I have been inspired by Susan’s new beading book, Bead Simple
And, since I happened to be breakfasting next door to a bead store yesterday, of couse I popped in and got some chain. Now, my beading skills are pretty much nonexistent (I’m lacking those fine motor skills), so even the simple projects are pretty challenging. Thanks to Susan’s detailed instructions, though, I was able to cobble together a necklace (I followed the directions for Citrine Spaces and Sparkles Pendant).
Oh, and if you’re in Portland, Susan’s going to be giving a reading/interactive demo at Powell’s on Monday, March 7, at 7:30pm!
super cute. beading is dangerous. i want one of those books…take me to powells when i come up on the 19th.
I just picked up this book over the weekend…excellent recommendation 🙂
My resource for all chains/findings/beads is: https://www.riogrande.com/home/
Be sure to order a set of catalogs! Great photos and detail.
Don’t even get me started on another craft! I gave away all of my beads and bead supplies 2 years ago. Very nice necklace!
turned out great, DH.
very nice. beautifully simple. 🙂
(Hi there–it’s the lady from Rochester, NY who reads your blog, here!)
I like this necklace a lot because of it’s simplicity. Very elegant. I typically have too many ideas all cramming through the door at once and I tend to go overboard on one necklace. Just gave all my beading stuff away last year–but I have to tell you to go check out SUSHI BEADS–and now I’m realizing you did these back in September. Ha ha, nevermind.
I do a bit of beading (I’m a seed bead addict), but I tend to buy from Lush Beads. It’s relatively local to me in Massachusetts. The really nifty glass beads can get really pricy.
I have some pretty random stuff if you wanted just a selection to play around with.
I have found that some of the best (unique/relatively inexpensive)can be found at metaliferous.com (this place is a jewelry designers dream. If you are every in NYC and find it….expect to spend an entire day) and/or House of Gems online.
Are you ready for another craft addiction? Seriously.
Portland Bead Society
Many great huge bead shows in your area. Beads by the strand and chain by the roll. google ‘portland tacoma beads’.
Have you discovered hand-made flameworked beads yet? You won’t know what hit you.
http://www.firemountaingems.com/
This is where my mom purchases a good bit of her jewelry making supplies from. Pretty good quality and they often have great specials.
artbeads.com …. whee!
found this today: at ‘a beadstore dot com’, use their Bead Wizard to plug in a size, type of bead and they will bring up all that match your description. They have tons of faceted briolette gemstones by the piece. Faceted glass, they are not so common, except the smaller 4-10mm czech firepolish faceted rounds. Check out Fire Mountain Beads in Cave Junction for a catalog. They have lots of faceted glass and gemstone beads.
You should drive up to
http://www.shipwreckbeads.com/
They have everything organized by code so it’s easy to find the same color in different sizes and shapes. I think it was exit 111 on I-5 N. The Wal-Mart is on the right and Shipwreck Beads would be on the left side of I-5 N, in the industrial area. They have a snack bar to keep you going while you drool over the pretty sparkly things.
They carry faceted glass beads and Swarovski (sp?) crystal beads.
As an added bonus, it’s clean and air conditioned. Not some dusty old bead store with hairs in the flocked display boxes.
If you go, wear comfortable clothes and shoes. I was there for 3 hours when I first went and only left because they were closing! Make sure you have a solid meal in your belly, too.
They also have a huge, fatty catalog and will give you a customer number. This came in handy when I couldn’t remember if I bought a certain kind of bead on my first trip. The guy looked up my number and gave me a list of what I already had!
Have fun!