Our Blog Has Moved!

Please visit our new blog at http://www.parrissjewellers.co.uk/blog/

Thank you

Christmas Kits are Back!

It's that time of year again!  Christmas kits are available at your local Bead World this holiday season!  We try to make your holiday gift giving easy, with thirteen adorable and exclusive kits.  Each kit includes everything you need to make a special holiday project, with complete instructions and a color photo of the finished piece.  Can it get any easier than that?!   Every kit uses premium materials (Swarovski crystal, sterling silver, 14K gold filled, copper and more), so your loved ones get the very best.

Toy Soldier Earrings, $9.99

Christmas Lights Earrings, $5.99

Christmas Present Earrings, $10.99

Swarovski Crystal AB Christmas Trees, $8.99

Long Time No See

Wow, it sure has been a long time since I've blogged! Been busy with everyday life, you know, kids, school, work, and beads!

Recently, I did some glass bead making demos for an artist walk which was a lot of fun. I'm curious how the beads turned out since they are still at the studio (Bliss Beads in Dekalb, IL)

I've been on a bird bead kick lately. Here are a couple:

I'm off to celebrate my daughter's 6th birthday today =)
Have a great day!!

Nina Designs Interview our own Lezli Goodwin

I love those crazy gals over at Nina Designs.  (I might have covered my love of them before, in a few zillion of my posts.)  So I was extra stoked when they asked me to be their first featured "Designer Success Story"!  They sent me a list of questions, and let me choose five to answer.  It was really fun working my way through the questions.  The responses flowed easily, and I was surprised to find I had an immediate answer for ever question!  (Not so shocking to those who know me, I'm sure.  I have an opinion about everything!)

Here's a taste of the article.  To read the whole thing, click on the link below:

"There are as many avenues into jewelry design as there are jewelry designers. Each story is unique and inspiring. In our first Customer Success Story we’d like you to meet Lezli Goodwin. Lezli is a well known jewelry designer, accomplished modern painter and creative director for Bead World Inc, an Arizona chain of boutique bead stores. Her modern beaded jewelry features metaphysically active gemstones, gorgeous sterling silver findings and exquisite handcrafted techniques.

What is one piece of trusted advice you would give to someone just starting their jewelry business?


“Be who you are and not who you’re not.” I think that’s Dr. Seuss. Make jewelry you love, and then find the market. Forget about trying to make pieces you think will sell — that’s a recipe for frustration and defeat. There is a market for everything, if it’s made with integrity and passion."

To read the entire article, click here!

Congratulations to the Beading Contest Winners!

Behold, the winner of our first ever beading contest at Bead World!  Karen Kissel of Glendale submitted this adorable earring and bracelet set which fit our theme Summer Love perfectly.  Every element of this bracelet is created by hand, from the torch fused fine silver chain to the Precious Metal Clay charms and wire wrapped bead elements.  Here's what Karen had to say about her piece:

"I created this Summer Love dangle bracelet and earring set using pure silver charms and Swarovski crystal beads. The charms are PMC molded in the shapes of the ocean and the beautiful blue crystals have the bright and shimmering feel of summer at the beach. The bracelet was assembled using the fine silver rings we fused and hammered in class, and I used the wire wrap technique you taught me to design the dangles for both the bracelet and earrings."

FIRST RUNNER UP: $10.00 in Bead Bucks
Rose Balazs of Scottsdale, Arizona

"Summertime can be equated with fun times and greens -- the sun shining through the green trees, green grass and lots of green shrubbery." This piece was made using intricate stitching and gorgeous Czech glass firepolish beads.  I've seen this piece in person, and it's even more beautiful in real life!  Delicate craftsmanship like this really inspires me to get out the tiny beads and expand my skills.


HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Best Wire Working: Lora Klosterboer

Most Innovative Use of Materials: Pam Harris

Best Jewelry Photography: Linda Seward
 
 

Sweet Gold Charms

I am usually a sterling silver girl.  Rarely does a gold item (14K, gold filled or vermeil) catch my eye for any significant period of time.  These beautiful 24K vermeil charms from Nina Designs, though, have me smitten.  The color is radiant, the quality is impeccable.  Plus, of course, they are super cute!  A sweet little vermeil charm is the perfect way to add a splash of gold to this season's trendy "mixed-metal" pieces.  I've gotta say, I really like them and have had fun showing them to our clients at Bead World!

24K vermeil Om charm

24K vermeil Lotus Flower charm

24K vermeil Evil Eye charm

24K vermeil Buddha charm

Reverse Those Colors for a Fresh New Look!

Selecting colors can be one of the hardest tasks for a new jewelry designer. Try as we might, you guys never quite believe us when we say, "There is no wrong answer!" Truly, the best reason to learn the basics of color theory is to learn your favorite ways to break them. Once you do find a favorite color combination, here's a neat trick to keep you out of the dreaded rut -- whatever your instinct tells you to do, reverse the colors! It gives your pieces a fresh, exciting look and allows you to execute twice as many projects in your most beloved color scheme! Good friend and longtime client Fran Gilcrest-Piper loaned me two of her Sidewinder bracelets to help illustrate the concept. Fran used topaz seed beads and jet Swarovski crystals in the example at left, while she chose jet seed beads and topaz Swarovski crystals for the bracelet on the right.

Light interacts with different kinds of beads differently, and color placement can effect the look as well. These two pieces look very different, but use two of Frans favorite neutral colors in a rich, sophisticated way. Beautiful work, Fran!

The Easiest Earrings Ever

Sometimes, it really is this easy -- find a great bead or pendant, put it on an ear wire and VOILA!  You have fantastic new earrings.  The craze for anything beachy or made of shell this summer has me reaching for cute carved shell pendants.  Most summers, we would use them to create necklaces.  This year, though, earrings can't get big enough. 

Some of the Bead World girls out to celebrate Kim's exciting new move.  (I'm in the lower left hand corner, wearing these earrings!)

Aizilym Fashion: Fashion Bracelet

Aizilym Fashion: Fashion Bracelet: "Cute and Fashionable bracelet.. available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/"

Aizilym Fashion: Fashionable Necklace

Aizilym Fashion: Fashionable Necklace: "Classy Necklace for Fashionista available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/"

Aizilym Fashion: Cute Vintage Necklace

Aizilym Fashion: Cute Vintage Necklace: "this vintage necklace are available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/ check it out and you will find cute items."

Aizilym Fashion: Fashion Earrings

Aizilym Fashion: Fashion Earrings: "Different Fashion accessories ... available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/"

Aizilym Fashion: The things i want in accessories..

Aizilym Fashion: The things i want in accessories..: "I'm just newly graduate and i applied for a job.I'm big fan of fashion accessories and cute fashionable stuff,and i'm really glad that my..."

Aizilym Fashion: Fashion Headband

Aizilym Fashion: Fashion Headband: "Pick one for your Personal Collection ... Fashion Headband available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/"

Aizilym Fashion: Lovely Ring

Aizilym Fashion: Lovely Ring: "All the Accessories of Aizilym is not only fashionable its also affordable and everyone can afford it. Fashionable ring available at ht..."

The things i want in accessories..

I'm just newly graduate and i applied for a job.I'm big fan of fashion accessories and cute fashionable stuff,and i'm really glad that my first job is here in Aizilym.The one who sell and distribute fashionable item here in the Philippines.As an Online marketing staff For me the things that i consider as an online seller is that the quality of the item and the satisfaction of the customer because i want that my buyers to be happy if they receive my items. It feels great when other people compliment you and have good comment about how good is your accessories and the services. I also collect aizilym fashion accessories and for my favorite item is the Snake skin Metal ring its unique and kinda classy. I love Aizilym Fashion Accessories it will give you a fashionable look but the price its so AFFORDABLE.

Fashion Headband

Pick one for your Personal Collection ... Fashion Headband available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/

Lovely Ring

All the Accessories of Aizilym is not only fashionable its also affordable and everyone can afford it. Fashionable ring available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/

Fashion Bracelet

Cute and Fashionable bracelet..
available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/

Fashionable Necklace

Classy Necklace for Fashionista available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/

Cute Vintage Necklace

this vintage necklace are available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/
check it out and you will find cute items.

Fashion Earrings

Different Fashion accessories ...
available at http://aizilym.multiply.com/

Aizilym Fashion Accessories

Aizilym Enterprise is an online seller that offers the widest and up to date fashion accessories at very reasonable prices.Huge Discount for wholesale Purchases. You can check out our product to see the fashionable item. http://aizilym.multiply.com/ for Multiply Link http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001175544224&success=1#!/?ref=logo for facebook Link.

See you soon..

Gorgeous New Earring Findings!

You can thank me later, guys.  Locating amazing, creative, impressive jewelry findings is probably the biggest challenge in beading.  No matter how skilled you are, your work will always be limited by the quality and inventiveness of your basic findings.  As an earring girl, I'm always looking for cool new earring findings that will give my designs that extra sass I like.  I'm excited to announce the arrival of three new sterling silver findings to the Bead World line up, all from Nina Designs.  (Y'all know how I feel about Nina Designs.)  You're going to want them all.  I know I certainly do!  As Sandra Bullock's character says in The Blind Side, "I said you could thank me later.  It's later."

Jewel Kade's National Launch Begins!!!

Today is July 1, marking a historic day in JK history! Their newest catalog is hot off the press, their new dazzling charms are on the market and their full compensation plan is in effect!

I am so excited!!!

One of the niftiest things about it is, that if you were never a "at-home party gal" before, you don't have to be anymore to get your hands on their hip, chic, adorable product. It's now available to order right at your fingertips online. You don't have to live in Boise, or even remotely close! Here's the scoop:

1. Go to www.jewelkade.com/sarahfoutz (you'll need my stylist #1403) Or you can just click on the sidebar on the picture of the bracelet...

2. Browse through their to die for charms and chains.

3. Place a Jewel Kade order and have it shipped directly to YOU!

4. Wear it, and repeat steps 1-4 at your heart's content!

Let me know what you think about their new product--I heart Jewel Kade!