Saturday, January 28, 2012

Honey-the-dog


I've featured my dog Honey on this blog many times over the years. I often receive comments that readers wanted to see more of her, especially once I started my own personal blog. She passed away this week and needless to say, I am heart broken. Everyone grieves in different ways. I love pictures. So I spent a good deal of time sifting through pictures and creating a photo book dedicated to Honey. Then, I picked out an uplifting book called Animals and the Afterlife. As you can probably imagine from the title, it talks about where our pets go after they die. Finally, I chose a charm (as shown above) that I hope to pick up and wear that will always remind me of my Honey Bunny Bear. I often relate big moments in my life to pieces of jewelry, which makes sense since beading is my beloved hobby.


She was a special girl and it is still very hard to imagine life without her. So, if you have a fur-baby, please give them a hug and kiss for me and remember to not take a single moment for granted. Their lives are far too short.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Spotlight On... The Baltimore Bead Society


The Baltimore Bead Society

The Baltimore Bead Society is a regional organization in Maryland of bead enthusiasts, creative artists, and jewelry designers across a broad spectrum of bead-related and jewelry-making fields. We learn and work together, sharing our common interests in beading, in jewelry techniques, and in understanding beads within history and cultures throughout the world. Founded over 20 years ago, we are a non-profit educational, artistic, and philanthropic organization under IRS section 501(c)(3). We have grown in number and diversified in interests covering every aspect of jewelry techniques, materials, and creative design. Activities include bead-related community outreach programs. Our people define our organization - making new friends and having fun.

Color by Margie Deeb - Jewelry Design: Emphasize Similarities  
Designer - Melissa Cable
Book - Jewelry for the New Romantic by Nealay Patel
Local Bead Group - The Baltimore Bead Society
Bead Seller - Eclectica

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Fashion Trends





To see all our Fashion Trends online, click here.

Soft Flex Trios on Flock Shop Today Only!


Today is the day! Soft Flex Trios are being featured on the Flock Shop. Sale ends in 12 hours and 37 minutes! There is still a variety of color options at a very good price! Fly on over and check it out!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Color Inspiration by Kristen Fagan

Image by delgaudm via flickr


 Items that match this color palette:

SOFT FLEX WIRE DARK BLUE LAPIS



 

Guest blogger Kristen Fagan is the Website Graphic Designer for Soft Flex Company. She also has her own blog and etsy shop.  She'd love to hear from you! So, please feel free to leave comments or email her at Kristen@SoftFlexCompany.com.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Free DIY Chain and Wire Earring Idea by Jamie Hogsett

Curious about using colors of Soft Flex Beading Wire? If so, here's a great beginner project that will let you experiment with colored wire as well as the hole-punch pliers and Soft Flex Company's copper chain. Any combination of colors would look great here. I was going for a subtle look and chose Black Onyx, Copper, and Chrysoprase beading wire for these earrings. Wouldn't it be fun to see them in a festive party mix of Purple Amethyst, Citrine, and Spinel beading wire on silver-plated copper chain too? Or made up with gold-plated copper chain, Red Coral, Black Onyx, and 14K Gold beading wire for a truly elegant look? With so many different color options available, you'll be able to make up several pairs of these earrings in no time!

Materials needed:
4" of Oval and Round Textured Copper Chain
8" of Black Onyx .019 Diameter Soft Flex Beading Wire
8" of Copper .019 Diameter Soft Flex Metallics Wire
8" of Chrysoprase .019 Diameter Soft Flex Beading Wire
12 Copper 2mm Crimp Tubes
12 Copper 3mm Crimp Covers
1 pair of Black with Copper Round Ear wires

Tools needed:
Cutters
Metal-Punch Pliers
Crimping Pliers

Finished size: 1 3/4"

Step 1: Use cutters to cut two pieces of chain with each piece consisting of 1 oval link and 1 round link.
Step 2: Use the Metal-Punch Pliers to punch 1 hole in the top center of the oval link of 1 chain piece.
Step 3: Use the Metal-Punch Pliers to punch six holes evenly-spaced along the bottom third of the round link.
Step 4: Attach 1 ear wire to the hole punched in the oval link.
Step 5: Use 2" of Chrysoprase wire to string 1 crimp tube and the first hole in the bottom of the round link. Pass through the crimp tube again, forming a small ring of wire, and crimp. Trim the wire ends.
Step 6: Use 2" of Copper wire and the second hole of the round link to repeat Step 5.
Step 7: Use 2" of Black Onyx wire and the third hole of the circle link to repeat Step 5.
Step 8: Repeat Steps 5-7 using the fourth, fifth, and sixth holes in the round link. Cover every crimp tube with 1 crimp cover.

Step 9: Repeat Steps 1-8 to make a second earring. Enjoy!


Guest blogger Jamie Hogsett is the Education Coordinator for Soft Flex Company. Contact her at Jamie@SoftFlexCompany.com.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Spotlight On... Jewelry for the New Romantic by Nealay Patel


Jewelry for the New Romantic 
by Nealay Patel

Author Nealay Patel is a designer after my own heart. Very early in working on our book Show Your Colors (for sale February 2012), our editor pointed out Patel's book (published 2011) and how some of the shapes and techniques are similar although the end result is very different. I didn't have a chance to actually pick up the book and look through each design until now. The book is chalk full of beautiful designs. Each design is unique and special. Patel will be teaching classes at the BeadandButton show in 2012.

Color by Margie Deeb - Jewelry Design: Emphasize Similarities  
Designer - Melissa Cable
Book - Jewelry for the New Romantic by Nealay Patel
Local Bead Group - The Baltimore Bead Society
Bead Seller - Eclectica

Saturday, January 21, 2012

My Knotty Earrings in Step by Step Wire Jewelry

Step by Step Wire Jewelry - February/March 2012
Page 51

Check out my design in the latest issue of Step by Step Wire. If you like this design, you can always purchase the book that I co-authored with the lovely and talented Jamie Hogsett. Show Your Colors is now available directly from Soft Flex on our website! Yay! If you are going to be in Tucson, you are welcome to drop by and visit with me.

Jan 30, 2012
To Bead True Blue
John Bead booth
Free Make-it-Take-its
Doubletree Reid Park
445 S Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ
3pm-5pm

Feb 1-5, 2012
The Best Bead Show
Soft Flex booth
Demos and Book Signing with both Jamie and I!
Kino Veteran's Memorial Community Center
2805 East Ajo Way
Tucson, AZ 85713
Hours:
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm
Admission: FREE
Show Your Colors will be available for sale in the Soft Flex booth at the Best Best Show in Tucson, Arizona this Spring. Both Jamie Hogsett and I will be on hand demo-ing too! It is a great opportunity to get your book signed by both of us in person.

Feb 2, 2012
To Bead True Blue
Kalmbach booth
Demos
Doubletree Reid Park
445 S Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ
2pm-3pm
Stop by the Kalmbach Publishing booth at To Bead True Blue between 2-3pm on February 2nd to check out my demos and learn more about Show Your Colors. 

Friday, January 20, 2012

Spotlight On... Melissa Cable


Melissa Cable

Soft Flex Company Editor's Note: As we set resolutions and goals for the upcoming year, it is only appropriate that we start 2012 with designer Melissa Cable. When asked to be featured on Spotlight On..., she decided that rather than giving us her usual biography, she would share some of her personal growth over the past 2 years. Enjoy!

Melissa Cable is a Seattle-area designer, national instructor and author (Spotlight on Wire Kalmbach Publishing, 2011). She is currently working on her second book, Metal Garden, slated for release in 2013.

Color by Margie Deeb - Jewelry Design: Emphasize Similarities  
Designer - Melissa Cable
Book - Jewelry for the New Romantic by Nealay Patel
Local Bead Group - The Baltimore Bead Society
Bead Seller - Eclectica

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Beading Wire Flowers by Nealay Patel

Bead Design Studio - February 2012
Page 22
Bead Unique - October 2011
Page 8

I was thumbing through some magazines the other day and noticed two designs from Nealay Patel. His use of beading wire to create beautiful flowers is so exciting, and I knew that I had to share. Please note that you can find the instructions for these gorgeous pieces in the magazines listed below each page. If you like Nealay Patel's design style, you should consider buying his book - Jewelry for the New Romantic.
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