Bead Junction

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Kid's Summer Bead and Craft Camps

Once again we’re offering a fantastic creative and fun summer camp for kids 10 – 14.

Sessions include working with a variety of materials and techniques to make beads, soap, jewellery, decorative items and more. We keep the class size small, so we can tailor the sessions to the particular skills and interests of the campers.

We’re offering 2 one week sessions and you can sign up online!

Session 1 July 21st – 25th
Session 2 July 28th – Aug 1st

Swarovski Bulk Buy Time Again!
Save on the most gorgeous beads ever!

Summer palette colours now available AND the newest Swarovski colours – Dark Brown Pearl, Mocca and Sand Opal.

Check out our price list, and best yet, you can mix and match within categories to get the best discount possible. Buy 10 units within a category and get an additional 10% off!

The bulk price listed is approx. 15% off our regular retail price for our stock items.

What's the catch? You have to pre-order and pay in full. All orders must be received by May 25th, 2008. Beads will be available for pick up approx. 10 working days later.

Selection is limited to the sizes and colours listed, UNLESS you purchase 10 units of a single size and colour. Sorry, no returns, no backorders.

Click here to request a pdf order form.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Showers of Savings at Bead Junction

April showers bring May flowers and at Bead Junction they bring savings!

20% OFF everything (almost*) for the entire month of April, starting April 4th!

Have you seen our amazing selection of Swarovskis including the new colours: Dark Red Coral, Mint Alabaster and Rose Water Opal. New in stock are the stunning Crystal AB Rivolis and the Maroon and Green Powder Pearls.

There are only a few strands of the most precious teeny tiny 2mm Crystal AB Facetted Rounds.

New stone in too, and some pretty shell necklaces.

New for classes – free re-takes on the most popular classes: Beading 101, Easy Earrings and Beading 201. Need a refresher? No charge, just call to register (based on availability) for one of the many sessions we offer each month.

Just a reminder, we are closed Friday April 6, but open regular hours the rest of the weekend including Easter Monday!

*Some exceptions apply. Exceptions include magazines, gift certificates, classes, teacher kits, mini stackables, consignment items, repairs and special orders.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Bead Junction - Bead Oasis Coupon, Mini Stackables Event, March Break and Melanie Potter

It’s back! Just in time for spring cleaning (yes, spring is nearly here), we’re bringing back our Mini Stackables Best Craft Organizer No Shipping Event. For those who have coveted the wonderful organizing furniture called “Best Craft Organizer”, we’re placing an order for delivery to the store. This means – no shipping charges for you – you can pick up your items during any of our regular hours. Depending on what you order, the savings can be substantial! The closing date for the buy is March 19th, and a 50% deposit is required. You can customize components to suit your needs or choose from pre-designed options! Call or email for a price list. The smaller units will be on display at the Bead Oasis show this weekend. The fantastic Crafters Desk is always on display at the store.

Speaking of Bead Oasis, it’s this weekend and we’ll be there! For those who take advantage of our frequent beader points plan, although we can’t give you points on your Oasis purchases (we don’t take the computer to the show), we can do better – a coupon for 15% off all purchases at our Bead Oasis booth. It’s at the bottom of this email, just print it out and bring it along. Coupon is required to get the discount.

March Break. Yes, for those without kids, next week is March break. We have fantastic classes for kids during March break, and there’s still some room. Call us to enroll before they’re full!

Melanie Potter is coming to Toronto in August. In our ongoing tradition of bringing great instructors and artists to teach our customers, Melanie Potter, of the School of Beadwork in California, is coming to Toronto August 17^th – 19^th. Details soon, but until then, take a look at her fabulous work http://www.schoolofbeadwork.com/

This coupon entitles you to

15% off

Any purchase at Bead Junction at

Canadian Bead Oasis, Almost Spring Toronto Show

Metro Toronto Convention Centre
North Building (street level rooms 205-206)
255 Front St. West, Toronto ON Canada

Friday March 9 2007 - noon - 8:00pm
Saturday March 10 2007 - 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday March 11 2007 - 11:00am - 5:00pm

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

New Street View from the Store

http://tinyurl.com/2e5gel

For those of you who've been to the store, you probably know the Revue Theatre across the street. The historic building's marquee collapsed sometime overnight Sunday. Looks like rusted suspension chains to me. Without the marquee, the building is rather ordinary and unlike most other buildings on the street, or for that matter on most downtown Toronto streets.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Top 10 Bead Items of 2006

This year is almost over, and I've been thinking about what I think the top 10 bead related items of this past year.

Here are mine (in no particular order):

1. Kumihimo. I discovered Japanese braiding at Bead and Button, and have had fun with it ever since! Have you seen my Titania necklace http://beadstudio.blogspot.com/2006/08/titania-necklace.html?
2. Micromacrame. I picked up the book by Kris Buchanan. http://www.kristinebuchanan.com/book1.html The photos and projects were very inspirational. It helps that the C-Lon cord comes in over 50 fantastic colours. It's not the 70's anymore indeed.
3. Bead embroidery. I taught myself some of the basics, then took a course with Sherry Serafini - who really filled in all the blanks. http://www.serafinibeadedjewelry.com/
4. Cabochons. Now that I know what to do with them (see "Bead Embroidery" above), I love them. I have several awaiting some free time to make into wonderful jewellery. Here's my latest http://beadstudio.blogspot.com/2006/12/raku-cabochon-pendant.html
5. Polymer Clay. I have a love-hate relationship with polymer clay. I finally tried it this year and found it in some ways as difficult as oil painting - I never got the hang of colour mixing - they all came out brownish grey, no matter what I did. Anyways, I'm perservering, and I certainly have some great ideas - just not the skills - yet - but I think the learning curve may be quite steep. That said, you should see the gorgeous polymer clay beads I've got from the wonderful Barbara Colautti.
6. Dichroic Aikos. I finally broke down and bought some.
7. Treenway Silks, especially the Montano series. Great for kumihimo.
8. Storing By Colour. I'm experimenting with storing my beads by colour rather than by type. That said, some still end up in their own places - like Swarovki, pearls, etc. It was really tough putting the Czech 10's in the same place as the Japanese 11's.
9. Creative Bead Weaving by Carol Wilcox Wells. This isn't a new discovery, but rather a visitation with an old friend. Considered to be the beader's bible by many - and it really stands the test of time. Can only be outdone by The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving, also by Wells.
10. Nancy Zellers great new website: http://www.nzbeads.com/. A very sophisticated and perfect site with lots of eye candy and useful information.

Happy New Year everyone.

Heather

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

2006 Beaded Ornament Competiton Advanced Category Winner

Advanced Beader: Jo Ann Woolverton. “Victorian Christmas Past” A saucy Victorian Christmas in a very vivid yellow! It’s obviously not Christmas as usual. Swarovski crystal cubes make this sophisticated ornament, a variation on a design by Anna Nehs.