The End of Porn as We Know It

As you've probably guessed from the post title, the first of the changes I'm making to the blog has to do with the Friday Bead Porn.

(pauses to duck hail of rotten vegetables from the crowd).

I know, I know, but hear me out before you riot and burn the place down. First off, I'm not doing away with it entirely. I'm just not going to have it as a weekly, guaranteed on Friday, thing any more. It takes and awful lot of time to pull all the pictures, upload them (IF blogger is feeling cooperative - which it isn't always), grab all the links, etc. And time is something that is becoming an ever more precious commodity around here.

Plus, I was starting to feel like it was a bit of a cop out just posting pictures instead of engaging in writing posts and having, y'know, actual CONTENT. Also, no more just swinging by on Friday so you can use me to fulfill all your illicit bead dreams. You're going to have to actually check in regularly, comment and WORK for your porn ;-)

So, porn will still happen - it'll just be more of a surprise, random kinda thing. I mean, ya'll know my bead-buying addiction isn't going anywhere any time soon so obviously I'll still have pics to post when time allows.

And now, turn off the lights and lock the door...because I saved the best for (temporarily) last:






Micro-faceted peridot rondelles. I bought these for some specific Christmas presents that I made last month. Of course, thanks to the deluge of rain, I didn't get pics taken of the finished jewelry before it had to go into Santa's sleigh. Everyone seemed happy with their gifts, though, so I guess it all worked out.





Micro-faceted quartz rondelles and various colors. Went into the same projects as the peridot above. All of these came from Licia's Bead Vault on Etsy.

As much as I love color, I still tend to buy crystal quartz whenever I find it. It just makes such a great "faux-diamond" in any design and really adds a lot of sparkle. The first design I ever had published was in "Bead Trends" and featured a great pair of long earrings using faceted marquis-cut crystal stones wire-wrapped onto cascades of sterling silver chain - and it's still one of my favorite earring designs that I've ever made.

Since that site was having a pre-Christmas sale on all things brio, I got some mystic green quartz ones, too. Both sets of brios are from Rubytrail.

This picture does not do justice to these incredible wine-colored faceted, fire-crackle agate jumbo beads from Excellent Gem. I brought them in to work this week to show my beady buddy, Julie, and she was on the site looking for a strand for herself practically before I left her office. What you can't see in the picture is the incredible sparkle on these. Frankly, if I didn't think it would be too heavy, I'd just stick a gold bead or spacer between each of the stones, slap on a clasp and call it done. They are THAT gorgeous! And NOT expensive...they just LOOK like they cost big $$$!

When Miss Fickle Media brings you purple like this...how can you NOT get you some?

With coin beads to match.

And did I mention they come in peacock blue, too? Cuz...YUMMM!

I just love these polymer clay creations from Menagerie Studio. I think she's got one of the most innovative ideas using the clay and fabric or paper along with crackle medium and paint.

And now she's doing these smaller hearts with the holes on one side so they can be used as dangles.

Of course, the large hearts are still awesome, too.

Wonderful ceramic beads from Mary Ann Carroll. I just loved the earthy colors on this set.

And you can barely see it in these pictures, but this set has touches of purple in it - such a great surprise element!

Great boro glass in shades of gold and pink.

Pink, purple and yellow boro glass swirls with sparkling gold in these pretty beads

One last set of boro beads in purple and gray. All three of these sets are from Being Beads.

Wonderful lampwork from Kelley Wenzel of Kelley's Beads. Y'know, Kelley, you might want to change the name of your shop because every time I read it, I secretly think it means that I own all your beads (even iffen you do spell your name wrong) The deep pinks and purples on these ivory beads are so pretty - they've already got me thinking of Valentine's Day designs.

And speaking of heart day - how about this deep red set called "Scarlet Letter" from Juls Beads? Normally, I am not a "red" kinda gal, but these babies were just too beautimous to pass up.

With all the rain we've had lately, I guess I'm already thinking ahead to Spring and these transparent nuggets with lavender and blue frit from Blue Seraphim fit perfectly with both raindrops AND thoughts of Spring.

Lastly, some tiny gold and vanilla nuggets from Radiant Mind.

And a single lovely focal bead to match them.

I hope you enjoyed what will be the last porn entry for a while. If you get lonely, there's PLENTY of porn back in the archives to get you through.

Oh, and there are more changes to come, but between the holidays, illness and rain, I've been delayed in implementing them so check back next week. I used my Nyquil-induced-stupor time to come up with what I hope is a great idea. Of course, if it's not, y'all can still riot if ya want to.

Have a great weekend!

KJ