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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Last call - 1 more day - 25% off glass leaf and flower beads ...

s35673 Glass Leaves - 7 x 12 mm Leaf - Gold Lustre Dusty Mauve (25)

A happy little
hit of spring 
Because we need it right now ... already ...


Sale starts on Wed Midnight.
and ends on Wed midnight.
Items held in shopping cart
will change price automatically at
midnight.

New Year! New Classes! New Ideas!

Yes, a brand New Year is just around the corner and, with it, new opportunities for classes and new techniques. There are lots of classes already lined up, but what would you like to learn? 

Are there techniques and projects that you would like to see more of? What has tickled your fancy that you've seen in the beading magazines? Now that you may have learned some basic techniques, what advanced techniques would you like to see?

E-mail your suggestions and comments to Pamela Kearns, Class Coordinator, at pam@beadfx.com.

In 2013, we offered the following techniques:


Some examples of beading classes
Beading 
Bead Embroidery
Flat Spiral
Loomwork
Netting techniques
Pearl Knotting
Peyote (flat; circular; tubular; geometric)
Right-Angle Weave
Spiral Rope
St. Petersburg Chain
Tubular Herringbone


Some examples of fiber classes
Fiber 
Crocheting with beads
Doucette work
Felting
Knitting with Beads
Knotting
Kumihimo (Basic and with beads)
Soutache







Some of the other classes we've held
Other 
Basic jewellery and stringing techniques
Chainmaille
Epoxy Clay
Polymer Clay
Resin








Some of the metal classes
Metal work 
Enamelling
Etching
Foldforming
Riveting
Sawing and Piercing
Soldering
Stamping 








Some of the metal clay classes
Metal Clay 
Mold making
Working with Hadar’s Clay
Working with Silver Clay (ACS)

Some of the wire classes
Wire work 
Chain-making
French Knitting
General wirework
Kumihimo with Wire and Beads
Viking Knit
Wire crochet with and without beads
Wire macramé
 
Some of the lampwork classes



 

Lampwork 
Basic and Advanced Basic techniques 
Various advanced techniques

Business
Craft Shows
Microbusiness
Photography


E-mail your suggestions and comments to Pamela Kearns, Class Coordinator, at pam@beadfx.com.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Shipping increases


Effective January 1, we will be raising our shipping rates. We have not increased them in 4 years, but we can no longer hold this rate. Effective Jan 1 2014, shipping costs will be $7.95 for Canadian and U.S. orders - BUT orders over $100 will still ship free. 

Orders placed before January 1 will still go at the old rate! 

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Business Chat - Where are you running to?


It’s that time of year again. Not the “i-can’t-believe-i-ate-the-whole-thing” time, but the Must Make an Important Resolution time. 

Skip it. 

Resolutions are very useful for making you feel guilty for about 9 days until you decide to abandon them. 

While I think you’re wasting time making resolutions I do think you should spend some time setting some goals for yourself. 

Imagine that you’re running a race. You line up at the start line, along with the 1,000 other runners. The gun goes off, and then everybody heads off in a different direction. Why? Because there was no finish line set. With no end in sight where do you run? Maybe you decide to run in circles. Maybe you’ll head left for a while and then zig zag for while. Maybe you’ll just stay in one place. Maybe you’ll run for 10 minutes, maybe someone else runs for 4 hours. 

In order to run a race you need a finish line. Someone has to decide where it is. 

In order to have a successful business, you need a definition of success. YOU have to decide what it is. After all, if you don’t know what you’re asking for, don’t be surprised when you don’t get it. 

For all of you who want to work on or start your “business” here’s a question. What does your business look like? 

Do you have a kiosk in a mall selling Made in a Third World country assembled jewelry? 
Do you have a brick and mortar store selling diamonds? 
Do you have your own website selling supplies? 
Do you have an Etsy store that sells one or two of your handmade items a month? 

These are all examples of jewelry businesses. And all might be called successful depending on your definition of success. 

They wouldn’t be my version of success for me. That’s not what I want. I suspect that what I want isn’t what you want either. Which is fine, because you and I are different, so naturally we want different things. The important thing is to know what you do want. 

Deciding what you want can be a little overwhelming. It’s a big question. Let’s make this a bit easier. 

When we meet again this time next year, where do you want your business to be? And what does it look like? 

Grab your handy notebook and write a letter to me dated December 31, 2014. Tell me what your business looks on this date. What would make you say, “I have a successful business!”

These are you goals. Your finish line. Now you know where you’re going for the next year. 

ps. for those of you who don’t think they have a business at all, or it’s too complicated to have a business, have you ever sold anything? even one pair of earrings? do you intend to sell anything (even one item)? then you my friend already have a business. 

Friday, December 27, 2013

Konfused by Carrots?

Confused by Carats vs Karats? Are they the same? Are they different? Do they have anything to do with rabbits?

Ok - Carat with a C is a weight - it is what diamonds come in.

Karat with a K is a measure of purity for gold. 24 Karat is pure gold, 18 Karat is 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metal. Which metal it is makes a difference to the colour. Copper will give you a warmer colour, silver will give you a cooler colour, etc.



How to remember this?

Think of Diamonds and the famous "4 Cs" Colour, clarity, cut, carat.

Karat is then the other one.

You would then have a 1 carat diamond in an 18 karat gold setting. And if you got one of those for Christmas - congratulations!






As for the origin of the word - carat comes from Carob, which were the beans used on a scale as the measure of weight. Nothing to do with snowman noses. ;-)


http://voices.yahoo.com/what-difference-between-carat-3639389.html

On Sale this Week 25% off! Glass Flowers and Leaves!


s35953 Glass Flowers - 9 x 5 mm Duckfoot Flowers - Mango Berry Cream (25)
A happy little
hit of spring 



Sale starts on Wed Midnight.
and ends on Wed midnight.
Items held in shopping cart
will change price automatically at
midnight.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Closed for the Holiday Week!


We are closed over the Christmas - New Year week, re-opening on our normal schedule on Jan 2, 2014.*


As usual, our trusty computers will be standing by to take your online orders over the holidays. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season - and that you find lots of time to do the things you love!

*This does mean that there will be no new product updates for the next two weeks.** However, our rotating weekly sales will continue!

**This is mostly because - while you see the new updates on Thursday - the bulk of the work to make it happen, happens on the Wednesday. And the worker bees weren't going to work on this Wednesday. Hard to get good worker bees anymore. ;-)

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

More January classes = More learning opportunities!

Once the Holidays are done, we'll all be able to get back into our normal routines (we just can't eat fruitcake and drink eggnog all year)! Classes are part of that routine.

Remember - you'll be able to meet several of our instructors and see for yourself the vast array of techniques and projects being offered. Come on out on to our Meet the Teachers event on Saturday, January 11; the full schedule is on our website. Just click on the 'Class' link and follow it through to the January schedule. As a special treat, if you come to the event on January 11 and sign-up for a class, you'll be in the running for a $25 gift certificate! Sign-up for two classes - you get two ballots, and so on!

In January, we welcome mixed-media artist Anne Marie Desaulniers as a new instructor! We have several NEW projects too.

Here are the classes scheduled January 19 - 31:

Sunday, January 19
Jewellery Making 101
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
1:00 - 4:00pm

NEW Soldered Ring Riot
Instructor: Cindy Goldrick
11:30am - 4:00pm

Intro to Lampworking, Part B (Day 2)
Instructor: Amy Waldman-Smith
11:30am - 4:00pm







Tuesday, January 21
Adjustable Sliding Cords
Instructor: Angela Peace
12:30 - 3:30pm

NEW Double Knotted Pearl Necklace
Instructor: Rae Huggins
6:00 - 9:00pm

Thursday, January 23
NEW African Helix Bracelet
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
6:00 - 9:00pm

Metalsmithing Basics: Intro to Sawing & Piercing
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
6:00 - 9:00pm

Friday, January 24
Soutache #1: The Basic Module
Instructor: Angela Peace
12:30 - 3:30pm

Awana Loomed Necklace or Bracelet
Instructor: Gio Paz
4:30 - 8:00pm

Saturday, January 25
Hot Connections: Spinner Ring
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
10:00am - 4:00pm

NEW Create a Felted Cuff Bracelet
Instructor: Dawn Liu-Smyth
10:30am - 2:30pm

Sunday, January 26
NEW Double Connection Cord with Ball Fasteners
Instructor: Angela Peace
11:30am - 2:30pm

NEW Making Paper Beads
Instructor: Anne Marie Desaulniers
12:00 - 3:00pm

Tuesday, January 28
NEW Ndbele Motifs
Instructor: Maria Rypan
1:30 - 4:30pm






Thursday, January 30
Open Metal Studio: Soldering
Facilitator: Iris Rogers Melamed
6:00 - 9:00pm





Friday, January 31
Sparkle Like a Diamond Bracelet
Instructor: Sureka Sriharan
1:00 - 4:00pm





Open Beading Sessions - Bring your projects and come on out and enjoy time beading with others!

Wednesday, January 22 and Wednesday, January 29
Open Beading Night
Facilitator: Stephanie Dixon
6:00 - 9:00pm





Thursday, January 23 and Thursday, January 30
Afternoon Bead Tea
Facilitator: Pamela Kearns
1:00 - 3:00pm

Complete information about all classes and open studios is available on our website in the January class calendar.



Monday, December 23, 2013

25% off Swarovski Crystal Classic shapes


27753011719206 Swarovski Elements Bead - 5 mm Faceted Bicone (5301) - Sapphire (20)the most useful, classical shapes - the go-anywhere, design workhorses of glorious fabulousness!

Normally - we'd remind you just 24 hours in advance of the sale ending, but that will be tomorrow night, Christmas Eve, and we're kind of thinking you'll be busy - so we're just reminding you now. ;-)

Have a lovely holiday!

Bicones, 

Rounds, 

Cubes,

Donuts,

etc! 

 







Sale starts on Wed Midnight.
and ends on Wed midnight.
Items held in shopping cart
will change price automatically at
midnight.

Toronto Ice Storm 2013

Here in Toronto, we've been hit by a whopper of an ice storm. Power was out for 360,000 people but has been restored to about 100,000. 

Unfortunately, power is still out at the store. Good thing that our beads don't freeze or melt!

We're trying to keep everyone updated on what's going on via our Facebook page and here on the blog. 

Our servers are still operational, so you can still place your orders. Yay!! 

Here are some pics from around my neighborhood. Hope you all stay safe and warm. 







Sunday, December 22, 2013

InspirationFX: Elizabeth



InspirationFX
Get your creative juices flowing

Elizabeth
by: Dwyn Tomlinson

As I was making this, I was thinking about the paintings of Queen Elizabeth - with her massive brocaded dresses and ropes of pearls. These combined in my mind into the rich colours of carnelian and turquoise - with the ivory pearls as accents.

I ran out of supplies several times while making this and before I got to the length I wanted. I got tired of going back for more supplies - much as I love shopping for beads! - so for the final couple of pattern-repeats, I substituted antiqued copper daisy spacers for bead caps. This makes a difference in length, as the daisy spacers take up less room. Both look fine - see pictures below, although I really do prefer the look of the bead caps.

Total length of the version I made is 41 inches, 104 cm. You can wear it long, or shorter using a pearl shortener.

This has a total of 15 pattern repeats. Each repeat is 7 cm with daisy spacers, or 8 cm with the bead caps. Each repeat has 1 ivory pearl, 4 turq pearls, 1 jade pearl, 4 carnelian rondelles, and 10 spacers or bead caps.

To join the ends of the beading cable - I used a crimp, threading each end on from it's opposite direction, then crimping the crimp, and finally, hiding it with a crimp cover.

The pattern for this is:

  • 10 mm Swa Ivory Pearl,
  • metal spacer (daisy spacer or bead cap)
  • 4 mm turq pearl
  • metal spacer
  • carnelian donut
  • metal spacer
  • 4 mm turq pearl
  • metal spacer
  • carnelian donut
  • metal spacer
  • 6 mm jade pearl
  • metal spacer
  • carnelian donut
  • metal spacer
  • 4 mm turq pearl
  • metal spacer
  • carnelian donut
  • metal spacer
  • 4 mm turq pearl
  • metal spacer
  • And the repeat from the top.


















 

Components

Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!
Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Holiday Hours

We will be closing early Christmas eve, at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24th. We will be closed over the final week of the year, between Christmas and New Year's, and re-opening on our normal schedule on Jan 2, 2014. As usual, our trusty computers will be standing by to take your online orders over the holidays.

Old Shoes Made Again

I've always wanted to bling out a pair of shoes for the store and finally found the perfect pair to do so. 

These are satin and faux patent leather pumps that I "found" at my apartment building. Gotta love it when people move out and leave stuff behind. Brand new never been used Scarpino pumps. 

Rochelle and I worked out a colour scheme for each section of the shoe. We're going with an ombré look in blues. Starting at the back of the shoe with Swarovski Crystal SS20 flatbacks, I'm going to apply Crystal, Light Sapphire, Crystal Blue Shade, Denim Blue, Sapphire, Capri Blue and end with Jet. Fantastico!!!

Of course, I'm using the Crystal Ninja's Professional glue kit and her Crystal Katana. The glue I chose to use for this is the white glue in the Crystal Ninja fine tip applicator bottle. 

Stay tuned for more progress pictures. 

On Sale this Week: 25% off! Swarovski Crystal Classics


27753011719206 Swarovski Elements Bead - 5 mm Faceted Bicone (5301) - Sapphire (20)

the classic

shapes

you

love to use

over

and

over

  

 

Bicones, 

Rounds, 

Cubes,

Donuts,

etc! 

 








Sale starts on Wed Midnight.
and ends on Wed midnight.
Items held in shopping cart
will change price automatically at
midnight.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

New Pellets from Preciosa

27800964-14 Glass -  Pellet Beads - Periwinkle (Strand 44)
They keep inventing new shapes.

Because I think they think that we think that there aren't enough bead shapes.

What do you think they will think of next?

These are made by Preciosa-Ornela in Czech Republic, and are a bongo-drum shape with wide ends and a narrow waist (unlike - ahem - some of us!). While they look really cool strung side by side - I think the most interesting use of them will be in seedbead and small bead creations.

However, some places call them Soutache beads - which makes one think that narrow waist might lend itself very nicely to the whole soutache stitchery thing. You decide!

And we have a whole bunch of them - so Czech them out! (heh, heh.)


27758601600295 Swarovski Elements Pearl - 16 mm Coin Pearl (5860) - Bronze Pearl (5)

More Swarovski Coin Pearls

Gosh - these are lovely. How can you resist these? You can't - you know you can't.


Holiday Closing

We will be closing early Christmas eve, at 3 p.m. on Dec. 24th. We will be closed over the final week of the year, between Christmas and New Year's, and re-opening on our normal schedule on Jan 2, 2014.*
As usual, our trusty computers will be standing by to take your online orders over the holidays. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season - and that you find lots of time to do the things you love!
*This does mean that there will be no new product updates for the next two weeks. However, our rotating weekly sales will continue!
Merry Christmas to all!

Increase to Shipping

Effective January 1, we will be raising our shipping rates. We have not increased them in 4 years, but we can no longer hold this rate. Effective Jan 1 2014, shipping costs will be $7.95 for Canadian and U.S. orders - BUT orders over $100 will still ship free.
So - as always - you can click on a link or image above, or get started with the new items here. Happy Beading!





Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Shipping rate increase


Effective January 1, we will be raising our shipping rates. Boo hiss.

Effective Jan 1 2014, shipping costs will be $7.95 for Canadian and U.S. orders - BUT orders over $100 will still ship free. (Yay!)

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

One day left - 25% off Seedbeads.

Just one day left to save! Sale ends Wednesday at midnight!
25% off!
65428004 Czech Seedbeads - 6/0 Seedbead - Colour lined Crystal/Green Metallic (20 grams)
Sale starts on Wed Midnight.
and ends on Wed midnight.
Items held in shopping cart
will change price automatically at
midnight.

Lampwork: Just a Taste!

Have you thought about taking a lampworking class but you're not sure if fire and glass is your thing? Come give Lampwork: Just a Taste! a try for 2 hours and see if it 'sparks' your interest! This class is perfect for those who love lampwork beads and would like to experience first hand what goes into making them. This class is also great for those trying to determine if a formal introductory lampworking class is something you would enjoy.

Deb Muss
Deborah Muss (msMussy Jewels) will be leading this exciting class. Deb is a familiar face at BeadFX and you'll find her Thursday evenings at the Happy Hour Torching. Deb has some of her work available on the lampwork table in the store.

The Lampwork: Just a Taste! classes will be held 6:30 - 8:30pm on the following dates:
Wednesday, January 15
Wednesday, March 19
Wednesday, April 16
Wednesday, May 21
Wednesday, June 18
Additional classes will be held further into the year. This class doesn't replace a formal Introductory to Lampworking class, but it does give you the opportunity to decide if lampworking is right for you!

The class fee for Lampwork: Just a Taste! is $80 + HST; course materials, glass, didymium safety glasses and tools will be provided. This class is restricted to those age 18 and up and a waiver must be signed at the beginning of the class. You can expect to create between 2 and 5 beads during the two hours.

To register, call the store at (416) 751-1911. Payment will be required to confirm your place in the class.
 
Please help BeadFX and the Daily Bread Food Bank make the Holidays more enjoyable for families in need - bring in a can or two for our food bins! All donations are welcome.