February 5, 2012

I have to admit that computer work is not my strong suit. I spent years being a legal secretary, and hating it. I guess that consequently, I find myself wanting to do ANYTHING but typing. One look at my website would back that up as the last time the it was updated was 2006! But for the last couple of weeks I have been working on it, though I have a ways to go before it's ready for "publication".

That being said, here I am again trying to keep Wilmington area beaders aware of goodies available. So here we go.

Down at A Place to Bead, Owner Sabrina has a quick trunk show hitting the store for 2 days. The first day was Saturday and I hit right before they shut down for the day. Did not catch the name of the lady selling things, but she came here straight from Tucson. Managed to pick up some absolutely sweet druzy cabs - tiny, sparkly and colorful. She had a nice selection of gemstone beads, but what really got my attention were the beautiful kyanite beads and the yummy larimar beads. She will be back there tomorrow, Monday, February 6th. If you get a chance, try to check it out. I would call first to see what hours she will be there. I've always wanted to go to Tucson for the lapidary/bead shows that are there every year at this time. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Google "Tucson Shows" and you will see why I drool just at the thought of hitting this extravaganza.

If you're looking for something new to do, next time I hope to have a list maybe of bead shows that offer wonderful bead shopping and/or classes to teach you new projects or techniques. If there is something that you know is happening in the Wilmington, NC area, just let me know and I'll try to spread the word.

April 10, 2011

Just to let you know, A Place to Bead has a trunk show coming up. They kick off the show with a opening party at 7:00pm on April 14th, where you can get first pick of all the bead goodies. There is usually a great selection of pearls, strands of stones and even some semi-precious beads. The trunk show continues through April 19th, so if you can't be there for the opening, you have 5 other days to shop. YUM!!!! Also, don't forget that Sunday afternoons at A Place to Bead, we have Bead Therapy. The official time is 1:00pm - 3:00pm, but we pretty much hang out there any time on Sunday afternoon. We laugh, bead and solve the problems of the world all in a Sunday afternoon. We help each other out with bead problems, give each other ideas, and just have fun. So if you're looking for a bit of bead companionship, come by some Sunday afternoon and join us.

January 6, 2011

Okay, it's a new year, and if you are like a large group of people all over the Earth, you've made your New Year's Resolutions. And if you are like a majority of those same people, you will have all good intentions of keeping those resolutions. And if you are like me, you will be doing good to make it a month before you break any and all of those resolutions and just give up and decide to keep doing things the way you have been doing them. So, years ago, I decided that I must be making the wrong resolutions. I decided that I would make resolutions that I KNEW I would be able to keep.

1. Try to buy beads. Now this is one that I know I will be able to keep. Without even trying.
2. Attend as many bead shows as possible. Again, this should be easily do-able.
3. Buy cabochons when possible. If you are as crazy about cabs as I am, then this should be a fun resolution to do.
4. Bead every chance I get. This is a resolution that is right up my alley.

I think that you can see how this works. At the end of the day, I feel good for having kept my resolutions.

To help you keep your resolutions, if they are like mine, I need to pass on some info. So here goes.

This Saturday and Sunday, Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show is opening a new venue in Raleigh. We usually are able to go to this show in Durham and at this time they do not have a Durham show listed, so I don't know if they are planning on replacing or supplementing Durham with this show. Just a glance at the exhibitors list, I see some of the regulars at Intergalactic as well as a few new ones, including Leonardo Lampwork, whom I've seen their work and it is beautiful. Here is the info on this show:

Raleigh/Durham NC
Saturday, January 8, 2011 - Sunday, January 9, 2011
Holiday Inn Brownstone Hotel & Conference Center (Presidential)
1707 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27605

http://beadshows.com/welcome.action

If you go to the above link, you will find a button to click on and get a $2 off coupon.

Also, just wanted to give you a heads up that for those of you who love cabs, Anne Kennedy will be making her yearly visit to sell cabs. Let me tell you, if you have never purchased any of Anne's cabs, they are absolutely beautiful and very reasonably priced. She carries cabs from all over the world, and it is very hard to locally find a better chance to get stunning cabs and great prices. When the date is set, I'll be sure to let you know.

So, may your new year be full of beads.

November 23

I know that I have been a little lax in my posting - I plead the fact that I've had an illness in the family and hospitals and the computer don't necessarily mix. Now, on to the news.

A Place to Bead has been hosting a trunk show - beautiful Czech glass beads, including the largest selection of lentil bead that I've seen for a while. She also has some beautiful peacock-embellished beads in different shapes and colors. I understand that it has been there for a bit but only will be there a little while longer, so if you can, you might stop by there and get you some beautiful beads.

Also, from what I hear, A Place to Bead may be having Silversmithing classes coming up in the new year (which if you think about it, really isn't that far away.) So, maybe if you're good this year - and there's still time to be good - Santa may bring you some money to use to buy beads or even some special classes. As the time gets closer, I'll have more info.

Meanwhile, get busy beading. If you are making your Christmas gifts, you only have 31 days!! That's not that much time. But if you are needing supplies to finish that special gift, don't forget to check out the local bead stores.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

November 16

Well, it's that time again where Margie Deeb is giving away another of her wonderful patterns. Every month she is adding a pattern to the list of freebies that she is making available to all beaders. Every pattern that she makes comes in 2 different ways: peyote/brick stitch and square/loom stitch. The new one that she has made availble is entitled "Dancing on the Moon" and is sure is pretty. If you will go over to this link:

http://www.margiedeeb.com/html/productlist.php?type=10

you will find the list of free patterns available. Don't miss out on this. You can open the pattern and save it to your computer or just print it out for your own special copy.

October 20

If you were planning on participating in the next beading challenge hosted by A Place to Bead, you had better run as quick as you can to the store and purchase your kit. This time, they started with only 10 kits, and as of Sunday when I was at the store, there were only 4 kits left. They seem to be flying off the shelves this time. The theme is Autumn Leaves, and though I can't reveal exactly what beads are in this kit, I think that the theme title alone will give your some idea of what to expect. Entries are due by November 27, so that should give you enough time to make some pretty spectacular entries. Plus, a gift certificate to A Place to Bead for BEADS is always nice. And since there are prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and People's Choice, that means that there are 4 chances to win BEADS!!!!!!!

September 16

Under One Sun Trunk Show at A Place to Bead.

Well, as you can see, I did take some pictures of clasps and other findings that I have that are made by Under One Sun. As you can see, the quality is superb and what is nice is that they are just as pretty on the back as on the front. In most cases, if there is a pearl on the front, there is a pearl on the back. For example, in the picture on the left, with the clasp in the upper right, there are lime pearls set on both the front and the back. Those barrel-shaped clasps (one is upper center and one is right center) are magnetic clasps - beautiful and a strong magnet to boot.

Here to the right is a picture of a sweet copper magnetic clasp.

As you can see, Under One Sun has not only Sterling Silver, but copper and Vermeil findings. They also have buttons, and chain and other stuff, but I'll save those pictures for another time.

By the way, can you tell that I'm a fan of theirs?