Twins, a new project about color

I always like to create a project that is inspired by color; it makes me feel like I'm painting with beads. In our November project, Twins, I looked at two things that are the same but not identical....like two leaves in Autumn or Two Night Skies. In each case, they are related but different. I asked myself...what would it look like to combine them? I am really excited about the results.

Twins is a new, 4 Wrap Ladder project intended for all levels. It uses two techniques: Laddering and Macramé. At the halfway point after Wrap 2, the ingredients change...they are related but vary enough to create a new feeling. In Two Autumns, the stone is Red Creek Jasper and with so much variation, it really looks like leaves turning color.

I hope you enjoy the project and find a sample that inspires you to create. And I'd love to see what you make. Please share your samples with us. You can email photos to info@beadshop.com. And happy beading!

xoxo janice

Having a Creative Day
Earlier this fall, we took time from our rushed schedule of posting projects, filling orders and answering phone calls and spent the afternoon silk painting. I have found getting creative in a different arena can open doorways to new thinking. It's also just fun to do team events that involve something fun and artistic. 

So, in mid-September we asked Joy Lily to come teach us how to silk paint. She is a local Bay Area artist I met in a Zentangling class she taught at the Palo Alto Art Center. I thought a class at the office would be just the thing to help us untangle any knots we had from working so hard. It was great! We had the best time and the results were very satisfying. I don't think any of us are giving up our careers just yet, but it was fun. Here is a video Joy Lily has posted about silk painting. You might find this as fun as we did.

Happy 103 Birthday to Great Grandpa Bob!

Grandpa Bob with Janice, Andrea and Ashley

October 14 is a very special day in our family. It’s my father’s birthday and this year he turns 103. Born in 1912, he has seen the world change dramatically…and as an engineer working full-time until he was 87, he has lived a full life…and still is!

My dad, Robert Teichner, has gone from being “Dad” to “Grandpa” to “Great Grandpa Bob” to our newest addition, Eli who turns three shortly. The two are 100 years apart in age. It’s hard for me to imagine the span of years from 1912 to today. So much has happened in the last one hundred years... 

And looking back at my own childhood, I chuckle at how different my two parents 

Great Grandpa Bob with Eli on the Patio

were and yet their combined personalities and values raised me to be the person I am today.

I want to say, “Thank you, Great Grandpa Bob on your 103rd birthday… for being such a good father and role model for me. I learned gratitude and that life is always worth living at every age and stage.”

xoxo

janice

New Skill Builder: How to Use a Foldover Crimp with Chain

This Skill Builder is intended to show you in 7 easy steps how to use a Foldover Crimp with small chain. So many tiny chains today just don’t seem to have links large enough for jump rings. This foldover crimp is not intended for use with cord or leather...we’ve tried! Cord just slips out, but with small-link chain, it works great! 

Please also review Skill Builder: How to Open and Close Jump Rings Securely

Our sample was done with Teeny Satellite Chain in Antique Copper.

Ingredients:
Chain desired finished length + 1 inch extra 
1 pair Foldover Crimps
*1 Little Lobster Clasp
*2 jump rings
*2-3 inches of extender chain
*Available in Extender Chain Kit

Studio Essentials: Chain Nose Pliers, Bent Chain Nose Pliers and Flush Cutters