Sweet Bead Studio — Handcrafted jewelry by Cindy Wimmer

Invited to view a beach photo album

by Cindy on July 29, 2008

HI!

We’re back from the beach…we were reluctant to come back after almost 2 weeks away, but the kids do miss home too. I have lots of photos to share of our latest adventures on the Eastern Shore. A little blog photo album.

We tried a few new places this time around, one being on our trip for the day up to Rehoboth Beach. It’s fun to stop at the outlets there and then to all of the many shops near the beach. I know I’ve mentioned some vacation favorites before (such as Thrasher’s and Fisher’s popcorn), but I also like to try out the fudge along the way. 🙂 We compared the fudge between Dolle’s – an Ocean City staple – and a new contender, Snyder’s of Rehoboth, DE. Snyder’s “Double Chocolate Fudge Fudge” was definitely the best.

Dolle's Snyder's

While we’re talking about FOOD, we also tried a new restaurant in Fenwick Island. Warren’s Station is a great local restaurant (as you’ll realize immediately by the waiting crowd outside of the restaurant). The building was designed to be a replica of a U.S. lifesaving station. If you are in the area, click on the link and you’ll find the great menu and directions. I recommend the cream of crab soup and chocolate chip pecan pie.:-)

I wanted to try a few local outings rather than hit the beach/pool everyday. We drove to the nearby Salisbury Zoo where the kids saw pelicans in person for the first time (complete with catching and eating fish). We also found another spot on Fenwick Island that we will be sure to return to (we did go two times this past week!) – the Discover Sea Shipwreck Museum. You can imagine how interesting a place like this would be for 3 little boys…full of sunken treasure. The website provides information on many of the shipwrecks along the Delmarva coastline….truly fascinating pieces from a jewelry box with a locket of hair to bottles of unopened and intact wine.

I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos of the beautiful local flowers, one being Brown Eyed Susans – Maryland’s state flower.

Brown Eyed Susans

Here are a few of da Boyz just having fun.

3 Beach Studs

And there is nothing like coming home to find a surprise gift from a special friend….a little something to remind me of the Ocean. Look at those beautiful blues combined with a gorgeous lampwork ring. Thanks, Kerry!

Kerry's necklace

That concludes this blog beach photo album! I’ll be back in the next day or two to post new jewelry!

It’s a Jewelry Update Friday!

by Cindy on July 18, 2008

Hi all!

Happy Friday!!! I have our bags packed waiting by the door and ready to load in to the car. We’re heading to the beach again…..and just getting out the door seems to take forever! I am sure some of you can relate…I always feel like there’s one more thing to do before we can finally escape (another load of laundry, pack a lunch, double check for books, stuffed animals, etc). But we are almost there.

One thing I absolutely wanted to do before leaving is to post some pictures of the new jewelry added to the Shop. Yes, sweet bead studio has been bustling with creativity again. If you could just see the lampwork, silver and tools out everywhere.

This first bracelet is simple, elegant and has a cute little twist. I’ve had a few of these lampwork ladybugs by Kim Typanski for some time, waiting for just the right idea.

Ladybird

This charming bracelet features an art bead by Heather Powers of Humblebeads. I like the colors she uses for her polymer clay beads, they are so pretty to work with.

Turning Tides is a necklace I was inspired to create after reading Christine Strube’s tutorial in Step by Step Beads. By using two strands of beading wire, you can create the little loops here and there with seed beads. The wood, abalone, crystal, quartz and glass combine in soft shades of brown.

I haven’t made a complete set in a while. There were plenty of lampwork beads here to create a necklace, earrings and bracelet. I was challenged a while back by a certain someone 🙂 to purchase beads in colors that I’m not ordinarily drawn to. The soft, matte green in these lampwork beads have a peaceful quality about them. The glass beads were created by Shari Slonski of Beads for a Cure.

That’s all for my show and tell. I have a gorgeous ocean-inspired set to share when I return from the beach! Stay tuned….

My Book Bag

by Cindy on July 16, 2008

It’s fun to hear what everyone’s been reading this summer. I’ve visited a number of blogs that share their favorite “beach book”. To fill you in on what I’ve been reading, it starts with chocolate. Now that shouldn’t come as a surprise! Today I opened up an old favorite that I’ve had since 1992….

Ben and Jerry's

tadaaaa! It’s Ben and Jerry’s cookbook. This is where you’ll find my favorite brownie recipe…I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before. Today the kids and I baked a batch of absolutely delicious gooey brownies. You probably have all the staples already to whip up your own – just eggs, butter, unsweetened chocolate, vanilla extract, flour and sugar.

Now as far as beach reads go (and I literally read them at the beach, or once the kids went to bed really)….a few favorites are “The Double Bind”, “Friday Night Knitting Club”, and “The Art of Keeping Secrets”. My favorite book in this bunch was “Friday Night Knitting Club”. Now if it were about a bunch of beading ladies, I could have really understood the lingo. My husband saw me reading this book and didn’t understand why I wasn’t reading something more like “Harry Potter”. You have to admit, the title alone doesn’t sound appealing.

July Mags

Last but not least – my latest stash of jewelry design magazines. Hmmm, notice how the covers are all white for the summer. I’ve had to catch up since I’ve been away from creating jewelry for quite some time. Here are a few thoughts on these issues:

1. Creative Jewelry…although this one is on the more basic technique side, I had to pick it up because it features a tutorial on Kab’s Concepts latest “Snagged” style necklace. I love the great big disc used as a toggle clasp.

Snagged

Kerry will be making these cool lampwork focal/toggles available soon so we can make our own.

2. Stringing…as usual this one showcases such incredible talent in jewelry design. I flip through this and think, “wow, why didn’t I think of that?!” This one leaves you feeling inspired to create something different.

3. Step by Step Beads…My favorite piece in this one is by Christine Strube titled “Coral Reef”. I created my own simplified version of this and jumped back in to creating jewelry once more after my long break. Picture to come.

4. Bell Armoire Jewelry…This one is packed from start to finish with unparalleled creativity. Wirework, mixed media, PMC, lampwork, it’s all in here in ways I’ve never seen before. Definitely right up there with Step by Step Wire and Stringing as my favorite magazine! One of my favorite artists, Deryn Mentock is featured with an article on creating ear wires. I can’t wait until the next issue comes out in September. Actually, I can wait. I DON’T want to rush summer!

Please pass along your “must-read” selections for this summer, I’d love to hear suggestions!

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →