Craft Store Bead Mix

Here it is, the bright and cheerful bead mix that I found last weekend at Joann's!

So cute and happy! "The Bead" that I couldn't live without is the silky green/yellow one that looks like a piece of sugary candy!

This is probably not a combo I would have put together myself which is why I always take time to look through mixes. I don't want to miss out on a cool and unexpected grouping of beads that has a special vibe.

I hope you enjoyed these as much I have! Today I found the chain I needed to make some charm bracelets, YAY!! So...stay tuned! I hope to have at least one to show next Saturday!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!! If you have a great new spring/summer bracelet you have made for the season, please SHARE!

Featured Designer: Once Upon a Sugar Tree

This week's featured designer is Julia Forbes of the Etsy Shop, Once Upon a Sugar Tree!

HOW SWEET!

Julia's work focuses on beaded necklaces and pendants for little girls, teachers, grandmas, etc.

She is also leading a charitable effort by designing and selling "blue circle" diabetes necklaces which can be personalized with a name as well. $3 of each sale is going to "Life for a Child", an organization that helps children gain access to insulin and other supplies needed.

You can catch up with Julia through her shop's Facebook and Twitter sites as well.

These are so great, I love the style and unique images she uses. Thanks so much for allowing me to share your work here tonight Julia!

Pinks in the Mix!

These two different styles of pink beads from the Joann, Etc. mix I've been sharing all week look great together AND with all the other colors including yellow, green, blue and orange!

The larger rounds remind me of fingernail polish, very frosty and almost glittery!

In tomorrow's post I will be sharing this week's featured designer and on Saturday, stay tuned for the entire bead mix!! :)

The colors you haven't seen yet include bright yellow, several more orange tones, dark navy blue, a light cobalt AND a handful of silver/gray beads! I can't wait to show you the mix!

In the mean time, I'd love to hear your ideas for using all of these beads! Should they stay together as a mix or be used separately?

The Brightness Factor!

Bright orange complements all the other beads in my new bead mix!

As I mentioned in the last couple posts, I picked up a new bead mix at Joann, Etc. over the weekend and am enjoying sharing them with you one by one this week!!

I won't stretch it out too long...I plan to share a photo of the entire mix this weekend. :)

So cute, bright and warm weathery!

These aren't the beads I was planning to make into a charm bracelet, BUT once I get on a roll with charm bracelets, I think these would be so much fun all dangly and jingly! What do you think?

Blue Skies

There are four of these beads in the new bead mix I mentioned yesterday. Yay!

This color is amazing! When the light hits it, the color is SO BLUE!

I am imagining a summery bracelet with this gorgeous blue and some kind of puffy white beads to represent the most perfect clouds!

These would look great against white hemp cord too!

At the end of the week I'll share a photo of all the beads in this mix and throw it out to all of you for ideas. For now, I am enjoying the beauty of each individual bead.

Stay tuned!! :)

Silky Bead

I gotta tell you...this bead is the reason I bought a new bead mix over the weekend!!

I am always on the lookout for THE bead! You know THE bead...it's the one you can't do without! Not only that, there was something about this bead that made me buy 2 packages!! Oh my goodness!!

There were actually 3 of these in each package and even through the cellophane, I think it was the silkiness factor that sold me!

Now that I have opened one of the packages, I can't stop looking at it. Oh my gosh, you know what just occurred to me? This looks sort of like a cross between taffy, ribbon candy and an all day sucker! I would not be surprised if that had something to do with this purchase!! :)

I think I'll just look at these for a while! The cool part is I now have a fun bead mix to share with you all week! Have a great evening!

I almost forgot to mention I picked these up at Joann, Etc. (from jessejamesbeads.com).

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

I think this day set a record of the fastest Sunday to fly by yet! Wow! It's time now to gear up for the week, let's go....!!

First, do we need a new bracelet or earrings to make tomorrow a better day? If yes, get your beads out!!

Second, have we read bead blogs this weekend? If not, you are in luck! Here are a slew of them to get you started!

This is how it usually begins for me and once I get through the list I start clicking on blogroll links!! I know I won't get to bed early, but that's okay, this is important for my well being!!

Have a GREAT new week!!

Barbe Saint John
Barbe's giving away the latest Industrial Chic booklet and some charms!

Art Bead Scene
Here's a fresh idea for spring - a garden gate clasp.

About.com Jewelry Making
What are your plans for your siver scraps now that silver is crazy expensive?

Beading Arts
As part of the Artbead challenge, "What's Old is New Again", Cyndi has constructed a flapper-style necklace from some very cool components!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
We all scream for Ice Cream! Melanie shows how she designed and made a new line of sweet pendants.

Cindy Gimbrone, The Lampwork Diva
Cindy's made some new blush pink drops, come see what she's done with them!

Carmi's Art/Life World
This weeks blog features the poppies of Paris and the jewelery it inspires.

The Bead Dreamer
A lovely tree branch, soft pink flowers and wisps of silk inspired two necklace designs.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew takes a peak at Anne Choi's new BRONZE beads!

Resin Crafts!
This week Carmi has a short tutorial on using resin as a glaze.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Rio Grande is encouraging a wonderful way of helping the people of Japan and it is SO EASY! Read about it on Jean's blog!

Strands of Beads
Melissa is brooding about issues of originality this week.