Bead Trends June 2013

Posted on June 19, 2013

Tons of beautiful inspiration for working with metal & wire in this issue of Bead Trends! Click through our gallery below to see the designs using Vintaj. Thank you to the following designers for using Vintaj findings and wire in their pieces, Linda Fisher on page 26, Kari Asbury on pages 46 & 80, Suzette Bentley on page 61, Martha Thomas on page 62, and Jessica Klaaren on page 76.

For more information on this issue click HERE!

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Fun at the Bead&Button Show!

Posted on June 18, 2013
We had a blast at Bead&Button, as usual!!
And, it was Livi’s first time, just a week before she turned 1!
Thanks again Mimi Gardner for the cute owl, she loves it. We had a brand new look to our booth, we sold some of our favorite Natural Brass, Arte Metal, Artisan Copper & our NEW Artisan Pewter findings, Patinas, Deco Dies, Wire and A LOT of tools, especially our popular 1-Step Looper! We also had a large selection of one-of-a-kind Vintaj gallery jewelry pieces at great prices. Jess & Mackie both taught classes which covered many Vintaj Patina techniques and more. Kelsey Lawler from BeadStyle magazine took Jess’s Vintaj Altered Metal Class. She writes about the fun time she had here in a show wrap-up post on their blog. Thanks to all that shopped in our booth and took classes… It’s always great seeing friends and making new ones, we look forward to seeing you again next year!

Here are some pics from the show, enjoy!

Doug, Nancy, Dan & Melissa did a great job in the booth! They enjoyed working with customers, suggesting products and demonstrating.

Wendy, Mackie, Jess & Livi had fun looking for cool products, inspiring us to incorporate with Vintaj to share with you soon! We also stopped by our Ocean Surf Art Bead Partners booth, Trinket Foundry to show them the pieces we made with their beautiful sea glass. That’s not it… we picked up two more rounds of art beads from upcoming partners for summer/fall themes, can’t wait to start designing!

Now that’s a jig!
Brenda Schweder’s jig is AWESOME! We can’t wait to share some wire techniques with our different metal colors. Technique videos and tutorials coming soon!

We LOVE C-Koop Enamels!
Sara Lukkonen is one talented lady. We have been designing with her gorgeous enamel beads for years and she had a great new selection at the show. Click on the photo to visit her website.

Leather is a perfect complement to Vintaj!
We’ll be having fun making unique components from our product line to create statement bracelets. Click on photo to visit the Bella Venetian Beads website.

Once we have projects, videos, and tutorials with our new finds we will post them here on the blog. Time to get creative!

Happy Designing!

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Technique Video ~ Vintaj Metal Shaping: Shears & File

Posted on June 14, 2013

Learn how to metal shape and form a cool tube bead from an Artisan Copper blank!

Simply emboss a 29.5mm Artisan Copper Square Blank with a Vintaj DecoEmboss Die and BIGkick machine, here I used our Moroccan Tile design. Apply a mixture of Vintaj Onyx Patina & Vintaj Glaze to the surface of the blank to create a color washed effect. Remove patina from raised areas with a Metal Reliefing Block. Watch the video for the steps showing how to cut, file and form an embossed tube bead. It’s so much fun!

Tools needed:
Vintaj Metal Shears by BeadSmith

Vintaj Metal File by BeadSmith

Vintaj Filigree and Bail Shaping Pliers by BeadSmith

Soon you will be able to create these fun tube beads with 4 Vintaj metal blanks; Artisan Copper, Arte Metal, Natural Brass, & Artisan Pewter…

Click on photos for more details.

Happy Designing!

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Visit Vintaj at Bead&Button!

Posted on June 6, 2013
The crew has been working hard to construct, pack up, move and set up our newest booth at the Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee, WI! In Booth #834/836 you’ll find a complete retail store, with all of our tools (including the 1 Step Looper!) our books, Vintaj Patinas from Ranger, Vintaj DecoEmboss & DecoEtch dies from Sizzix and of course lots of Natural Brass, Arte Metal, Artisan Copper AND Artisan Pewter available for purchase.


The Sales Team has fun things planned like a Vintaj BigKick Giveaway and 50% off finished jewelry, ask Nancy, Melissa, Doug & Dan for details. If you look closely you’ll see some of the pieces we’ve made for our monthly themes mixed in with the jewelry! You’ll also be able to see and purchase our newest Natural Brass & Artisan Pewter pieces! As usual, you can place a wholesale order with the Sales team with a show discount.


To enter the Vintaj BigKick Giveaway, you will be automatically entered when you make a purchase at the show. 30 minutes before the show closes they will draw a random name & the winner receives at FREE Vintaj BigKick!! You must be present to win. They’ll continue to give away a BigKick each day the show is open to the public!


Don’t miss demos in the booth with Jess & Mackie on Friday morning! They will be showing off some of the techniques we’ve planned to feature in our upcoming 2013/2014 2 Day Workshop curriculum. You may even catch a glimpse of Little Miss Olivia Lincoln!

Lastly, you’ll want to stop by Trinket Foundry in booth #629, where you’ll find 50% off selected items! Trinket Foundry is our Art Bead Partner for the upcoming Ocean Surf theme starting June 15!

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Don’t Miss Jewel School on JTV with Mackie, TODAY June 3 & Wednesday June 5!

Posted on June 3, 2013

Head to JTV TODAY June 3 at 11am Eastern Time & Wednesday, June 5, 2013 to see Mackie demonstrate the 1 Step Looper as well as showcase her Signature Series jewelry line. She’ll also feature selected kits of Vintaj metals and tool packs.


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Tip: “Aged” Artisan Pewter Effect with Onyx Patina

Posted on May 30, 2013

We are having so much fun with our NEW Artisan Pewter line! It is the perfect complement to all metals. It looks great with sterling or silver filled jewelry findings and chain. But of course for a cool mixed metals look, it looks great with Vintaj Arte Metal, Artisan Copper & Natural Brass, just the way we like it!

A fun way to add some dimension to the pieces and create aged effect on our NEW Artisan Pewter charms, pendants & embellishments, you can simply brush on and wipe off Vintaj onyx patina into the impressions.

You can tell the difference between the Artisan Pewter Charming Guise & Full Pine Cone, with the details of the Charming Guise charm accentuated with Onyx patina, while the Full Pine Cone was left untouched. Although the Pine Cone looks amazing with patina in all those crevasses too!

We have many more great pieces coming soon, including Artisan Pewter Blanks, the Perched Owl & Classic Tag you see above in the Moonlit Path bracelet. The blanks etch and emboss beautifully!! We’ll keep you posted!

Ready for transforming our popular Charming Guise? Here’s how it works!

Shake bottle well. Dispense a very small amount of Onyx Patina to a non-stick craft sheet. Have a paper towel handy.

Use a flat tip paint brush to apply a thin amount of Onyx patina to the surface, dabbing it into any impressions.

While patina is still wet, use a paper towel to wipe away patina from raised areas, leaving it in the impressions and along edges for an aged look.

Immediately wash the paint brush in water and dry with a paper towel before next use.

Replace the lid and close the bottle to avoid patina from drying out. You can keep a head pin in the nozzle to keep it clear from build up.

* Search our Internet Retailers on our Where to Buy page or ask your favorite bead store for Vintaj Artisan Pewter!

Happy Designing!

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Patina Inspiration: Swirls of Glass, Blooming Flowers & Spring!

Posted on May 28, 2013
We LOVE this gorgeous Bursting Forth bracelet designed by Erin Prais-Hintz for the Art Jewelry Elements Challenge she was part of last month. She did an amazing job blending Vintaj patina colors to complement beautiful glass murrini glass headpins handmade by Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions.

Here’s what Erin said, “The colors are so beautiful in these tiny little worlds filled with swirls of glass, all I did was pull the same colors onto the paint effects on the metal leaves and components I layered in this bracelet called “Bursting Forth.” A garden party for your wrist!”

{Click on any image to view Erin’s full blog post with more beautiful photography & links!}

Happy Designing!

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Vintaj Classes at the Bead&Button Show!

Posted on May 23, 2013

The Bead&Button Show is just around the corner! We’re super excited and hope to see you there! Visit Vintaj at booth #834 & 836 ~ this year we are selling our Retail Packaged product line, Vintaj tools, Vintaj Patinas, DecoEmboss & DecoEtch dies & finished jewelry!

We will have demonstrations throughout the entire show, in addition, Jess will be demonstrating on Friday, June 7 from 10am – 12pm, showing fun techniques with our NEW Artisan Pewter line, patinas, metal embossing, and metal shaping & forming. Be sure to stop by!

That’s not it… Interested in learning a variety of Patina effects on metal? Throw in some dapping, texturing, riveting, stamping and filigree wrapping to create beautiful layers with Vintaj natural brass, artisan copper & arte metal!

Below are the two classes we are teaching, you will create and complete the finished jewelry projects shown. We still have space available, sign up today…

B131338 – Vintaj Altered Metal: Exploration of Texturing and Shaping
Jess Italia Lincoln, (teacher’s assistant – Mackie Mullane)
Thu. June 6 • 8:30am-11:30am – (3 hours)

Level: All Levels
Maximum Class Size: 20
Class Fee: $105.00

B131700 Vintaj Altered Metal: Exploration of Texturing and Shaping
Jess Italia Lincoln, (teacher’s assistant – Mackie Mullane)
Thu. June 6 • 12:30pm-3:30pm – (3 hours)

Level: All Levels
Maximum Class Size: 20
Class Fee: $105.00

{Click on above class titles to view listings for more details and to register}

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B131369 Vintaj Metal Effects: Exploration of Metallic Patina Techniques
Mackie Mullane, (teacher’s assistant – Jess Italia Lincoln)
Sat. June 8 • 9:00am-noon – (3 hours)

Level: All Levels
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Fee: $105.00

B131719 Vintaj Metal Effects: Exploration of Metallic Patina Techniques
Mackie Mullane, (teacher’s assistant – Wendy Mullane)
Sat. June 8 • 2:00pm-5:00pm – (3 hours)

Level: All Levels
Maximum Class Size: 15
Class Fee: $105.00

{Click on above class titles to view listings for more details and to register}

We hope to see you there!

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The Winner of our Vintaj & Skye Jewels “Weeping Willow” Giveaway!

Posted on May 17, 2013

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our Weeping Willow Giveaway! You all had wonderful ideas and have inspired us to get working on new & exciting products for Vintaj! The winner of this giveaway is…Mary Meier!

Mary’s comment was:
“beautiful brass creates visions of the amazing colors and textures of Ancient India. I can envision beautiful jewels with ornate brass bead cones and pendants of a cabochon type ~ reds, greens, blues – colors that bring to mind the beautiful saris that are worn, and filigree like on the Taj Mahal! Pendants that have the texture and look of henna – a whole line of “Ancient India” Vintaj Brass!!”

Thanks again and stay tuned! :)

   

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You Pick Promo: Back by Popular Demand!

Posted on May 16, 2013

Registered Wholesale Customers, our You Pick Promo is back by popular demand!!
Let us know which bulk package item(s) you would like as your FREE gift in the comments section of your order (do not include them in your shopping cart). Also, enter promo code AP101 in the promo field during checkout. It’s that easy!

Retail customers, our Artisan Pewter is not yet available at VintajRetail.com, however we do have large variety of retail packaged Natural Brass, Arte Metal & Artisan Copper findings & embellishments, Vintaj tools & supplies and over 16,000 craft and hobby products sure to inspire! We will keep you posted when the Artisan Pewter makes it’s debut on the retail site.

Soon you can start to search our Internet Retailers or call your favorite bead store to see who is carrying this NEW line! We have received a lot of positive feedback and excitement already, thanks for all your support!

As always, Happy Designing!

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