Just a quick note to let you all know that we have a Facebook fan page and from time to time we run special promotions for customers who are fans. So click the link to your right and show us some bead love by becoming a fan.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Back in June at the Bead & Button show we were fortunate enough to receive some samples of TOHO's latest addition to their line of threads: Amiet Thread. Now free stuff always makes us happy, but this stuff knocked our socks off! Nancy in Order Fulfillment used it for bead crochet with great success. Heather used it for some basic stringing, and loved the fact that she didn't need a needle. And I am using it to teach myself finger weaving. But what really piqued our curiosity was what our customers would do with this unbelievable thread.
Amiet is 100% Polyester. Thin enough to string beads as small as size 11/0 round but stiff enough to not require a needle and with 18 stunning colors to choose from the creative possibilities are endless.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Chain has finally come to czechbeads.com and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.
You don't have to be a fashionista to have noticed that chain is every were. From hats to shoes and all points in between, chain seems to have been a favorite element for fashion and jewelry designers. And the jewelry runs the gamut from a simple cluster of charms on a single long chain to layers with beaded accents and ribbon closers.
It was with this trend in mind that we decided to add chain to our online catalog. Starting out with 42 styles, from basic utilitarian curb chain to fancy textured heart chain, in copper, brass and silver. This category is sure to have something to spark a beader's imagination.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Well folks it's Fall. In Sequim this means shorter days, cooler weather and beautiful Fall colors.
So in the spirit of the changing seasons we're putting the spotlight on a truly modern classic color combination for fall.
( Click the picture above to see a few of our favorite copper & purple beads )
Copper in all of its warm orangy goodness invokes the color of the turning leaves so prevalent this time of year. I love how in the past few years, with the rise in price of gold and silver, this simple metal has made a come back in the bead world. And it deserves all of its new found attention. When at its brightest it glows hot like burning embers and when given a finish such as antiqued or matted the warmth of this color still shines through.
In contrast, purple, whether deep and rich like grapes ready for harvest or soft and ethereal as early morning storm clouds. This color is a perennial favorite,showing up in one shade or another on color forecaster's list for just about every season. And who can blame them it's just so versatile, add more blue to cool it down or give it a dash of red to warm it up, this is a color that can compliment or contrast beautifully with just about any color in the rainbow.
Given these two colors individual qualities it is no wonder they compliment and contrast with each other so well. Rich and warm, this color combination is perfect for fall.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Here's a sneak peak at some of the new mixes available soon. 20+ combinations have just arrived on our delivery dock and we're excited about what we've unearthed so far. These mixes include hundreds of new shape/color/and finish combinations. You can see by this photo of olivine oval beads that the type of finish applied to a bead creates dramatically different results. From the top we have Picasso, Luster transparent Topaz/Pink, Silver Specks and Vega finishes. Check them out and if you find a unique color combo you'd like more of let us know!
New Ultra Lusters! This mix includes many colors from the increasingly popular, intensely colored opaque luster collection with an extra layer of Picasso finish added to create a truly warm, rustic feel. Other complimentary shapes are coming soon as well.
Teal Picasso! Milky Pink Picasso! Chroust Picasso?! Yes! No bead was spared in the making of this wonderfully eclectic chunky mix.Saturday, July 3, 2010
Happy 4th!!!!
We have been busy working on new projects, putting away shipments with some new items. More new items are on the way. It's so exciting to see what is coming in! We are treating ourselves to a three day 4th of July weekend. A couple of us are going camping, some of us are headed to Seattle to be with family, and some are staying home and relaxing. I am staying home. I have some beading to do on my June Bead Journal Project and marathon True Blood season 2. Whatever you are doing have a good time doing it!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Happy Friday to everyone!
I have finished my first bead project!
I hope you like them. I think they turned out nicely and cant wait to keep making more. However, so far, it's a Love/Hate relationship.
I love the finished product but the tediousness of it verifies my serious lack of dexterity. I've been assured that will go away with practice so I will keep practicing!
The bead guru taught me what the procedure was once I got it strung and needed to attach the earring loop. I went to WalMart and purchased a set of three tools for about $8 and then realized after dropping the round hoop (jump ring) a hundred times that I was using the wrong tool. Go figure.
I did realize that sharp scissors are a key to happiness in this project. Each one took about 20 minutes to complete due to beginners trial and error.
I strung them, used a crimp bead, looped a jump ring through the thread and attached the earring hook. Then I got really excited and forgot about how frustrating it was to get the crimp bead on and so forth. I did that five times. :-)
I hope you like them and I think I'm going to move on to a bracelet next.
This is great fun but I still say I dont need another hobby! :-)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
I was privileged to be asked to make something with one of czechbeads.com's newest handmade beads. Here is my creation. Leave your comments I would love your opinions. 
The focal bead is item number 554-4510-21107, it also comes in different colors. For the bail I used a JBB Pewter bail in silver, item #J141-134-ASL
For the clasp I used another JBB Pewter finding. Item #J23-00-ASL. Other items used are 6mm silver lined crystal fire polish, 4 mm opaque light blue fire polish, 4 mm jump rings, and 1.5 inch headpins. Friday, June 18, 2010
Jennifer. Here it is Friday and it is my day to blog. I thought "hhmmm what should I blog about?" I should introduce myself.
My name is Jennifer Baker and I am the Operations Manager here at Starman, Inc. I see all the orders that come in over the web site, make sure orders get shipped, and maintain the warehouse here. I get to talk to people from all over the world via e-mail and on the phone.
I am also an avid beader, and quilter. I am learning to combine the two. This year I challenged myself with participating in the 2010 Bead Journal Project.
I also have my personal blog Jennifer's Journey where I try to record all my projects that I have completed. Including this great bumble bee--
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Hello Everyone,
My name is Heather and I have been hired by Starman, Inc. as the Business Manager. I'm so excited to be here in this creative environment but I have ZERO bead experience. I have been an artist all of my life, thanks to my grandfather. My usual mediums are drawing, painting, refinishing furniture and home design. With that said, it is safe to assume that I know nothing about beads, the hardware needed or the proper terms. I will explain everything as I go just in case there are newbie's out there as well.
We have decided to revive the blog and have three different levels for everyone to watch - Beginner (me), Intermediate (Lisa) and Advanced (Jennifer)- it should be great fun!!
We will work on different projects and, occasionally, work with the same color pallette for seasonal projects. Another project will have all of us use the same materials and see what we come up with individually. Suggestions are always welcome.
My first bead purchase was a bag of assorted crystals and varying sizes of red firepolish beads. I plan on doing 3-4 in. strands to insert into the Christmas tree for sparkle. I am very traditional in my decoration of a Christmas tree. I always stay with deep reds, gold, some dark green and crystals for sparkle.
My first question to the 'bead guru' (Jennifer) was how to have the ends finished nicely. I thought a 'stopper' (headpin) would be a possibility but it would need to be longer than we carry. Her two ideas were to use a very small bead (seed bead) or string it and then loop it back through. I thought that would leave a string around the bottom so Im not so sure about that. I also contemplated earring tops. We shall see what works better.
I will be bringing in the beads tomorrow to start learning and sharing with all of you.
I hope you join us on our new adventures and enjoy our trip down the beadin' path!
Happy wishes to all of you!
Heather
My name is Heather and I have been hired by Starman, Inc. as the Business Manager. I'm so excited to be here in this creative environment but I have ZERO bead experience. I have been an artist all of my life, thanks to my grandfather. My usual mediums are drawing, painting, refinishing furniture and home design. With that said, it is safe to assume that I know nothing about beads, the hardware needed or the proper terms. I will explain everything as I go just in case there are newbie's out there as well.
We have decided to revive the blog and have three different levels for everyone to watch - Beginner (me), Intermediate (Lisa) and Advanced (Jennifer)- it should be great fun!!
We will work on different projects and, occasionally, work with the same color pallette for seasonal projects. Another project will have all of us use the same materials and see what we come up with individually. Suggestions are always welcome.
My first bead purchase was a bag of assorted crystals and varying sizes of red firepolish beads. I plan on doing 3-4 in. strands to insert into the Christmas tree for sparkle. I am very traditional in my decoration of a Christmas tree. I always stay with deep reds, gold, some dark green and crystals for sparkle.
My first question to the 'bead guru' (Jennifer) was how to have the ends finished nicely. I thought a 'stopper' (headpin) would be a possibility but it would need to be longer than we carry. Her two ideas were to use a very small bead (seed bead) or string it and then loop it back through. I thought that would leave a string around the bottom so Im not so sure about that. I also contemplated earring tops. We shall see what works better.
I will be bringing in the beads tomorrow to start learning and sharing with all of you.
I hope you join us on our new adventures and enjoy our trip down the beadin' path!
Happy wishes to all of you!
Heather
Friday, January 1, 2010
Here it is the begining of another year!! We recently received shipments of Toho Seed beads and Czech glass. Alot of items have been marked back in to stock, and a few new items will be up soon on the web site.
We are getting ready for Tucson bead show where we will have two booths. Hope to see you there.
We are getting ready for Tucson bead show where we will have two booths. Hope to see you there.
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