Elaine Ray new items preview

Why is this sideways? Well, Cynthia held the camera sideways because she was so darned excited about the beads...if you are in Raleigh, come by the shop on Friday, April 26th, 8:30-10 and let Elaine know what you think of her new clasp ideas. She may even have more goodies to show off!

You get to peck the winner!

The fabulous Fifi the hen was overwhelmed at the contest entries at the first (ever!) Chicken Jewelry Contest at Panopolie. She couldn't decide during the contest and had to retire to her coop with a nice glass of chardonnay* to peck a winner.

There are three categories that the entries could win.
Judges Favorite (Fifi already took care of that one!)
True to Theme (a secret panel of professional chicken jewelers decides this one)
Crowd Pleaser (you get to vote for this one right there in the left hand side of the blog!)

So, read up on the entries and vote. Voting closes on July 5th at 10:00 pm. I will announce the winners of all three categories in the store email on the 6th. Entries are listed by title and the artists first-name-only to protect reputations and make sure each artist can still hold down a design job in the future.

Chicken's Favorite features a tiny ear of corn made from Swarovski crystals. Eggstra points for bling! Glass corn beads and singing birds round out this sweet design.
artist: Tracy

Hen's Honey features an image of a fetching rooster with a bail created from chicken wire (eggstra points!) Note the use of organic materials (cherry pits and chicken feed) in this mixed media entry.
artist: Susan

Fit for a Queen is a tiara designed especially for a hen to wear to formal occasions. Eggstra points for the choice of sterling plated wire (more durable) and the ever-useful stand to hold the tiara when the hen is laying an egg.
Artist: Sher

Barnyard Friends features images of several of a hen's closest companions strung with yummy-looking beads. Eggstra points for the mirror (a hen loves to see herself!)
Artist: Nicola

Coop Bling is the most modern of the entries, with a sheer curtain of sparkling beads to accent a hen's best feature, her long neck. Eggstra points for the color, a sheer pink that brings out the color in Fifi's comb.
Artist: Kathy

Yellow and Orange features the favorite colors of chickens everywhere in a playful assortment. Eggstra points for the trendy 'Y' design and for knowing that chickens can see colors (they can!)
Artist: Erica

Pecker is a whimsical and (possibly) naughty design that features a barnyard take on a popular activity of 13-year-olds everywhere. Eggstra points for barnyard humor. Don't get the joke? Click here but be warned, it's a bit risque.
Artist: Erica

Rooster's Tail is a chic take on this season's hot fashion, the statement necklace. The draped beads evoke the tail of a handsome rooster and the rich colors say someone's been preening their feathers a lot! Eggstra points for lavish design.
Artist: Elizabeth
Chateau Polet is a bit of jolie-laide accessorizing that is both timeless and very of-the-moment. Note the mix of materials (shrink plastic, feathers, popcorn and a really nice sterling toggle!) and the use of actual food wins this entry eggstra points.
Artist: April

So, go vote for your favorite in the poll on the left side of this blog. What does the winner get? Well, that's the funny thing. I joked about the winner getting a hen for a week or two, but Fifi's booked up for months so I am still figuring out the prizes. Leave me a comment if you have any good ideas.

You can view contest photos here or scroll down...

*um, no, not a red, everyone knows that chickens are white wine drinkers! Fifi likes hers chilled, with an ice cube on a hot evening. She's a classy gal.

How To Decopatch (Decoupage) Shoes

Recently a mom was in the store covering a pair of her son's worn out shoes with Decopatch paper. It seems that he wants something unusual. She carefully applied a nice layer of Decopatch Sealer to seal them up, since he wants to wear them.

This made me think about a messenger bag that is in the back of my closet. Even though it is so worn I refuse to carry it, I haven't gotten rid of it. The bag is made of vinyl billboard fabric, repurposed, and I bought it at least 15 years ago. I love the pockets inside, they are placed just right, and the strap is wide and comfortable. The 'indestructible' fabric is worn from years of travel and daily use. Perhaps I could freshen it up with some strategically placed Decopatch flowers?

This project was so easy. She first prepped the shoes by wiping them off with a cloth. If your shoes were dirty at all, I recommend a nice stiff brush, first. Just make sure the surface is clean and there are no bits of dirt on it. Apply the paper in small bits, using plenty of sealer both under and over the paper (it acts as a glue) to make sure your paper is STUCK!

This could be done to a pair of fancy heels, too. Imagine updating those darn patent-leather nude shoes we ALL have in our closet. Right now they say 'Hello, 2015!" but with a bit of deco patch they could say 'Hello, tomorrow!"

New Contest

Edited to add: The contest will be judged on June 26th at 9:30 SHARP. I can't keep a chicken in the store all day, folks! The rules? make a piece of jewelry that is wearable (by a human) and appeals to a chicken. The chicken will judge. I suggest a bracelet, maybe something shiny. Good luck!

Well, the Breakfast and Beads crowd was at it again this morning. They really want a new jewelry design contest. After much laughing and giggling and quite possibly too much caffeine they decided to have a Chicken Jewelry Contest. Specifically, a contest where entrants make jewelry for a chicken. My hen, Fifi, who has refined sensibilities for a chicken, will choose the winner. We decided to have the contest conclude on a Friday in June after school is out (date TBA) so that Susan can participate and watch the judging.

Conveniently, a chicken neck is about the size of a human wrist, so the designs will be able to serve as bracelets after their hen-pecking. There was much joking about jewelry designs that would be irresistible to a hen; beads made of corn, bugs in resin, etc. I think that bling is the way to go. I don't know if Fifi can resist a bit of sparkly Swarovski.

So you can watch this space for contest details but consider this a head's up...start thinking about Chicken Jewelry. For inspiration, come to the Henside the Beltline Tour de Coup on Saturday, May 16th in downtown Raleigh. There will be lots of hens to look over, plus some great gardens and chicken coops. Ignore the heavily caffeinated ladies that you see trying to get the hens to peck at their jewelry. I don't know those women.

What's IS Breakfast and Beads?
Breakfast and Beads is every Friday at Panopolie. There is a big pot of coffee and some breakfast goodies and we open at 8:30. Obviously, it gets a bit out of hand. I mean, really, chicken jewelry?