Bead or Sea Creature?

Hello! When I first saw this in a package of beads, I thought it looked really cool. Once I had a chance to really look at it, I kind of thought it was a little creepy. Not really bad creepy, but interesting creepy.

It sort of looks like a creature of some kind. The colors are bright enough to be reptilian-like, but then again, it could be something found on the ocean floor. See, kind of creepy isn't it?

Anyway, the package this came in had a nice array of beads that could all be used together in a necklace since the hole on this one is placed a little off center so it would work well as a pendant.

Thanks for listening to my continued ramblings!! Take care!

Champagne Sparkle

Hello! Today's bead is actually very tiny, but it really stood out in the crowd because of the sparkliness of it! The color of this bead close up is slightly darker than the color of champagne, but from a distance it looked very rich and champagne like.

This would be a great bead to unite with some sparkly gold and crystals. Mmmm! I'm thinking several strands. Maybe even throw in some swarovski pearls in gold tones.

Okay, I need to bead, take care!

Striped Flower

Today's bead might not look like a flower so I included a side view of it as well below. I thought this was such a cute bead, it reminded me of the striped canvas fabric that is used to make beach bags or the lighter cotton fabric used in summer blouses. Either way, it says summer time to me. Used with scads of primary color seed beads, this would be a very fun and festive piece of jewelry. Too bad there aren't more hours in a day...

Have a great one!

Metallic Rainbow

Today's bead has great colors and really fun effects. If you like playing with metallic paints or pens, you'll love this bead. I believe I only have 4 of these. while I'd like to have enough for a bracelet, it looks like I'll need to pair this with some others. I have some nice 6/0 metallic seed beads that might be fun with this one or maybe some dark colored a/b crystals would be fun!

The possibilities, as always, are endless! We are so lucky, don't you think?


There are a few more hours to go in the weekend, let's all make the most of them so Monday brings no regrets!

Jelly Nougat

Hello, I hope everyone's having a great Saturday. To me that means thinking about, looking at or making anything related to arts and crafts.

Today's bead is a really cute little cube bead that came on a really long strand of beads in all different colors. I realize I have a tendency to see candy or sweets when it comes to certain beads, but I just can't seem to help myself. This bead is so cute, it really reminds me of those brach's jelly nougat candies that used to come wrapped in a rectangular or square shape. Apparently those were the good old days since they only come in a round, easy to unwrap shape. Either way, I bet it still tastes the same. It's been a while since I've had one, but I do remember the smooth, sweet taste.

I am considering a multi strand bracelet with all the various colors in this strand of cubes. They are so perfectly "un"matched, it sort of seems perfectly eclectic.

Have a great Saturday Night!!

Sparkly Friday

Hello, hello! Since today is such a beautiful sunny and sparkly day outside, I thought I would make an exception to a "bead" a day and share a whole mess of beads for the day!

Here's a whole bunch of fun loving crystals to make your day even more sparkly. Okay, I was going to say "sparklier", but I'm pretty sure that's not a word. Either way, hope you're having a great one!

(You might have recognized the cube from "bead love"...I still can't get enough of that one).

Giant Purple People Eater

Today's bead is SO purple, I think you have two ways to go on using this one in a design. You can either downplay the purpliness by using mellow, muted colors or you can go all out and put a bunch of neon, crazy shaped, fun beads from your collection with this one. It would definitely need to have a bunch of dangly things too!

Thought you might enjoy this one! Have a great evening!

Ink Blot Test

Seriously, the first thought that came to mind about this bead was "Rorschach test". The little section in the middle reminded me of an ink blot. I'm not sure what that says about my personality, but I thought it was sort of interesting and strange.

This would be a fun bead to pair with other unusual and mysterious looking beads and baubles. I love a great piece of jewelry that becomes a conversation piece.

Have a good one!

This Week's Bracelet

Hello! I wanted to post this bracelet since it is one of my favorites. I wear it several times a week. Even though it is a fairly simple design, it still makes a nice statement with this great focal bead. The black rubber tubing is really fun to work with and to wear.

If you use memory wire in any of your jewelry creations, I strongly recommend getting some of this rubber tubing to play with. I found it at a bead store in Florida last year on vacation, but I believe Fire Mountain carries it now. You will just want to make sure you buy the larger dimension.

Have fun!!

Mellow Yellow

Hi everyone! I hope your week has gotten off to a great start!

Today's bead is a great mellow, hippie-ish, retro, yummy bead! It immediately made me think of the 1960's Donovan song, "Mellow Yellow". That song also has a laid back, groovy sort of hippie sound to it. Sort of like you haven't a care in the world....and that's a great feeling! If you can capture that in a bead or piece of jewelry, be proud and wear it often!

Just in case you need a reminder, here are a few of the lyrics to that ultra cool song:

I'm just mad about Saffron
Saffron's mad about me
I'm just mad about Saffron
She's just mad about me

They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow

Let's Take a Ride!

Is this the cutest bead or what??! For each of our vacations I work on a bracelet (or 2 or 3) that suit the trip or the type of clothes that will be worn, etc. This bead would be great worked into a fun and celebratory bracelet for the next one we take requiring flight. Every time it is worn before or after the vacation, you can't help but be reminded of the anticipation of the trip, the planning, the excitement and the actual fun of the trip. You just can't go wrong making jewelry for specific events or occassions.

Have a great one!

Cinnebar?

Hello! Today's bead looks very impressive. If you are wondering if this is true cinnebar, I must admit that it is not. Once again, this is a very well done plastic bead.

The shape and design of this bead has been made to resemble Cinnebar which is wood from the cinnebar tree of Southeast Asia. The products you can buy today that are made of actual cinnebar wood, including beads, are made by pressing a pattern into the wood. The color is then enhanced with a resin to give it stability as the wood is very soft.

This tone of red looks great with turquoise and black.

Happy beading!!

Blue Flower

Hi everyone! Since it's Friday, I'm allowing myself to post ANOTHER blue flower bead. I honestly never knew I had so many blue beads!!! This AB bead is a really fun bead that is subtle, but sends a message of summer, lightness and fun!

The unusual, summer-like day today (78 degrees) similarly brings a feeling of lightness and fun! The grass is so green and the blooming trees are just gorgeous. It makes me want to go get new annuals!

Have a great weekend!

Red, White & Blue!

Hey there! I was seeing fire works there for a minute! This is such a great bead! I have made so many bracelets with this bead over the years, perfect for the 4th of July! If you ever want to make a great, informal piece of jewelry for the 4th of July holiday, this one is well suited.

There is a special feeling that is associated with this holiday of pride and expectation. It's a great one to celebrate. We had such a brilliantly sunny day today, I was having thoughts of summer already!

Have a great evening!

Dalmation Doggy Bead

Okay, it's not really a doggy, but a piece of jewelry made of these beads would be a great gift for a dalmation lover! Maybe add on a little fire truck or fire hydrant for a little over-the-top cuteness! I'm loving it already.

I hope this one leaves you with a smile! Take care!

Deep Sea Bead

Hello!! Today's bead is such a great reminder of the deep sea with the dark spots of algae. You can even see a bubble in this one! I have a great picture from Nassau that looks just like this. It makes you wonder what the inspiration was for the bead maker sometimes. "Blue glass bead" doesn't really do this one justice!

I think I need a vacation!!! Have a great evening!

This Week's Bracelet

This week's bracelet is one of my favorites that was made last year and worn A LOT last summer and fall. This is lots of fun to wear because of all the dangly strands of beads that hang from your wrist. I wouldn't suggest doing any cooking or food preparation with this one on, but it certainly makes a fun and spunky statement.

How could a person possibly feel down when wearing something fun like this?! It definitely keeps you smiling!

Spring-time Green

Hello! The bright green colors on today's bead are very close to the colors we are now seeing outdoors. Thankfully, the grass is a beautiful green color and the trees and shrubs are tipped in green as new growth has begun to bud.

The layers of color within the glass on this bead give it a really nice dimensional feel. This one would be great used with some other flower beads and a variety of green colored leaves. I love that the hint of yellow in the bead gives the illusion of sunshine.

I hope you are all having a great day!!

Rectangular Brick Bead

Hi everyone! I hope you are having a great Saturday!! Today's bead is one that I just picked up recently. I bought an entire strand of miscellaneous rectangular stone beads. Even though the colors are all very diverse, they looked great together because their shape is identical. In addition to the brick-like bead here, the others were in light jade, frosty blue, turquoise, a variety of picture jasper and a matte yellow that looks just like a stick of butter!

It's a great learning experience for beaders who think that colors must be coordinated by being in the same tone or opposites on the color wheel. I like to gauge "togetherness" potential just by playing around with them to see if I get a good feeling about them. I don't think you can always give a logical explanation as to why certain colors, shapes or textures work well together. Sometimes you just have to go with a feeling!

Have a great Saturday.

Spectacular Friday Bead

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great week with a bit of spring-time weather!

Today's bead is quite spectacular in this photo. While I thought it was a great bead when I bought it, viewing it in this way really shows the intricate details. What a fun bead this must have been to create!! I have used this one on memory wire as a focal point with crystals and a bunch of rubber tubing. I have to admit that was a fun one! I believe these can still be found at Joann, etc.

Have a GREAT weekend!!

Sparkly Foil Star

This is a metal bead that is covered in some type of colored foil. I have had a package of these for years and used quite a few in some memory wire bracelets (many were used as dangles). It must have been a pretty large package because I have quite a few left.

There were also pastel colored hearts and flowers in the same pack. I haven't seen these in stores recently, so maybe now they are a novelty. These would be cute dangling from a chain like charms with a few crystals thrown in for additional glittery sparkle!

Have a great evening!

Cake Decoration

Hello there! You are probably thinking I shouldn't write this blog after dinner when I am wanting something sweet for dessert. Please tell me you agree that this very cool bead looks like a beautifully frosted decoration on a yellow cake (buttercream icing of course)!!

It makes me wish I had cake decorating skills! I think it would be a lot of fun to pair this bead with other beads reminiscent of frosted baked goods! I'll have to keep an eye out next time I'm at the bead store. Have a good one!

(Update: I just couldn't help but paste a picture of the cookie my husband was eating the other night. I got a big kick out of its similarity to this very sweet bead, hope you do too!)


BEAD


LEMON SANDWICH COOKIE

Caramel Goodness

Mmm, this bead really makes me think of a caramel topped, gooey sundae! It could just be me, but the colors on this bead seemed like melted caramel mixed in with vanilla ice cream. If you look hard enough, you might even see some nuts.

Okay, maybe I'm just craving sugar! This would be a nice focal bead for a bracelet or even hanging from a necklace or memory wire choker.

I hope you enjoyed this nice dessert, have a great evening!

Mystery Bead

Today's bead is a bit of a mystery! I am pretty sure I bought this one several years ago and never opened them (sound familiar?) The package indicates that this is a glass bead. I think I was intrigued by contrast of the dark burgundy and milky white.

Let me know what you think! Take care!

Roly-Poly

Hello! Today's bead reminded me of the little roly-poly bugs that seem to live under rocks in the garden. While I'm not a huge bug fan, they are awfully cute!

I was thinking this bead would work great with lots of white glass beads and hematite. Very unique!

Have a great week!

Yummy Little Cucumber Slice

Cucumbers were on sale today and the grocery store, I'm not sure if that means summer is getting closer or they got a good deal on produce.

I have a "big salad" every day and the cucumber is one of my favorite ingredients. I immediately thought of cucumbers when I saw this cute little green bead. This will definitely be used in a bracelet that puts me in mind of my favorite salad. Lettuce, onion, cucumber, tomatoes! To me, those are the ingredients of a nice, simple dish you just can't beat!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Cute Little Turtle

This is such a CUTE bead! It's been a while since I went overboard with cutesy, so I thought it's Friday, why not! I have made a bracelet with this bead which was sold at a craft show. It was adorable with glass beads in white, green, gold and black. If I remember correctly, this was during my dangly phase so there were lots of dangles involved which added to the cuteness.

Have a great weekend!!

Waves of Blue

I really don't go looking for blue beads that remind me of the ocean, but somehow I find them!! These wavy beads look great stacked closely together or with some sparkly clear or AB crystals in between to represent the bubbles. Now all you need is a little sunshine and sand to complete the picture!

Globe-like

Today's bead looks like a globe that belongs in a library. It would be great to find some book-like beads and make a library bracelet! The library is one of my favorite places. Even with all of the information available online, our library is always crowded. I still get excited thinking about discovering something new during each visit.

By the way, if you know of any book-like beads, please let me know.

Tubular Peyote Stitch

This is such a fun peyote stitch project for any of you needle and thread beaders. This reminds me of a girl scout project, it is really fun and easy once you get the first row started. I made this one by using a wooden skewer to stitch around. Once the first row is made into a circle, you just add a bead and put the needle through the next bead. That's it until you get it the length you want. This is made from a bead mix of brown iris metallic "e" beads from Joann Etc. Pretty cool bracelet for less than $3!

Take care!