Archive for June, 2009

Multi-purpose this: another use for wire protectors

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Here’s a quick tip that we found at the excellent Starving Jewelry Artists discussion forum:

Multipurpose this: learn another use for wire protectors!

Multipurpose this: learn another use for wire protectors!

“I shared this with a friend awhile back and she thought it was a great idea. I came up with it out of frustration.

“I use wire guards (or what ever name you may call them) as extra protection and finishing when using watch faces.

“I never liked the look of the beading wire going through the hole but more than that I was concerned about the durability. I always used two strands of high quality beading wire but never felt extremely confident. Now I have no worries and although it is obvious I still think it looks a little better or more finished.”

- Sophisticated Hippie

Know another great tip for using findings?  Share it here in a comment!

DON’T MISS OUR June-July giveaway:
* in our online store, find a fave product & review it there, then…
* …leave a comment about it at the contest article in our blog
* On August 3, five winners will receive coveted Rings & Things gift certificates!
* Enter often & see if you win!

I Facebooked your bead seller: “Rings & Things – Bead fans”

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Hanging out on Facebook?  Fan us!

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We’re already chatting with lots of you on Twitter…now Rings & Things is running a fan page on Facebook.

It’s called “Rings & Things – Bead Fans!

Become a fan.  Join the club.  It’s very exclusive–only those who read this blog post can get in.  :)

Have a favorite “someone” to follow on Facebook or Twitter?  Suggest them to us in a comment below!

DON’T MISS OUR June-July giveaway:
* in our online store, find a fave product & review it there, then…
* …leave a comment about it at the contest article in our blog
* On August 3, five winners will receive coveted Rings & Things gift certificates!
* Enter often & see if you win!

Create your own gift registry in R&T’s online store!

Monday, June 8th, 2009

You asked, we listened:  A feature that you’ve been asking for is to have a Gift Registry for your personal wish list of Rings & Things products…

You'll be charmed by our gift registry!

You'll be charmed by our gift registry!

An improved gift registry: This feature provides a great way to let your friends and family know what you want for Christmas, birthdays and other special events.  (Just make sure they know about our $25 minimum order, and $4 small-order fee for orders between $25
& $50).

The gift registry feature is not just for requesting gifts, though!  Bead societies can use it to create project parts lists,
businesses can use it to share upcoming order info between employees, and anyone can use it like a wish list of things to buy
in the future.  In fact, the gift registry has an advantage over the wish list feature of our store, in that it allows you to save desired quantities!

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Here’s how you set up your own Gift Registry:

Now just fill in some blanks:

  • Specify the Event Type — the “occasion” for people to buy you R&T items.  (Birthday?  Wedding?)
  • Give it a name.  (“Dave’s 29th birthday”?)
  • And a date. (You don’t mind folks knowing when your birthday is, do you?)
  • Specify what kind of shipping address the items should go to.  (“My address” goes right to you; “Customer’s address” goes to your generous friend.)
  • :Look at the other few options that display, and check any that matter to you.  Now click Continue.

From here, it’s easy to shop for products to add to your Gift Registry.  You know which ones you’ve had your eye on!

Have you thought of other features you wish were in our online store?  Suggest them here in a comment!

DON’T MISS OUR June-July giveaway:
* in our online store, find a fave product & review it there, then…
* …leave a comment about it at the contest article in our blog
* On August 3, five winners will receive coveted Rings & Things gift certificates!
* Enter often & see if you win!

Featured bead: Cowrie shell

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

This week’s featured bead is an old, old, old favorite!

Still hip after 1,000 years...cowrie shell beads

Still hip after 1,000 years...cowrie shell beads

Loose matte cowrie shells, a favorite from Africa for centuries, get their extra-large stringing holes by grinding or breaking off the top of the shell.  With the tops ground off like this, they sit nice and flat, forming a smooth border.

How big are they?  Anywhere from about a half-inch by 1/3 inch, to an inch by a half-inch.  (13x8x8mm to 25x20x10mm.)

These bleached shells are often sewn upside-down on beaded Nigerian wall hangings, belts and ceremonial items. We’ve been seeing these woven or sewn onto chokers, too.  They’re a classic staple of macramé work, too!

Love cowries, and want more ethnic beads?  Rings & Things carries a full line of African beads, both old trade beads, and newer beads made or strung in Africa for the world-wide bead trade. Trade beads are old and/or used beads, and will show varying amounts of wear. Newly-made African beads are generally handmade in small communities. Style and availability vary.

DON’T MISS OUR June-July giveaway:
* in our online store, find a fave product & review it there, then…
* …leave a comment about it at the contest article in our blog
* On August 3, five winners will receive coveted Rings & Things gift certificates!
* Enter often & see if you win!