Put a bird on it...

This ring designed by Susan Reynolds features a bird bead by Lori Flanders of LORiOLA glass. Her birds are one of our most popular beads in the store and they are consistently requested by our customers.

This makes me wonder - what is it about birds? Why do we love them SO much?  It's hard to click more than a page or two on etsy without seeing a bird-emblazoned tote or necklace. I have seen the Portlandia video. At least eight years ago I said 'wonder when this bird trend will end?'  out loud.

And still it persists. Ask any art bead maker who makes birds and they will tell you their birds are REALLY popular. Ask any tee-shirt maker and they'll say the same. Heck, ask anyone who is really into their back yard chicken flock* and they will tell you that birds are really cool/hot/awesome.

Why do we really like birds?

If you love this ring you can take the class this week. Get the details here.
If you just love the bead, stop by the store for a great selection or see a limited color range here.

*I don't know anyone who would keep chickens in their back yard.

New sweet necklace project for you-

This tutorial will show you how to use a focal bead and knotting silk to create a sweet, simple necklace.
Enjoy!

see the tutorial here

LORiOLA and Elaine Ray in Stringing...

It's an honor to have one of my pieces featured in Stringing Magazine this month. This is our favorite magazine here at the store and the pages are always filled with really great projects. Despite the title, it's not all just strung beads; there are projects that feature chain and fibers of many kinds. My project, Spring Hope, is on page 55 and creates a late-winter story of bare branches, soaring birds and the tiniest bit of green peeking out.

This project isn't the Spring Hope necklace, but it also features beads by Lori and Elaine.
I am teaching this class at Ornamentea in Raleigh, NC on March 6th.
I'd love to have you join me!

Carolina Vines Necklace

A Frayed Heart Necklace Tutorial

This is the newest project up on our site. It features a lovely LORiOLA lampwork glass heart from Lori Flanders, a North Carolina glass bead maker we really love. These new hearts are so yummy I wanted to use them in designs that were for year-round wear. I have also been wanting to make a neck wire with fraying ribbon for about 5 years.

Really.

Do you ever have those ideas that just keep percolating in your mind, bubbling to the surface now and again until you just MUST use them? This is one of those ideas.

I took a class with Susan Lenart Kazmer in 2005 at Art & Soul and we made a necklace on a hard neck wire. We covered our wire with a sleeve of leather but I remember as I was doing the class project I kept thinking about frayed silk dupioni...The idea started out as stitched frayed silk but it slowly evolved to this wrapped form and I really like this version best.

See the full tutorial here. See Lori Flander's beads here. 

Happy Birthday!

Today is Lori Flander's birthday. She's the North Carolina artist who creates LORiOLA beads and I personally love her acorns and silvery dog bones...This black-and-red bracelet is pretty nifty, too. Go celebrate her birthday by checking out her beads in the LORiOLA shop at ornamentea.com or on her etsy shop.

Sunny Day Dogbone Bracelet

This bright and sunny project is perfect for a cold winter day. That dog bone may tempt your canine companion, but more importantly, it will make you smile every time you look at it!
Tell winter you are looking forward to a walk in the park-all materials and full directions are available here. Hand made lampwork dog bone by Lori Flanders of LORiOLA beads and also available on Ornamentea.com.

Free project idea featuring Lori Flander's lovely toadstool bead

Click on the post title to see the tutorial. This double-strand necklace features a checked ribbon and just a bit of sparkle. Sweet!

Trunk Show Friday and Saturday...see you there!

Loriola Trunk Show this Friday/Saturday