Color the Year Yellow

In 2000, the Pantone Color Institute began forecasting color hues that would best impact and define the coming seasons. Many considerations factor into these predictions, choosing colors that would resonate with a global audience and reinforce the needs left behind from the previous season. After a cyclone of occurrences 2020 offered, Pantone welcomes the new year with two colors that both stand strong together & alone.

PANTONE Illuminating (13-0647) & PANTONE Ultimate Gray (17-5104)

Pantone’s Color of the Year

Let’s focus on Illuminating #13-0647, less specifically “yellow”. As it is the most visible color on the spectrum, it grabs attention and brings awareness. It is an active choice to be noticed, confident and bold. As a member of the primary triad, it is at the basis of perception and lightens every color it collides with. Yellow symbolizes intellect (#2 pencils…), courage (lions of oz), and royalty (gold!).

If you have feel hesitant, don’t worry, you just need a little inspiration to figure out how this radiance can support you & your palette…

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT?

Make it your focal point.

Make it your focal point for those days you feel a little more of a “badass.” I’m here, I have opinions & statements, hear my color…”[insert empowering animal noise, meow].”

Make it your motif.

Make it the color you work into every situation. Simply incorporated into your jewelry collection as a pair of earrings or a bracelet that reminds you to see “the brighter-side.”

OR Perhaps your like me, with a favorite yellow sweater that you’re pretty much known for wearing. It makes me feel like a walking sunflower, & in my opinion, its hard not to smile at a sunflower. I like to compliment it with warm neutrals. If I’m in a more playful mood, a fun pair of earrings or necklace with a bit of texture to add, but not overwhelm. If I’m in a driven mindset, then the simplicity of hoops, studs and/or a charmed necklace, so that I might harness all the potassium (~confidence) my banana peel has to offer, without additives.

Photo: Texture running through a field of sunflowers.

Be influenced by nature.

Look to day break, just above the Atlantic ocean…
All photo rights & credit to: @Osbornecody, Cody Osborne.

Look to the rapeseed fields of Luoping, China…

all photo rights & credits to Anna Berlin

Look to the luminous Pacific sea nettles…

all photo rights & credits to @Ohazeem, Oday Hazeem.

Look to the bullock’s oriole & its sunshine plumage…

all photo rights & credits to @thewildernessgoddess, Day Scott.

Be influenced by others.

How are other humans using the color? Let’s check in with our wonderful staff at the shop…

Get crafty with Lynn. Our resident resin connoisseur/addict, suggests you try your crafty hands at resin. She created this cute pair of simple earrings with our new doming resin, color tint & ear-hooks.

Be playful like Ella. Our social media savant has been diggin’ the warmer perimeter of the color wheel, lately. Yellow, Orange & Red, Oh my!

Be a little knotty. Our manager, Amy, likes to tie everything together with brass & macrame; this pairing highlights the color of the cord with the undertones of the wooden beads.

Think above the curve. Sylvie defies materiality with her 3 interlinked rings of leather.

Check out this read that personifies the color yellow, here.

Check out the five color palettes Pantone has created for this year’s color, here.

**Disclaimer: We understand that color is multifaceted. It embodies sunshine and happiness just as much as it designates warnings and precaution. But, I believe where there is danger, there is knowledge.  

15 Gift Ideas for the Bead Lover in Your Life

Earrings, the Business Shoes of Zoom

We live in strange times. A lot of our lifestyles have been compromised and reduced to follow a set of guidelines to protect ourselves & our communities from an omnipotent force. As a result, many of us are required to work from home, clocking in our hours via zoom. Something that was once an excuse to take a “mental health day” has become an everyday, but six months in and the novelty is starting to fade. While our face-to-face interactions are limited to our housemates and our screens, our attire has transitioned from business casual to…….casual business. 

While the pursuit of comfort is very much alive, your environment is not changing as much, and having a shift from leisure to work could do wonders for your mental wellbeing and productivity. This shift could be but a small difference or routine to signal the start of and readiness to work. The decision to shower every day, dressing up in clothes you’d walk out in public in, or wearing accessories that express what you need from the day. 

WE GOT YOU! 

Read on to find out what earring style best fits you and your needs, and how to craft your own. 

Best said in an article by Well + Good

Woven Earrings are a quilted assembly of seed beads & twine that offers the wearer a more bohemian aesthetic. Defining its style formality can be argued one way or another, depending upon the designer’s choice of color and pattern.

Professionally, good to wear for Monday morning meetings, “casual Fridays”, & interviews (especially if you crafted them yourself).

Interviewer: “I like your earrings.”

You: “Thank you, I made them myself.”

Interviewer’s thought process: What detail must have gone into those earrings, she/he/they are perfect for this job!

Ladder stitch seed bead woven earrings crafted by BDB’s very own manager, Amy.

Style: Casual ○○○ Craftsmanship: Advance Level

A skill that calls for a good amount of patience and decent eyesight (or a strong eyeglass prescription) as materials tend to be smaller than most other jewelry applications. There are multiple techniques to master, that range in learning difficulties.

Hoops are a classic that supports all the wearer’s decisions, whether it be a stunning neck piece, a vibrant top, or a nude neckline.

Best known for their symbolism of strength and unity, hoops are to be worn when you’re in the “get it done!” mindset, no matter the size of the challenge or shape of the reward.

Samples from our Virtual Hoop Fabrication class taught by our wonderful instructor Jessica, of @threewitchesdesigns

Style: Diverse ○○○ Craftsmanship: Intermediate Level

Essentially, you would be learning to form a thick metal wire piece using a hammer and mandrel (or form/object of correct size). Recommended for people with a little jewelry experience, or for those who pick up skills quickly.

Studs are considered the most versatile style of earrings, easily transitional from day to night and season to season.

For when you want to rock the presentation, but don’t want others to be distracted by more than your words. Studs could be the key to unlocking your professional style and performance.

All you need to make a pair of statement studs. E6000 glue ($2.50), glue-on studs ($0.35) backings($0.40), and a pair of flat sided beads (we chose lapis, $2.00 each).

Style: Diverse ○○○ Craftsmanship: Beginner Level

All you need is the right glue (we recommend E600), glue-on studs with backings, and a pair of cabochons (or flat-sided beads). Let your glue cure for 24 hours & there you have a simple pair of earrings.

the Simple Loop has a bit more substance in terms of materiality & work. It is a style that is highly dependent on the beads chosen to create the pair, to determine its level of swank. They can easily be dressed up or down for the wearer’s preference.

As flexible as your schedule, due to COVID; always a reliable choice for any occasion.

Handcrafted by our staff, simple loop samples ($10/pair)

Style: Diverse ○○○ Craftsmanship: Beginner Level

The only technical skill is that of creating the loop that sits upon the beads and acts as the connector between the whole and the hook. A technique that can easily be remedied with a little practice and the right kind of pliers, round nose.  Click here for a video tutorial on how to create a simple loop.

the Dangle / Drop can transition a simple loop into a little more, adding length and movement to circumstance.

Best for those who go into work but must wear a mask for public safety. Just make sure your earrings are on the outside of your mask straps for maximum exposure.

Handcrafted by staff, dangle/drop earring samples ($15, $20)

Style: Formal ○○○ Craftsmanship: Beginner Level

More of an elongated style of the simple loop; if you’ve mastered that technique, you have mastered this one. Add a bit of chain for the length.

Wire-wrapped earrings hold their characteristics in their name, the manipulation of wire to form coils and secure beads. These earrings will add a level of fance to your style.

Good for any occasion or video conference that counts, whether it be of the professional or personal persuasion.

Handcrafted by our staff, wire-wrapped earring samples (right to left: $15, $35, $30)

Style: Formal ○○○ Craftsmanship: Intermediate – Advance Levels

The basics are easy to learn. Extra time and wire will be useful in the mastery of more complex variants, like the briolette wrap. But we believe in you.

In the past we have hosted classes teaching all these techniques, join our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram to get updates on our new virtual options!

Check out these fun additional resources:

→Click here to read “Interesting things your jewelry says about you.”

→Or here to read about choosing earrings that compliment your face shape

2020 Jewelry Design Contest!

We put forth a challenge of creating a piece that includes 6 pre-selected beads. Some of our customers rose to the challenge. They did not disappoint!

The 6 pre-selected beads; 1 natural brass hibiscus leaf, 2 African glass tubes, and 3 yellow chrysoprase triangles.

Five lovely ladies took the challenge by the strings and created their own personal design and interpretation of the featured beads.

We could not make a decision, because they were all so wonderful, so we put the vote to the public to pick a favorite. & you, the public, have chosen the winners for our 2020 Jewelry Design Contest!!!

Congratulations to all our winners, and thanks to everyone who participated! Well done, everyone!

“My inspiration was to play with the 6 beads I was given. I cull beads from my collection with no set design in mind. The finished piece is a fun surprise.” –Kit S

“I’m working on self love and body gratitude, it has been a work in progress my whole life, and as a mama of three daughters, it’s important to me that they love and appreciate their bodies. This piece dangles, and moves, it adjusts, it jiggles, light sometimes, but also can feel heavy with the weight of the Brass leaf, similar to how my body moves through space and life.” –Sonya J.

“The metal leaf pendant reminded me of a shield. And while I was working on the design, the small dragonfly appeared from one of my bags of beads and I recalled that one of the attributes of the dragonfly is protection. I knew then that the leaf and the dragonfly needed to be in relationship with each other for this piece. As it came together I saw that the bottom white bead pointed to the protective shield and the two white beads above it carried that protective energy up to the wearer. This piece feels sacred and powerful to me.” –Marlene T

“Inspired by one of my homes, the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.” –Ava L