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Bead Savvy

African baskets from Zimbabwe
By Guy Lynn

Having been born in Africa, I was well aware of the beautiful hand woven grass baskets that come from Africa. I have always had baskets in my life as either wall decorations or as a bowl to hold fruit or bread on the dining room table. It was just a part of my life. My Grandmother had them, my mother and older sister used them, and my wife and I have them scattered around the house and also as customer shopping baskets when we do trunk shows or trade shows selling our beads. They are just a part of our everyday lives.

What I didn’t realize until now was just how beautiful and timeless they are. Like most things in life, we take them for granted until they go away.  Continued

Making Your Monochromatic Magnificent
by Margie Deeb

Monochromatic color schemes need never be boring. And if they are, then the person creating them has a lot to learn about color.

Because they feature one color, monochromatic schemes are psychologically powerful, evoking the emotions associated with that color. If blue is your choice, your piece will speak either of peaceful reflection or of melancholy, depending on how you deal with the color properties.

When different intensities, tones, shades, and tints of one color are combined, gorgeous and evocative harmonies emerge. In the medium of beads, monochromatic options expand further to include different textures and finishes of the same color.

How about a New Years’ Resolution to work with monochromatic schemes in a new way?
Here’s how...

About Style
By Ann Turner

What’s In A Name
By Ann Turner

Almost everyone has heard the term Haute Couture. To those in the know, Haute Couture is a reference to custom-made garments conforming to explicit guidelines that only a few design studios within the fashion collective actually meet. To classify as a couture house, a couturier must produce at least 50 new and original designs of day and evening wear for each collection. They must show 2 collections a year. They must employ a minimum of at least twenty full-time technical people in at least one atelier or workshop. As you might expect, few design houses can honestly use the exclusive Haute Couture trademark.Continued

The History of
Beaded Flowers (continued)
By Rosemary Kurtz

In Venice in the 16th century, middle class and poor women made bead flowers for churches, banquet tables and parade floats. There are accounts that someone could walk down the streets of Venice and see women sitting outside every door, making ornaments out of wire and tiny glass beads. At one time Venice was a center for the actual production of beads. And according to one source, at one point all the beadmaking activity in Venice was moved onto the island of Murano. Murano glass vases and other items are still treasured today. Continued