So I was poking around in my tag cloud and found this cool bracelet on about page 6 of "map".

I checked out Suzanne's profile, and found out she sells her pieces at fluidstyle.com. There's other pretty stuff there, too :-)

I prefer to pick out beads in person, but there is something to be said for receiving a box full of treasure in the mail....

First I came up with this cooool (but definitely not jewelry-related) site:
Maneklal and Sons (Export). Their definition of "small scale" is relative to what, an oil refinery? General Motors? Anyhow, lots of nifty machines there.

Next I came across this article on about.com. Definitely closer to the mark! I quite like the bracelet pictured on that page, although some of the other examples are not very appealing to me.

Eventually I found the book at Delphi. (Also available at Amazon (link below), of course, and Interweave (the publisher, I believe), and probably several other places. For surfing, as opposed to actual shopping, I do try to not start at Amazon although I often end up there at some point.)

In my wanderings, I also ran across this really thorough, entertaining and informative site: Connie Fox's Studio Tour. Oh yes, now that is a work table! And I've bookmarked her page on digital photography for more study at a later date.

The only problem I see with this direction is that, combined with an interest in chain making, it could be even more expensive than straight beading....

Update:
Amazon link removed because it's displaying a bogus generic go-shop-here instead of the book-cover-and -price thingy it's supposed to show....

A few other places state outright that this is man-made stuff (ArtGems, Beads Forever, Fire Mountain Gems and Beads and GemBeads.com, just in the first few pages of a google search). This is not to say that every place I didn't link swears they're actually gemstones ;-) but I think it is irritating that I am still having vendors tell me they are "real."

This has become one of my "trustworthiness" tests. I ask a vendor, "What is this, it's pretty!" and if they say, "Cherry (or whatever) quartz" and they don't follow up with a disclaimer, I will ask if it's a gemstone or if it's glass. There is only one right answer to that question, and the wrong answer prompts an "Oh really, I thought that was just a trade name for this color glass," which gives them one last out. (My favorite recent claim was "sapphire quartz" for some pretty blue beads. Riiiight....)

I do sometimes still buy the beads, if the price is right. In all truth, for myself I don't care if it's glass or not, as long as it's pretty, but I'm not going to pass on bad information if I know better.

Make sure to check out the photographer's assistant. Poezekusjes indeed ;-)

And incidentally, the wire-wrapped loop instructions on this project at HGTV aren't too hot, but the project idea is great! I have some nice long fancy-tipped head pins that would probably work well for this....

Having just had my ears re-pierced, I'm looking forward to sampling the world of earrings again, and I think this might be a place to start :-)

(I couldn't find the item on the Chico's website so I went ahead and scanned the catalog page....)

The MO would no doubt roll his eyes heavenward, but I think a pocket decoration (the chain, not the rivets in the fabric, in this case--although I guess they're okay, but maybe not together) is a super idea. The more beads the merrier! Plus it prob'ly jingles when you walk :-)

¹This is subjective opinion, of course. I want to know how people make stuff. Not because I have any intention of replicating the process (lack of expertise, tools, time and determination all factor in here), but because I think it is the process that is interesting. Generally speaking, I find the "I get my inspiration from the wind" type statements to be (a) baloney and (b) boring. YMMV.

Diane Fitzgerald is a warm and wonderful lady. Both of the Magpies have had the chance to take several classes from her over the years. She has a great eye for color, comes up with wondrous designs, and writes instructions that actually make sense!

Her website provides a nice overview of her work (see the Bead Art and Instructions sections) and you can even find some freebie instructions in the Articles section. If you ever have a chance to take a class with Diane, I enthusiastically recommend the experience. I also suggest buying one of her kits to go with the class. The quality won't disappoint and as I mentioned, her color selections are gorgeous. You really can't go wrong....

The Magpie happily introduced an unsuspecting neighbor to the addictive beauty of beads! Peggy made a great Pisces necklace for a son's girlfriend. She took to wire-wrapping right away--look at those dangles, and she made ear-rings, too.

Marianne conquered the crimp and made two necklaces and a pair of ear-rings.

I extended the Party into Sunday and ended up with six necklaces :-)

It's all about the mimosas, my friends.