Snap Out of it, Jean There's BEADING to Be Done

I have the goods, and I am so READY for The Suddenly Spring Challenge by Michelle Mach

2012-02-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

I went to town taking these "signature Jean Yates" art photos for YOU, dear reader (or both of you, if you are there today).

Why did I do this? Honestly, there were two reasons. One was simply that I got the package from Michelle Mach yesterday, and I loved the packaging SO much I saved opening it until today, to get the full impact of the excitement of opening it until right before I wrote the blog about it! Hey! It could be like a reality show, I suppose, only I have never seen one.

Anyway, the packaging was adorable and of course I have re wrapped it just as it was and it is waiting right near me, until I choose what I am going to design with it.
This is something my grandmother always did when she got a package. She would open the box, and look at her present. Then she would actually literally return it to the person who had given it to her, perfectly wrapped and like new. A bit unusual, but sometimes you just have to roll with family idyosyncracies. Someone would end up with some nice new Saks Fifth Avenue Soap at Christmas or some chic Elizabeth Arden lipstick in a brushed matte gold case, chosen to celebrate my grandmother's birthday.

I do not plan to give this bracelet back. However the bracelet is super, and so are the extras, and I love the box and the ribbon and Michelle's "butterfly" circle and her daisy card! I just love everything!

I admit that
I happen to like the bracelet just as it is, but I know I have to alter it or I won't be following the rules. I DO understand the Michelle thinks that the crystal spacers are more wintry, and that this is supposed to be a SPRING challenge. Therefore I shall do my best to design a jewelry piece or pieces which have a bit more of that air of the season of Spring about them...Michelle included a delightful set of kidney ear wires and two large grass green crystal beads, as well as two smaller indicolite colored beads--with these three colors (including the aqua in the bracelet ) -- you could actually "rule verldt, Boris"!
Thank you so much, Michelle, for that! I really love that hit of extra color in the package.
So here are my glamorous and artful photos I took, with comments.

jean's arty picture number one. what can I say? this is a GREAT PACKAGE.
Michelle rocks !!! I added the flower.

Ahhhhhhhhh! Spring sprung when I opened the package! Cool colors, flowers, butterflies and that great bracelet and fab extra beads and ear wires! I was infused with joy! Look at all that color and potential!

I call this final one "Portrait of a Bracelet, on a Leaf"--look at the way the sparkle juuuuuust misses the leaf stem. Hey nobody's perfect.

In sum, I am terribly psyched for this challenge ... and when the first whisper of Spring is in the air, when the leaves are just beginning to unfurl, and the tiniest snowdrops are up in the Northeast here, where I live, you will be able to blog hop and view and enjoy online all of the creations by all of the participants in Michelle Mach's Suddenly Spring Challenge!
Thank you, Michelle!--jean

all the kits are sold out but check out the link above so you can read about the challenge!
This photo is courtesy of Michelle and is a very lovely photo I couldn't resist including! :)

Tammy Powley interviews Jean Campbell

2012-02-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

from jean's website, FYI:

"LOVE BIRDS!

15-Apr-2012

I've got a brand-new design and I'm teaching it first at the shop that inspired it. Celebrate Tax Day and come to Glass Garden Beads on April 15 to spend the day drilling, hammering, collaging, and wireworking. Should be a great day!"

Jean Campbell is pretty

I am so thrilled to see that my hero Tammy Powley has interviewed my hero Jean Campbell!
You can read it here, now and also look forward to it in Tammy's jewelrymaking newsletter coming up this Sunday! Here is the link! http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/jewelrycareers/ss/Jean-Campbell-Editor-And-Talented-Beader.htm

This is just a great interview and I loved it! I didn't just learn jewelry tips from this interview, these are words to LIVE by!

--jean!

Beadbloggers Sunday and a Blythe Doll Photo from jean yates

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Regina, a custom FaPa by Moon Rouge, monkeying around in a cute tropical dress by Dolly Molly.
jewelry by jean yates (that would be me)

Beadbloggers!!!

welcome back Jean Campbell!

Jean Campbell
What exactly does a beadwork tech-editor do? Read on!

A Bead A Day
It's Toho competition time! If you are up for the challenge check with a bead store near you for more details.
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Want to help a small business out? It's so easy! With a few clicks you can help Allegory Gallery get some free advertising dollars!

About.com Jewelry Making
Are you struggling with the cost of metal right now? Tammy gives you a tip for getting the look of metal beads without the cost.

Art Bead Scene
Gaea shares some of her current favorite beading and craft related tools.

Beading Arts
Interested in publishing this year? How about starting out with a magazine?

Beads and Books
Join the spring challenge and makeover a ready-made wintry bracelet into a piece of springtime jewelry!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Everyday Gemstones from the publishers of BeadStyle magazine is beautiful, easy, and is a special Winter 2012 issue --and Jean thrilled to be in it!

More fun news from Lark--will you love this--YES

2012-01-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

Another great email from Ray at Lark! Look at this one!--jean

Dear friend,

In the past few days I've made available some free downloadable project PDFs
from leading jewelry and beading artists, along with previews of photos from
some of the exciting new books coming out from them just now or very soon. I
thought you might want to share the links on your blog, Facebook, Twitter,
e-newsletter, or Pinterest feeds with your community, friends, and fans.
Please take a look, and thank you so much for all your consideration and
support.

From Sonoko Nozue, a PDF of the Crystal Rose necklace project and photos
from her new book, Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue:
http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/japanese-beadwork/
or
http://bit.ly/zltOQA

From Mary Hettmansperger, a PDF of the Liquid Enamel Necklace project and
photos from her new book, Heat, Color, Set & Fire:
http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/heat-color-set-fire/
or
http://bit.ly/Am6ra3

Other recent new content includes:

From Diane Fitzgerald, a PDF of the Midnight Snowflakes necklace project
from her new book, Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects:
http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/diane-fitzgerald-project/
or
http://bit.ly/An50bi

From Gordon Uyehara, a preview of project photos from his new book, Metal
Clay Fusion:
http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/metal-clay-fusion/
or
http://bit.ly/yfWyaA

From Sabine Lippert, a PDF of Les Fleurs Necklace from her new book Sabine
Lippert's Beaded Fantasies:
http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/beaded-fantasies/
or
http://bit.ly/AjLzTj

We'll have more new content posting soon, including a brand new interview
with beader, teacher, and author Jamie Cloud Eakin and, of course, some very
nice giveaways. And I hope you caught the recent interview with Rachel
Nelson-Smith: really good stuff at http://bit.ly/wpIp8W

Let me know if you have any questions or if there's anything for which I can
be of assistance to you. And thank you!

All best, Ray

---

Find us: http://www.facebook.com/LarkJewelryBeading

Michelle Mach's wonderful "Suddenly Spring" Design Challenge--join, as I did--it sounds GREAT

2012-01-26T07:11:00.000-08:00

Hey! I am doing this! Yippee! I heartily suggest you do it too! Love this idea which Michelle Mach thought up! I have been in one of her design challenges before and I had a total blast!

Her ideas are so refreshing and well thought out -- this will be a great way to welcome spring! Give yourself a boost of instant creativity by using this challenge as your launching pad!

Here is the information directly from Michelle's site:

Join the Suddenly Spring Challenge

Tuesday, January 24. 2012

If you want to buy your challenge kit right now before reading about it, go for it!

The Challenge Inspiration

Inspiration #1: Ready Made Jewelry

Every time I see a piece of inexpensive jewelry in a store, I think about how I would improve it. So, naturally, when I saw a pile of these pretty blue bracelets at a bead show last fall, I immediately started thinking about how I might take them apart and make something completely different with those same beads.

Inspiration #2: New Beaders

I also wanted to offer a challenge that would be easy enough for beginners, but challenging for more seasoned designers. Beginning with a finished piece of jewelry is a great first challenge. You don't have to start completely from scratch. Instead, you could start thinking about adding a few additional beads to alter the look of this one-strand bracelet. More advanced beaders might want to completely dismantle the bracelet to create necklaces, earrings, rings, and more sophisticated bracelet designs.

Inspiration # 3: Color

Yes, It's Blue Again . . .

I didn't mean to have two blue kits in a row, but this kit was an impulse purchase that I bought before I developed the snowflake kit. Plus, I'll confess—aquamarine is my birthstone, so I seem to be unnaturally attracted to that shade of blue!

. . . But Not for Long!

Your challenge is to turn this bracelet into a piece of spring jewelry. You might add flowers, leaves, birds, or other springtime symbols. You also might think about color. What colors could you add to move it from an icy, winter bracelet to a springtime piece?

Kits

There are 20 kits available. The cost for the kit and U.S. First Class shipping combined is $8.75. For most international locations, it will be $10.75 for the kit and shipping. (I only have a few international locations listed; let me know if I need to add yours.) I always mail the kits quickly, so you have the maximum time to work. Buy the kit now.

Please, only one kit per person.

Challenge Rules

Blog Hop Reveal Date: The reveal will be March 13, 2012. This is after the Bead Soup Party on March 3rd, so I'm hoping it will be a quiet time to post. Feel free to blog about the challenge before then, but don't reveal your finished piece until that date.
Your Own Blog: I strongly recommend that you have your own blog, but it's not an absolute requirement. The idea behind a blog hop is that everyone share the links to everyone else's designs and we hop around, visit, and comment on all the participating blogs on the designated date. It's always fascinating to see the different ways other people used the same beads!
Spring Theme: Your jewelry or accessories design should represent spring. I'd especially love to see earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, hair jewelry, or anything wearable. Of course, if your muse demands that you make a beaded home decor item, you're still allowed to participate. It's best not to cross the muse!
Number of Projects: Make one or more projects with your beads.
Materials: Add any additional beads or subtract any beads you don't want to use. The finished piece is yours to keep, as usual.

I hope some of you will want to play in this new challenge! I have never done a challenge exactly like this one and I'm eager to see how it goes. As always, feel free to contact me if you have questions.

I truly am looking forward to this! --jean --hope to see you there!

Interview of me by Margot Potter the Great on her wonderful new blogsite, Craft. You.

2012-01-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when I got this email from the fiercely cool Margot Potter that my interview was up on her new blog , Craft. You.It is a great, eye opening blog worth reading. You always learn new things whenever Margot Potter is around. She is a wonderful encouragement to you and keeps you going and growing ! Here is her email:

Your Craft. You. interview is up! Thank you!

http://tinyurl.com/7688a85

Cheers,
Madge

Margot Potter

I color outside of the lines.

margot@margotpotter.com Website
YouTube

Facebook
The Impatient Crafter Blog

Great new free pdf from Lark and more excitement to come

2012-01-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

Hi! I got this exciting email from Ray of Lark Publishing and couldn't wait to share it with you!

what a lovely cover this book has!-jean

"Dear friend,

I've just posted a preview from Sabine Lippert's Beaded Fantasies: a low-res
PDF of the Les Fleurs Necklace project at
http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/beaded-fantasies/

We'll also be posting projects this week from Sonoko Nozue and Mary
Hettmansperger. So lots of goodies for your social media followers!

All best, Ray"

as I cannot wait to read this book, this is a great joy to me--to check it out in advance! And give one of the projects a try! Continue to see what Lark is up to as they post projects from the remarkable Sonoko Nozue and fabulous Mary Hettmansperger. loving this!--jean

Beadblogger Sunday and a Blythe Doll Photo by jean yates

2012-01-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

Klute, a Zaloa27 FBL custom, has a judibird DOTS angel on her shoulder, sagely advising her to DROP mom's pin up bracelet , or at least stop wearing it on her head. You can get a DOT (doll or toy) of your very own by contacting judibird on flickr. Check out her photostream and make her a contact and write her! I love my angel!!! She helps us make sense of this crazy crazy world!
Or maybe she doesn't! either way, I love her! --jean

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Valentine's Day is one of the most delightful days on Jean's calendar! Why? Because she gets to think about love, and jewelry such as the astounding pendants at NanoStyle! Tell your beloved "I love you" in a most incredible way!

A Bead A Day
Interested in using plastic to create special Valentine's Day Jewelry? Here are a couple of pieces for inspiration.

About.com Jewelry Making
What is better than some beaded embroidery how-to for a buck? Errr..nothing!

Art Bead Scene
Heather offers a beautiful free project inspired from high in the treetops!

Beading Arts
Cyndi has been trying to encourage everyone to get out there and take a class this year!

Beads & Books
See the 30+ beautiful winter jewelry designs in the Secret Snowflake Challenge. Participants used techniques such as bead embroidery, resin, stringing, wirework, etching, and more!

Charlene Sevier Jewelry
Sometimes jewelry acts up a little before it comes together. Charlene shares one of those times.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie looks back at an older post where a favorite song inspired a series of wing themed pendants.

News from Lark Publishing, including a giveaway on their blog of Metal Clay Fusion by Gordon Uyehara , and more

2012-01-19T06:48:00.000-08:00

I received this invigorating email from Ray at Lark: race to read all the fun news! --jean!

Subject: Gordon Uyehara's Metal Clay Fusion

Dear friend,

In case you'd like to share it on Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon,

 Pinterest,
your blog, or in other groups:
Lark Jewelry & Beading just posted a giveaway of an advance copy of

Metal Clay Fusion, the fabulous March 2012 book coming

 from artist and jeweler
Gordon Uyehara. The giveaway closes Jan. 25. For details see,
http://bit.ly/yfWyaA

We've also recently posted a free project from

Diane Fitzgerald's upcoming
March 2012 book, Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Projects:
A free PDF of Diane Fitzgerald's Midnight Snowflakes necklace

beading
project is available at http://bit.ly/An50bi, along with photos

of other
projects from Diane's brand new book!

Finally, we're pleased to still be running on our blog:
Excellent and comprehensive interview with

beader Rachel Nelson-Smith at
http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/rachel-interview/

Please help us spread the word!

All best, and many thanks,
Ray

Pendants and jewelry for Valentine's Day, birthdays, and for the joy of it

2012-01-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

I recently learned about an amazing website, NanoStyle and I received a pendant to review. I chose the pink heart "I Love You Pendant" you will see here. It is a CZ faceted beautifully, impeccably set in sterling silver topped with gold. Upon the CZ you can see the image of a heart. This is where is gets really different and special. The image has been lazer cut into the CZ, and around it in ever widening circles are the words"I love you"--in 120 different languages!

Here is the information from NanoStyle:

I Love You in 120 languages Pendant

Availability: In stock.

Je t’aime…… Te Quiero……Ich lieb dich …… sun ho ez…. I Love You!

If you can’t say it enough then say it in 120 languages! Illuminate your love for your sweetheart with this divine range of gemstone pendants. This shimmering love pendant collection is available in a choice of brilliant, round (16mm) cubic zirconias (clear crystal, light amethyst, light garnet or pink). Set in a choice of stunning sterling silver or glimmering 14 karat gold. I Love You is inscribed in 120 languages in 24 karat gold to help give that extra sparkle!

Here is the pendant I received:

You can purchase chains from the site, or you can --artist that you are--make your own amazing chain to flatter this remarkable piece of jewelry.

When you recieve the pendant. you get it deluxely packaged in a stunning presentation box with a lovely velvet interior. Along with it comes a special leather key chain with a tiny magnifying glass, Instruction are included on how to hold the magnifying glass over the pendant so you can see all of the golden words magnified perfectly.

I cannot express how much I love this pendant. I even thinkk that the "greek key" design (as we recognize it from ancient tableaux) on the side emphasizes how love goes on through eternity. Love lasts forever. This is a once in a lifetime gift in my opinion and I was incredibly honored to recieve and review it. I love hand made items as you know, but this--this is so spectacular and so gaspingly gorgeous and so romantic, I recommend every take a look at the site and keep this in mind for a loved one for any occasion, at any time of year. Not only the coming Holidays, but anniversaries, birthdays, a loved sister, and of course, if you choose the pink or the garnet offered as well, VALENTINE'S DAY!

There are some smaller less expensive pendants which are suitable for everyone on your Holiday list, including neices and teachers. These have roses on them and are adorable. I would love to make earrings out of a set of two of these!

Here are a couple of more photos which I took from the site.

I must point out how different the crystal CZ looks set in sterling, with a lovely sturdy optional chain.

And look at this!

Nano offers "New Age" pendants, with 24 Kt Lasering done on Onyx, as well, and there are all sort of categories, from Love to Religion to Spiritual .

There are pendants for the men in your life whom you love.

It is just simply breathtaking to see.

I love this website and implore you to take a look! You will love it too!

best wishes, jean

Everyday Gemstones from the publishers of Bead Style Magazine is out and I have a project in it

2012-01-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

I have a project in this lovely magazine!

It is on the stands for Winter 2012. It is a special issue from the publishers of Bead Style Magazine, a very highly respected and popular magazine which I have loved ever since its inception. The publishers and the people who are involved with Bead Style invariably have a way
of taking photos and explaining projects very clearly. This is a huge relief for "beading newbies" and a fine way to continue educating yourself in your jewelry making. The photos are always wonderful whether demonstrating or displaying a project. You will note yourself saying, "Well that is awfully pretty and looks like fun to make! I think I will try it!"
I have made tons of projects thanks to Bead Style. Everyday Gemstones is a fantastic special issue I am honored and thrilled be in. My project of necklace, bracelet and earrings is titled
"Call of the Wild", and I really hope you like it! When it was returned from being photographed, Jim said, "Wow! Look at this beautiful jewelry!" HAHAHAHAH. He didn't remember I had made it.
I put it all on. He took my picture, and now it is on Facebook as my profile picture. I am sitting on a table in our living room holding two dolls and there are three pears (candles ) in front of me. Don't try and figure out why! You know us. :)

Finally, I wish to say that gemstones, which have existed here on our planet since forever, are always a good thing to revisit when you have exhausted yourself absorbing all the masses of information concerning the plethora of newer forms of jewelry making. Gemstones ground you and refresh you. Empowered by them, you are once again able to understand why you love making jewelry. Go to the wellspring, allow the basic force to be with you, and get your "creative" on , by getting a copy of Everyday Gemstones ! Here is how to order it if it isn't on the stands at your store tomorrow!

Order Everyday Gemstones today

So many thanks to Shannon Levart, Melanie of Earthenwood and Dakota Stones for assistance with my project!--jean!

Beadblogger Sunday and a Blythe doll photo by jean yates

2012-01-15T08:02:00.000-08:00

Jewels all dressed up in her boho finery! Jewels is a Tokyo FBL custom by Zaloa27, earrings by me

Resin Crafts!
Carmi has a two part series featuring resin on agate!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Margot Potter, Swarovski, the incredible low down on the most fab event at Tucson this year! You must check this out!!! WOW!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi declares 2012 as the Year of The Knot!

Beading Arts
Do you struggle to add Swarovski rivolis to your bead embroidery? Cyndi has the solution for you in her brand new e-booklet, "Three Bezels Plus a Bonus"!

All Hail the Blogging from A to Z Challenge for April 2012

2012-01-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

Are you ready?

Yes I am ready!!! The signups begin this month. I did this last year and had a ball! It is awesome, awesome awesome. People participate for all sorts of reasons. You have NO idea how transforming it is until you join in.
(by the way, I have to thank Michelle Mach for bringing this to my attention initially--I would follow her anywhere and I really was thrilled that I followed her lead, on this cool challenge last year!)

I woke up this morning to a lot of rain and then I saw this great post on Arlee Bird's super site and lifted it off. It presents a viewpoint from a person who participated last year , for different reasons than I did. As I have stated, I did this because one of my idols, Michelle Mach, was doing it. Yeah, I put that much thought into it. But you will not believe what you personally get out of this challenge if you try it! So here is the post I saw this morning!

Blogging A to Z?: A Word from the Other Side

On January 6, 2012 Timothy Brannan from the blog The Other Side put forth a challenge to OSR/RPG bloggers (that's "Open Source Resistance/Role playing gamers) to consider doing the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. He presents valid reasons for doing the Challenge that would apply to all other bloggers as well. This post is reprinted with Tim's permission.

Blogging A to Z?

Last year I proudly participated in the Blogging A to Z challenge in April.

I felt it was not only a good way to stretch my creative abilities but work on my writing and do a bit a cross blog-genre promotion. My hits went up, and stayed up, drastically during and after April and I got my greatest surge of followers.

Well they are doing it again this year.

Artwork by Ada Zdanowicz

Though I am not sure I am going to do it this year yet or not.

Last year it worked out on many levels for me. I recall thinking about the posts I had queued up and how they would fit the challenge. When "Z" fell on a Saturday it clinched it for me.

Part of the purpose of the blogfest is to post every day. I do that now anyway.

Keep in mind I am NOT saying participation is a bad idea, far from it in fact.

I actually suggest that we get MORE OSR/RPG bloggers participating to get our message out there.

The one thing we all talk about is getting more people involved in our hobby, we can't do that if the only people we talk to are already in our hobby.

Plus if you are selling a product you should participate just to more attention to you and your book.

If I do it this year then I need to do a theme or something, make it more challenging than last year.

Are you going to participate? Why or why not?

Who's ready to accept Timothy Brannan's challenge?

Uh, jean is!!! Whatever OSR means!!! See, I am already ready to learn!

Oh my gosh what a fantastic event -- Margot Potter the magnificent, Swarovski, and The Tuscon Gem Show: Please read on

2012-01-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

I received the most fabulous email from Margot Potter this morning! She was full of news about the following upcoming event which has the best of everything rolled into one! You just CANNOT miss this if you are going to the Tucson Gem Show.

So here is the story: This is THE big Design Challenge and Event at the Tucson Gem Show with Swarovski. The class is on January 31st from 9-5pm with a reception at 5:30 to award winners.
It's an 8 hour intensive class and contest where students will work closely with the ever astonishing fun and totally talented Margot and the Create Your Style team on a design from concept to finished piece. The first prize is now worth 700 dollars and there will be prizes given out during the event PLUS there is a TON of swag from a huge list of who's who in the jewelry making segment along with a bevy of crystal with which to play. They'll get far, far more than 175.00 worth of fun and value. Margot says: "We're also providing meals AND a sparkling champagne reception after the event".

This is a can't miss opportunity . Watch the video and you will see first hand! And check out Margot's incredibly stunning jewelry--she is always on trend and gorgeous. That voice of hers is amazing, too.

--jean

Here is a link to the video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/JliXIwCoIgQ too! Pass it on!

Cousin Corporation of America, a great website for jewelry designers with the capability to purchase wholesale

2012-01-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

Note from jean: This website's catalog is beautiful! I received it last week. I know that all of us do not have wholesale numbers, but if you do, it is worth your while to check out Cousin Corporation of America.

Here is an email I received from them today.

"Subject: Leading Jewelry Making Wholesaler Launches Premier Website Fusing Product and Community

It's official!

Largo, FL (December 27, 2011) – Cousin Corporation of America announces it has launched its newly redesigned website. After seeing a lack of online communities where jewelry makers can interact, Cousin created a “home” for the close-knit jewelry making community to search for new products, share finished designs and receive support from fellow jewelry makers. Cousin, a 41 year-old family-owned jewelry making supply company, rebuilt and reformatted their entire site. The goal is to fulfill those needs complete with an online wholesale catalog, educational videos, inspirational projects and an interactive blog. http://www.cousin.com/Blog.aspx

Soon, both new and existing wholesale customers will be able to place orders online.

Jeff Cousin, President, commented, “I think everyone will find our website a pleasure to visit and easy to navigate. Safety is very important to our customers and to Cousin, so the website is built on an industry leading e-commerce program ensuring that our customers’ information is kept safe.”

Cousin’s goal is to make it easy for their customers to find valuable product information, read the latest updates and find design inspiration without ever leaving the website.

Jennifer Cook, Marketing Coordinator, added, “We have a very loyal following, so we want to create more than just a new website. We want to be a home for both jewelry makers and wholesale customers and offer fun two-way communication with blog and Twitter updates, Facebook posts, videos and inspirational projects.”
The 2012 Cousin catalog is available now to wholesale customers online and in print upon request. To view the latest products from Cousin, please visit www.cousin.com. Join their jewelry making community by visiting www.facebook.com/CousinCorp or follow Cousin on Twitter http://twitter.com/cousincorp.

###

About Cousin

Cousin Corporation of America is a 41 year-old family-owned, privately-owned company based in Largo, Florida, USA. Cousin began in 1970 as a local retail craft store selling arts and crafts, floral and home décor products. The popularity of jewelry making encouraged Cousin to devote its focus on products supporting the jewelry making industry. Cousin employs a full-service, in-house production team of jewelry designers, graphic artists, photographers, packaging specialists, program designers and a marketing and social media team as well as sales staff located all over the world to provide superior service and support to the global consumer."

really worth checking out!--jean

Beadblogger Sunday and a Blythe Doll Photo by jean yates

2012-01-08T04:42:00.000-08:00

pretty Sylvie, a Zaloa27 custom FBL Paris Blythe, flirting in her magnificent hat by Cindy Sowers on Etsy

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie starts a new blog project for the year, being inspired by places of the imagination. Read about the first month's inspiration of places in the sky.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean's involved in a new project! It's jewelry, wait--it's crafts, no--hold on--it's dolls, no wait! It's a book! Hold on to your hats! It's a whole bunch of fun and it is debuting this week! See more on Jean's blog!

About.com Jewelry Making
Step up from the basic pearl post earrings with this dangle earring tutorial.

Art Bead Scene
It's the start of a new year and a new month and that means a new Art Bead Scene challenge! Check out the beautiful color palette that we pulled from a William Morris wallpaper design.

Beading Arts
Have you heard about Take a Stitch Tuesday?

Tammy Powley's interview with Charlene Sevier, jewelry designer and so much more

2012-01-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

Tammy Powley has posted a super interview with Charlene Sevier, who is a phenomenal and thoughtful jewelry designer.
I was blown away by this interview as it was so insightful and I actually learned so much about how another designer thinks when I read it. Tammy's questions and Charlene's responses went together like a hand in a glove.
I thoroughly recommend that you read this interview, as I anticipate that you will enjoy it as much as I did! It will help you in your own reflections on why you personally make jewelry. It is just exceptional!

Find it here: http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/jewelrysuccessstories/ss/Charlene-Sevier-Transitioning-Jewelry-Designer.htm

thanks, Tammy and Charlene!

--jean

For the Love of Blythe, Hello, Blythe World

2012-01-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

For the Love of Blythe

The BIG dolly project is unveiled!
Check it out!
fortheloveofblythe.wordpress.com/

This has been a very exciting month for me and many of my friends in the Flickr community. We have a project you can read about --see the new blog here, or at the highlighted link above!
If you love watching how creative, crafting, or jewelry designs progress, if you love a sense of community, if you love learning about artists and artisans from ALL over the world coming together, then
I hope you will stop by our new blog!Yes, it involves Blythe dolls. Yes it involves jewelry (as some people say: "squee! squee!" <--or has that one already gone by ? You know me!) , and it actually involves SO much more than that I can't explain it. You'll just have to see. And as you watch this evolve, I hope you will comment...because you are an important part of this dream.

Thank you!

jean xox

Exciting Interview with Rachel Nelson-Smith at Lark

2012-01-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

Hi! It's jean! I got a wonderfully exciting email yesterday from Ray at Lark about the very remarkable, fascinating Rachel Nelson-Smith, one of the coolest beaders around!

look at all that color!!! It lights you up! So does she! You will see why!

I though you all might enjoy reading the email and the interview:

Here is the email:

Subject: Interview with Rachel Nelson-Smith

Hello everyone,

Happy New Year!

We've just posted a great, major(<--note from jean--I put that in bold!) interview with beader, teacher, and author
Rachel Nelson-Smith at:http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/rachel-interview/
Rachel is a wonderful storyteller and creative. If you're willing, please
share the interview on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, e-newsletter, or other
social-media outlets. Thank you very much!

Best wishes, Ray

---

Find us: http://www.facebook.com/LarkJewelryBeading

--soooo, I am very pleased to share this with you on my blog! It is great!
Don't miss it!

--jean

BEADBLOGGERS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, Blythe doll photo by jean yates

2012-01-01T09:38:00.000-08:00

Regina--looking ahead to the New Year--Regina is a custom by Moon Rouge
she is holding one of her pull strings and her toy felted duck
She wants to be a ballerina when she grows up!

BEADBLOGGERS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A Bead A Day
New year, new jewelry! Lisa's working on a new piece to start the new year off right. What are you working on?

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy shares some of her favorite jewelry tutorials from 2011.

Art Bead Scene
Check out the funky metallic necklace our weekly challenge winner Molly Alexander made using copper elements

Carmi's Art/Life World
The holidays give Carmi the time to return to felting some special beads!

Snap out of it, Jean!There's beading to be done!
Jean found out that Kim Miles, one of the greatest art glass beaders in the USA, is having an ongoing sale! Check Jean's blog for details!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew finally gets his torch-fired enameling station setup and embraces color on metal!

Some great news from beadist extraordinaire Kim Miles , continuing into next week

2011-12-29T08:13:00.000-08:00

You have to be a beadist member to get these great emails from Kim! --jean

It's time to clean up my studio, and get ready for a fresh start in the New Year. This is good news for you! Starting today, I'm hosting a Progressive Bead Sale. That means almost everything in the BeadShop is 20% off today! Tomorrow I'll drop the prices to 30% off. And Friday I'll go to 40% off! You can take your chances and hope the beads you want most will wait for you, or grab them fast, at an already great discount. This is the perfect time to stock up for future gift giving, or to treat yourself. I'll also refund shipping charges on orders of $50 or more.

Lots of beads are posted right now, and I'll keep adding new listings as we go along. Check back often, and I'll drop a quick email each time I reduce prices further. With your help, I'll have a clean studio by the time we welcome in 2012!

Cheers to you, my Beadist Friends!
Thanks you so much for being there!
xo Kim

check this out. very cool, from Klew. A bronze clay workshop with Judie Mountain.

2011-12-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

I thought this looked cool, and if I were in that area that weekend, I would try to make sure I could attend!--jean

PS: I am in LOVE with those earrings in the photo! So sensual and exotic. And organic, like fossils, as well.

Jean's New Year's un resolutions for 2012

2011-12-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

jean's un resolutions for 2012

being an ornery person means you don't make New Year's resolutions.

Hello, it is jean. The person who never capitalizes her name. I do this for personal reasons and not because of e.e. cummings, whom I admire greatly. Nobody is ever going to learn why I do this because I DO have a modicum of privacy, even though I do share my life here with you often. Which I pronounce "offin", not OFT-en, just so you know.
Today I am home alone in the sense that Jim is not here. So I picked that image above, instead. It was either that or Edvard Munch's The Scream, which I do adore. Anyway. Nobody is reading this so it doesn't matter in the long run.

the cool thing I wonder is how many people have used these two images on the same post in one entry over the years. It's so obvious it's what we call a "gimmee".
But onward!
Therefore, while I am busy taking care of the kids of course, I do have a bit of free time. So I decided to make some 2012 un resolutions. First I looked up images for the word unresolution and got stopped in my tracks by google for a while because google corrected me and asked me "do you mean un resolutions "? So I said to myself, OK. I hit on images for un resolutions and got mired in a mass of United Nations Resolutions photos and a lot of politics, people signing papers, and political cartoons, none of which I identified with personally, although that was interesting. I don't discuss politics online. I figure if I keep politics out of it, no will realize what a complete dolt I am about politics, even though my minor in college was political science. Plus I hate alienating people, and there is nothing more divisive that politics online. So I don't go there. Everyone knows I am Catholic but I do not care if YOU are, so that solves the religion problem and discussing that online. Everyone knows I am a vegetarian, but I don't care if YOU are, nor do I care that I am.

My big interests are located elsewhere, so here we go with my un resolutions for 2012.

1) I un resolve to stop not doing what I love. Have I got this right? Let me think a second. If I add that I have ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) does that affect how this whole list will go? And what if I am just being difficult about having ODD? And maybe saying I have it, because I don't have it, or because I actually DO have it? Boy, this is harder that I thought.

2) I un resolve to not stop obsessing over question number one. This could help, but what if I have OCD, and am just pretending to un resolve to stop obsessing, or not obsessing , over question number one??? And did that require three question marks??? And why do I always wave goodbye with my right hand, even when I have to swivel around and contort my body into massively awkward positions to accomplish this, and even though I am incredibly proud of being left handed? ???

3) Is this microphone on? I un resolve to not laugh. OK. good. THIS ONE I NAILED! I think.

4) I un resolve to not let go of my fascination with whether I am "fat", "thin" or "just right". I think the Goldilocks "just right" syndrome has a bunch of people in its clutches and I need to get some perspective on that.

5) I un resolve to not let go of my trouble with my frizzy hair. Vanity, thy name is jean. Et tu,
e.e. cummings?

6) I un resolve to not get all caught up in thinking about that fantastically reviewed movie I want to see most, RIGHT NOW!!!, and in wishing I looked like that girl in it, Rooney Mara: "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo", and in trying to get another tattoo to slavishly emulate her in an obvious attempt to finally be a cool person for once in my life. And in considering going back on my un resolution to not obsess about my hair, and change it completely, and to get a bunch more piercings.

now really, I ask you, in all seriousness, is she not ubercool? And she is a computer genius. I myself need spell check just to make sure I spell genius correctly.

well I have to go, as I must give a bawwwwwth to one of us here, and after that, prepare his ablutions.

Oh , final un resolution for 2012:

7) I un resolve to stop my endless fascination with interesting and long words, and in trying to practice my Chaucerian accent on a daily basis, as if you think about it, no one really knows HOW they pronounced Middle English unless he or she has eaten a LOT of yogurt and lived a really really long time.

dear readers, thanks for not reading this. --jean

My life according to "The Ruse", from jean

2011-12-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

The Ruse Rebellion EP, above

posting this on my blog, flickr, <--where it began, and facebook

www.rusemusic.com/music/

My life according to "The Ruse", from jean
this game is a lot of fun!! so just play if you feel like you want it to. and just ignore if you've already been tagged..
Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think!

Are you a male or female:
Devil in the Girl

Describe yourself:
Crazy Girl (Ne M'oubliez Pas)

How do you feel:
Impressed with the Mess

Describe where you currently live:
Down In A Hole

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Perfect World

Your favorite form of transportation:
Satellite

Your best friend is:
The Sweetness

You and your best friends are:
In Defense of the Rebellion

What's the weather like:
Wonderful

Favorite time of day:
Midnight In The City

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
I Can't Stop

What is life to you:
Glitter Not Gold

Your relationship:
Bumps in the Night

Your fear:
Beautiful is Gone

What is the best advice you have to give:
Don't Let It Fade Away

Thought for the Day:
Glow

how I would like to die:
Ten Thousand Years

My soul's present condition:
Light You Up

my motto :
Simple Grace

beadbloggers sunday on Christmas day,a comet time lapse video by Colin Legg, and a Blythe doll photo by jean yates

2011-12-25T06:41:00.000-08:00

Comet Lovejoy (2011 W3) Reflections from Colin Legg on Vimeo.

Regina dreaming of Christmas day --a Moon Child custom by Moon Rouge.. Crown and angels by Moon Rouge

Beadbloggers!!!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a post about Natural Touch resin beads and making them your own.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean discovered a wonderful way to boost your inspiration! It's called DOTS--and you must get some! :)

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Embrace the holiday spirit of giving and bid on one of the fantastic "Artists Helping Artists" auctions going on to help Penny of SparrowSalvage!

About.com Jewelry Making
Don't get hung up on hang tags. Learn some easy options for creating earring cards and hang tags.

Art Bead Scene
On the 6th Day of Christmas, Gaea posted a fun beaded holiday card hanger project! Check out all 12 Days of Christmas projects on the Art Bead Scene blog!
Beading Arts
It can be a bit hard to find nice ornament cover patterns that are free, so Cyndi has rounded up a few goodies for you!

Lark mini books giveaway winner announced today

2011-12-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

Giveaway winner announced!!!

CindySowers (see her website ) has won the Lark Miniature Art books giveaway!
If I had my way. every one of you who signed up would have won this, as I love these books so much!
I find them enchanting. During these dark days which are slowly getting lighter, curling up with a book is one of my favorite pastimes. It honestly clears my head of thoughts which at times are too confusing because of all the festive seasonal things! It is like yoga for my brain. Yes, you heard it here first.
Yoga for my brain!
When I read something which I love, my collective forces unite and I can then resume some of my more demanding physical and possibly stressful whatevers which I need to do around the holidays! You name it, whatever it is I do.

Congratulations CindySowers! Hope you are having a lovely Christmas! Hope your creative (I checked out your site) soul gets a kick out of these books and that you enjoy them as much as I do.
Please contact me at my email address jyatesnewyork@aol.com and send me your address so I can send these right off to you, with love from Lark Publishing! and me too ! --jean

Exciting news from Lori about the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party Registration--don't miss out

2011-12-22T05:46:00.000-08:00

Sign ups are SOON!

Mark your calendars -- sign ups will be held January 7-9,
with the actual hop taking place March 3rd.

Please tell your friends if you think they'd be interested!

More information at this address:

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

from jean--this is so fun--you HAVE to try and get into it! It expands your own perspectives about what you are able to accomplish in ways that you will not expect, and yet you will be amazed! At yourself,and at your new online friends you will meet! It is incredible to be a member of one of the lovely Lori's Bead Soup Blog Parties. I know, from experience! :)

Oops, Giveaway for Lark Books will be announced Friday Dec. 23rd.

2011-12-21T07:59:00.000-08:00

Oh, OOPS!... or OPPS!, as many people spell it.

Lucy, my doll has some "splaining to do". she is my doll who most falls over unexpectedly, when I am trying my best to photo her. Here she is, doing just that.

OK. I think you get the idea. I am fallible too.

My math skills have never been the best. I apologize! My giveaway winner will be announced this Friday, Dec. 23rd! Please read my entry from last week on Dec. 15th and leave a comment on that post and "follow me" if you already have not done that. This is an adorable, fascinating and diverse giveaway of miniature books from Lark I really enjoy hosting! Good luck, everyone!--jean

Everyone should have something to smile at everyday.....and we also should help when we can. It is a good thing to do, to make yourself feel better if you get low in this holiday season. Please read this--jean

2011-12-19T09:37:00.000-08:00

"Everyone should have something to smile at everyday.....

And a judibird DOT does just that!"--my friend Suzanne

so exactly what is a DOT?
A DOT is a creation hand made by judibird, an artist I have met on Flickr. judibird DOTS
are also know as "Decorations, Ornaments, and Toys". You can use them in so many ways to enhance your photos of your creations I just had to point them out to you because you will never have seen such enchanting little creatures before, I guarantee. Here are some examples, in a Holiday theme, of how judibird herself and also a photographer contact, Mr. Mushroom, use DOTS.

I chose these two to show you the energy that just comes right out of the photos and is absolutely charming!

"Moonstruck" by judibird -- I LOVE this!

"Merry Stinkmas!" by Mr. Mushroom. Sorry if you object to me publicizing your photo, M.M. I adore it. You can write me later and kill me if you gotta. I like your work. DOT by judibird, of course.

Suzanne also said to me, when I mentioned I was going to publicize judibird on my blog, "I told her you just never know where it could lead her artistry..... and it truly is an art! I certainly could NEVER come up with the ideas, or could I create them!!!! AND HER PICTURES and SO COLORFUL AND CREATIVE AND AMAZING!!!!"
here are a couple of Suzanne's I really love:

(click the small ones to enlarge) This was taken in a very hot area of the USA so the little devils informed their new pals they were quite comfortable! The cat looks like my friend Felix from my childhood. love the tinies, too!

This one by Suzanne is called Hi! ( hahahaha!) DOT by judibird--this one just knocks me out!

I just get really cheery when I look at these photos and I think that many jewelry designers NEED inspiration from other types of artists when they are creating. If you buy from judibird, you are going to ramp up your creativity as soon as you recieve your DOT or DOTS in the mail. I guarantee this. Nobody does it better, as the old James Bond song goes!

here is another photo from the wonderful judibird:

This is called Bunnypoints--how wonderful is this! Is everyone happy now? I know I am!
and one more I really am enamored of because I think of MOI:

Ahem..I have never told you this before, but I like to think of myself as "queenly". Jean, my name, comes from my grandmother Regina. Latin for Queen. If my parents had only named me Regina my nickname could have been my dream name, GINA, but that is a story for another day. It a rare Scottish Catholic girl like myself who sports a cool moniker like Gina, darn it. Oh jean, get over yourself! DOTS and photo by judibird.

OK, so I took the liberty of taking some of judibird's lovely photos from Flickr without her permission. Forgive me, judibird, I just love your creations so much and your sense of humor is irrepressible.

judibird, I love you. I want people to know about you. I hope it is OK to mention in the spirit of this holiday season that you have been a brave and strong lady going through a difficult time this past year. I know many people (possibly you) are private, but I would like to mention this to my readers because at this time of year some people help themselves by helping others. It makes them get out of their own worries and makes them feel better, It is a universal form of therapy which is based on the amazing human ability to give love. Love is the most important thing in the world. Hope, laughter, and really caring are right up there, too. Artists are apt to understand this innately. So do many other kinds of people. YOU reading this, understand. I know it.

SO: If you are reading this, please think of judibird and think of me , because I always steer you straight. You cannot lose if you buy a judibird DOT! Or a bunch of them ! Please do and your love will come back to you tenfold. And you also will get a gazillion tons of fun! judibird is truly fun, and I am certain that that you already love her as much as i do!

Merry Stinkmas, Mr. Mushroom. Thanks for your pic I stole!

Thank you too, everyone! You rock the house!--jean...uh...GINA :)

how to contact the fabulous, wonderful, precious and funny
judibird !---> see below

flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38779218@N05/ this is where you can see what she has to offer "for adoption" --it is SO fun and SO amazing! you can flickrmail her too. add her as a contact to do that.
or:
email: Fridabird@rocketmail.com
( also paypal addy)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/judibird --possible way to contact judibird although the store is not offering her DOTS at the moment

Sunday Beadbloggers and TWO doll photos by jean

2011-12-18T06:01:00.000-08:00

at top: the infamous quads. one of these girls doesn't want to go to the holiday party. she just wants to hang out at home. which one is it?

following is the beautiful Sylvie, dressed up for Christmas in her best finery.

don't forget my giveaway for Lark! It is going on right now on my blog!

BEADBLOGGER SUNDAY!

Beading Arts
Every new year should bring a new challenge. How about getting inspired by the Ring A Day challenge...and maybe win a copy of the book?

Art Bead Scene
Jennifer decks the halls with a super colorful, Jangles styled bead garland, and her free tutorial will show you how to make one too!

Carmi's Art/Life World
This week I made a beautiful component even better!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean has fun being a new designer blogger for Nina Designs! Come and see what she made!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares a couple of magazines that he was recently published in.

A Bead A Day
Share your holiday jewelry on A Bead A Day blog. Just leave a comment or send an email to get your work featured!

About.com Jewelry Making
No time to make beaded ornaments? This is so not true when you have this super fast and inexpensive tutorial to help you.

I was interviewed by the great company, Artbeads, for their blog

2011-12-16T07:52:00.000-08:00

I am so proud to have been interviewed by Artbeads blog today! Here is the first picture they chose from my jewelry selection -- one of my favorite bracelets I ever made!

There are other great pictures as well, and thankfully none of ME!

Here is where you go to read the fun interview by Marissa of Artbeads. She titled it:
"Jean Yates, The Dame of Dolls and Decadent Jewelry"! How fun is that? I really enjoyed answering her questions! I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved doing it.

Blog for Beaders

A creative place to share jewelry making information, ideas, and inspiration! Hosted by Artbeads.com

Thank you if you visit! :) jean!

A quick and pretty Giveaway from Lark Books--check it out

2011-12-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

yes, I laid these books out on the table and took the picture. I am not a professional photographer, I just play one on TV! Or however that goes. Click on the photo to enlarge it. Then really see what is going on here--it is worth it!

These mini books are totally charming and the collection is so eclectic! I was fascinated by the choices and at first I was going to split them up for this giveaway, but I have decided to send them to ONE lucky person who leaves a comment on my blog . I will announce the winner next Friday, December 22, and we will send them out to you from here. So Happy (late) Solstice day, kind of!
I know that is a bit late for holiday festivities in the sense that these may not arrive by Dec. 25 if you celebrate Christmas, but sometimes the best presents arrive after the BIG days--those days when everyone is running around in high spirits and having big "Cindy Lou Who" Feasts. If you are like me, you can get overwhelmed on holidays and actually be incapable of opening your presents until around New Year's. It is annoying for my family, who all love me and want me to appreciate and admire what I receive immediately, but I just tend to get a bit like Scarlett O'Hara and decide to think about it "tomorrow"!

I received a set of these books myself as a gift from Lark and dear Ray, head of the Lark team, and I have to tell you that I adore them. My husband Jim liked the earring book the best (no comments on that choice please--Jim is extremely drawn to manly stuff like chain saws and lawnmowers too...but he is an artist himself and has the best eye for beauty in the family). When you see the earrings up close on the cover, you can see that there are stunning butterflies encased within the clear and beautiful components. Jim loves butterflies and when he is outdoors he notices everything. Hopefully not when using his chainsaw.

I am fascinated by the Handmade Books mini book, as I have a friend from the Czech Republic, Rose (more on Rose tomorrow), whose mother was a trained bookbinder. Rose was supposed to follow in her mother's footsteps and actually does know exactly how to bind books properly, as she went though school learning this craft. However, she is an artist too, like Jim, and that is not what she ended up doing as a career. Instead, after she left the Czech Republic, she was the assistant to a very famous fashion designer for years! Rose has "the eye" for beauty.

I also have a friend who makes art tiles, and she and her pal Bob made me a superfantastic tile of my hero, Abraham Lincoln. I treasure her (Cathy Lybarger of Aardvark Art Glass) and she is GREAT at all sorts of art, specializing in museum quality beads. She even made a "Jean" bead once, but someone bought it before I could! Its subtitle was "We are all in the same boat". I loved that! So true!
I have no idea how to make an art tile, but I love that book because of my Abe Lincoln art tile from Cathy, whom I call Aard.

What an astounding and diverse collection of books! So colorful and so packed with energy! In such tiny yet compelling editions, they simply exude delight in designing and creating!

The gift collection we are keeping here at home fit perfectly onto a wall with a small ledge in our living room. Jim loved the books so much he spent all one morning drilling and gluing a wire across that section of wall and then put them in, alphabetically. They just light up our living room! It is a fabulous display.

If you sign up for this giveaway, you must be philosophical about when we will be able to ship them out to you (please, United States only) but we will do our best to ship them fast. You will receive all eight and you will fall in love all over again with why Lark is such a special publishing company.
How to sign up:
Please leave a comment on this entry. And if you don't follow my blog yet, I would greatly appreciate it if you sign up to do that!
The winner will need an email address so I can make contact and obtain the physical address which I can send the books to.
Thank you Lark Publishing, once again, for a fabulous fun opportunity to make people happy!

PS: If you go to Lark where I highlighted the link, you will see a great bundle of stunning books you can get on a giveaway they just began! Don't miss out!

--jean

My Gosh it is Wednesday--Beaded Lily bead giveaway announcement day

2011-12-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

Bead Giveaway from Beaded Lily! random.org. chose:

read on!

I cannot believe how fast this week is flying! I spent two days at the Department of Motor Vehicles in a town far far away! I should have just spent the night sleeping on a bench in the 20 degree weather but seeing how much my family missed me when I returned each time made it worth it.
My advice: don't boggle up your car registrations and driver's license simultaneously, even if it isn't your fault and you have NO idea it is happening. Oh, and don't lose all your forms of identification. That doesn't help either. Oh, and remain polite and don't burst into tears, no matter what. Oh, and when you need something faxed, go to the military enlistment center next door to the DMV and ask the kids (well soldiers) who work there if they are willing to help you with their fax machine! But start with a joke. I was with my sister and she and I look exactly alike. She is 62, and I am 60. We had tried to dress properly for the DMV and looks fairly spiffy, if rawwwther on the old crone side. I said to the guy in the camouflage outfit when he came up to us at the door of the military place, "We're here to ENLIST!" Needless to say, that insane absurdity broke the ice. Maybe you had to be there. My sister is a really classy New York City lady. and you pretty much know me. I try.

You can find out all sort of interesting things from people who are not necessarily jewelry designers, like the fact that their favorite movies might just be YOUR favorite movies. His fav was my fav. --He liked The Matrix. He must have been 3 when that movie was made. I found that interesting. You can have fun when you meet new people.

Now: on to the winner of this lovely lovely giveaway from the gorgeous and elegant Beaded Lily:

Cyndi L. !!!

Thank you Cyndi L for entering, and thanks to all of the rest of you who also entered! I am SO pleased that you took the time to enter this giveaway, because I found Beaded Lily to be a perfectly wonderful store! I love everything I have seen there--they don't just offer beads and jewelry--they offer components and classes and many amazing and fascinating things. I have a wishlist a mile long now from their website!
Some things are so clearly unique to them that if I ever had the chance to receive one or two of their pieces, either made into jewelry or just the beads, I would be totally thrilled. [hint, hint, Jim].

I hope Cyndi L. loves these beads as much as I do!

Thanks to you all so much. Please do visit my blog again -- I have another giveaway coming up tomorrow.
Very best wishes and great thanks to Beaded Lily for sharing their beauty with my readers!
What a marvelous site!--jean

Beadblogger Sunday and a Blythe doll photo by jean yates

2011-12-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

click on photo to enlarge--this is Sylvie in her Christmas finery--she begged me to modle ths early! I couldn't resist!

BEADBLOGGERS!

About.com Jewelry Making
Time and money are items many of us don't have much of right now, but not to worry. These simple projects are just what you need to inexpensively spread some holiday jewelry love.

Beads & Books
Michelle turns an inexpensive printer's tray from a craft store into a beautiful display for a jewelry show.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a series of bezels filled with last year's Christmas cards to share this week.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean hosts a very lovely giveaway from the sublime bead and jewelry store in Florence, Italy, Beaded Lily!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew creates a piece to be silently auctioned off to help a fellow artist out! Bid on his necklace to win and check out all the other fantastic auctions going on!

A Bead A Day
If you are looking for some fabulous giveaways by a wide variety of artists and crafters, Lisa is linking you up!

Beading Arts
Don't miss the great giveaway at Cyndi's!

jean: now a designer blogger for Nina Designs

2011-12-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

Please hit photos to enlarge--

jean: now a "Designer blogger" for Nina Designs!!!

This is thrilling to me because I love everything about Nina Designs.

I was very happy to be selected!!!, however I have to tell the truth ... it was a real challenge as they sent me not only the components--which are actually BRONZE! but the leather, too! I do not think of myself as good with fibres and leathers.

However, I said to myself, "I think I can, I think I can..." and so on, like the little engine that could.

Then I got to work. The suede-like finish of the leather was amazingly soft and that really helped. Nina Designs is nothing if not consistently high quality. That is one of the major reasons why I have been loving this company for years, now.

So anyway...

I came up with a plaited bracelet with a knot on one side and a loop to close it. Phew! I was thrilled! I hope you like it!

One tip for neophytes like me. When you braid or plait, keep the tension consistent. I did this by cutting three strands of suede and knotting them, just guessing at how long I would need the suede to be to make a bracelet. [Note: I had a generous amount from the bundle they sent left over to use for another day].

I then took a nail and gently insinuated it at the top of my soon-to-be braided bracelet, where the knot was, and used a board I had put the nail on to make my bracelet. At the end, I had extra sueded leather, so I fashioned a loop for the clasp from one of the pieces and knotted the tassel to include the loop. Please kindly think I am keeping that technique a "designer secret". At any rate, if you like the bracelet, give it a try. So that is the story of jean and the suede! I am NO LONGER AFRAID of SUEDE ! I am down with getting it together with leather! And so on!

I went on to add the charms in the manner which you can see. I did not use some lovely closures and a toggle which were also sent to me. However they were just as pretty as everything else. I just had to create my bracelet and earring set a certain way, which I enjoyed doing. I was definitely not working--I was playing! My favorite way to create!

Now I would like to offer you a list of the items I received and their item numbers, to make it convenient for you if you wish to go to Nina Designs and make something like this!

The bronze components! They truly looked fabulous in every way to me! I believe Nina will have a great hit with these, as many of the items are also offered in other metal colors as well as the bronze. But as for bronze, we all know that this wonderful metal provides a great way to be able to spend less and get the most for your money!

Here is what I received to work with:

VNA 851 Bronze Butterfly Wing Pendant
VNA 751 Bronze Bird on a Perch Charm

VNA 815 Bronze Leaf Charm
VNAC657 Bronze Tulip Hook & Eye Crimp Clasp

( a petite and completely lovely set I chose not to use--If I had made a necklace I might have used the suede in one piece, cut to necklace size, and it would have fit this clasp very nicely)
VNTC68 Bronze Toggle Clasp
( another lovely set which I have used in other colors of metal from Nina Designs previously, but was fixating on my suede clasp!)

VNT2197 1 PR Bronze Hook Earring with Hammer Finish on Front : this amazing style has always been one of my favorites! Glad to see it in bronze--it is glorious!

Note: many of these items are available in other metals as I said. It is really worth your while to check out the site to see.

Additionally, when I got my package from the site, the sweet Juanita (who works for Nina Designs) wrote: "All of these components are SOLID BRONZE-Except the leather that is"!

I would not make the following observation if it were not true: I thought I was working with gold, plated over bronze. I had to double check the item numbers before I believed I got straight bronze! It totally shimmers!

That is how fine these pieces are. There are FAQS on how to care for your bronze on the site. This is great, as well. Very helpful.

The suede I received is item :UL720 and is actually Deer Hide Leather Cord, Caramel. Sold in 12 ft bundles, 2 mm wide, approximately 1 mm thick. So it is no wonder I thought that is was so soft. It is what we are all familiar with in the beautiful moccasins some of us love to wear so much. It has a smooth side and a rough side.

I was SO happy to have the lovely butterfly wing for the bracelet as a fabulous centerpiece focal charm. It was also cool to be able to make earrings which go together in sensibility but which are not exactly "the same". A little bird charm, and a tiny leaf on pretty, pretty ear wires. Makes sense to me! It all goes together in a very earthy manner, but chic as well.

Above:
from a different angle:

I really like the butterfly wing, as you can tell it is a Monarch butterfly. Or so it appears, to me.

Also, I have a "thing about negative space". All of these charms employ it so very well.

In my book, I quote my mother, who used to teach flower arranging. She always taught her students that when you arrange flowers, you should place your flowers in your arrangements leaving enough space so that "a butterfly could easily fly though", in and out. Just as in nature. That is one very beautiful way to explain what negative space is, and how important it can be to making something pretty.--jean, with thanks to Nina Designs!

The materials above were provided as part of the Nina Designs blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company.

A Very Lovely Seasonal Giveaway for YOU to win from Beaded Lily

2011-12-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

one angle--

full angle!

From two angles, above: the glorious giveaway from
the beautiful site, Beaded Lily!
Perfect for the Holidays straight into New Year's and beyond!
Here is the set of beads you can win if you decide to do the following:
1) leave a comment here on this entry, AND ALSO
2) "LIKE" Beaded Lily on Facebook ( I already do!).

Note:
Here is the link for their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beaded-Lily-Glass-Works-Creation-Center/49525418971

Following is a description of these beautiful beads, made in Italy:

Handmade Glass Lampwork Beads (Set of 6): Ruby w/ Gold Leaf

Glass colors: Rubino & Clear

Other components: Gold Leaf

These beads are to swoon over ! I find looking at the depths of the glass mesmerizing, with the swirls of gold leaf against the sultry rubino. It is one if my favorite combinations and does have the sensibility of gold and rubies!

I hope you take advantage of this exciting giveaway. It truly is a unique one, coming all the way from the fabulous city of Florence! The winner will be announced on my blog next Wednesday, Dec. 14th!

Beaded Lily's website is here ! Their main location as I said is Florence, Italy. Once you visit their website, you will fall "en amore" with their skilled and gorgeous work. I know this, because I did! This is one giveaway I wish I could sign up for myself!!! The possibilities these rubino beads have, in their comfortable and chic shape, are limited only by your own imagination as a designer.
You will be wearing your New Year's Eve bracelet, if you do not receive these beads before, and dazzling everyone, in no time! What a delicious thought!

Beaded Lily, te amo!!! Thank you for this great opportunity for my readers!--jean

Review by jean of the book 13th Frame by Marcin R. Szymczak--YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK

2011-12-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

review of 13th Frame, a book by Marcin R. Szymczak

review by jean yates

I don't quite know how this happened.

However, because this author is so amazing and brilliant, and because this book is so incredible, it just seemed to happen by kismet. I got the incredible chance to review this extraordinary book after a brief email from Marcin, and now I am not the same.

If you love Lewis Carroll, Jack Finney( Time and Again) , "Monk" of television fame, Michael Crighton and time travel, quarks, neutrinos, humor, (always humor!), charm, magic, thinking outside of the box, doing the wrong thing and breaking the rules,discussions of photo equipment after swearing that photo equipment isn't the point, REAL passion, the author and neurologist Oliver Sacks, Alfred Einstein, the word parameters and sometimes making fun of the word parameters, cheap muses, alcohol, crossword puzzles, sudden revelations, flipping photos and seeing the flip side as a better photo (where is the light coming from? Is this the photo you took? ), the book The Fight Club with its dual and totally crazy characters, the book Flatland, imagination, creativity, the sudden moment, concepts of time ALWAYS, discussions of equipment from box cameras to analog to digital, lessons on shooting the wrong way, lessons on shooting the right way, BREAKING THE RULES(again I repeat that--it is essential to understanding this book) , the photographic greats like Cartier-Bresson, Adams and Weston,<-- of which this gentleman, Mr. Szymczak is absolutely, definitely one, and more than anything learning learning learning by laughing, I IMPLORE you to read this book and give it to everyone on your holiday list. It is not even expensive, although the photographs you will see are lovely and amazing.

Here is a little info from it: I lifted this info from the page on the site.

Typical medium format camera can take 12 frames. Yet sometimes, something unusual happens and 13th frame appear.
[note from jean--you see? this had me at hello--down the rabbit hole I went, into this book which is pure magic]

Origins
This book is a set of texts created during near 5 years period – stories and essays usually focused on photography. It was first published in Poland, as a part of biggest polish blog on good photography, “Zawsze Kwadrat”. The work has been honored by the “Blog of the Year” prize under “Culture” category.
Now you can read first batch of texts gathered under title “13th Frame” and available on most popular e-readers platforms. Will there be a continuation? It depends entirely on you.
Where and How
First, don’t hesitate to download a sample in .mobi format (for Kindle devices and Kindle apps). You can find other samples on Smashwords page.
You can find here list of chapters, not very useful Author information and others, such as Preface explaining the book’s name.
The book consists of both exquisite text and high quality photos – you can see how does the sample page look like here.
Why should I buy?
One mentally unstable author from the middle of Central-Eastern Europe, over 19 various cameras (both digital and analogue), 29 dead bodies, 24 more or less beautiful women, 7 phenomena considered supernatural, 11 neurotic disorders – all these in 32 chapters arranged in a way to provide you some glee, comfort and long hours of great fun. See? You just have to buy it!
Let this book take you beyond boundaries of photography known to human kind!

jean: I cannot say enough to praise this book. I am a huge lover of photography. My 2011 resolution was to take better photographs. Possibly a more useful resolution would have been to read better photography books, like this one of a kind treasure,
13th Frame
by Marcin R. Szymczak.
AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.com and SMASHWORDS as an Ebook.
Thank you from the heart, Marcin, you are now a bona fide hero of mine.

--jean

An exraordinarily generous giveaway and some fascinating news from Lark Publishing

2011-12-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

I got THIS fantastic email below from Ray at Lark Publishing (sorry Ray--I was trying to replicate your great graphic and messed it up!!! But I did really TRY!)--

what a great giveaway!!! and
what fabulous other news! I could hardly wait to share it with all of you!!! Thank you so much from all of us!--jean

Dear friend:

To share with your online social-media community:
Lark Jewelry & Beading is having a superb 21-book giveaway for the beading
and crafting community, U.S. residents only, closes Dec. 7:
http://bit.ly/sitY8K

Also:

Holiday gift-giving wishlists from some of your favorite beady people,
including Diane Fitzgerald, Jean Campbell, Carol Dean Sharpe, Sabine
Lippert, Margie Deeb, Jennifer VanBenschoten, and Jill Wiseman:
http://bit.ly/vnACca ... with more lists to come!

Thanks so much for your support,
Ray

---

Find us: http://www.facebook.com/LarkJewelryBeading

Ray Hemachandra
Team Lead, Lark Jewelry & Beading
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

Beadbloggers and a Blythe Doll Photo by jean yates

2011-12-04T05:34:00.000-08:00

here is a photo of the desktop of my laptop, for the season-my girls and the snowglobe which enlarges at a click to an Advent calendar with a London theme which my dear friend Elizabeth gave me--

A Bead A Day
Looking for some easy and fun holiday jewelry making projects? Lisa is sharing a few new ones this week. Snowflake earrings, jingle bell rings and simple Swarovski crystal earrings!

About.com Jewelry Making
There is still time to make some awesome (and easy) beaded ornaments.

Art Bead Scene
Marie Cramp shares some beautiful examples of using the colors from art pendant focals to inspire a necklace design.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a little post about working with hemp cord this week!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is so excited about the wonderful opportunity to win 150 dollars worth of Nina Designs components! For details, please see her blog!

I got a super great email from Nina Designs, that fabulous, inspiring, component store--and you could win $150 worth of Nina beauty

2011-12-01T14:50:00.000-08:00

Shop Now Design Ideas Classroom Trade Shows Discounts & Policies About Us Contact Us

Was ~~$14.30~~,
Now $9.30

Dear Jean Yates, December Special: This “be here now” word charm is 35% OFF,
from $14.30 to $9.30. Wear word charms to celebrate life’s everyday moments, time spent with family, and just being there. Limited quantity
First come, first served.
40+ New Styles New silver links just arrived from Bali – great designs
for layering and wrapping with beads! Also just in –
the first of our BRONZE CLASPS and BRONZE EARRING FINDINGS.

Click here to view all new styles, or click on any image below for more details.

Join us on Twitter and Facebook to learn of new styles immediately. They can sell

out fast!

IF YOU LIKE US ON FACEBOOK YOU COULD WIN $150 On December 15th we will
randomly select one person who “likes” us on Facebook
to win $150 Gift Certificate.
We’ll announce the winner on our blog on Dec. 15th, 2011. Perfect for those last minute gifts!
GIVING BACK
To celebrate this season of giving,
for every jewelry finding you review in December we will give Heifer International $2.00
Every product you review will help children and families around the world receive training
and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant
. To give an extra $1.00 to Heifer International, share your review on Facebook!
To review products, go to www.ninadesigns.com:
1) Find the product you want to review. Use the “add a comment” link.
2) Rate the product using the star system.
3) Write what you like or dislike about the product.
4) Check the option to share your review on Facebook.

EASY WAYS TO FINISH LEATHER CORDS

Each week we will share new techniques for finishing wide leather cord in our
FREE classroom. This week learn to finish leather cords with S-Clasps.

The lessons will start simple and become more sophisticated.
Follow along each week and soon you’ll be a pro.
FREE SHIPPING EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR
Just select FREE SHIP with USPS 1st Class and your order ships for FREE!
Some restrictions apply. Please see Shipping FAQs for details.

HOLIDAY CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT: Our offices will be closed from Dec. 24 – Jan. 2.
We will reopen on Tues, Jan. 3, 2012. Happy Holidays!
UPCOMING TRADESHOWS:
Jan. 31 – Feb 5, 2012: Gem & Jewelry Exchange, Tucson, AZ. Booth #2309.
Feb. 2 – Feb 10, 2012: Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers,
GLW Holidome, Tucson, AZ. Booth 727 – 733.

Warmly,

Nina Cooper
Nina Designs Ltd.
1-800-336-6462
nina@ninadesigns.com
www.ninadesigns.com
www.ninadesigns.com/blog

Glass Garden Beads Customer Appreciation Day

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hi! I have been saving this for you to see from one of my favorite stores! Look how long it lasts!
Just one day!

DECEMBER 1st is CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY for our online customers!
From 10am Thursday, December 1st thru 10am Friday, December 2nd we are taking 20% OFF all our KITS and MIXES and 50% OFF VINTAGE STRANDS!
Plus, 5% of our online sales for the day will go to THE UNITED WAY.

glassgardenbeads.com

An email from Kim Miles about some very special items

2011-11-30T05:20:00.000-08:00

here is the email--note from me follows it:

Hello Dear Beadists,

I have some beautiful, special, not to be missed beads for you today! Be quick, because they won't be in the BeadShop for long!
There are sweet little Cupcake Pendants...

Gleaming Silver Foil Hearts...

And gloriously magical Snow Globes, capped with hand-stamped sterling silver, and filled with glitter, tiny glass balls, and bright CZs.

They're in the BeadShop NOW, but only until Thursday night, when I'll take what's left to the Taos Folk Show here in Taos.

This week everything comes on a chain, so it's ready to wear, and in it's own pretty satin bag, so it's ready to give.
As usual, I'll mail everything on Friday.
Enjoy!!!

xo Kim

Note: I heard from Kim yesterday about this --I send one of these snow globes to my editor at Australian Beading magazine one year. That is how precious and beautiful they are! They just exude LOVE. You MUST go see! I hope there are some left!

--jean

Last Day for the lovely site MIGEM's 40 percent off sale

2011-11-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

This beautiful and unique site has been a part of my life and great love of gems ever since I started designing, You find things here you will never find anywhere else!!! So I am publicizing this email which I received this morning, so you can get to know MIGEM!--jean

www.MIGEM.com - Unique Gemstone Beads for the Discerning Designer

LAST DAY!!! 40% off Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale!

Now is the LAST chance this year to get our Happy Gems as well as our other beads at 40% off the list price! From now until November 30, we are offering 40% off all our items including our New Arrivals and sample packs. There is something to suit everyone and every budget! And if you see something you like but don't need the entire strand, just a few pieces, let us know and we'll try our best to accomodate you.

To order our beads, simply reply to this email with the coupon code "Black Friday 11" and list out your order list clearly according to our ordering instructions and we will get back to you with the total amount due including shipping and other shipping options like insurance. If you're interested in shipping other than Airmail e.g. EMS Courier which delivers to the US in 3-4 business days with online tracking, let us know and we will include a quote for that as well. Feel free to email us if you have any further queries or need any assistance in placing your order.

Join us now on Facebook. We have over 350 fans and growing! Click the Facebook link below to get started and click the 'Like' button to join us. Get all your friends to join in as well and sign up for our mailing list as well to be notified of any great deals!

MiGem Gemstone Beads | Promote Your Page Too

Beadbloggers and a Blythe doll photo by Jean Yates

2011-11-27T04:53:00.000-08:00

Sadie on Thanksgiving Day--she is a custom by Jenink from Australia

BEADBLOGGERS!

Resin Crafts!
This week Carmi shares some useful information about resin and cold temperatures.

Snap Out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean discovered a very special pendant that expresses the way a person feels in a very special, amazing way!

Beading Arts
Beautiful toggle clasps are meant to be seen, not hidden away!

About.com Jewelry Making
Combine those jewelry techniques - this time with wire and fused glass.

Art Bead Scene
Gaea's ceramics pair up with Vintaj Brass to create some gorgeous Victorian Christmas jewelry inspiration!

A letter from Jean Yates to a dear friend about, all things, China--the kind you eat off of

2011-11-26T06:07:00.000-08:00

Hi again--I haf returrrrned! I love your story about Kindtree. You should write, write, write. but as they say in Al-Alanon: "don't should on me and I won't should on you".
However your pictures you create in readers' minds are so wonderful. This is so lovely. What you have said.

I may have a lot on my mind--the kids meds come first, then Jim, then me. In me it evinces itself as frustration and irritability but my eye is bothering me so much I am defused!!! Hahah!!! Jean defused is fairly worthless!

Besides, too happy with our weekend seeing Jimmy and Kate.

Of course, I do remember your collection but forgot it was from your friend's mother--I need a pic of those kinds of china from YOU! I will attach some pics--pics of some of the things I sent Replacements (note from jean--this is a store which buys china and crystal)--the black and white and gold desert plate is from a Fifth avenue antiques store and is Spode, vintage, in mint condition--I have 8 or so. I have a story about that. Please remind me to tell you when I talk to you on the phone.

note--these are all unphotoshopped and in natural light-

The teapot is part of my after dinner set with tea cups and dessert plates, sugar and cream pitcher, and is called the Royal Crown Derby "Brittany" pattern--boy were they hot for that one at Replacements.

oddly I have two shapes of tea cups. from my grandmother's trips to G.B. --this is just one.

Royal Crown Derby (pronounced Darby) makes the "Imari" pattern, one of the most expensive patterns ever made. I picked "Brittany" as a child for my wedding china and my grandmother used to bring me back pieces from England. My ex chose Spode "Consul" for our main service, so I have that on offer to them as well.

quite a nice blue with gold , all hand painted, as are all these pieces I am showing in this entry

All from Tiffany's or in the case of "Brittany" a few from GB.

The yellow and blue soup and saucer pic is from a set of four from Tiff and co--I bought them myself when I worked there--they are handpainted expressly for Tiff and co by Limoges and I just fell in love with them when I worked there!

--I sent Replacements photos of the bottoms of everything. I really love that set!
here is the bottom of this on above.

Tiffany's had one little section on the china and crystal floor (the "lifers", as we called them, who worked there, hated calling it "crystal" and called it glassware--hahahaha) When they answered the phone they would say: "China and GLASSWARE!" assertively, as if crystal was a dirty word because it was affected sounding to them. This is reverse snobbery at its height. Anyway, Tiffany's had a tiny section of handpainted china done expressly for them by Limoges...which, as I may have told you, is NOT one company, it is a town. The clay in Limoges is what makes Limoges porcelain so lovely, but some Limoges is not as good as others. This is A number one Limoges. I had an incredible cigarette box (can you imagine? A cigarette box?) which I registered for, which my ex broke by stepping on it. HAHAHA!!! It was worth a zillion dollars. I couldn't believe I even got it as one of my gifts for that wedding. It was white with tiny yellow hand painted checks as the pattern. And it clicked open with a golden brass hinged attachment -- you know, like trim...something or other which opens and closes boxes. It was large and stunning. Perfect for my hand painted coffee table.

Here is my wine glass from my water and wine set. I chose the same as my mother had registered for.

my crystal wine glass:

How ridiculous my life was! Things were so important in a way I can barely remember. It was another life. I thought "being grown up" was to be an exact clone of my parents, but I had never been them. I wasn't them, ever. I was miserable and trapped when I wasn't myself, the nerdy reading and drawing girl who hated exercise. I had never fit into the social milieu I was brought up in. My father was the only one who understood me, and I was forever grateful to him, because he gave me the self confidence to remain myself and to be true to myself. always.

Shall I put this up on my blog? I think I will.

I have nothing now except what is really important to me, and I am fighting as if our lives depend upon it, because they do. (note from jean--we are going through something here and it is important) -- I think will post the pics on my blog--go there to see!

They will be easier to hit and enlarge.

PS I have a Spode Christmas plate, too! But those are easy to find and many people have whole sets of them for Christmas--i just have one, for cookies. :)

love you!!!

xox jean

PS : Hey! If anyone wants to buy any of this exquisite stuff, I will ship with alacrity within the USA, and I give good discounts to my readers. The Christmas plate will be 28 dollars. Mint condition. I take paypal. !!!

What Thanksgiving is, as explained to my British friend

2011-11-25T05:13:00.000-08:00

TURKEY REDUX

I got an email from one of my cool friends in GB today and I thought I would do my best to answer his question while the holiday is still fresh in my mind and doesn't get mixed up with Christmas, Hanukah, and Easter. Oh yeah, and Valentine's Day of course, and our anniversary!
Here is what he said

My dear friend,

The feeling is heartily reciprocated. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
You'll have to explain this holiday to me at some point.

I take my friend's wishes seriously so I hopped to it. If he had a need to know, I KNEW I could explain this handily.

so this is what I wrote back:

well basically we all get together and celebrate starving to death over here when we first came over and how the Native Americans brought us food when we were about to die. So we all overeat and try not to think about the mistreatment of the Native Americans by us through the years, which would be a big downer on this occasion. We see a lot of relatives --as many as possible, and usually eat turkey unless we are vegetarians or vegans. The turkey is VERY important. Mine was good this year--Jim liked it! There is a picture of it on my blog!

the other things we eat are:

candied yams with marshmallows browned on top

corn

stuffing for the turkey

rolls and butter

green beans with almonds

cranberry dressing for the turkey

gravy for the turkey

and pumpkin pie and apple pie and occasionally mincemeat pie with vanilla ice cream

this meal can be nightmareish or delicious depending upon the cook

afterwards, some people watch American style football (I think)

some people fall asleep (the turkey makes you sleepy)

some people take a walk (about 5 feet, as they are stuffed)

THEN

we all gear up for the latest thing:

Black Friday!

This is where we stampede the stores for early, great buys on Christmas and holiday presents and are incredibly rude to each other, in the spirit of the season--I think I shall blog this today! Thanks for the idea!

and remember--is isn't YOU BRITS' fault, not this time. We just came over here and couldn't figure out what was edible. The mushrooms were all poisonous and made us nuts, and we were quite busy trying to lock each other up in "the stocks" --too busy to learn how to farm. The scarlet letter was really the "thing". Everyone was always dissing everyone.

As far as really bad went, in thinking ahead,

Jamestown was the worst debacle--they came over and it was only a bunch of GUYS--they forgot to bring women with them...and then they couldn't seem to get THEIR town off the ground at all, for some reason they couldn't quite put their fingers on. Oh GEESH!

xox jean

Wonderful wishes to YOU on Thanksgiving from us

2011-11-24T14:28:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! we here at home got an uplifting visit from Jim and Kate today.
I was so happy! Yes, I forced him to pose with Jewels, my customized Blythe!

here are some pics we have taken today:

Kate and Jim and Jim:

Ian and Jim and Kate

Jim loves Kate and Kate loves Jim

my son Jim words cannot express how I feel about him

my wonderful husband and soul mate, my Jim, coolest guy in the universe

Jim not sure about my Blythe doll, Jewels

turkey --we got two, through the kindness of many people. My husband Jim had a great feast!

me and Jewels

Jewels is part of the family, to my mind!

anyway, HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND LOVE! from jean

News from the fantastic band, The Ruse

2011-11-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

my son Jim's band keeps on amazing fans everywhere! Congratulations on The Ruse's NEW album!
-mom xox!

The Ruse





	THE RUSE Rebellion - EP Out Today! `Head on over to iTunes, Amazon or wherever you buy digital music and pick up the new EP from THE RUSE.` `Buy now on iTunes: tinyurl.com/RebellionEP` `Join us for a special intimate show next Friday in Los Angeles.` `THE RUSE Rebellion EP Release Party` `12/2/11 @ The Hotel Cafe` `1623 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028` `Doors 9pm / Show 10:30 / 21+` `Buy Tickets: https://www.hotelcafe.com/tickets/?s=events_view&id=1229` `Thank you for your continued support. - J, J, M & J`



Fri Dec 02 11	Los Angeles, CA	The Hotel Cafe



"www.rusemusic.com/press/"; — www.rusemusic.com/press/

This unbelievable pendant is available for Valentine's Day giving, birthdays and more

2011-11-21T12:26:00.000-08:00

I recently learned about an amazing website, NanoStyle and I received a pendant to review. I chose the pink heart "I Love You Pendant" you will see here. It is a CZ faceted beautifully, impeccably set in sterling siver topped with gold. Upon the CZ you can see the image of a heart. This is where is gets really different and special. The image has been lazer cut into the CZ, and around it in ever widening circles are the words"I love you"--in 120 different languages!

Here is the information from NanoStyle:

I Love You in 120 languages Pendant

Availability: In stock.

Je t’aime…… Te Quiero……Ich lieb dich …… sun ho ez…. I Love You!

Here is the pendant I received:

You can purchase chains from the site, or you can --artist that you are--make your own amazing chain to flatter this remarkable piece of jewelry.

Here are a couple of more photos which I took from the site.

I must point out how different the crystal CZ looks set in sterling, with a lovely sturdy optional chain.

And look at this!

Nano offers "New Age" pendants, with 24 Kt Lasering done on Onyx, as well, and there are all sort of categories, from Love to Religion to Spiritual .

There are pendants for the men in your life whom you love.

It is just simply breathtaking to see.

I love this website and implore you to take a look! You will love it too!

best wishes, jean

Beadbloggers and a Blythe doll photo by jean yates

2011-11-19T18:04:00.000-08:00

Liath and her duck, Jacques Quack~hit on photo to enlarge

Beadbloggers!

Beading Arts Bead a continuous loop necklace for a unique eyeglass holder!

Resin Crafts!
A brand new resin has been created for jewelers and launched on the Resin Crafts blog this week!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean reviews the fabulous book, Sharilyn Miller's Arty Jewelry III! Is Sharilyn great, or what?

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
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Review of Arty Jewelry III by Sharilyn Miller by jean yates

2011-11-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

Arty Jewelry III by Sharilyn Miller

review by jean yates
Arty Jewelry III (Kindle Edition)
Sharilyn Miller is one of our most highly respected jewelry artists and authors. She is a designer and creator who is always original and always offers the newest and loveliest creations to her readers. Primarily working with dead soft wire in copper, silver, and fine silver, she builds upon these metals to bring forth her ever astounding, ever
unique pins, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and more.

I had read and loved Arty Jewelry I and II in paper form (and yes they are beautiful presented in that manner in print as well), however, as Sharilyn says in her introduction, we really are getting the best of all worlds when we save paper by utilizing eBooks. As she remarks, it is also far less expensive to give this type of paperless book to your jewelry loving friends as a gift. That is how I received this book. Arty Jewelry III is the very first Amazon eBook I have read. Amazingly, it took me only five minutes to figure out how to download it to my PC! Not bad for a hopeless computer non-geek such as myself. I recommend trying this type of download, directly to your PC, if you don't have a Kindle (yet!).
Once you open your book, the author explains how to utilize the keyboard or mouse on your computer. Then it is on to the good stuff. As always with Sharilyn, the photos are impeccable and beautiful to view. This alone urges the reader onward in reading a jewelry design book. In combination with brilliant new designs from an author famous for her accessible manner of teaching, enthusiasm and brilliance, you have an unbeatable combination!

I first fell in love with several of her new tools, in the comprehensive tool list. I have been fascinated by "wubbers" (pliers) and yes, they are in here. Then there is a new kind of hammer I don't have, and now I really want it. It is positively glorious if you are a jewelry designer.
Interesting new types of materials are also discussed: a new kind of liver of sulfur, and a special hammer product which keeps your hammerhead from loosening.

There is a section on how to accomplish certain jewelry making tasks such as making balled head pins, making your own jump rings, etc., which I found invaluable. You could be totally new to jewelry making and have it all, info and technique-wise, right here in this book.

Then the reader proceeds on to the projects. The first two are "One Minute Project" involving earrings, which I found delightful. If I were to give this book as a gift, for the holidays for example, to my jewelry making and loving friends, they would adore it! Picture receiving it, delivered to you, right on the "day"! Alternatively, if one were to give the earrings from the first projects to friends who simply admire jewelry but prefer not to make it, they would flip out!

one minute earrings, see below~

The author is apt to make combinations which are modern as well as ancient when she designs. Readers are always drawn to her style. This book is a winner in that way as well.
One of her bracelets which I adored and am looking forward to making is the "Fleur- De- Link" bracelet. It is such a treasure! STUNNING! To wear it and to know that you have made it yourself is a great feeling for a person with a passion for fine jewelry. I no longer harbor the interest which I used to have in non-artisan, mass produced jewelry. I am invariably drawn to jewelry which looks as if the hands which created it have clearly left their mark.
Sharilyn Miller was one of the first people who affected me and changed my views on jewelry style because of the beauty she makes. I met her once and she is as beautiful as her jewelry, which she share with her readers.
Finally, I want to mention that there ARE gemstones, and a copious use of copper, in this Arty Jewelry III, so do not be concerned if you are at one end of the financial scale or the other. The author has something for everyone. Wait until you get to her "Ice Cream Earrings" and you will see what I mean!

Thank you Sharilyn, for another great learning experience!

Highly recommended!

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the author. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.