Beads

I was in Chicago, and spent some time visiting with Jan, a beading friend. We went to Ayla’s Originals, and Ayla has some beautiful things. If you like pearls, hers look especially lovely. Seeing Clasmeyer’s clasps in person was a treat. I did buy a couple of things, with this Bob Burkett bead just capturing my attention. He carves insects or animals in wax, and casts these creatures. This is an alloy with some copper in it, I believe, but he works in silver too. This frog is about 15 mm nose to tail, and the hole (created by the frog’s limbs) is slightly less than 4 mm in diameter.

The seed beads are too square to make the nicest right angle weave, but I love the colors and finishes together….

The last piece of jewelry I made for myself was olive too. I DO work with other colors, these are just the colors I am using right now. I bought these cubic zirconia beads and pearls from Baubles and Beads, a splurge for me. I’d like to knot them. The strand of cz’s is probably 8″ long, the pearls 20″? I’m thinking the cz’s, pearls, maybe some gold-plated seed beads. I’m not sure. I need to buy a nice clasp, maybe some of those knot cover things for by the clasp. I don’t knot much….

A friend gave me these today, found at a garage sale. The original price tag said 29 cents. The color isn’t quite right, it should be that scary almost-pink orange of “real semi-precious jewels.” Truth in advertising, dontcha know!

Carol and I had another bead outing within a week! This never happens, so this is a real treat. We went to the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar. The door opened on my favorite vendor, I’ll end with him. But first, check out the Silly Millies — this is Layle McDill, and I’ve seen her demonstrate at the Minnesota State Fair, and she also sells canes in various places around the metro. Look at the peacock feathers in the lower left.

There were some great fibers available from The Fiber Studio — see that swirl on the blob? I did part of that, needle felting.

A few others of note: Hip Chick Beads had great silver, great findings. There were some great clasps with boro from Bokamo. We also met Christi Anderson, profiled in the February/March 2008 Beadwork. She does amazingly detailed metal clay and cast silver work.

Now, my very favorite, Jeff Plath, lampworker and trade bead seller and all-around bead pusher. He gives me the large tray when I come, because I am helping him close out on the last of his French beads, no longer manufactured (maybe as of 5 or so years ago). He has a store in Taylor’s Falls, Wisconsin, which we will roadtrip to sometime, the Non Necessities of Life. So here’s a choice few pictures of his booth:

Carol and I have had a table at this show, but it’s been two years since we did. She sold doll forms, polymer clay faces, sweater purses, and more. I sold my kits. We had a grand time, and perhaps we’ll do it again sometime. Meanwhile, I left the show with 4 pounds of Jeff’s beads….