How can you show your appreciation? By visiting their stores and web sites and letting them know when you purchase that you met them via Bead Soup.
First, Beaducation.
Lisa Niven Kelly was one of the first wire artists I discovered when I began making jewelry about ten years ago. I am still in awe of her work and when she started Beaducation, I was thrilled. I was gifted her Tornado Bead and Toggle kit and was amazed at how easy she made things in her tutorials.
You can see Beaducation this summer at the following shows:
June 7-9
Bead&Button Show
Milwaukee, WI
August 23-25
Bead Fest
Philadelphia, PA
Beaducation is donating eClasses.
Next is Fusion Beads.
Fusion Beads has SO many things to choose from, but I have to say my favorite is the sheer number of Swarovski crystal styles and colors they have.
They also have an amazing (and generous!) gallery of Color Ideas and Inspiration Projects. And did you know they offer free US shipping on orders over $25?
Fusion Beads will be donating a $50 gift certificate for the Grand Prize winner as well as $25 gift certificates for each of the other categories.
Now we have Kalmbach Publishing, and more specifically,
Karin Van Voorhees, the editor of my book, Bead Soup.
Karin is a senior editor for Kalmbach Books and has been making things all her life, but jewelry design became her passion nine years ago when she was Associate Editor during the inaugural year of BeadStyle magazine. Many, many necklaces, bracelets, and earrings later, Karin still remembers the challenges of being new to a hobby, and brings the beginner’s perspective to any class she teaches or book she edits. Her design philosophy is centered on perfecting basic skills to make simple, elegant, and wearable jewelry, and is reflected in the projects in her beginner jewelry-making book: The Absolute Beginner's Guide: Stringing Beaded Jewelry.
I have to give major kudos to Karin for getting "Bead Soup" off the ground -- it was a huge undertaking, just like the parties! You can meet her at the Bead and Button Show, Kalmbach's flagship bead event, May 29-June 10.
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Kalmbach is donating a subscription to Bead and Button magazine and the book Create Your Style with the Swarovski Ambassadors.
Next is Lima Beads.
There's a lot to love about Lima Beads. Not only do they carry top-notch art bead designs, but they have some cool web page features, including the Big Green Bead Machine, with nine new bead deals every FIVE MINUTES, but you can also design your own Fresh Picks, picking and choosing from their huge inventory to create a design board.
Lima Beads is donating beads.
Now we have Nina Designs.
When I first made the move to sterling silver in my designs, I discovered the unique beads of Nina Designs. One of the many things I love about this company is their belief in Fair Trade before it was even a term. They have an amazing philanthropic view and pay well over the standard wage to their workers in Indonesia and Thailand.
Nina Designs gives back to you, too! When you refer a person to their web site, you receive a $25 credit when your friend makes their first purchase. And they send a lovely handwritten card to let you know, too!
Nina Designs is donating an assortment of their amazing sterling silver charms and beads.
Last but not least,
I was first introduced to the metal stamps at PJ Tool a couple of years ago when I had what turned into an epic giveaway of a set of ImpressArt stamps. Holy cow but did you respond! Since then, I've been pleased to test out new products for them, including their awesome stamping hammer. The hammer is so easy to handle that Zack made his own keychain!
And PJ Tool offers free US shipping on orders over $20.
PJ Tool Jewelry & Craft is giving away a Ballroom Boogie Metal Stamping Kit that includes the Ballroom Boogie lowercase set, an ImpressArt metal stamping hammer, and an ImpressArt steel stamping block ($70 Value).
I'd like to thank all of the sponsors for their time and their donations and enthusiasm! I think this should be a regular part of the Bead Soup Blog Party, don't you?
Stay tuned -- this weekend will be the reveal of the winners (an epic, huge post!).
(powered by pie)
Lori Anderson creates jewelry and bead kits as well as collaborative mixed media art with her son, Zack. Visit her shops by clicking here. She is also the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party® and author of the book Bead Soup.
