Clever and Inexpensive Storage Idea

Tiered Organizer Tray
Photo and Project by Sew Many Ways

Wow - this is a really clever and inexpensive storage idea designed by Karen at Sew Many Ways.

This the part that Karen used to create her
Tiered Storage Organizer 

Karen is a crafter and her blog at Sew Many Ways is full of organizing ideas, recipes, crafts projects, quilting blocks and so much more; you should go over there and check it out.

But, what really blew me away was this very simple and cheap Tier Tray Organizer made from items you can buy from your local Home Depot store for under $12.00. You don't even need to saw, nail or glue anything, you just stack one tray on top of the other and it spins - wheeeee!

So, now I'm on my way to Home Depot cause I'm going to have to make two or three of these... let's see one for my sewing area, one for my metal studio and one for my glass studio.

Now go bead something.

Circle of Hope Beads

I love to support and make art for a cause, so I was happy to find out that Fire Mountain Jewels is sponsoring Circle of Hope Beads - Beads for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Circle of Hope Beads
Photo & Sponsored by Fire Mountain Gems & Beads

You can help in the campaign against breast cancer by buying a bead from or creating and donating handmade beads to the Circle of Hope project. Your handmade bead donations will be featured in the Jewelry Maker's Comprehensive Catalog published by Fire Mountain.

The beads will then be sold individually with all sales benefiting breast cancer research and awareness. 

To make a donation, click HERE. To meet the designers behind the creations, click HERE. If you want to purchase a bead (go ahead, you know you want to and it's all for a great cause anyway), click HERE.

Now go buy a bead and make something.

Chasing Rainbows Bracelet

Chasing Rainbows Bracelet
Photo and Project by Fusion Beads

I adore the colors in this bracelet! So much so, that I may even give chain maille a try. While steel/silver jump rings are more traditional, this one by Fusion Beads uses enameled jump rings to give it that shot of color - or colors. And, don't ya just love that colored clasp too?

So if you have been recently inspired by Theresa Olin's June program on 4 in 1 Chain Maille and want to play around with the technique a little more, click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

American Eagle Bracelet

Here is a 4th of July project to get you started for the upcoming holiday.

Becky Antas of Streator, Illinois was inspired to make this bracelet by her son-in-law, Joe, who is a U.S. Marine.

The body of the bracelet is created using flat, even count peyote using size 11 cylinder seed beads. The lovely, tapered ends are added on last.

This is the perfect bracelet to wear for the upcoming July 4th holiday to remind us of the sacrifices that so many make for this wonderful country and its a beauty to boot!

Click HERE to get the instructions and pattern from Bead and Button.

Now go bead something.

June 2013 Meeting Highlights

So, what do we do at our monthly meetings?

In addition to the business meeting, we have show and tell, book and product reviews, general discussions about trends and beads, challenges and...

HBS Member of the Month Profile - Bead and Fiber Artist Ginger Paige, birthday acknowledgements and a monthly joke by Diane Mayes.

Member of the Month - the very talented Ginger Page speaking about her
inspiration and showing off her lovely work.
Acknowledging monthly birthdays and a monthly joke by our Past President and
resident comedienne, Diane Mayes.

Meet ups with friends and shopping!



Meet up with friends like Kathy Jolly, Mary Lowe, Faith Strunk
 and Lillian Skogsberg.
And shopping with Bowerbirds!

The monthly program - wow!

This is Theresa Olin wearing her incredibly awesome chain maille jacket.
Theresa stated that it took about 8.5 pounds of stainless steel jump rings and about 4.5 years
(off and on) to create her very wearable jacket. She used colored jump rings to create the design on the back. Theresa taught this month's program - a 4 in 1 chain maille weave bracelet.

Theresa demonstrating how to properly open, add, line up and close a jump ring.

Members working on their chain maille bracelets.

Join us at our next meeting, July 20, 2013 for founding member Kathy Yzaguirre's program on simple bead looming. 

Now go bead something.

Upcycled Cork Pendants

Cork Pendants and Photo by Fiskar

At first glance, I thought these were made of wood (and they could be), but  no - these cute little pendants are made from recycled corks.

I love projects that use recycled/upcycled materials and just think how many pendants or earrings you get from just one cork!

You don't even even need a saw - just a knife to slice through the cork to make the disks. Then all you have to do is paint, stamp, collage, glue or a combination of any of those techniques.

So, grab a cork from your favorite beverage, then click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something.

Daisy Chain Bracelet

Daisy Chain Bracelet by FaveCrafts.com
(still shot from video)

How many times have you heard  the old expression - "Everything old is new again?" So, I'm not surprised at how some retro (hippie or Boho) designs are so hot right now. And, who wouldn't want to display a little love flower power - like this cute Daisy Chain bracelet?

So many times, we are left with just a few seed beads after a large beaded project and no idea what to do with them (I usually throw them in my bead soup). But, now you have this Daisy Chain bracelet and it is so easy - you can make lots and lots of them too. Make it a little longer and you now have an anklet to wear with all your beach and summer outfits.

Not only that, the technique itself is so simple, it is the perfect project to introduce beading to kids.

Best of all, the instructions are in a video with great closeups too. So, click HERE to get instructions.

Peace ya'll - Now go bead something.