Setting up for the trunk show...

I was at Ornamentea tonight to help Ebrima set up for his trunk show this weekend. He hauled in so many boxes and bins of African trade beads...I couldn't believe it! The beads are beautiful!
Some very old fancy trade beads on our resident supermodelquin.
Glass of all kinds.
Boxes waiting to be unpacked.
Ebrima brings in MORE boxes!
Weird and maybe scary ring...there are two whole boxes of rings of different kinds, some like this and many more that are more simple in design.
I forgot to ask about these but I do love them...I think I may need several strands to loop 'round my neck this summer!

See you this weekend!

July Art Bead Scene Contest

Love cave paintings? this contest is for you...go to Art Bead Scene and read the details.

I love this blog and these bead artists, they all make very inspiring work!

She's good!

One of the things I say (often) to staff members here is that if they have some hidden talent I will find out about it and use it for my own nefarious purposes. This might mean finding out that someone has great handwriting and so they make the signs, or finding out that someone is a bit o.c.d. and putting them in charge of organizing tools or supplies. In the case of Jane, we found out that she takes amazing photographs. Her job is to be the Purchasing Manager, which means she spends a lot of time doing sales reports and reordering, reordering, reordering. She's busy, but when she has time she has taken some photos for our website and promotions. Her photos are good, so when she came to me with an idea for a class on taking photos of jewelry I said 'heck, yeah!'

Those classes have been very popular. The last one of the summer was today. The folks who took it were universally thrilled with their new photo talents. Tonight I saw some photos that a former student of Jane's took and I was amazed. Stacy Hartis sells her work at Sissy & Jacks on line and at local shows like the Designer's Downtown Market.

Come meet Stacy at the market on Saturday, you can tell her how much you love her photos!
Jane's next photo class will be in September, her Getting Started on Etsy class is next week.

Metals Club on Wednesday

Did you know we have a free Metals Club at Ornamentea? This club meets the second Wednesday of every month with great projects taught by club members. July's project will be chain-making using a few simple tools and various gauges of wire. Usually the club seems to have a thing for fire, but this month they are doing the cold work thing and creating some interesting chains.

Wanna come? The meeting starts at 6:15.

Just call the store at 919-834-6260 and reserve a seat as it fills up.

All tools and supplies are available at the store. Ask us to reserve yours to save time on Wednesday.

Supplies you will need to participate:

You will need 5' or more of the following: **

24ga copper wire or 24ga half hard wire
20ga copper wire or 20ga half hard wire
18ga copper wire or 18ga half hard wire

**The thinner the gauge, the finer the chain

Tools are available to share, but please bring your own, labeled with your name, so you can work uninterrupted.

Round nose pliers
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Nylon jaw pliers
Bench block
Rawhide mallet
Ball pein hammer (for base metal) or chasing hammer (sterling)

Needle or diamond files

Ruler with inches and mm

4-6mm beads that fit on 24 or 20 ga wire

1 brass tube, 11/32" or larger diameter

Eye protection

Optional, but extremely helpful:

Round/flat nose, looping pliers

Flat-half round forming pliers
Wire rounder

Optional:

Flush cutters (These will reduce the amount of filing required)

Torch and fuel w/fire brick

Carolina Pad design contest

Are you a visual artist? Enter the design contest at Carolina Pad and you could find your artwork featured on notebooks and school supplies...I love a pretty notebook and although I confess I am addicted to Rhodia pads I often 'cheat' with a nice spiral bound now and again. See the details on the Carolina Pad Website and good luck!

You get to peck the winner!

The fabulous Fifi the hen was overwhelmed at the contest entries at the first (ever!) Chicken Jewelry Contest at Panopolie. She couldn't decide during the contest and had to retire to her coop with a nice glass of chardonnay* to peck a winner.

There are three categories that the entries could win.
Judges Favorite (Fifi already took care of that one!)
True to Theme (a secret panel of professional chicken jewelers decides this one)
Crowd Pleaser (you get to vote for this one right there in the left hand side of the blog!)

So, read up on the entries and vote. Voting closes on July 5th at 10:00 pm. I will announce the winners of all three categories in the store email on the 6th. Entries are listed by title and the artists first-name-only to protect reputations and make sure each artist can still hold down a design job in the future.

Chicken's Favorite features a tiny ear of corn made from Swarovski crystals. Eggstra points for bling! Glass corn beads and singing birds round out this sweet design.
artist: Tracy

Hen's Honey features an image of a fetching rooster with a bail created from chicken wire (eggstra points!) Note the use of organic materials (cherry pits and chicken feed) in this mixed media entry.
artist: Susan

Fit for a Queen is a tiara designed especially for a hen to wear to formal occasions. Eggstra points for the choice of sterling plated wire (more durable) and the ever-useful stand to hold the tiara when the hen is laying an egg.
Artist: Sher

Barnyard Friends features images of several of a hen's closest companions strung with yummy-looking beads. Eggstra points for the mirror (a hen loves to see herself!)
Artist: Nicola

Coop Bling is the most modern of the entries, with a sheer curtain of sparkling beads to accent a hen's best feature, her long neck. Eggstra points for the color, a sheer pink that brings out the color in Fifi's comb.
Artist: Kathy

Yellow and Orange features the favorite colors of chickens everywhere in a playful assortment. Eggstra points for the trendy 'Y' design and for knowing that chickens can see colors (they can!)
Artist: Erica

Pecker is a whimsical and (possibly) naughty design that features a barnyard take on a popular activity of 13-year-olds everywhere. Eggstra points for barnyard humor. Don't get the joke? Click here but be warned, it's a bit risque.
Artist: Erica

Rooster's Tail is a chic take on this season's hot fashion, the statement necklace. The draped beads evoke the tail of a handsome rooster and the rich colors say someone's been preening their feathers a lot! Eggstra points for lavish design.
Artist: Elizabeth
Chateau Polet is a bit of jolie-laide accessorizing that is both timeless and very of-the-moment. Note the mix of materials (shrink plastic, feathers, popcorn and a really nice sterling toggle!) and the use of actual food wins this entry eggstra points.
Artist: April

So, go vote for your favorite in the poll on the left side of this blog. What does the winner get? Well, that's the funny thing. I joked about the winner getting a hen for a week or two, but Fifi's booked up for months so I am still figuring out the prizes. Leave me a comment if you have any good ideas.

You can view contest photos here or scroll down...

*um, no, not a red, everyone knows that chickens are white wine drinkers! Fifi likes hers chilled, with an ice cube on a hot evening. She's a classy gal.