Apr 5, 2019

Dance of the Damselfly

We all love a good Monthly Mix, don't we? Well, we especially love Alley Mori's mix! Created while she was visiting the Beadshop offices in February 2019, Alley's Kaleidoscope Mix was inspired by a gorgeous Stev'nn Hall piece of art that has been making the rounds in our private FB Group as an inspirational photo.



Alley put Kaleidoscope to work in this latest wrap bracelet masterpiece...adding O Beads, SuperDuos and CzechMates Tiles to round out the mix, this wrap is just heavenly. See more photos and her ingredients list below! We've added some "or" options to the list, since Alley used a button from her own stash and also because some of these items are very popular and are often sold out! Check out these substitutions on Kate's FTF, which we'll embed below after the Live Broadcast airs.


Ingredients:
1 Small to Medium Silver Button, we suggest  Little Fish Pond Button OR Humble Lotus Button
1 Spool Eggplant Micro C-Lon
1 Spool Grape OR Amethyst Micro C-Lon
1 Spool Teal Micro C-Lon
1 Pkg 1.5mm Metallic Maroon Leather
1 Pkg 1.5mm Metallic Purple Leather
1 Pkg 1.5mm Metalic Teal Leather
1 Tube Kaleidoscope Monthly Mix
1 Tube SuperDuos- Pastel Bordeaux OR Halo Magenta
1 Pkg O Beads- Crystal French Rose
1 Pkg O Beads- Crystal Magenta
1 Pkg O Beads- Crystal Cerulean Blue
1 Strand CzechMates Tiles- Pearl Coat Teal
(Are we out? Take a peek at our other Blue-Green CzechMates Tiles or try these colors: Gold Marble Rosaline, Metallic Flax or Matte Metallic Copper)
1 Dragonfly Pebble Bead OR Bali Dancer Slider
2 Jardin Round Rings- Antique Silver
1 Pkg Transitions Beads- Antique Pewter

**FYI, Alley paired her Leathers and Micro C-Lons as follows:
Metallic Maroon with Eggplant
Metallic Purple with Grape or Amethyst
Metallic Teal with Teal

Additional Learning:
How to Ladder
How to Macramé
Alley's Splice, four on Page 13 of these Episode Notes
FTF 4.5.19


Check out how Alley does her "splice" here...this joining of the leather at the middle of a wrap enables her to use lark's head knots at both ends...isn't that clever? Kate shows this more in-depth on the FTF episode linked above and embedded below. Check out these photos from Alley and Kate's broadcast to take a closer look at how this comes together! Note how Alley's splice can be covered by a variety of large-holed beads...in her sample she uses the Dragonfly Pebble Bead, on Kate's it's the Bali Dancer Slider...but you could also use Czech Rollers, Transitions, Evolve, River Shannon, a variety of Sliders...you do you! You can also see, above, how Alley attaches all three of her laddered sections of her Alley Bracelet (AKA Kate's Favorite on Steroids) by tying one strand in a lark's head knot through the button shank and then attaching the other two leathers to that knot itself rather than to the shank, chichis so smart!










































Finally, here's the video! Enjoy...



Apr 4, 2019

Introducing the New Beadshop Design Team

A Note From Alley Mori, Design Team Lead...

Something tasty is cooking at Beadshop.com and we are serving up a whole lot of beady deliciousness.  Just wait until you see the spread we are creating!  (Hint: another Look Book, maybe?)

It all started with Kate’s vision – she wanted to share a variety of talents and special jewelry designs with all of you.  What better way than to create a design team made up of customers and Bead Table members?

And…never afraid to take on a challenge, I have stepped up to organize and guide the team.  Our mission is to design and create jewelry from Inspiration Boxes of materials and products curated by the Beadshop staff.  Every member receives the same box and it is up to them to interpret the outcome.  Each talented designer has very different aesthetic visions, which in turn, will provide some varied and diverse jewelry pieces.  Oh, what fun!

Without giving too much more away, I would like to introduce the Team (from left to right) - Danielle Wickes, Faye Luxemburg-Hyam, Kim Golias and me, Alley Mori

























Stay tuned.  We will debut each designer and showcase some of their favorite creations coming up on future posts this month. Check out the blog on Thursdays for more!


Alley

Apr 3, 2019

Beadshop LIVE 4/3: Making a Mix

Thanks so much for joining me today. It was such fun to create a color palette and choose the seed beads right on air.
This is the original photo posted in The Bead Table FB Group by member, Faye.

Here are the completed mixes. Both use the exact same base recipe with just two different beads per mix.

The top row in the photo above is the lighter, Dewdrop Blossom. The second row is the darker, Tokyo Cherry Blossom.

SizeAmountColor NameColor Number
11/03.5GOpaque Turq Green11-412
11/03.5GPink Lined Crystal AB11-272
11/03GMatte Opaque Beige11-2022
8/05GTea Rose AB8-155FR
8/02GMatte Transparent Lt Topaz AB8-132FR
8/02.5GMatte Transparent Yellow AB8-136FR
8/05GBlush Lined Crystal6-215
8/07.5GPale Pink Silverlined Alabaster6-555
Toyko 
8/03GMatte Transparent Ruby8-141FR
8/02GGilding Matte Metal See BeadMT8-GLMMT
OR 
8/02GDuracoat Galvanized Gold 8-4202
Dewdrop
8/03GSilverlined Paris Pink8-4238
8/02GMatte Zinc Metal Seed Bead
OR
8/02GSilver Metal Seed Bead

You can download the mixing sheet I filled out at this link.

If you missed the episode, watch it right here:

Mar 26, 2019

Beadshop.com on Beads Baubles and Jewels, Episode 2706, Bollywood

Hey All!
More from my adventure from filming Season 2700 of Beads Baubles and Jewels for PBS. The theme "A Sense of Place" continues in this episode titled "India."  Katie Hacker and I had a fun time presenting this Beadshop.com classic design, Bollywood. A perfect project for this episode.


A quick make and a great project for any season, depending on the color palette you choose. I named this sample "Bhangra", an ode to the popular dance so often showcased in Bollywood movies.


Fun, huh??

The ingredients list is here:
Download the companion handout here.

For more information on this season and all past seasons check out the Beads, Baubles and Jewels website Watch the Bollywood segment here:


I can't wait to go back next season, planning is already in session! Also, if you want some snazzy glasses like I am wearing, check them out at CraftOptics

Beadshop.com on Beads Baubles and Jewels, Episode 2705, Odyssey


The Kate & Katie team is BACK! Welcome to Episode 2705, "Excursions" in series 2700 of Beads Baubles and Jewels for PBS.


The theme for this season is "A Sense of Place" and I knew the viewers would love our Odyssey project. Ancient Jade is inspired by the rich colors of an ancient palace adorned with precious jade objects. I just love the rich blend of brass, mustard and greens.


Here is what I used:
Ingredients used:

Download the companion handout here.

For more information on this season and all past seasons check out the Beads, Baubles and Jewels website Watch the Odyssey segment here:



I can't wait to go back next season, and I am busy creating new projects to share with you! 

Mar 18, 2019

Beadshop.com on Beads Baubles and Jewels, The Eiffel Tower Lariat

Hey All!

Back in October 2018, I flew out to KS Productions in Ohio to film Season 2700 of Beads Baubles and Jewels for PBS. It's always a fun time. Katie Hacker is the best host ever and we always enjoy our time together (even though it is always way too short!)


This season in addition to the other projects if filmed, I was asked by Soft Flex Company to do a project for them. Since here at beadshop.com we have been using Soft Flex products since the early '90's, I thought "Yes!" it sounded like fun! The project I designed is called "The Eiffel Tower Lariat"


It is such a fun and easy make. It features Tila Beads, some of my favorites! 

The ingredients list is here:

Download the companion handout here.

The episode is showing this week on the Beads, Baubles and Jewels website this week, or you can watch the segment here:



Thanks so much for inviting me, BB&J and for sponsoring me, Soft Flex. I can't wait to go back next season. Also, if you want some snazzy glasses like I am wearing, check them out at CraftOptics

Flash Sale Friday...get creative!

Last week Kate went shopping for some special strands at a local gem show, and she brought back six stone strands she couldn't live with...