Brrr- Get Ready!

NM Rivoli Fans by Julia Hecht

Chilly New Mexico Mornings have arrived!!! That means the busy holiday season is right around the corner - actually its HERE already. At Poppyfield we are READY to help you with your GIFT-MAKING. We all know that seed bead artists love to make and give. But our passion is slow going and time consuming. It is hard to seed bead up enough gifts for all our loved ones and friends. I've been working on carrying products and offering classes that can help you make wonderful, QUICK (relatively speaking), personalized gifts for the holidays. Check out the following ideas for your holiday gift planning:

Mixed Media Medallions

Mixed Media Medallion: Use a glass cab and paper graphic to create a unique pendant. Peyote stitch a beaded bezel and make a wire or beaded bail. Bead a rope or hang from chain. ALL these supplies are available at Poppyfield - Including glass cabs in a variety of shapes and sizes (restocking this week), ultra suede, wire, chain, and all your beading needs. Instructions for this project available for $25 (hard copy) or $20 pdf version.

Stamped Metal: As I posted last time, I am now carrying supplies for all your metal stamping needs. Alphabets in a variety of fonts, design stamps, blanks, hammers, metal hole punches, rivets, and bench blocks. I also have the "Metal Stamp Bible" (Lisa Niven Kelly's book) for all you self-starters. It is amazing what you can do - Say it with Jewelry! Click here for pics and more about stamped metal jewelry.

Rivoli Earring Class Nov 14th: ONLY $10. Whip a pair of gorgeous Rivoli Fan Earrings (seen above) in less than 2 hrs. OK -first time might be a little slower, but I can make one earring in 45 min. Learn to bezel a rivoli and embellish it with bicone crystals. These make great gifts. This class is great for all levels and beginners are welcome! You must have the Laura McCabe Crystal Book - buy at Poppyfield or Bring Your Own Book. Your choice.

Paula Adams New Ornament: Check out Paula's website for this amazing 2 sided Christmas Tree Ornament that uses 27 mm Rivolis. I have 'em starting at $9.50 - so come and see. New Color just arrived: Crystal Red Magma!

Drop Everything and TWIST - Free Wire Class Tomorrow -Angel with a Story

Tuesday, Nov 1, 2011 @ 1:00-2:00

Angel With A Story by Julia Hecht

I've been exploring TWINING, a basket-making technique that is sometimes used in wire weaving using the book Fabulous Woven Jewelry by Mary Hettmansperger. Here is my DRAT project - an Angel who carries her story within (Don't we all??). This project calls for 3 feet of 20 gauge wire for the vessel armature, wings and wrapped loop, and 3 feet of 26 gauge wire for the weavers (that wrap around). Your angel's story is your choice - a bead or stone or piece of writing - whatever. I used a 12 mm Swarovski pearl in Tahitian. A 3 mm crystal bicone makes the heart. Tools required are round nose, chain nose, and nylon jaw pliers, flush cutters and FINGERTIPS. My fingers were my most important tool for this one.

Storyteller Vessel Pendant by Julia Hecht

Some of us have a lot of stories. If we don't share them, they can get heavy and weigh us down. So come be with friends, take a load off and make something NEW during the free wire hour -Drop Everything and Twist - sometimes you end up feeling lighter than when you came.

Please Note: Open Beading Tomorrow (Nov 1st) is on your own after 2:30. Come bead with friends from 2:00-4:00. However, if you need help with a project please get in touch by phone or email to set up an appointment with me (Julia). Margo also offers help for her class projects by appointment. So let us know!

New POPPY Products

3mm Rattail (satin cord) in a gorgeous array of colors

Copper chain

New Books: Big Book of Bead Patterns, Art of Bead Embroidery (Kummli and Serafini)

Coming Soon

Glass Cabs in a Variety of Sizes and Shapes (arriving this week)

Brass Chain

Diane Fitzgerald - IN PERSON, arrives on Thursday - Still 2 places left in Tropical Bauble - see the classes page for more info.

Say It With Jewelry!

Come Stamp With Us!!!

Poppyfield Bead Company is now a well-stocked center for all your stamped metal needs. I am now carrying several metal stamp fonts, base metal blanks, rivets and all your tool needs for creating personalized jewelry like the pendant above. My daughter Hannah designed this stamp to celebrate her love for our cats Skye and Jasmine using an enamel charm and her imagination, and supplies at Poppyfield. The techniques are simple, and require just a little practice. I will be doing a free demos on Tuesday 10/25 from 1-2, instead of free wire class. I will also do a demo on Halloween evening from 6-7. So you can still get your trick or treating in. I will show which tools you need and how to use them to make a variety of stamped pendants. Personalized jewelry make great gifts for the holidays. You do have to buy the tools and stamps, but then you are basically set and the sky's the limit for what you can do with just a few blanks and rivets. Books and design stamps are on their way as well, and hopefully, they will be here for the demo.

Drop Everything and Twist Free Wire Hour tomorrow is postponed because Solange is on vacation and I will be at the register tomorrow. Open Beading is from 1-4 tomorrow and I can help with any projects when I am not with customers.

Crystal Burst Earrings Neuvo /Viejo Mexico Style

Many of you have asked for my Mexican Fan Earrings using rivolis instead of beads.I've been saying, "It is my version of Laura McCabe's Crystal Burst Earrings." I now have "The Laura McCabe Crystal Book". The basis for my earrings are in this book. On November 14th 6-9 PM I will teach my version, Mexican Fan Rivoli earrings using her book. The cost for the class is $10, plus you will need the book. You can buy the book at Poppyfield or bring your own. If you are a new beader looking for a sensational way to break into seed bead work this is for YOU! You will get a lot of guidance during the class and leave with peyote bezeling techniques for working with rivolis and know how to do crystal embellishments. You will have a fantastic book with 65 projects by an extraordinary bead master. Best of all...You will be well on your way into our beady way of life.

Poppy Product Update

A lot of my new products are related to the metal stamping I mentioned: Brass head hammers, heavy duty cutters for riveting, metal hole punchers, diamond coated files, and bead reamer set. I also have the wire rounder for making French earring wires that you can put through your ears safely.

Now in stock by request: The new and updated Beader's Companion (the spiral bound reference book).

Class Update

Seed of Compassion Necklace by Julia Hecht

There are still some places available in the Seed of Compassion Necklace with me on Saturday. This necklace is a seed bead and wire fusion class that is a lot of fun. If you want to learn some wire techniques to apply with tiny beads this a great class for YOU. You won't even need to thread a needle! It meets Saturday 10/22 and 10/29. The cost is $40.

Margo's Ornamental Poppy Necklace has sold out (Oct and November classes). She has a supplement class called the Giant Poppy Ensemble that you can take if you have taken the Ornamental Poppy Class. In addition to the Giant Poppy Necklace with the 27 mm rivoli center, this class includes earrings and bracelets. Nov 21st and 28th 6-9 PM, $40.

Giant Poppy Necklace by Margo Field

Hoop La La!!

DROP EVERYTHING!!!! Tuesday 10/4, 1:00-2:00

Tomorrow's DRop everything And Twist (DRAT) FREE wire class will be these sparkling filigree-ish hoops. They are so "ooh la la" fabulous. I will teach wire wrapping and weaving and crystal embellishment. They also include a simple loop and spiral in the design. It is a great way to build your wire skills so you can follow magazine and book projects and take more advanced wire classes down the road. Check the end of the post for the materials. No need to register. Just show up!

Hoop La La Earrings by Julia Hecht (2 color ways shown)

Some of you have seen my wire and crystal bezel for rivolis that I am currently developing. These earrings are based on the bail design for that project. So, if you take this free class, you will be building your skills for an upcoming elaborate design class that I will be offering soon. Plus, it is a bit of a sneak preview.

Drop Everything!!!!! Monday 10/10, 6:00-8:00 PM

Firecracker Ring by Julia Hecht - Kit Available

Birthday Butterfly Pendant

Next Monday evening (10/10) Poppyfield will host a free wire class in the evening. I will teach the Fire Cracker Ring and the Birthday Butterfly, in that order. Click on the project name for more details about each. I will have ring kits available with everything you need to make one ring for $8.50. The class itself is free. No need to register. Just show up! The materials for these classes will be listed at the end of this post.

CLASS UPDATES

Seed of Compassion Necklace by Julia Hecht

Seed of Compassion by Julia Hecht

Advanced Beginner Wire and Bead Fusion Class

2 Saturdays: 10/22 and 10/29, 1-4 PM, $40.

Moorish Tile Beaded Beads

Moorish Tile Beaded Beads by Diane Fitzgerald (Guest Bead Master from MN)

Intermediate Seed Bead

One day workshop: Saturday 11/5, 10-4:30, $85

Tropical Bauble by Diane Fitzgerald

Tropical Bauble Pendant by Diane Fitzgerald (Guest Bead Master from MN)

Intermediate Seed Bead

One day workshop: Sunday 11/6, 10-4:30, $85

Pre- class homework - you can start this project the day you register!

Ornamental Poppy Trilogy by Margo Field

Ornamental Poppy by Margo Field

Intermediate Seed Bead Class

Registration open for Saturday class: 11/12 and 11/19, 1-4 PM, $40.

PRODUCT UPDATE!

Now In Stock and Ready for Your Enjoyment!

• Size 15 Galvanized Seed Beads in 6 Colors (Tooo Gorgeous!) - Perfect for Margo's Ornamental Poppy
• 27 mm Swarovski Rivolis in 8 colors: Crystal AB, Fuschia, Aquamarine, Peacock Eye, Montana, Chyrsolite, Summer Blush, and Emerald - Get 'em while they last!
• Candy Corn and Skulls Handmade Glass Charms (limited supply) - $1.50 and up.

POPPY REMINDERS

Mondays are Late Nite at Poppyfield - We are open until 8:00 PM

Tuesdays are Open Beading 2-4 PM - Come Bead With Us! Help with any bead or wire project.

Supplies List for DRAT Free Wire

Hoop La La Earrings: 18 ga wire - 10.5", 26 ga wire - 30", 2.5 mm Swarovski crystals (30 or more depending on hoop size), 2 earring wires. Tools needed (please bring or plan to buy - we can't rent or lend -sorry): Round nose, chain/flat nose and nylon jaw pliers, flush cutters, jump ring mandrel is helpful.

Birthday Butterfly: 18 ga wire - 24", 2 colors of 26 ga colored wire (about 18" each color). 24 crystal bicones (2.5 mm) in 2 colors, and an accent dangle that uses one glass flower and a 4 mm bicone.

Tools: round nose, chain nose, and nylon jaw pliers, and jump ring mandrel. We are hardening by hammering so a chasing hammer and bench block are recommended.

Firecracker Ring: Ring base with single loop, 22 ga wire -36", 6mm bicone crystals - 10, size 11 seed beads, 1-2 grams, one glass teardrop bead - hole top to bottom.

Tools: round nose, chain nose and nylon jaw pliers.

Hope to see you soon!