The Beading Room Blog

How grateful we are to our wonderful customers...

2012-01-30T13:22:00.000-04:00

And this is so true for our little business! I know we I have said it a few times but we really do appreciate and value every one of our customers...our deepest gratitude to you all:)

Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings!

2011-12-24T19:37:00.000-04:00

Ahh....today is the first day this year we have not had an order. And whilst we LOVE serving all our wonderful customers (thanks so much for giving us this privilege!) I have to say it is a great relief to have a day or two off. I am going to relish in them...because on Boxing Day it will be all systems go again. If you have been a friend of The Beading Room for a while you will know what I mean. And if you are new to shopping with us, we will just STRONGLY advise you to come and visit the site on the 26th.

In the meantime may we wish you and yours the most fantastic Christmas and our very best wishes for love, health and happiness in 2012.

What are we wishing for in 2012? Continued success in our business so we can keep growing and supplying you with all your beading needs and wants. Flooring in our office...ooo this concrete floor is killing my feet! More time to get some inspirational ideas out to you. More time to bead. And....a long awaited referral for our baby girl who we have been in the process of adopting for two years now. Sigh....not much then;)

Off to have some eggnog now and stuff the kids' stockings. Have a joyful day tomorrow!

Love Hollie

So What are 'Silver Filled' Products Anyways?

2011-10-16T13:50:00.001-03:00

With the ever-rising prices of Sterling Silver, many jewelry artists are turning to Silver Filled products as a way of keeping their prices within budget for more of their customers. You get all the look, feel and workability of Sterling Silver at a much lower price!

Silver filled products are not actually 'filled with silver', despite what the name implies. Nor are they the same as silver plated.

A thick, bonded layer of Sterling Silver covers a copper-alloy core. It is HUNDREDS times thicker than silver plating and can be soldered too. It looks and behaves just as Sterling Silver would.

Our Silver Filled findings, wire, chain and beads are of premium quality. They are 9.25/10, meaning they are almost 10% Sterling Silver- most of our competitors are 9.25/20, or 5%. SO don't be fooled! They are also coated in a non-tarnish finish, helping them to look better for longer between polishings.

Why not give them a try? You can see our full range by clicking here.

Looking for Beading Fun in the Ottawa Area?

2011-10-14T14:35:00.001-03:00

This is gonna be fun! There is a class for everyone, including Intro to Kumihimo (and we have all the stuff to help feed your need once you are hooked!), doing glazed/resin Bezels, Wire Lace, Various Bead Weaving and Crochet, Wire Wrapping and more.
Have a fun few days with some enthusiastic ladies doing what you (and they) love to do best....make jewelry!!!

The next Ottawa Beading Retreat will be held on
October 28-30, 2011

Join us in October to learn new techniques, meet new friends,
and make a few bead creations for Christmas, Chanukah,
or any occasion.

I invite you to come and enjoy a weekend of fun and learning.

Happy Beading,
Sharron Weinberger

www.ottawabeadingretreat.org

Kumihimo Kraze!!!!

2011-09-14T09:48:00.000-03:00

It's here...and we love it!! Kumihimo is the ancient Japanese art of braiding, now being used to create the most fabulous jewelry. We have started stocking the Beadsmith's range of Kumihimo products which make it fun, quick and easy to produce great results every time. Seriously, here's the proof:

That is my FIRST EVER Kumihimo necklace and boy it was fun to make. There is something theraputic about weaving those satin cords in a repeating pattern: it is satifying and soothing. The starter pack came with everything I needed to get going, I just added a nice headpin of Swarovski pearls and crystals, and a Sterling Silver coated leaf. I think it looks pretty darn impressive if I do say so myself. That's one Christmas present taken care of...and it was made in front of the television in only one programme!

Want to know more? Watch this video to give you an introduction into what is the basic technique is and order your starter kit. Once you know the basics, you can use different types of cord including leather, hemp, metallic threads, wool, etc. And you can add beads into the mix to create something even more special. The round disk (included in the set) creates rounded braids, and we also have a square disk to create more flat, rectangular braids. We have lots of goodies in stock now, and many more on the way!

PS- And what about those bobbins? They are just the BEST invention. These would be great for storing all your stringing materials too. We sell them separately if you would like more:)

And Now for Fall Colors....

2011-08-29T13:37:00.001-03:00

These are the prominent colors for Fall 2011... a very interesting mix of colors. Feels like they are going from late summer to winter from left to right, don't they?