We've just gotten in the store some great new colors of seed beads, Czech round fire polish and Crystal bicones to use in the two bracelet projects that Barbara Winkler recently taught. Barbara had to cancel her Holiday Crystal Bracelet class for heatlh reasons, but we hope to have her return after the first of the year for more new classes. Sandi Carr is going to step in and teach a different class for Holiday jewelry with a bracelet and matching earrings using Crystals so it will go with all of your holiday outfits or make a great gift for that someone special at this special time of year. Check our web site at www.StonesNSilverStudio.com next week for full details on the new class. We will have sign up sheets in the store or call us at 1-877-865-3009

Here are some links to other FREE online tutorials for using Swarovki Crystals in your jewelry designs, check them out:
Crystal Weave Bracelet -http://lilysbeads.com/pdf/crystalweavebracelet.pdf
Crystal Corona Earrings from BeadingDaily -http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/projects/archive/2009/03/27/crystal-corona-earrings.aspx Several Variations of Swarovski Crystal Bracelets -http://community.livejournal.com/bead_tutorial/
Many free Swarovski Crystal Bracelet projects -http://beejang.livejournal.com/176898.html
Several free step-by-step projects & also TONS of projects for purchase for braceletes, necklaces & earrings -http://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com

Intro to the Art of Metal Jewelry

Metal is the hottest trend in jewelry making!! In this new class we will learn how to cut, stamp, hammer, punch holes and texture sheet metal to make your very own uniquely designed jewelry. Materials, tools and safety will also be discussed. We will make a pendant and a pair of earrings with your own personal messages (ex: your kids names, etc..). Complete kit included. We will have classroom texture hammers and stamps available for use during the class.
TIME: Approx. 3 hours COST: $34.00

Here's a pic:

New item in the store! We just got some "Diamond Glaze" for making your own raised glossy finish on a photograph or to add charms. (I have samples in the store for ideas). You can also water it down to make a laquer for a layering effect.

Happy Bead Braining! - Shelby

Christmas Earrings!

Hey y'all - it's that time of year again! Soon, we'll all have "Jingle Bells" stuck in our heads and be putting up lights and trees! Of course, we must never forget the true purpose of celebration on Christmas, which is that God became Man to die as an offering for us, so that we don't end up burning for eternity, because we are all sinners and unworthy of Heaven, but if we believe that Jesus took our place and that our sins are paid for, then we will spend the rest of our lives (physically and eternally) in union with God and Jesus forever.

There's something I'm dying to tell y'all! We just go through making earring kits for purchase, which include everything you need to make the Absolutely Most Adorable Crystal and Glass earrings. Here the run down:

Swarovski Christmas Tree Earring Kit - $6.95 (Emerald Green tree)
Swarovski Christmas Tree Earring Kit - $6.95 (Crystal AB tree)
Glass Pearls with Rhinestone Scarf Snowman Earring Kit - $5.95
Swarovski Cubes with Bow Present Earring Kit - $7.95
Firepolish Crystal Candy Cane Earring Kit - $5.95
Crystal and Glass Pearl Angel Earring Kit - $5.95 (earring post/hook not included)

And PIX!!@!!!

But, of course, we haven't forgotten Halloween either, come see us in the store now, for Owls, Skulls, Witches, Bats, Pumpkins, Jack-o-Lanterns, and even Ears of Corn for Thanksgiving!


Coming Soon to the Bead Shop: I just got back from BeadFest Portland, and have some exciting new classes in the works in Metalworking! So get out your hammers and anvils, and get ready!

Guest Teacher

Thanks and Kudos! to Barbara for coming out last Saturday to teach a beautiful and easy Right Angle Weave Bracelet. Everyone was very pleased and all the bracelet's look really great! She's coming back Oct. 3, which is what I wanted to talk about. This time it will be a Colorful Cubed Ladder Stitch Bracelet (see pic) and the cost is $30 with the kit included. (You can't beat that for a two hour class. And, from my experience with the first class, this one promises to be well worth your while!

Shelby's Beading Tip: If you have a 16" strand of beads, you can make a matching bracelet and earrings just by adding Czech glass, seedbeads, or metal beads. A Czech glass strand of complementary and/or contrasting color/design would give you another 8-10" which is more than enough for an 18" necklace and "7 bracelet. For example, a strand of Kyanite, which is a fairly pricey gemstone, one could add a strand of similar blue Czech glass or plain clear crystal color. Also, you could find a seedbead of the right color in like a size 3 or 6, (I like the Czech glass because it's faceted and it adds a little "bling"). NOTE: Just make sure you pic your two or four earring beads before stringing to get the best matches.

Hope to see you soon! - Shelby

Get Connected

Hey again everyone - unfortunately, Kari, I don't think this blog software has the capabilities to exchange info with other bloggers. If anyone knows how this can be done, please let me know. I will be doing so research on the subject. In the mean time, if anyone, like Kari, would like to exchange email contact info with other bloggers, I could create a list on the blog with first names and emails of anyone who wishes to participate. Just email me whatever kind of information you don't mind being made public.

Also, while your on your computer...
StonesNSilver presents"We Love Your Designs"Fall Contest
It's about time you show off your favorite jewelry design done using beads* from www.StonesNSilver.com or StonesNSilver Studio Bead Shop! We invite customers to participate in our upcoming contest by emailing us a photo of your piece to info@stonesnsilver.com OR bring your piece into the store and we’ll take a photo for you! Please pick your BEST design as each participant can only send in one entry. Contest entry deadline is October 31st. During the month of November entries will be judged by you and our other customers, both online and in the store, via a Contest Poll. (limited to one vote for each category per customer).
Entries will be judged in these categories and winners awarded the following -
Takes My Breath Away $ 75 Shopping Spree
Extremely Funky & Cool $ 50 Shopping Spree
Most Awesome Necklace $ 25 Shopping Spree
Most Awesome Bracelet $ 25 Shopping Spree
Most Awesome Earrings $ 25 Shopping Spree
*All entries should be comprised of at least approx. 80% of the beads from us. Depending upon response & entries, winners may be slit into two groups—(1) Online Customers and (2) In Store Customers. Winners to be announced on Nov. 30th, 2009!!!

ALSO: We have a new Seed Beading class scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5th, taught by Barbara Winkler from Brenham, who demonstrated at our Anniversary Celebration, and the class is filling up fast, so come in to sign up if you would be interested. You can read more about it on our Classes Page, http://www.stonesnsilverstudio.com/Classes.htm.

Shelby's Beading Tip: Yesterday, I made a necklace with some very high quality, expensive stones, and since I has so few, I ended up with about a 12 inch necklace, which obviously would only fit a child. So, what I did was finish the ends with crimps and wire guardians and instead of putting the clasp on, I added a 4-5" inch piece of chain on each side to add the extra length I needed. This can also be done with heishi beads or small seedbeads.

Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend - Shelby

Smiley Face... :)

THANKS SO MUCH for everyone who came to our Anniversary Celebration. 35 people came, and 24 of those came to the 2 Hour Power Sale afterwards. Thanks again! We are hopeful to continue this tradition every year, and maybe next year we will be fortunate to hold it in one of our new hotels being built right now.

Also, thanks so much for the positive feedback. We have received several letters and emails from you, our loyal customers, in appreciation of the Swap Meet and Free Demos. We were mostly pleased with how much our get together caused new Bead Brain friendships and community. A few of the ladies discovered that they only live a few blocks from each other, and were making plans to get together to bead! How cool is that! Inspiration and encouragement is sometimes all one needs to finally put together designs using that gigantic bead stash one has in her closet!

STAY TUNED: for upcoming design concepts. I, Shelby, will be doing some new step-by-step designs in the months to come. Also, I am going to a BeadFest in Portland, OR in Sept. to learn how to make metal stamped things...which, you know what that means....NEW CLASS!

Have a Fantabulous Day - Shelby

Congratulations!

Our winner for the July Drawing was Sarah Kollman of Columbus. Congratulations Sarah! She won a hot pink tote bag that says "Bead Girl" and matching handmade dicroic glass earrings.

The drawings will vary from month to month with both bead stuff and jewelry. To qualify you must spend a minimum of $30 per purchase per day, but not limited to how many times you come in during the month. We also have a our "Bead Brain" Smart Buck points cards which will be initialed everytime you make a purchase on bead stuff and supplies (not classes or finished jewelry), and once you fill up the entire card, you get a $25 off coupon for the next purchase of $25 or more.

For the month of August, we will not be having a drawing because we are going to give away tons of FREEBIES at our Anniversary Celebration on the 16th. See you then!

- Shelby

Late Again...

Hey y'all - this is Shelby again. I wanted to apologize again for not posting regularly, since my last post was almost a month ago...boy, time really flies!

Apparently, y'all, that is my customers would prefer to come take a class in the store, because I have been swamped with classes! I'm certainly not complaining! I treasure the opportunity to share jewelry making skills and techniques with other creative "Bead Brains"!

I will continue to try to squeeze in a post when I can, but currently, I haven't had time to come up with another tutorial, since the Kitty Pendant had so much response. But, my wheels are turnin'.

We are starting to finalize plans for the Bead Brain Mania Celebration and Swap Meet on August 16th. (Refer to previous posts for info) It's going to be a big party, and we would love for everyone to stop by and check it out!

Thanks again for visiting my blog for StonesNSilver Studio and Bead Shop - Shelby

***NEW CLASS***

Hello again! I apologize for the delay since my last blog, but I was preparing a NEW CLASS in the store! And, this one, I think, is going to be worth the wait.

I've had some people (mostly kids) in the store that found a rock lying on the ground, and would like to wear it as a pendant. Well, now we have a class for that! In about an hour's time, students will learn how to "cage" a rough stone with wire and embellish. Y'all are welcome to use polished or unpolished rocks. The class includes the wire needed and use of the classroom tools.

The pendant on the left is Crystal Quartz "caged" with sterling wire (I usually use the Non-Tarnish Artisitic Wire, but I had some leftovers...lol!) The pendant on the right is a rough, unpolished piece of Sodalite "caged" with the antique brass colored wire, which I thought was a nice contrast, (also it looks MANLY for those dads out there that are jewelry-phobic, mine included!) Love you, Dad!

I'M SO EXCITED! AND, I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT! - about our Bead Brain Madness Anniversary Celebration. Be sure to come out on August 16 to the Veteran's Hall at 1pm to check it out! After cake, free demonstrations, door prizes and all around BEADY-NESS, we will have the store open from 4-6pm so that you can spend your coupons worth up to 60% OFF!

Shelby's Beading Tip of the Day: When making bracelets, I like to hang a charm right next to the loop/ring end of the clasp (for example, not the lobster claw side, and not the T side of the toggle). Not only does this look cute, but it also makes clasping the bracelet by yourself easier but providing something to grap and hold onto with your fingers while your clasping.

Thanks - Shelby

Seedbeading (the Smaller Version of Beading)

Well, apparently, after seeing the poll results (thanks for voting!), we have alot more seedbeaders than we thought. Therefore, we will, over the next few months be updating our selection of seedbead supplies to accomodate.


I also had my first seedbeading student since we have had the Peyote Bracelet class. I also have a Seedbeading Around a Cabochon class, which is on the website, http://stonesnsilverstudio.com/Classes.htm, it is a four hour class where you would be taught how to put backing on and then embellish the cabochon using seedbeads & other glass beads. We will then learn how to attach it to a necklace as a pendant. A complete kit is included for only $45. The Peyote Bracelet class is $25, and it includes all the supplies, but you get to pick the colors you want, so you may have to arrive a few minutes earlier than your scheduled class. To schedule a class, simply give us a call 1-877-865-3009 (732-3220 for local customers).


Also, with the seedbead classes, I've found that it is actully easier to split the classes when it is just one student (or students that come together). So, if you don't want to sit for 4 hours, we will be glad to customize your class to more than one day, where to come for a couple of hours to get started, take the project home and work on it at your convenience, and then just call to schedule to finish the project when ever your are ready. It really makes things alot easier!


Shelby's Beading Tip: Many of you may already know this, but I like to use lampwork glass and gemstone beads as my clasp when doing a seedbeading project. You would just attach it to one end using seedbeads on either side, and then make a loop out of seedbeads that tightly fits over the larger bead. See the sample. It ends up working like a toggle clasp, and is really easy to clasp a bracelet. We will cover this in the Peyote Bracelet class.


Happy Seedbeading! - Shelby



PS - Don't forget about our 2nd Anniversary Celebration & Bead Brain Mania, coming up on August 16 (a Sunday). From 1pm to 4pm, we will being having a Swap Meet and Free Artisan Tutorials (and of course cake!), so dig in your "bead stash" and pull out those old beads that you just had to buy, but never used...lol...and bring them to our swap meet to trade with other beaders to update your stash! Also, during that time, we will be having free tutorials and demos from four local artists and handing out door prizes with coupons good for up to 60% off! Then from 4pm to 6pm come into the store and spend your obscene discount! (the coupons are only good that day during those two hours)