Event Sponsor: The Artful Bead

The Artful Bead stores are the most popular retail bead stores in North Texas. Their stores are your one-stop shopping destination for a wide variety of Czech glass beads, seed beads by Toho and Miyuki, Chinese glass novelty beads, pearls, semi-precious stones, and much more. Most importantly, The Artful Bead's staff is experienced & able to answer all of your beading questions. There are two Artful Bead locations - 5304 Trail Lake Drive in Fort Worth, Texas; 2501 N. Josey Lane, Suite 116, in Carrollton, Texas.

The Artful Bead also offers a wide array of workshops & classes ranging from jewelry making techniques to silver soldering 101. If you aren't already a subscriber of their newsletter, I suggest you sign up regardless of where you live because they always provide helpful information for those who make jewelry. For example, they recently shared The 411 on Clasps, an amazingly creative & helpful guide to the what/where/when of clasps, from For The Makers.

Another great way to stay connected is to follow The Artful Bead's Facebook pages - one for each location, Fort Worth and Carrolton. If you plan on attending Funky Finds: A Holiday Shopping Experience, be sure to visit The Artful Bead's booths (#201 & #202) where they will be offering tons of beads & other jewelry making supplies, as well as doing various demos. You never know what the creative gals are going to surprise us with, but we can guarantee it's never disappointing!!!

Catchall Jewelry

Sonia of Catchall Jewelry creates wire-wrapped, Indian-inspired jewelry. The Citrus earrings are festive pieces featuring jade teardrop beads, honey jasper and red aventurine. I love the bold red Bombay Earrings and the interesting Copper Coral earrings. If you're looking for a pair of earrings that are a bit simpler in design, you may like the organic Mod Sprout pair. Sonia also designs intricate bracelets & necklaces that are works of art themselves.

Beades & Bags

It was a pleasure meeting Danielle Murphy of Beades & Bags at the Funky Finds Spring Fling. She & her husband brought their adorable pooch, Riley, who was happy to sport a Funky Finds pet tee. She looked adorable AND funky! Danielle creates beautiful beaded rings available in a variety of color combinations using various beads & other pieces. The Simple Rose ring features a clay rose bead set among dyed fresh water pearl beads. If you are feeling lucky, check out the black & white ring that incorporates a small dice bead. I wish I would have had the Nothing's Better Than Green ring to wear at the Spring Fling as it would have matched my Funky Staff tee perfectly. And for those who are especially funky, don't miss the industrial Wrap It Up design.

Ring Around the Rosies

Like many crafters I love buttons. I love ones that are brightly colored, oddly shaped, all of 'em! Ring Around the Rosies is an Etsy shop full of rings made using various buttons. The perfect accessory for funky fingers! The tops of the rings showcase cool buttons while the band is made using coordinating beads, as seen on the fuschia & silver ring. You can purchase button & bead bracelets as well.