Bead News – Jill’s Journal
You’re Invited: Our First-Ever Bead Warehouse Open House & Garage Sale!
Hey Beaders!
For the very first time ever, we’re opening the warehouse doors to YOU! 🎉 Join us for an EPIC in-person Bead Garage Sale—and trust me, you won’t want to miss it.
Bead Garage Sales actually began in 2011 as in-person events, but quickly moved online.… Read More
NEW! Beadalon WildFire Ultra Beading Thread
When a new beading thread appears in the market, you’d better believe I take notice! And I have to say I was giddy when I heard from my friends at Beadalon that they are launching a new product: WildFire Ultra!… Read More
Playing favorites
I can’t help it!! I LOVE BEADS! I love their colors and shapes and the feel of them and, *sob*, when it’s time to discontinue some of them, I have to admit I play favorites!!!
It’s been far too long since I’ve taken a look at our sales statistics and weeded out the slow sellers across the store.… Read More
New limited edition bead mixes
You may have heard me silently weeping a few months ago when one of my favorite bead vendors decided the time had come to close up shop. There have been so many significant changes in the bead world over the last few years, and this one hit hard!… Read More
Celebrating the Carrier Bead Craze
You know how much we love Carrier Beads here at JWD, so we thought that as International Beading Week is approaching it was high time that we put together a little blog post celebrating the versatility and down right FUN of these little rectangular beauties!… Read More
Bead & Button 2018 Round-Up
Didn’t make it to the Bead & Button show in Milwaukee this year? Don’t be sad! Read on to get some exciting peeks behind the scenes at Meet the Teachers, plus I introduce you to some of my favorite beady people and there’s plenty of wonderful beadwork to drool over!… Read More
Fun, frolics and beads in the Czech Republic
Now that I’m back home with Mom and the furry hooligans I thought it was worth taking some time to reflect on my travels around Czech Republic with a little blog post. Read on to see photos and some of the fun anecdotes from the amazing trip.… Read More
Join my Carrier Bead-A-Long!
Come and Bead-A-Long with me!
What better way to begin National Craft month then with a Bead-A-Long that celebrates the Carrier bead craze with these wonderful Czech glass beads! Sponsored by The BeadSmith.
… Read MoreTucson 2018 round-up
Once again I’m reminded that this bead world of ours is a wonderful and exciting place.
Coming to the Gem Shows this year has been a much needed boost. There’s nothing like being amongst your people – the ones who inspire you, and challenge you, and with whom you can plan new collaborations and adventures.… Read More
Introducing Carol Dean Sharpe…
We’re delighted to launch a wonderful range of brand new limited edition kits and patterns to the Jill Wiseman Designs Shop, designed by the very talented Carol Dean Sharpe of Sand Fibers. Perfect for lovers of Delicas, our beloved Size 11 Triangle beads and peyote stitch, Carol’s abstract and intricate designs really explore the possibilities for cylinder beads.… Read More
So many beads!
I honestly thought my days of blogging were over, but I guess I was wrong! Because here I am! While my use of Facebook really took over all of my time and attention the last few years, sometimes there was info that just didn’t quite fit on a Facebook post.… Read More
It’s coming – our biggest ever Garage Sale!
What’s a Bead Garage Sale you might ask? Well, it’s lots and lots of beads at super bargain prices! Sometimes Jill makes ordering mistakes and orders WAY too much of a particular bead. Or maybe it’s some products we’re discontinuing so we can move fresh beads in.… Read More
Reunited (and it feels so good)
Operation Refresh was a complete success! What a relief to get a break for a few days and see some people I adore, meet new people to adore, and acquire far too much fabulous yarn! I left home without a single bead project and while it seemed scary, it was the right decision.… Read More
Arguing with the beads
I feel like I’ve spent the last 10 days arguing (and losing the argument) with my beads. It happens. You’re going along perfectly happy in your relationship, and suddenly you hit a snag, and for a while you can’t stand to be around each other.… Read More
Is there still a place for blogging?
I miss blogging. There. I said it. I’ve thought about it for quite a while – usually when I have a good story to tell, or some cool news to impart. Sure I can do that on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest – but for a story, nothing beats the format of a blog post.… Read More
Super Bowl Sunday – at home
I have a lot of new readers and new beaders coming to my blog now thanks to the traffic on my YouTube channel. So Hi there! That also means I need to explain to the newbies what Tucson is. Yes, a city!… Read More
Challenges bring opportunities
You guys know me – I don’t sugar coat things. I try hard to be realistic about what it’s like being a designer and business owner and human being. I tell the good, the bad, and the ugly. And honestly, 2013 has been the embodiment of the Charles Dickens quote, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”… Read More
Cha-cha-changes!
There’s always room for improvement in any business, and this one is no exception. I’m addicted to lovely, beautiful organization, but ironically haven’t ever really had the time to implement it. Things happen so fast around here that Mom and I are always throwing together a system that works in the moment, but might not be the best for the long term.… Read More
Crankies
Mom mentioned today that I’ve been cranky for a while now. Dang. I was hoping I’d been hiding it better than I obviously have been. Even so, I do think a little cranky is way better than the deep depression I am usually overwhelmed with in December/January.… Read More