Stamping Mad!

February 3rd, 2012

I thought I would share with you some great new products that have made their way into our store. Something completely different……..Stamps!!  I have purchased a range of Kaiser Craft clear, acrylic, unmounted stamps which are a high quality brand of stamp with a beautiful range of designs.

These stamps are unmounted which allows for more freedom in their usage.  You can use them with an acrylic block for ’flat’ stamping or without the block for stamping on rounded items as the stamps will wrap around the object.   Stamps can be used for stamping onto your projects with ink or you could also use them as texture sheets for your clay, cake decorating etc. projects.

For best results it is recommended you peel the clear stamp from the transparent sheet it comes on and position onto an acrylic block. Once used, remove from the acrylic block, clean with a damp cloth and return to the transparent sheet for storage.

These stamps are very reasonably priced and most come in sets so they are great value for money. Check out our range today! Don’t forget to email us if there is particular design you are looking for.  Here is a sneak peek of what is available in store today…………….

KaiserCraft Stamps – Utopia

KaiserCraft Stamp - Sheet Music

KaiserCraft Stamps - Hey Birdie

Kaiser Craft Stamp - Tic Toc

Kaiser Craft Stamps - Magic Happens

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Jazzy Foil Beads

January 29th, 2012

Yesterday we had our fortnightly ‘Clay Play’ here at the Healesville studio. We had a full class which was great – everyone was able to feed off and encourage each other. We had those who had been claying for awhile and some who are just starting out.

Some beautiful beads were made and I thought I’d share some photos of the great day we had!

Everyone working hard!!

Everyone working hard!!

Karen's Workspace......a work in progress.

Some of the finished beads just out of the oven......they're still hot!

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Australia Day Super Special!

January 24th, 2012

Happy Australia Day to you all!! 

To celebrate Australia Day, we’re offering you 20% of your order as a voucher to spend on your next visit!

With every purchase you make on Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th January 2012  you wil receive a credit voucher worth 20% of your order.

For example: 

Spend $50 = Get $10 Voucher

Spend $100 = Get $20 Voucher

Spend $200 = Get $40 Voucher

So, you get the idea. The more your order spend is, the higher your voucher value will be!  There is no minimum amount to be spent – we will calculate your voucher amount once your order has been placed. These credit vouchers will be included with your order and will be valid until 30th March 2012.  Use them online or in the studio!

Please note, when we last had this offer we had a great response to it and as a result stock levels on some items were not able to be updated quickly enough. Orders will be processed in the order they come through to us. We apologise in advance for any items that may be out of stock.

Conditions: 

Shipping not included in order total. One voucher per order. Offer only valid until midnight Vic time Thursday 26th January . Credit is not offered on workshop purchases and vouchers may not be redeemed on workshop fees. Vouchers expire 30th March – no exceptions.

We’ve got loads of New Products  so now is the perfect time to go and check them all out!

Happy Australia Day & Happy Shopping!

Dani

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Now Stocking ‘Beadalon’……..

January 20th, 2012

I am pleased to announce that  The Whimsical Bead is now stocking a range of Beadalon Beading Wire (Tigertail). I love the Beadalon range of tigertail. It sits beautifully and is so easy to work with. It also comes in some beautiful shades – and now also in variety packs.

Check them out today!

Beadalon Variety Pack - Satin Colours

Beadalon Variety Pack – Standard Colours

Beadalon - Gold Colour

Beadalon - Silver Colour

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Christi Friesen is Coming to The Whimsical Bead!

January 3rd, 2012
I am so excited to finally announce that the very talented and highly sought after Christi Friesen will be visiting Australia on a teaching tour in March 2012 and the  The Whimsical Bead will be one of her stopping points.

Christi works in mixed media, combining polymer clay, glass, acrylic, found objects, gemstones and semi-precious stones, glass beads, pearls, precious metals, and pigments to make her unique sculptures and art jewellery.

Christi’s pieces are all little works of art and her unique style is known throughout the world.  You can see more of her work at www.cforiginals.net .

Christi will be teaching 4 workshops whilst she is at our studio on Saturday 31st March and Sunday 1st April. There will be 2 morning sessions and 2 afternoon sessions.

It’s not every day that we get the opportunity to take workshops taught by such a sought after and highly regarded international tutor. Christi’s classes are all about fun, creativity and individuality – you’ll laugh, learn and create something that doesn’t look like anyone else’s in the class.  how can you resist!

For more information including costs and times, please visit our website. 

Places are strictly limited so it is recommended you book asap. Most workshops are already 75% full. Bookings will be made on a first come, first served basis however a deposit must be made before your booking is secure.

If you book into all 4 of Christi’s workshops you will receive a FREE Premo Sampler Pack of Polymer Clay !!

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at dani@thewhimsicalbead.com.au.

Saturday Morning Workshop - Art Nouveau Bloom

Sunday Morning Workshop - Peacock

Saturday Afternoon Workshop - Pegasus

Sunday Afternoon Workshop - Steampunk Fish

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Open for Business!

December 29th, 2011

Just a quick reminder that The Whimsical Bead is open for business throughout the Christmas and New Year period. We are continuing to pack your orders as usual each day throughout the festive season as we realise that for many of you this is the only opportunity to create you will have for quite awhile!

Please take into consideration Australia Post closures when expecting your parcel to arrive.

We’ve been listing some great New Products for you over the last few days and there will be more in the coming weeks along with some new workshops. Stay Tuned!

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Merry Christmas 2011!

December 18th, 2011

Here at The Whimsical Bead we would like to wish all our customers and students a safe and joyous festive season.

We hope that your Christmas is filled wtih love and laughter and the year to follow brings happiness, good health and of course, lots of creativity!

We would like to thank you for your business this year. Without your support and loyalty, The Whimsical Bead woud not be where it is today. We really do appreciate your custom and hope that you will return in 2012!

We look forward to helping inspire your inner artist and fuel your creative spirit!

Have a truly wonderful Christmas and a creative 2012!!

Beautiful Christmas angels made by Liz Alserda at The Whimsical Bead studio during our 'Clay Play' ** Posted with permission from the artist **

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‘From Polymer to Art’ Magazine

November 20th, 2011
Not to be confused with ‘The Polymer Arts’, ‘From Polymer to Art’ is a new, glossy print publication edited in the Netherlands and written in English.  It has been launched by Marjon Donker and Saskia Veltenaar of the Dutch Polymer Clay Guild who proclaim it is an ‘international, arty, fashionable magazine all about polymer clay!’.

I am very excited to be the first Australian stockist of this publication. The first lot of this magazine sold out in only 48hrs but I have put in another order so we should have more copies, including the new issue ‘Purple’ within a few weeks. Don’t forget, you are welcome to pre-order this magazine by emailling me and I can put one aside for you (this includes backorders also).

From Polymer to Art Blue Issue

From Polymer to Art Blue Issue

From Polymer to Art Green Issue

From Polymer to Art Green Issue

From Polymer to Art Orange Issue

From Polymer to Art Orange Issue

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Melbourne Bead Expo 2011

November 15th, 2011

After months of preparation, a hectic day of travelling and setting up and 3 long days trading (plus the workshop I taught!) , the 2011 Melbourne Bead Expo is over.  The Expo was held at the Kingston Town Hall in Moorabbin over 3 days. Like last year we traded next to good friends and fellow traders, Kay from Kay’s Artycles and Jo from Cranberry Beads, however this year The Whimsical Bead had three tables rather than the two we had last year. This extra table served as a demonstration space so that we could show customers and potential students what the medium of polymer clay was all about. It was received well and most of the time drew a reasonably sized crowd.

On Friday the announcement of the Elly Feldman award took place. I was surprised but delighted when my piece, ‘Envy‘ took out second place (you can find photos of the piece here). Congratulations to Alan Harris for taking out first place with his piece ‘Dark Bloom’ and to Christine Mole for her ‘Regatta’ bracelet. Both are amazing pieces of work.

Sunday morning I taught my workshop at the Expo, ‘A Tapestry of Colour’. This was essentially applying surface techniques to polymer clay to create beads and pendants. I had a wonderful group of 8 students and we had a great time (I do apologise though I forgot to take some photos!!).

Sunday afternoon, the winners of the Bead Challenge 2011 were announced. Congratulations to Jan Cahill who took out the top prize and also to Joanne Ivy (of Cranberry Beads) and Meg Sellers who won second and third place respectively. There were some beautiful entries.

Although busy, it was a fantastic weekend. It was great to catch up with those of you I haven’t seen for ages and also put some new faces to names. I need to say a huge thank you to my ‘helpers’ Lesley and Karen who manned the stand with me (and whilst I was teaching). They did a fantastic job and I couldn’t have done it without them.

For me, now comes the task of counting the stock we came home with (we’re nearly done!), re-setting up the studio, following up on customer requests and organising new workshops. Busy, busy!  Don’t forget, if you want to book in for a workshop either here at the studio or at another location (yes, I can come to you!), please email me. I am hoping to have some more workshops up on the website by the end of the week.

Here are some photos of the weekend, I thought I’d share with you.

The Whimsical Bead Stand at the Expo 2011

Part of the Traders Hall

Lesley and Karen.....my loyal 'helpers'

My good friend Kay and her 'helper', (daughter Kat)

Some of the mess we've come back to!! I'll be glad when the studio is back to normal. It's driving me crazy!!

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Australia Post Price Increase

October 24th, 2011

Just a quick post to let all my customers know that unfortunately we can no longer absorb the latest postage price increases from Australia Post. We have not yet passed this increase onto our customers but unfortunately we have no choice.  As always we will continue to ship the majority of our order via Australia Post Pre-Paid Satchels as we have found this to be the quickest and most economical way of shipping your orders to you. We do not charge a packaging or handling fee with our orders nor will we in the future. 

For more information regarding the Australia Post increases, you can visit their website www.auspost.com.au  or please feel free to email me for any further queries.

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