Fashion Colorworks 2011. Meet the sponsor: Artbeads.com

Offering Inspiration with Quality Products at Competitive Prices

Artbeads.com is one the web's largest suppliers of beads, Swarovski crystal and jewelry making supplies. The company offers a variety of beads from all around the world, including Thailand, Israel, and New Zealand, and works closely with Swarovski to provide high-quality crystal to its customers. Along with providing quality products with competitive prices, Artbeads.com also offers tips on jewelry making, and offers over 800 free bead and craft designs. Artbeads.com prides itself on being able to sell products to amateur jewelry makers on a budget and wholesale buyers, including offering free shipping on orders of $10 or more. Artbeads.com also ships orders to Canada for $1.99.

They have also created Beadsnap.com, a new website dedicated to artisan jewelry designers and bead stores to make wholesale ordering easier. Those buyers who spend over $2,000 a year on jewelry making supplies will find this website helpful.

The company started in 1999 by owners Devin and Cynthia Kimura, and has grown to become one of the best known online retailers of supplies to create wonderful jewelry and crafts. Their idea was to serve their customers by providing quality products, outstanding products and the inspiration to create something beautiful. The company continues to make contributions to its local community in Gig Harbor, Washington, as well as making global donations. For every order received, Artbeads.com will donate to Conservation International to protect 25 square feet of tropical rainforest.

Artbeads.com owners Devin and Cynthia Kimura

Visit online at www.artbeads.com

Email address: support@artbeads.com

For friendly customer support call (253) 857-3433 OR toll free at 1-866-715-BEAD (2323)

Fashion Colorworks 2011 Beading Contest Rules

Flying Critters

I'm hooked on Art Nouveau. My interest in this style began a year and a half ago, when Nancy Reinke, an artist from the Torpedo Factory Art Center (Alexandria, VA) presented me antique beads she took from her grandmother. Beads were Czech charlottes and were produced at the end of XIX century. No wonder, that I started reading about that time and learning art of this period. I expressed my love in several jewelry pieces: Lady Winter Necklace featuring painting Winter by Alfons Mucha, and Judith Necklace featuring... of course, artwork Judith by Gustav Klimt!


So, when Artbeads.com announced its new blogging challenge "What’s Old is New Again!", I was happy because it was a great opportunity to continue my own Art Nouveau challenge. I have to confess - and I'm glad to do that - they paid a lot of attention at vintage style products, and my search wasn't to long. Steampunk? Not now, maybe, later on...


So, I came to just launched Kabela Design that carries a very beautiful line of brass antique styled products. Art Nouveau art pieces widely featured elements of live nature such as threes, flowers, birds, insects, lizards, butterflies, etc., but number one is a dragonfly! How come? Who knows! I think, some explanations can be found. Try "Art Nouveau butterfly", and Google Image search will return you hundreds of jewelry pieces with those critters!


I finished my search very quickly, I selected two Kabela Design Antique Brass Dragonfly Pendant "to support" the center piece, and Kabela Design Antique Brass To Thee Pendant as a frame for embroidery: a piece of genuine leather and TOHO charlotte seed beads 15/0, in the center I attached a charm featuring hummingbird, the same charm I used as a small pendant. Swarovski crystal pearls of bronze and blue color, and Extreme Trios (24K gold plated) thread by Softflex helped me finish my light-weight necklace.


Art Nouveau must go on! And here is a piece of jewelry created just from beads I mentioned in the beginning of my post. It also features my lovely style. If you like that necklace you can cast your vote for People's Choice Award in the International Bead Award Contest:

Art Nouveau Restored Necklace

Disclosure. Being a reviewer of Artbeads.com products and a participant of its blogging program I received Kabela Design brass components free of charge. This post reflects my honest opinion; and Artbeads.com is not compensating me for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.