Beadalon Blog

During a recent workshop, one of my students told me that she loves this picture of my messy office. She said it makes her feel better knowing that my office is a wreck! After a good laugh, her comment led to a great conversation about getting organized. Here's a glimpse into the studios my fellow Beadalon Design Team members and co-authors of Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed , Margot Potter and Fernando Dasilva: Storage Rings  are a great way to organize small beads and findings. The compartments seal tightly and they pull apart, making it possible to take just a few sections with you at a time. These are great for workshops, too.  You can store Beadalon wire spools, Dandyline and other items in the eight vertical bins of the Wooden Organizer Caddy . Margot uses two units side by side on her worktable. The flat, open space on top of the caddy is a good place to stash items that you want to keep close at hand. A drawer provides more vertical space, giving this...

W e're heading to the Craft & Hobby Associaton Summer Show   in Rosemont, Illinois. The CHA Show is open to members of the trade, and we have a booth in the exhibit hall where we'll be showing new products and celebrating the launch of our new product supplement. Come and see us at the show! Beadalon Design Team members Margot Potter, Katie Hacker, and Lauren Andersen will do daily demonstrations. Margot is showing projects from her new book, Bead Chic . Katie will show ideas for using Katiedids™ Creative Components  and Lauren will share her chainmaille expertise using Artistic Wire Chain Maille Rings. Product manager Wyatt White will also be on hand to demonstrate new products and answer your jewelry making questions. Katie is teaching a workshop, "Getting Creative with Katiedids™" on Tuesday 8-10am and there are still seats available. If you're a CHA member attending the show, go to CHAShow.org > convention program > schedule of events > W...

This week, we're taping new episodes of the public television show, Beads, Baubles & Jewels . I'm thrilled to move over to the host's spot and can't wait to share the new season with you. The theme is "design inspiration" and we'll have a fresh, new look! Beadalon is still a major sponsor for the show and there will be a range of great projects and techniques that you'll want to try, featuring wire, stringing, beadwork, resin, metal work and more! I'll be presenting projects and interviewing our roster of talented guests, which includes Kristal Wick, Candie Cooper, Kerry Bogert, Mary Hettmansperger, Fernando Dasilva, Jodie Bombardier and other experts, along with series regulars Mark Nelson and Leslie Rogalski. Marlene Blessing takes us to the bead show again this season with on-site artist interviews. Series 1300 will air in fall 2010. While you wait, check the Beads, Baubles & Jewels website   to find current viewing times in your lo...

Here's a sneak peek at our new products...     Stay tuned!

Check out this fun, new necklace idea using gunmetal findings and exclusive Beadalon  Titanium Kink-free wire . Try your hand at creating a wire-wrapped clasp: it's easier than you think! Materials : • 17 6mm fuchsia SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS bicones • 14 8mm black diamond AB SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS rounds • JWO5TI Beadalon .021 Titanium Wire • AWD-18-24 Artistic Wire 18 gauge gunmetal • 340C-160 16” gunmetal oval link chain • 25 gunmetal head pins • 356C-010 19 8mm gunmetal jump rings • 356C-010 8 gunmetal crimp beads Beadalon Tools : • Wire cutters • Round nose pliers • 2 pairs chain nose pliers • Round nose pliers • JTCHASHAM1 designer chasing hammer • JTBLOCK1 designer steel bench block • 228S-018 designer steel block pad * Finished length: 17" 1. Create the hook by cutting off a 3” segment of wire. Bend the first 1” of wire over a standard size pencil dowel to create a hook. Use round nose pliers to create a small loop at one end of the wire. Use round and chain nose pliers to...

We had a blast at the Bead & Button Show  in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! It's undeniably the largest consumer bead show in the country. With so many varieties of beads, gemstones and jewelry items, we look forward to this show every year. Our booth was always busy with people eager to learn about our newest Beadalon products such as Artistic Wire , Katiedids™ Creative Components , and Beadalon exclusive Titanium Kink-free wire . Beadalon Design Team Members Fernando Dasilva, Katie Hacker and Lauren Andersen answered jewelry making questions and showed techniques using new products. Participants took home lots of knowledge, projects and goodies from their workshops taught by Wyatt White and Katie Hacker. Our success at the Bead & Button show couldn't be possible without the help of our Beadalon Distributors at the show. Not only were our Beadalon distributors essential, we had a fun prize giveaway to support our distributors. Consumers were encouraged to buy from any of ou...