For the Love of Beads Blog

What’s New

Emily — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:00:10 +0000

The Pilot's Daughter

I have been having some pretty terrible luck with cameras recently but, I felt the need to share these new pieces so I finally went out and got new batteries. Again. Let’s hope this set lasts a little longer than the last. I finished up the steampunk necklace from the other week – it had been bothering me a bit; it just seemed incomplete and undramatic so I added a second layer of chainmail, this one is gunmetal. I love the look of antique copper and gunmetal, unfortunately the copper does not show up very well against the hemp necklace display but if you look closely, you can tell that the small rings are coppery. I’m not totally sold on the three charms on the triangle but without them it, again, seems unfinished. I could definitely use some feedback on this one.

The next piece was inspired by my birthday present and the color combination and variety of beads and colored jumprings makes me happy. These are Skullcandy Ti headphones and they are VERY nice. I never knew an iPod could actually sound so good, with REAL bass and all! This particular set is a collaboration with Tokidoki, one of my absolute favorite designers. I just adore the combination of bright, vivid colors with skulls (and killer sound). Something about his designs is vary chaotic and happy with appeals to me deeply. My ideal mindset is to be carefree in the face of the chaos that is life; sometimes I achieve this and sometimes I fail miserably but these headphones (and now this necklace) remind me of my goal and help cheer me up so I can realize it.

This one of a kind necklace features a wire wrapped white plastic skull, purple fossil beads, striped and frosted furnace glass, silver fiberoptic stars, yellow and green Muzkui glass cubes, a handmaid (faux) toggle clasp, silver chain, blue and fuschia 1/2 inch jump rings, a re-purposed pink sparkly star hair clip (w/wire wrapped blue glass cube), and a black wooden tab. I say faux toggle clasp because, although it almost works as one, the bar is slightly too long and so I have added an adorable silver star clasp above it to make life easier on myself.

This necklace went through about a dozen variations before I was finally completely satisfied and I wish I’d had a working for the process; it was a really fun project and I got to use a bunch of odds and ends I had lying around. I’d love to hear what you think!

The Stone That Was Made With Fire

Antonio — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:45:50 +0000

Don’t think twice if you want these special beads for your next jewelry project.

Lava stone has drawn my attention not only for its deep black color and rough texture but also for the way it was developed. The simple fact that lava stone is indeed solidified lava makes my imagination go wild.

This stone is a genuine testimony of one of the most impressive and destructive forces on Earth and now is at your reach, through For the Love of Beads, as the central piece for your next beading project. It can be found in our other gemstones section.

When you have a lava stone bead in your hand you can feel through its unique texture, that this stone is one of a kind. Its rare and pitted surface tells you how powerful the natural process was to make it.

Literally, lava stone means fire. And I don´t think you can say that of any other stone. This stone has been used in the construction industry for centuries due its light weight but strong and majestic appereance. No wonder why the Spaniards used it to cover the facades of huge and stunning palaces and churches in Mexico City after the Conquest of Mexico.

It wasn’t until the 19 century that jewelers makers around the world, incorporated lava stone beads to their designs. Its black and red color makes it very appreciated for people who are looking for that earthly look and want to make an homage to Mother nature as well.

We have this beautiful stone in black color and 3 different styles and sizes. It works very well if you combine it with other natural beads or silver or glass.

Although there are plenty of places where there have been a constant volcano activity the material is not always available in the beads market because the shortage of lava stone bead´s skillful artisans.

Hurry up because the demand for this stone is growing up and we are running out of these unique beads.

And be aware of fake lava stone beads. There are some people who create faux lava rocks with polymer clay. The way to know if they are fake or not is simple. The real ones are resistant to pressure and scratching.

Lava stone has been considered for many cultures as the stone of the survivor. And because its obviously straight relation with fire, lava stone is also regarded as a powerful and energetic rock.

It´s said that the wearer feels a flow of energy as soon as they connect on a metaphysical level with this stone and also that they strenghten our connection to Mother Earth.

So, let fly your imagination and start making beautiful pieces of jewelry with the stone made with fire and please, send us pics of your creations.

The Love Stone

Antonio — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:53:44 +0000

Are you thinking to make a piece of jewelry that not only you can wear on a daily basis but also symbolizes the love you feel for your beloved one? If that’s the case we can help you out with that. At For the Love of Beads we have in our gemstone section the stone you are looking for. Rose quartz is considered by definition the stone of love. Choose this stone and make a piece of jewelry that expresses loudly to the world that LOVE is in your heart.

Cherry Quartz Oval Shaped Pendant

OK. There are several kinds of quartz used in the jewelry industry but rose quartz is the only one that it’s universally regarded as the love stone. No matter if you are planning to use it in a necklace or a bracelet, there are several reasons why a rose quartz piece of jewelry must be in your wardrobe accessories.

For starters, rose quartz is not only one of the most popular quartz stone on Earth but also one the most beautiful. Rose quartz is found in Madagascar, Scotland and USA. but the biggest mines are located in Brazil. It’s a curious fact that in early times, it was thought that crystal quartz was water ice frozen through time.

Rose Quartz Ovals

Rose quartz has always been used in jewelry although it has never reached high prices like other gemstones. It’s very frequent to use it in cabochons, beads and shaped like hearts. It comes in a range of colors from pink to rose red but all hues related to love.

It’s said that rose quartz stones add love and energy to sentimental relationships. It’s also said that replaces negativity with harmony and it heals emotional wounds. It’s believed to hasten recovery from surgery. It can help balance the body and physical emotions as well. It also helps as the rejuvenator of the skin. It’s said that if you wash your face in water charged with rose quartz, it will keep your skin young.

To take care of the beads you have in your stash, we recommend you to keep your rose quartz away from the sun, as it tends to fade when it’s overexposed to the sunlight. We have this beautiful stone in 4 models and in 6 sizes, along with others kinds of quartz beads.

Favorite Materials: Red Coral

Antonio — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:36:36 +0000

Would you be a little surprised if we tell you that we have skeleton beads in our stock and they look terrific in jewelry?

Well maybe not, if you already know that red coral is in fact the remain of a marine animal. But it´s interesting to know that even today, a lot of people still think that coral is a plant and not an anemone-like animal.

There are, at least 27 coral species in the world, ranging from white to black colors, but just one is red and it can be found in the Mediterranean Sea only. For some reason it’s the red coral species that has drawn so prominently the attention of humanity throughout history. Maybe because the red color has been perceived for ancient jewelry designers as the most versatile color that can match with almost everything you put on or just by its seductive look, red coral has been much sought after for jewelry since the beginning of civilization. It´s well known that has been traded for at least 6,000 years.

From Europe to the world, red coral has crossed oceans and continents and it has been highly appreciated in different cultures. For example, ancient Greeks thought it was formed with the blood drops coming out of Medusa’s head after it was chopped off by Perseus. Maybe that’s why they related it to courage and bravery. They used it not only as a piece of jewelry but also as a powerful symbol in very important ceremonies. American Indians valued this gem as well, incorporating it in their jewelry, after the Europeans brought it to the New Continent.

Because red coral its an endemic animal of the Mediterranean area, the best skilled artisans in the world to shape raw coral into the finest beads the jewelry industry needs, are based in Italy. After centuries of working with this material, they have developed a technique to shape red coral in the forms we now use in jewelry.

But it’s not only its red color that has motivated people imagination. Like almost every known gemstone, it has also been regarding as a healing tool with specific properties. In the ancient Rome it was used as a amulet against danger and also to protect children. It’s said that it’s very useful as an auxiliary to help to remove complexes and fears and it gives courage to the wearer and also the ability to stand strong in challenging situations. Red coral is considered very helpful in cases of infertility as well.

Here in FTLOB we offer you the best quality coral beads available in the market, in nine different models and thirteen sizes, all of them with an incredible texture and at a terrific price. But take notice that although red coral is well known for its deep red color, actually it can be found in a huge variety of hues from soft pink to dark red. Due its price has been increasing lately, its very important to take care of our coral beads and keep them in good shape, so in order to preserve it and enjoy it for many years. we suggest you avoid cosmetics, hot water and bright light when you wear it,

Please let us know why you love Red Coral, we’d love to hear from you!

Favorite Materials: Lapis Lazuli

Antonio — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:18:48 +0000

Oval Slabs

We want to talk this time about one of the most beautiful stones in history. It was worn by royalty in the ancient world and it’s deep ocean blue color has drawn the attention of humanity since the beginning of civilization. Archeologists have found evidence that Lapis Lazuli has been traded for at least 6,000 years. And throughout all that time it’s been used not only in jewelry but also to make sculptures, boxes, masks and as mosaic to cover walls.

Polished Faceted Pendants

Before synthetic colors were invented, Lapis Lazuli was ground and the powder used to produce the ultramarine color that was widely used in the world of art and it is said that Cleopatra used it as eyeshadow as well. It seems like that girl knew how to accentuate her legendary beauty. Lapis Lazuli is extracted from different countries but the best stones come from Afghanistan and, in recent years, from Chile. It´s incredible that nowadays we still have at our reach so ancient and appreciated a stone. It´s like it´s never been out of fashion during 6,000 years. And here at For the Love of Beads we are very proud to offer the best quality Lapis Lazuli beads you can find in the market, in 11 models and 13 sizes for your jewelry needs.

Heishi Low-Lustre Slabs

The possibilities to design ravishing jewelry with this beautiful blue stone which very often comes with small sparkling golden dots are endless. Whether you wear it in a necklace, bracelet or a pair of earrings, we can assure you everybody will take notice of it. Just take advantage of the multiple accessories available today to emphasize the astonishing Lapiz Lazulli’s blue color. And don’t be afraid if the color could fade with time because you can have it repolished to bring back its original look.

Large Rounds

It’s also regarded as the stone of the truth and it’s very useful to strengthen relationships. It’s also a powerful rock to boost your own levels of energy, so if you sometimes feel kind of sluggish without any reason, this is the stone for you. It’s said that stimulates objectivity, clarity and encourages creativity allowing you to perceive emotional issues clearly. That’s why it’s used as a tool for meditation. And if all of this is not enough to convince you of the value of this gemstone let me tell you that now, because of political issues in Afghanistan, its cost has surpassed the value of gold. So, once you get your Lapis Lazuli from us you need to protect it from chemicals and solvents, in order to enjoy it for many many years. And who knows, maybe your piece of jewelry can last another 6,000 years.

Please, let us know why you love lapis lazuli; we’d love to hear from you!

Best of Bead Soup Photography

Emily — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:02:53 +0000

Cindy Wimmer

Recently hosted by Lori Anderson, the Bead Soup Party involved 84 amazing jewelry artists! While I am sorry to have missed out (bad cold coupled with big store changes and I *gasp* neglected my blog reading for awhile. Let that be a lesson to me!), it was such a fantastic trip through the blogosphere reading about and admiring all of the gorgeous designs. It has taken me days to get through them all and I am thrilled to have so many new blogs to read!

Inspiration lurked on every new tab and, while most of the designs were beautiful, some were absolutely amazing! So many, in fact, that I could not possible overview them all here – I highly recommend you hop on over to Lori’s blog post here where she lists the participants and take the tour for yourself. Make sure you get a big mug of coffee and clear your schedule for the day before you get started!

Whitney Lassini

While I love the unique creations in this post, it is not so much about the jewelry itself but rather the way their creators have chosen to photograph them to capture the personality of each piece. Backgrounds and layout can make all the difference in the world in creating a stunning image that captures the eye and imagination.

This first one; designed by Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio, really makes the orange in these focals pop by using a book with detailing that matches the darker shades of blue. The wirework in this piece is stunning; organic and somehow nautical, at least to me, and I love how she used the two empty ovals to tie the front and back together.

Nancy E. Schindler

The second piece, designed by Whitney Lassini, is a gorgeous piece in its own right but her use of this smooth, warm colored wood adds a vibrancy and a coziness to the photograph; it reminds me of brightly colored thick wool sweaters and sitting by the fire with a cup of cocoa!

This next piece, by Nancy of The Rabbit Muse, features a stunning focal made with lampwork beads by one of my favorite artists, Sue of Sue Beads. I love the way Nancy has photographed it on an angle, emphasizing its 3 dimensionality and size. What a bold and beautiful statement piece!

Lisa of Lucid Moon Studios

Finally, this gorgeous heart necklace by Lisa of Lucid Moon Studios, really captured my eye. I love the softness of the candy colors combined with the crafty feel of the pendant and this photograph really emphasizes these aspects. I also really like the way she has used clay and resin for this heart – very sweet.

As I said, this is just a sampling of the amazing and inspiring pieces created for this Bead Soup and I do hope you will check out the rest of them. Clicking on each image here will bring you to that artist’s Bead Soup Post and clicking on the links in the text will bring you to their blog homepage. I hope you enjoy looking around as much as I did!

Thanks to all the lovely crafters who participated – it was wonderful to see how you each challenged each other to move a bit outside of your normal jewelry styles and I can’t wait for the next Bead Soup Party!

A Love Story

Antonio — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:42:29 +0000

In the spirit of a special day like the one we just celebrated around the world, we want to tell you a love story.

One day there was a young boy who wanted to set up a business in a different city to his hometown and after exploring a few options he decided to make and sell handicraft items. Although he has no experience at all in such matters he felt confident that working hard, he could succeed. He heard that once you start working on something, inspiration comes to visit you. So, he looked for a place to make and sell his merchandise and he bought everything he needed. He worked enthusiastically nights and days, devoting all his time to this activity, but sadly, after three months, of trying hard to unveil the secrets of the craft he chose, he wasn’t satisfied nor his potential clients. He had sold nothing during all that time and his savings were coming to an end fast. The situation was precarious and if he didn´t sell anything in the next couple of weeks, he would have to give up to his dream and go back to work in a menial job.

The moment of truth was approaching and only a real miracle could save him, but he was hopeless just waiting for the end of his enterprise. All of a sudden, a girl came to his booth to look around. Although he was in low spirits he couldn’t help to notice that she was very pretty. (When your whole world is about to crash, you don’t feel very conquistador at all.)

They talked and talked and talked and she learned about his troubles. She didn’t buy anything but she suggested doing a different craft and she offered to help him out with this, on her spare time. He wasn’t sure if she could be of some help at that point but he agreed. They worked together in the following two weeks after she clocked out on her regular job and with just a pair of pliers, a few beads and some stringing supplies not only a new business was founded but also began a true love which until this day is still in our hearts.

Favorite Materials: Turquoise

Antonio — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:49:15 +0000

Extra Large Rounds

Here at For the Love of Beads we want to offer you the best selection of beads from all over the world and you can be sure that you are gonna find the highest quality beads in each and every one of our sections. In our gemstone beads department, for example, we have a great selection of semi-precious stones. Turquoise is one of them. We have this beautiful stone in 11 different striking styles and shades and 12 sizes for your jewelry designs at the most incredible prices.

Polished Pieces

But, have you ever wonder where this mesmerizing stone comes from and why it has been so appreciated throughout history? One could think that because of the name, the stone comes from Turkey. But it´s interesting to know that actually it came from Persia (now Iran) and Egypt, but because was traded mostly in the Turkey´s ancient bazaars, people thought that it was produced in that country.

Even more interesting is the fact that during the twentieth century, the biggest producer in the world was the United States. According to this site Arizona, Colorado, California and Nevada are the states that have produced the highest quality stones in great quantities in the past years.

So, why has this stone been so appreciated in almost every culture in the world? It´s well known that ancient Egyptians in the Middle East and Aztecs in Mexico used to wear it on their clothes and in very important ceremonial occasions.

Barrrels

A very curious fact is that during the Conquest of Mexico, the Spaniards Conquistadors didn’t pay any attention to the stone because they were only looking for gold. American Indians tribes, who also incorporated the stone in their culture, used to think that turquoise was a link between the sky and the sea because of its green and blue colors.

Oval Pendants

Some say that the interest on this stone could be because its metaphysical properties. It´s considered a talisman that attracts friendship and is also very useful to strengthen communications skills. It’s said that connects the spiritual, physical and emotional levels in the body, that it brings good fortune for the wearer and helps to overcome depression. It´s a protective stone as well, mostly against unexpected falls. And in the past, people believed that when the stone changed its color it was a sign of imminent danger. But now we know that turquoise can change color due several factors such as heat, sun, bright light and the use of cosmetics (in the case of girls of course because I don´t use them).

Whether you think turquoise is a beautiful stone worth wearing as accessory or you believe in its healing properties or both, we want to give you the most important information we can gather about the subject.

So,let us know if turquoise is your favorite stone and if not, well let us know which one is.

Hearts in Every Color!

Emily — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:32:21 +0000

Because at For the Love of Beads, we think everyday should have a bit of love in it, we are proud to present these gorgeous hearts in 8 different colors (+ some rustic designs)! Sure to match any outfit or jewelry style, these carved vegan ivory pieces are a great way to add some love to your designs! Pick out the heart you like best and then use our handy color wheel to find beads that complement and match your choice. With these colorful pieces you can have Valentine’s all year round!

From now until Valentine’s day, any order including one of these pendants will get a small, free, surprise for your beading pleasure! For your convenience, I have linked each one of our vegan ivory hearts right here, in amongst these little Valentine’s jewelry ideas.

Hearts Keychain
For something a little different, why not try use one of these heart shaped pendants to create a beautiful and strong keychain, sure to remain beautiful even after lots of use.

Two Hearts Necklace
A beautiful way to say “I Love You”, this easy necklace incorporates hearts of two different colors, representing you and your significant other. Personalize it by choosing each of your favorite colors and adding some sparkle with silver or gold accents. Simply string a slider (that fits snugly) around both ends of a long piece of leather, string a heart on each end , and secure them by folding the leather over and wirewrapping it tightly.

Key to My Heart Necklace
A common theme is to combine a heart shaped pendant with a key accent. Strung on ribbon and tied at the side with a bow, this idea can be dressed up or down with ease! Replace the ribbon with chain for a more grown-up look or, for more color, create a beaded ribbon by stringing seed beads.

Happy Valentine’s & happy crafting!

Steampunk & Backgrounds

Emily — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:59:21 +0000

Hello! While Antonio keeps the blog up-to-date with useful tips and interesting interviews, I have been working away in the background on some upcoming changes to the store as well as gettng in new products and spending some time on actual jewelry-making! Isn’t it nice when we have time for the things we love?

Fancy Background & Props!

As much as I love all things steampunk, (hence my deep love for the Wunderkammer blog) I have never really done much of it myself so I took the opportunity to change that when I found these wonderful antiqued copper and brass jumprings. Paired with some gunmetal rings I already had lying around, they were just begging to be made into something pretty. I dug around in my stash and came up with some brass wings as well and that’s when I suddenly had an image in my mind of what I wanted.

Really this necklace took very little time to make once the sudden inspiration moment hit; well as little time as opening and closing all these tiny rings can! Of course, the effort and time put into something doesn’t always equal the results and I am fantastically happy with this piece despite its relatively simple construction.

The big challenge came in trying to photograph it. See, I work half the time at an office with the rest of my team; the programmer, the designer, etc, and the other half the time at home. At the office I have a nice tripod but rather yellow artificial light and windows that generally don’t let in much sunlight even at the best of times. At home, however, I have nice big windows that face west and therefore lots of natural light even on crappy days… but no tripod. The tripod isn’t such a big deal when its really bright but in partial brightness and with a macro lens and fancy DSLR, my hands are just not steady enough. I was also playing around with more interesting backgrounds and props having been inspired by Heather’s photography; I want to find a set and props that are fun and distinctive and neutral enough to complement any piece.

Simple Hemp Necklace Display

Needless to say, I have not quite found what I want yet and the one picture that turned out mostly ok (a little fuzzy but we’ll blame the aperture for that) seems to me a bit cluttered and busy – its hard to know that the necklace is the focal point. Still, I think the background has some potential if I can find the right way to use it… maybe further away and more out of focus… and I like the dragon despite its tendency to let chain easily slip between its head and wings and then refuse to come back out!

The second photograph was taken at the office in artificial lighting and then adjusted a bit in Photoshop to correct the color balance. While its technically a pretty nice photograph, I can’t help but feel its a little boring and certainly doesn’t tell anyone, at a glance, who took it.

What do you think, dear reader? Does my collage of Da Vinci scribblings have some potential or is it just too distracting? Is the necklace display unbearably boring or is a technically good photograph enough?

Take care & happy crafting!