Bead Fest Philadelphia

Bead Fest is a bead and jewelry show where jewelry designers at all levels of expertise enhance their skills or learn new skills from talented instructors.  Added to this is a Shopping Expo featuring hundreds of exhibitors displaying beads, gems, tools.. everything you need to design beautiful jewelry.  Bead Fest Philadelphia is the largest show of its kind on the East Coast with 170 workshops and 350 exhibitors.  No wonder iKandies is excited about attending this event!  

We recently began exploring the world of metal working at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee.  Here are a few pics of a Fold form bracelet that was constructed at that show:

Adding texture to copper piece

Getting ready to fire enamel to a copper piece

            For Bead Fest we decided to sign up for two of Debora Mauser's classes:

Squiggles Cold Connections

Wild Woman Bangles

We'll post the results of our classes when we return from the show!

iKandies Joins the Wedding Scene!

Recently, iKandies discovered that Etsy.com, THE place to sell and buy things handmade by artists from around the world, added a wedding section to their online site.  This section is a one-stop destination to assist shoppers through the maze of wedding planning.  From wedding trends, to advice, to real wedding stores, Etsy Weddings is sure to spark your wedding creativity.  For instance, in the Wedding Trends section you'll find examples of wedding decorations like these Pomaders.  You'll also find these unusual Alternative bouquets.
Of course, we can't forget the jewelry!  Etsy has beautiful Wedding jewelry selections for the entire bridal party.  In addition, Etsy has also introduced a Wedding Registry.  According to a recent Etsy blog, the registry "makes it easy for couples to choose gifts that match their distinct taste and lifestyle."
iKandies is not going to be left out of all the wedding hubbub! Although we've added an iKandies' wedding section to our shop where you will find jewelry pieces appropriate for any wedding, many of our other jewelry items could be worn by members of the bridal party, including mother of the bride and mother of the bride groom. Here's an example of our newest addition to our wedding section:

Our jewelry designs are unique so we do not mass produce them.  But if you see an item that would be perfect for your wedding or special occasion and you want several of the same thing, please convo us and we'd be happy to duplicate it for you.  We want your wedding to be as unique and perfect as you are!

Pop Beads and Pearls

Pop Beads

While setting up a recent jewelry piece on iKandies Etsy site, our Pearl Clasp Necklace, I was reminded of a necklace I had as a little girl.  Maybe you remember them - pop bead necklaces? These plastic beads fit together in such a way that when you pulled them apart, they made a small "pop" sound and thus the name.  These pop beads made wonderful "pearl" necklaces and bracelets any girl would love to have!


Today, what girl wouldn't love to have a strand of genuine Mikimoto pearls! But most of us have to settle for something a little less. Pearls used in many of today's jewelry designs may not be Mikimoto class, but they're just as pretty.


For example, several online stores are now selling shell pearls. The materials used in order to make shell pearls are the same materials from which cultured pearls are made. The core is made from carved seashell, usually formed into a round shape.  This is coated with a shell finish, containing mother of pearl that has been ground down to a fine powder.  Although man made, these pearls are of high quality so they are very durable and maintain their original shine.  Their color is not affected by perfume, detergent or skin oils.

Another example are glass pearls.  Swarovski Company is known for producing some of the highest quality glass pearls.Swarovski pearls have a core of the finest Austrian crystal and are coated with several layers of highly luminous pearlescense. The surface of the pearl is smooth and they are similar to natural pearls in weight and the way they feel against the skin.  Swarovski Crystal pearls are resistant to damage caused by sunlight and skin oils.

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner.  As you shop for pearl accessories for this year's wardrobe, iKandies hopes this information will assist you in making the perfect jewelry selection.

iKandies Pearl Clasp Necklace and Matching Earrings

New Places to Find Beads

Most folks associate beading with jewelry design, and rightly so.  Type the word "beading" into any search engine and the top search results will be either bead supply stores or beaded jewelry designs.  On a recent trip to Houston, however, iKandies came across two unusual ways in which beads are being used.

The first was a beautiful beaded purse that was spotted at an airport store.
Now this was not your usual beaded purse, but a work of art!  This Mary Francis original resembles a guitar and has been intricately detailed with beads and crystals in a floral pattern.  It's hard to tell how the beads have been fixed to the purse base, but they look very secure.  Just in case, Mary Francis has included a small supply of replacement beads. You'll find other unusual designs included in the Mary Francis handbag lineup if you search online.  If you purchase a Mary Francis purse you are in good company.  Move stars such as Kirstie Alley and Paris Hilton own one too!


Also spotted on the trip was a snazzy pair of Old Gringo boots adorned with Swarovski crystals. Thinking about hot fixed crystals used in jewelry designs, iKandies asked the clerk if the crystals stay on and the answer was "if you're careful when you wear them!" (of course).  Imagine yourself dancing away the night in these boots!

iKandies is always looking for new inspiration as we design and create our jewelry.  Who knows what we might come up with next now that we've seen Houston?

What Inspires You?

When applying to most artfairs, iKandies has been asked "What inspires you to create your jewelry?"  As noted on our website www.ikandies.com and our Esty site iKandies Esty shop, we are inspired by many things including places we visit while on vacation. Recently, iKandies took a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona.  Although we weren't able to attend the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, we didn't miss out on inspiring experiences!  We spent a day touring the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert in northern Arizona. You might wonder how rocks could inspire anyone but these aren't just any rocks!  The "rocks" or petrified wood found in this area were formed when layers of volcanic ash, silt, and mud buried downed trees.  Silica-laden groundwater seeped through the wood and replaced the wood tissue with silica deposits. Eventually, the silica crystallized into quartz and the logs were preserved as petrified wood.  The rocks vary in color due to the type and amount of minerals present in the soil in which the wood is embedded. Here is a picture of a few small pieces of petrified wood iKandies was able to purchase

Petrified Wood

What causes the variety of colors?  Hematite, a form of oxidized iron, results in shades of red and pink. Yellow, brown and orange are produced by the presence of goethite, or hydrated iron oxide. The color green is produced by pure reduced iron or native iron.  This form of iron is rare in terrestrial rocks but common in meteorites. White is produced by pure silica. A black color is the result of organic carbon or pyrite present in the soil. And purple and blue are produced by manganese dioxide. 

iKandies plans to use these pieces of petrified wood in jewelry designs, so we purchased gemstones from a local bead store that we thought would go with them.  We found strands of Impression Jasper, Rainbow Jasper and Chalcedony. When the jewelry designs are completed, we'll post the photos on this blog.

Gemstones and Petrified Wood

It’s that time again!  Time to apply for this year’s artfairs! IKandies wanted to share what we have learned in the past few years about applying for and participating in artfairs.

How do we find artfairs to which we can apply?  By scouring the internet!  We recently came across a comprehensive list for Ohio that we found very helpful:  Ohio Arts Council’s Arts Festivals & Competitions Directory.  The purpose of Ohio Arts Council is, according to this document, “to fund and support quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically”.

 Events listed in the document include juried and non-juried events.  Each event has its own set of qualifications and an application an artist must complete.  For juried events, a jury fee or application fee is required in addition to a booth fee.  Several photographs or digital images of the artists’ representative work must be included with the application along with a shot of the artists’ booth.  Some applications are sent in by mail while others must be processed through an online agency such as Zapplication.

IKandies Unique Custom Jewelry has participated in two artfairs in the past and this year we hope to expand on this experience.  

 Some of these artfairs are very competitive and it’s difficult to be accepted, especially in a category such as IKandies – jewelry!  So we keep working hard at new techniques and new designs that we like and we think will appeal to others.  Here are a few of our works in progress…

 

New Items for Jewelry Design

It's a new year and time to restock our bead supply!  IKandies has been shopping at some of our favorite shops and look what we found!  This stash includes antique copper, Czech picasso finish glass beads, mushroom button glass beads, Miyuki magatama beads, and African turquoise to name a few.

The design possibilities are endless, but what would you do with these mushroom beads? Or these picasso finish glass beads?                                                                                                                                  IKandies found an interesting bracelet design using magatama beads in a Kumihimo braid.  Never heard of magatamas?  Created by Miyuki the manufacturer of Delica seed beads, these beads have a drop-like shape resembling a small petal, with an off-center hole.  Often used for trim work and embellishment, they sit at a slight angle and add interest to your design. 

When we finish our designs we'll be sure to post them here on our blog and let you decide if we made a good choice!