The Bead Soup Is About To Boil Over

As usual, I am behind. This is mostly due to unforseen circumstances. I was trying to get the photos of my bead soup beads posted but my camera died and the cat chewed through the cord that downloads the pictures. Now I have to get a new one before next week. Daugher got sick and then I got sick, yada, yada, yada. Hectic seems to be the word of the year.

In lieu of pictures, I am going to give a written description of the beads I received and a little bit of information about my wonderful partner. Imagine my joy at receiving my special package in the mail. Anticipation of what you will get is one of thrills that comes with participating in "Bead Soup". My partner Cyndi Lavin and I had emailed back and forth a few times to get to know one another's likes and dislikes and then she sent me beads in some of my most favorite colors. I received some turquoise colored howlite drops, some gorgeous dark blue czech glass beads, some beautiful aqua crackle glass beads, some beautiful teal resin beads and some teal/turquoise colored seed beads. My clasp was a pretty silver s-clasp. And what can I say about my focals. I didn't get one, but two! Cyndi sent me a beautiful lampworked bead that she made herself. Then I got a beautiful murano glass pendant. And to top it off, she sent me two beautiful dichroic glass beads that would make a wonderful pair of earrings and some C-lon cord. I feel so blessed!

Now, let me tell you about my partner. Cyndi Lavin is a designer, author, teacher..... and so much more. She has a wonderful website Beading Arts and a daily blog as well. I have been following her blog for at least a year now on a daily basis. She has also written a wonderful online book called "Every Bead Has a Story" which is a complete and very educational book about bead embroidery. You can imagine my surprise and pleasure to know Lori had chosen the two of us to be partners. This is the other big thrill with the "Bead Soup Party". It is always exciting to find out who your partner is and Lori does such a great job of matching everyone up. I must admit, I also feel a little bit intimidated by having such an esteemed partner. It is definitely challenging me to come up with new strategies and it is stretching my creativity. It was a challenge to send my partner just the right beads as her work is varied and exceptional. She said she loved my package and I certainly loved the one she sent me.

Now the struggle is to figure out what to do with them. Fortunately, my partner's blog has all sorts of tutorials and links that have helped me get some ideas. Now I just have to execute. If some of you are in that stumped position, check out Cyndi's site, you might find inspiration there as she not only features her own work, but the work of many others. And be kind to yourself and subscribe to her blog. It is my daily dose of creative juice. Only a week to go before the blog hop - I must get busy. Talk to you all later.

Bead Soup Party

Well Gang, It's here again - The Bead Soup Party - If you haven't signed up yet, go to www.prettythingsblog.com for instructions on how to get in on this wonderful sharing opportunity. You have until 1/14/11 to sign up. I did it last time and made a friend for life.

Cords, Cords and More

I am in customer service in my non beading job (yes, I still have to work to support my beading habit). As a customer service representative, there is nothing I appreciate more than good customer service. Today's times do not find many merchants that provide good service. However, I have found that in the "bead world" there are many stores who do provide good customer service. One such merchant is the Satin Cord Store in Jacksonville, Florida. This is a small home based business. They sell mostly by phone or online ordering. The Satin Cord Store is one of the best source for cords for macrame, knotting, kumihimo, etc. They carry most of the colors of Superlon. They also carry a great selection of Rattail and Chinese knotting cord. In addition to cords, they also offer a great selection of Kumihimo supplies, findings, art beads, ready to wear cords, all sorts of books and odds and ends.





According to Cathy, when Robin is not traveling around doing art shows, she does give some pretty special classes in Art Clay and soldering. Cathy helps to man the fort when Robin is gone and she is Customer Service Excellence! I have ordered from them twice and have been in a rush and my package has gotten out immediately and she has given me the exact information on when it will reach me. This latest was for my Bead Soup buddy. The store that was supposed to order the cord for those mission necklaces failed to do so and the project is due next week and she was in a real bind. I called Cathy and Voila, she has my cord arriving in Michigan tomorrow so that my buddy can get her necklaces done in time for the mission trip. I am consistently wowed by their wonderful customer service.





If you have needs for cords, kumihimo supplies or just want to browse in general, visit satincord.com or give them a call at 888-RAT-TAIL (888-728-8245). I don't think you will be disappointed.







I have not received any payment or goods or services for this endorsement. This is strictly an endorsement from my own experience with this merchant.