FREE DRAWING WINNER - ISABELLA'S BEADS

Hello Everyone,

It took a while but we finally got our FREE GIFT drawing software in place. We thank everyone who has registered their E-mail address with us and registered to win a free gift. Isabella’s Beads would like to congratulate this month’s winner of our FREE GIFT drawing, Wanda Petchonka. Wanda will receive a free pair of our exclusive “Pearly Snowman” holiday earrings pictured below. These earrings have a retail value of $24.99! To be honest I was attempting to keep the free gifts $20 and under, but with the delay and the upcoming holidays a few nicer gifts will be awarded in the coming months.

For those who are interested, these earrings are also available for sale in our store. More holiday items will be added within the next few weeks. If you are interested in purchasing these earrings please click the photo to be directly connected to that item in our store. The easiest way to find holiday items will be to browse our Collections section. From there you can select the appropriate category (for him or for her) to see what is currently available. Please keep in mind that the site has been undergoing some major changes for Search Engine Optimization, and new items are being added all the time. So, if you don’t see something that catches your eye this time, please keep checking frequently!

If you have not registered your E-mail address with us you can Click Here to enter for your chance to win! We at Isabella’s Beads would like to wish you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!

Welcome to my blog!

Hello!

Welcome to my blog. I am Mariealena Calabrese, owner of Isabella’s Beads. I design and make all the handmade beaded jewelry you see in my store. I hope this blog helps you to know me better, and I hope through your comments to get to know you, too.

I am passionate about my handmade beaded jewelry—as you might expect. I love searching for new and unusual beads, combining them with the best fastenings and stringing materials, and producing uniquely designed jewelry for you to wear.

I am even more passionate about my daughter, Isabella Rose. I named my business for her. My handmade beaded jewelry allows me to stay at home with Isabella and still build for her future. All the profit from my beaded jewelry goes to her, and it is my hope that this business will bring her profit for years to come.

I have a very special design project in mind right now. It will be in honor of a new addition to our family. Yes, I am expecting a baby in December! It is a boy, and we plan to name him John, after his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In honor of John IV, and Isabella Rose, I am designing a Mommy bracelet.

Of all the handmade beaded jewelry I design, the Mommy bracelet is most special. I do not want to rush any aspect of the design. But when it is complete it will be available for you to see and buy here at Isabella’s Beads.

Since there will be four of us soon, we decided to buy a small second home in Connecticut. Then, when we visit John’s parents, we will have room for all of us. And, the babies will not disturb their grandparents during the night.

We finally found what we were looking for, and now are deciding which furniture to have in which house. So much to decide!

Creating handmade beaded jewelry involves many decisions, too. Even when I have a vision of the finished piece to begin with, the end result may be quite different. Would the piece look better with the luminous depths of cat’s eye or the sparkle of Swarovski® crystals? Can I find a better color combination to express my feeling of joy?

I hope you will enjoy this blog as it develops. I want Isabella’s Beads to be a welcoming site for you. I would love to read your comments—and please, if you have any questions about my handmade jewelry, the beads and fittings I use or even my creative process—don’t hesitate to ask!

Ciao!
Mariealena

Hill Tribes Silver

My local PBS station recently aired a travelogue about Thailand’s Golden Triangle. As Rudy Maxa visited various Hill Tribes villages, I waited for him to show them making the silver beads I love so much.

If he showed it, I missed it.

But, I was inspired to learn more about the people who make Hill Tribes silver beads. There are seven main tribes and over a dozen smaller ones. They each have their own language, religion, culture, dances and costumes. Some come from Tibet, some from southern China, and some from as far away as Micronesia in the Pacific. They live in southern China, Burma, Laos and Vietnam, in mountainous regions.

The Hill Tribe people best known in the United States are the Hmong, who helped our fighting men during the war in Vietnam. Many of them have settled in the United States.

In Thailand, Hill Tribes such as the Karen have been able to maintain their lifestyle of subsistence agriculture and their animist religions. Most Hill Tribes silver beads imported to the United States are made by Karen craftsmen. Like all Thai silver, their beads have a higher silver content (95-99%) than sterling (92.5%). The higher silver content means the metal is softer, easier to shape using their centuries-old traditional methods.

The Yao are among the best silversmiths. Raising opium poppies was their main source of income, but, because the Thai government has a program of destroying the poppy fields, they are now turning to other crops and other sources of income. The women do exquisite cross-stitch embroidery. I want a pair of their loose-fitting black trousers covered in brilliant stitchery. But I want Yao beads even more!

By far the most exotic-looking are the long-necked Paduang women, who add silver neck rings that gradually stretch their necks.

In Thailand, the government fears new migration of tribal people from neighboring countries, and does not grant citizenship to Hill Tribes people, though at least one tribe has lived there longer than the Thai themselves.

The Hill Tribes have been supplementing their traditional slash and burn agriculture with opium production. With the government crackdown, the lack of educational opportunities and without the benefit of citizenship, many Hill Tribes people live in dire poverty.

The sale of silver beads, pendants and findings is a source of much-needed income that enables them to continue their traditional lifestyle.

These are some of the ways I have used Hill Tribes beads recently...


Hill Tribes Silver flower drop weaved on a sterling silver bead ring with Swarvoski crystals











Hill Tribes decorative tube beads adorn this necklace and are paired with Bali silver beads and Swarovski crystals

Got Glass?

Lisa Atchison: My most favorite Glass Bead Designer

Over the past year I had the pleasure of befriending one of the most talented glass bead designers that I have ever seen, and that is saying quite a bit as much time as I spend on the Internet! Her name is Lisa Atchison and she is the owner and creator of Touch Of Glass Designs. Rather than read a bunch of blabber from me, I am just going to post an excerpt from her web site and show you this photo as a teaser. There are TOO MANY beautiful beads that she has created for me to list, so please visit Touch of Glass Designs and see all of her amazing creations for yourself!

Lisa writes:

"I have always been in love with art glass. Among my fondest childhood memories are trips to the hobby store with my parents where they would let me pick a new glass figurine from the showcase. Today, I collect glass flower frogs, and my home is decorated with antique Depression glass and contemporary fused pieces.

In 2003, not long after discovering handmade beads and artistic jewelry, I entered the world of lampworking and never looked back. My artistic philosophy is simple: To me, they are just beads, and they are just glass until somebody owns them and they bring them pleasure - only then do they become art. With the natural world as my inspiration, I constantly and purposefully build my skills to enhance my creations.

I have studied lampworking with some of the finest instructors including Kate Fowle Meleny, Larry Scott, Michael Barley, Andrea Guarino-Slemmons, Trey Cornette and Brent Graber. I have recently began teaching beginning lampworking. I am an active member of the Indiana Bead Society (IBS) and Indiana Society of Lampwork and Art Glass Artists (ISLAGA).

Lampworking and jewelry design have brought me much joy including meeting wonderful people and forging new friendships that will last a lifetime.

Aside from lampworking and my other hobby - photography - I work full time for an engineering firm in Indianapolis. I have been married to my best friend and biggest supporter, Steve, since 1983. We have a daughter of whom I'm very proud who loves the "bead benefits".

Thanks so much for your interest.
Sincerely,
Lisa"

Quality Handmade Gemstone Jewelry

Isabella's Beads offers one of a kind handcrafted jewelry. My individual handmade jewelry collections are truly unique. Each piece is individually handcrafted by me. Each collection of my handmade jewelry is inspired by something different. As with any art design, many times my mood is reflected in my jewelry. Examples of this would be the choice of colors I selected for a particular piece, whether they be bold or subtle (or a combination of both...a very confusing mood indeed!), or the shape of the design, whether it be simple or intricate. I would like to think that my designs are modern and contemporary, yet still capture all of the grace and artistry of traditional jewelry designs.

Dazzling Handmade Costume Jewelry for Every Lifestyle and Occasion!

Isabella's Beads handmade jewelry uses only the finest quality materials, including Freshwater Pearls, the recently introduced Swarovski crystal pearls, Genuine gemstones, Precious and Semi-precious stones such as Turquoise and Jasper just to name a few, a variety of Silvers including but not limited to Sterling, Bali, and Hill Tribes, and of course...Gold. All of my materials are obtained from reputable jewelry and gemstone suppliers. Some items are even handpicked from well known local Philadelphia jewelry and gemstone suppliers; the city where I was born and raised!

My handcrafted jewelry designs are also created with dazzling Swarovski Austrian crystals, handcrafted Lampwork beads, and spectacular glass beads imported from all over the world as well as other beautiful components. My jewelry is typically strung on 49 strand wire for strength and durability. I use a variety of wires in various colors and gauges depending on the design. Some designs are strung with leather and cord, or even organza ribbon for something more delicate or decorative. All pieces are personally guaranteed with normal wear*.

All of the designs at Isabella's Beads are handmade with loving care in a wide range of styles no matter what your taste or occasion. It might be an elegant necklace for a wedding that you desire, perhaps a sparkling choker for a night out on the town, or even a modest pair of earrings or bracelet to brighten up your day. You've come to the right place for costume jewelry with exceptional craftsmanship at affordable prices.

Are you are looking for a unique gemstone necklace, handcrafted earrings to accent a dress for a special evening, or an unusual gifts for that special person in your life? Maybe you'd like to wear your own personalized creation. Isabella's Beads welcomes custom orders!