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Hey there, fellow creatives! You know, looking back, I realize I've always been a craft girl, through and through.
Even way back in elementary school, when my classmates were just trying to get their art projects done, I was the kid itching to put my own unique spin on things. I remember getting tapped to make these HUGE posters for the school teas – the ones our Moms would attend. Picture this: a six-foot-tall leprechaun for St. Patrick's Day! I know, right? A bit of an oxymoron, that giant little guy! And hey, I even snagged first prize for my Easter bonnet creation at one of those teas. Clearly, my crafty spirit was shining bright early on!
At home, my imagination just kept running wild. Our family "rumpus" room was my happy place, filled with the sounds of Rosemary Clooney's "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and the magic of "Mary Poppins" spinning on the record player, as I'd happily sing and dance along! And my hands? They were always busy: Building houses and furniture for my Barbies, making simple outfits for them – my talented Mom was the seamstress in the house – and just generally diving headfirst into all sorts of crafts. Batik, découpage, spinning, weaving, even making our own Christmas ornaments – honestly, I don't think there was a craft I didn't try!
AND THEN... around the time I hit my early teens, I stumbled into the enchanting world of beads. It all started so simply, learning how to make those classic "Daisy Chain" friendship bracelets with small seed beads. That basic project? Well, it was the "seed" that blossomed into a full-blown bead obsession!
Learning that simple "Daisy Chain" stitch opened up a whole new universe for me. Suddenly, trips to the craft section at Woodward's department store became essential, as did visits to Don's Hobby Shop in downtown Calgary. Oh, the thrill of those precious little glass tubes filled with seed beads, each sealed with a little cork stopper!
My bead love just kept growing, expanding beyond those tiny seeds into a fascination with bigger beads that I'd even mail order all the way from the US. In my later teens, I even got a bit more adventurous and taught myself some basic silversmithing from library books, making my own low-tech sterling silver jewelry.
Fast forward to 2002, when I opened the doors to the first version of my very own bead and jewellery boutique, Suzie Q Beads. By then, my passion for "off-loom bead weaving" had taken me far beyond the simple "Daisy Chain." I was happily stitching away with all sorts of techniques like Herringbone, Peyote, Dutch Spiral, Brick stitches, and my absolute, hands-down favourite, Right-Angle Weave.
Because I was so head-over-heels for stitching with beads, when I started travelling to bead and jewellery trade shows to find unique treasures for all the amazing makers who frequented my shop, I simply couldn't resist picking up some extra-special Japanese seed beads for future projects, which I added to what I affectionately called my "Secret Seed Bead Stash."
Seriously, can you believe it? And those gorgeous Japanese seed beads you see above are just some of the beauties I've collected over the years!
Now we're zooming ahead to 2025. My little brick-and-mortar shop has evolved through a few different locations and store name variations, and now I'm just as busy as ever running Suzie Q Studio online. And, let's be real, it STILL means very little precious time to actually create something with all those fabulous, nearly "vintage", seed beads in my secret stash.
Okay, here's ONE MORE THING you need to know about me: I absolutely adore COLOUR! I love dreaming up unexpected colour combinations that inspire beads to happily "sing" when they're with one another, which is how I know that it's a magical, "meant to be" colour mix! Honestly, one of the things I miss most from my "bricks 'n' mortar" days is helping all the amazing Suzie Q class students and customers find just the perfect bead combos for their projects. It just sparked so much joy for me!
I’ve decided to launch a sparkling new line of exclusive, Limited Edition Japanese Seed Bead Mixes, lovingly curated from my own (almost vintage!) private stash — just for you, my amazing online Suzie Q maker-friends! 💖
These teeny-tiny treasures are packed with creative possibilities and perfect for all kinds of projects, like:
• Off-loom bead weaving
• Bead embroidery
• Kumihimo braiding
• Bead crochet + knitting
• Stringing, wire-work... and beyond!
Just imagine the one-of-a-kind pieces you can dream up with these colour-filled, collectible mixes — available only while they last!
WHO?
Suzie (that’s me!) of Suzie Q Studio. 💖
WHAT?
Artfully curated, Limited Edition Japanese Seed Bead Mixes — and I’m calling them:
🎉 SERENDIPITY SEED BEAD SOUP ~ Custom-Curated-Colour-Combos 🎉
(Yes, it’s a mouthful of alliteration… but how could I resist?!)
Each mix will be one-of-a-kind and non-repeatable, in assorted sizes like 11/0, 8/0, 6/0 rounds — plus the occasional surprise shape! Honestly, after 20+ years of stashing, even I don’t know what I’ll find... which makes it even more fun!
WHERE?
You’ll find these exclusive mixes ONLY at the Suzie Q Studio website under the SHOP menu:
🔗 JEWELRY-MAKING DIY STUFF
WHEN?
Launching early July 2025 with three scrumptious colour combos to start!
NEW MIXES will be released every week or two until my “Secret Seed Bead Stash” is all gone. 🎨
HOW?... WILL YOU KNOW WHEN THEY DROP?
New releases will be announced via:
• 📩 Suzie Q Studio eNEWSLETTERS – Not subscribed yet? You can sign up at the bottom of any page on the Suzie Q Studio website — including this one!
• 👍 Facebook – "LIKE" our page at Suzie Q Studio YYC and be sure to like or comment on posts to keep updates in your feed.
• 📸 Instagram – "FOLLOW" along at @SuzieQStudio for the latest additions, drops, and behind-the-scenes fun! Once again, to keep Suzie Q posts appearing in your IG feed, like or comment as often as you can, especially so you don't end up with a bad case of FOMO!
