My unexpected visit

So while I was at the shop today busy doing some repairs, an unexpected visitor popped her head in and said " would you like some henna."
"Of course I do," So my dear friend Ann walked over to Midnight Sun, (which is where she sets up on some Fridays and all Saturdays during the summer months), grabbed her fresh tube of handmade mendhi paste, and began drawing the most beautiful henna on my hand.
For those of you who are not familiar with henna, it is a natural paste that was traditionally used in wedding ceremonies in India. It is made from the henna plant and many herbs and oils. It is applied to your skin, you let it sit for a few hours, and after you wash your body part it is applied to, it will be stained on your skin.
The brides would traditionally have the hands and feet completely covered in the most beautiful drawings of paisleys, flowers, peacocks and swirls. It is said that the darker the henna tattoo appears, the longer the love of the couple will last.
Although mine was not for the purpose of a wedding, I do believe that the art of henna design is a beautiful tradition and was happy to have Ann put her creativity onto my skin!
Stop by Midnight Sun on Saturdays to get you next Henna Tattoo and be sure to stop over to Ann's Blog, http://http://www.hennatattoo.blogspot.com/

March Classes and Happenings

March Classes
Mon March 2nd- Basic Wire Link Earrings with Catina-Learn how to make your own wire ear hooks and also learn the basic wire link technique to create a funky pair of dangle earrings. (we will use copper wire in this class)................ Time: 6:30-7:30 Fee:$15.00 + material
Wednesday the 11th-Wire link bracelet with Shannon-Learn the technique of wire links to create a wire link bracelet while also learning how to make an S hook clasp........Time:6:30-9 Fee $20.00 + material

Saturday the 14th: Introducing the Itty Bitty Smithy: Bang your own bangle with Robert:in this class you will learn basic copper smithing techniques including annealing, texturing and shaping.Time: 12-2pm Fee:$30. (includes material) Class limited to 4

Thursday the 19th: Basic Beading with Shannon-Learn the basics to bead stringing. I will show you how to properly end your piece with crimping, adding your wire guardian, crimp cover and clasp for a finished look.Time: 6:30-8:00 Fee: $15.00 + material

Sunday the 22nd- Beading for Sassy Seniors- In this class we will create a bracelet and a pair of earrings. You will learn the technique of crimping, adding your wire guardian, crimp cover and clasp, as well as how to make a simple pair of dangle earrings.Time:2:30-3:30 Fee: $10 + material (class starts promptly at 2:30 so arrive early to pick out your goodies)

Wednesday the 25th: Interchangable necklace with Shannon-This necklace is a partial beaded necklace made on beading wire attached by small lobster claws to a leather like cord finished with wire coils for a finished look..Time:6:30-8:30 Fee $15 + material

Wednesday the 25th A.M. Class- Herringbone wire weave pendant with Shannon- learn the technique of herringbone. In this class you will create a herringbone centerpiece to take home and add to your beadwork.Time:11:30-12:30 Fee: $10 + materia**************************Space is limited so please sign up early! ************************************$10 classes with student ID (does not include material) *************************************************************Classes start promptly at 6:30 so please arrive around 6 or shortly after if you need to pick out your beads. *************************************************************Interested in teaching some weekend daytime classes at Bead Here Now? contact Shannon 904-475-0004***********************private classes available. ******************

We're back from Tuscan
Its that time of year again and Maria just got back from a fun filled trip of treasure hunting in Tuscon.
Stop by soon to check out all of our new treasures. We have a great selection of beautiful czech glass, lots of georgeous gemstones, cinnabar, large handcarved jade focal beads, a huge selection of fun ceramic beads (including animals, angels and devils, rainbows, peace signs and more.) large cloisonne focal beads, funky hammered copper chain as well as copper beads and bali silver.

**********************************Introducing The Itty Bitty Smithy
The Itty Bitty Smithy is a metal and glass studio coming soon. Local artist and blacksmith Robert Noelke (also my better half) will be doing some small scale metal working classes.Robert, along with Photographer Jay Shoots, recently won a design competition for the cities of Atlantic and Neptune Beach. Robert designed a 29 foot stainless steel gyroscope which spins with the wind and has seating around the base.When approved by the city council, the large sculpture will stand at the end of Atlantic Blvd in the roundabout by the Seaturtle and Ragtime in the town center..
We are opening a small studio in a space we've been hiding out in the back of the building. In addition to Roberts classes, I will be teaching some hammered copper classes, local glass artist Bryon Nobles will be teaching some fun glass pendant classes and Catina Jane will be doing hammered wire classes..
We are hoping to have the Itty Bitty Smithy up and running full time in the next couple of months, but we will be doing some introductory classes in the mean time.We will keep you posted.

Now carrying Green Lotus Body Products Locally Made All Natural Soaps and Lip Balms by Yoga Ananda's Meditation Instructor Donna McGee

December Classes

Bead Here Now

Presents

December *winter wonderland* Classes

Thursday 12/11^th - all wired out w/ shannon

Learn the technique of making wire links and create a one of a kind linked bracelet.

Fee: $20 + material

Time: 6:30-9:30

Monday 12/15^{th - Diamond glaze holiday pendant w/ Cat}

create a funky pendant with the image of your choice. choose from Cats selection of holiday Images to make a wonderful pendant perfect to wear to all your holiday parties!!

you will have to leave project overnight to dry..

Fee:$25.00 includes material

Time: 6:30-8:00

Thursday12/18- European 4-in-1 Chain Maille with Amy Ellis.

This fairly simple weave was used for centuries as armor and is now being incorporated into jewelry.

Fee: $40 + material

Time: 6:00-9:00 pm

We have a very limited amount of classes this

Month due to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season

but check back in 2009 for new classes for you!

Bead Here Now would like to thank you for your business

And friendship in 2008 !

November Classes

Thurs Nov 13th- All wired out with Shannon.
Learn the technique of making wire links and create a one of a kind linked bracelet.
Fee: $20 + material
Time: 6:30-9:30

Sat Nov 15th- Soul Collage Workshop- Use your imagination and intuition to create beautiful images that will help you recognize abundance in your life while nourishing your soul.
Fee: $35 all material included (Must be signed up 2 weeks prior to class, space is limited)

Wed Nov 19th- Classy and Funky Chandalier Earrings with Shannon
Use the technique of wire links to create a classy yet funky pair of copper chandelier earrings.
Fee: $30 includes copper but not beads. (you will need 16 6 or 8mm beads and one larger bead for the center.
Time 6:30-8:30

Thurs Nov 20th- Basic Beading with Shannon.
Learn the basic of bead stringing.
Time: 6:30-8:30
Fee: $15 + material

Mon Nov 24th- Fire and Ice Copper Earrings with Catina
Learn to make ear hooks and work with head pins to create a great pair of chandelier earrings perfect for the holidays.

Bead and jewelry contests are a great way to have fun and help pay for your hobby. 1st place at Fire Mountain is $1,000. Sometimes they can be hard to find if they don't promote all that well. Here is a table of Beading contests and Competitions. Follow the links to each of their contest rules and entry forms.
Beading Contests
Contest Name / Link
Ends / Often
Medium
Bead Museum DC bsgw.org
8/08 Annual
mixed
Bead Patterns bead-patterns.com
8/08 TBA
Wedding
Bead Arts Awards stepbystepbeads.com
5/09 Annual
bead jewelry
The Gemmys lapidaryjournal.com
08/09 Annual
cut gem
Fire Mountain Gems firemountaingems.com
5/15/09 Annual
multiple
Beading Daily beadingdaily.com
Monthy
stringing
So you think you can bead boojeebeads.com
12/31/08 1X
jewelry
Beadsky beadsky.com
TBA Annual
TBA for 09
Ugly Necklace Contest landofodds.com
3/15/09 Annual
jewelry
Bead Dreams beadandbuttonshow.com
TBA Annual
mixed
Saul Bell Design Award riogrande.com
TBA Annual
jewelry
artbeads monthly challenge artbeadscene.blogspot.com
Monthly
art beads
Beads Amore beadsamore.com
5/31/08 1X
Indiana only

Giving new life to old jewelry

Now I know we all have that old piece of jewelry which still has some centimental value but is a little outdated. Why not give it new life? Stop by one of your local bead shops and find some new, updated pieces to add to it. Find that funky centerpiece, add some ethnic balinese siver beads or some nice handmade lampworks beads. Dont just leave a pile of old jewelry sitting around in your jewelry box wasting away. Giving your piece new life is a creative way to reorganize your jewelry or a make a nice gift for that special friend or loved one.

Stone of the Week

Fire Agate- Fire agate is a name given to a brilliant multicolered stone that combines a deep brown base hue with flashes of orange,red,green and gold.The best come from Mexico. Its irredescent colors are produced by light interferance at thin layers of regulary spaced iron oxide crystals within the chalcedony.
They vibrate with the vitality of the physical world and are ideal tools for those who need to have an in-body-experience.Fire agate awakens the lower chakras and fills one with the zest for living.It lights ones inner fires of life force, creativity, sexuality and will.

Key Words- Vitality, sexuality, creativity, will
Element- Fire
Chakras- Root(1st), Sexual/Creative(2nd), Solar Plexus(3rd)
(Robert Simmons-The Book of Stones;Heaven and Earth PublishingLLC 2005)

Ladies Nite

Its that time of year again and Christmas is just around the corner. Let Bead Here Now host a fun ladies night with you and a few of your closest friends. Learn the basics to create that special gift for that special friend or loved one in your life. The fee is $10 + material which will be wavered when you purchase $40 or more. Feel free to bring refreshments and some tasty ice cold beverages, a bottle of wine. So come, create and have fun.

Look forward to seeing you soon.