Denise's Polymer Class

Hope you all had a "hoppy Easter" and a chance to wear your newly beaded Spring creations to the Easter parade of your choice. The Easter Bunny hopped by Fandangle Bead Store and dropped off a few new items that we are uber-excited about: a new gel liver of sulfur to create a lasting 'vintage' patina on your metal and chain creations. That's right, it's a gel with no shelf life and will not become inactive if the top is accidentally left ajar. It's more expensive than the standard liver of sulfur nuggets, powder and liquids but it will last you a great while longer.
I love putting patinas on my metals--NO MORE METAL POLISHING! That's right, as I've gotten older I've created a list of things I no longer do, i.e., no more ironing, no more curling my hair, and no more metal polishing. Try it--it's liberating! Let me know what you've added to your list of things you no longer do--I'm always looking to weed out time-killers to make more opportunities for doing what I really love to do, i.e., making jewelry and fondling all things sparkly.

In addition to the gel liver of sulfur, the Easter Bunny also dropped off a new shipment of resins in a larger size kit--that's right: you asked for it, we found it. This resin is a thicker domed resin made by Rio Grande and makes a total of l6 ounces of resin--that's a LOT of jewelry! Again, it costs more than our smaller kits but will go a veryyyyyy long way. Just mix and use the same as you've always done and voila! Just bead and wear your one-of-a-kind masterpieces and watch the heads turn.

Lastly, Denise's new polymer class still has a couple of spots open so call now to reserve your space. We're really excited about the new polymer products that will be up on the wall (next to the resin supplies) by the end of the week. Fandangle Bead Store will feature Donna Kato's polymer clay which we find to be preferable over other leading brands. Likewise we have new polymer clay books, clay tools, sealants, stencils, texturing materials, pasta rollers, and especially exciting, new image transfer kits. We're always on the look-out for new products and classes that will enhance your creativity and add variety to your beaded creations. Come in and meet Denise if you haven't already and while you're at it, be sure to check out her new basic wire and specialty wire jewelry classes.

Milagros

Fresh from Santa Fe, we now have a selection of beautiful hand-cast milagros, inspired by traditional Mexican designs. So, what is a milagro? Well, upon entering a church in Latin American, one often sees the dressed statue of a saint curiously festooned with hundreds of tiny gold or silver arms, legs, animals, plants or praying figures. These votice objects have been hung on the saint by the faithful to remind the saint of the supplicant's injured arm or leg, injured or pregnant animal, endangered crop, or in petition of a special favor. These prayer offerings are commonly called "milagros" (miracles), "ex-votos" or "dijes" in Spanish. In many countries "milagros" may also have a symbolic or talismanic quality. A woman will wear a parrot or horse on her necklace because she identifies with the bird or animal; a village elder will hang a fish 'dije" from his staff of office because he is a fisherman, or perhaps from a fishing village. Cast in sterling silver or brass from original votice offerings found in various parts of the Americas, these "milagros" make special presents for friends in need: a foot "milagro" for an accident-prone skier, a horse "milagro" for a child hoping for a pony; the torso of a pregnant woman to wish a friend a safe pregnancy; a corn "milagro" for a gardener; a lung "milagro" for a friend trying to quit smoking; a praying figure for a special favor and so forth. What a humble and thought-provoking gift. What a stunning accent to a necklace, nestled among beaded silk crochet strands! What a unique pair of earrings!