Beadalon Blog

The new issue of BeadStyle hits newsstands tomorrow and my necklace design made the cover! I used Katiedids™ Creative Components and Crystallized™ - Swarovski Elements in a color scheme inspired by the Indiana landscape. The editors are calling this their All-Star issue because it's the first time BeadStyle has commissioned specific projects from some of their favorite designers. The projects are inspired (literally or spiritually) by the areas where the designers live: · Rupa Balachandar - inspired by India · Jess DiMeo and Leah Hanoud - inspired by Cape Cod · Monica Han - inspired by Asia · Katie Hacker - inspired by Indiana · Linda Arline Hartung - inspired by California · Catherine Hodge - inspired by Michigan · Irina Miech - inspired by Milwaukee · Judy Payne - inspired by Iowa · Heather Powers - inspired by San Antonio · Tammy Powley - inspired by South Florida · Kim St. Jean - inspired by South Carolina · Brenda Schweder -

We're thrilled to announce that our very own Fernando Dasilva and Wyatt White will be teaching workshops on The Creativity Cruise with Crystallized™ - Swarovski Elements . http://www.create-your-style.com/Content.Node/events-and-stores/events/anchors_away_Cruise_2010.en.php?bid=craft The cruise takes place April 11-16, 2011, with ports of call in Nassau, Bahamas and Key West, Florida. Space is extremely limited, so book your reservation now! All classes are held while at sea, giving you the freedom to shop, relax, or enjoy one of our many exciting excursions when we drop anchor. Other instructors include: * Lilan Chen, Contemporary Wirework Artist * Stephanie Dixon, Canadian Instructor and Designer * Linda Hartung, Designer and co-owner of WireLace® and Alacarte Clasps™ * Debra Saucier, Designer and owner of The Bead & Wire Shop * Laura Timmons, Designer and Fashion Columnist of Bead Unique Magazine * Kristal Wick, Designer, Artist and Aut

This necklace started life as a linked, rosary-style chain with the large dichroic glass pendant. After looking at it for a while, I decided to jazz it up with some of my new Katiedids™ components and colorful wire coils. Enjoy! Katiedids™ Creative Components 5-hole round donut #356B-522 Katiedids™ Creative Components 19.5mm 2-hole rectangle #356B-510 14 light rose 4mm Crystallized™ - Swarovski Elements rounds 4 rose 6mm Crystallized™ - Swarovski Elements bicones 8 rose 8mm Crystallized™ - Swarovski Elements bicones Rose 10mm Crystallized™ - Swarovski Elements bicone 16 clear 8mm crackled glass rounds 45mm pink Paula Radke dichroic glass pendant 2 silver 4mm silver spacer disks #314B-166 Fuchsia 22-gauge Artistic Wire Rose 20-gauge Artistic Wire Clear Supplemax #JN0.15W-F (or beading thread) Silver medium lobster clasp #315B-005 Round nose pliers #201A-104 Chain nose pliers #201A-101 Wire cutters #202A-105 Jump Ring Maker #228-050 1. Cut twenty-t

Here's a sneak peak at our newest, revolutionary wire that we'll be unveiling at the Bead & Button Show: KINK FREE Ti! It's a remarkable, super-elastic wire with maximum kink resistance. Made of titanium alloy, KINK FREE Ti is ideal for use on jewelry designs with lots of twisting, looping, and extreme movement. When pinched and released, the wire returns to its original straight shape, without kinking. Beadalon Product Manager Wyatt White used it to create the design shown above, with circles of wire anchored in place with crimps. Beadalon Design Team member Katie Hacker says, "Titanium is a hot trend in men's jewelry, so this wire is my new go-to for upscale, masculine designs!" The sleek, Titanium gunmetal finish coordinates perfectly with our new range of gunmetal findings. Proudly made in our factory here in the USA. -Yvette Rodriguez Beadalon Events & Advertising

Cinco de Mayo has passed but May is still here and I created a fresh design incorporating big, carved roses inspired by Frida Kahlo's aesthetic. When I think about Frida, I immediately envision all the tropical fruits, colors and flowers that are depicted throughout her work. I added Swarovski Elements stones using BeadFix™ adhesive squares to glue a single stone on each acrylic bead. The little flower connectors were strung onto satin silver wire through two of the opening rings. Pieces of colored twisted wire using Artistic Wire™ were used to create a wrapped bail to hang the pendants. The final result is a rich, candy-like piece that can be worn anytime you feel like releasing your inner Lupita de las Flores. Viva Mexico! Materials used in this design: BeadFix™ adhesive squares .018" satin silver wire Beadalon 19 .018" SilveRose™ wire Beadalon 7 Artistic Wire™: gold, red, black Gold plated flower connectors Gold plated solid spacer rings Antique brass

We're super excited for the Bead & Button Show this year since we'll be hosting another in our "Beadalon Presents" series of workshops. This one is focusing on the hot trend of wire wrapping. Beadalon Product Manager, Wyatt White, will be sharing his expertise in this intermediate class focusing on the proper techniques of wire wrapping and forming to perfect your skills. Students will learn simple loop making with round wire and CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements and then move onto more complex work with square and half-round wire with flat-back stones and cabochons. Heavy emphasis will be given to proper tool usage. Each student will receive complete printed instructions, appropriate crystal beads and stones, and an ample supply of silver- and gold-plated wire, as well as 316L stainless steel half-round and square wire. To sign up visit: http://beadandbuttonshow.stores.yahoo.net/b10612.html -Yvette Rodriguez Beadalon Events & Advertising

Mixed media is a hot trend in jewelry making and it's so easy to get great results! Check out this Wishing Star – the same technique would make a fun pendant or colorful charm bracelet dangles. Wishing Star Cell Phone Charm by Margot Potter Materials • 4mm Rose Swarovski Crystal Round • 4mm Olivine Swarovski Crystal Round • 4mm Jonquil Swarovski Crystal Round • Chain Tag Open Circle • Blank Wooden Star • Two 5x12mm Screw Eye Hooks • Three 8mm Jump Rings • Three SP Head Pins • One Small SP Swivel Lobster • One Cell Phone Lanyard • One Circle Pix Image from Art Chix Studio (or small image of your own choosing) “wish” phrase printed in Times New Roman 9pt. • Sparkle Mod Podge • Liquid Laminate™ Beacon Adhesives • Green Apple Anita’s Acrylic Paint • Small Paint Brush • Battery Operated Bead Reamer • Round Nose Pliers • Chain Nose Pliers • Flush Cutters • Scissors or Exacto Style Knife Instructions 1. Ream holes to accommodate t

It has been a while since we've done a First Monday Giveaway! This month, we want to know your thoughts about beading trends. Which ones are your favorites? Which ones are coming up or going away? Our Design Team is constantly watching trends and we bet you are, too. Share your ideas in a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win a copy of Beads 2010 , just published by Interweave Press. We'll collect comments for one week and then randomly select a winner. Check back to see if you've won! Beads 2010 includes · 179+ editors’ favorite beads of 2010 · 15 inspiring projects with step-by-step instructions · The editors' top 5 picks for jewelry trends (and how you can get the look) · 14 pages of beading resources · Cool organization solutions for at home or on the go · A list of bead shows in your area · Plus, much, much more! Design Team members Margot Potter and Katie Hacker a