Ritzytoo April May 2014

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Graphic design: facebook.com/unoperuno.handmade

From Italy, the art of Eliana Maniero, directly in your hands.

You can buy her patterns, to create your own jewels. Pattern shop: www.etsy.com/shop/eliana1971 Jewels shop: www.etsy.com/shop/ElianaManieroJewels www.facebook.com/ElianaManieroJewels

In This Issue.... A Note From Our Editor - Page 4 Mother’s Day: Then & Now - Page 6 Birth Stones - Page 10 Hidden Gems: An Introduction to Goddess - Page 12 PATTERN: A Mother’s Day Pendant - Page 22 PATTERN: Renaissance Cross Pendant - Page 30 PATTERN: Mother or Grandmother Birthstone Bracelet - Page 38 PATTERN: Heart on Fire - Page 44 Little Windows - Page 48 Bead Store of The Month: The Beading Den - Page 54 Humor at The Beading Table - Page 58 Almost Better Than Beading Cake - Page 60

Page 54 Page 48

Page 44 On The Cover: Main Photo: Kore Pendant by designer Eliana Maniero Top left: Renaissance Cross Pendant by designer Diana Balogh

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Copyright © 2014 by Escapadia Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Designs in this issue of RitzyToo are for inspiration and personal enjoyment only. RitzyToo does not recommend, approve, or endorse any of the advertisers, products, services, or views presented in RitzyToo. Nor does RitzyToo evaluate the advertisers’ or content providers claims in any way. You should, therefore, use your own judgment in evaluating the advertisers’, products, services, and views presented in RitzyToo. Exact reproduction of designs for commercial purposes is contrary to the spirit of good craftsmanship and may violate terms of individual designers. While best efforts are made to assure patterns are correct, RitzyToo accepts no responsibility for any pattern instruction errors or ambiguities. Beware: Beads present a potential choking hazard, especially for small children and should never be placed near food or in the mouth. RitzyToo accepts no responsibility for injuries caused by beads or their misuse.

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A Note from Our Editor A Warm Welcome to Beading Enthusiasts Everywhere! We are excited to announce that a new Beaders’ Lifestyle Magazine, RitzyToo, is born, and it is alive and well! RitzyToo is revolutionary, and it is FREE! It is a fun and engaging way for you to enjoy your beading lifestyle, even more, with every issue including this Mother’s Day edition! RitzyToo is available to every one in digital format via instant download through a rapidly growing network of local bead shops and bead shows as well as in print through a large number of online and traditional retailers worldwide. Join the RitzyToo Revolution Today! RitzyToo is a holiday theme-oriented bimonthly beading lifestyle magazine. You will find it brimming with human interest stories, inspiration, contest excitement, and gorgeous project patterns from award winning designers for every level of beading ability, PLUS many other interesting features for you to enjoy! All the Best until RitzyToo’s next issue!

Lynn Williams [email protected]

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Mother’s Day Then & Now

D

o you have any idea just how this venerable day came into existence in the United States? How far back in history the roots of Mother’s Day celeb r a tion can be traced? Well, neither did I! So, I decided to see what I could learn about this currently popular holiday. The journey, while not too involved, was a fascinating one for me, to be sure.

hand, important but controversial political activism and on the other, the warm traditional circle of timeless values embodied in the home, with motherhood, as its traditional anchor.

Did you hear that two different historical threads lay claim to its origins in the United States. Both are factually based. Both founded by three women, two of them mothers and the other childless. There combined efforts forming a tribute to different roles that, in a way, create a simple mosaic of dominant, but not necessarily conflicting, ideals of the time, as you will see. All speak of courage and devotion.

During the 1600’s, the early Christians in England officially celebrated a day to honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus. By a subsequent religious decree from the Church, the holiday was later expanded in its scope to include all mothers. It was celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter), “Mothering Sunday” and officially honored all the mothers of England, which was most likely an unofficial practice long antecedent to this ‘Official Decree’.

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The Mother’s Day story first goes back to the earliest Mother’s Day celebrations traced to antiquity millenia ago when happy and optimistic annual spring celebrations of ancient Greece were held to honor the goddess, Rhea, Mother of the Greek Gods of mythology.

There is no doubt that a Mother’s Day tradition in the United States, regardless of who you choose to believe originated the holiday, was carried on from ages past, inspired by not only the historical predecessor celebrations over the centuries, but by the dynamic contributions women have always made toward the betterment of their families and humankind, regardless of culture norms or political persuasions of the time.

bone her many Mother’s Day initiatives. And, ironically perhaps, she is most widely renowned as the author of the stirring American classic, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. However, at the end of the day she will always be revered for her Mother’s Day contributions toward Peace, in championing the beauty and importance of motherhood, and the role of women in general.

Julia Howe was so horrified by the carnage A humble Appalachian homemaker and of the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War mother, Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis, is often that in 1870 she tried to issue a Manifesto credited with the beginnings of Mother’s for Peace at International conferences in Day through a regional event in 1858 where London and Paris. In the 1870s, Julia began she began what she called “Mothers Friend- a one-woman peace crusade and made an ship Day”. Ann Jarvis was instrumental impassioned “appeal to womanhood” to rise in saving thousands of lives by organizing up against war. Mother’s Friendship Clubs teaching women the basics of practical field nursing and sanitation which she learned from her famous physician brother James Reeves, M.D. It was throughout these ugliest of times, the Civil War, that Ann Jarvis worked tirelessly to organize women to work toward better sanitary conditions on both sides. In 1868, Ann Jarvis began working formally, in the spirit of compassion, to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors. As is so often the case throughout history, the unsung women of the time devoted themselves to the safety, health, and well being of their families. Still other historical accounts have documented that Mother’s Day was first suggested after the American Civil War by Julia Ward Howe, a remarkably passionate woman and social activist leader who was known for doting over her children and for her affection toward her husband. She was educated during the early 1800s in the classics including literature, mathematics, science, as well as French, Italian, German, Latin, and Greek languages. She was an accomplished writer, poet, playwright, essayist, travel writer, reformist, powerful orator, and arguably more than that, she was an important and compelling international leader for Peace, which was the back-

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Among other accomplishments, while in Boston that same year, she composed an historically powerful plea (generally considered to be the original Mothers’ Day proclamation), translated it into several languages, and widely distributed it internationally. She began energetically promoting the idea of a “Mother’s Day for Peace”. There has never been any doubt that Julia Howe’s heroic leadership for Peace remains inextricably tied to her impassioned promotion of Mother’s Day celebrations – something all who celebrate Mother’s Day should remember. In the end, the separate and yet similar visions of three women intertwined creating what morphed into the Mother’s Day largely celebrated today. To be sure, the motivations, dreams, and ideals of each culminated in a national Mother’s Day tradition that celebrates the tradition of a mother’s love and kindness toward her own and the world at large. It was Anna Reeves Jarvis’ daughter, Anna Jarvis, who picked up the torch, out of love and respect for her own mother, and finally succeeded in introducing Mother’s Day as a national movement, if you may. Anna taught in school in Grafton, West Virginia, for a while and later moved to be with her family in Philadelphia. Anna remained especially close to her mom, and as time would have it, she devoted herself to providing care and companionship for her ageing mother. Ultimately her mother passed in Philadelphia on May 9, 1905. As might be expected, Anna very much missed all that her mother had come to mean and turned her energies toward looking after her sister as 8| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

well as establishing a way to memorialize what her mother meant to her. As a result of her intensely meaningful relationship with her own mom and her personal cultural observations in general, Anna felt children often neglected to appreciate their mothers during the living years. Within two years of her mother’s death, Anna Jarvis disclosed, to her circle of supportive friends, her intentions to establish a formal opportunity for individuals to celebrate their appreciation for their own mothers and mothers in general. It was to this end, that Anna Jarvis dedicated the remainder of her life’s purpose which was to establish a national Mother’s Day to “honor mothers, living and dead”. Thanks to the focused efforts of Anna Jarvis, together with the earlier work of her mother and Julia Howe, who clearly saw a connection between the sanctity of motherhood and stopping the terrible carnage of wars, the first mother’s day was observed in honor of Anna Jarvis’ mother. Following this first recorded observance, the notion of a Mother’s Day Remembrance gained widespread popularity across the nation. Anna’s dream came true when on May 9, 1914, the Presidential Mother’s Day Proclamation declared the 2nd Sunday of May to be observed as Mother’s Day in honor of mothers. And, in 1934 the US issued a stamp in honor of Mother’s Day featuring Whistler’s Mother.

Many countries of the world express their own cultural style of expressions of appreciation in official and unofficial Mother’s Day celebrations. Some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium also celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, and in some countries, the appreciation celebration lasts for two days. Mother’s Day is one of the three biggest holidays of the year, as it should be. It is always interesting and well worth the time to take a peek into the past at the roots of a particular holiday that is special to us. Expanding one’s understanding of the micro history and tradition of Mother’s Day, in this case, can energize and give the celebration a more personal meaning at a time where our lives are jam packed, it seems, with activities of lesser importance. For passionate beaders, a piece of handmade beadwork might seem like the perfect gift for Mom this Mother’s Day and here are

some ideas and tips that can make it even more special! 1. Check out our designer Mother’s Day project in this issue!

2. Bring Mom with you to your favorite local bead shop to pick out the supplies for your special jewelry project. 3. Make it double the gift and plan to make the the project together, spending time with Mom is the best gift of all!

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Birthstones

There is a saying, ‘as much as things change, they still stay the same’. No where is that more true than in the world of birthstones! We hope that this chart will help clear up some confusion for your future projects!

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Hidden Gems.....

An Introduction To Goddess . . . Getting Acquinted with Products Available At Local Bead Jewelry Shops!

FEATURING THE BEAUTIFUL NATURAL & SEA LIFE COMPONENTS ….. FROM REALM OF THE GODDESS!

M

any of these exciting products are destined to become fashion leaders, as they have been for a number of years now. You’ve probably already seen inspired creations on celebrities featuring spectacular focus point elements from Goddess in the fashion magazines and on the catwalks. Now you can incorporate inspirations from Goddess as part of your own special occasion creations! These same stunning pieces are available only through local bead stores and to established professional jewelry designers – all you have to do is ask your favorite bead jewelry supply shop! Cruise this article and you are sure to

discover just the right classy piece in the totally unique natural and sea life inspirations from Goddess to plan your next creation! Every woman loves truly unique, one of a kind, jewelry pieces that inspire a second look and that have been created with an eye for genuine value and lasting quality! Just look at these stunning components and imagine what you could create with your skills!

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The Goddess’ Fine Jewelry Making Elements Available Through Your Local Bead Store

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The Goddess management and their team have been supplying the bead jewelry industry, through local bead shops, with these gorgeous natural elements and other high quality jewelry making necessities since 2006. The product development team at Goddess has has actually been creating and perfecting the natural and sea life products since 1978. The Process The real leaves you just looked at are just a few of the products actually available. They are preserved through a process called 24Kt Gold - 24kt Gold Electro-forming. The beauty of this process is that each piece of jewelry is made from a real leaf so each one is unique. No two are alike. The result is a beautiful natural leaf that is preserved in pure 24kt gold or other finishes. Each leaf, for example, is a unique handcrafted piece of wearable art. In addition to these leaves, Goddess also has beautiful roses, orchids, sea life, gems and minerals that are electro-formed. And these beauties are reliably sturdy, withstanding normal wear and tear very well. 24 KT GOLD OVERLAY JEWELRY Gold Overlay jewelry from Goddess is produced by applying an average of 20 to 40 mils of 24kt gold onto the surface of our high quality brass based chain, charms and components utilizing an advanced acid gold Electro-depositing process. Unlike basic decorative (cyanide) gold electroplated costume jewelry, Gold Overlay jewelry may be worn all the time. It has on average 5-7 times the thickness of most costume jewelry. Acid gold is a harder gold plating formula that was pioneered by the electronics industry which produces a durable finish. Unlike basic decorative gold electroplated jewelry, jewelry that is finished with an acid gold application has excellent long term wearing qualities. 20| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

Remember This: The Sweet Taste of Low Price is Long Forgotten after the Bitter Taste of Poor Quality!

Gold Overlay jewelry from Goddess is manufactured to produce, in our opinion, the finest alternative to solid 14kt jewelry. When asked, Why are your electro-formed naturals the product of choice for jewelry makers and designers? The Goddess Representative assured RitzyToo that Goddess products are indeed the product of choice for jewelry designers and jewelry makers because we offer the best selection of Chains found anywhere -- Classic, Vintage Style, Handmade, Wire-Wrapped Gemstone, Swarovski Channels and Cast. Remember, Goddess has over 3000 styles of charms and pendants, findings, clasps, chain connectors, cones, bead caps and more. These are available in following finishes: Matte Gold, Antique Silver, 24kt Gold Overlay, Rhodium, Rose Gold, Antique Silver, Antique Brass, Black and Matte Black. Nature, preserved in 24 kt gold leaves and sea life, as well as gems and minerals trimmed in 24kt gold, are perennial classics in the fine designer fashion jewelry market regardless of the sometimes whimsical changes in styles and popularity...Ask your favorite local bead shop to begin carrying this fabulous line of products so you can make stunning classic jewelry pieces yourself.!

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A Mother’s Day Pendant An

elegant

Mother ’s Day gift pattern Eliana Maniero

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from

Italian

designer

Shopping List

You Need: 1 Ivory coral paste Rose (28 mm7) 1 Ivory coral paste Rose (12 mm) 1 Luminous Green crystal wild heart (17 mm) 45 pearls 3 mm cream 7 bicone 4 mm rose peach 6 bicone 4 mm luminous green 7 pearls 4 mm pink coral 1 pearl 8 mm pink coral 1 butterfly 10 mm rose peach 2 gr rocaille 11/0 golden Weaving line (so-no, nymo o fireline) Weaving needle Jewelry glue Lacy stiff stuff and ultrasuede (about 10 cm x 5 cm) Note I listed coral paste roses within this list. If you can’t find them with the same specs, you can use other sizes as well. Measurements are purely indicative, in order to ensure result similar to the one portrayed. You can change the size of the roses or even replace them with other materials such as resin or Fimo to obtain a different variation. Once you learn the “basics”, use your creativity and your dexterity without following a guideline. Along the same lines, the quantity of pearls and crystals are indicative, as their number might vary, depending on your project and on your“hand”.

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Instructions: 1. Glue the crystal heart on the bottom of the rectangle of stiff stuff (basic textile white) with jewelry glue, holding the tip at about 1.5 cm from the edge. Let the glue dry before you start working. 2. Embroider a pearl loop around the crystal (about 3mm), placing the first pearl at the center of the heart, as shown

3. Proceed this way: thread two pearls in the needles, work into the stiff stuff rectangle on the side of the heart, to allow enough room for the pearls. 4. Go back to the center of the pearls with the needle, and add two more. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you get closer to the tip of the heart. You should have a total of 10 pearls in place. 6. Lock in the Rose Peach bicone from the tip of the heart, sewing downwards and coming back into the base, so that you can also process the other side.

7. Sew in 9 more pearls on the side of the crystal, as shown within steps 3 and 4.

8. Sew in a 4mm Pink Coral pearl on top of the crystal. Thread in the pearl and a golden rocaille, and fix it to the textile base. Sew out of the textile base next to the Pink Coral pearl, so that you can already start a new loop.

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9. Perform another loop on the 3mm pearls with the same technique, keeping very close to the first loop. You should place a total of 12 pearls (3mm each) 10. Follow the last pearl with a golden rocaille, a luminous green bicone, an 8 mm pearl and another golden rocaille. Start the loop again from the pearl and the bicone, so that the pearl is held in place properly. 11. Loop in a golden rocaille and start again from the textile base, tightening the line so that the pearl and the bicone are held in place properly. Start again from the textile base so that you end up next to the luminous green bicone and can start another round of 3mm pearls on the side of the crystal heart.

12. Sew in another line of 3 mm pearls just next to the first loop, as explained within steps 3 and 4. Be as steady and tight as you can, getting as close as possible to the 4mm pearl over the top of the heart.

14. Glue in the large ivory rose on the upper side of the base rectangle, leaving a margin of about 1.5 cm from the pearls around the heart. Let the glue dry. If the rose has a threading hole, hold in in place from the pearls around the heart. Let the glue dry off. If the rose has a threading hole, you can hold it in place through stitching it to the base.

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15 Now, it is time to sew a pearl / 4mm bi-cone loop around the Rose’s base, starting from the point indicated in the following image.

16. Thread in a rose coral pearl (4mm) and a golden rocaille, loop back in the pearl and in the textile base to hold it in place. I

17. Look back from the textile base from the side of the last pearl. Add a rose peach 4mm bicone and hold it to the base. I 18. Keeps sewing, alternating pearls and crystals around the rose, as shown within steps 15 and 16, until you surround the rose almost completely, placing a total of 12 elements. 19. Glue the smaller rose on the left of the pendant, in the empty space between the heart and the rose. Add a small crystal butterfly to the right of the pendant. Let the glue dry and thread the butterfly to the textile base for further steadiness. 20. Fill in the space between the roses, the butterfly and the luminous green hearts. There are no guidelines, the important thing is to fill in all the space and cover the white base support. Remove the excess material. 21. Glue the ultrasued to the back of the stiff stuff base, so that it can cover all the threads. Let it dry and cut up the two textile elements keeping as tight as possible to the pearl embroidery. Be careful not to chop of the needlework threads! 22. Now you need to adjust the edges of the pendant: prepare a thread with a small knot and stick it to the textile base from the tip of the heart. Add two rocailles, sew in both textures from the top down. 26| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

23. Get back to the top by threading the needle from the second pearl in the previous point. Without entering the texture, add a rocaille, sew downwards, penetrating the texture and get back in the rocaille, from the bottom to the top. Repeat throughout the perimenet so that you can create a pearly edge to cover the textile base.

24. Once you finished creating the border, enter the thread from the small coral paste rose, coming out of the green pearl. Try to get between the textile bases with the thread, in order to hide it. You can also use a new line. 25. Add 3 rocailles and start from the following pearls.

26. Enter from the next rocaille at the border, getting outwards in the pendant. Add 3 golden rocailles and enter the following pearl. 27. Repeat steps 24 e 25 until you create edges to the pearly arches in the lower part of the pendant, until you get to the crystal butterfly. Keep the thread steady, sew into the textile bases and cut the excess away.

28. Place a new line from the upper part of the pendant, add 5 golden pearls (red in the image) and create a pearly arch. Hold the thread into place by looping it several times. 28. Run a golden ring through the pearl arch, so that you can attach a necklace. RitzyToo.com | RitzyToo! | April-May | 27

Mother’s Day Ciondolo Kore Beading Level: Intermediate Cover Feature Pattern Designer ELIANA MANIERO--Italy https://www.facebook.com/Eliana ManieroJewels http://lestelledieli.blogspot.com https://www.etsy.com/it/shop/eliana1971 A highly talented Jewelry Design Professional with more than 7 International awards using a variety of material and techniques. Eliana Maniero resides in Milano, Italy, with her husband and young son. She loves bead embroidery, soutache work, crystals, and perhaps most of all she loves to create new patterns. She teaches a variety of beading techniques at a local bead shop. RitzyToo is proud to feature Eliana’s Ciondolo Kore on its Mother’s Day Cover as a design that speaks of mothers! She is published in a European Bead magazine and features her original creations on the online sites cited above. In addition to patterns in Italian, you can find the following patterns in English: Bholliwood earrings Istambul earrings Istambul bracelet Dancing light earrings Deep Blue earrings Indian style earrings Magia d’oriente earrings Velvet earrings Winter flowers earrings Ghiaccio e brina bracelet Gea earrings As well as her main award winning creations!

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Designer Spotlight

BEADERS

Beading Tutorials

for CREATIVE

You find the first three dimensions in the space surrounding you. The fourth dimension is the time. I'm a beadworker, and for me exists another dimension:

THE BEADING.

This is for me the FIFTH DIMENSION. Although the four dimensions exists together, togethe if I'm in my fifth dimension, space and the time ceases to exist for me. So I'm in a spaceless and timeless "state", and this is

CREATIVE BEADING... from Diána Balogh dianabalogh.com - diasjewelryshop.etsy.com

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Renaissance Cross Pendant An advanced pattern from designer Diana Balogh 30| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

Shopping List Japanese Toho seed beads size 15/0 (128 pcs) Japanese Toho seed beads size 11/0 Color A (60 pcs) Japanese Toho seed beads size 11/0 Color B (60 pcs)

COLORS for the GREEN-GOLD cross Toho seed bead size 15/0 - Inside-Color Rainbow Lt. Topaz Sea Foam Lined (952) Toho seed bead size 11/0 Color A- Gilded Marble Turquoise (1703) Toho seed bead size 11/0 Color B- Metallic Iris Green/Brown (84) Toho seed bead size8/0 - Metallic Iris Brown (83) 4 mm czech fire-polished bead - Iris Green

Japanese Toho seed beads size 8/0 (12 pcs) 4 mm czech fire-polished beads (36 pcs) Beading needle (e.g. Pony Size 10) Nylon beading thread 0.2 mm Difficulty: advanced Techniques: Right-angle weave, Triangle weave Finished size: 1.5” x 1.5”

COLORS for the BLACK-SILVER cross Toho seed bead size 15/0 - Nickel (711) Toho seed bead size 11/0 Color A- Permanent Finish - Galvanized Aluminum (PF578) Toho seed bead size 11/0 Color B- Opaque Jet (49) Toho seed bead size 8/0 - Silver-Lined Frosted Gray (29BF) 4 mm czech fire-polished bead - Jet COLORS for the BLACK-GRAY cross Toho seed bead size 15/0 - Nickel (711) Toho seed bead size 11/0 Color A - Metallic-SilverFrosted Antique Silver (566) Toho seed bead size 11/0 Color B - Opaque Jet (49) Toho seed bead size 8/0 - Silver-Lined Frosted Gray (29BF) 4 mm czech fire-polished bead - Jet

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The already existing beads are shown in pale color. The already existing beads, through which you must lead the thread, are always highlighted in purple. The thread is shown in red. 1. Pick up 4 pcs 4 mm fire-polished beads, place them on the end of the thread, and tie a square knot, leaving a 6 inch (15 cm) tail. [step 1] 2. Pass through the bead next to the knot. [step 2] 3. Pick up an 8/0 seed bead, a 4 mm fire-polished bead and a 8/0 seed bead, and sew through the 4 mm bead highlighted in purple, and the 8/0 seed bead you first added. [step 3] 4. Pick up 2 pcs 8/0 seed beads. Sew through the 3 8/0 seed beads once again and sew trough the next 4 mm firepolished bead (marked with 2). [step 4] 5. Pick up an 8/0 seed bead and a 4 mm fire-polished bead. Sew through the 8/0 seed bead marked with A. Sew through the 4 mm bead marked with 2, and the 8/0 seed bead you just added. [step 5] Repeat step 4 and 5 two more times. 6. Pick up an 8/0 seed bead, and sew through the 8/0 seed beads marked with A and B. Sew through the 8/0 seed bead you just added, and the 8/0 seed bead marked with A. Pass through the 4 mm fire-polished bead marked with 1. [step 6]

1 2

3

4

5

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6

7. Work with the fire-polished beads marked with 1, 2, 3 and 4. Follow the instructions of circle 1, 2, 3 and 4. Circle 1: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead in color A and 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads. Sew back through the fire-polished bead marked with 1, and sew throught the next fire-polished bead marked with 2. [step 7-1] Circle 2: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads and an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the first picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, and sew back through the fire-polished bead marked with 2. Sew through the next firepolished bead marked with 3. [step 7-2] Circle 3: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads and an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the first picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, and sew back through the fire-polished bead marked with 3. Sew through the next firepolished bead marked with 4. [step 7-3] Circle 4: Sew through the last added 15/0 seed beads of circle 1. Pick up an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the 11/0 seed bead of circle 3, the 11/0 seed bead of circle 2, the 11/0 seed bead of circle 1, and sew back through the 11/0 seed bead you just added (so fasten the 4 11/0 seed beads in the middle). Sew through the 15/0 seed beads, which you picked up in circle 3, and sew back through the fire-polished bead marked with 4. Lead the thread to the spot marked with A. [step 7-4] 8. Pick up 2 pcs 4 mm fire-polished beads. Sew back through the fire-polished bead highlighted in purple, and pass through the first added fire-polished bead. [step 8] 9. Pick up 2 pcs 4 mm fire-polished beads. Sew back through the fire-polished bead highlighted in purple and pass through the first added fire-polished bead. [step 9] 10. Pick up 2 pcs 4 mm fire-polished beads. Sew back throught the fire-polished bead marked with A. Sew through the newly added beads once again, and lead the thread to the spot marked with B. [step 10] 11. Pick up a 4 mm fire-polished bead and sew through the fire-polished beads marked with A and B. [step 11] Top Left: 7-1 Botton Left: 7-2 Top Right: 7-3 Bottom Right: 7-4

8

9

10

11

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12. Work with the fire-polished beads marked with 1, 2 and 3 (follow the instructions of circle 1, 2 and 3). [step 12] Circle 1: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead in color A and 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (marked with 1). Pass through the next 4 mm fire-polished bead (2). [step12-1] Circle 2: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads and an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the first picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, and sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (2). Pass through the next firepolished bead (3). [step 12-2] Circle 3: Sew through the last picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, pick up an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the 11/0 seed bead of circle 2, and the 11/0 seed bead of circle 1, then sew back through the 11/0 seed bead you just added (so fasten the 3 11/0 seed beads in the middle). Pass through the 2 15/0 seed beads, which you picked up in circle 2. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (3). [step 12-3] 13. Work with the fire-polished beads marked with 3, 4 and 5. [step 13] Circle 1: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead in color A and 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (3). Pass through the next 4 mm fire-polished bead (5). [step 13-1] Circle 2: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads and an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the first picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, and sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (5). Pass through the next firepolished bead (4). [step 13-2] Circle 3: Sew through the last picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, pick up an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the 11/0 seed bead of circle 2, and the 11/0 seed bead of circle 1, then sew back through the 11/0 seed bead you just added (so fasten the 3 11/0 seed beads in the middle). Pass through the 2 15/0 seed beads, which you picked up in circle 2. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (4). [step 13-3] Circle 4: Sew through the fire-polished beads 3 and 5. [step 13-4] At the last iteration skip circle 4, and do step 22 instead!

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14. Work with the fire-polished beads marked with 5, 6 and 7. [step 14] Circle 1: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead in color A and 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (5). Pass through the next 4 mm fire-polished bead (6). [step 14-1] Circle 2: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads and an 11/0 seed bead in color A, and sew through the first picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (6). Pass through the next fire-polished bead (7). [step 14-2] Circle 3: Sew through the last picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, pick up an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the 11/0 seed bead of circle 2, and the 11/0 seed bead of circle 1, then sew back through the 11/0 seed bead you just added (so fasten the 3 11/0 seed beads in the middle). Pass through the 2 15/0 seed beads, which you picked up in circle 2. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (7). [step 14-3] 15. Work with the fire-polished beads marked with 7, 8 and 1. [step 15] Circle 1: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead in color A and 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (7). Pass through the next 4 mm fire-polished bead (1). [step 15-1] Circle 2: Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads and an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the first picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, and sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (1). Pass through the next firepolished bead (8). [step 15-2] Circle 3: Sew through the last picked up 2 15/0 seed beads of circle 1, pick up an 11/0 seed bead in color A. Sew through the 11/0 seed bead of circle 2, and the 11/0 seed bead of circle 1, then sew back through the 11/0 seed bead you just added (so fasten the 3 11/0 seed beads in the middle). Pass through the 2 15/0 seed beads, which you picked up in circle 2. Sew back through the 4 mm fire-polished bead (8). [step 15-3] 16. Sew through the fire-polished beads 7 and 5. [step 16]

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17. Lead the thread to the spot marked with A. Pick up an 11/0 seed bead in color A and lead the thread to the spot marked with B, as shown on the picture. [step 17] 18. * Pick up 2 pcs 11/0 seed beads in color B and sew through the next fire-polished bead marked with 6. Repeat from * three times. Lead the thread to the spot marked with A. [step 18] 19. [step 19] Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads and an 11/0 seed bead in color A and sew through the 11/0 seed bead marked with A from the opposite direction (see Phase 1). Sew through the 11/0 seed bead you just added from the opposite direction. Pick up 2 pcs 15/0 seed beads and sew back through the fire-polished bead marked with B. (see Phase 2). [step 19-1, step 19-2] 20. [step 20] Sew through the 2 15/0 seed beads and the 11/0 seed bead (B). Pick up an 11/0 seed bead in color A, and sew through the 11/0 seed bead marked with A from the opposite direction (see Phase 1). Sew through the 11/0 seed bead you just added from the opposite direction, and sew through the 11/0 seed bead marked with B from the opposite direction. Sew through the next 2 15/0 seed beads. [step 20-1, step 20-2] At the last iteration make a double-hitch knot, sew through some beads and cut the thread. Otherwise continue with step 21.

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21. Lead the thread to the spot marked with A, as shown on the picture. [step 21] Repeat steps 8-21 three times. At the last iteration at step 13 skip circle 4, and do step 22 instead. Thereafter continue with step 14. 22. Pick up 8 pcs 15/0 seed beads and sew back through the fire-polished bead marked with B. Sew through the beads once again, and sew through the fire-polished beads A and C. Continue with step 14! [step 22 and step 22 detail]

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Cover Co-Feature Pattern Designer DIANA BALOGH--Hungary An unusual love of beads took this highly talented designer almost immediately to her inner creative self where found her own very high aptitude for bead jewelry design. She was able to master advanced beading, pattern making for all levels, and teaching in her own bead jewelry making school ... all in less than two years! Diana began her artistic career as a graphic designer which included creating and editing illustrations. This knowledge and experience allowed her to create he own patterns right from the start, accelerating the rapid development of her beading creativity. As a highly talented and prolific bead jewelry designer, she finds joy and satisfaction from leading others to explore the secrets of beading and their own individual creativity. Diana says the real reward for her is the joy of creation and freedom that comes with creating bead weaving patterns which she hopes will provide the same joy of creation and freedom for those who create from her patterns. RitzyToo.com | RitzyToo! | April-May | 37

A

Mother or Grandmother Birthstone Bracelet meaningful design pattern from designer

Deb Moffett-Hall

The perfect gift for Mother’s Day, Birthdays, & Anniversaries. Select bicone crystals in birthstone colors to celebrate each muchloved member of the family. Stitch one for Grandmother with children, grandchildren and/or great grandchildren! Don’t have a large family? Use her birthstone color in the extra spaces. Bracelet can be stitched in gold or silver as desired. 38| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

Shopping List You need: 36 bicone crystals 4mm, in desired birthstone colors 9 silver or clear bicone crystals 4mm for the centers 8 silver lined bugles 3mm 54 silver or gold seed beads size 8/0 (large) 135 silver or gold seed beads size 11/0 (small) Clasp of choice: 8mm snap clasp shown. Fireline 6lb or similar thread Beading needle Sizing: 8 ½” Bracelet as shown with nine bicone flowers. Each Flower + linking beads = 1”

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1) Leaving a 9” tail string 1 large silver, 1 bicone, 1 large silver, 1 bicone, 1 large silver, 1 bicone, 1 large silver, 1 bicone. 2) Pass through all beads again clockwise in a circle 3) Continue clockwise through the first four beads to exit the 2nd bicone. 4) Pull the thread snug to form beads into the flower shape as shown. Pass through all beads again and exit the same bicone. 5) String 3 small silver, moving clockwise skip the next (2nd) large silver in the flower and pass through the next (3rd) bicone. 6) Pull the thread to snug the small beads next to the large as shown. 7, 8, 9) Repeat step #5 three more times to exit the 2nd bicone 10) Pass through the next large silver (3rd) in the flower and exit

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11) String 1 center silver/clear bicone, pass up through the (1st) large silver on the flower. 12) Pass back through the center bicone. 13) Pass up through the 3rd large silver. 14) Thread exits up through the 3rd large silver as shown. 15) Pass down through the first two small silver on the side of the 3rd large silver and exit. 16) String Linking beads: 1 large silver, 1 small silver, 1 bugle, 1 small silver, 1 large silver, 1 small silver. 17) Skip the last small silver strung and pass back through 1 large silver, 1 small silver, 1 bugle, 1 small silver, 1 large silver to exit the large silver. 18) Pass down the middle small silver on the flower again, pull thread to snug the linking beads close to the flower beads. 19, 20 &21) Pass back through all of the linking beads and up through the last small silver

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22) String 1 small silver, 1 large silver, 1 small silver and moving clockwise in a circular path pass up through the end small silver on the linking beads again. 23) Pull the thread to form the beads into a four-sided shape as shown. 24 & 25) Pass clockwise through the first small silver and large silver just added and exit 26) Begin the next flower: String 1 bicone, 1 large silver, 1 bicone, 1 large silver, 1 bicone, 1 large silver, 1 bicone. 27 & 28) Moving counter-clockwise pass down through the large silver added in step #24 pull the thread to form the flower shape. 29) Moving counter-clockwise pass through all of the flower beads again and exit the first new flower bicone added and exit (shown at bottom of flower) 30 & 31) Moving counter-clockwise repeat step #5 three times 32 & 33) Without adding any new beads pass through the three small silver already in place next to the starting large silver on the new flower. 34) Repeat steps to add the center bicone. Repeat steps to complete linking beads/flowers to desired bracelet length ending with a flower. 35) CLASP: Thread exits the middle small silver on the last flower added. String 1 small silver, clasp, 1 small silver. 36 & 37) Pass down through the middle small silver on the flower and pull the thread to snug the beads and clasp close to the flower beads. Repeat the thread path through the clasp several time to strengthen the clasp area. Tie off the thread, hide the thread in a few beads and trim. 38 & 39) Using the tail thread repeat steps #35-37 to attach the remaining half of the clasp to complete the bracelet. Popular Birthstone colors January - Garnet - Dark Red February - Amethyst - Light to Medium Purple March Aquamarine - Light to Medium aqua April Diamond - Clear May Emerald - Dark to Medium Kelly Green June Pearl or Alexandrite (blue/purple) July Ruby - Bright Red August Peridot - Pale to Light Yellow/Green September - Sapphire - Medium to Dark Royal Blue October Opal - Clear or milky opal ab finish November - Yellow Topaz or Citrine - Medium to Light Gold December - Blue Topaz - Pale to Light Blue or turquoise blue 42| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

Mother’s Day Birthday Bracelet Beading Level: Beginner Featured Pattern Designer - USA Deb Moffett-Hall patternstobead.com [email protected] A well known, intuitive, and highly experienced Bead Jewelry Design Professional and Author of five published craft books, three in beading project design. This talented award winning designer served as Editor of BEAD PATTERN MAGAZINE for more than 40 issues as well as Special Project Editor for QUILT MAGAZINE. What kind of beading professional does all of this add up to? When asked to describe herself, Deb has been known to say, “...just show me the basics and let me loose!...I have been designing beading patterns since day one.” As a teacher, her motto is: Beading is supposed to be fun not frustrating! RitzyToo is pleased to bring you this special Mother’s Day pattern from Deb Moffett-Hall!

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Heart on Fire

A

unique pattern by designer

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Lindsay Lee

Shopping List HEARTS ON FIRE MATERIALS LIST 1. 24 guage Copper sheet 2.5” x 3” 2. 2 8 mm copper jumprings 3. 3 5” pieces 12 guage square copper wire 4. 3 10” pieces of bead stringing wire – 19 strand .018 “ 5. 9 Copper crimp covers 6. 9 Copper crimp beads 7. 3 Flat round Carnelian beads 8. 3 Square tube 30 mm 9. 7 Lime Jade 12 mm flat cushion beads 10. Assorted size 11 seed beads 11. 18 3 mm copper beads 12. 1 Copper toggle clasp 13. 1 30 mm dichroic cabochon – ask your local bead shop 14. e-6000 glue – ask your local bead shop

TOOLS LIST Marker Jeweler’s saw Beeswax Saw bench pin File Screw driver Torch – butane - optional Beading pliers Ring benders or dowel The following items are available from your local bead store to make your resin cabochon 2 part resin Medium round mold Assorted dichroic film Black colorant Mixing cups and popsicle sticks Plastic drop sheet Timer

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Instructions STEP BY STEP RESIN CABOCHONS You make your own resin cabochon, buy a glass one from your bead store, or a resin cabochon from the artist. To make your own: Cut shreds of dichroic papers – you will need about 7. Crumple the patterned dichroic paper and then cut out a 30 mm circle. Set aside. In a medicine cup, add part 1 of your resin. Measure carefully. Use about about 5 ml. Add 5 ml part 2 of your resin. Mix thoroughly for 2 minutes. Now leave the resin sit undisturbed for 5 minutes. Use a timer for this step. Pour your mold 1/3 full of resin. Add your dichroic shreds and push down into the resin with your popsicle stick. Now, put the crumpled 30 mm circle on top. Push down with your stick so the resin covers it. Cover the mold with something like a box lid so dust can not drop on the resin. Leave undisturbed for 2 days. The directions say ‘12 hours’, but I have found the black layer we are going to add can mix with the first layer of the resin, making a mess. Use a fresh mixing cup and 5 ml of each part of resin as above. This time you will add 4 drops of black colorant. Again, mix for 2 minutes and then sit for 5 minutes. Now pour mold 2/3 full. Cover and set for 12 hours. You may level out the cabochon by pouring another layer of resin or unmold your cabochon and carefully trim your the edge with a knife. STEP BY STEP NECKLACE Copy the heart pattern on to card stock and cut out with scissors. Trace around the heart pattern on to your copper sheet with a sharp marker. Coat your saw blade with beeswax. Saw out the heart shape and the lines which will form prongs which will hold your cabochon. Bend the prongs forward with your beading pliers. Now file all the sharp edges so they are rounded as well as the edges of the heart. This will prevent your pendant from catching on clothing. Now torch your pendant to add color to your metal. Do this by holding the pendant in your beading pliers and torching the edges. You only have to kiss your metal with the torch as too much will turn your metal an ugly black color. Use your marker to force the top lip forward to the front to make a bail. Glue the front of the bail e-6000 glue, a toothpick is handy for this. Let the glue dry. 46| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

Glue the resin cabochon with e-6000 to the center of the heart pendant. Fold the prongs over the resin cabochon. Form the two wire heart shapes by marking the center of each 5” piece of 12 g. square wire. Use your beading pliers on the mark and force the wire into a sharp bend. Use your ring bender pliers or a 3/4” dowel to shape the top curve of your heart. Use your file to shape the wire where it meets at the top so that there is no gap. Glue this join with e-6000 glue. It may be necessary to tape this while it dries. The third piece of wire is used to join the pendant to the necklace. Mark the center of the wire. Hold your pliers on the mark and bend each arm upwards. Now slide the wire into the pendant bail so the center mark is inside the bail. Now use your ring pliers or dowel to form the upper curves of your heart shape. Now use your beading pliers to form a loop on each arm that goes to the inside of the heart shape.

Mother’s Day Hearts On Fire Copper Necklace Beading Level: Intermediate Featured Pattern Designer - Canada Lindsay Lee alinejewelryandcrafts.com [email protected]

The copper jump rings will hold each arm to a heart shape on either side.

A highly creative and experienced bead jewelry and pattern designer who studied Art and Drama at the University before Thread 1” of seed beads on each of the 3 beginning her career which encompassed pieces of beading wire. Add a copper crimp teaching, arts and crafts, and many years as tube and secure 2 wires on 1 side heart. Then a professional floral designer, candle maksecure 1 wire to the remaining heart shape. er, and Bridal Shop owner specializing in the design and creation of bridal accessories. Cover the crimp beads with crimp covers, this is an optional step. Lindsay Lee is an international award winning bead jewelry designer who describes Each wire has 7” of seed beads, semi precious herself as having been born with a creative beads, and copper beads. You may string spoon in her hand! She creates with a vathem in any order as long as you make them riety of different material including her curall the same length. Finish each link with a rent interest in copper jewelry. crimp bead and cover. And equally fascinating, Lindsay and her Add 1 copper bead to each string and a crimp husband, Lawrence enjoy participating in tube. Thread the wires around the toggle the Cowboy Action Shooting sport where clasp, 2 on 1 side and 1 on the other side. she won her annual Division title of, MonUse your beading pliers to squeeze the crimp tana State Champion! tubes tight, trim the wire, and add crimp covers. VIOLA! You’re done! RitzyToo.com | RitzyToo! | April-May | 47

Little Windows

An interview with owner, Fran Valera.

Recently I had a great conversation with Fran Valera, owner of Little Windows, a California company that manufactures and sells a high quality line of brilliant resin, molds, tools, kits, and supplies through little-windows.com and independent bead shops. Fran has more than a decade of experience managing resin and related product development for the industry before leaving to form Little Windows. Little Windows has won at least two prestigious awards that are testaments to Fran’s creative leadership in this field. Breakthroughs and improvements in this area of crafts no doubt account for a lot of its dramatic growth. 1.RitzyToo: Resins for use in hobbies and crafts go back 50 - 60 years that I am aware of. Is this a growing hobby? Has the technology changed? Fran:Yes, that’s right, resins have been around for a long time in different forms, but over the past few years interest has increased tremendously. I believe many things contribute to this: trends in fashion, the growth of the maker movement, the ease with which anyone can present and sell their creations online, and improvements in the tools and supplies available. 2. RitzyToo: I get the impression that you have brought or found improvements to the hobby, its materials, processes, and applications. Would you please elaborate on these issues? Fran: Previously, resins available at craft and hobby stores were originally developed for more industrial applications, and were then repackaged for the craft market. They were not healthy to use, and while they might be great for varnishing a bar top, they didn’t have the qualities you’d want for making jewelry and other small items. These harsh chemicals smell bad, they bubble, they yellow, and they often damage the items you try to embed. When you’re hand making creations you intend to wear, gift, or sell, you want them to be clear, and you want a system that makes it easy. That’s where Little Windows Brilliant Resin & Supplies shine. We’ve developed a proprietary formula designed for use in making small shiny things. It’s the safest epoxy you’ll find, it doesn’t stink, it’s really low bubbling, and it’s really quite color stable. It’s versatile too, our high-quality resin can cast, dome, layer, embed, fill bezels, coat, seal, glue, and varnish. 48| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

My background is in product development for the arts & crafts industry, and when I began working with resins over a decade ago, I was frustrated by the lack of quality products and information available. I wanted to turn the photos in my hard drive into wearable pieces, so I set out to create products that took the guesswork and experimentation away: a system for success, with education to inspire. Our awesome resin works so well with our mirror finish molds. They’re designed for jewelrymaking, and have a built-in permanent finish so you don’t have to use a chemical mold-release as you do with other molds. Because they’re so highly polished, whatever you put into the mold will reflect up and around the edges, creating a “frame of light”, making it look like you’re peeking through a little window (thus our name). We also offer special photo papers that are waterproof and make a permanent bond with inkjet inks, so you don’t need fancy equipment either. We offer bright white photo paper as well as clear film, which looks like glass when you resin it. 3.RitzyToo : Would you share some examples of how Little Windows expands creativity for hand crafted bead jewelry making enthusiasts? Fran: Little Windows is available at your local bead shop where you can add unique, personalized elements into your jewelry making by incorporating photos and graphics. Whether it’s to add some extra color to your piece, or to create a memory charm:

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You can also use leftover beads and bits to create unique new beads, like we did here: Raid your supply stash and your jewelry box for leftover bits, single earrings, broken stuff, and turn those bits into treasures. 4. RitzyToo: Would you please give our readers ideas on the many different ways/product creation ideas that your hobby category offers hobbyists. Fran: Resin is such a versatile medium, use it with photos, beads, scrapbook supplies, fabric scraps, whatever you like. Once you get started, you’ll think of even more ways to partner it with your stash of supplies! It can also be used to enhance art. Here’s an example of resin used in Mixed Media (created by Mixed Media Artist Belinda Spiwak): 5. RitzyToo: Have creations using your products won any awards? Please explain. Fran: What I’m most proud of is the stream of positive, quality feedback our customers send in, that gives me the boost I need to keep creating and improving, and guides us in our product development and project offerings. I’m also over the moon that Little Windows was given the MakerFaire “Innovation Award” as well as their “Education Award”, which were both huge honors. MakerFaire is an incredible gathering of thousands of creative people, and an amazing showcase for anyone who loves to make things, from unique jewelry and clothing, to high-tech creations of all sorts. It’s cutting-edge in so many ways, and incredibly inspiring to attend. 6. RitzyToo: How well does the surface of creative products that use your resins hold up from scratches, etc. Fran: Our resin is quite durable, and is often used in charms and key chains. If it does get scratched over time, it can be buffed back to a shine, or you can simply add another thin layer of resin to the top. Unlike other resins, ours bonds to itself seamlessly, so you can layer indefinitely, making repairs, or creating amazing dimension within your pieces. 50| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

7. RitzyToo: Please tell us about another example of varied techniques and projects where Brilliant Resin can be used. Another cool technique is Doming, where you use the high surface tension of our resin, coupled with our Silicone Doming Trays to dome resin directly onto any stiff, flat surface, such as a photo, stiffened fabric, decorative papers, etc. The doming tray has hundreds of tiny fingers that support your piece while the resin flows, giving whatever shape you’ve cut out a clearly defined edge so the resin knows where to stop flowing. With this technique you don’t use a mold, so your pieces can be cut any shape or size, from 1/2” to as large as you’d like. If you apply too much resin and it overflows, no worries, nothing will stick to the silicone so you can just let it dry and peel it off. Here’s a link to the how-to video for Doming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrRY-XknMT8

use a single, simple cast cube photo, or multiples - what a great brag bracelet! And this piece has photos of my daughter every year on Halloween, I just love seeing her grow up! It can be worn as a necklace or bracelet, by unhooking the clasps placed at both sides. And just look what you can do with a scrap of fabric!

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8. RitzyToo: What is dichroic glass? You referred to the dangers in traditional glass fusing. Would you please elaborate? Fran: Dichroic means 2-color, or something that changes color depending on your angle of view. There is a special type of glass that will color shift when fused in layers onto a dark base, such as a piece of black glass. This technique requires tools to cut glass, a kiln to fuse it, and quite a bit of money to get up and running. The beads and pendants you can create are beautiful, but the skill and equipment needed to get started makes it prohibitive for most of us. We’ve developed a way to create the look of dichroic glass, without the expense, or the danger. It’s called Dichro-ISH, and it’s really fun! Many top-notch glass artists have told us it’s the closest they’ve seen to actual glass, and lets you do many things you couldn’t do with traditional glass techniques. The video below demonstrates how easy it is to create gorgeous focal pieces, buttons, and beads. Our DichroISH Supplies and support make it fun for everyone!

9. RitzyToo: In what ways does your Brilliant Resin process improve on traditional glass fusing? How do the products that are produced from the two techniques compare? Fran: First, it’s much safer and easier, even kids can make gorgeous creations. Second, it’s much less expensive. Third, you can do so much more, such as layering, embedding our dichroic films along with other objects that couldn’t withstand the heat of glass fusing. Fourth, your resin pieces will be about 1/3 of the weight of a glass piece, so that makes them more comfortable to wear, particularly for earrings and buttons. Fifth, they’re drillable so you can make beads, buttons, and embellishments of any kind. Sixth, they’re washable, so if you’d like to incorporate them into wearable pieces, that’s just fine.  Just make sure nothing sharp (like exposed zippers), is in the wash with them. Oh, I could go on and on.....

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10. RitzyToo: Can Brilliant Resin be used as a coating to preserve fresh flowers -- for example, an orchid? If so can you successfully preserve at least some of the 3D nature of a flower? If orchids are a bad example, are there any that will work, like a simple dandelion? Fran: The only thing you can’t put into our resin is water. Fresh flowers contain quite a bit of moisture, and if you put them into resin the petals can turn brown as the water and chemicals interact. Dried flowers, silk and fabric flowers, and paper flowers, can be beautiful in resin, and can be layered in lots of lovely ways.

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Bead Store of The Month Bead Jewelry Making Store of the Month Award!

Congratulations to Patty & The Beading Den!!

R

itzyToo talks to a lot of local bead shops, and we always have our eyes on the lookout for ones that should be considered for RitzyToo’s Bead Store of the Month Award. We have gotten to know some fine shops and their respective owners, quite a number of whom might find themselves in this section of RitzyToo Lifestyle Magazine in the future! This time, quite by accident, we found a gem in the Putnam Valley of New York, about an hour out of the City.

Ambassador For “The Cousin Corporation Of America”, a leading manufacturer and distributor of jewelry supplies. She is also a published jewelry designer.

Patty told RitzyToo that she “ ... loves her students, young and old alike.” She especially gets huge satisfaction when she sees the beading light turn on in the eyes and faces of her students when they complete their very first piece of jewelry! She always encourages her students to learn how to get Congratulations to Patty Squillante and into their creative zones and create jewelry her bead jewelry making store, The Bead- that they can sell if the like, and she has ing Den! RitzyToo went to Patty’s beading quite a number of students doing just that. site for an entirely different reason, not re- As for herself, she tells us that she rarely lated to this award at all, and ended up tak- sells her own work though, because she ing her site to our Bead Store of the Month would far rather use her own creations to Committee instead. Our committee came inspire and motivate her students! back almost immediately with a resounding, “ Patty’s Beading Den is it for our Mother’s The Beading Den is a warm and friendly Day issue!” place that combines right thinking about many things, pieces of common sense, and We didn’t find a fancy slick website – truth wisdom which she freely shares with her be known, it was even a little home grown! friends and students. Here are just a couWhat we did find was a big heart, a won- ple of examples you might see strategically derful but natural business philosophy. and places throughout her shop: a happy talented beader/jewelry designer with a love for her craft, students and com“In a world where you can be munity. In short, we found an Enabler who anything...be yourself.” absolutely loves what she does! Patty has been making jewelry (of sorts!) since she was seven or eight years old. Today, she teaches Kumihimo, The Tree Of Life, Chandelier Wire Wrapped Hoop Earrings, Crystal Clay, Resin and much, much more. She is a Certified Top Instructor and a proud 54| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

“Stop Wishing and Start Doing!” “Be your own kind of beautiful.”

And then, there is the message you’ll find keepsakes with Brilliant Resin and, as soon on the tongues of every one of The Beading as this year’s hard winter recedes, she exDen family! pects to ad some resin workshops. She leads out in regularly scheduled Bead for a Need nights when she invites everyone to come in and help out with beading projects used to support local charity causes like the local Homeless Womens’ Shelter.

There are far too many activities going on to talk about them all at this dynamic shop, which is so much a part of the local community. For example, Patty has a special place in her shop for little girls’ birthday parties called, Fairyland! Her party bookings have increased and Fairyland isn’t even open until early April.

In addition, this month she has organized a Meal Train with volunteers from the Beading Den and surrounding community joining to become what Patty calls ‘Helping Hands’. Together, they made sure that a local family had an entire month of meals delivered right to their door every day while the mother recovers from a devastating illness. I could go on, believe me! It was a real privilege to meet Patty and see her shop in action! At the end of Patty’s virtual tour of The Beading Den, RitzyToo asked Patty to answer a couple of personal interest questions: A. Do you have any partners in the The Beading Den?

Yes, and no! Let me exEnough said! She has plain. The Beading Den is been known to hold my dream, my thrill, and my open houses at The mission, but thank God I am Beading Den for anyone not alone. My mate in life from the community is a very special man, and who is carrying a heavy load of issues such if it weren’t for him The Beading Den would as poor health, financial problems, marital probably not exist today, so you might say problems, depression, feeling unfulfilled and he is it’s Patron Saint and his comprehenin need of being busy. Doing something sive support is highly appreciated! creative in the nurturing company of caring, non-nosey, local community folk who are B. Since you have used Brilliant Resins, there to de-stress also is a healing experi- would you mind giving us a testimonial ence for many! about the use of Brilliant Resin and the company Little Windows ( Fran Valera)? Here are other things that make this shop tick! She features a fun successful ‘Girls’ Night Out’. She creates custom memory RitzyToo.com | RitzyToo! | April-May | 55

I was so taken with Fran Valera, owner of Little Windows! She was not just your typical business owner, Little Windows is her baby, and she treated each and every order just like that! She wanted to know how you liked it, she cared about your experience, and if you had a problem, it was corrected right away! I will continue to purchase my resin from Little Windows for two reasons, the first being its ease of use, and great results, but also, because of Fran’s personal dedication to her customers! Buying from Fran is like buying from a friend you have known for years. Yes, she is that special! Here is one of my Brilliant Resin creations!

C. Can you share with our readers what you do besides beading -- what are your other main areas of interest what motivates you? Wow, now that is a tough question. When I am not beading, teaching beading, or giving beading parties, I am a wife, mother, and grandmother as well. I live with fibromyalgia, and spine disease everyday of my life, so I feel that beading is a Godsend, it helps me to forget about my pain for a while, and sometimes even helps me work through it! It is my therapy. I also love making floral centerpieces, handmade flower accessories, and working on Fairyland in my shop! 56| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

My confidence grew as a bead shop owner when I was published this past December, in the Christmas issue of Bead It Today magazine! Oh my gosh how I cried! I felt so very blessed, and those blessings continue to this day with the opening of my little fairy world in the downstairs part of my shop called “Fairyland”. When I am down their, I feel such an enchanted, almost magical feeling. I wanted to create a place where little girls could learn to bead, while being surrounded by everything beautiful. I want to give them a memory that will last a lifetime. When I was only 8 years old, my mother passed away, and my loneliness grew into a love for crafts...for making things, be it drawing, or creating something from nothing. This is where I would get lost, and feel the happiest. I could forget about everything, just by turning paper clips and paper into my first necklace, and telephone wire into a ring. All this under the age of 10. I want to make it my mission in life to take the phones and computers from the hands of girls and replace them with pliers, beads, and a can-do spirit. I want to show them how beading is good for your soul, it can take you to a place where you feel you can do anything because you have the skill to create something beautiful! But most of all, I want them to pass it on to their children, and bring back arts and crafts! It is slowly dying, the things that were once made with our hands, are now manufactured in factories around the world. I want to take young hands from texting, to creating. I want them to sit and socialize together, actually talk to each other, and get joy, and gain self esteem from what they have made in my class. They will never realize the skills they may carry inside of them, unless they are brought out. I just need to unlock the magic within them ... one girl at a time! Thank you Patty for sharing with us and good luck as you continue your habit of dynamic sharing with your local community!

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, and a shortage of beads!” RitzyToo.com | RitzyToo! | April-May | 57

Humor at the Beading Table We were new to town and eager to meet new people. Eager to make a new friend, my husband I went to the gym where I managed to start a conversation with the only other woman there working out. I pointed toward two men playing racquetball in a nearby court, and said to her, “There’s my husband. Rick.” Then I added, “The thin one---not the fat one.” After an unconfortable moment of silence, she replied, “And that’s mine---the fat one.”

as Randy was waiting for me when I pulled up at the club. OMG! This guy looks like a Greek God with blonde hair, dancing blue eyes, and a spontaneous exciting smile! Woo hoo! Randy took me on a personal tour of the entire facility – the spa as well as the private tanning and massage rooms.

Next, I had 5 minutes on the treadmill, after which he took my pulse. It was high enough that it alarmed him it was so fast, something I attributed to standing next to him in his muscle shirt. I enjoyed watching If a woman is upset, hold her and tell her the vigorous and smooth way he conducted how beautiful she is. If she starts to growl, his aerobics class after my work out. Randy step back to a safe distance and throw choc- was very encouraging as I did my sit-ups, olate at her. even though my stomach muscles were already hurting from holding it in every time Dear Diary ... he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week! SATURDAY: Today is my 50th birthday. I was more than TUESDAY: excited when my sweet husband informed It took a whole pot of coffee, but I finally me that he had purchased a week with my made it out the door on my way to the club. own trainer at the local health club for my Randy was waiting for me when I arrived. 50th! I am still in great shape since playing The first thing Randy did was make me lie short stop for my high school softball team, down on my back and push a heavy iron but I can’t tell you how excited I am! I called bar into the air. Next, he put some heavy the club, made my reservations and spoke weights on it, and I pushed the bar into the briefly with a friendly young man named air repeatedly. Randy who said he would be my personal trainer. From there we hit the tread mill until my legs got weak and wobbly, but I stayed with Randy told me that he was a 26 years old it until I finished my mile. Randy’s personal aerobics instructor and personal trainer who attention and warm smile made it all worthmodels athletic clothing and swimwear. He while. I feel GREAT!! It is a whole new life said I sounded excited and looked forward for me. to working out with me! Even my husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get WEDNESDAY: started. The club suggested that I keep a The only way I can brush my teeth this diary to chart my progress. morning is by laying on the tooth brush on the counter and moving my mouth back and MONDAY: forth over it. I feel like I have a hernia in 6 a.m. came early, but I was ‘up and at ‘em’ both pectorals. Driving went a little better, – I could hardly wait to meet Randy and but only if I didn’t try to steer or stop forceget started! My anticipation soon paid off fully. I parked on top of a Geo in the 58| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

Humor at the Beading Table club parking lot. Randy was impatient with me, insisting that my, not so muffled screams, were annoying other club members. His voice becomes a little too perky for this early in the morning when he scolds me—his voice takes on this nasally kind of whine that is highly annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill so Randy put me on the Stair Monster. What kind of sadistic fool would invent a machine meant to simulate an activity made obsolete by elevators and escalators? Randy assured me that all this would help me get in shape and enjoy life more ... he said some other nasty things too. THURSDAY: As usual, Mr. Full of Himself was waiting for me, staring at his watch, with his thin cruel lips pulled back in a full on snarl. I couldn’t help being a half hour late ... it took me that long to put my shoes on. Randy took me over to work out with dumb bells. When he wasn’t looking I fled into the ladies’ room. He sent Helga in after me, and then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine

SATURDAY: Randy left a message on my answering machine in his grating shrill voice wondering why I didn’t show up today. Just hearing his nasty voice made him want to smash the machine with my planner. The fact is, I am too weak to even work the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the weather channel! SUNDAY: Ok. I am having the church van pick me up for services this morning so I can go and thank God this fantasy is over. I will also pray that next year year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal!

FRIDAY: I am laying in my bed, seemingly unable to get up, and thinking about how much I hate Randy... more than any other human being on the planet. Stupid , skinny, anaemic little cheerleader wanna-be anyway! If there was any part of my body I could move without unbearable pain I would seriously beat him with it. Today, Randy wants me to work on my triceps. I don’t have any triceps! And if you don’t want dents in your floor, then don’t hand me anything that weighs more than a sandwich. This treadmill flung me off, and I landed on the health and nutrition coach! Why couldn’t it have been someone softer like the drama coach or choir director? RitzyToo.com | RitzyToo! | April-May | 59

Almost Better Than Beading Cake

Several of us were talking the other day about how crazy we women are about beading. I mean all you see on candid public comments are intense expressions like need to bead, feed your need to bead, beading passion, my habit, beading is my passion, beading is good for the soul, etc. One of the gals offered to bring her Almost ‘Better Than Beading” Cake the next time we got together. She did! WOW! Here is the result and how to bake one! Enjoy!



1 box German Chocolate or Devil’s Food Chocolate cake mix 10 oz sweetened condensed milk 1 (12-oz) jar caramel ice cream topping 12 oz Cool Whip 2-4 chocolate coated toffee bars crushed, or ½ – 1 cup toffee bits

Directions: 1. Bake the cake mix according to the directions on the box. 2. Remove cake from oven and immediately, using a wooden spoon handle, immediately poke holes ¾ of the way into the cake about 1 inch apart all over the cake. 3. Using about half of the sweetened condensed milk pour into holes evenly across cake, let soak in and then repeat with remaining half. 4. Pour caramel sauce evenly over cake. Save a small amount to drizzle over Cool Whip. 5. Allow cake to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate least 1 hour. 6. Spread top of cake with Cool Whip, top with toffee bits & drizzle with caramel topping. 7. Refrigerate until served. 60| April-May | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com

Need More FREE Patterns? We’ve compiled some great resources for you from around the web for free patterns!

http://beadsmagic.com/?cat=12 (7) http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2012/06/anthropology-knock-off-earring-tutorial.html (1) http://eridhan.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-beaded-bead-free-pattern.html (1) http://eridhan.blogspot.com/2013/05/beaded-flower-free-tutorial.html (1) http://marylindell.com/2013/07/free-beading-pattern-for-lazy-susan-bracelet/ (1) http://www.uniquebeadedjewelry.com/freepattern.html (4) http://www.bead-patterns.com/shop/shop.php?category=138 (326) http://www.rubysbeadwork.com/WheelVariation2.html (1) http://3dbeading.com/patterns/25/1/ (1)

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Artisan’s Gallery

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Beader’s Marketplace

CALIFORNIA Chino Ad Copy 220 Characters, Spaces - swarovski beads, pendants, pearls and flatbacks, glass pearls, fire polished glass, charms, findings, seed beads in all sizes and shapes, chain, tools, books, magazines and much more! we offer classes too! Bead It! 3460 central ave., ste. E, Chino, CA 91710 909 364-2402 CALIFORNIA Concord Beads to thread, wire, and just admire. All for your heart’s desire. Family owned since 2003. www.Justbeaditconcord.com Just Bead It 2051 harrison street suite c 925-682-6493

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FLORIDA Maitland BEADS ETC, A FULL SERVICE BEAD STORE, TEACHING & DESIGN STUDIO. FEATURING: SWAROVSKI PRODUCTS, SEED BEADS, THUNDER POLISHED CRYSTALS, GEMSTONES, PEARLS, STERLING, SILVER/GOLD FILLED & BASE METAL FINDINGS, KITS & PATTERNS BEADS ETC. FULL SERVICE BEAD STORE, TEACHING & DESIGN STUDIO: TEACHING CLASSES FROM BEGINNER TO ADVANCED, SPECIAL ORDER CATALOG, CUSTOM DESIGN SERVICES: JEWELRY SALES/REPAIRS, TRUNK SHOWS, PARTIES & CONVENTION SERVICES BEADS ETC 110 N ORLANDO AVENUE, SUITE 5, MAITLAND, FL 32751 407-339-2323 FLORIDA Ocala We offer north central Florida’s best selection of seed beads as well as crystals, czech glass, gemstones and findings. visit us online at thebeadstrand.com or floridabead.com for class offerings and specials. The Bead Strand 6140 SW Hwy 200 352-620-2323 FLORIDA Sebastian Your beading home on the treasure coast. Featuring a full line of metalsmith tools, wire, beads, pearls, stone and findings. If you don’t see it, just ask. Join us for classes and beading circle. www.aabeadsonline.com AA BEADS & MORE 8802 N US Hwy 1 Ste 10 772-581-0515 ILLINOIS Chicago Seed bead and aiko specialists. monthly classes with nationally renowed teachers. huge selection of czech glass, pearls, cabochons and semiprecious stones. discount prices! go to www.citybeadschicago.com for more info Class Schedule: huib petersen-march 21-23, jean power-april 3-6, margo field-may 2-4, Shelley nybakke-july 12-13, melissa grakowsky -aug.15-17, sabine lippert-sept. 11-14, nancy cain-oct 10-12 City Beads 3928 n. rockwell street 312-316-1910

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KANSAS Lenexa Come to browse. stay to bead. great selection - amazing staff - free classes! Come let us inspire your creativity! Heartland Bead Market 13964 santa fe trail dr 913-888-0231

LOUISIANA Alexandria Cenla’s only bead shop! In our 9th year! custom jewelry! Large inventory. PEARLS, gemstones, crystals, czech glass, seed beads, tools, findings & more! classes at all levels. parties. trunk shows. open tues – sat A beader’s paradise... beads from around the world. jewelry supplies. custom jewelry for sale. classes! parties! visit our blog @ www.abeadboutique.com. follow us on facebook @ facebook.com/abeadboutique. open tues-sat A Bead Boutique 2924 JACKSON STREET 318.442.2575

MISSOURI Branson Be PLUM overwhelmed by our thousands of bead strands. A beading bazaar of wire, findings, chain, leather, stones, and beading supplies. Open 7 days/week year round 9:30 5:30. Classes PLUM BAZAAR LLC 123 East Main St 417-337-7586

OREGON Portland Knowledgeable, Friendly Staff. Best selection of TOHO Seed Beads, Sterling, Thai Silver & Base Metal findings in PDX. Czech Glass, Freshwater Pearls, Natural Stones, Semi-Precious. Open Daily. BeadsAtDustiCreek.com BEADS AT DUSTI CREEK 4848 SE Division St 503-235-4800

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Be Sure to Get The Next Issue of RitzyToo from Your Local Bead Store! June-July Issue Look What’s Coming... • $4,000 for a Bead Jewelry Piece?!! ...Who, What, Where, When and How? Get the Inside Scoop! • Meet a Specialty Artisan Supplier ...One of a Kind Pieces that Make a Statement About Your Creativity! • Exciting New Niche Bling Market for Bead Enthusiast Entrepreneurs • RitzyToo Local Scouting Report On Feature Supplier • RitzyToo Scout Finds The Ultimate Flexible Necklace—Learn How to Make Your Own!!! • Legal Protection for your Original Work • Beading Competition Announcement ...Valuable Prizes Just In Time for Christmas!

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RitzyToo Unleashes Your Creativity! It’s FREE and Available Through Instant Download At Better Local Shops Like These... Local Shops Make Happy Beaders!

You Are #1 At Local Shops!

See It...Feel It... Before You Buy It!

The Beading Den 3 Oscawana Lake Road Putnam Valley, NY 10579 845-528-BEAD (2323) www.thebeadingden.com

Heartland Bead Market 13964 Santa Fe Trail Dr. Lenexa, Kansas 913-888-0231

Beads At Dusti Creek 4848 SE Division St. Portland, Oregon 503-235-4800

Make Friends At Your Local Bead Shop! Attention bead enthusiasts! In the event your favorite local beadshop has not been authorized yet as a RitzyToo Free Magazine Download Center, ask them to contact RitzyToo via 1.800.298.9647 or go to http://ritzytoo.com/beadshop-application for immediate authorization...its FREE!