Bead Street News for December

This is already starting off to be another busy month.  I guess that's to be expected this time of year.

First a BIG, BIG thank you to everyone in Boise and elsewhere for another great year.  We are almost 30 years old - so to celebrate - and to thank all of you - a SALE starting Wednesday through December 20th.  Our entire Czech wall will be 30% off, also our Czech daggers big and small  (not two hole ones), our new wall of Czech flowers and all the Czech leaves.

This would be a great time to buy beads for your beading friends.  And for your non-beading friends that are thinking of becoming beaders - how about a gift certificate for a class.    You could even take a class with them.  What a great way to spend time with your friends - and extend the giving season into 2015.  We also have some free patterns available (with the purchase of beads) that would be a great gift as well.  

Classes:  Have not had time to update December schedule as yet - but this Saturday, Sandy is teaching a new bracelet pattern designed by Marsha Balonis.  A couple of seats still available.

Also this Saturday, Beth is teaching "Color your World" a fabulous metal coloring earring project.  Come in and see the samples in person - beautiful!

New beads in and unpacked:  2mm Czech Pearls, Miyuki 6/0 Baroque Pearls,  short strands of gemstones still available (they were a big hit at our gemstone trunk show), fabulous new clasps (some we found in Paris),  rhinestone cup chain and some great new colors in Czech pinch beads.  These are going fast - selling them before I can even get them tagged.

New employee: We want to welcome Beth to our Bead Street family.  She has been teaching here for some time but now will be here during the week as well.  She brings mixed media skills and wire, resin and gemstone expertise to our family.  She will also hold down the fort when Sue, Sandy and I leave for a weeks worth of enameling and lamp working classes in the new year. 

Welcome Beth!

Bead Street November Classes

November is going to be a very busy month.  We've had so many requests for classes, we will have to schedule 4 or 5 each week to get them all in. Many of these take 2 to 3 hours to learn - but once you have learned them, you can finish a project in about an hour.  Many are easy and well suited for Christmas gifts.   See the entire schedule HERE or click on Classes in the heading for the schedule and photos of each project.

A couple projects we have taught before - but because of travel - I have not posted photos of the finished projects.  So here are some you may not have seen before.

 Tubari Spiral

Venetian Lace

If you have requested a class and the schedule doesn't work for you, give us a call and we will see if we can accommodate your request.  

Don't forget the Gemstone Trunk show now going on through Saturday, the 8th - along with special discounts on our pearl and gemstone wall.

We will also be closed Thanksgiving day, the 27th and Friday the 28th to allow our employees to spend time with family.  

Gemstone Trunk Show at Bead Street

The first boxes of gemstones have arrived for our trunk show and are already priced and out.  So Saturday, November 1st, they will be available along with a special sale of the gemstones and freshwater pearls we have on our wall.  Fabulous beads but limited quantities of some - so shop early for best selection.  The last boxes will be here Monday, so we will continue with this show from Wednesday through Saturday, November 8th.  

Also unpacked and out are some fabulous new colors of fire polish in 3mm, 4mm, and 6mm.  New Saturated Matt colors - with the colors of neon beads but not quite as intense.  Will be great for fall, winter and even spring projects.

Are these not absolutely beautiful colors!
Limited quantities and will not be available for long.

Beautiful Czech glass -
 now if only we had a place to hang these

The gals have all been working really hard to get all of our size 11 seed beads restocked (8/0's and 6/0's are here - not yet tubed) and of course we have all the new colors of Super Duos, Rizos, Rullas and CzechMate two-hole Bricks, Lentils and Tiles. 

Hopefully we have everything you need for your Christmas Bazaar projects and Christmas gifts.  I know Christmas sounds a little early - but the Bazaars are starting around town next Saturday, November 8th.  

Hope to see you soon!

Bead Street October Classes

I have certainly missed everyone!  Thank you so much for all the kind emails and telephone calls checking in with us.

Lots to tell you.  New inventory from the Czech Republic, back orders from the Bead and Button Show have arrived,  2 U.S.  buying trips, 3 European buying trips and  lots and lots of new ideas and inventory to tell you about.  We've had lots of new classes and  Sue, Irene, Sandy and Beth were just wonderful in keeping everything organized and running smoothly. Also a big thank you to Amanda and Lisa for writing instructions and diagramming some of our new patterns.   Thanks so much - I so appreciate all of you.

The new fall and winter class schedule is coming soon.  For now, this is what's currently scheduled.

Saturday, October 11th, 1:00 PM a new beaded bead class using Czech two hole Tiles.

Thursday, October 16th, 2:00 PM, Just Rollin' Along

Friday, October 17th, 2:00 PM,  Parisian Lace

Saturday, October 18th, 1:00 PM, by special request, Beth is teaching a new metals class - Copper Rings Bracelet.  You will be texturing, dapping, oxidizing and creating metal links in this fun class.

Now that gardens are put to bed, the weather is cooling off, and leaves are falling, its a great time of the year to plan beading projects for, I don't know, maybe giving away as holiday gifts?  And speaking of falling leaves, - SALE starting this Saturday - all leaves - buy one strand, get one free. Somehow we have to make room for all the new things already here and the rest on the way.

Hope everyone has a great weekend - and I hope to see you soon!

New Wire Class at Bead Street

It has been awhile since last post.  But this is tax time and with lots and lots of things to inventory - just a lot to do.  Also doing a little travel - and buying some new very cool products for the store.  We will be planning some new fun classes around these new products as well.  Stay tuned

For now a new wire class scheduled with Beth.  For those of you who would like to gain experience in making simple loops and wrapped loops.  Create a beautiful springtime floral bracelet in class and skills learned are transferable to earrings or pendant for a necklace.

Please call the store (or email Beth) for schedule and space availability.  Kits are available for the turquoise or purple bracelet or use your own materials to make one like the pink version.  

More CzechMate 2 Hole Triangle Projects.

Bead Street customers have been celebrating  Valentine's Day for a couple of weeks now.  First, because of the many classes for our Cupids Crown bracelet and Crystal Heart.  Second, for all the cookies we have had in the store and during classes.  A big, big thank you to Joy, Sue and Lisa for all the delicious cookies and cupcakes this month. We are almost ready to hire Joy as our resident cook.

One of the finished hearts from our
Crystal Heart class.
This is one of the new Halo colors.

Joy excited about her project and
trying to make sure I got it in the photo...

Isn't this fabulous?

Not generally fond of orange, but really love it here.

This was stunning.  Looks almost like
Labradorite, Aquamarine and seed Pearls.

This beautiful as well - looks like Gold stone in the center.
Lot of gemstone influence in these classes.
Maybe because of all the talk of Tucson?

Speaking of Tucson,  hopefully the rest of our gemstone shipment will arrive by Saturday.   We are still having our annual Gemstone sale starting Saturday and will continue thru February. Many things are limited quantity, so shop early for the best selection.  Lots of new Czech glass and other specialty items as well.  

Snakeskin Bracelet with Two Hole Daggers

Last Saturday was a very busy day.  With the introduction of the CzechMates 2 hole Triangles, 3 classes - one of which used these new beads, a lot going on. 

A few gals in the Cupids Crown class loved the projects that were being made in the Snakeskin Bracelet class and now want to learn that as well.  So a repeat this Saturday.  If you would also like to learn this pattern, give us a call - we have a few seats still available.

Isn't this stunning!  This is Deb's version  in purples (she stepped outside her blue box for this one).  Thank you, Deb for bringing this in for all of us to see.  

Photographed by professional photographer, Lisa Jordan, this looks like it could be published in a magazine doesn't it.  Thanks so much Lisa.

This one was beaded with Sunset Maple, Luster Opaque Rose/Gold Topaz and  Milky Pink Celsian two hole daggers.   A really lovely pink toned bracelet just in time for Valentine's Day. 

Close up of above.  This one we will have on display
 in our case for another week if you want
to see it in person.

Another stunning sample - this one beaded by Irene.
 She just needs to add a clasp and this will be ready to go.
Now you see why we have requests for another class.

Gals were really concentrating on their
projects in the beginning.

All were thrilled with what they learned
and their great color choices.
I'm anxious to see all the other finished bracelets
and will post photos when I have them.

So, this Saturday, February 8th,  the Snakeskin Bracelet designed by TrendSetter Svetland Einy  will be taught at 1:00 and a repeat of Cupids Crown will also be taught at 1:00.  And for those of you who have taken both and finished your projects, I will be there with camera in hand.  Hope to see you soon.

CzechMates 2-Hole Triangles at Bead Street

Exciting week ahead!  For those of you who have been patiently waiting for the new CzechMates Two Hole Triangles - Saturday is the day.  They will be officially launched at Tuscon  on February 1st.  

For those of you who live in Boise - they will be available at Bead Street on Saturday - you don't have to fly to Tucson to get them.   And, we are having a new class using these great beads.  And, because we already have a signup sheet for this class, we are repeating it two more times.  And, three classes will be held this Saturday.  Did I say exciting week ahead??

Designed by Nicole Starman, we are calling this
Cupid's Crown in honor of Valentines Day.
This bracelet was  beaded with the new 2 hole triangles
in Starman's Halo colors.  Absolutely, heavenly.

You can learn this pattern on Saturday, February 1st, 1:00 to 4:00, or Wednesday, February 5th, 2:00 - 5:00 or Saturday February 8th,  1:00 to 4:00.   Other classes this week include:

Tila Flower Class on
Wednesday, January 29th, 2:00 - 4:00

Snakeskin Bracelet using CzechMates Two Hole Daggers, Saturday, February 1st, 1:00 - 3:00

Crystal Heart - Saturday, February 1st, 1:00 - 4:00
We'll be doing the Open Heart at a later date

So, join us this week for any of these great classes or to buy the new 2-hole triangles, or just to see the great new HALO colors of Czech Fire Polish and two hole Bricks, or just join us for cookies and hot cider.  Did I tell you exciting week ahead??

New Class with CzechMates Two Hole Daggers

Lots going on this week at Bead Street.  The Tucson Gem show is coming right up and we are trying to get all the requested classes scheduled before then.  And, we have new classes with the new CzechMates two-hole triangles coming in a couple of weeks - busy, busy, busy.  

Saturday, January 25th, Sandy is teaching Snakeskin Bracelet designed by TrendSetter Svetlana Einy from Israel.  It uses CzechMates two-hole daggers and it really needs a new name because it feels 'fabulous' on your wrist.  Can also be made into a necklace for those of you who have enough bracelets.  That's an oxymoron -  I  can't imagine having 'enough' bracelets.

Svetlana used 3 colors of CzechMates two hole daggers.  But you could make it all one color if you wished - and we have 20+ new colors of two-hole daggers arriving this week.

Also on Saturday the 25th, by special request, Beth is teaching her Birds Nest Wire Wrap earrings and pendant from 1:00 to 4:00.  We will have pearls available so you won't have to purchase an entire strand.

Aren't these just the cutest earrings.  

This Wednesday, January 22nd,  from 2:00 to 4:00, Sandy will repeat her Rizo Herringbone Bracelet class and we have a couple of empty seats, if you would like to join us.  So nice that she can accommodate students during the day.  If a daytime-during-the-week class works for you, we'd love to have you join us.  

One hole lentils were used on this sample
instead of Rizos.  Pretty nice.

Love patterns where you can exchange different
 kinds of beads to create a different look.
Have seen this pattern beaded with Czech glass leaves as well
and it was beautiful.  I'll try to find the photo for you.

Just too many classes this month to post all in one post.  So this is what's happening the week of January 22nd thru 25th.  At the end of the week, I'll post photos of next weeks classes, so stay tuned for more.

Promenade Bracelet with CzechMates 2 Hole Lentils

Playing catch up, trying to get photos of classes on the blog and found this group.  I think this was the Saturday after Christmas, everyone really busy, but we managed to schedule a couple of classes in that weekend.  One of which was a test class for Nicole's Promenade Bracelet that utilizes two different colors of the CzechMates two hole lentils and a strand of two hole Bricks.

This was a great class, the gals all worked really hard and actually finished the project.  A few minor tweaks to the pattern and it will be ready for print.

Beautiful Opal colors on this one.
 May have to update this post next week
with color combos so I can go back and
select beads for a bracelet of my own.
Update: Janet beaded this beautiful bracelet.

Close up of above.  The CzechMates two hole lentils
 here really do look opalized, don't they.

 Don't remember if Sandy did this one or someone else.
 So glad there were so many finished pieces.
But I guess I'm going to have to take notes at the
 end of each class so I can remember who did what.  

Sue actually got a chance to take a class instead of working.
 Love her Turquoise and Red Picasso colors.

Doesn't this look very elegant and sophisticated.
Love that this had both silver and gold
included with the Navy.

Update:  If Janet beaded the Opal one - who beaded this?
 Beautiful, whoever it belongs to.

Everyone concentrating so hard here.
 So nice to have private classrooms so we can have
more than one class going at the same time. 

Let me know gals, if you would like credit under the photo with your name.  Didn't intend to neglect anyone. These were all so stunning I guess I thought I would remember who did what. I'll know better next time.  

January Class Schedule

All of us are trying to get back into the swing of things after the holidays and this cold weather.  Had a fabulous class last Saturday with the Rondell Revolution.  Gals learned how to transform this pattern from a bangle to a bracelet and learned how to increase the length of a finished piece.  Will post photos as soon as everyone finishes their projects.

Next Saturday, by special request, Beth is teaching our Gemstone leather wrap bracelet.  You can also do it with freshwater pearls or Czech glass if you prefer.

Also on Saturday, our SuperDuo Beaded Bead will be taught again - starting off our Beaded Bead series for 2014.  A number of new beads - some of them with the new CzechMates two hole triangles - will be taught starting in February.  So thought we would give anyone that hasn't taken these past beaded beads classes, an opportunity to get in on this trend.

More photos coming soon and more later about other classes scheduled for January.  We have updated the schedule under the CLASSES heading above.