and some metal beads and charms. I will admit that I'm not big on hook and eye closures (don't tell Marcia) so I used a bronze magnetic clasp and eliminated the small hook and eye medallion. Ready to wear in just a few short hours and my Giants won too!!