New Elaine Ray beads

Just look at that wall of Elaine Ray goodies...we just got a big shipment and they are fabulous. We have some new glazes and shapes that Elaine invented just for us. We're trying them out for adding to the website. After I looked at all these beads, I don't think Elaine slept much this last month. She is an artist and the mom of teens. She's pretty busy. We get really happy when we convince her to ignore her other activities and just MAKE BEADS for hours and hours. I mean, her kids are old enough to make their own pb&j? right?

Anyway, come check out the new beads at Ornamentea and if you make something fabulous with Elaine's work you can email a pic to her...she'll put it on her blog. Or email me and we might make it a project idea on the website!

See this show!

The fabulously talented Mollie Earls is exhibiting in a show of works under $300 called Reposition. The show is located in the old Ladies Hat Shop next to the Raleigh Times on Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh. Mollie is the genius behind all the signs at Panopolie and creates jewelry using found objects of all provenance. One of my favorite pieces of hers is a necklace that features one of her wisdom teeth. She also creates jewelry with slightly off and odd imagery that makes you take a second glance, not that a wisdom tooth wouldn't make you look again.

The show is open Saturdays & Sundays 1-5pm through August 10th & First Friday (this Friday!) from 6 - 11pm and by appointment (email: tracy.spencer (at) gmail.com for an appointment.)

Visit the fine folks at the New Raleigh blog for more information about this show...including artist bios and images of their work.

Sweet Ribbon Necklace How-To

I love to use ribbon instead of chain for a sweet touch with pendants and lockets. A simple 36" length of ribbon can be knotted to suit the wearer and is a quick and lovely way to show off (and sell!) one-of-a kind pendants or romantic lockets. For a more finished look without much trouble or expense, I always turn to fold over ends. The fold over ends on the ribbon give it a permanent finish and allow me to use a hook and chain to secure the necklace. I use fold over ends with a variety of ribbon widths, folding the ribbon to fit inside. For thinner ribbons, I like to do a knot (shown below) to make it a little more secure. A drop of glue will help the ribbon stay within the end forever.

If you sell your work, consider making up a few dozen ribbon necklaces in a variety of colors and ribbons. Display them on a stand near your pendants and charms and allow purchasers to pick out their ribbon necklace when they buy a pendant or charm. They can customize the look of your pendant to suit their tastes and you can even sell the ribbon necklaces separately for a quick add on.

Visit our new expanded ribbon selection and choose your own favorite color or style of ribbon to make this necklace all your own. Materials used in this project are available at Ornamentea and Panopolie or buy them all on line.

You'll need:
15 inches of striped ribbon, 3/16ths wide
2 antique brass fold over ribbon ends
1 antique brass heart locket, 20 cm
1 antique brass round bezel setting, 14 mm
1 vintage mother of pearl button to fit in bezel
1 antique brass square jump ring, 1/4 inch
3 antique brass round jump rings, 5 mm
3 antique brass head pins, 1 inch
3 inches of antique brass extender chain, 4 x 5 mm links
1 antique brass hook
3 black Czech glass beads, 4 mm

You'll also need:
glue (I like Beacon's 527)
chain nose pliers
round nose pliers
scissors
(get all your tools here!)

Need to know how to open a jump ring? Loop a head pin? Visit our Tutorials Page for all these and so much more...

1. Trim ribbon to length and make a tiny knot in each end. Place a small drop of glue inside one of the fold over ends and place the ribbon knot on top of the glue as shown. Using your chain nose pliers fold the flaps over one at a time to seal the end of the ribbon. Repeat with the other knotted end. Place a small dot of glue inside the bezel and position the button within the bezel. Set bezel aside to dry.
2. Using your chain nose pliers carefully open one of the 5 mm jump rings. Thread it through the loop on one of the fold over ends and then through the ring at one end of the extender chain. Carefully close the jump ring. Repeat to attach the hook to the other end of the ribbon. Set this aside.
3. Using the round nose pliers loop the 4 mm beads onto the head pins. Carefully open a 5 mm jump ring and feed the three looped beads onto the jump ring followed by the locket. Link this to the scroll at the bottom of the bezel and close securely.
4. Using the chain nose pliers gently open the square jump ring and feed it through the scroll at the top of the bezel. Close securely. Thread the chain end of the necklace through the square jump ring to finish the necklace.

Button charming earring tutorial

To make these sweet button earrings you'll need:
2 antique brass bezels, 14 mm
2 vintage mother of pearl buttons to fit the bezels
2 antique brass simple ear loops
2 antique brass jump rings, 5 mm
6 antique brass head pins, 1 inch
2 vintage jet glass leaves
6 black faceted glass beads, 4mm

You'll also need
Beacon 527 glue
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers

1. Use a small dot of the 527 glue to set a vintage button in the center of each bezel. Set these aside to dry.

2. With the round nose pliers, create a wrapped loop at the top of a vintage leaf as shown.

3. Thread one of the 4 mm beads onto a head pin and create a loop. Repeat with all the remaining beads and head pins. Set aside.

4. Using your chain nose pliers, gently open one of the jump rings and thread it through the loops at the top of 3 of the beads, the loop at the top of a leaf and the bottom scroll on one of the bezels in order. Close securely. Use your chain nose pliers to gently open the loop at the bottom of the simple ear loop and feed it through the other scroll on the bezel. Close securely. Repeat to create other earring.


These earrings would also look lovely with a tiny picture in the bezel. Imagine a photo of your grandmother in your right ear, your grandfather in your left. Or Laurel and Hardy, that would be quite nice, too.

New stone pendants and strands will be in the stores this week...yummy.

I made a bracelet with a round flat stone similar to the ones in this picture. Every time I wear it I find myself checking my wrist to see what time it is. Somehow, the bead never quite knows.