Home from CHA

Above Mike Sherman (owner of Soft Flex Company) offers insight on the craft industry and where Soft Flex fits!

Awesome Crafty Chica Make-It-Take-Its. Kathy's daughter Maya was a wonderful teacher. Jamie & I had a ton of fun. Although my design did unfortunately melt before it made it home. Aw well....at least I got a photo of it!

"Innovations" at CHA in Orlando

Check out some of the latest and greatest products available at CHA Summer Show to the craft world!

Dawno is at it again...

Using our Soft Flex Renewal Trios....PRETTY! She was inspired from her adventure to Wicked. Read more here!

CHA Day 1

Yay Soft Flex Company!

Hombre color demo necklace to show most of the colors of Soft Flex Wire that I made today in the booth.

The lovely ladies of Beads, F.O.B., Inc. in Sarasota Florida were a hoot. Marty told us tales of meeting and Scott and Mike at one of their first shows in San Francisco, many years ago. They, of course, loved Christopher (Mike's son) and newest addition to the Soft Flex family.

CHA Set up

We made it here safe and sound. Today we woke bright and early to get our booth set up. Then, this afternoon we were able to enjoy some down time at the gym and the pool. It was quite lovely. The best part is that when walking between the pool and the condo, there are itty bitty and quite large lizards sunbathing. TONS of them. The itty bitty ones are A-dorable!!! They left me smiling. Some were so tiny that they looked like crickets.

CHA Summer Convention

I'm heading off to Orlando tomorrow. We'll be presenting at the CHA Sumer Convention. If you will be attending too, don't be shy. Please come up and introduce yourself. For those of you that won't attend, I will do my best to get lots of photos and maybe even some video. I hope to see the key not speaker, CEO of Etsy on Tuesday morning. I am SO excited.

Craft & Hobby Association (CHA)
Summer Convention and Trade Show
Date: July 28 - 30, 2009
Orange County Convention Center
9860 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32819-8706

Details:Tuesday 7/28, 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 7/29, 9am - 5pm
Thursday 7/30, 9am - 4pm

Admission: CHA Members are FREE, non-members must pay a fee per/person. There are no sales at this show, only order writing. This trade show is open only to those in the Craft & Hobby industry. If you choose to register onsite you will need to bring your business qualifications along with you.

Tweet-a-lot Winners

We have 5 winners in our Tweet-a-lot contest! A big thank you to all that entered and helped to spread the word about our upcoming design contest!

@AwDawno
@kd7org
@jessicaleap
@char_anderson
@LadyCalliope

38 days left to enter the Flex Your Creativity Beading Contest! Don't miss your opportunity for worldwide recognition! Submissions due September 1st!

Prizes Include:

• GRAND PRIZE: $500 Gift Certificate
• Runner Up: $250 Gift Certificate
• Honorable Mention: $100 Gift Certificate
• TOP 10 WINNERS: Free 30ft spool of their choice

The top 10 winners may be showcased in the following ways:

• On our website
• Print ads in top industry magazines
• Direct mail pieces (fliers, postcards, sales sheets, etc)
• Soft Flex Company Glass Art & Bead Festivals

Your name and design could be seen by hundreds of thousands of beading enthusiasts!

UK Make Jewellery Feature

UK Make Jewellery - August Issue 4
Renewal Trios

Ask for the Soft Flex Trios by name at your local bead store!

Belle Armoire Jewelry Feature

Belle Armoire Jewelry - Volume 5 / Issue 2
Renewal Trios

Ask for the Soft Flex Trios by name at your local bead store!

The Gathering - ISGB

One of my favorite organizations is the ISGB - International Society of Glass Beadmakers. The membership is full of creative & kind people. I have had the fortune to attend every annual Gathering since about 2001. I am sad to not be able to make it this year. If you live near the Miami, Florida area, you are in for a real treat on Saturday. You will have access to some of the most talented glass bead makers in the world. You will see unique one-of-a-kind beads as well as unique one-of-a-kind exhibitors. :)

International Society of Glass Beadmakers Gathering - Miami
Date: July 23 - 26, 2009
JL Knight Center - Central Hall
Hyatt Regency Miami
400 South East Second Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
Saturday 7/25, 11am - 6pm
Admission: $5

PS - Soft Flex Company does have a booth at this show! :)

AU Creative Beading Feature

AU Creative Beading - Volume 4 / Number 6
Econoflex Beading Wire by Soft Flex Company

Ask for the Econoflex from Soft Flex by name at your local bead store!

UK Make Jewellery Feature

UK Make Jewellery - Issue 3
Mystical Trios

Ask for the Soft Flex Trios by name at your local bead store!

Okay, okay...I love artfire TOO!

These designs all use Soft Flex products and are for sale on Artfire. Note that you can click on the link below the picture to get a closer look at each Artfire shop and the design shown.

Retro Rumbler
Artfire designer: firegoddess
Very cool! Love the yellow and green together.

Fine Silver Multi-Stone Fringe Bracelet
Artfire designer: Illyria
Nice color palette - very similar to our Romance Trio.

Molecule
Artfire designer: DornickDesigns
I love simple - especially when simple looks this good!

Caribbean Dreams Lampwork Boro Beads Necklace
Artfire designer: JanelsonArts
Very sweet necklace. Kristen called it "bohemian chic". I tend to agree.

Amazonite and Borosilicate Bracelet
Artfire designer: alexandra 95062
So beautiful!

Econoflex on Art Bead Scene

This lovely beaded curtain project using our Econoflex is posted on Art Bead Scene! What a great project and a perfect use of a fun color in our most inexpensive brand.

I heart etsy

Do you know etsy? Of course you do, my designer friends. I sometimes get lost on there for hours. Wandering through the shops, admiring all of the handmade goods. Here are a few of my favorites that used Soft Flex Wire. All of these items are for sale - click on the name in order to be transported to each amazing etsy shop. :)

Twig Necklace II
Etsy designer: gretchenvoneberstein
Love the weaving.

Round Topaz Charm Necklace
Etsy designer: plumjade
Nice use of one of our newest colors!

Lotus Necklace
Etsy designer: lvhdesigns
Simple & unique.

Swarovski Crystal Gold Filled Strung Soft Flex Hoop Earrings
Etsy designer: DesignAndBeMary
Gold & Gorgeous!!!

Handmade Glass Disk Bead
Etsy designer: beadbrain
Who doesn't love purple? The Amethyst Soft Flex Wire is perfect with this bead!

Feeling Poetic...
Etsy designer: aj1801aj
Love that copper color! The blue is an awesome complimentary color!

Calla Lily Earrings
Etsy designer: cordsbyjenn
These are just plain awesome and I noticed that they come in more than one color!

Winner - Winner - Winner

We have a winner. Dallas-Designing Diva is going to be the new lucky owner of 3 Trios of her choice. She posted details about our Flex Your Creativity Contest on her lovely blog! Thank you to all who entered to win or simply posted the details to get the word out. The deadline is coming up quickly. You only have 47 more days to enter.

Let's play a new game!

Tweet-a-lot of Trios to Win! Tweet your favorite Trio color with a link to our Flex your Creativity Contest as many or as few times as you like over the next week. On Friday July 24th, I will pick 5 winners at random to receive their favorite Trio color set. I will send a direct message to the winners and announce who won through @SoftFlexCompany once they claim their prize.

If you are a current member of the Twitter community and are following @SoftFlexCompany, you are ready to play. If not, head on over to www.twitter.com and create a profile.

A few pointers....

1. Follow @SoftFlexCompany on Twitter so that we can send you a message directly if you win.

2. Choose your favorite Soft Flex Trio color set.

3. Replace XXX with your favorite Trio color set and update your Twitter status with:

Tweet-a-lot @SoftFlexCompany - I chose XXX Trio. What is your perfect color? http://www.softflexcompany.com/BeadingContest.html

4. Feel free to enter as many times as you like.

You can also find Thomas as @SoftFlexGuy and me as @SoftFlexGirl on Twitter! You should follow us as well. :)

Beading "Green" is Good

Don't just take it from us, check out what Creative Home Arts Club had to say about our new eco-friendly Soft Flex Extreme Beading Wire! The world's first "green" beading wire is a nice addition to your beading arsenal. It is available in bright 24k gold, bright 925 sterling silver and our unique champagne in a beading wire that is flexible like Soft Touch. So many of the bright metallic beading wires are stiff. Try the Extreme. It is really soft and really supple. :)

July Spotlight on....

Article - Reduce, Reuse, Restyle by Thomas Soles
NEW Color - Meet Margie Deeb
Designer - Pat Wigand
NEW Free Art - Printable bookmark, gift tag, etc
Good Book - Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing
Local Bead Store - Red Garnet Beads & Buttons in Washington

You have lots to read, you had better get busy!

Sale - Sale - Sale

Awesome sale this week for our 72hr Summer Sale! The Extreme Trios are 10% off. All crimps and clasps are 30% off and my favorite color in the cz's - champagne! Woohoo!

Only available Tuesday-Thursday
Psssssst, if you look now (Monday evening) they are already on sale. Don't tell anyone, okay?

First come, first served - limited quantities in all items that are on sale!

Free shipping on U.S. orders over $100

A few more good deals for July, the knitting spools are on monthly special as well as 26g, 28g and 30g Craft Wire!!!

Evening Bag

Here is my dilemma every time I go to the theater....the evening bag. I cannot take my regular purse as it is huge. There is hardly enough space for me in my theater seat without trying to share it with a large purse as well. Most of my evening purses do not have handles or if they do have a handle it is a very short handle that you still have to carry. I am not a carry your purse in your hands kind of girl. First and foremost, I'm forgetful. I might just leave it somewhere. Second, I gesture a lot. I need my hands free in order to better communicate. So....what to do?

I looked through my purses and realized that one of them did indeed have a long, sling-over-your-body handle. Hmmmm. It was some sort of rope. No wonder I had never used it. So I decided I better doctor it up a bit. What better for SoftFlexGirl than to have a Soft Flex handle?
I quickly strung up some seed beads and crystals onto my black .024/Heavy Soft Flex Beading Wire. I didn't have much time - so nothing fancy. But, I could definitely make a few interchangeable handles for this purse in my free time and have lots of different options for my theater outings.

And now, I won't lose my purse. I can gesture with my hands. And I will have space in my seat for just me and little, itty bitty purse. YAY!

Wicked, here I come!

Who doesn't love FREE?

This free ebook Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily contains 6 wirework projects: 2 necklaces using wirewrapped loops, 1 wire bangle bracelet covered with coiled wire and bead dangles, 2 pairs of wire earrings, and 1 wirewrapped ring. Projects range in difficulty from beginner to intermediate and use a variety of wireworking techniques, including spirals, coiling, wirewrapping, hammering, and twisting wire.

Learn more here!

I learned about the Hurt Book and Overstock Sale at the Art Bead Scene today. I thought I'd pass this along as well. I LOVE books. I really do and always have. My Mom says that when I received a set of books on my first birthday, I was thrilled. To heck with the toys, give me those books. She says that I would patiently sit and turn page after page. Anyone who has been to my home would tell you that it is completely apparent in my current life because there are books everywhere. So, I think that it is always great to get a good deal on a book. You should check this sale out. I know I'll certainly be checking it out for my personal library. :)

See what my pals are up to this week:

Jamie Hogsett used the Knitting Spool to create a new necklace.

Kristen Fagan is blogging about some paintings in progress and it is giving her a whole new perspective!

An oldie, but a goodie

I made this years ago but could not wear it because the bead that dangles down in the front was too light. So I finally updated it with a larger, heavier onyx bead. Now it is ready to wear and I can't wait to have somewhere to wear it. CHA in Orlando perhaps?

In this design I use onyx, black tourmaline, hypersthene and made my own chain using non-tarnish silver Craft Wire. I love that the Craft Wire doesn't tarnish or change colors - no polishing later - yay!

Puget Sound Bead Festival in Tacoma

You can catch the Soft Flex crew at the Puget Sound Bead Festival this weekend!

Date: July 10 - 12, 2009
Hotel Murano Bicentennial Pavilion
1320 Broadway Ave. Tacoma, WA 98402
Tacoma, WA 98402
Details: Thursday night preview (students only) 7/9, 5pm - 8pm
Friday 7/10, 10am - 6pm
Saturday 7/11, 10am - 6pm
Sunday 7/12, 11am - 5pm
Admission: $7, good for all 3 days. Students get free admission into show.

And then there were three...

Vitality Trios

Serenity Trios

I often times will create my project ideas in 3 different color schemes. It gives me a chance to flush out the problem areas and make notes to write instructions. It also gives everyone the ability to see the same design from a few different angles. Changing the color can change the design drastically. For this design, I definitely found that the Soft Flex Trios in color worked better than the Extreme Trio. It can definitely be done in Extreme but the wire is a little trickier for this design. So I think I'll do one more color and then write my instructions and get this posted in our Free Project Ideas.