By the Sea

Today's bead is dichroic glass with two great colors that are reminiscent of the deep sea. I have used these beads as links in a silver wire wrapped bracelet that was sort of upscale beachy. The foil and shine on this bead is very attention getting. Making a "link" out of this and wrapping the connection wire made this bead stand out as a great piece of art.

Hope you all had a great day!!

Tie Dyed Hippie-ness

Today's bead has a sort of tie dyed spirit. Its bold colors merging into one another complemented by a great shiny surface really made me smile. I should have posted a photo of the container of beads this came from. Greens, yellows, purples, pinks, red and blues....all resembling some great tie dyed t-shirts! If only you could see some rubber band marks, that would really be perfect! It sort of brings a little rebelliousness out of a person.

Have a great week!

Ready for Spring Bulbs

Hello! If I ever saw a flower that was this color blue, I would have to plant them everywhere! This is such a great color and so adorable!! Depending on how you like to use these type of flower beads, this can be a background bead or a focal bead. I am imagining this bead as one of a group of flowers in a colorful garden. Imagine flowers of this color with violet, yellow, red and white. I CAN'T WAIT!!

Have a great day!

Starshine

Hello and happy Friday!! Hope you all had a great week!

Today's bead is a fun star shape with a sunny feel to it. I have used several of these beads to dangle off one very spunky bracelet. This is just the right size to use as a focal bead on a bracelet or choker. It also has a southwest vibe.

Now, hang on to your hat, you might be surprised to find out this bead is not made of glass or clay, but some sort of plastic!! I know that sometimes I have a tendency to jump to conclusions about some plastic beads and don't even consider buying them. This is a good reminder not to pre-judge!!

Have a great weekend!

Glorious Iridescence

Wow! The iridescence in this bead is heavenly! The depth and colors are amazing! Not only is this one glorious bead, wait until you see the OTHER side! Oh my goodness! Take a look below. It is almost too much to handle!

I'm speechless! If you have any great design ideas that will showcase either side, please let me know. Take care!!

Tropical Fish

Hello! Today's weather was a shocking, sunny 60 degrees!! I was so glad to have some nice steel drum music stored on my phone to play during my drive home. It was so appropriate. Today's tropical fish bead seemed appropriate too for a great day of spring fever that brings on memories of tropical beaches.

This is such a great focal bead that really needs to be surrounded by LOTS of great beads in caribbean colors!

I hope you all had the pleasure of a beautiful spring day too!

Bead Sculpture

This is such a cool bead! It looks like a great modern sculpture. Would you believe this was just one of probably 50 miscellaneous beads in a bead mix?! It's so nice to dig up one of these little treasures and sincerely appreciate it for its unique beauty.

The color is a great seafoam green and would look great dressed up with hill tribe silver beads and a few crystals for sparkle or with earthy colors and shells for a beachy piece.

Okay, say it with me, don't you just love beads?!

Have a great one!!

Free Spirited Dangles

Hello! This week's bracelet is one that I made a year or so ago when I was going through a dangly phase...the more dangles the better! This was leftover from our previous craft show inventory so I have acquired it for myself and have been wearing it for the last couple of weeks. I STILL LOVE THE DANGLES!

This bracelet is made from recycled paper cording from Joann Etc. It comes in several colors including brown (see below) and is very easy and fun to work with. There are so many possibilities with this cord because it is so thin it actually goes through glass beads unlike other types of alternative cording products.

This is also a great project because you don't need a lot of beading knowledge or tools. If you can tie a knot and use a cutting tool and pliers, you are good to go!

Have a good one!

Springy Flowers

The spunky little flowers that appear to be painted on this fun ceramic bead are a nice reminder of what we have to look forward to in the near future. One day soon the spring bulbs will be popping up all over the place and we'll forget all about the long, cold and snowy winter as if it never happened. Our little March blizzard will become a distant memory. Isn't that great!

Here's wishing we all have a sunny week!

Happy Spring!

Hi there! Happy Spring! This week marked the first day of spring. Hopefully we'll see some springtime weather soon or at least some temperatures above 30's!

Today's bead, or beads, are pearls dyed in fun spring colors. I've used these pearls in several different jewelry pieces. They can be used in fun, casual pieces or dressed up with crystals and sterling silver. My favorite was weaving the pearls with 4mm crystals through some silver chain.

These colors can be very uplifting this time of year when things seem a little gray.

Have a great weekend!

Gorgeous Stone

Hello! Today's bead is a gorgeous stone. I'm not sure what type of stone this is, but the variation of color is so beautiful...a natural wonder! You could pair this bead with crystals (of course) or other glass beads in black, gray or earth tones depending on which colors you want to draw out of the stone. It's fun to experiment with pulling colors out of beads by using beads in the same tone and then with contrasting colors. They often take on an entirely different look.

Have a fun weekend!

Too Cute?

Okay, tell me the truth, is this bead just a little too cute? I bought this one quite a few years ago because of its cuteness factor. There must have been a couple in the package since I remember using one as a focal bead in a bracelet. These types of beads are fun to use with lots of conservative looking beads so it stands out as a surprise when you see it looking at you.

You sure couldn't help but smile when you look down and see this little guy on your wrist. If the goal is to smile as much as possible to maintain a happy heart, this one could really give you a boost!

Have a good one!

Biff! Bop! Pow!

Today's bead reminds me of the exclamations used in the old Batman television show or advertising designs on kids games from the 60's. That dramatic pointed outline certainly is attention getting!

I have an entire strand of these millefiori beads in bright primary colors that I can't wait to use. These beads are handmade using thin slices of glass canes which are pressed into the bead surface while the glass is still hot. They sure look like they were a lot of fun to make!

Take care out there!

Here Comes The Sun!

Hello! I'm thinking if we all concentrate and visualize the sun shining it might actually happen!! Yes, I know it is raining like crazy, but let's put our visualization and positive thinking skills to the test!

I just know the sun will be shining soon! In the mean time, this bead is a great representation of it!! I believe I found these beads at Joann Etc. in the button section. I didn't even bat an eye when I saw them, I just knew I had to have them!! For any of you out there like me who are desperately missing the warmth and brightness of the sun, try a nice sunny bead to get you through the doldrums.

Take care!!

Eye Spy

Hello! Since everyone seems to love the "eye" bead, I wanted to share this fun bracelet with you. I am not sure you can find the eyeball in this picture, but give it a try. There are also dice, a lady bug and an alien spaceship on this hidden puzzle bracelet.

These are really fun to make on memory wire. A great way to use your leftovers. Put them on randomly or in combinations of colors or cuteness. A bracelet like this can really help you pass the time if you are in a situation where patience is required. It's fun to study and play with.

Have a great evening!!

"Gingerbread" Heart

Hello! Today's bead is not really made of gingerbread, it is a wooden heart bead. In this close-up photo, it really looks like gingerbread - Yum!

This is a great one to use with hemp cord or faux leather cord along with colorful wooden beads. I've made cute earrings from these and also used one on a pull cord for a homemade purse.

These types of beads have a tendency to get lost among all the shiny glass and crystal beads at the craft store. This is just another example of why you should give every bead a chance to stand out in your designs. You just might be surprised at which ones become shining stars!

Fun!

Hello! I hope everyone is having a fun Saturday! Today's bead made me think FUN! It reminded me a bit of a beach ball. Very spunky and fun!

For any Carol Burnett fans out there, my second thought was these would make great "Mrs. Wiggins" ball earrings. Just a nice straight stick or chain with a fun ball at the bottom. I'll have to work on those so I can wear them tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Crackle!

Today's bead is just one example of a crackle bead. These glass beads are a lot of fun because they seem to have a sparkly feature even though they are not faceted or cut in any way. They really look a lot like cracked ice.

While these beads are still in their molten hot form, they are immersed in cold water which cracks the glass. Once cooled, they are reheated and covered with another layer of glass before being formed into a variety of shapes.

If you aren't sure about them while looking through the packaging, it is really worthwhile to buy a pack and take them out of the celophane wrapper. They are so SPARKLY!

Have a great Friday night!

PEACE

Hi there! Today's bead really seems to evoke thoughts and feelings of peace and happiness for me. Finding objects, people and places that bring bring a smile to your face is so important to maintaining a positive outlook.

You might not even realize why it is that you are drawn to certain things. If you stop to give it some thought, you will probably discover there is something about it or them that stirs up joy and happiness in you.

I hope this one gives you a peaceful, happy feeling too!

Pink Sweetness

Today's bead is quite an impressive stone! The color is just about the sweetest pink tone with streaks of white throughout. The smoothness of the stone gives it a great shine and the obvious weight of it makes it quite an attention getter!

While I usually find myself making bracelets, this stone is perfectly suited to be the focal point of a necklace. Paired with either sterling silver, pink beads or multicolor pastels, it could easily be dressed up or down to suit anyone's taste.

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Bead or Button?

Hello! I'm sure you all guessed that this is, in fact, a button! Many beaders incorporate buttons into their beaded jewelry as either focal pieces or toggle clasps. I have used this button on a flat peyote stitch bracelet as a clasp and it was really gorgeous. If it found its way to the top of the wrist, it looked like an awesome focal bead. If it was under the wrist, it was a great surprise to see it as the person wearing it was talking with their hands. It made the flat peyote bracelet look very elegant.

The craft store button aisle is a great place to get new ideas for your next piece of jewelry!

Have a great evening!

Spring Flowers

Hi everyone! Good news, the snow is melting! Before you know it, spring flowers will be blooming!

This week's bracelet was great fun to make once I got the hang of it. This is another product of a great beading cruise! Made with a needle and fireline using daggers and lots of different flower beads, I was amazed at the presence of this when completed. It is a fairly simple process for using small beads and fashioning them into something impressive.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Sunny Little Heart

Today's bead is an adorable little yellow heart that came in a bead mix from a local bead shop. These cute little beads can get a little lost in a large tube of beads. I thought this was a great color for a heart bead and also a good reminder to keep a little sunshine in your heart, most importantly, when the sun is NOT shining!

Once you have accomplished that, don't forget to share your sunny-ness with others, it can be contagious. Have a great Sunday!

Dreams of Ocean Breezes

Hello! Since we are likely stuck in the house today due to the lovely snow, it's a good time for visualizing warm ocean breezes.

This is such a great focal bead! It can be dressed up with sterling silver or paired with lots of colorful seed beads for a beachy feel.

I think it's time to get my beads out! Enjoy your Saturday!!

Snow Flake ("if you can't beat it, embrace it")

Hello everyone! Since we are under a blizzard warning, I figured, if you can't beat the snow, embrace the snow! It is beautiful and a scientific wonderment with each flake being as unique as each person's fingerprint.

This bead reminded me of a unique snow flake shape and paired with sparkly crystals, it is a sweet reflection of these wintery days (even when they come in March).

Have a great weekend!!

Groovy!

One of the first words that came to mind to describe this vintage bead was, "groovy"! During one of their many garage sale treks in Florida, my parents came across some vintage jewelry that they took apart, cleaned and kindly sent my way.

I have used these beads in a number of different pieces of jewelry and even used one of these heavy beads to dangle off a bracelet. It was awfully cool looking even though it packed a punch when you would bang it up against something!

The memory wire choker I made with these and their companion beads was ultra "mod" with a very long (and sort of heavy) dangly pendant. The possibilities are endless when you come across unique items like these. They truly become wearable conversation pieces.

I hope this one makes you smile!

The Cutest Bead!

I just love this cute bead! It makes me think of cute capri's and fun spring weekends!! It must be the bright colors. I have used this bead with bright, bulky glass beads on memory wire and also with bright white glass beads. No matter what you pair it with, I think it would bring a little extra cheeriness!

Have a great evening!! (Think bright, sun-shiny days)!

WOW Crystals

Hi there! I just had to share this bracelet with everyone! I had never used 6mm crystal AB 2x bicones before, but a fellow beader had shown me this bracelet she had made using 6mm crystals and I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. I had only made it using 4mm bicones.

The bracelet's very talented designer is Anna Elizabeth Draeger. Click here for more information about her and her other designs. I don't think I'll be satisfied until I have one of these in every swarovski color!!

All Knowing/All Seeing

When I first saw today's bead in a mix tube, I was surprised to see an eye looking at me!! At first I thought it was a little unusual, but then I used a couple in a 4 strand memory wire bracelet that was made to use up a lot of interesting odds and end beads. I discovered that I liked having these with me and would look for them when standing in a check out line or when stopped in traffic.

I'm not sure if it was the fun of having a hidden picture puzzle with me or if it became sort of a companion. Either way, I encourage you to be on the lookout for these cute little eye beads. They are a lot of fun!

Spring Fever

These adorable porcelain beads were the last ones in a little dish at a local bead shop. I had gone in for a specific item and intended to keep my blinders on and stay focused. I must have walked by these beads a few times before I broke down and bought them. It was such a cold day and I really needed the warmth and sunshine these beads seemed to provide. Don't you just LOVE beads!! They serve so many purposes!

Have a great day!

Work of Art

Hello! Today's bead could be framed and hung on a wall as a piece of abstract art. Not only does it have great form, the gorgeous colors and iridescence provide a bit of elegance. When I purchased this at a local bead show last year, I appreciated its overall beauty, but it wasn't until I photographed it that I noticed all of the artistic details.

This was a good reminder to look a little closer at things and appreciate all of their intricate qualities.

Have a great evening!