2013 Bead Shop Hop brochure is now available

 

To view the entire 2013 Bead Shop Hop brochure click here!

Beads on Fabric: Observations from a Mad Costumer

(For clarity, that's "mad" as in "of questionable sanity" and not "mad" as in "upset", though I can tell you, making the transition from straight textile costuming to beads-on-fabric embellishment has its moments of ire.)

I began doing costumes for competition 15 years ago, but struggled to make the transition between Journeyman and Master, which required significant improvements in design, technique, and finishing. In the strange world of competitive costuming, needle-and-thread is king; judges tend to award the highest scores to costumes that are fabricated all or in part with hand-sewing techniques, especially if they're unusual, difficult, or time-consuming.

How does this relate to beading?  Seed beading (among costumers) is unusual, difficult, AND time-consuming. It also involves use of my beloved needle and thread, so I took to it very quickly and have been experimenting with ways to incorporate it into the detail work on larger pieces.

In competition costume, the work has to function at two levels: it has to withstand the scrutiny of the Workmanship judges (usually a panel of 3-5), who can poke and prod and examine as minutely as they and the contestant desire; it also has to be impressive, witty, strange, and/or engaging enough to play to a crowd of thousands on a proscenium stage 30-50 feet across in hopes of getting high marks from the Performance judges (a separate panel of 3-5). For me, the transition from Journeyman to Master began with seed-beading embellishments, in the form of bugle and 11/0s. I'd seen applique work, in which the pieces are assembled separately, and then flat-sewn onto fabric. However, I opted for a more integrated approach, in which the beads are sewn directly onto the fabric in the style of Native American beading, 3-5 beads at a time to make patterns and shapes.

There were over 5000 seed beads in this pattern, and it took me about a month to complete. At first, I had the single red rows, but I wanted a more "comic book" look to the shape, so I added the outer black row, which has become my new standard for defining shapes and separating sections.

In 2012 came the Victorian Lady Doctor project, a 13-person costume entry with ladies in Victorian garb. Instead of the shapes and encrusting I'd done for previous wins, I used beads to emphasize seams, joints, and create patterns.

Detail of the center front panel of my gown. I used serpentine-shaped lines to emphasize the hourglass shape of the bodice. Note the double lines of black in hexes and round 11/0s along the edges of the black velvet ribbon.

Matching spats. The beads here are 15/0s, smaller than the ones I used on the bodice so they'd be more proportional. This pair was created so I could hide the zippers on the boots, and also because I loved the novelty of having tweed spats. (An in-joke for the character, which is from a Science Fiction show.)

Here you can see the outlining detail of the bow tie. In addition to giving shape and definition to the piece, it stiffens the edges of the fabric, making the whole bow tie more effective, especially from a distance. A customer liked the effect so much that she commissioned a hair bow, using the same materials and technique.

As implied above, costuming with beads for me is not just for flat fabric or shapes, but becomes vital for accessorizing looks. For this year's major group project, one of my friends needed a celery stalk, the shape of which was EXTREMELY challenging. I ended up using 15/0s, 11/0s, and silk 11/0s, which are just slightly larger.

This is approximately life-sized. My friend attached a pin back to it and will be wearing it on her lapel. (Another in-joke for the character, which is also from a Science Fiction show.)

As a final example of the transformative power of beads for fabric pieces, I want to touch on my latest project, which is a Roman Centurion as reimagined through the sensibilities of Erte. (Think Roman + Great Gastby.) I started with raw bronze satin, looked up a mosaic pattern that dates back to Roman times, and was pleasantly surprised at how much the beads could alter the whole texture of the piece. I will be bringing the whole costume (of which the following is one piece) to competition this year to defend my Best in Show win from last year.

On the right, the raw satin. On the left, the embellished piece, which is sewn to exactly the same material. Below, the original mosaic design. The beaded mosaic is in 11/0 Delicas of matte black, iridescent rose, matte bronze, and hex bronze. 

So what do I want you to take away from this blog post? Well, our organization is about promoting the use and love of beads of all kinds, so I've been teaching costumers basic bead embellishment, with good results in terms of competition wins, overall costume appearance and cohesion, and sales for our store. It's a niche market, yes, but one worth exploring. And for seed beaders, it gives a whole new sphere of useful applications for labors of love.

Starting this fall, I plan to add classes in bead embroidery to Ocean Sky Carlsbad's class list. I will also be applying to demonstrate/teach some basic methods for the 2014 Gaslight Gathering convention. Working among communities of costumers not only encourages me to bring my "A" game in terms of creativity, but has opened up new markets for my family's business.

For, as Polonius says in HAMLET, "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."

For the Love of Beads design contest, entries due soon, June 22, 2013!

All of the stores from the association are starting to get entries for the "For the Love of Beads" contest that features amateur bead/jewelry designers from Southern California.

You still have time to get your submission in for the contest.

“Destinations” is the theme for this year’s challenge. Create an original piece of jewelry that is either strung, bead woven, or wire worked and displays your love of beads!

Criteria

• Contest is open to all customers and is free to enter. Employees and family members of the local bead stores affiliated with the SCLBSA and professional and/or paid bead instructors are not eligible.
• Pick a category: Stringing, Bead Weaving, or Wire Working.
• Create an original piece of jewelry that includes at least 80% of the category technique.
• Choice of materials is open to whatever you can find at a local bead store.
• Although it is not required, we do ask that you support the SCLBSA by purchasing at least 50% of your materials with them.
• Submit your entry to your participating SCLBSA bead store by June 22, 2013.

Judging

SCLBSA store owners in each region will be your judges.

• Judging will be based on overall design and theme, visual impact, originality, and execution
• Each category will have a First Place Winner and an Honorable Mention Winner in each region
• Nine First Place Winners will be awarded a $100 Promotional Certificate.
• Nine Honorable Mention Winners will be awarded a $50 Promotional Certificate.
• Winners will be announced on June 27, 2013 on the SCLBSA web site.
• Entries will be on display from June 27 - July 6 at store submitted to.
   

Stringing, Bead Weaving, and Wire Working Categories

• * Two Winners Per Category in Each Region
• * 18 Winners
• * $100 or $50 Promotional Certificates

Contest is open to all customers and is free to enter.
Employees and family members of local bead stores affiliated with the SCLBSA and professional and/or paid bead instructors are not eligible.

Entry Deadline: June 22, 2013

Contest Information 

Entry Form 

Hi Everyone for Newbury Park

I hope you are enjoying the long Memorial Day weekend. I hope you are making time to bead, wire wrap, play with sheet metal - i.e. make time to do something you love. Please take a moment to remember those who have served in our armed forces. Oftentimes, that part of the weekend (reason for the season) is overshadowed by picnics, trips and other fun activities.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting your local beads stores. As you have come to know, not only are we a knowledgeable source for your beading supplies but aslso perhaps for your inspiration, encouragment and friendship. I can't tell you how many people I have met over the years through the store who started out as customers and have become friends.

Creative Castle will be hosting a Make n' Take on Saturday, June 8th to make leather, unisex bracelets - a very suitable Father's Day gift! We offer a large and comprehensive selection of beads, findings, supplies and books as well as classes.

The deadline for entries for For the Love of Beads contest is fast approaching. We encourage you to enter and submit your entry to any of our association stores. Entries will be accepted until June 22. To see the complete contest rules and download an application, click here.

We are getting ready for Gail Crosman Moore's classes (June 21-23) and Janice Berkebile's classes (June 27-30) Both are what we call metal/wire artists as opposed to seed bead artists. Gail works with metal clay and enameling and other coloration techniques with metal and will be sharing those with students. She also is a fabulous lampworker and will be bringing a trunk show of her beads and jewelry. Janice is a wire gal who wraps, fuses and otherwise shapes wire into beautiful jewelry. Janice will also have a trunk show of jewelry and kits.

Creative Castle hosts many trunk shows throughout the year. A trunk show is when a vendor or artist sends a collection of merchandise for a specified time period, thus allowing us to present to you a much larger selection of product than we could under normal circumstances. Right now we have a trunk show of lampwork beads from Galactic Glass. The name is very appropriate as there is a small galaxy in each bead; they are beautifully anmazing. The beads will be here through June 9th. We will be having a trunk show of Tom Boylan's lampwork beads in June. His beads were some of the first beads I fell in love with when I started the store (Gail's were the others)

Please visit our website for a complete list of classes and events. We hope to see you soon as there is always something to share with our beading friends.

Carole Tripp

Creative Castle
2321 Michael Drive
Newbury Park, CA 91320
805-499-1377
877-BEADS4U (232-3748)




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        April 22nd seemed like a normal Monday at Beads and More.  I was getting ready for the week making my schedule, paying bills, and planning my beading projects.  A neighbor above the store had a plumbing problem, a clog, with one of their pipes and had a hired plumber to "snake" down the pipe.  The pipe runs down the length of the bead store and then makes a turn in one of our connecting walls.  After a couple of tries with the snake I heard a rush of water and thought to myself "oh good, they found and freed up the clog".  A second later I realized the pipe had ruptured and water was filling the store.  Beads and More has been closed ever since.

      It took a while for the above events to finally sink in.  The water had caused a lot of damage.  Four tables and 4 cabinets had to be replaced along with the carpet and removal of some of the dry wall.  But then it hit me.  Beads and More is getting a make-over and we will be starting our summer with a brand new look.  As owners, Juan and I will be completely refreshed and rejuvenated from having some time off.  Thank goodness for insurance! 

     So I've spent the last few weeks looking forward and planning our grand re-opening.  We have selected new paint, new carpet, new tables and cabinets.  I am starting to get really excited.  I have owned the store for 15 years and I bought Beads and More pre-established and furnished.  Now I get to redesign the store I love and truly make it my own with my own sense of style.  We are moving away from a pink colored store to a beachy cool blue store.  Last week the walls finally got painted and this week we get new carpet.  Things are looking up!

       We are still a few more weeks away from re-opening.  The tables and cabinets have not arrived.  Then we will have the daunting task of putting the rest of the store back together.  All of the beads have been packed up in storage and it will take a while to put them back into their new home.  We can't wait!

      So if you have shopped with us before or you were planning on visiting us this summer we will be opening up again mid-June.  I will announce the date on our Facebbok page as soon as we know.  We hope to see you soon with a new and improved and happier Beads and More.

Julia Armfield
owner,
Beads and More
4150 Mission Blvd., ste. 111
San Diego, Ca 92109

Whew here it is another HOT day in Lancaster. Good thing we have air conditioning in the store!
We will have our place nice and cool for Beaders' Night Out. Sign ups for this great event have started. Remember to sign up soon with your local bead store because space is limited!!
We have been working hard and looking forward to this night getting everything ready to have fun with our customers. We hope to provide THRILLS (learn a new project), FRILLS ( you get to wear it) and CHILLS ( refreshments).
When you come into our store don't forget to see all our new items. We have been packing, counting, stringing and displaying all sorts of new items. We just can't help ourselves when we see something new we feel we have to bring it in and share it with you.
We hope to see you soon at least at Beaders' Night Out, or for other exciting classes coming up.
Have a beadyful day.
Lupe
CT's Beads N Things, Inc.