Welcome
to EJR Beads!
Are you looking for beads, findings
and craft supplies just that little bit different? EJR Beads is home to my
handmade art beads plus a host of other jewellery making and craft supplies. I
pride myself on stocking the EJR Beads online store with the unusual.
You can find my latest lampwork,
polymer and ceramic art
beads plus masses of other things-we-like for sale in
the online store.
Not sure you want to click yet?
Don't you like antique beads, freshwater pearls, copper, sterling silver &
hypo-allergenic beads & findings? Not interested in vintage buttons, craft
supplies and tools - polymer clay and art clay silver supplies?
See, I knew you
were bluffing. Now stop teasing me and just go take a look. You won't regret it.
Here you go, here is the link again, all nice and big. Please add me to your
faves because I am always adding cool new items to the store, so you need to
check back regularly!
Click here for the
EJR Beads online store !
We ship
throughout the UK and beyond, have an easy-to-use shopping cart and very reasonable
shipping rates with a quick despatch.
Oh, and you
can use the store to
join to my mailing list too.
Subscribers get
regular emails about new products, competitions and more. Simply set up an
account in the online store and tick the box for the newsletter to subscribe.
In the meantime,
thanks for visiting ejrbeads.co.uk today. I hope you have enjoyed your visit, if
so please do spread the word! You can scroll down the page now to read more of
my waffle. I waffle almost daily on this page, so you can always see what is new
- in the store and in my head...
Best wishes, Emma Ralph
Studio Update:
Friday 4th July
Caution: Purple
Distraction Ahead!
There you are, driving down the road and you see a sign by the roadside.
"Caution - Purple Distraction Ahead".
Is it a killer
grape on the loose? Alice Walker doing a book signing? No. It's a lavender
field. A beautiful, purple, fragrant lavender field.
Apparently the area
around here was quite the world's hotspot for lavender production in the 18th
and early 19th century.
Over the last four
years, Mayfield
Lavender have revived the tradition by setting up their English lavender oil
company, growing all their lavender organically at their Oaks Park field.
Now as you
know, lampworkers such as myself spend our days melting glass with big hot
flames to make beads. Lavender oil is fantastic for the inevitable minor burns
that we all get.
Lavender is also a
well known for relieving stress. Actually, this morning I was feeling quite
panic-attackey. After half an hour of walking around the lavender field taking
photos, I was feeling a lot more relaxed and mellow!
So, if you are
looking for anything to do with Lavender - do visit Mayfield's website. They
have an online store too!
Studio Update:
Friday 27th June
Read all about it!
I took off for a spot of birding today. I probably should not have, since I had
a kiln's worth of
lampwork beads needing cleaning and photographing. But all work and no play
makes Emma way too grumpy so off I went, picnic in hand.
We saw some very
cute baby Lapwings and other stuff too. I think Mr Man got a photo of them, so
will show that off later in the week if he ever remembers to get the photo off
his camera and give it to me.
Of course, all too
soon it was over and we were back on our way home to get some work done. So what
can I tell you about the online store today? Well, some new reads are in. The
latest issue of
Step-by-Step beads and
Stringing magazine have arrived.
I think these are
both awesome publications.
Step-by-Step Beads just seems to get better and better. There is such a
great mix of projects in each issue from stringing to beading. What I also like
is that there is a good mix for different abilities too. Beginners will like how
there is always something in there they can magage and learn new skills too. But
with some magazines, more advanced beaders can sometimes get left out.
Publishers are so often afraid of "scaring people off". Not so with Step-by-Step
Beads as they always seem to have some meaty stuff in there too!
Stringing is a very different animal, but equally good. It is a magazine to
inspire and provoke ideas in you rather than teach you techniques. So each issue
has literally hundreds of different earring, necklace and bracelet designs. You
can use them to inspire new designs in your own collections, plus get a really
good feel for any new directions jewellery-making is going or see hot new
trends.
If you do
jewellery parties and take custom orders, Stringing magazine can be invaluable.
Customers can flick through it when discussing commissions and give you ideas of
what they like, what they don't like etc. So you can both arrive at the desired
design and be able to show different design concepts to your customer rather
than trying to describe them. A really useful selling tool in itself since a
picture really does paint a thousand words!
Find both these
magazines and more in the
Books and Magazines section of the
online store.
Studio Update:
Tuesday 24th June
Amber-cadabra!
 The
Baltic Amber section has been re-stocked and undergone a little facelift. I
wanted to show the current colours of amber chip beads a little better in some
spanking new photographs. Old favourites such as the River Rock are back in
stock and there are also some new colours: Cola and Light Cola.
You asked for the
chips to be a little smaller - so you got it! They are a tad cheaper than
before. Well, as they say on the telly "every little helps!"
Don't forget
Baltic Amber screw clasps are also available. Containing no metal at all,
these clasps are completely hypo-allergenic and make the perfect finishing touch
to your amber jewellery. What is more, they come in a multitude of different
colours!
"Wah, but I want
lampwork. And cheap lampwork at that!"
Ok. You got that
too! Just keep an eye on the
lampwork beads section of the
online store. I
will be adding a few caboodles over the course of this evening and tomorrow.
Please remember though, it is "first come, first served" on all my art beads. If
someone else's order comes through before yours, they will get the beadies and
you will get a refund. Even if they are first by just a minute or even a
fraction of a minute. We is very democratic at EJR Towers. So the moral of this
story is - you snooze, you lose!
Studio Update:
Friday 20th June
Just Chillin'!
It's Friday
evening, my work is done, the dogs are walked - I'm just chillin' and looking
forward to the weekend. Ok, who am I kidding - I will be working again tomorrow
if not this evening. It seems there is always *something* to be done when you
work for yourself. Not that I am grumbling. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Although (like most
self-employed people) I do end up working pretty much every waking hour, there
are many benefits. Because that does allow me to have a little time out at
off-peak times. On Tuesday we went out for a spot of birdwatching. It was bliss.
We trotted off down to our nearest nature reserve and sat in a hide eating
cheese and onion rolls and watching the birds over the lake. I have never seen
so many Kingfishers in my life. It was like a buy-one, get-one-free on
kingfishers. I even saw kingfishers doing it, so we know a whole new generation
is in the making ;-) They really are gorgeous birds. If you get a chance, get
out birding this weekend. It is super-relaxing.
But back at EJR
Towers - what is new here? I am still working on getting this weeks art beads
finished up. Lots of beads are made, just everything seems to need sanding or
polishing, cleaning or photographing.
Meanwhile you might
be interested to know that the new issue of
Jewelry Artist has arrived. There are some fantastic
Art Clay projects in this issue, plus so much more.
Studio Update:
Wednesday 18th June
They is gone!
Sorry folks, the
freebie beads have been snapped up now. Do keep an eye out for future giveaways
though!
Studio Update:
Wednesday 18th June
Wot No Freebies?
My apologies to
everyone waiting for the freebie beads I spoke of in my email newsletter. The
trouble was, I couldn't get a nice photo of them the other day, so today I tried
scanning them instead.
This set of
freebies consists of a nice focal heart bead, in pale pink and clear. Plus a
trio of scroller beads, all accented with palest periwinkle and blue. As you can
see, it's not the best photo in the world - but it will do! These beads are just
such a pale pink colour I couldn't really pick them up with the camera at all.
But trust me they look a lot nicer in real life.
So, do you want
them?
The first person to
email me their full
name and postal address will get them.
But let's say you
miss out on the freebies - or maybe you are one of the people who likes to pay
for your beads instead - what to do? Don't panic. I have another set of lampies
to list in the
online store later
and hopefully the
ceramic beads will be up tomorrow or the day after. Oh and did I tell you I
have been working on some more
polymer clay beads too?... I am so all over the place with my mediums this
week
Studio Update:
Wednesday 11th June
What's New
Pussycat?
If you are waiting for new art beads, I can only apologise and promise you there
will be some new sets up for sale soon in the
online store.
I have a kiln full
of
lampwork beads that I should get cleaned and photographed over the next few
days. Also I have a whole slew of ceramic beads that I am working on. It will be
a few days yet before those are ready I imagine, but just keep checking the
online store won't you!
Meanwhile, do take
a wander around the
Books & Magazines section of the store. New issues are in for many of
your favourite reads. There are still some copies left of
Wire Jewelry and the new
Beads & Beyond issue is out too.
I think this latest
issue of Beads & Beyond is the best yet. Especially if you are a lampworker,
since they have features on both the major glass bashes of the year (GBUK's bash
and the Flame Off conference). Plus a whole host of stringing, wirework, art
clay silver projects and more. Me like.
Studio Update:
Friday 5th June
They're up!
New
lampwork beads,
polymer clay beads and even some
earrings too are now up in the
online store!
Amongst the polymer
clay goodies, I have also revisited one of my favourite designs - my Pod
Pendants.
I haven't made one
of these pendants for absolutely ages. I don't know why I stopped making them
actually, since I really enjoyed doing this one. I teamed it with some great
dyed silks which you would have thought were custom-dyed, the colours match so
well!
Studio Update:
Wednesday 4th June
soon...
I will have some
new lampwork and polymer beads ready soon, I promise. Just gotta photograph them
and list them in the
online store. So
hopefully you should see some new stuff up in the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, look at
this beautiful card that my friend Jennifer Blunden sent me for my recent
birthday. This card is another of her stunning original designs.
I just love
Jennifer's characters. I am sure that she MUST have modelled this one on me. In
my head, that is just what I look like when I check out the mirror (of course,
you only have to scroll down the page a little to see the reality though ;-)
You can see more of
Jennifer's talents in the
customer gallery, where some of her jewellery is showcased, featuring her
beautiful art on
Fimo polymer clay.
Talking of Fimo - I
am afraid I have a little bad news. I have heard from the manufacturers that the
prices across the Fimo range are to rise at the end of this month. I will
endeavour to keep my prices as low as I can, but please be aware that price
changes are coming. The current prices are only good whilst stocks last.
Studio Update:
Thursday 22nd May
And now for
something completely different...
Here is a new set
of
lampwork beads, up in the
online store
today.
The shape is my
all-time favourite - Flamenco tabs, but the colours are very unlike me. Muted
earthy stone-like colours throughout this set. They remind me of agates. I can
just see these beads working beautifully with
sterling silver, can't you?
Studio Update:
Monday 19th May
To bid or not to
bid, that is the question!
I have a
new auction
up on eBay. I have listed on the US eBay site this time around.
The UK eBay site
has really messed around with the search function and the way they show
listings. Why can't they just be happy enough with the millions they were
already making? Why do they have to squeeze any extra bit of money they can out
of that site at the expense of the sellers who made it what it is?
They now sell
advertising space to outside websites. So when you search for something on ebay,
you just get spoon-fed their advertisers' sites rather than easily being able to
see all the store and auction items that might be suitable. It has become
impossible to find anything on eBay UK lately.
So far the US site
seems left un-changed. Since that is where most lampworkers list anyway, I
thought I would go back to listing there. So for this auction, the price is in
US Dollars don't forget, not GBP (which makes it a pretty sweet deal given the
current exchange!) Also, postage and packing is free on this auction.
Studio Update:
Wednesday 7th May
Argh NOT Cute!
Don't you hate it
when you are walking in the woods, busy being in a foul mood and someone takes a
photo? Mr Man took this awful photo of me yesterday. I was wracking my
brains trying to remember what it reminded me of. Yup - I'm Bigfoot!
Separated at
birth?
If you are
wondering what I was pouting about, I was moody about having to go to the
dentist today! Never mind, all over with now. And yes, I was brave.
Studio Update:
Monday 5th May
Aw Cute!
 Ok
then - how about a cute fest?
What about this
little guy then? Isn't he adorable?
He is one of the 6
fox cubs currently using Mr Man's garden as feeding station and training ground
(especially for those important night-time missions!)
This photo was
taking in daylight however. With three of us sitting on the patio only a couple
of metres from him, talking to him all the time. He sure does like those
sultanas put out for the birds. He just laid on down and gobbled them all up,
looking up obligingly for the camera each time I called to him.
I just don't think
anyone has told him yet that he is meant to be a bit more wary! His mother is -
she kept a much greater distance when I was in the garden. But this little guy?
No, those sultanas are obviously worth being a bit braver for!
Studio Update:
Wednesday 30th April
April Showers!
The weather is so
crazy at the moment. True April showers, it is bucketing it down one minute and
glorious sunshine the next.
Last weekend we had a lovely hot day on Saturday. I went walking in the morning
and did some more mountain biking in the afternoon. Apart from being absolutely
KNACKERED I was brown as a berry too by the evening. I'm surprised after last
Summer my skin even remembers what sun is, let alone that it is supposed to go
brown in it.
Of course it didn't
last did it. Yesterday I had my first golf lesson of the year. It was chucking
it down. Thank god the golf course has a covered driving range, that is all I
can say. And it was freezing.
The golf might make
me sound posh and rich, but don't be fooled. I am doing a course of lessons
through the local adult education centre. They are absolutely brilliant, I have
done some of the golf courses with them before. You get excellent tuition at one
of the local golf courses by their pro's and the course is cheap as chips. I am
a big fan of the local adult education - it is where I learned stained glass,
ceramics work and more. Why don't you see if your local area runs classes and
sign up for something? I did once sign up for Tai Chi too, but it wasn't
for me. I just felt like I was playing a long, pointless game of Simon Says. Oh
and I started the RHS Gardening course once, but the teacher was weird so I
baled on that one too ;-)
Meanwhile, have the
tales of my active week made you just want to flop in a chair and read a good
magazine? Of course they have, of course you do.
What better read
could you reach for than
Ornament magazine? We have the new issue in stock now and it's a corker. I
defy anyone with even the slighted sense of style to not ooh and ah over pretty
much everything in this magazine. For us bead freaks, there is a great article
on jewellery and beads from the Classical world too!
And as you can see,
the new issue of
Jewelry Artist is now in stock too. You can find both titles in the
Books & Magazines section of the
online store.
Beware though, I only have limited copies of both these issues so order sooner
rather than later because once they is gone, they is gone.
Studio Update:
Wednesday 23rd April
Altogether Now!
There'll be
new beads over, the white cliffs of Dover.....
 Except
the new beads will be over at the
EJR Beads Online Store
instead. I mean what would the point be in having new beads over the cliffs at
Dover? They would just fall down into the sea. Or get eaten mid-fall by a
seagull, which would be bad for both gull and bead.
Nope. We will stick
'em in the store I think. A far better plan. They should be up sometime this
afternoon or this evening.
Want a sneaky
preview while you wait? How about these monsters? I broke some lampworking rules
with this one. I didn't only allow my turquoise to reduce, I positively
encouraged it. Bwah ha ha - I couldn't help it m'lud, that blood red was just
too cool for school.
Studio Update:
Saturday 19th April
Pooey!
The
Euro-Whiff
is here. When I stick my head out of the window, all I can smell is a horrible,
overpowering rotten sewer smell - nice!
It is wet and
raining, so I am not going walking today anyway. Even if I were though, I think
the smell would put me off. I hope they work out soon what this pong is and dump
a a bag of pot pourri the size of holland on whatever or wherever the source is.
Yuck. And I don't even have a good sense of smell.
Not only is it
smelly, but I ache too. I have bike bum ladies and gents. Yup - went moutain
biking for the first time this year on Thursday and I am still walking like John
Wayne. I could hardly move when I got off the thing. For some reason the dog
enjoys racing me upstairs. Usually I win (although I think she lets me because
she is a good girl and knows who is alpha dog in this pack.) On thursday she won
paws down since I just fell flat on my face even trying to crawl up the stairs!
Meanwhile I think I will cheer us all up with another giveaway. This set of
beads are just experiments. Not the greatest beads in the world - I was more
concerned with trying out a couple of ideas than making them look too lovely!
Not the worst either though - so maybe you would like to home them anyway? They
have real gold on them!
If you fancy
winning these beads, just email me
your full name and postal address, putting "gold beads" in the subject line. I
will pick a winner next weekend on the 26th.
Meanwhile I should
have some new lampwork beads up for sale in the next few days. Sorry about the
wait.
Studio Update:
Wednesday 16th April
Don't forget!
My
auction
ends very soon! So don't forget to get your bid in - it is not good emailing me
after the auction ends to say you forgot to bid on them! Once they are gone,
they are gone. And they have reached their reserve price now - so whatever the
final price is, that is what they go for!
All my eBay
listings are private - so only you and I know you are bidding.
Meanwhile, as you
can see - the new issue of
Art Jewelry magazine is now in stock.
In this issue, use
your
Makin's polymer clay extruder to create features for a fantastic copper and
clay pendant, exploring colour theory. Create fantastic origami charms using
Art Clay silver. Learn to make and solder your own bezels or why not try
ornate wirework without
pliers?
This really is a
must-have issue IMO.
If you prefer your
metal to be a little more long and wiggly, well why not pick up a copy of
Wire Jewelry?
Every issue contains many stunning and innovative wire working and chainmaille
projects, with easy to follow step-by-step photos. Also contains some
great artist profiles, techniques and tips and more.
In this issue look for gorgeous woven wire earrings, wired rings and bangles
among other great projects.
To see the complete range of magazine titles available at EJR Beads, just visit
the
books and magazines section of the
online store
Studio Update:
Friday 11th April
New Auction!
I have a
new auction
listed on ebay.co.uk !
The set is called
Rockingham and I don't mind admitting I am totally in love with it. I just
love the colours, the pattern - everything.
The set evolved
from a lone barrel bead which I kept for myself. I just had to make more beads
in these colours though, so created a set too.
The auction has a
99p start price, but does have a reserve this time. Since I really only want to
part with these beads for a half-decent sum. That said, the reserve is lower
than I would list them in my
online store for
though, so it is still worth getting your bid in on these beauties!
Click
here to
see the auction, or just search out my seller id ejralph over on ebay.
Studio Update:
Thursday 10th April
Busy Shedding!
No, I am not a
snake getting new skin. I mean, I have been busy out in the shed the last couple
of days making lots of lovely
lampwork beads. Sorry, they are not up yet - but soon I promise.
 Well
I say lovely. Some are lovely, some are just pants and will never see the light
of day - you know how it goes with creative things - lots of those "what was I
thinking?" moments. But I do believe that one is one of the nicest sets ever to
walk out of that there shed. I just love the colour combo I used. Sadly this was
mainly due to a lone rod of some obscure brown colour I found on my shelf. Oh it
was great that I used it - it made such cool colour reactions. Just sad that it
is now all used up and I have no chance of getting anymore of that particular
batch. Talk about you don't know what ya got til its gone. I had no idea that
rod was so cool.
I have also been
working on a spot of
jewellery - just to keep my hand in. And some polymer clay beads too. So
hopefully by next week (if not sooner) the shelves will be restocked at EJR
Beads and there will be plenty of new goodies to look at!
Meanwhile, you
might want to know that the latest issue of
Beads and Beyond mag is in stock - and it has an advanced lampworking tute
in it by Bev Hinklin!
Studio Update:
Sunday 6th April
Long time no see!
Hello everyone. It
seems like ages since I updated this page, and yet here we are again with SNOW!
I didn't even
bother taking a picture - I mean, just scroll down and look at the previous
snowy scene and imagine it even snowier. What is all the more bizarre is that on
Friday it was so hot I was walking the dogs in a t-shirt.
And whilst we are
on the subject of craziness. What CHUMP decided to suddenly put gluten into M&S
cola drink and not tell anyone? Thanks a bunch - another weekend wasted. Grrrr
As you can see, the
mood at EJR Towers is as frosty as the weather. Thankfully though there is an
antidote. What better way to shake me out of my moans and groans than to do
something nice?
The lovely people
at
Quick and Crafty magazine have given me some free copies to give away to you
lovely people. The issue up for grabs is the April 2008 issue. It is their
beading special and comes with a free cutting mat (odd choice of gift for a
beading special if you ask me, but since no-one did I will shut up)
If you want to be
in with a chance of blagging yourself a free copy of this great crafting
magazine, just email me. First come,
first served until they run out.
And if all that
puts you in the mood for
magazines, don't forget I have plenty of great titles available in the
EJR Beads Online store.
Studio Update:
Monday 24th March
Happy Easter!
 Happy
Easter everyone - I mean that retrospectively of course, since it is all pretty
much over now.
I certainly haven't
got any chocolate left, put it that way. To my mind Easter ends as soon as the
last mouthful of choccy is chomped down on.
As for Spring? Well
- humf! Snow showers on and off throughout the weekend here, as you can see.
It is just as well
I didn't want to go out in the shed and make beads really, isn't it.
I do have some new
lampwork beads ready to list in the
online store. I
will hopefully do this tomorrow, although I am just starting to get the cold
that made Mr Man so ill over the weekend. So if that comes on with a vengeance,
I am likely to just put myself to bed with a big dollop of self-pity and leave
the beads for a couple of days.
I will give you a
sneaky preview of one of the bead sets though. Just to whet your appetite, so to
speak!
This is a lovely
set of Flamenco tabs, in washes of dark ripe peach and plum. I wish I could have
made the colours show up better in the photo though.
Studio Update:
Wednesday 19th March
Here Poly!
So much to tell you
today and I promised myself I would do just that and get this update done before
I eat my next caramel shortcake. Well, I needed to make sure my prize was
worth reaching for, didn't I?
First there are
some new
polymer clay beads due up in the online store any moment now. Here are some
of my citrus Clarice beads, but there is also a fun set of Slight Seconds up for
a bargain price!
And if you are into
polymer clay - you will be glad to hear the latest issue of
PolymerCAFE magazine is now in stock in the
online store.
This issue is quite
simply breathtaking. The first thing you will see are pages and pages Kathleen
Dustin's beautiful work. Well worth the cover price alone just to see her
beautiful polymer purses and beads up close and in detail. Yes that beautiful
flower on the cover is polymer and a perfect example of Kathleen's talents.
There are plenty of
other great projects and articles too, exploring sculpting and modelling,
canework and jewellery ideas. This magazine really does seem to be getting
better and better each issue!
Also in stock today
- the latest issue of UK published
Bead magazine! Find all the latest reads in the
books and magazines section of the
online store
Now don't you think
it was time I gave away some beads? Yup me too. How do you fancy getting your
hands on this set of my lampwork beads? A lovely set of leaf beads, worked in
soft powder blue.
If you want to be
in with a chance of winning these beads you need to do TWO things:
1. You must be
subscribed to my email newsletter to enter this giveaway.
If you are not
already signed up, please check my FAQ
page for details on how to join. I cannot sign you up to the mailing list. You
have to register yourself by setting up an account at the EJR Beads online store
and opting in for the email newsletter.
If you already have
an account at EJR Beads, you can log into your account and check your email
notification settings using your "my account" page. You can also use this page
to unsubscribe yourself from the list whenever you want (but you need to still
be on the list on the closing date of the giveaway to be eligible)
2. You need to
email me, putting "freebies" in the
subject line of your email. Please include your full name in the body of
your email.
That's it! All
eligible entries will be put in a hat and a winner picked at random after the
closing date, March 26th.
Studio Update:
Saturday 15th March
Lazy Days!
Hurrah it's the
weekend! Once I have the orders packed up and posted, I am taking the rest of
the day off to laze around. I really need a day of just sitting on my bum doing
nothing.
I have had a busy
old week here at EJR Towers. I spent most of the last two days in the shed
melting glass. So there should be some new
lampwork beads to show you next week. I was also working on
polymer clay beads earlier in the week too. Some are so citrus-ey, my mouth
is still watering several days later!
Meanwhile, I just
remembered I forgot to mention about these clever things.
Anti-Tarnish tabs.
They don't look
much do they? But pop one of these tabs into the box or bag with your metal
jewellery and beads and you can prevent tarnish for up to a year.
Useful huh? You can
use these tabs for all ferrous and non-ferrous metals. So that means Silver,
copper, brass etc. Use them to protect your finished jewellery and
Art Clay Silver creations or just to keep your beads and findings looking
fresh.
Studio Update:
Thursday 13th March
Zzzzzz!
Can you imagine
walking down the road at 6 o'clock in the morning, stopping every couple of
houses and smashing glass bottles as loudly as you can. Shouting bizarre
obscenities to your mates as you go?
Can you then
imagine that you get PAID to do this and the very people paying you are those
poor sods who were (until you arrived) asleep in those houses?
Has the world gone
MAD to paraphrase the Daily Mail?
No. It is
just the council recycling van doing the rounds. This is what our taxes are
spent on? Waking me up at some horrendous hour?
I am all for saving
the planet, really I am. But could we not do it say, after 9 am? Could the
planet possibly last another few hours just so I can have my kip?
Yes, lack of sleep
made me a bit grumpy this morning. Still, that was all pushed aside when some
new mags arrived. I have new issues in for the fantastic
Stringing,
the V&A magazine,
Beads & Beyond and
Step-by-Step Beads.
You can find them
all in the
books and magazines section of the
online store
Studio Update:
Sunday 2nd March
Inspiring!
 Do
you sometimes wonder where on earth to get inspiration from?
It can be tough
sometimes to think up new ideas. Everything feels too samey or you just get a
blank? Why not take some tips from Jean Yates, author of Links?
Jean is one of my
favourite jewellery designers. Not only because she uses a lot of my beads
(although that helps obviously!) but mainly because I just really like her work.
For Jean, each design is complete in its own right, with its own story.
Jean's fantastic
book delves deep into this very subject - where to find inspiration and how to
harness it and transform ideas into design. Go buy it, it is very fantastic. If
you don't believe me just keep tuned to this page. I will soon have finished
writing my review which will tell you in far greater detail just why it is so
fantastic. Meanwhile, check out
this article she wrote for the Soft Flex people about taking inspiration
from the animal kingdom. Very thought-provoking ideas - thanks Jean!
Maybe though you
have plenty of inspiration already? Maybe you just need some lovely
polymer clay beads to use in all those designs whirring around in your head?
If so, you will be
thrilled to hear I have some new beads ready to list. They will be listed in the
online store
tomorrow sometime so just keep an eye out. Here is a sneaky preview of one of
the sets!
Studio Update:
Tuesday 26th February
It's up!
My
eBay
auction is now up and running. So don't delay, bid today!
(Yes, I am no great
loss to the advertising copy-writing world really am I?)
Click
here to
see the auction or just search me out on eBay using my name or my seller id
ejralph . The auction runs for 5 days.
Studio Update:
Monday 25th February
On your marks!
 I
have some
lampwork beads all ready to list in the
online store later
today. PLUS I have a new auction scheduled to start on
ebay.co.uk
tomorrow morning.
How's about that
then for all your bead lovers out there? Just the kind of beady news you need to
banish the Monday blues!
The beads shown
right are a sneaky preview of
my new
auction. As usual they will be listed with a crazy 99p starting price and no
reserve. The auction will start tomorrow ( 26th) at around 11.30 am GMT
and run for 5 days. So please don't forget to get your bid in once it starts, or
someone else might get them for a snip!
If auctions are not
your thing, well why not try your luck over at my online store? I will be
listing several new sets of
lampwork beads up there this afternoon and this evening. Some are seconds
too - beads with slight flaws and great savings!
Just visit the EJR
Beads
online store to
see the latest!
Studio Update:
Friday 22nd February
Specs on!
Yup, find your
reading glasses and head on over to the
EJR Beads Online store.
We have some
fantastic new reads in stock in the
books and magazines category.
Firstly the new
issue of
Art Jewelry is in stock. It features some great articles. My favourite is
the cover project. A wonderful pod pendant from renowned polymer clay artist
Jeffrey Lloyd Denver.
Even if you have
never tried
polymer clay before, you are bound to get great results with this project.
It just goes to show that good design doesn't always have to be technically
impossible or require oodles of tools and supplies. It is amazing what you can
do with the odd block of
Fimo,
plastic coated wire and a
tissue blade!
Also in stock is
the latest and indeed the last issue of
Jewelry Crafts.
I am so sad to
report that
Jewelry Crafts will no longer be published bi-monthly. Instead the
publishers will only be putting out one issue a year from now on.
Jewelry Crafts was
the first magazine of it's kind when it came out 15 years ago. The people at
Miller Magazines retained that family-business feel throughout. But I guess when
the other big-name bead magazines hit the shelves, over the years it must have
got harder and harder for them to compete. Poor Jewelry Crafts. I will remember
you fondly, you were the first magazine to publish me!
Anyway, it is a
good farewell bash. This issue they are going out with a bang with some great
polymer clay articles, precious metal clay articles and more. If you like
polymer clay techniques, this is a great issue especially!
Also look out for
new issues of
Beads & Beyond and
Jewelry Artist!
Studio Update:
Tuesday 19th February
Quack!
Isn't he a beauty?
We saw (and fed)
lots of these beautiful
Mandarin ducks on our trip out to Richmond Park the other day. Sorry for the
rubbish photo. These chaps do NOT keep still for a moment. Especially on such a
cold, cold day.
For those of you
who don't know,
Richmond Park is a very old stretch of parkland in South London.
Historically a
famous hunting ground for various kings and queens, now it is mostly patrolled
by London's population of joggers, yummy-mummies with expensive strollers and old
folk with overweight Labradors. Oh and us on occasion (often mistaken for
overweight Labradors)
The human
inhabitants are not the interesting part of the story though.
Richmond is most
famous for it's population of deer. Sadly there was a cull recently. These
culls are necessary to keep their numbers in check, however they always leave a
nasty taste in my mouth. I would just put half the lady deer on the pill or
something. Or maybe a social education programme on the merits of "just saying
no" ? Ok, possibly not. But I can't help feeling there must be an alternative to
playing Elmer Fudd!
So most of the
remaining deer were all huddled together in a big herd, rather in shock. Usually
they are dotted about in small groups, looking most enchanting. I did find a few
acting normally but they legged it before I could get a better photo. Something
to do with a large Rhodesian Ridgeback giving chase!
It was blinking
cold though. We managed a quick scoot to the duck pond, fed them all our bread
and then had to get back into the car before we froze to death. Roll on Spring.
Didn't I say we would get another cold snap? It always happens this way. Why do
I fall for it?
Studio Update:
Tuesday 12th February
Spring is
definitely in the
air!
I spent most of
today out working in the shed melting glass. Spring is certainly on its way if
you are to believe today's weather. The birds certainly think so, they have been
flirting and cooing with each other all day in the Pear tree. Then you hear the
occasional spat between rival males. Reminds me of school really ;-)
But don't go
expecting to see the
lampwork beads up in the
online store too
soon.
I still have to
clean and photograph them and you know how long that seems to take me! This is
not helped by the fact I am taking Valentines Day off to spend with Mr Man (well
it is his birthday too). So I don't think I will have anything new
lampwork-wise to show you before the end of the week I am afraid.
I do however have
some other new beads up - a few sets of
polymer clay beads for you to enjoy such as these Shabby Silks lentils.
Studio Update:
Saturday 9th February
Spring is in the
air!
 What
a lovely warm day today. It really feels as though Spring is finally in the air.
Mind you, sometimes
our weather has a nasty habit of playing tricks on us. So I am not counting my
chickens. We could have another cold snap yet. I do hope not.
At least we managed
to get out birding the other day. Not much of a view yet, but still nice to get
some fresh air. The dark blobs on those sand banks are actually birds believe it
or not. I know, I know - it is one of those "guess you had to be there" moments.
But we had fun. We are easily pleased. A cold, damp hide and blobby birds will
do nicely for us as "recreation".
But this is meant
to be Studio news, not cold-reservoir-somewhere-in-Kent news isn't it?
So what beady news?
Well all the lampwork beads sold out very quickly again the other evening. Thank
you all so much. You have no idea just how much I appreciate your continued
support of my work.
If you missed out
on the beads, don't forget there is still time to bid on my
eBay
auction.
The auction ends on
Monday, so make sure you get your bid in soon if you fancy adopting this
mega-set. Each auction I run, I get emails afterwards from people upset because
they forgot to bid. So why not just let eBay take the strain and bid for you?
Just enter your max amount as a proxy bid and sit back and relax - eBay will do
the rest! All my auctions are private listings, so even if you are the high
bidder no-one else (including bank managers or husbands) gets to see it is you
bidding! Well, we girls like to have our little secrets right?
The auction beads
are definitely one of my favourite sets of all time. If you like purples and
blues, you will just love them. Mr Man wanted me to call them Purple Haze but I
vetoed that idea from the off! I rarely make these Arthouse Prism beads.
They are a design I love, I just don't tend to make them all that often.
(Probably because they take a lot of concentration and I am so flighty!). I can
tell you they make gorgeous jewellery though - check out
Jean Yates' Necklace page to see a design featuring my Arthouse Prisms!
Studio Update:
Thursday 7th February
New Beads, New
Auction!
I have some
new
lampwork beads all ready to list this evening in the
online store. Just
check in this evening sometime and you should find the latest goodies.
Also, I have a new
auction up on
eBay!
Here is a piccy, although if you
click here
you can also see more images on the actual auction page.
The auction is for
a set of my Arthouse beads, in unusual triangular prism shapes. Very dotty beads
that had me quite dotty by the end of making them! Included are 8 spacer beads.
As usual I have
started the auction at a ridiculous 99p start! So don't forget to place your
bids or someone might get them for a steal ;-)
Also new in
the online store this week, the latest issue of
PolymerCAFE magazine.
This fantastic
publication is the only magazine in the world dedicated just to using oven-bake
modelling clays such as
Fimo.
So popular is this
magazine that the publishers have increased its frequency from the previous 4
issues per year and it will now be published 6 times a year instead.
In this latest
issue they are celebrating their new editor Connie Donaldson with a reprint of
her very popular Butterfly Wing Cane project from the Spring 2004 issue (now out
of print)
Check out the
Books & Magazines section of the store for this new issue, plus new issues
of
CRAFTS,
Bead,
Ornament,
Beads & Beyond and many more great titles.
Studio Update:
Friday 1st February
Want more free
stuff?
Well, the
competition to win the ugly lampwork beads was fun. So many of you wrote how you
thought they were pretty! Ha, flattery will get you nowhere. Well, unless you
are Irene from Edinburgh who won the draw. Congratulations Irene. Your beads
will be with you shortly. Thank you to everyone else for taking part - and lots
of you did!
But I reckon this
giving away stuff free lark is a right good laugh. So I am gonna do some more of
it.
 Some
of you may have noticed that I have a
new postcard for sale in the
online store. It's
a pretty slew of antique trade beads. Making this card was a pure whim on my
part, I got them printed simply because I adore them and that is that.
So, I have decided
that I will give some away free this week. Any order of £20 value or above
(excluding postage and packing) placed in the online store from 2nd to the 9th
of Feb inclusive will get a pack of my Trade Bead postcards included absolutely
free of charge. That is a pack of 8 cards, worth £3.50.
It is that easy.
Just place your order as normal and if it qualifies I will include the cards. No
messing about with coupon codes or anything like that. All you need to do is to
decide what to buy!
What other fun news
can I share? Well not much actually since it is Bro'sters birthday and I really
need to get my butt to his celebratory dinner even though I won't be able to eat
the Chinese food they are eating (poo!)
I can tell you that
new
lampwork beads will be around in the next few day and that if you cannot
wait that long I have a new auction up over on
eBay!
So go and take a goosey gander there. Its at a silly 99p start and last time I
looked there were still no bids!
Studio Update:
Sunday 27th January
Want free beads?
 Of
course you do. But even if they are a bit ugly? Well that is a dilemma of
course.
I had such high
hopes for these beads. The design sort of worked in my head. In reality though I
was underwhelmed. Let's face it - they are mingers.
But rather than bin
them, I thought I would run a little prize draw. Anyone who fancies
adopting these brutes is welcome to put their name into the hat.
To enter, simply
email me with the subject line "bead
giveaway" and write your full name, postal address AND email address
in the body of the email. This is very important, entries that don't include
that info in full will not be included in the draw.
I won't store or
use your info, I just don't want to be faffing around trying to find all
the contact details for the winner once the draw is over. Much easier and
quicker if you can just be sure to include that info for me from the get-go.
Closing date is
Thurday 31st of Jan and I will pick a winner at random on the 1st of Feb.
 Maybe
though you want to buy some prettier beads instead? Well who could blame you?
How about these
then? Some slinky Flamenco tabs worked in beautiful greens and browns. All the
beauty of seaweed without the sliminess, risk of tiny crabby creatures or yucky
salt smell. Just perfect!
I will be listing
these
lampwork beads and more over the course of the evening, so please keep your
eyes on the
online store.
The EJR Beads Archive - don't miss my waffle - see
what has been and gone!
All text and images © Emma Ralph 2006
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