PART ONE: Announcing Swarovski Innovations Autumn/Winter 2012-2013 Release - Part One

Swarovski has just announced its new colors, effects and styles for the the Fall/Winter season!  These gorgeous new elements are due to be shipped out from Austria at the end of the month - we can't wait.   

We are very excited to share with you a new Swarovski color, Denim Blue;  a new Swarovski effect, Crystal Antique Pink; and a new Swarovski pearl color, Crystal Petrol Pearl. In tomorrow's blog we will share with you all the new shapes and sizes, but today is all about color! 

Denim Blue in Swarovski crystal is a color many designers have been wishing for for years! Considering how designer jeans and sports wear continue to greatly influence fashion trends, it seems only natural to want a cool blue to accent daily attire. Whether incorporating into dangle earrings, a wire wrapped ring, or a multi-strand bracelet, this versatile color will be perfect for going out in everything from designer denim to a black cocktail dress. For evening, try pairing Denim Blue with other Swarovski colors such as Crystal Silver Night, Jet Black, or Jet Hematite. This particular shade would look lovely with the new silver filled wire, findings, and components recently added to the Beadaholique website. As Swarovski says "Blue is the main trend color for Fall/Winter 2012/13 and beyond." We couldn't agree more!

Crystal Antique Pink is a new effect put out by Swarovski for the Autumn/Winter 2012-2013  season. As their designers tell us "this new effect captures the design world’s rediscovered capacity to address the rosy side of life and is therefore a perfect fit to the strong, on-going trend towards nostalgic and vintage-inspired hues." If you have followed my blogs and designs, you already know I am extremely fond of all things vintage. I am already looking forward to pairing this new effect with Vintaj brass filigree and stamped pieces. This rosy tone will blend beautifully with not only brass, but copper, gold and silver as well. It truly seems to be a color that will go with everything. It will be nice to have this subtle yet eye-catching shade to incorporate into feminine designs which need a soft touch but not a "sugary" one. 

And last but not least is my personal favorite, a new Swarovski pearl color: Crystal Petrol Pearl. Keeping up with the popularity and movement towards blue being the new black, this rich blue tone can be dressed up or dressed down to meet all your designing needs. Sharing the rich luster which Swarovski pearls are know for,  Crystal Petrol Pearls exude glamor and sophistication. My first project will be to pearl knot a strand together with black Griffin silk beading cord and finish off with an Elegant Elements Clasp. A completely opposite but equally appealing direction would be to pair these pearls with Miyuki Delicas and have the pearls be the focal point of a bead weaving project. Wouldn't a pairing with Miyuki Delicas in Matte Metallic Teal Iris or even Root Beer Lined Amber be simply smashing! 

Have fun day-dreaming about your new designs and check back tomorrow when we will reveal all the new and exciting shapes and sizes! 

- Julie 

7,000 Bracelets For Hope

It was during one of my daily fixes of beader extraordinaire Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog that I first learned about 7,000 Bracelets for Hope, a campaign by the Global Genes Project to raise awareness for children with rare diseases.

From their website:  "To help raise awareness we're asking 7,000 jewelry designers, volunteers from the craft community and various artists to donate one bracelet to this campaign to show their support for kids living with rare disease, disorders or conditions.  These bracelets will then be distributed to participating families in December 2011."

The theme for these bracelets is denim, as in jeans (get it, genes?), and I was super excited to dig in to all of our blue jean hued elements and get started on Beadaholique's contribution to this cause.  Sarah and I both immediately thought of Denim Lapis, and I definitely wanted to add a fabric element to the design.  I decided upon a lovely dusty blue silk ribbon, cut into segments and frayed for a loved, lived in, well-worn effect-- just like your favorite pair of blue jeans.

Forever In Blue Jeans

I was really happy with the results.  I hope it brings a smile to its recipients' faces, and reminds them that there is an army of beaders out there, thinking about them and wishing them strength and health.

If you would like to be involved, visit the Global Genes Project site, click on the 7,000 Bracelets For Hope emblem, and follow the instructions to register.  To get inspired, here are some blue-jeanie goodies to browse through!


-Andrea