Thanksgiving Greetings!

Well, hello! Theresa here. We're going to be trying something new. Start watching for regular blog updates a couple of times each week with more pictures and more updates of what's going on in the store. Our big news this week is that Pam Way of Yellow Dog Beads will be bringing her beads into the store so that we will have them from November 26 through December 24.

That's right! You will not need to wait for her July trunk show. You can pick up some lamp work goodness now, just in time to finish your holiday gifting. 

This Sunday, the 25th, is Bead Brunch Sunday. Bring a project to work on and make some new beady friends. We will also be open tomorrow, November 23. Most people call this "Black Friday" but I think we should change it to "Beady Friday".  Come in and say hi when you get bored with the games or just feel a need to sit and visit. 

Here is some more inspiration using Pam's beads: 

While you are in the store, check out the class schedule. We have some great classes coming, but more on those later. Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day festivities.  

Kudos to our own Jessica for her GREAT photos! See you soon!!

~ Theresa

Weekly Inspiration: Lapis & Copper Pyramid Earrings

I've seen this project in various wire books, and it's pretty simple to do -- the addition of the little semi-precious chips was my own idea. You'll need to know how to make a basic loop with wire to do this project, and it helps if you've used a jig before. You will need:

20 gauge copper wire (we're having a sale of the ColourCraft wire at the store: 30% off!)
Semi-precious chip beads (I used lapis lazuli for these)
22 gauge copper wire (for the chips)
Ear-wires
Round-nose pliers (for making loops)
Needle-nose pliers (for everything else)
Cutters (for cutting wire)
Jig (optional)

You can do the wire loop-de-loos freehand, which is a little more challenging, or with a jig (we sell them for $20 -- 20% off with a class discount!). With the jig, you'll just line up a series of pegs in a row and loop your 20G wire around them. How many is up to you: on this example, the bottom row had 7 loops, and they ended up being about 3.75" long (real shoulder-dusters!).

I then prepared a bunch of little lapis chips, using 22G wire this time (slightly thinner to fit through the holes on the chips). I just made basic loops so it was easy to attach them to the loop-de-loos.

Once you've got your 2 sets of loop-de-loos, complete with dangling lapis chips, you'll just make little figure-8s (again, with the 20G wire) to connect them. Mine got a little bigger toward the bottom of the pyramid, to accommodate the lapis chips (see the side-view, below).

Then just attach ear-wires to the top, and voila! You have exotic, dangly, pyramid-style earrings, fit for an Egyptian queen!