BeadStyle : Alison Libby

Endings

BeadStyle Magazine — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:39:00 GMT

I have really enjoyed sharing my thoughts and stories with you. I’d like to end this week talking about endings…to necklaces, that is!

Even three years ago when I started making jewelry, clasps for necklaces were fairly simple; spring rings, lobster clasps and a few fancier toggle and hook clasps. Now there are so many fantastic finds.

These clasps are truly works of art. I am particularly fond of the Israeli sterling silver clasps available at great online stores like Art Beads, Fusion Beads and Gemshow-Online. Since these findings are hollow, the price is right too! Many designer and specialty silver clasps can range from $5 to $20. The Israeli silver clasps sell anywhere from $3 to $10 (watch for sales and specials for the best deals). The designs are unique and add quality to your designs. And they look every bit as good as many of the solid silver closures. Below are a few of my favorites.

You decide!

Happy beading!

Alison

Turquoise, turquoise, or turquoise?

BeadStyle Magazine — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:34:00 GMT

You are shopping for gemstones. Hmm, how about some turquoise?

Your search leads you to many types of turquoise: Sleeping Beauty, African, Chinese, Viennese, Howlite, and Purple. What to choose?

Time for some serious research. And what you will find can be a little confusing.

African turquoise is really a jasper, so don't be fooled into paying turquoise prices.
Natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise is very expensive. And the prices are justified. This is some of the highest grade natural turquoise, mined in Globe, Arizona. The robin's egg blue color is unmistakable.
Chinese turqoise is real, but sometimes dyed or otherwise enhanced. It comes in several colors: green, blue, spider web, yellow and bright blue.
Viennese turquoise is a fake. Stick to Vienna pastries, but not turquoise.
Howlite is a borate mineral dyed to look like turquoise.
Purple turquoise is Arizona turquoise that has been dyed and eradiated.

The bottom line is to know your vendor. Reputable gemstone dealers will provide information on their website and be willing to answer your questions regarding the origin on the stones they are selling. If the description is scant, such as “turquoise beads for sale,” I would move on. If you are buying in a bead store, ask plenty of questions.

If you are selling your jewelry, you need to be able to inform your customers about the items they are buying. A knowledgeable seller will be 10 times more successful than someone who knows nothing about the materials they are using. Study gemstone handbooks, use online lapidary journals and look at lots of pictures. If you have the opportunity to handle the stones, get familiar with the feel, weight, color, and texture of the stones. The old “knowledge is power” saying is very true.

Natalie's gift

BeadStyle Magazine — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:24:00 GMT

Hello!

My name is Alison Libby and I am the guest blogger for this week. I look forward to sharing my beading experiences with you, and hope you will post your thoughts and ideas. That is what makes the BeadStyle blog such a great resource.

During a summer vacation in 2005, my niece, Natalie, gave me a beaded anklet she bought at a local sale. I loved it. It took me back to my days of beads, embroidered shirts, bell-bottoms and peace signs. A couple of weeks later, I stopped by a local craft store and bought some beads, stretch cord and glue. ‘What could be so hard? I’ll make a few anklets for myself,’ I thought. And make anklets I did (and bracelets, and necklaces, and earrings...)!

That is how it all started. Having gone through surgery and treatment for breast cancer the previous summer, I was looking for a new outlet. Making jewelry was something I could do at my own pace, and I could be my own boss (a dream most of us share)!

Since then, I have been doing about 24 arts and crafts shows a year, putting on home parties, and maintaining a fairly successful website for my company, BEADZ. This past May, I had the honor of being published in the gallery section of BeadStyle magazine. I have no idea where my ability to design jewelry was lurking, but I am glad I found it!

A few months after giving me the anklet, Natalie told me, “I never thought I would give someone an idea for a business plan.” Very funny, since she was about nine-years-old (going on 18!) at the time. But I am so glad her gift launched my new creative endeavor.

Please post your own stories. I would love to hear how you got started beading and how it has affected your life.