Spring is Soon Arriving!

I just placed my very first Design Partners order with Artbeads.com in a "Beauty of Spring" theme. My palette is a light sapphire and peridot. I can't wait to create! Stay tuned for photos of my finished piece/s.

If you haven't yet, you've GOTTA check out Artbeads.com. Terrific website and amazing products!

Hooray for Duchess & Artbeads.com!!!

Great news! I just heard from Duchess over at Artbeads.com and I'm now enrolled in their blogging program! They have a terrific website and products and now I'm going to have the chance to blog about them! Check back in the near future for some more reviews and thanks again to Artbeads.com!

Be sure to visit them at http://www.artbeads.com/

Product Review--Beadsmith Bead Tube Tower

Hey All,

After teaching a beading class this weekend, Linda at BOTK turned me onto a "portable bead-tube storage system" by Beadsmith called the Bead Tube Tower. It's a portfolio of sorts that measures 8"x16" when closed, folds for storage and includes a clear plastic travel pouch. This tower holds 13 small tubes (2-3"), 69 large tubes (5-6") or an assortment, up to 9/16" diameter. I was so excited for this find because, perhaps like many, I've been throwing my bead tubes into bags after finishing a project and when I next start something, my beads are organized in no rhyme nor rhythm so I'm left sorting through my many bags yet again!

THE GOOD: What I loved about this tower is the fact that it holds so many tubes. A beader could easily have 3 or 4 of these things hanging around and it wouldn't take up nearly the same amount of space as several bags or storage boxes would. I love that it is portable and includes it's own carrying bag.

THE BAD: While this product holds lots and lots of bead tubes, I did find that it was difficult squeezing the tubes in next to each other as the tower began to get filled. I also thought it was a very tight squeeze trying to get my filled, folded bead tower back into the plastic carrying case. I was worried the whole time I'd rip the zipper from the plastic.

THE UGLY: Perhaps it's just me, but I couldn't get this thing to close properly! I was able to sort of trifold it down after filling it with tubes; however, the velcro closure only seems to be useful when the tower is standing upright. Once it's folded flat, there's no way to hold it together so you must put it back into the travel case in order to make it portable.

Overall, I really do like this product despite my negative points above. I guess we can't have everything! I do recommend this bead tube tower and it retails for $10 to $12 in most places. If your local Michaels, AC Moore or Joann's carry this, you could always print off a coupon and get it for a better price.

Visit the Beadsmith site at www.helby.com

Please share your comments about this product if you've tried it. Thank you and happy beading!!!

Waiting with Baited Breath

Still no news from my book query as to whether or not they'd like to see my proposal package, but then again I don't really expect to hear anything for another month or so...can't hurt to cross my fingers, though!

My favorite place in the world

I taught a Beading Basics class here today. Beads on the Kennebec is the "best little bead shop in Maine." I would consider this my second home at times. If you haven't been by the shop yet, do come if you are in the area!

http://www.beadsonthekennebec.com

Beaded jewelry make great gifts!

My coworker is a licensed cosmetologist and colored my hair for me last weekend. Well, she also gave me a haircut and I was so impressed with the outcome that I felt paying her for the materials alone wasn't enough. Here's what I made to give her as well:

Some of my work this weekend

While my fiance was snowmobiling this weekend, guess what I did? You bet! Here's what I made yesterday.

Would Love Your Input

Hello, Fellow Beaders!
As you'll see, I've made some additions and changes to this blog and would love your input as to what you'd like to see (or not see!) here. Please take part in the poll to your right. I've been photographing my beadwork and hope to have those pics up very soon. Happy Beading!

PHOTOS yet to come!

Hello Beading Friends,
I received some terrific tips from Duchess on how to make this blog a better one and I'm working on it. Stay tuned for some yummy photos and more!

Finished My Query!!!!

I finished my query for Kalmbach Publishing Co. over the weekend and let it stew. I revised it a couple of times and sent it out this morning. Fingers crossed!!! I'd be happy if they just requested to see my book proposal, let alone bought it! Any progress is good progress. I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I find out anything whether or not they're interested. Wish me luck!

Thank You New Friends!

I was thrilled to see that I have some friends on this blog! I appreciate your taking the time. Stay tuned...this little blog is on its way to big stuff!

To Query or Not to Query...

Well, I'm going to query of course! My hope is to submit my beading book to Kalmbach Publishers and my pledge to myself (and to you, to make it official) is to have that darn thing out to them by February 15, 2010. Let's see what happens...

Hello, Fellow Beaders!!!!!

Welcome, welcome, welcome all to my Beading & ReeBeading blogsite. Here, you will find (mostly) beading information of all types, including photos of my work and those who wish to share theirs, product reviews, and updates on the beading book I am currently writing. I look forward to sharing and learning with you!