SPOTLIGHT ON ... FASHION
December 2005
Black is Back!
by Sara Hardin
Black is back. It's everywhere I look. From boots to accessories to cute little evening bags, I have been seeing a noticeable amount of this color in every clothing or department store. Why black? Black is slimming, elegant and has been a pinnacle part of every woman's wardrobe since the beginning of wardrobes.
In "InStyle", Dec. 2005-pg.191-194, they cover "jet beading" as one of their "new on fashion's radar: picks, tricks and the buzz". They show a number of items adorned in black beads: purses, high heel shoes (my favorite), clothing and necklaces. "With their Victorian overtones, romantic nuances and arresting luster, jet beads have long been used as fashion ornaments, most zealously in the 19th century. Evidence of the new appetite for jet-set style can be witnessed on such dainty accessories as a ladylike pouch and graphic pumps. Burnished black is back."
Check out our online catalog to find all the bits and pieces to adorn you in black!
We carry David Christenson's black and white hand blown Furnace Beads. The package includes lots of different shapes and sizes. David uses sophisticated techniques, high quality glass and bevels the corners of the beads so that they aren't sharp or uncomfortable to wear. He mass produces his furnace glass, but the beads lose none of the artistry by being made in large quantities as he and his family are still hands on with the manufacturing process. These black and white beads will add unusual texture to any design.
Hypersthene is optically stunning. It shimmers and shines a beautiful black silver color that is sure to catch your eye. This stone is found in India, Norway, Greenland, Germany and the USA. We first saw this stone about a year ago, I fell in love. It is the epitome of elegant and fits this season's style so well.
Our Black Tourmalines are great spacer or filler bead and couldn't be priced better. We offer these beads from 3mm-9mm! I have seen a number of black necklaces that use only 8mm or 9mm black tourmalines and attach at the back with a black ribbon tied into a bow. It looks very Jackie O to me, simple but stunning.
Rocks are separated into 3 groups: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. Igneous rocks are often associated with the molten core of the Earth. They gradually seep upward and either cool deep within the crust as an intrusive rock or spew in a molten form, causing a volcano or lava flow. Some wonderful Lava Rock Beads have recently hit the market. They are light in weight and an unusual, interesting addition to the beading world.
You can't design without wire! So, try either using Artistic Wire or Soft Flex Wire in black!
Designs shown above from left: Necklace by Jessica Garrison, Earrings by Sara Hardin and Necklace by Kathy Russo
