iCraft.ca, the Canadian-based on-line venue for beautiful handmade items by Indie Artisans has teamed up with IndieSmiles, another on-line group of Indie shops, to cross-promote each other.
iCraft.ca has been running a Seller’s Bootcamp, a great 28-day program to help sellers learn more about promoting their crafts in an on-line world. As one of the vendors participating in Bootcamp I can tell you that it’s been a very valuable experience for me and I’ve learned so much!!
IndieSmiles has offered to let those of us participating in Bootcamp list in the IndieSmiles Coupon Directory. Each iCraft.ca shop is listed, and has outlined their special offer on IndieSmiles. Read the directions and check out all the shops for special offers, beautiful products, and great deals!!
I am offering 20% off all finished jewellery purchases, refunded by Paypal. Use the coupon code "SMILES20%" in your instructions to seller at the time of purchase. Here's the link to my shop:
Brilliant Beads: Artisan Jewellery by Gillian Soskin
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Seedbead Tutorial - Spiral Weave Rope Chain
This beautiful pattern can be used in short pieces with larger beads in between (see my Aqua Lampwork bracelet in previous post), or in greater lengths for an entire bracelet or necklace (see my Bronzite Pendant necklace in previous post). It’s very versatile, and once you get the basic pattern mastered you can experiment with different sizes of seedbeads within the pattern to give it a different look.
You will need:
Beading Thread – Nymo or Fireline will work well
Thin Beading Needle
11/0 seedbeads – in 2 colours, I’ll refer to them as “A” and “B”
1. Cut a 4 foot length of beading thread and thread needle.
2. Tie a stopper bead (any 6mm or larger bead will do) about 8” from the end of the thread. Tie it so you can get the stopper bead off at the end of the project…you will be weaving the 8” of thread back through your rope chain after the clasp is added.
3. Decide which colour you want for the “core” of the spiral…you will use fewer of these beads. The other colour will be for the outside of the spiral. I will refer to them as:
“A” = core colour beads
“B” = outside colour beads
4. String 4 A and 3 B beads onto needle. Slide them down to lie next to the stopper bead.
5. Go back and pass needle through the 4 A beads. (I enlarged the picture to show detail).
6. Now string 1 A and 3 B beads. This pattern will repeat and form the spiral rope as we proceed.
7. Go back and pass needle through 3 of the previous 4 A beads from step #5, and the new A bead (for a total of 4 A beads...3 old, 1 new). Do not pass the needle through any of the B beads.
8. Continue in this pattern, adding 1 A and 3 B beads each stitch, then going through only the last four A beads in the core part of the rope chain each time. The B beads will spiral up in groups of three as the core of the chain is built.
9. Here is a close-up of the finished rope chain...
You can see the white "core" forms the backbone of the spiral, and the silver-lined aqua beads in groups of three wind around the core.
10. Continue in this pattern for the length desired, whether it's for a bracelet or necklace. I'll show you how to attach the clasp in the next posting.
Enjoy...
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Working with Seedbeads.... A Love Reborn
I've rediscovered my love of seedbeads. These tiny little marvels were my introduction to jewellery making when I was a mere 8 year old at summer camp, back in the 1960's when Flower Power ruled. We would make flower bracelets with thread and tie the bracelets on each other's wrists.
Over the years I've come back to seedbeads, first as an embelleshment for the bodice of my wedding gown, which I made with pewter grey satin, overlaid with organza on the bodice.
Then it was beadweaving in the Ukranian Mesh style...this necklace is still one of my favourites:
Lately I've been working with a spiral weave in the form of a rope, and I love the texture and flexibility of this technique.
Here's a necklace I just finished. The spiral weave forms the "chain" of the necklace and I used a bronze and ivory palette for it....tiny little 15/0 delicas and 10/0 metallic bronze seedbeads. The pendant is a bronzite rectangular cabochon set in a bronze-finished polymer clay frame, made by the very talented Nathalie Girard of Canadian Rockies Art.
I've also been combining my lampwork beads with seedbeads, as in this gorgeous aquamarine blue bracelet listed in my Ruby Lane shop.
Tomorrow I'll post a tutorial with instructions to make a spiral rope using the spiral weave pattern...it's so versatile.
Over the years I've come back to seedbeads, first as an embelleshment for the bodice of my wedding gown, which I made with pewter grey satin, overlaid with organza on the bodice.
Then it was beadweaving in the Ukranian Mesh style...this necklace is still one of my favourites:
Lately I've been working with a spiral weave in the form of a rope, and I love the texture and flexibility of this technique.
Here's a necklace I just finished. The spiral weave forms the "chain" of the necklace and I used a bronze and ivory palette for it....tiny little 15/0 delicas and 10/0 metallic bronze seedbeads. The pendant is a bronzite rectangular cabochon set in a bronze-finished polymer clay frame, made by the very talented Nathalie Girard of Canadian Rockies Art.
I've also been combining my lampwork beads with seedbeads, as in this gorgeous aquamarine blue bracelet listed in my Ruby Lane shop.
Tomorrow I'll post a tutorial with instructions to make a spiral rope using the spiral weave pattern...it's so versatile.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
iCraft.ca ...Check it out!!
I've had a shop online, Brilliant Beads, at iCraft.ca for over one year now. It's a Canadian-operated site featuring only handmade products, from all over the world.
Recently I've been participating in "Bootcamp", a program organized by Christine, of PillowThrowDecor. Christine has been showing us how to cross-promote our products, and providing us with such valuable tools and new ways of marketing. It's been a very worthwhile endeavour!! Thanks Christine!
I love that I can offer my lampwork beads and finished jewellery pieces in Canadian dollars on iCraft.ca. It's great for my U.S. customers too, with the Canadian dollar valued at less than the U.S. greenback!
Please stop by for a visit...drop me an email if you would like something custom made.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Etsy Canada Group Sale May 18th - 24th!!
I've teamed up with 25 independent artists and crafters from across
HOW TO ENTER OUR 25 ITEM GIVEAWAY CONTEST
1. You can enter once without a purchase by leaving a comment on this blog post.
2. You will get an extra entry with each purchase from a participating shop (ie. 5 items equals 5 entries.) A list of participating shops is shown below.
3. If you blog about our sale and leave a valid link you will get another entry.
4. You can visit each shop involved in the sale, pick a favourite listing from that shop, and then post the link in the comments section on this blog post.
This means you can leave 25 links from 25 different shops in the sale and you will get 25 entries into the draw.
***There will be 5 giveaways of 5 items each!!!*** GOOD LUCK!!
15% OFF, PLUS FREE SHIPPING, IN MY SHOP!
I'm offering 15% off, PLUS free shipping, on all jewellery purchases in my shop from May 18th until May 24th!! (Finished jewellery only, not lampwork beads) Refund will be given by Paypal.
My contribution to the giveaway will be a beautiful pair of genuine garnet and sterling silver earrings, valued at $10.00.
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS & CRAFTERS
acageybee.etsy.com
akane.etsy.com
asecondtime.etsy.com
barefoottams.etsy.com
beadcrazed.etsy.com
bedtimebeads.etsy.com
brynnalex.etsy.com
bylynnkrestel.etsy.com
carolforsyth.etsy.com
cocosjewelry.etsy.com
deandymentstudios.etsy.com
debrasdesigns.etsy.com
elseetee.etsy.com
ficklefaerie.etsy.com
gillianbeads.etsy.com
groovyglassgirl.etsy.com
jansonpottery.etsy.com
luckytroll.etsy.com
luludesign.etsy.com
owlandpussycat.etsy.com
prettybetty.etsy.com
radclothing.etsy.com
sleepymoondesign.etsy.com
squareware.etsy.com
whiterabbit21.etsy.com
Here's the link to the Etsy Canada Blog site where you can see the giveaways and read more about how to enter!!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Spring is the time for Apple Blossoms
...and there are Apple Blossom festivals all over North America!
The 77th Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom festival in Nova Scotia takes place from May 27th - June 1st, and their theme is:
"Applelicious Valley: a celebration of everything apple"
I love the sight and scent of apple blossoms, so today I decided to make an apple blossom lampwork bead...I only wish I could add scent to it, then it would be perfect!
Monday, May 11, 2009
My Garden Is Blooming!
Oh, I do love springtime...the garden is greening up, birds are arriving at the feeders, a time of hope and promise for us all!
I've taken all this inspiration and made two pretty lampwork bracelets using floral themes.
Both are available in my Ruby Lane shop, with lots more closeup pictures.
Can you smell the roses???
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