The Birds and the Beads

Good afternoon bead lovers. I’m in between “regular” newsletters, and have just a few quick updates for you on this gorgeous Thursday afternoon (at least here in Virginia).

In my last newsletter, I passed along some excellent news for makers of children’s jewelry on the CPSIA front. It turns out that celebration was premature – the stay on the enforcement of the new law was overturned by a federal court on February 9th, and the new rules are once again in effect.

The CPSC is considering allowing “natural, lead-free” items to be used without certification – pearls, some precious metals and precious gems. But that is little help to those using jewelry wire, pewter, Swarovski crystal, and other beading necessities. Even if the components have all been certified (such as TierraCast pewter), the CPSIA law still requires that the final product be tested regardless.

I’ve got a more detailed blog post on this subject with lots of links:
http://lythastudios.com/blog/?p=443

If this issue concerns you, please make some phone calls to your congress-critters and send some e-mails to the CPSC!

Have a great March! — Erin
http://www.123bead.com

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A few weeks ago, we heard crows and bluejays shrieking warning calls so we went around peeking out the windows to see what all the commotion was about.  Usually the crows and jays warn everyone about the hawk circling high above or on occasion sitting in the walnut tree (hungrily eying songbirds at our feeders). But not this day. What we saw instead through our kitchen door was an adult bald eagle with a juvenile, sitting in the tree next door.

They hung around for a few minutes, and then the adult flew off towards the river followed shortly after by the juvenile.

In my last newsletter, I passed along some excellent news for makers of children’s jewelry on the CPSIA front. It turns out that celebration was premature – the stay on the enforcement of the new law was overturned by a federal court on February 9th, and the new rules are once again in effect.

The CPSC is considering allowing “natural, lead-free” items to be used without certification – pearls, some precious metals and precious gems.

• Items that do not require testing

But that is little help to those using jewelry wire, pewter, Swarovski crystal, and other beading necessities. Even if the components have all been certified (such as TierraCast pewter), the CPSIA law still requires that the final product be tested regardless.

Continue Reading »

I’ve listed several new TierraCast assortments in the last few days – a fairy collection (pictured right), plus an eight piece flower charm collection, a ten piece scroll bead collection, and ten piece fancy earring post collection. To see these new sets, plus all of my other TierraCast mixes:

• TierraCast Mixes, Sets & Assortments

The newest line from TierraCast is called the StoryTeller collection. It features many new charms, grouped into three main categories – the Fairy Tale charms, Pirates & Treasure charms, and Western charms. To the great disappointment of myself and other copper lovers, these charms are manufactured in silver and gold only. These new charms are available individually, or in themed sets.

In addition to the charms, the latest release also features additional parts for TierraCast’s “Solutions for Large Hole Beads” – including bead bar links, large hole bali style beads and spacers, and a new hammertone BeadAligner(TM).

This is a large new collection! Please allow an extra few moments for all the pictures to load.

• TierraCast StoryTeller Collection

Last week, I added the collection of “beaded” links from TierraCast – a delightful selection of ovals, circles and other little linkable pieces with the same bumpy, beaded edged pattern. Tonight, I have a few more matching components – a toggle, a hook and eye clasp set, and a few simple charms.

• TierraCast Beaded Components

With the economic situation in the United States (and round the world), I’ve gotten many e-mails of late asking if I couldn’t add a first class option to the shipping menu. Well – I hear you, and I commiserate, and I’m ready to give it a go.

First Class shipping is now available on all domestic orders for a flat rate of $2.95. If you’d like to use First Class for your order, select it as your choice from the pull down menu on the shopping cart, and then click the CHANGE button. If you don’t click the change button, it will not update your choice.

Priority Mail remains a flat rate of $5.50 for domestic orders regardless of order size, with free Priority Mail shipping for all domestic orders totaling over $150.00.

My apologies to our international customers – these rates apply to USA bound packages only.

In my last newsletter, I shared the story of unexpected surprise we found at our local dump – a skinny, hungry, pathetic, lonesome hound dog – whom we of course brought home. The note in my last newsletter linked to a few photos on the blog, and garnered more comments than anything else I’ve probably ever written. Well – I have good news for every one wrote, and anyone who thought about it – Mouse has officially been adopted to a good home. Our home.

Yes, it was inevitable as many of you predicted. My contact with our local rescue group called every week for most of December, to ask if we were ready to have her come over and take pictures so she could start the process of finding him a home. And our answer was always – we’re still thinking – lets talk next week. And so on…

In the past 10 weeks, Mouse has made himself a part of the family. He and Sunny (our first dog from the Animal Welfare League) have become best buds and playmates. Mouse is on fantastic terms with the cats, and understands that Lady Indira is the queen of the household and not to be crossed. He is my sofa buddy – he loves TV time for the opportunity to snuggle up, half on the sofa, half on me. He is an incredibly smart dog, and an even more incredibly loving one.

When we first found Mouse, I was just grateful and glad that we found him so we could help him – glad for his sake. I am now, very firmly convinced that we got the better end of the deal. I’m glad we found him for our sake.

I want to thank everyone who wrote about Mouse in November. We all appreciated your messages.

Wishing you all a happy Mid-Winter! — Erin

http://www.123bead.com

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Our gorgeous TierraCast spacers and heishi come in a variety of styles and finishes, and add flair and style to your designs! All of our spacers are available in gold and silver, and most are available in copper, too.

These spacers are made in California, and the quality and workmanship is outstanding. I use them in just about every thing I make – they’re better looking, perfectly uniform, and much better priced than bali silver or vermeil, and I love that they’re American made.

Our spacers are currently on sale, 15% off, through Wednesday,February 25th. This is always our most popular sale of the year!

• Flat Spacers & Heishi
• Fancy Spacers & Heishi

I just added these fantastic TierraCast beaded links, and mixing them with 8mm coiled copper rings really inspired me.   I don’t think I’ve ever had a project come together quite this quickly!

The mixed textures – bumpy and beaded, twisted and coiled , and smooth and polished – are an eye-catching combination.  They have the feel of minimalist chainmaille, but with more texture.

These earrings are easy to make, and are available as a free project, or in kit form (in silver, gold & copper), by following the link below.

• Beaded Link Earrings Project & Kit.

I’ve spent January building up my TierraCast back catalog collection – adding pieces that aren’t new, but that I’ve never carried in my store before. A few of these have been added by customer request (thank you, customers!), and the rest are pieces that just caught my fancy.

The beautiful Nisshu charm (pictured in silver) was a customer request. I’ve added in few other pieces to the TierraCast Eastern Beads & Charms Collection. In addition to the new pieces, all of the Eastern Collection pieces are now available in copper as well as silver and gold.

I’ve also added TierraCast’s lovely Beaded Link Collection (an example shown in copper above). It wasn’t until I started playing around with the Hammertone Collection that I became a fan of the versatility of the link components, but now that I’m hooked I had to pick up the beaded link collection, too.

Finally – I’ve created a few new sets of Swarovski mixes. Fans of Lady Indira can now purchase a mix inspired by the beautiful blues and greens in her neck feathers, plus several other new Swarovski Bicone Mixes, too. My lovebird Ostara will be getting her own mix in a few weeks, too.

• TierraCast Eastern Beads & Charms
• TierraCast Beaded Links
• Swarovski Bicone Mixes

Well jee wiz, I’ve not done any beastblogging in ages! In that case, I think it is entirely appropriate to post some older pictures from Christmas. Ha!

On Friday (Jan 30th, 2009), the CPSC announced a one year stay on the enforcement of the onerously written CPSIA lead-testing law, which would have, in effect, killed the handmade/hand-crafted trade focusing on goods for children.

The law has not been overturned, and it remains for each of us to be vigilant and actively involved in working to rewrite the law so it works as intended. But for the time being, a reprieve.

And now… to the beading table.

– Erin