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A Pinch of Silk
Pinch of Silk Bracelet Taught in August 2016 and featuring smooth Silky beads and Pinch beads, is an ideal design for those new...
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Josef Benes Trunk Show
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 19th! Dancing Beads is hosting Josef Benes, the owner of a family run lampworking factory in the...
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Blue Skies Bracelet
Download Instructions Our project for September, 2015 was this charming bracelet. After a month of smoke-filled skies the rain came and washed everything...
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Wreath Pendant
Download Instructions In tones of rich greens and red, this quick pendant resembles a Christmas Wreath. Change the color palette to white, silver,...
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It’s Only a Little Spider!
Don’t let this leggy beauty frighten you. She’s fun to make and is a real attention grabber. Perch one on your shoulder. Add...
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A Sparkling Bracelet as Easy as 1-2-3!
Sometimes it’s not easy to get to a beading class. The urge to create something with beads can arrive at the oddest of...
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It’s What’s For Dinner
Today, I made a couple of discoveries. The first one was likely more about dumb luck than discovering anything. Did you know that...
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Typical Monday
…except as we’re all aware, it’s raining! It feels as if fall has finally gotten here with this first soggy weekend. I like...
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A Chance Encounter
The weather has been so beautiful that I’ve been walking to the shop for the past few weeks. Last night, on my stroll...
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Did She Make It?
Since I know the burning question on everyone’s mind is whether or not I had a successful trip to the grocery store today…...
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Week One – Done
The first week of my challenge is done. I haven’t quite made it in the posting every day portion, but I knew that...
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Priorities Matter
Last night, I decided sleep was more important than writing. It was a long and fun-filled day! This morning I’ve taken some time...
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Don’t Leave Home Without It
There are reasons it’s said breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Thanks to my mom, I formed the breakfast habit...
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Food for Thought
One of the things I’ve considered about recording my progress of eating on a food stamp budget is that it really doesn’t have...
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Two Challenges
During a conversation with my mom last week we found ourselves on the topic of the rising cost of food. She shared with...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 11
Today’s happiness was brought by food. Fresh zucchini, cucumbers, and poblano peppers from Sue’s garden… although I have to admit… the peppers make...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 10
Today has been extra-special! I decided not to work too hard today. This week I’ve worked until 9:00pm or later every day (including...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 9
This evening I’m playing hostess. It’s BYOF… otherwise known as Bring Your Own Fun! From 6:00-9:00 I’ll have the pleasure of spending the...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 8
*This graphic made me happy! I found it on Pinterest. What made you smile today? *sorry for the especially short post. It’s late,...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 7
Sometimes I get what I ask for. Today, I asked for a quiet day, and that’s exactly what I got. Quiet days make...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 6
Two dresses and some new foundation made me happy today! It’s been hotter than a blue blazes, and now is the best time...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 5
Anyone who knows me, knows I have two speeds. I’m either full throttle or dead stop. There’s nothing wrong with either one, other...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 4
According to Google the high temperature for today was 108°. No wonder everyone who came into the shop today told me it was...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 3
It’s Friday! That’s enough to make most people very happy. I hope you have a great weekend planned. Today I finished everything on...
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August Happiness Challenge – Day 2
One of the perks of owning a small business open to the public is how much of the day is ruled by serendipity....
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August Happiness Challenge Begins…. Day 1
August is ‘Happiness Challenge Month’ and has inspired me to begin posting again! The challenge is to post about something that makes you...
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Ear Worm
Most days finds JPR playing on the radio at the shop. It’s there for background noise, a sound to break the silence of...
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I Took a Class!
Under the careful tutelage of Beckie D, I made a pair of Celtic Star Earrings, and a pendant tonight. I used electric blue,...
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It’s Official
Fall arrived today. The rain, the gray clouds, and the glorious leaves against dark skies made me yearn for one thing… Split Pea...
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Made It!
There’s a little cat in my life with a very big meow! He can squawk unlike any kitty on the planet. I call...
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A Simple Guide
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Twins!
Preciosa Ornela, the manufacturers of beads in the Czech Republic, has just released a new seed bead called “twins.” They’re a two holed,...
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Brought To You
by the letter… Quilling, as seen in the letter “C” to the left, is a paper art form. Paper strips are formed into...
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Imagination Required
…String Optional from TED.com “Janet Echelman found her true voice as an artist when her paints went missing — which forced her to...
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Another Rearrange
This summer Cara Davis-Jacobson traveled to New York City on business. Cara is a customer, and a sweetheart. While she was in New...
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It’s Late
…and I’m tired, but a commitment is a commitment. One post, every day, for the entire month of November (yes, that would also...
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I Love Monday
… and while I’m at it… I love the time change, too! I love Monday because it’s my day off! In essence, it’s...
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Sixteen Inches
…went a long way to making me a very happy person today! For the past few months the walls of the shop have...
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I Know This Cat
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Five Things To Do Before Autumn Ends
Take a walk through crunchy leaves. Don’t forget to take your camera! Remember:: “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a...
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Design Seeds
Have you ever found yourself at a loss for a color palette? It happens to the best of us. There’s a great bead,...
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Project Accessory… One Beaders Opinion
Last week a new show premiered on the Lifetime Network that is right up my alley. It’s called Project Accessory, and is based...
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A Post A Day
November is a month dedicated to more than eating turkey, shopping, or football watching… it’s also a month set aside for writing! This...
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A Slideshow of Customer Creations
Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer...
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Thoughts on a Sunday Afternoon
One of my favorite things to do, other than play with beads, is writing. My head can be a busy place. Writing helps...
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Matilda vs Rick the Relentless
While trying to record a version of “Waltzing Matilda” for his daughter my sweetie encountered the stunning vocal prowess of a cat completely...
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Sunday/Funday
What could be better? Take two beaders, add a lazy Sunday afternoon, a sunny work space, a shop full of beads, stir them...
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Have You Met My Guy?
Meet the Bright Center of the Universe, otherwise known as my cat. We’ve been together ever since he chose me thirteen years ago....
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Dogwoods at Sunset
One of the great things about having my computer situated so I can see out the large picture window in my living room...
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It’s Trunk Show Time
You’d think, after all the beads, and all the years I’ve been surrounded by them my enthusiasm for a bead shopping opportunity would...
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Video of Completed Expansion
At long last our expansion is done! From start to finished front window, I’ve stitched together a series of videos and still shots....
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A Little Help
On a recent twirl around the interwebz I came across a picture tutorial for a braided bracelet that I thought was wonderful! I...
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Some of My Creations
Tuesday I had the good fortune of being able to share pictures of some of the amazing beadwork I’ve had the opportunity to...
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Meet Lynnette
About a month before I opened the new shop I had a surprise visitor. It was a Saturday. My work crew, and I...
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Dancing Beads’ Has Incredibly Talented Customers
One of the perks of my business is getting to see the amazingly beautiful things created by my customers! They inspire and surprise...
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Meet Mandy Quinn
Mandy Quinn is the newest member of the Dancing Beads team, and she’s a girl on a budget. She doesn’t have a big...
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Monday Meanderings
True confession… it’s actually Sunday, but as there’s a post waiting in the wings to publish, and I’m in the mood to write....
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Meet Elle
A couple of weeks ago, I began sharing a series of interviews with the amazing beaders who are offering classes at Dancing Beads...
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Dancing Beads Expands!
February 28th was definitely an exciting and busy day here at Dancing Beads… we tore down a wall, and expanded the shop! As...
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Memories
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Lampworking Class Video
Yesterday was a fun day at Dancing Beads. From 11:00am until a little after 5:00 there was a lampworking class. Throughout the day...
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The 3/50 Project
There’s a grass roots movement making its way across the country. It’s the brainchild of Cinda Baxter, a retail consultant and speaker. Based...
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Funny Later
It’s been snowing off and on today. Sitting in the sunroom has been fun as there are windows on two sides of the...
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Beader’s Funny
Sue and her three best beading friends were excited to attend a weekend workshop with a national instructor. They couldn’t wait to get...
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Meet Persis
Months before I met her, I heard about Persis and her bead making endeavors from her mom. She told me her daughter, who...
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Meet Jenny
Sometimes a new person will walk into your life, and the two of you immediately click. It’s as if you’ve just met an...
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Meet Lynn
In January I had the pleasure of meeting Deb Mayne and Lynn Sawyer. Deb is a lampworker who had contacted me to see...
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Meet Claire
When it comes to good fortune, I believe it finds us all on a daily basis. I have the good fortune of being...
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Don’t Mind Me
… I’m checking something out. Today, while working on my email via Vertical Response, I discovered they have a new feature. I can...
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Beading Circle
On Thursday afternoons the table in the classroom is open to anyone who would like to come in. We work on projects, get...
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Whirlwind!
Last week was something else! Bizzy, busy. I was so bushed that last night I went to bed at 7:30. This morning I...
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Color
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Albert Camus* The changing of the season, especially the transition from summer...
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A Very Pleasant Surprise
…on a Sunday night! From Bead&Button My head is swimming with ideas for ways to advertise/promote the shop. What it isn’t filled with...
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A How To Video
Have you ever wondered how a Byzantine Chain is made? I found this video in my wandering this afternoon....
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OCBD
… I has it! Obsessive Compulsive Beading Disorder. Today, in between customers, and well after the shop had closed, I was busily making...
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Fireline
Beaders who love to work with seed beads and crystals swear by a product sold by Berkley, a leader in the fishing industry...
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Yesterday’s Project
Yesterday, I mentioned I was working on a project, and that I’d be sharing the instructions. The pictures are taken, the instructions are...
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Dancing
Since ‘Dancing’ is an important part of our name, I thought I’d share one of my all time favorite dancing videos. Happy Friday!...
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Finding Frogs
Working with beads has changed the way I look at the world around me. It seems that the little details are what catch...
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Tonbo-dama
More years ago than I care to admit, during my early teens, I lived in Japan. The years spent there greatly influenced my...
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It’s Tuesday and I Don’t Have Much
This morning my computer screen is as daunting as an empty sheet of paper. I want to write. I know once I begin,...
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Bead Soup
Likely, most of you know what ‘bead soup’ is, but for those who don’t here’s a quick explanation. Bead Soup is a mixture...
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Funday
…or day three of the NaBloPoMo challenge. Is there really any day of the week that’s nicer? No really, think about it. You’ve...
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Boxes
Despite my best efforts before opening, I’m still going through boxes, and boxes, and boxes, and… I’m sure you get the idea. There’s...
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Manifesting
Yesterday morning, I declared to whatever is out there listening, that I needed a quiet day because it was high time for me...
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Ten-shoku
For the past few days I’ve been wandering the interwebz gathering information about Japanese lampwork beads. In my roaming, I came across a...
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A Video
Using my rather shaky footage, and some very imaginative still shots, my nephew Adam created this video as a way to introduce the...
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Sometimes All You Have To Do
…is just do it! Sounds like an advertisement, doesn’t it? However, it’s true. If you want something, all you have to do is...