Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Root Beer Float, Anyone?

Today I'm going to take a break from posting about scrapbooking and instead write about one of my other hobbies: beading.
 

When you set foot in an arts and crafts store, do you ever feel like a kid in a candy shop?  At Bead Box of Brainerd, one of my favorite Minnesota bead stores, some of the wares are even displayed like candy!  There are probably about a dozen "flavors" for sale at Bead Box; this photo shows three.


Here is a necklace that I made mostly with the "Blue Raspberry Soda" bead mix.  I have shown this necklace on my blog before, but that was a long time ago, so many of you have not seen it before.  I am going to have to work on my "selfy"-taking skills; I could not figure out how to get both my necklace and my face in the photo, LOL.



Another bead mix "flavor" that Bead Box offers is Root Beer Float.  Since today is Tuesday, the day to share beverage-related posts with Bleubeard and Elizabeth, I thought it would be a good time to show you this bracelet, which is made mostly with "root beer float" beads.


I first got interested in beading at a craft retreat several years ago.  The women there were doing all sorts of crafts.  I was scrapbooking, of course, but I watched the beaders with great interest.  They were speedy, able to create dozens of projects per day.  Impressed, I decided to learn beading too.  When I got back from the retreat, I found an introductory beading class.  I would say that my beading skills are still at a pretty basic level, and I am certainly not as speedy as the beaders I met at the craft retreat, but that's okay, because I prefer simple jewelry anyway.  I don't wear a lot of makeup, and I seldom wear fancy hairstyles, so beaded jewelry gives me a way to add color and sparkle to my look.

What kind of jewelry do you wear?

16 comments:

Linda Kunsman said...

Your beaded jewelry is gorgeous!!! Thank you for posting it. I've only done some very simple beaded necklaces but do enjoy it for a change of pace. Happy T day!

~*~Patty S said...

Fun and clever take on T today Denise...your beaded jewelry is wonderful!
We have a small local bead shop that displays their beads in every shape and size bowl you can imagine which always makes me think of candy too...
I walked into another bead shop once and they had strands of beads hanging in all the windows with the sun sparkling behind them...it literally made my mouth water ;)
That is a cute photo you took of your pretty smile and lovely necklace!
Happy T Day
oxo

Darla said...

Pretty jewelry. I don't make jewelry but use the occasional bead in an altered art piece. I can never resist looking a beads through if I happen to see them in a shop.

Darla

Craftymoose Crafts said...

I enjoyed your post today, Denise! Your necklace and bracelet are beautiful--I'm not fast when I am making jewelry either, because part of the allure for me is just handling and trying different color combinations.

I recycled a spice rack to keep some beads in, and I am always rearranging that, too!

Mary Jo said...

Very pretty!
I don't wear a whole lot of jewelry.
I used to wear a watch and quit a few years ago.
But I do wear my wedding rings every day and a variety of necklaces that my neighbor makes using silver and colored glass.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

What a PERFECT take on T today. That's the kind of post I try to encourage!! You DID GOOD!

I'm not one to wear jewelry, but I still love looking at the beads. I was at a shop downtown once and saw some that were wrapped in really clever ways. I was always impressed by those large, single beads that the shop owner turned into necklaces. Of course, yours really look more like candy, and I like that.

Thanks for sharing your root beer float bracelet and your adorable smile for T this Tuesday.

Vicki Miller said...

I hardly ever wear jewellery, although I have lots. I love beading, too, only I usually do it on fabric, but of course I teach workshops on jewellery as well, for those who want to do the real thing.

dawn said...

Happy T Day a day late!! WOW, these are beautiful and what fun names for them. Now I want a real root beer float though. So nice to have more then one hobby isn't it. Haven't done any beading but enjoy seeing it from others.
Thanks for sharing and have a great week.

Dianne said...

I love beads...and your jewelry is beautiful! it is one of the crafts I've resisted so far! just don't think I should accumulate more supplies...y'know? Love the names of those bead assortments, and your blue necklace!

Lynette Jacobs said...

Your handmade jewellery is lovely. You are so talented.

Patricia said...

it's beautiful Denise!!!

Halle said...

Very pretty jewelry. What a clever way for the store to sell the mixes. I love beads but have had to cut myself off on creating another hubby. :)

Rita said...

I haven't been wearing jewelry for years since I am home all the time. I was making beaded jewelry for a while several years ago. That looks like a really fun shop! :)

Denise van Deventer said...

Your beading is great Denise! I dabbled a little bit with it a few years ago, but nothing serious. My sister continued though and made me some lovely pieces! I love wearing beads, especially when mixed in with metal leaves, charms etc! It's a super craft!

Sharon Fritchman said...

Beautiful, Denise! I love how talented you are!

Dana Tatar said...

Gorgeous bracelet!