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February is a short month in the middle of a long winter. I visited snowy Indiana in the very chilly middle of January. It has even snowed several inches at my house in temperate northern California; I've seen everything this winter.
Now I am ready to see the newest, latest and best in beads. Next week I head for sunny Tucson. This is my first year, so I'm leaving my credit cards locked safely in my hotel room to keep from breaking my budget. I will feature some of my exciting finds from Tucson in the next e-newsletter, so watch your Inbox!
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Put Your Beads On The Table: Play Bead Trade
In the October 2007 issue of Simply Beads, designer Candie Cooper suggests hosting a jewelry-making party to get your friends together, make something pretty and have a good time. Artist Hannah Braun-Allen has taken this idea all the way to the game board by inventing a game called Bead Trade. Historically, beads have been used as currency. There is even a popular urban myth that beads were used to purchase Manhattan, however, no historical proof exist to support this lofty claim.
Hannah Braun-Allen began her love affair with beads when she was in high school. It has been a torrid affair, including a passion for making glass beads and crafting original jewelry. Hannah also instructs Girl Scouts so they can earn beading badges, hosts beading parties and teaches beading classes at the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc, Wis. Her original inspiration for the game came from a dream that woke her from a sound sleep. Hannah immediately began sketching every detail she could remember.
Hannah spent nearly two years developing Bead Trade from her dream with gracious support from her mother, husband and two daughters. She has applied for a patent for Bead Trade, the first hobby-related trading game ever invented. To turn her dream into a game board, Hannah traded her bead knowledge for Katy Consultant's game-industry expertise. The first 10,000 games rolled off the presses in November 2007 at Color Craft Graphic Arts, a Manitowoc printer.
Bead Trade can be played at parties, bead stores, ladies night, bead society meetings or a casual beading barbeque. Players can bring their own beads or the host can provide everyone with a goodie bag that can be used for wagering. Bead Trade comes with 6 different game boards that use bead terminology to direct the play. There are two different ways to play, one a bit more competitive than the other. Beads are used to ante-up and can range in value from 2 cents to $100, and winner-takes-all at the end of each round.
The game costs $24.95 and is designed for 2-6 players, ages 12 and up. Hannah has partnered with Beadniks, The Bead Goes On and Beadsmith-Helby to get the game into your home or local bead store. This is a fun way to learn terms, get a few new beads for your collection and leave the house for a few hours.
I asked Hannah to describe the best bead she has won playing Bead Trade. Over Christmas she won an old yellow, blue, brown and green African trade bead that belonged to her Aunt. So make a list of the best bead collectors you know and invite them over for some laughs and a round or two of Bead Trade. After all, you can't bead every night, and you could win the perfect bead for your next creation.
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Return to Sender
This bracelet and earring set is stamped, sealed and ready-to-wear!
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 Return to Sender
Designs by Candie Cooper
There's something magical about postage stamps! Combine them with painted game tiles to create this clever, stretchy bracelet and earring set.
Materials:
- 8 wooden letter tiles
- 9 vintage postage stamps
- 18 (6 x 6mm) light gray glass beads
- 2 (1-inch) silver head pins
- 2 silver ear wires
- 2 (12-inch) lengths .032-inch-diameter clear elastic cord
- Black acrylic paint
- Permanent marker
- Sandpaper
- Paper clip
- Paintbrush
- Laminating machine
- Safety glasses
- 1/16-inch hole punch
- Drill press and #55 drill bit
- Acrylic semi-satin varnish
- High-gloss reactive polymer compound varnish
- Jeweler's cement
- Epoxy
Finished Sizes
Necklace
2 3/8 inches in diameter
Earrings
1 5/8 inches long
Instructions
Bracelet |
| 1 |
Measure approximately 3/16 inch from one end on edge of wooden tile and mark with permanent marker; repeat on same edge 3/16 inch from opposite end. Drill the holes through to the other side using a drill press and #55 drill bit. Repeat for each wooden tile. |
| 2 |
Sand rough edges on holes. |
| 3 |
Paint tiles black; let dry. Brush a coat of acrylic semi-satin varnish on each tile; let dry. |
| 4 |
Use the end of a paper clip to open any holes that may have gotten filled with paint or varnish. |
| 5 |
Trim a postage stamp for each tile so it will leave a narrow border when placed on tile; laminate each stamp. Trim off excess plastic, leaving a narrow border. |
| 6 |
Use epoxy to adhere laminated stamps to wooden tiles. |
| 7 |
Following manufacturer's instructions, drop small amounts of high-gloss varnish onto the center of each tile, using the end of a paintbrush. Use brush to spread the varnish to the tile edges. Follow manufacturer's instructions in allowing tiles to dry. |
| 8 |
Tape one end of a 12-inch length of cord; string on a bead and the top holes of a wooden tile. Repeat beading sequence seven additional times. Tape cord end to secure. |
| 9 |
Tape one end of remaining 12-inch length of cord; string on a bead and thread cord through bottom holes of the first wooden tile from step 8. Continue in the same manner until cord has been strung through all of the wooden tiles. |
| 10 |
Remove tape from the bottom cord end; knot cord ends together. Apply a dot of jeweler's cement to knot; let dry. Repeat to knot top cord ends together. Trim cord ends. |
| Earrings |
| 1 |
Cut a postage stamp in half vertically. Laminate both pieces separately and trim off excess plastic, leaving narrow borders around stamps. |
| 2 |
Punch a 1/16-inch hole through center top and center bottom of both pieces. |
| 3 |
Slide a bead onto a head pin; use round-nose pliers to form a loop above bead. Trim excess wire.
Open loop and slide it onto bottom loop of one of the laminated pieces; close loop. |
| 4 |
Open loop on ear wire and slide on top hole on laminated piece; close loop. |
| 5 |
Repeat steps 3 and 4 to complete second earring. |
Source: Elastic cord and GS Hypo Cement from Beadalon.
Copyright © 2006. Simply Beads magazine. All rights reserved. Back to top.
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Snail Mail
As Editor at Simply Beads, I receive very little snail mail. The few letters I have received have had one recurring topic: finding the beads and supplies used in the projects in our magazine and e-newsletters. When we choose the designs for our magazines we do not know whether the materials will be available by the time the issue hits the shelves. We list all sources used in each design and also provide a buyers guide to make it easier, however, bead styles and inventory change quickly.
My recommendation follows: Use the designs in Simply Beads as inspiration for a design and remember to add your own flavor to each project. Never be afraid to substitute or experiment and remember that jewelry and beads can be easily recycled and re-used. Think outside the box -- or the magazine page -- and trust your instincts.
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Be a Show-Off!
If a design from Simply Beads inspired you to create a piece of jewelry that made you proud, we'd like to see your photos of it. Photograph your jewelry with a macro lens or setting on a simple white or gray background. Use props only when necessary. Click on the feedback form at the bottom of this e-letter, tell us which project and issue inspired you, attach a photo and send it in. Please try to keep files under 300K and save photos as RGB, JPG files for best results.
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