A Little Birdie Told Me...Go See The Perch

During my spring break week (no school!  Whoo hooo!) there was nothing but art and spring and old episodes of House going on at the Velasquez homestead.  Thanks to all that House watching, I'm convinced everytime I have an itch that it's some sort of disease and I start checking myself out for other symptoms.  Nice.  haaaaaaaaaa  So, to escape for a bit, I made a little roadtrip to Auburn to visit a bead shop I'd heard about on the radio:  The Perch Bead Studio.  I had some preconceived notions about the place....thinking...college town, youthful, hip, cute, fun.  Well, I wasn't disappointed!

This is a pic of the shoppe from the website.  Isn't it cute?!

As soon as I walked in, I knew I could sit right down and start getting my bead groove on.  Ainsley, the sweetest freshman ever who was working the shop for the evening, chatted with me and the other girls who were poring through the little bowls of goodness.

The Perch has a definite focus on things that are pretty, dainty, eclectic, fun, and special...you can see it in the shabby chic design (I watch a lot of TLC, so I know what that is) and the selection of beads.  Lots of faceted pretties, petite briolettes, and unique colors.  The ideas around the shop are fun, funky, and pretty...I'm not putting any pics of their original designs here so you can go see them on the website!  :)  Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the big classroom in the back.  Lots of sunshine through the windows and inspiration boards full of great pictures, magazine clips, and fun bits of motivation.

You want to see what I bought?  That's the best part, you know.  Plus, you have to see the cutie little birdie bags that nestled my new treats.

Pretty faceted bits...

Check out the vintage enameled flower...

I love supporting small business and with a shop as cute as this, it's easy to do.  :)  And, just so you know, I haven't met Barbara Birdsong, the owner, so I'm just blogging about The Perch 'cause I want to, not because I'm getting any kickbacks! haaaaaaaa  :)

Fave Artist Resources - Glass

The response to my giveaway this week was overwhelming and wonderful! I decided (thanks to Erin's suggestion!) to gather up all the input and put them into a lists of resources...I'm separating them into different genres for different days. Most of the links are shops (because shopping is the best!), but some are just for inspiration and entertainment! I don't intend to offend any artistan by generalizing into particular categories, but I had to make a few choices just to make it easier for the listing (and the shopping)--so, feel free to explore and see all the cool things these artists have to offer! Additionally, they're not listed in any particular order...go see them all! Here are just a few pics from my shopping adventures.

Glass

1. Cal from jujubeadz, 2. Gardanne bead,
3. Donna Millard, 4. Libelula, 5. Lori Greenberg, 6. Pinocean

Lampworked, flameworked, bright, organic, boro, big, small, funky, unique, smooth, pretty, wonky (haaaa, I love that word!), expensive, inexpensive, masterful, novice...whatever you're looking for in artisan glass:

http://www.lisanew.etsy.com/ - Lisa New

http://www.hmbstudios.com/ - Heather Boardman

http://www.creditriverartglass.com/ - Julie Nordine

http://www.lindenavenuedesigns.etsy.com/ - Maryann Linden

http://www.kabsconcepts.com/ - Kerry Bogert

http://www.sssbeads.com/ - Stephanie Sersich

http://www.jujubeadz.net/ - Kim

http://www.lorigreenberg.com/ - Lori Greenberg

http://www.blueseraphim.etsy.com/ - Blue Seraphim

http://www.kerrifuhr.com/ - Kerri Fuhr
http://www.firelily.etsy.com/ - Fire Lily

http://www.z-beads.com/ - Sarah Moran

http://www.lampworktreasures.com/home.html - Lydia Muel
http://http://www.pinocean.etsy.com/ - Mika Collins http://www.charlestonbeadworks.etsy.com/ - Charleston Beadworks
http://www.pattylakinsmith.etsy.com/ - Patti Lakinsmith
http://www.lisafletcher.etsy.com/ - Lisa Fletcher,
http://www.polychromebeads.etsy.com/shop/PolychromeBeads - Aimee Milan
http://www.etsy.com/shop/gardenpathbeads - Maria Grimes

http://libeluladesigns.etsy.com - Karen Richard
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FireBirdFlamework - Deb Batten
http://www.blueirisdesigns.com/ - Blue Iris Designs
http://www.michelegoldstein.com/ - Michele Goldstein

http://www.beadygirlbeads.etsy.com/ – Tera Belinsky-Yoder
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jelvehdesigns - Jelveh Javarian

http://donnamillard.etsy.com/ - Donna Millard
http://suebeads.etsy.com/ - Sue Beads
http://seashoreglass.etsy.com/ - Seas Shore Glass
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rufusandroxy - Rufus and Roxy

http://www.liquidsandstudio.com/beads.html - Martha Proctor http://www.holderofthestone.com/ - Jeremy Sinkus

http://normabrink.com/ - Norma Brink

http://kristinalogan.com/ - Kristina Logan

http://heathertrimlett.com/ - Heather Trimlett

http://www.barleybeads.com/ - Michael Barley

http://anastasiabeads.com/ - Anastasia...beads

http://www.gardannebeads.etsy.com/ - Gardanne Glass

http://www.glass-weaver.com/ - Terri Budrow-Nelson

http://www.crazycatglass.etsy.com/ - Crazy Cat Glass - Angie Pendleton
http://www.anlukaalampwork.de/ - Andrea Grassl
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JSavinaBeads - Jeanette Savina Cobb
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassyglassdesigns - Sassy Glass Designs
http://www.ellendooley.com/ – Ellen Dooley

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LushLampwork - Julie Fountain

http:/www.leahfairbanks.com/ - Leah Fairbanks

http://www.katefowle.com/ – Kate Fowle

http://www.lorilochner/.com - Lori Lochner

http://www.cindygimbromebeads.com/ - Cindy Gimbrone

http://islandgirl.etsy.com/ – Fireball Beeds

http://www.turnedlight.com/ – Kate Ward

http://www.bleuverre.etsy.com/ - Bleu Verre

Harold William Cooney at Arts Afire Gallery

http://www.andrewbrownstudios.com/ - Andrew Brown

http://www.mzglass.com/ - Margaret Zinser

Emiko Sawamoto at Artbeads.com

Yes, it's a superlong list, but you don't have to look at them all today...they'll be there later for your viewing pleasure, too. Please let me know if any of the links don't work...I tried them all, but might have missed something in the translation. Plus, we can continue to add to this list...thanks so much for all your input!

Jen

Metallic Goodness...

As part of the Bead Soup Party that I'm in the midst of, I've been experimenting with metal. Nothing too crazy, but I got some fantastic etched copper rings from my party partner, Julie Nordine that got me motivated. She's usually into the glasswork (and you can see some fantastic bits that she just added to her Credit River Art Glass etsy shop), but is trying out some different things with metal...so, why shouldn't I?

I hammered away on some copper washers. Then, I decided I needed some new hammers to add texture and I hammered away some more! I'm not going to show off these hammered bits yet, though, because I don't want to give away the secrets of my bead soup finale piece!

But, because I've been thinking outside the sterling silver box and trying some mixes of metal, including copper and some regular "bargain" craft wire, I focused on the metal beads on my last trip out shopping...

I picked up these vintage base metal beads right here in Montgomery, Alabama at the High Strung Bead Shoppe. They have a gorgeous patina plus they're all hollow so they're super light! Sherry has a huge selection of them, so I had to restrain myself, but I love this little bunch. And, the price was definitely right! Sterling silver will still be one of my fave materials, but I love having the different tones and textures these little pretties can bring to a design.

I really have to get busy making stuff instead of just taking pictures of raw materials. :) But, alas, I'm off to read about Desert Storm to prep for class tomorrow. Enjoy!

Kansas City's Finest, Beadiest, Shops!

While visiting the Velasquez clan--now my clan--in Kansas City over the holidays, my sweetie husband helped me plan a little bead shopping adventure one afternoon. The weather was freezing and we had to take a break for some KC BBQ, but we got to two shops and I had great experiences at both and want to share!

First, there's The Bead Shop in the Overland Park area of the city. They have something for just about every beader! Some of the newer fun stuff like metal stamping but lots of the seed bead basics, too. They have a huge selection of base metal chain in all sorts of pattern and sizes that really caught my eye. I saw some stone cuts that I haven't seen before, too, which was cool. Plus, I got sucked into the glass case featuring the "good stuff" at the counter. You know, those cases have the fanciest, prettiest, and most budget-unfriendly stones that you'll ever drool over. Well, I didn't just drool...I couldn't hold back on this gorgeous strand of imperial jasper.

So, overall, a great shop to check out if you're in the area. I got some great, enthusiastic help from the staff while I browsed for close to an hour. :)

Next, there's the shop over in Lenexa called The Heartland Bead Market. I was overwhelmed by the walls full of color! They have great lighting that really makes the most of an extensive collection of Czech glass. I'm not usually a big fan, but I couldn't resist perusing the entire wall and ended up with some pretties! The stones were gorgeous and I ended up with way more than I probably "need" but I couldn't resist. The staff was wonderfully helpful and encouraging when it came to making some interesting stone combinations. :)

Plus, I'm now nearly obsessed with lapis because it's native to Afghanistan and I have a personal connection there now. :)

So, I may not have the most powerful endorsement, but I'm a world-wide bead shopper and these are both places that I'll definitely visit again!