ADDING TO

THE OUTLANDER FAMILY....

 

Many of you know of my fixation with Diana Gabaldon's time-travel epic, Outlander. I keep finding small mementos of the book in charms I pick up from all over. Worthy additions to my charm bracelet indeed!

SOURCE: https://www.etsy.com/listing/110634928/outlander-gabaldon-themed-charm?ref=shop_home_active_3

I rarely do shows but when I do, the kids keep me entertained. Here is the Artist's Row at Toracon-Sarasota on Feb. 8, 2014.

HOLIDAY SALE & SPECIALS

Book Beads on MOBILE

NEW! A simpler version of my site is now available for mobile devices:

It is a no-frills, minimal graphics-driven place designed for the curious casual browser. Split into forms, the simple navigation screens guide the user step-by-step through the checkout process. 

TIP: To experience the power & full extent of custom designing a piece for yourself and/or viewing the entire Gallery, it is best to access my MAIN site via your PC/Mac. There, you have everything at your fingertips. 

2013 Jane Austen Collection

It's been a few years since I introduced a tribute to Jane Austen with Book Beads. Thanks to you, this was met with much enthusiasm and has become a resounding success. How to build on this? I decided I couldn't go wrong incorporating three themes: Regency, floral prints, ladies of fashion. Without further ado, may I present....the 2013 Jane Austen Collection. 

Sculpted out of polymer clay, book beads are burnished, fired, sealed & glazed before being configured for the end piece (earrings, bracelet, necklace etc.) it was meant to be. It takes about 3 weeks from start to finish, to complete a bead. Their cut, clarity of image, size and durability are without rival -  a fitting tribute to the timeless Jane Austen!   Whether you want something a la carte or wish to custom design an item just for you, come and visit our MAIN site or via Etsy. There's bound to be something there to feed your inner book geek.

THE PEMBERLEY VARIATIONS

by Abigail Reynolds

Can't get enough of Mr. Darcy, Lizzie and the Bennetts? Like you, I've read my fair share of Jane Austen sequels. A notable series, The Pemberley Variations,  is one penned by Abigail Reynolds, who explores the possibilities of the roads not taken in the novels. The books look into the potential of "What if...?" and take us in unexpected, but satisfying directions!

Abigail and her novels are joining the ever-growing Book Beads family. With permission from the author, may I present The Pemberley Variations Collection:

 
You can order Abigail's book beads at the MAIN site. Enjoy!

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. 

We're kicking off our grand opening with a SALE!
For a limited time, all earring orders will be upgraded to 925 Sterling Silver ear wires
 FREE.
This is a $10 value for pair orders and at least a $30 value for earring sets.
Upon check out, simply choose the appropriate hardware or
under Instructions to Seller write "make mine 925 SS".
 If you have birthdays coming up or just want to get an early start on your Holiday shopping, here's your chance to give a truly UNIQUE gift.
Offer ends 9/30/2012.

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!)"

THE MANY USES OF WINE or BEVERAGE CHARMS

Need I say more? Cheers!

This is Wicked!

JC, a customer of mine, gave Teal Wicks her present: a pair of "Wicked" earrings, which she graciously received. Miss Wicks formerly played Elphaba in the hit Broadway musical. Thanks, JC for sharing this. It's always nice to know that my book beads have found a good home!

Extending the Family

The Books to Broadway collection has grown. Your requests have been duly noted. Welcome four (4) new book beads to the family: Pygmalion/My Fair Lady, Seussical the Musical, Ragtime and Wicked.

Every single one based on a best-selling book and subsequently turned into a memorable musical tribute! Cheers!

A (Demigod) Family...Extended

 

To all fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series: the wait is over. The completer set with three new book beads is finished. After weeks of painstakingly miniaturizing these books and making sure all the sharp details come out, we now have the complete series (as shown below):

 Whether you mix & match or choose the same pair, it's bound to be an eye catcher!

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 

UNRAVELING THE MILLENIUM  TRILOGY

The best selling novels by the late Stieg Larsson were originally written in Swedish.  In fact, when I first started researching the books, I was soooo confused because the Swedish titles did NOT correspond to the English ones.  For example, the first book, Män som hatar kvinnor, literally Men Who Hate Women IS actually The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo here in the US. (A big "thank you" to my sister-in-law, JB, who translated the various editions for me.) 

Front: US covers   Back:UK covers

I didn't have a clue - at first. Why in the world would you title a thriller, "Men Who Hate Women"? Apparently, US editors agreed with this assessment and promptly switched to a more "provocative" handle. But get this: when Larsson was a teenager, he witnessed the gang rape of a girl, which led to his lifelong abhorrence of violence against women. Having failed to help the girl, he made it his mission to combat sexual abuse against women through his writing. Ergo: Men Who Hate Women.

 

The editing didn't extend to the book covers though, in my opinion. The US editions come in plain, garden variety text-on-background staging. Nothing there to reel you in. A sure case of "don't judge a book by its cover". If my sister-in-law hadn't been gushing over the trilogy (along with the many great reviewers on Amazon), I probably wouldn't have picked it up.

The main female lead, Lisbeth Salander, features prominently in the UK covers. She is a twenty-something punk with poor social skills, relying on her intelligence and photographic memory to solve cases. Paired with investigative journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, who works for the magazine, Millenium, the two team up to solve crimes.

It is thought that at least half a dozen books were planned in the series, with Larsson having written most of a 4th book before his untimely death.  An American film adaptation of the first book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, is slated to hit theaters Dec. 21, 2011.

For information on the Millenium Trilogy Collection, visit Just Charming!

UPDATE: Apparently, Lisbeth Salander's "look" is now a major fashion movement in Europe:

H&M is launching a limited edition line "Millenium Look" in some selected stores in Europe beginning 28 Nov in Colette in Paris, 14 December in H&M stores in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Utrecht and Eindhoven as well as online!

  

Thanks to my alert sis-in-law, JB, correspondent-extraordinaire from Holland.

A TRIBUTE TO DOROTHY DUNNETT

Scottish historical novelist, Lady Dorothy Dunnett, is best known for her six-part series on Sir Francis Crawford of Lymond. Also an exhibited portrait painter, Lady Dunnett started writing because her husband egged her on to do so, after she complained of having nothing else of interest to read. Behold, The Lymond Chronicles were born!

The colorful panoramic scenery of the UK editions grace the front covers of the book beads. The back sides feature the monochromatic US edition brownscapes. Both cleverly depict mid-sixteenth century Europe and the Mediterranean, while following the life of nobleman, Francis Crawford. 

 

Meticulously researched, the series is a suspenseful tale of adventure and romance, filled with action, intense drama, poetry, culture and high comedy. It is NOT an easy read, specially her earlier works.

 

You must slug through it though, because the rewards are many and HUGE! Once began, it is impossible to put down.

SO, before there was J. K. Rowling, Edinburgh had Dorothy Dunnett. This is my homage to her. Cheers, Lady Dunnett!

Information on The Lymond Chronicles collection can be seen at Just Charming!

TURKEY, THANKSGIVING and TINTIN?

The turkey has been consumed. Waistbands stretched. Leftovers inevitable. The sale papers absently discarded as you move on to the next day's sales. 

Braving the crowds at Target today, I came across a childhood comic book favorite: The Adventures of Tintin. Beautifully illustrated, Herge's classics come to life with vibrant colors and funny tales. Brings back memories!

In honor of my DH, who has collected The Adventures of Tintin series since he was a little boy, the Tintin Book Beads have come to life:

The collection includes 12 beloved titles from The Adventures of Tintin series split into 6 books (I’ve collaged different titles in the front (F) and back (B) of each book bead):

1) Secret of the Unicorn (F) with Cigars of the Pharaoh(B)

2) Tintin in America (F) with Tintin in the Congo (B)

3) The Blue Lotus (F) with Prisoners of the Sun (B)

4) Red Rackham’s Treasure (F) with The Seven Crystal Balls (B)

5) Tintin in Tibet (F) with Tintin in the Land of the Soviets (B)

6) Destination Moon (F) with Explorers on the Moon (B)

 The Tintin mini book charms can be used as earrings,

 

strung on a leather cord necklace,

 

adorably used as stitch markers for knitting or crochet,

 

or creatively linked on a thick leather cord bracelet (for men & women):

The applications are only limited by your imagination.Check out Just Charming! for details.