Jade's Necklace

When I came back from the Bead&Button Show this past June, I brought with me some fabulous vintage Swarovski Crystal cabochons, and graciously agreed to share some with the shop.  They didn't last long.  When Jade of 5280 Platinum Studios stopped by, she just had to have me make something with the Smoked Topaz rounded triangles, but what to make?  We decided on stacking them as a centerpiece with a bit of beadweaving around them, and I set to turning the crystals into a pendant.  The pendant has been done for a while, but the rest of the necklace wasn't really coming to me, so I let it sit and stew until I found the perfect accompanying pieces.  Yesterday, I think I found a great combination that not only looks fabulous, but allows the centerpiece to shine.  Here's what I've come up with:

I used an irridescent purple natural pearl, double-drilled shell spacer bars in purple, Swarovski Crystals in Amethyst and Smoked Topaz, and added antiqued copper daisy spacers and slightly tarnished copper balls.  It still has a way to go (for one I need to figure out which clasp will work best), but I think I'm on the right track....what do you think?

So excited!

In May of 2009 I participated in the Bead Unique Magazine Bead Swap.  When I received the box of goodies from other beaders, I went to work and created 7 items to send to them.  I was elated that October when I opened the Winter 2010 edition to find a little picture of one of my bracelets with my name beside it on the page describing the Bead Swap.  In February of 2010, as I was opening the first storefront location of my bead store, I was contacted by Joanna Feller, Managing Editor of Bead Unique Magazine requesting the instructions for my Medallion Bracelet, stating that they had it in mind for their Winter 2011 issue (hitting newsstands in October 2010).  I was both humbled and honored to even be asked.  I quickly sent along the instructions for the bracelet,  and waited.

A few months went by.  I was asked for a few more sets of instructions, 2 of which I have sent along, and one which I have yet to get to (I'll get there I swear).  I was beginning to give up hope on the winter issue when I received the fall issue, and near the back was a large teaser picture of my bracelet saying 'Coming in next issue'.  Woohoo!  Now I knew for sure that I would be in that issue!  Yesssss!

 

So, without further adieu, I give you the Winter 2011 issue of Bead Unique Magazine, complete with my Medallion Bracelet article.  The picture of my bracelet was taken by Pamela Hawkins, Editor in Chief of BU (you can visit her blog here).  Thanks Pam for making my item look its very best.  I appreciate it more than you could know :) .  Here's to the first in a long line of fabulous articles!

Great Movies to Bead by....

The Worst Witch (1986)
The Story: Mildred Hubble is accepted into Miss Cackle's (Charlotte Rae)Academy for Witches based solely on being descended from a long-line of respectable Witches. Her potions making is terrible, her broomstick riding is attrocious, and she's the only girl in the school with a grey kitten. Daunted by a nasty fellow student bent on her demise, a head teacher (Diana Rigg)who simply hates her, and a band of wicked witches trying to take over the school, Mildred (Fairuza Balk) has to dig deep inside herself to save the day (and meet the Grand High Wizard (Tim Curry).


Why I like it: I admit, this is a favorite from my childhood. I wouldn't go trick-or-treating without seeing it. I love that Charlotte Rae plays both the head-mistress of the school Miss Cackle, and her wicked twin sister Aggie. Diana Rigg (with her fabulous cheekbones) portrays a very believeable mean teacher out to get the nice girl, but redeems herself a bit in the end. And if those aren't enough for you, it's totally worth seeing Tim Curry dance around in this hilarious solo where a green screen ( new technology for the time) was used to show not-so-scary Halloween scenes in the background while he sings about my favorite holiday. True, it's a show made for kids in the 80's, but I rather enjoy the cheesy graphics and the cute coming of age story; I hope you will too!


Practical Magic (1998)

Born into a legacy of witches with a dark history, Jillian (Nicole Kidman) and Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) have never been 'normal'. Raised by their aunts after their parents' death, the sisters grew up in a household that was anything but typical--their aunts fed them chocolate cake for breakfast and taught them the uses of practical magic. But the invocation of the Owens' sorcery also carries a price--some call it a curse: the men they fall in love with are doomed to an untimely death. Now adult women with very different personalities, the quiet Sally and the fiery Gillian must use all of their powers to fight the family curse and a swarm of supernatural forces that threatens the lives of all the Owens women.


Why I like it: Beyond Sandra and Nicole's fabulous hair in this movie (yes, we know they're extensions, but that's hardly the point), I always enjoy a good love story, and Practical Magic delivers. I am a big fan of midnight Margaritas, and chocolate cake for breakfast if I can get it and, no I wouldn't mind very much if Aidan Quinn showed up at my doorstep bent on being my new love interest. Stockard Channing and Diane Wiest have long been favorites of mine, and they are laugh out loud hilarious in this movie at times. It has action, adventure, (needless to say) magic, and a few scenes with a hot undead guy...what more could you want for your Halloween viewing?