CREATIVE COLLABORATION

Photo courtesy of D. Evans

Last month, I was fortunate enough to be part of a joint effort to create a truly OOAK gift! Author Suzan Lauder, had just recently released her book "Alias Thomas Bennett" and wanted to celebrate this by creating a truly special gift for her friends in the publishing world who helped make it all happen. It was her vision that created these truly whimsical pieces:

- from the adjustable colored pencil bracelet by Miceart to the polymer clay mini book charm from Book Beads - all were inspired by her written word! The perfect eye candy for any bibliophile, wouldn't you say?

HOLIDAY SALE & SPECIALS

MOTHER'S DAY is MAY 12, 2013

The importance of being 'Liked'

Source: https://www.facebook.com/2kutekreations2

On behalf of Book Beads and The Literary Charm, I approve this message. Nuff said. 

My SHOP Is....

For the next few days, I will be re-structuring my shop. I am in the final stages of the long remodel (sigh) and need to shut down everything in the interim. During this time, when you click on any link to my shop, you will get a "Page Not Found" error.  Bear with me. It'll be worth it!

It took an Outlandishly Long Time

I started in May (2012). And just now finished. What, you say? The monumental task of re-sculpting the entire Outlander series of Book Beads!

Every book/edition has been re-done. In sharp, crisp, vibrant colors! It's part of the ongoing store remodel. So watch out for new (& old) designs based on Jamie and the gang in the coming weeks. Time to play!

THANKS!

Sung to the tune of ABBA:

"Thank you (for the book beads.....

for all the joy they're bringing...for sharing it with me!)"

STORE REMODELING ONGOING

For the next few weeks, I will be re-structuring my shop on Etsy. All BOOK BEADS and accessories  will be inventoried and updated at this time. Product(s) will be deactivated as I do this, but will still be available for purchase under "REQUEST CUSTOM ITEM" and/or via this blog.  And yes, I will be available for custom orders, should you have one. Bear with me as we go thru this transition. It'll be worth it!

An Open Letter from an Author

(Reproduced with Permission)

From time to time, I get surprising feedback - in a BIG way. Here's one from author, Nikki Stafford.

Stretch Cuff Bracelet of Nikki's Books

Hi there!
My name is Nikki Stafford, and recently some friends of mine, Ensley and Dale G., had you custom-make a bracelet of 7 books I'd written (5 on Lost, one Buffy, one Angel). They sent it to me as a surprise, and I was floored. Just this morning, Ensley told me you were responsible, and I just wanted to write to say thank you!! It's absolutely stunning, and one of my most cherished possessions. I've always wanted to take the covers of my books and mount them onto the wall, and this is much, much better. I especially love how you put my name on the spines!!

Your work is beautiful. Thank you so much.

All the best,
Nikki Stafford

I'm always happy to hear back from folks. It brings each project back full circle: I can say goodbye to a piece knowing that it's in good hands. Makes all the hard work worth it. Definitely. 


Thanks Nikki, Ensley & Dale  for allowing me to be part of your memories -  even in a miniature way!

Find out more about Nikki and her books at her blog or her Facebook page.

An OUTLANDER Tree for ALL SEASONS

Courtesy of Susan Leidy

Hats off to Sooz for sharing her year-round homage to Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER series. Loaded with lead-free pewter charms and colorful, be-ribboned polymer clay book beads featuring (at the moment) all 10 books, it stands as a proud reminder of how much we all love this epic story (and wish it would never end)!

It's a treat to be part of this enduring tribute to DG's Outlander. Humbling too! "Tapadh leat." (TAH-puh LAHT -- also -- TAHplett) - Thank you in Gaelic.

Sources: 

Jewelry Tree from Amazon

Outlander-themed pewter charms 

Outlander Book Beads 

One of these things is not like the others...

YAY! I finally got mine! THE SCOTTISH PRISONER. My very own! No one else's but MINE. It arrived a few days ago and I meant to take pictures, but I've been swamped in the shop. Errrr... ummm, I really am working on your requests, folks (in between catching phrases & snippets of the book. Which is good. Because then, I can stretch it out over the break). What tome are you curling up with over the holidays?
 

Slainte!

FROM BOOKS TO BROADWAY COLLECTION

My tribute in clay to these classic tales turned musicals on Broadway. Their cut, clarity of image, size and finished design are without rival. Turn heads with your favorite books!!

Wear them proudly around your neck,

 ...or perfectly dangling in your ears!

Check out Just Charming! for details, home of Fine Book Beads.

INTRODUCING

FROM BOOKS TO BROADWAY COLLECTION

Roll out the red carpet for...

 

My tribute in clay to these classic tales turned musicals on Broadway. Their cut, clarity of image, size and finished design are without rival! Turn heads with your favorite books. Check out Just Charming! for details, home of fine Book Beads.

Book Bead Collections

INTRODUCING

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA COLLECTION

From Hogwarts to Middle Earth,

I stepped into a wardrobe and found...

Front of Book Bead

Back of Book Bead

Made from durable clay, weave an endless tale right at your fingertips (literally). Their cut, clarity of image, size and finished design are without rival! Check out Just Charming! for details, home of fine Book Beads.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOBBITS!

This week, J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit", turned 74. A milestone indeed! One that all 7 Harry Potter books still have to measure up to. Only time will tell. 

This same week Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, beloved Hobbits, celebrated their birthdays (Sept. 22nd) on the same day. 

Rounding up the celebrations for Tolkien Week is the commemorative unisex key chain constructed from book beads and chain mail. A true Middle Earth memento!

Felix Felices HARRY POTTER!

It took 8 months of solid research, effort and trying but it is now here! Spurred on by my obsession with JKRowling's series and encouraged by many to "further the cause", I have created the Harry Potter Miniature Book Bead Collection. Frankly, I just wanted something to do, while waiting for the last movie to come out (ahh, some months from now, gulp!). 

Sculpted entirely out of polymer clay, each pendant-sized book pays homage to all current titles in the Harry Potter saga, including Beedle, Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch thru the Ages. Polymer clay is a very interesting medium to work with. It is resilient, flexible and forgiving. I knew that I wanted details to show, so I opted for pendant- NOT charm-sized books. Shaping books from clay was a lot of fun! (It was a great way to relieve stress at the time. As in "Why has my copy of Beedle (UK ed) not arrived yet?"  Punch. Splat. Blob. Punch. Enough said.) I digress.  

Getting the image onto the clay was another matter. I had dreamed of immortalizing JKR's beautiful book covers into pendants. Fell in love with both US and UK editions. Not a stranger to image transfer techniques, I knew that this was going to be a challenge: getting double-sided images onto a book form. Following suggestions from fellow clay artisans, I tried a number of things, but none were full proof. Sometimes it worked. Most of the time it didn't. Just like Edison, I found 3000+ ways of how NOT to transfer an image onto clay:

In the end, it took a combination of chemistry, physics, baking, persistence and lots of patience to pull it off. The result: the Harry Potter Miniature Book Bead Collection:

 

The symbolic blocking of the US editions by Mary Grand Pre contrasted well with the scenic imagery of the UK book covers. I vacillated between the two, unable to decide which one I liked best. The final product reflects my indecision, as you end up with both US/UK book covers front/back.

Relief and detail on the mini books is evident here:

 It is essential that the image be sealed and a protective finish applied. Both glossy and matte finishes are available. This process takes several days to complete as each coat must be allowed to dry naturally.
 

Once I had the Book Beads, the possibilities were endless! As I write this, my mind is still reeling with ideas I can't wait to try out. Got any suggestions? I'm all ears. In the mean time, enjoy my Harry Potter Gallery crafted out of these polymer clay miniature books at my Etsy Store: Just Charming!