Over the last few weeks, I’ve been out making local Calgary deliveries of lots of Suzie Q Studio Treasures: BEAD STEW and "Little Miss" bracelet-making kits, Rare & Retired Glass Trollbeads, scrumptious sterling silver “Box Clasps”, tools, etc… It’s been a very busy time, thankfully!
After dropping off the last of my packages on a recent delivery adventure, I pulled into a parking lot to run a quick personal errand. A big truck pulled up into the stall next to me, and I happened to notice that there were a couple of masks hanging from their rearview mirror. My initial reaction was wondering if this was such a good idea, germ-wise, not to mention it being visually unappealing. It also begged the question of what to do with a mask when you’re not wearing it?
The visual of the masks dangling from the mirror of the truck, stayed with me for a couple of days, and then I had a wonderful —> I • D • E • A <— to experiment with!
I was aware of “mask chains” being available to purchase that let you suspend your mask from your neck while not wearing it, like sunglasses, BUT I got to wondering… Are there enough beads in a BEAD STEW Bracelet-Making Kit to make your own, unique “mask chain”?… After all, when donning a mask, you may as well wear it in style, right?!
I decided to dive into my BEAD STEW, mask chain experiment, but first, which mask to choose? My sister, Rita, who lives in Kelowna, and I’m so very lucky to have as my Website Wizard, is a terrific seamstress, amongst her many other talents, so I chose the mask she made for me in some of my fav colours: bright orange, pink and red :-)
The next task was to decide on which BEAD STEW kit would coordinate with my FAB mask, so I chose “Tropical Sherbet”… Doesn’t it look yummy?
EUREEKA!… As you can see, mission accomplished. You can indeed create a "mask chain” from the beads in a limited edition BEAD STEW kit… YAY! (with alternate finishing components, instead of the "memory" bracelet wire, of course).
Here’s the “mask chain” in action… Doesn’t it look totally FAB?!
Hey… Would you like some added versatility?
As I began experimenting with creating a “mask chain” I had another “LIGHT BULB” moment! I decided to size the length of the bead stringing wire, so that my BEAD STEW “mask chain” could also be worn as a necklace AND as a multi-wrap bracelet. Isn’t this totally cool?
BTW… I’ve never liked having my picture taken or made a habit of doing “selfies”, but in this age of COVID I had to push my self-consciousness aside and step into the role of “model”… Yikes! I guess we all have to adapt, in all kinds of ways these days :-)
So, how can you create your very own BEAD STEW “Mask Chain”? The Suzie Q Studio “BEAD STEW” Shopping Page has been changed to accommodate YOUR CHOICE of making a BEAD STEW “Bangle-style” Bracelet OR a BEAD STEW “Mask Chain” by clicking on the appropriate button.
BTW… ONE BEAD STEW Kit will make ONE of EITHER of these two projects!
When you choose the BEAD STEW “Bracelet” option, you’ll receive “memory wire” to make your project.
When you choose the BEAD STEW “Mask Chain” option, you’ll receive “Softflex” bead-stringing wire, PLUS, two lobster-style clasps, crimps and crimp covers in the colour of metal that coordinates with your chosen BEAD STEW Kit.
Head over to the BEAD STEW Shopping Page by Clicking on this >>> LINK
Do you love the look of having your BEAD STEW “mask chain” coordinate with a bangle-style bracelet? Simply purchase TWO of the same kit, but remember to choose ONE of EACH of the “bracelet" and "mask chain" options… Easy-peasy :-)
VISIT the Suzie Q BEAD STEW Shopping Page! <<<<Choose your Mask Chain and/or Bracelet Kit Here!
While Serendipity BEAD STEW Kits have FAB combos of hand-selected, high-quality beads, as well as the appropriate finishing components, the tools needed to make a bangle-style bracelet OR “Mask Chain” aren’t included, and isn’t it the worst to sit down to create a project, only to be missing a tool or two?
To be prepared, please take a look at the image above, or the tool lists below, and check to see which tools that you already have on hand, or if you’ll need to add any of them to your order of BEAD STEW Kits. BTW… All of the required tools for both of these projects are basic, essential jewelry-making tools that can be used for oodles of other projects and techniques.
BEAD STEW BANGLE-STYLE BRACELET:
• BEAD MAT or other working surface, so your beads don’t run away!
• HARD WIRE CUTTER, to cut the excess “Memory” bangle wire. PLEASE NOTE… You can also use a heavy duty wire cutter from your household tool box, but DO NOT use regular jewelry wire cutters because they’ll be ruined by the hardness of the bangle wire
• ROUND NOSE PLIERS, to make a round loop at the end of the bangle wire to stop your beads from falling off when your bracelet is finished
BEAD STEW “MASK CHAIN”:
• BEAD MAT or other working surface, so your beads don’t run away!
• SOFT WIRE (POINTY) CUTTER, to cut bead stringing wire that is comprised of 49 strands of nylon-coated, stainless steel wire. This cutter can also be used to cut up to 20 gauge thickness of wire and headpins to make earrings, dangles, etc.
• BEAD STOPPERS, which are used to clamp onto each end of bead stringing wire to prevent your beads from sliding off… It’s a total drag to have the design you’ve spent hours working on, slip away, and worse yet, loosing some of your beads that bounce onto the floor! Bead Stoppers are one the best jewelry-making inventions, ever!
• CRIMPING PLIERS, used in conjunction with “crimp tubes” (which are included in your “Mask Chain” Kit) to securely attach the clasp to your bead stringing project. Some people just flatten the crimp tube with a pair of pliers, but you run the risk of having the end of the wire slip out of the crimp and have your beads flying off, sometimes at the most inopportune time!
• CHAIN NOSE PLIERS, are used to close “crimp covers” (which are included in your “Mask Chain” Kit) into a round bead that cover the crimp tubes on your piece… Crimp covers give your project a clean and professional look. You can also use any flat, smooth-jawed jewelry pliers to close your crimp covers, such as: FLAT NOSE PLIER or BENT CHAIN NOSE PLIER.
During these stressful and uncertain times of COVID-19, it’s super-important for your well-being to distract yourself once in a while, and engage in creative activities such as baking, sewing, knitting, listening to music, jewelry-making — although I might be a bit biased on that one!
As well nothing takes your mind off of more serious topics than having a good laugh, don’t you agree?
One of my many guilty pleasures is watching the nighttime talk shows, and during the time I was working on the new BEAD STEW “Mask Chain", I happened to catch a “bit” on Jimmy Fallon’s show that I got a chuckle out of, especially because one of the “Aunts" was wearing a… “Mask Chain”!
Yup, it’s me again, wearing another FAB mask that my sister Rita made for me. She sure knows what my favourite colours are, and it even matches my BEAD STEW - “Tropical Sherbet” mask chain!
As a “Thank You" to my amazing, Web Wizard sister Rita, I’m going to make her a “Mask Chain” that matches her BEAD STEW “Basil Poppy Seed Dressing” bracelet… I hope she’ll like it :-)
So, are you ready to have some “Good Creative Fun” and make your own unique bangle-style bracelet and matching, oh-so-stylish “Mask Chain”? Then be sure to add some yummy BEAD STEW to your Suzie Q Studio Shopping Cart and get creating!
~ xo Suzie ️
A BIG "Thank You" to everyone who attended the Suzie Q STERLING SILVER SALE!!! If you missed out on my Two-Part STERLING SILVER SALE, don't worry... I've got some fab news!...
I figured how to squeeze the entire Sterling Silver collection into my cozy shop, so GOOD NEWS... the SALE is EXTENDED until I close my "Physical Location" at the Crossroads Market... YAY!
That means the sale is on from NOW until SUNDAY, JULY 28TH at 5PM!
Shown in the images above & below, plus the following video are just a small sampling of the FAB Sterling Silver items that will be available at 50% OFF UNTIL SUNDAY, JULY 28th at the Crossroads Market location of SUZIE Q STUDIO!
Isn't it incredible to think that each and every one of these miniature art-pieces are individually handcrafted... WOW, right?!
Shown in the video above are just SOME of the unique and fabulous Sterling Silver jewelry-making beads, components and findings in my HUGE STASH that will be available on SALE at 50% OFF*. (*some exclusions may apply)
PLEASE NOTE: In most cases with the items shown in these images, more quantities of each style will be available, while quantities last. 😊
Isn't the detailing extraordinary?!
"HILL TRIBE" silver of Northern Thailand, technically speaking, isn't "sterling silver" because it has a higher content of Pure or Fine silver than sterling silver.
Sterling Silver is 92.5% fine silver, with 7.5% of another metal, usually copper, to make the fine silver metal harder, which is what can also cause tarnishing with sterling silver.
"Hill Tribe" silver is between 99.5 and 99.9 fine (pure) silver, with the solder being the only non fine silver used in creating Hill Tribe Silver beads, components and jewellery, plus, it usually doesn't tarnish, or very little.
There are a lot of style differences between Hill Tribe silver components and silver pieces made in other countries, which I can point out when you're at either of my sales... just as ask me if you're interested. 😊
Shown above is a "Karen" Hill Tribe woman with her child... She's wearing some fabulous bangles, don't you think?
Hill Tribe peoples are nomadic tribes that can be traced back to the 12th century. It's a fascinating story that you can read about by CLICKING on this >>> HILL TRIBE PEOPLE.
The toggle-style clasps shown in this image, along with more styles, are all available at 50% OFF!
I also have some extraordinary sterling silver "box clasps"* and other unique closures and components that are available at my Sterling Silver sale, although they'll be at regular prices and NOT included at 50% OFF.
BTW... FORMS OF PAYMENT at Suzie Q's Silver Sale are: Cash, Debit, Visa or MasterCard. Also please note that the pieces shown here may no longer be available -- that's why you should come early for the best selection.😊
I hope you'll pop by Suzie Q Studio to say Hi and check out all our fabulous SALES before we close our "physical location" on July 28th, 2019.
~ xo Suzie ️
… For All The FAB Beady FUN!!!
A BIG Thank YOU to everyone who came to Suzie Q Studio for our Trollbeads Glass Artisan Event! It was truly dazzling to see rods of glass being melted, twisted and turned into miniature pieces of one-of-a-kind glass art... pretty amazing!
For those of you who also took advantage of some Super-Sweet Trollbeads SPECIALS, I wish you much enjoyment from your recent Troll acquisitions!
The oh-so-lovely Ms. Mariela came all the way from Trollbeads Head Quarters in Princeton, New Jersey to enchant us with her glass bead making skills. From the sounds of the “oohs” and “aahs”, everyone was amazed and mesmerized!
See Mariela in ACTION in this short VIDEO… WOW, right?!
Pictured here is Marie, having her custom glass bead created by Mariela.
Marie is one of my earliest Trollbeads collectors, starting way back in 2003 or 04, when my shop was located in a little bright orange and chartreuse house, off-the-beaten-track, on 10th Ave. SE in the charming neighbourhood of Inglewood.
Marie has also taken a lot of Suzie Q jewellery-making classes and has created all kinds of wonderful, handcrafted jewellery… There’s always lots of fun to be had when Marie comes to visit!
This is Liz G. Liz is a longtime, avid Trollbeads Collector. She loves her Trollbeads to be big ’n’ chunky, just like me!
Liz is from Argentina so she asked Mariela to create an over-sized glass bead in the colours of the Argentinian flag… very cool idea, Liz!
The bead Mariela made was on the large side, as requested, so it had to cool down slowly overnight in a special blanket. When Liz returned on Sunday to pick up her “Flag” bead, as you can tell from her expression, she was thrilled with the results!
Shown above and below are only some of the glass beads that Mariela made. Some of the beauties went home with their owners before I could snap a PIC, but the ones that I was able to take pictures of, are very unique, representing a different story for each person, which is one of the best things about individually, handcrafted Trollbeads, especially with the beads that Mariela made for all of us who participated.
Can you guess which one is mine?
As you may have noticed, A LOT of people requested oversize glass beads to be made and Mariela happily complied… YAY!
I’ve always been of the opinion that, “Bigger is Best”, so of course, the glass bead that Mariela created for me is the largest one shown in these pics, featuring two of my favourite colours: bright orange and light blue :-D
Rae Parry, Director of Artist Relations for Beads of Courage Canada was on hand at our Trollbeads Glass Artisan Event to explain the Beads of Courage program to attendees of the event.
Rae is an incredible glass bead artisan herself and created all of the beads in the necklace that she’s wearing in the above photo-collage, including the whimsical “sock-monkey” bead… isn’t it sweet?
To hear about the Beads of Courage program, and to see Rae in action with her glass bead-making expertise, please check out the VIDEO below.
The proceeds from the sales of the custom glass beads that Mariela created will be going to Beads of Courage Canada and I’m happy to announce that $850.00 will be donated to this truly amazing program... A big “Thank You” to everyone who participated and generously donated to such a worthwhile cause!
Beads of Courage Canada from Beads of Courage-Canada on Vimeo.
Thanks to everyone who entered our Trollbeads Glass Artisan PRIZE DRAW!
The WINNERS are as follows:
“Wishful Sky” Limited Edition Trollbeads Bracelet: Georgette F!
“Northern Lights” People’s Bead: Lynn Ann G.
Trollbeads Canvas Tote Bag: Liz G.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Suzie Q Studio is OPEN Friday-Sunday, 9AM-5PM... and there's lots of FREE PARKING too!
Hope to see you there this weekend.
~ Ho! Ho! Ho! Suzie Q
Join Trollbeads and Suzie Q Studio for an amazing display of creativity and talent to see how every glass Trollbeads comes to life!
At our GLASS ARTISAN EVENT on Saturday, December 1, 10am-4pm, Trollbeads Glass Artist, Mariela Chavez, will show you how a single flame is used to manipulate rods of glass in ways to create the exquisite colours, bubbles, stripes, flowers and patterns that Trollbeads are famous for. You will be mesmerized by the meditative flow of fire and molten glass!
During this event, Mariela will be creating 15 Custom-Designed Glass Trollbeads. You can work with Mariela to design a bead of your very own!
What kind of glass bead would you have Mariela create for YOU?
Not sure what to ask for? You can always consult with Glass Artisan's Mariela's expert creativity; after all, she was trained by Trollbeads founder, Lise Aagaard, herself!
How can you be ONE of the "LUCKY 15" to have Trollbeads Custom-Designed glass bead created for YOU or a loved one?
FYI... Proceeds from the sale of the 15 Custom-Designed glass Trollbeads will be donated to Beads of Courage.
What is Beads of Courage about? Executive Director for Beads of Courage Canada, Victoria Plouffe explains the program in this heart-touching VIDEO:
The Custom-Designed Glass Artisan Trollbeads will be created throughout the day of the event on December 1st, approximately 3 beads/hour, and, just to let you know, they won't have a sterling silver core insert in them, which I think will make these creations all the more unique!
If you'd like to be one of the "LUCKY 15" to have a glass Trollbead created just for you, here's the SCOOP...
• The COST of each of the 15 Custom-Designed Glass Trollbeads is a $50.00 Donation to Beads of Courage (if you wish to make a bit larger donation, it would be greatly appreciated!)
• Be ONE of the first of 15 Trollbeads Fans to email me with the FOLLOWING INFO at: suzie@suzieqbbb.com
1. Name
2. Phone #
3. Time of Day that you'd prefer to attend the event to consult with the Glass Artisan to create your bead OR if you have a flexible schedule and can attend anytime during the event.
4. The amount that you wish to donate to Beads of Courage, $50.00 min.
5. Everyone who sends an email request to be ONE of the "Lucky 15" will receive a reply, either way.
GOOD LUCK!
For information about our AMAZING Trollbeads Glass Artisan Event SPECIAL OFFERS & PRIZES, please CLICK on this >>> LINK
Don’t miss this rare and wonderful chance to observe rods of coloured glass being heated, twisted and combined to create the unique glass Trollbeads you love, and to take advantage of some incredible TROLLBEADS $AVINGS, just in time for Holiday Gift Giving!
Get the early scoop on sales, promos and lots other juicy info by joining Suzie’s VIP Club!