The Sundance beads in the photo above were a gift from a friend who was at the last stitching trade show in Dallas. They are the newest bead style from Sundance. My friend called them Boho Beads although the package just has the color names and numbers. They are--from left to right--Lemonade #BDS-FP300, Black Cherry #BDS-FP102, Persian Green #BDS-FP401 and Rain Gray #BDS-FP103.
The beads are all faceted beads. They are the shape of bicone beads from Swarkovski. If this diagram is to scale, the Boho beads are about 4mm in size.
However, they are lighter weight than Swarkovski crystals. Plus one or more of the faceted sides is covered with a colored shiny or iridescent finish. For example, Lemonade beads are light lemon-lime in color but one side of each bead is iridescent pink. The Black Cherry beads are black with either a purple or a green faceted side. Persian Green beads are a turquoise with both a purple and a gold facet. Rain Gray beads are gray with faceted sides in gold, purple or a yellow-green.
I've never seen anything quite like these since the bulk of the bead is one color but 1-2 sides are a different color. Makes them quite unusual looking! I emailed Sundance Designs, asking for details, and here is what Nandra said in reply:
"The beads are Fire-Polished Bohemian glass beads. We call them Boho for short. We have 28 colors. The beads are faceted and then placed in a furnace. The intense heat fires the flashes of color onto the faceted sides. These beads contain no lead like many of the crystals. I have been doing a little stitching with them and they are very nice to work with. I especially like the large hole so I don’t have to fool with the old beading needle. I stitched up a little “Gypsy Flower” using a bargello variation." |
| Nandra's Gypsy Flower Using Boho Beads |
Nandra kindly sent me a photo of the Gypsy Flower she described so you could see the Boho beads in action. She says that Pocket Full of Stitches is putting these flowers (from Sundance) on their tote bags but Nandra herself wears them as pins. There is a May 4 article about them on their blog but it refuses to let me do a direct link so go here first, then click on Older Posts at the bottom of the page and find May 4 to see the Sundance flower kits.
http://pocketfullofstitches.blogspot.com/2010/05/happy-tuesday.html
If you want something a little different, these beads are worth searching out. I plan to use these on the next painted canvas in my schedule (they are the wrong colors for the snowman stocking) so stay tuned for more information on how they stitch up.
5 comments:
Hi Jane. Thanks for the heads up about fire polish beads! I have a question about your local ANG Guild...I saw that you are having Gay Ann Rogers teach Elizabeth I and that "ghosts" are allowed. I would love to stitch that piece. Can you tell me what a "ghost" is and how I might become one for that class? Or, who I might talk to who would know the answer? Thanks!
This is SBC ANG, Susan? Wish it was my "local" but I do belong. I just can't make it 2000 miles to the meetings. However, I sometimes take classes and workshops by mail. Some teachers allow this. Some do not. Students who are not actually present are called "ghosts." Generally speaking, SBC ANG handles this by letting ghost students sign up, and after the class, the coordinator collects the ghost's kit and instructions and threads and anything else and mails them to the student. Generally the ghost pays the teaching fee, the materials fee and shipping. The benefit of getting your lesson mailed after class is that usually if there's a mistake in the instructions that is found, the coordinator will attach a note or put a correction in your materials for you. Remember, you are getting the class without benefit of the teacher being there so these little things help.
What you have to do to take a class is be a member of SBC ANG. Not to worry, we love distance members!
Email EGANGCORRE@aol.com for class details. Otherwise, check the website for class information and for the form to print out and send with local dues. Remember, you have to belong to ANG national as well. All ANG members pay their national dues and then pay chapter dues to a local guild, which can be the cyber guild as well as a physical one.
http://www.sbneedlepoint.org/#Membership
Email me with questions if necessary. chillyhollow at hotmail dotcom
I posted a link the a beading shop that has rare stones and gems. I get most of my stones and gems here because they are very reliable and trustworthy.
Enabling points for Stacy! Which shop are you recommending?
Buyer beware, of course.
These beads are lovely! Thanks for sharing and I love the posy pin! How cute is that?!
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