Thursday, May 28, 2009

Jewel Box

While poking through boxes of my stuff in Mom's basement last weekend, I came across a hat box full of beaded jewelry. Ridiculous, right? This is no way to treat all these fabulous beads.

Most of these pieces are from the very first few issues of Stringing magazine and from Stringing Style. Back then, it was mostly just Jean, Dustin, Danielle and I designing for the magazine because we didn't have a budget to pay anyone else. This meant making dozens and dozens of new pieces. We would spend Fridays making jewelry, often all congregating at one of our houses and watching movies as we created. Those were fun days!

So, back to the box o'beads. There are many forgotten treasures in here, along with pieces that never made it to print for a reason. Some need to be reworked. Some are great designs that I'd like to make again with different components. There are a few ideas brewing in my head about what to do with all these beads. As usual, with beads the possibilites are endless and the inspiration is beginning to overflow...

6 comments:

sharon said...

I just want to jump right through the screen looking at all those beads!!!! Weeeeee My head is spinning!

wileybead said...

Dear Jamie,
Just today I was looking at the STringing Iss ue from 2004. It was to be on display until Jan 31, 2004. Probably it was a 2003 issue. What a gem. I was noticing all the necklaces that you and Dustin did. Mike Sherman did a few, but the workhorses were you and Dustin. The pieces are still great. I was looking at stone combinations and how pieces were fastened. I'm always looking for ideas to rework with my stones and stuff. Keep up the good work and rework all those necklaces.....the beads and stones are still gorgeous.
Pat Wiley

pam ferrari said...

What a find!

PolymerClayTutor said...

To a fellow bead lover, opening that box, must have been like opening a treasure chest filled with Pirate Booty! How fun!! Can't wait to see what you do with them! ~Cindy Lietz

Jean Campbell said...

Seeing that pile of beads made me laugh... Yesterday I just opened an unmarked box in a linen closet and found about 70 projects from my Beaded Weddings book from 5 years ago! I feel like I just went to the store and bought dozens of pearl and crystal necklaces, earrings, and bracelets!

Jamie Hogsett said...

Thanks for all the comments. I still get a little excited every time I glance at the box!

Pat, most of the projects in the box are from the 2003 and 2004 issues of Stringing (back when they were special once-a-year publications). Some of them are my forever favorites...

Jean - my cake topper from your wedding book is in my shadow box on my dresser. I always think of you when I see it - yaay!