Double Snappin' Organizer Mega from JewelrySupply.com
Let´s first talk about how to organize the stash. This is a problem we all come across when we decide to start beading whether it is as a hobby or professionally. Some people find creativity when they are immersed in a big ocean of beads and like to have them all over the house, inside whatever imaginable, even old shoes. (I don´t wanna think about the smell of that jewelry). Others prefer to store their stuff in plastic bags sorted by type, which by the way, is a method we don´t recommend. Plastic bags are prone to snag and rip at times, not to mention how much of a hassle it is to pick them all up when it eventually does break.
Another way to store your beads is to put your stash in glass jars. We see two big inconveniences with using glass containers. Firstly if you need to work on your project somewhere else you can´t take them with you easily since glass is just too cumbersome. Secondly there´s always the possibility you drop the jar and it breaks to smithereens. What a drag! Some people use old mint or candy tins in order to avoid breakages. That´s good, but you can´t see what is inside so you have to label them which is double the job and no fun at all.
Hello! My name is Antonio and I have been invited to work on this wonderful web site. I am from Mexico and I have worked, along with my wife, as an artisan for many years. We have worked with many different crafting materials and let me tell you, beading has just been the most fun. It’s more than a simple job and a way of living. It´s like a game and we enjoy playing with colors, shapes and styles a lot. (more…)
Spring Comes!
I have been doing far too much looking at pretty things and not enough making of pretty things lately so, over the past few nights (while waiting on video game buddies) I have been working on this charm-heavy bracelet. I love the little blue fiber optic stars; the pink flowers with their fossil bead centres, and the silver butterflies add a lovely touch of spring to my otherwise dull, chosen-purely-for-warmth, ensemble. Just looking at it sitting around my wrist is enough to remind me that the winter won’t last forever! Of course it will be a lot more comfortable once this long-sleeve weather is over but I can’t help but wear it anyway - there is something really nice about bracelets because you can see them as you wear them; the rest of my jewelry feels like it is for everyone else to look at and admire whereas this bracelet is for me.
Having spent all week doing the unfun stuff, counting, pricing, etc, I am happy and relieved to get to the fun part of new inventory – sharing it with others! The pictures below represent a small part of the new products we have just added and more is coming soon! In fact, we have so many new beads to add to the store that you’ll be seeing new stuff pop up every week for the next little while, as I get to it. I do hope you like them!
- Heather Cote of Azure Island Design
- Kelley of Kelley’s Bead Studio
Cindy Gimbrone of Lampwork Diva
Lorelei of Inside the Studio
After writing our photography series, I decided it would be fun to pick out some of my favorite jewelry photographs from the various blogs that I read regularly and thoroughly enjoy. So, I did!
It wasn’t easy narrowing it down to just these four but I didn’t want to have too many pictures all at once. There will certainly be a part 2. In fact, I might even make this into a bit of a series if I have the time and remember.
To take a look at any of these fine blogs, simply click on the picture – you’re sure to find
hours of entertainment, helpful jewelry tips and tutorials as well as lots more pretty pictures!
I love the use of beautiful props, interesting backgrounds, lighting, and focus demonstrated in these photos. They each demonstrate the ability of good photography to really make a beautiful pieces shine.
Heather’s starfish and column not only add some detail to the background, but they are also distinctive enough that, looking at her photos, one instantly recognizes the artist and thinks of the name of her blog!
The rich color of the background in Kelley’s picture really sets of the stunning combination of black and white, something which the dramatic shadow also helps to enhance.
Cindy’s use of the light slanting across these gorgeous orange beads is just beautiful! By placing the translucent beads in the suuny part, she really made them sparkle, while the rich color of the opaque beads is enhanced by the slight shade.
Lorelei’s distinctive style really shows in this lovely closeup of a
bee button. Her use of apeture makes clear the focus of the photo without detracting from the overall beauty of the piece.
Thanks go to these lovely ladies for allowing me to include these images here as well as for their creativity which is an inspiration to those of us aspiring to perfect our photography style!
I hope you enjoyed this brief look at awesome photography, if there is a photo you think deserves to be in the next post, let me know by email or in the comments and I will be sure to include it!
