Cynthia is on Beads, Baubles and Jewels. Watch it here!

Have you watched my most recent project on BB&J lately? It's up on the site, now...check it out by clicking the picture link.

New BlueQ totes, bags, boxes and more

We love the stuff made by BlueQ, a U.S.-based company with a sense of humor and social consciousness.

See all the BlueQ on our site here.

They make really cute, really useful bags and boxes.
They credit their product designers and don't rip off artwork from artists.
They use post-consumer plastics in many of their products.
They employ developmentally disabled adults at their packing facility here in the U.S. and their boxes always arrive perfectly packed.

Plus, their bags make us all kinda go squeely when we unpack them. Check this one out:

incredible...

Box from Bot & Dolly on Vimeo.

This ends with my favorite Arthur C. Clark quote...

I love this video...

not the least for the fashion ideas...but also these (British) ladies seem like they'd be so much fun to spend an afternoon with.

Favorite quote: 'Don't wear beige, it might kill you.'


Note: the original, full length video was removed from YouTube by the producers. The link above is now to the trailer and there is a link there where you can watch the full video on the producer's site. Sorry for the confusion!

Join us for First Friday!

Join us tomorrow night for a FREE First Friday project from 6-8 pm. You can make a Leather Braid Bracelet at our work table for free, grab some Chick-n-que for dinner outside and then you can hop on the R-Line and hit all the other First Friday spots.

Can't make it Friday night? this project is just $5 all weekend at our work table.
Watch the Vine video below to see how we did it!




Follow us on twitter and vine so you don't miss a video!

How to make a Color Pop Felt Ball Necklace

We'll be featuring this as a Dispatch project in just a few days. The free Miss-Match Ribbon Pack I mention in the video will be available with a coupon we'll send out. To get your coupon, be sure to subscribe to the Dispatch right now. 

Beads, Baubles and Jewels DVD now available

This is the cover of the newest season DVD for Beads, Baubles and Jewels with Katie Hacker. See those last two projects there in the inset images? Those are both MINE!
Really.
Wow.
Kinda cool.

That fabulous bracelet up top is by Barbara Lewis and if you think the picture is yummy, you should see what the bracelet looks like in person. Barbara and I were there for taping on the same day, but through the magic of editing she and I are not on the same episodes.

You can order the DVD now right here. If you are like me, your local PBS station does not carry the show or carries it at a very odd time (like 7:00 on a Saturday morning!)

Ahh, DVD is the way to go!

A note to creative people...

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

She's Making Jewelry Now

It would be funny, if it wasn't so true...

New Video Tutorial - Crocheted Convertible Necklace/Bracelet

Have it both ways! Just click here to see the video...the fab Tracy T. makes your "I don't know how to crochet blues" slip away!

Customer work - macrame bracelet by Malin

 

This bracelet by Malin De Koning was inspired by our recent macrame video tutorial, the Macrame Meanings Bracelet. Malin used a lovely natural hemp and a mix of beads to make hers. That sliding knot clasp at the back is the trick. It makes the bracelet seem endless and oh-so-easy to get on. Read about this project at Malin's blog and you'll also see some lovely work by an artist who really gets color and LOVES art beads...

How to Macrame a Meaning Bracelet

Learn how to macrame a symbolic bracelet with our easy-to-follow video tutorial.

Customer work - Star Statement Necklace

See how Mor created a dramatic and personal gift for a friend...right at our work table!

How To Make Waterproof Paper Pennants Using Decopatch Papers

Are you making pennants for an outdoor party or event? Do you just want your paper pennants to last a bit longer than a day or two?

We like mixing fade-resistant Decopatch papers to create a set of fun pennants that will last for ages.

Making custom pennants is a great way to carry through a theme or decorative color scheme in your party, but these pennants can also be hung around a bedroom for a bit of whimsy. Making pennants is simple, you'll just need a few tools and some Decopatch papers and varnish.

You'll need: an Ex-acto knife or other paper cutter, a cutting mat, a ruler or straight edge and some plastic to work on when you get out the varnish.

For all the details, watch our quick how-to video shot in the dawn of You-Tube (back in 2011!)
You can watch the video of how to make these paper pennants below, but please be nice and don't tell us the picture is blurry. That was a first-generation iPhone.

Decopatch papers in a pretty mix for this project are right here.
The waterproof varnish can be found here.

Don't forget to try one of the Decopatch brushes, they really do make the project go faster!



note: this post was edited on 8-31-16 by Cynthia to update links

Create a floral headband

Rosette Barrette Tutorial

check out this new tutorial for Rosette Barrettes
we got extra fancy and did a video AND wrote up a printed version...
cause we are that nice!

enjoy!

New Decopatch video...and a great gift idea!

This is a quick and fun way to make a custom soap dispenser for any sink in your house.
Or the house of a friend.

Really, who wouldn't like to get a sweet bottle of a nice pump hand soap in a pretty container? Tie a bow on this and bring it to the next dinner party.

Wine is so 2010.

Watch the video here.

Which craft resin should I use for jewelry?

Check out our newest how-to video with our three favorite resin products...
see the video here.

Come see our newest video tutorial...click on the sweet bunny!

The Step Up Bracelet

This bracelet is featured in a new video series Tracy created for our YouTube channel. She'll show you how to create rosary-style links, how to string and crimp and how to attach it all using end bars. If you are a beginner in any of these techniques we hope this video will answer those late-night beading questions. For day-time beading questions, nothing beats coming in to our store (or your local bead store if you are far away) and asking for help or a demonstration. I love beading books but watching actual hands make the movements is really, really nice.

So, check out the video...