Patti's birthday quilt

Patti Digh wants a paper quilt for her birthday. You can help her out...

get inspired at the Gregg Museum where you can see some lovely quilts (of fabric)

and then visit Patti's blog to find out more .

Setting up for the trunk show...

I was at Ornamentea tonight to help Ebrima set up for his trunk show this weekend. He hauled in so many boxes and bins of African trade beads...I couldn't believe it! The beads are beautiful!
Some very old fancy trade beads on our resident supermodelquin.
Glass of all kinds.
Boxes waiting to be unpacked.
Ebrima brings in MORE boxes!
Weird and maybe scary ring...there are two whole boxes of rings of different kinds, some like this and many more that are more simple in design.
I forgot to ask about these but I do love them...I think I may need several strands to loop 'round my neck this summer!

See you this weekend!

July Art Bead Scene Contest

Love cave paintings? this contest is for you...go to Art Bead Scene and read the details.

I love this blog and these bead artists, they all make very inspiring work!

She's good!

One of the things I say (often) to staff members here is that if they have some hidden talent I will find out about it and use it for my own nefarious purposes. This might mean finding out that someone has great handwriting and so they make the signs, or finding out that someone is a bit o.c.d. and putting them in charge of organizing tools or supplies. In the case of Jane, we found out that she takes amazing photographs. Her job is to be the Purchasing Manager, which means she spends a lot of time doing sales reports and reordering, reordering, reordering. She's busy, but when she has time she has taken some photos for our website and promotions. Her photos are good, so when she came to me with an idea for a class on taking photos of jewelry I said 'heck, yeah!'

Those classes have been very popular. The last one of the summer was today. The folks who took it were universally thrilled with their new photo talents. Tonight I saw some photos that a former student of Jane's took and I was amazed. Stacy Hartis sells her work at Sissy & Jacks on line and at local shows like the Designer's Downtown Market.

Come meet Stacy at the market on Saturday, you can tell her how much you love her photos!
Jane's next photo class will be in September, her Getting Started on Etsy class is next week.

Metals Club on Wednesday

Did you know we have a free Metals Club at Ornamentea? This club meets the second Wednesday of every month with great projects taught by club members. July's project will be chain-making using a few simple tools and various gauges of wire. Usually the club seems to have a thing for fire, but this month they are doing the cold work thing and creating some interesting chains.

Wanna come? The meeting starts at 6:15.

Just call the store at 919-834-6260 and reserve a seat as it fills up.

All tools and supplies are available at the store. Ask us to reserve yours to save time on Wednesday.

Supplies you will need to participate:

You will need 5' or more of the following: **

24ga copper wire or 24ga half hard wire
20ga copper wire or 20ga half hard wire
18ga copper wire or 18ga half hard wire

**The thinner the gauge, the finer the chain

Tools are available to share, but please bring your own, labeled with your name, so you can work uninterrupted.

Round nose pliers
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Nylon jaw pliers
Bench block
Rawhide mallet
Ball pein hammer (for base metal) or chasing hammer (sterling)

Needle or diamond files

Ruler with inches and mm

4-6mm beads that fit on 24 or 20 ga wire

1 brass tube, 11/32" or larger diameter

Eye protection

Optional, but extremely helpful:

Round/flat nose, looping pliers

Flat-half round forming pliers
Wire rounder

Optional:

Flush cutters (These will reduce the amount of filing required)

Torch and fuel w/fire brick