• February 2021 Magical Mystery Bead Box

    As I have noted before I have an ongoing love for mystery boxes and grab bags. It should come as no surprise that I love to test out bead box subscriptions, Jesse James Beads Magical Mystery Beads Box being one of them.

    Each month JJB creates a different theme box with a coordinating selection of jewelry supplies. From natural stones, wood, glass, metal, resin, acrylic, fiber and more, you never know what you might get with each theme.

    Take a look at my Opening of the Jesse James Beads Magical Mystery Bead Box from February 2021 and a spontaneous tutorial using a small portion of the supplies:

    You can buy the mystery Jesse James Beads boxes on a month to month basis and sometimes previous month’s boxes go on sale or even on clearance. I currently have a three month subscription which comes out to $42.48 a box. I personally can say I don’t always like every theme of every mystery box, however I don’t have a problem finding uses for the jewelry supplies contained in their boxes.

    Interested in getting your own Jesse James Beads Subscription Box? Take a look at what they have in stock: https://shrsl.com/2witu
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    While you are at my YouTube Channel don’t forget to subscribe to keep updated on my newest videos!

    Until Next Time, Stay Crafty, Stay Safe!

    *This is an affiliate post, which means it contains affiliate links. If you do make a purchase via my affiliate link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This fee goes towards the funding of more art projects. I greatly appreciate your support. To read my full disclosure, click here. 

  • Grab Bags from Potomac Beads

    Always on the search for suppliers of art supply grab bags and mystery boxes I heard about Potomac Beads. With many bead weavers and embroiders reviewing their selection of subscription boxes and grab bags as some of the best on the market, they had my interest. After getting a notification that their Grab Bags were on sale for $8.99 each, Jami Bostjancic of Accent Allusions and I knew we had to order a few.

    Typically the contents can be valued at $30-40. No two grab bags are the same, and can contain any assortment of Seed Beads, Crystals, Gemstones, Czech Glass, Resin, and findings.

    Interested in seeing what else Potomac Beads carries or if they have more grab bags in stock? Take a look at the Potomac Beads website.

    While you are at my YouTube Channel don’t forget to subscribe to keep updated on my newest videos!

    Until Next Time, Stay Crafty, Stay Safe!

    *This is an affiliate post, which means it contains affiliate links. If you do make a purchase via my affiliate link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This fee goes towards the funding of more art projects. I greatly appreciate your support. To read my full disclosure, click here. 

  • Mystery Box Opening from Allegory Gallery

    Sometimes good things seemingly appear out of the blue. While roaming social networks last year I was suggested an independently owned bead shop called Allegory Gallery. Located in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, owned by William Jones and Andrew Thornton. They have friendly weekday live streams of selling beads, jewelry supplies, artwork and free jewelry tutorials on their Allegory Gallery Facebook page.

    As per Allegory Gallery’s website: “We are a creative space that’s one part bead store, one part jewelry boutique, one part fine art gallery, and one part gift shop. The aim of Allegory Gallery is to promote artisan craftspeople, inspire the community to explore their creativity, and act as a focal point for classes and artistic education in the area.”

    I started sharing their lives with my beading bestie, Jami Bostjancic of Accent Allusions, and we were both fast fans of Allegory Gallery. Over time we found that Allegory Gallery offers Mystery Boxes every few months, and they are typically hard to get. Typically containing gemstone strands, handcrafted items, glass/ceramic/wood/crystal beads, vintage beading supplies, luxury bead blends, pendants and more. After missing a few Jami and I were able to order one! They range in price, but this box, including shipping, was $75, the retail value of the contents of each box far exceed their asking price.

    As continuing fans of Allegory Gallery’s wonderful shop, we wanted to share some of the joy we get from ordering from this small business. We hope you give their shop a look. You might just find that rare or one of kind jewelry supply or art piece you were looking for.

    Until Next Time, Stay Crafty, Stay Safe!

  • Jesse James Beads Etruscan Jewelry Tutorial

    Hello! As you might already know I am a big fan of ancient history and beads, any possible way I can combine those two makes me one happy designer. Recently Jesse James Beads started a Rising Stars program to see if some designers might be willing to create tutorials, in whatever style they like, using Jesse James Beads materials. I am honored to announce I was chosen to create a video for them using some of my favorite JJB supplies and inspirations!

    Now of course I couldn’t just do a basic tutorial, I wanted an inspiration that was different, yet beautiful. I picked the ancient Etruscan civilization as my focus for this project. An ancient culture that flourished in an area of the Mediterranean that is now known as Italy. Using their sense of style, color and layout I created a modern take on a ancient sense of style. Why don’t you take a look:

    Supplies:

    Cox 3389 Creative Color Wheel https://amzn.to/3rzrFJd
    JJB Tibetan Sunrise Strand https://shrsl.com/2s4h4
    JJB Bead Strand in Royal Red https://shrsl.com/2s4hh
    JJB Tibet Boho Bead Bundle https://shrsl.com/2s4gp
    JJB Gold Chain Reaction 5 pack Bundle https://shrsl.com/2s4i5
    2inch 21gauge gold plated eye pins ​
    Beadalon Jump Rings In Gold 4mm https://shrsl.com/2s1na​
    Beadalon Lobster Clasp Set https://shrsl.com/2s1nb
    JJB Tassels https://shrsl.com/2s4is
    JJB Assorted Red crystals https://shrsl.com/2s4kv
    Memory Wire Assorted in Gold https://jessejamesbeads.com/collections/beadalon/products/memory-wire-assorted-set-in-gold
    Gold Plate Earring Wires https://amzn.to/3cNTZn1
    Round nose pliers https://amzn.to/36RakU9​
    2 Chain nose pliers
    Wire cutters

    While you are on YouTube wander on over to my Channel and take a look.

    Until Next Time, Stay Crafty, Stay Safe!

    *This is an affiliate post, which means I received an assortment of products as a compensation for the creation of art and/or may contain affiliate links. If you do make a purchase via my affiliate link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This fee goes towards the funding of more art projects. I greatly appreciate your support. To read my full disclosure, click here. 

  • Plum Drop Jewelry Set

    Hello! As a jewelry artist I seem to always have leftover bits and pieces, but that only means I have perfectly good snippets to make new projects with. Continuing with more tutorials I wanted to share how I like to use up some of my favorite leftover jewelry making supplies from Jesse James Beads!

    Supplies:
    Jesse James Beads Chain Reaction https://shrsl.com/2s2za​
    Boho Bead Pair in Double Bubble https://shrsl.com/2s2zd​
    Beadalon 4mm jumprings https://shrsl.com/2s1na​​
    Jesse James Beads Toggle https://shrsl.com/2s2zg​
    2inch 21gauge gold plated eye pins ​
    2inch 21gauge gold plated head pins
    Gold Plate Earring Wires https://amzn.to/3cNTZn1​​
    Round nose pliers https://amzn.to/36RakU9​​
    2 Chain nose pliers
    Wire cutters

    While you are at my YouTube Channel don’t forget to subscribe to keep updated on my newest videos!

    Until Next Time, Stay Crafty, Stay Safe!

    *This is an affiliate post, which means I received an assortment of products as a compensation for the creation of art and/or may contain affiliate links. If you do make a purchase via my affiliate link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This fee goes towards the funding of more art projects. I greatly appreciate your support. To read my full disclosure, click here.