May’s Featured Artist: Bellingham Beader Megan Lee

One of the best parts about working at a bead store is meeting local beaders! Every day introduces us to new artists and projects. After getting to know Bead Bazaar regular Megan Lee, we discovered that she sells her jewelery at multiple Bellingham shops. Megan Lee has a Facebook page featuring her designs, and her earrings can be found at Sojourn, Serendipity, Keiko Keiko, and Labels. We love Megan’s hip style and business savvy, so after receiving some funky new Czech glass (one of her favorite materials!), the Bead Bazaar decided to do a special featuring Megan Lee Designs. We also asked her to make a guest sample for the store! Read on for more information and inspiration from one of Bellingham’s artists.

Q: How long have you been making jewelry?
A: Since I was 5. I still have the very first necklace I made as a little girl; I carry it around in my car. My dad helped me make it. We drilled holes in foreign coins, and hung them with a fishing lure on leather.

Q: How did Megan Lee Designs get started?
A: I have been selling since I was 15. I was one of the original makers of guitar pick earrings, which sold really well and became very popular. I originally sold them at Passionfly, now the Black Market Boutique. It’s one of the first stores I sold jewelry at and it has just progressed since then. News about my jewelry spread a lot through word of mouth. My jewelry used to be sold in 11 different stores in Bellingham.

Q: How did you decide on the name of your jewelry line?
A: I wanted my name in my business. Since I come up with all my own designs, I just thought it would be nice keep it simple. I have a graphic designer who designed the logo on my earring cards. Right now it’s a pair of eyes; their blue color was taken from a picture of my own eyes! I’m planning on changing my logo to something more vintage Western inspired- stay tuned to see the results!

Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Urban chic, but I also try to keep up with current trends. I’ll look at the trends and infuse my own style into them for my designs. Being aware of what’s popular opens you up to new ideas. I’ve grown to like new things this way- I used to avoid gold, but now I love it.

Q. What materials are your favorites to work with?
A. Glass, vintage acrylic, resin, metal and chain. I like to use vintage components from estate sales and antique stores, taking them apart and redesigning with the components. I don’t work with stone as frequently because I like to keep my price points low.

Q: What inspires you?
A:  I have days when I want to really dedicate my time, have a strong inner motivation to make jewelry. Having as many people who like my work as I do is something I never imagined. It’s an inspiration to see pieces I remember making on the people who wear it. Coming to the bead store also inspires me!

Q: Has anyone been an influence to your work?
A: Girl nights! My friends and I will do crafts and drink wine together. We’ll share ideas and designs with each other. My friends’ styles mesh well with mine, so we’ll collaborate on designs.

Q: How do you get out of your creative ruts?
A: I start organizing all my beads (I store beads in stacked muffin pans). Reorganizing reminds me of what I have to work with and inspires me. Or I call a friend or use my own clothing to inspire me to make something.

Q: What other hobbies or activities do you have in your life?
A: I love the outdoors, paddle boarding and biking and swimming in the summer. My other biggest talent is cooking. I love food, whether eating out and cooking. I’m a food connoisseur. I also work 3 jobs, which keeps me pretty busy.

Q: Do you have any hopes or ambitions for ML Designs in the future?
A: I just want to continue what I’m doing. It’s a life-long hobby that’s turned into a small career, and I don’t want to push it, I want it to naturally progress. I’m happy and content with where it’s heading now.

Thank you, Megan, for sharing your creativity with us! Want to see more of her work? Make sure to stop by her Facebook page or one of the many stores that sell her jewelry. We’re so proud of our Bellingham Artists, and want to thank Megan Lee for allowing us to interview her. Happy Beading!

“Beads are like a shoe addiction!”- Megan Lee

Girls’ Night Out: Friday, May 11th, 2012

Bead Bazaar is proud to announce our participation in Fairhaven’s 7th annual Girls’ Night Out fundraiser on Friday, May 11th. We’ll be open and stamping passports from 4:00pm-8:00pm.

 

Make sure to drop off a raffle ticket for our fabulous door prize! This year we’re giving away a necklace and earrings fit for a night on the town. Vintaj filigree is wrapped around a stunning focal crystal and accompanied by rich olive beads . Treat yourself to the chance of winning this fabulous set, valued at $50!

In the spirit of Girls’ Night Out, Bead Bazaar is inviting you to think pink. For one day only, all loose beads in shades of pink will be 25% off. Sale items include Swarovski crystals, rose quartz, pearls, and more!

Don’t miss our entry in this year’s fashion show! Bead Bazaar employee Jessica will be strutting her stuff down the runway in a hand-made chain dress. Make sure to catch this dramatic piece! The fashion show will be held at the Ferry Terminal at 9pm.

Want more info about Girls’ Night Out? Visit their webpage and show them some love! We’ll be seeing you Friday night!

~Bead Bazaar

Featured Artist: An Interview with Bellingham Beader Jennifer Gibson

Jennifer Gibson's Guest Sample
Click to Enlarge

One of the best parts about working at a bead store is meeting local beaders! Every day introduces us to new artists and projects. After getting to know Bead Bazaar regular Jennifer Gibson better, we discovered that she owns her own business, appropriately named Ear Candy. Jennifer’s jewelry can be found both on Etsy and at The Clothes Rack on James Street, a local consignment store. We love Jennifer’s aesthetic, and after receiving a fresh shipment of Lucite for spring, the Bead Bazaar decided to do a special featuring Ear Candy. We also asked her to make a guest sample for the store! Read on for more information and inspiration from one of Bellingham’s artists!

Q: How long have you been making jewelry?
A: I’ve been making jewelry off and on since high school; I got started making friendship bracelets for all my friends.  Making jewelry has come and gone in various phases of my life, and I’ve been established as a professional business for one year.

Q: How did Ear Candy get started?
A: My nana wanted me to fix a watch for her, so I brought out my beading supplies. On top of fixing it I added some embellishments. She liked my work so much that she encouraged me to go into business. In the initial stages people learned about me through word of mouth from my friends, and before I knew it I had a dozen requests! Ear Candy was officially established March 2011.

Q: How did you come up with the name “Ear Candy”?
A: The name was inspired by the idea of “eye candy”, something visually appealing. My earrings are a treat, candy for your ears.

Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My work has been described as Art Nouveau. I like to have delicate, intricate pieces, simple but elegant. I love colorful things, Lucite, Swarovski crystals, and pearls. Larimar is my favorite gemstone. I almost always work with silver, sometimes with brass and gold. My work has a hint of bohemian influence; I love Tibetan pieces and Bali silver. I also make my own Fimo Clay Beads.

Q: What inspires you?
A: I’m inspired by the materials and colors. I’ll see something in the world around me, on a sign or in a picture, and I’m inspired by the colors that work together. My friend’s wedding colors were tomato red, aqua, and white. This color palette probably inspired a dozen different jewelry pieces, and people loved them!

Q: Has anyone been an influence to your work?
A: My nana- She always had confidence in me and really pushed me to sell my jewelry.  As a result, she has a lot of my earrings! For anyone who’s going to start doing this, it’s important to have support from the people around you, both a cheering section and practical support. My husband helps by taking care of the kids, giving me time and a quiet space to work.

Q: How do you get out of your creative ruts?
A: I don’t push it.  Sometimes a creative rut is your brain’s way of telling you “you need to walk away for a bit”, so I take a break and take time to relax. If I’m working on a deadline I look through magazines and at other projects and usually start to find more inspiration.

Q: What other hobbies or activities do you have in your life?
A: I have two sons, 8 years and 10 years old! I volunteer at their school, Cordata elementary, twice a week. They have a kiln, and teacher who helps them sculpt. I help with that and with math. I have some lapidary experience and want to get into silver-smithing. I also have experience with graphic design; I designed my business cards!

Q: Do you have any hopes or ambitions for Ear Candy in the future?
A: I want to move from Etsy to selling on my own website. I would also like to sell in more stores, further reaching than Bellingham. I would love to either design for a label or expand Ear Candy and my own label, and maybe start to include some more high-end materials and designs in my work.

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your creativity with us! Want to check out Jennifer Gibson’s Etsy Page? Stop by http://www.etsy.com/shop/JensEarCandy and make sure to show her some love! We’re so proud of our Bellingham Artists, and want to thank Jennifer Gibson for allowing us to interview her. Happy Beading!

-Bead Bazaar

Custom Prayer Beads

Whether used for prayer or meditation, there’s no denying the soothing qualities of gently running the beads through your fingers as your count or pray. In many cultures, this is a long-used practice; different beads are given different meanings which you reflect upon as you use them. Some prayer beads, like Malas and Rosaries, follow a design with specific numbers of beads. Others are more free-form, a set of beads strung to correspond with a specific prayer or that just reflects your spirituality. A couple of good books which discuss building prayer beads are Bead One, Pray Too and A String and a Prayer.
  

With an upcoming workhop on making prayer beads, the Bead Bazaar is reposting a previous blog entry. This original blog entry was published August 12th, 2010.

The Bellingham Bead Bazaar is pleased to announce that we now carry a selection of Buddha Beads. Also called “power beads”, Buddha Beads are the round, three-holed bead found at the end of a Mala. Our Buddha Beads come with a matching cylindrical bead to feed your thread through and end off the project. Malas are the prayer beads used by Buddhists for meditation. They consist of 108 equally sized beads, preferably something smooth for ease of handling. The beads are used as counters and run through your hands as you pray. Buddha Beads can be difficult to find on their own, but with these new beauties in stock, it’s now easier than ever to construct a customized Mala.

Another common set of prayer beads takes form in the Rosary. Used by Catholics, Rosaries consist of 5 groups of 10 beads, representing repeated prayers to Mary. These are spaced by 4 larger beads, representative of the Lord’s Prayer. Rosaries typically feature a Y-piece at the end. These Y-pieces will often have images of Mary, and connect to another three beads and a crucifix. Not only is the Bead Bazaar the place for a wealth of beads, but we also carry some rosary pieces, both in sterling and silver plate. Choose from a variety of crosses for the end, or use a traditional crucifix.

-Bead Bazaar

Buddhist or Catholic, Jewish or Pagan, you’re sure the find the perfect devotional pieces at the Bead Bazaar! Our diverse selection includes the Star of David, the Hand of Fatima, Goddesses, Pentacles, and many other symbols. Make sure to check our stock for the religious symbols of your choosing, and perhaps take the opportunity to make a piece that means something special to you. We’ll be seeing you soon!

Bead Bazaar Reviews: Tila Beads

The Bead Bazaar is enamored with Miyuki’s revolutionary Tila beads; a flat, square, Japanese bead that is uniform in shape and size. What sets Tilas apart from other beads are their two parallel holes, a feature that lends itself to enirely new beading designs. Bead Bazaar’s resident seed bead expert, Laurie, has tried her hand at a couple of fun Tila projects. After working with them, she had these tips to share:

Tilas can be used on a loom or with a variety of bead weaving stitches, including square-, brick-, and ladder stitch, or right-angle weave. Smaller beads can be woven between them to achieve various effects, from graduated waves to graceful beaded bezels. These lightweight glass beads measure 5×5 mm and are 1.9 mm thick. One surface has a subtle curve to it. Our tubes hold approximately 10 grams, or about 100 beads.

Due to their flat shape and angular corners, Tila beads can cut your beading threads. While Nymo sz B has been used with some success, we recommend working with Fireline, a very finely braided bead thread.  These glass beads should be handled carefully, as they may chip or break if they are dropped onto a hard work surface.

Fun Fact: The Miyuki wesite explains that they chose the name “Tila” because when the beads were loomed together or stitched using square stitch, the beaded fabric looked like traditional Japanese tile work.

Interested in learning to work with Tila Beads? Laurie will be teaching a Bead Bazaar Workshop featuring two beautiful Tila projects! Learn more at our Workshop Page!

Be My Valentine Workshop!

In preparation for Valentine’s Day the Bead Bazaar is hosting a day-long heart-themed workshop! This workshop is divided into three sessions, each featuring different beading projects. Come with a friend or Valentine and learn how to make these love-ly beaded projects:

Valentine’s Workshop Session #1: Toggle Pendant Necklace & Heart Bracelet

Click Image for Session #1 Details

Valentine’s Workshop Session #2: Floating Hearts Necklace & Beginning Earrings

Click Image for Session#2 Details

Valentine’s Workshop Session #3: Memory Wire Bracelet & Wire-Wrapped Heart Earrings

Click Image for Session #3 Details

Who can say no to such heat-warmingly cute projects? Details about cost, registration, and required supplies can be found on our website at our Workshops page. Feel free to come by or call with any questions, and be on the look-out for more workshops in the future! Happy Beading!

In Store Class Book

Oh the leaves outside are turning,
And as Fall is the season for learning,
While we cozy up and eat pumpkins seeds,
Let us bead, Let us bead, Let us bead!

The imagery of fall; a ripe orange pumpkin, fuzzy sweaters, and freshly sharpened pencils as people go back to school. Why not join them and become a Student Beader at the Bellingham Bead Bazaar? We offer many fun projects for beaders at any level of expertise, and have recently printed a class book to have in store. Feel free to come by and flip through its pages as you decide which techniques you’d love to learn. The classes we currently offer include Feather Earrings, a Wrapped Cord Bracelet, Kid’s Projects and many others! Our new book outlines all of the nitty gritty class details: time, fee, and supply list. We then arrange the class to meet your schedule and voila! Remember, our class space can accommodate up to 6 students, so make sure to bring a beading buddy!

If you can’t make it to the store, our class book is also available here on our website. All details and sample images can be found in one spot, allowing you to plan ahead on your next trip to the Bead Bazaar!

Be on the lookout for more changes on our website, including a soon-to-come Events section, which will provide details on our Beading Brunch, sales, parties, and much more!