Manufacturer, Distributor, Wholesaler. We supply stores, online resellers and designers with your favorite beads and components!
It was that time of year again and here at John Bead we had a lot of fun dressing up and scaring each other.
Our two Winners Donna aka Candy and Sarah received gift certificates. Happy Beading Ladies !
The 23rd annual Creativ Festival
It’s where you go to get in-the-know and stay on top of what’s hot, what’s new and what’s next in the world of sewing, knitting, quilting, beading, needlework, rug hooking, fibre arts, paper crafts and other creative art forms.
Formally known as the creative sewing and needlework festival, the event has come some ways from it’s origin. Guests had a wider variety of creative outlets to admire. Though this wasn’t specifically a BEAD event, Swarovski Ambassadors Laura Timmons and Stephanie Dixon held make and takes as well as classes. The show also featured Nick Regine who shared 25 years of Jewellery manufacturing experience as he showed guests how easy it is to use Hot Fix Swarovski Element Flatbacks. Guests embellisehd a denim pouch with the BeJeweler Stone Styler. Kim, key account manager of Swarovski Elements, provided valuable insights and an exceptional overview of the company, their products, applications and trends that benefits both retailers and consumers alike.
Our Sales Manager Lynda got to take a class and had this to say;
“I had a fabulous time at the show on the weekend. If you want to get inspired then you must take a workshop with the fabulous duo, Kim Paquette and Nick Regime, instructors from Swarovski. Kim was awesome as usual ,giving us valuable insights and showing trends that were very inspiring. Nick came up with great ways to apply Swarovski elements to fabric, glass, wood and Plexiglas. He had some great ideas and unique techniques with working with crystals.
They were awesome!
So if you ever see them at a show you must stop by and see them in action!” -Lynda.
J
ewellery & Accessory Design (25) All Levels-3 hour workshop
Guests worked with Swarovski Elements exploring the varity of techniues and discored various ways of setting stones. With different types of glue, epoxy clay, ultravilet and hot fix gluing techniques to create and embellish jewllery and accessories.
Pearl Knotting (25) All Levels- 2 hour workshop
Guests learnt the proper technique of pearl knotting to ensure high quality end results.
Jewellery & Accessory Design for Retailers – 3 hour workshop
The class was restriced to retailers and designers. They learnt new techniques to embellish and design jewellery and accessories using Swarovski Elements.
On our Saturday exploration of the show, we came across many beautiful works of art. There was a handful of booths representing Bead Stores ;
ACC
…just to name a few.
Marilyn Gardiner had some wonderful kits ready with all the beads and findings as well as full instructions you’d need. She has various chainmaille designs and beadwork. Melanie from our inside sales team and Dorthe, from our purchasing department both did a make and take with Marilyn and made themselves some lovely earrings with the chainmaille technique.
The Girls and I also fell in love with Karibu Beads (Kazuri Beads from Kenya). Not only do the beads have a great story but they are trully beautiful and individually unique. Full of color and magic Kazuri was founded in 1975. The now established factory employs disadvantaged single women and trains them to produce these unique clay beads and jewellery. Kazuri is a member of the World Fair Trade Federation.
One of the other fun things I picked up at the show was a fur necklace made of sheared beaver yarn made by Paula Lishman from Fur Yarn. It’s so nice and warm ,I love it for the coming fall season.
Scrapbooking and stamping seemed to have grown in popularity. The show was full of the latest and greatest sewing, knitting machines as well as the dedicated work of handcrafted knits and quilts.
Donna from our customer service team said it best;
“A veritable feast for the creative soul! A cornucopia of colour and inspiration!” -Donna
-Lilla
This past Saturday John Beads had it’s first New Item Showcase Saturday. Customers had the opportunity to see and purchase Swarovski Elements NEW colors and shapes for the Fall/Winter 2011/2012 season. The three new colors ; Sunflower Yellow, Silver Night Crystal and Light Gold Pearl were well received and customers who had attended Septembers Swarovski Seminar were happy to get their hands on the new items they had been shown in September.
My personal favourite from Swarovski Elements is the Wild Heart Pendant. Available in 12mm, 17mm and 27mm and in Sunflower, Aquamarine, Black Diamond, Crystal, Crystal Golden Shadow, Crystal Silvershade, Crystal Copper, Crystal Red Magma, Indian Pink, Crystal AB, Dark Indigo ,Jet, Rosaline and Tanzanite.
It’s a more modern breakaway from the classic heart shape. The Wild Heart Pendant owes its elongated shape and asymmetric faceting to the nostalgic mood sweeping through the design world. One of Swarovski Elements inspirations is Farmland/Fox. It’s based on a Classic style that embodies rich reds and golds. It plays off floral patterns, that ones your grandmother would wear on her approne. It’s a step towards nature and the comforts of farmlife. The mood is familiar, cozy and warm.
The perfect compliment to this Wild Heart Pendant is leather cording as it makes the overall look more organic. I also combined the Helios Pendant with leather cording further playing off of this Farmland/Fox theme.
Our in house designer; Thanh Tran showcased New Earring designs for the upcoming Holiday Season. Angels, Evergreen Trees and Light Bulb Earrings were part of her demos, complete with instruction sheets customers could take home. Swarovski Elements Create-Your-Style Website features even more design. ( Ask us what items we carry that are featured on other designs)
690TL00-2005B Raspberry Gold Iris Tila Beads
690TL00-2001B Gunmetal Tila Beads
63900502 Delica Beads
96003084 Sterling silver 4 strand tube clasp
96003001 Sterling silver bead tips
250STW01430SLV Soft Touch fine wire
Materials Used:
68003005 Farfalle -Bow Beads (Farfalle)-Cut 2x4mm Opaque Blue Iris
690DB00-1211V Delica 11/0 RD Grey Mist Silver Lined
17402328 Pearl Bead-PEARLS 16mm WHITE
74423057-01 BEADALON WILDFIRE .006″ 0.15mm BLACK- Thread
74701009-07 Artistic Wire- ART WIRE 18G Lead/Nickel SAFE PURPLE-spool
26001000-78 HEADPIN SILVER 2″ 10pcs x12
I came across some great pieces using Farfalle Beads!
BERNADETT VARGA’s blog AGABEN, showcases the designers beautiful work. The farfalle bead , also known as Bow beads or peanut beads by some, have an interesting shape that allows the beads to fit into one anothers curves. This interesting shape gives way for endless amount of possibilities. Whether strung in a simple row or sewn in an elaborate stitch there’s no wrong way to farfalle.
Bernadett Varga’s pieces look elegant and finely crafted. The necklace below looks like such a solid construction using the crochet technique.
(Possible beads used Bow Beads (Farfalle) 2x4mm
Crystal Labrador Transparent)
The round earring balls make me think of how many possibilities you can come up with using the farfalles. Bernadett uses crochet techniques to create the jewellery and each piece is more interesting then the next.
She also has many seed bead variations creating balls and long necklaces with interesting shapes. I love her combination of colors and the way she combines glass beads with seed beads and crystal bead accents.
The matte seed bead combination and transparent seed bead is great on this ring. The seed bead creation is nicely mounted on a base metal ring. Such an elegant yet showy look.
We also have sample necklaces in our showroom made by a designer from the Czech Republic; Adella Kodonova. The jewellery combines farfalles, crystals, pearls and seed beads. These pieces have more movement and you can see the shape of the farfalles a little more. The necklace is full of sparkle and glitz. The focal point with the pearls is beautifully done with crystals bursting out. I love the weight of the farfalles and the pearls, it’s a true statement piece.
I love this look because really you can combine any type of bead in any variation of color and twist them around. You can make it as chunky or minimal as you like! All you need is a little black dress and this necklace!
With seminars, demos and make and take workshops from major suppliers from the USA and well known designers. Media personality Leslie Rogalski from Philadelphia, an artist, teacher with a passion for creating jewelry. She appears on the PBS TV series Beads, Baubles, and Jewels, With program segments sponsored by John Bead. Leslie is the former editor of Step by Step Beads and BeadingDaily.com, her designs and articles have been widely published. Leslie showcased our Miyuki Delica beads and the New Tila beads. Showing guests the Peyote stitch and the right angle weave stitch with the Tila beads.
Stephanie Dixon, Canada’s own Swarovski Ambassador was here crocheting up a storm. Her specialty being using 26 gauge artistic wire and Swarovski Elements, Stephanie showed guest how easy it is to crochet and use artistic wire to create rings, earrings and necklaces.
Pam Arion from Tierra Cast was here to show an exciting sneak preview into their new Alternative line; Tierra Cast: Quality in the Making . The line features TWO NEW Finishes ; Black , a classy and edgy shade and brass oxide that serves as a perfect complement for vintage-inspired designs. These finishes are shown in many of Tierra Casts already popular clasps, charms, caps, beads, bails and spacer designs. John Bead is excited to have these in stock. Pam also showed how great Tierra Cast can be combined with other beads and Swarovski Elements like the Tierra cast Setting that fit 12mm Rivoli stones. As well as the Glue-in Charms that can hold ss10 flatback stones.
Karen Fish, a designer and bead store owner from Bracebridge, showcased various chainmaille designs. She used Beadalon’s jumpring makers to make her own jump rings using 20 gauge wire. Karen demonstrated various chainmaile patterns as well as the option of adding beads. (Chain maille books)
Douglas Ho, President of Unicorne Glass Beads was also in the showroom. Designers from Flirt were doing make and take earrings using Unicorne beads. They showed guests how to make their own hooks using artistic wire and used tools from the JOHN BEAD line; (JB PRO PLIER CHAIN NOSE WITH 3 STEP NYLON V ). Guests then added 3 teardrop beads to the hooks and perfect, a new pair or earrings.
Tuesday nights wine and cheese cocktail party was full of excitement and buzz, one couldn’t help but feel like in a tradeshow. Swarovski’s North American representative; Vince Scalera debuted Swarovski Element’s New colors for the autumn/winter 2011/2012 season as well as new shapes, finishes and production components. (Book your appointment today with one of our sales representatives to learn more about what’s new from Swarovski Elements). Vince also presented next seasons major fashion inspirations, themes and moods.
Guest went home with gift bags complete with Swarovski’s new magazine SALT as well as samples of the featured seasons products. We would like to thank the Toronto Bead Society and the Canadian Beading Magazine for supporting us and inspiring our guests.
Presenting John Bead’s newest media outlet. We are very excited to present this blog in which we will showcase our past and upcoming events. Also a place to feature new items and really anything and everything to do with beads.
Stay tuned for some wonderful blogs from various John Bead members and stay in loop with what’s new !!
