Five treasuries on Etsy in one day

I was excited to be in 5 Etsy treasuries in one day yesterday - being handpicked by other artisans is a very affirming.

• Romantic gardens (Red sparkles bracelet)
• Swirls and delights (Roezella bracelet)
• Sizzlin' stripes (Sizzling stripes cuff bracelet)
• Dripping honey (Mellow mauve hairstick)
• Lace weavings - expired late yesterday (Lavender rose earrings)

Enjoy looking at them.

Ziggin and Zaggin treasure feature for Snazz cuff bracelet

Featured in a new treasury in Etsy

Cleopatra's Vial moves to next round

Cleopatra's vial has moved to the second round of judging in Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Beading contest. Fingers and needles crossed!

Lavender lines and loves

The Lilac limetta cuff featured is featured in my latest Etsy treasury - Lavender lines and loves. You might like to visit it and explore the lavender lines of other beadweavers. If you feel inspired please leave a comment. http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=57365

Featured on Indie Spotting - Kumasa Zest brooch

Kumasa Zest brooch is a new design (see it in the Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26159804) that I really love - it's fun, dramatic and zesty. It was featured on My Shopping Connection - great finds for fine living - that day that i listed it on Etsy.

Extreme beading with an extreme metal rock star

At the moment a fair share of my beading happens on airoplanes. My latest bracelet is quite a departure for me - I am using peyote stitch (my favourite beadweaving stitch) to create triangles, squares and oblongs that make for dramatic and fun beaded shapes. The beginning of this was on a trip back from Los Angeles in which I found myself seated next to an extreme metal star - David from Morbid Angel. Not sure if it was his influence or not but this bracelet just become more extremely holey than any other I had made. He thought the beading 'cool'. I think it hot and zingy and have listed it on Esty and inspired by its success am on the way to more holey hot and zingy bracelets with brooches on the way.

Treat yourself to a beading stopover at Los Angeles airport

Travelling between the USA and Australia often means a stopover of a few hours in Los Angeles Airport (LAX). If find yourself with a couple of hours (or less) between flights grab a taxi and head to the sleepy little village of El Segundo just 5 minutes away. There at 319 Richmond Street you’ll find Beadtopia. It’s a bead shop I’ve seen advertised in Bead and Button magazine and after checking its location with some local airport staff I confirmed it was indeed in easy reach of LAX. The visit was a lovely interlude between flights. Beadtopia was such a pretty little beadshop. It has some unusual glass beads and a terrific range of high quality but reasonably priced gemstone cabochons and beads. Lots of the beads are in glass bowls of all shapes and sizes and they just seem to sing at you to be picked up and looked at. Carefully placed lamps make beads sparkle and tempt you to look more closely. There are a small but good range of books and magazines. I picked up a copy of the book The Beaded Sphere and Variations by Judy Walker. I had thought more than once of buying the book online but I really to see the book before risking an online purchase. Mind you, given that the book is in hardback it probably wasn’t the wisest addition to my cabin bag just before a long haul flight. I also treated myself to a mini battery operated vacumn cleaner (about 15 cms long) just perfect for swishing up spilt beads. Beadtopia specialises in gemstones, pearls and crystals but I also found vintage Czech beads, handmade glass art beads and cabachons. I really enjoyed just browsing amongst the beads and appreciated the very friendly shop assistant who was just as happy to help, as she was to let folks browse. She invited me into a conversation with a customer trying to decide between some small crystals of various shades of blue for a charm bracelet she was making. The language of colour is one I love and I enjoyed sharing in the conversation that made my stopover near LAX go just that little bit faster. If you are travelling with someone not drawn to bead shops there is a friendly little café just across the street perfect for a quiet sit down. They do a great local pear cider and have a wide selection of Spanish food on the menu.

Glenda Mac Naughton

Beadtopia
319 Richmond Street
El Segundo, CA 90245

(310) 322-0077 TEL
E-mail: info@bead-topia.com
Store Hours:
Mon-Tues: 11-5, Wed-Thurs: 11-7, Fri: 11-5 Sat: 10-4
Closed Sunday

First ever treasury - some beadweaving featured

I have managed to grab my first treasury on Etsy. It's full of zig zag patterns that have caught my eye and my own beading imagination of late. See what you think - here is just a taster.