Beads

Eco

Beyond Mardi Gras: 6 Creative Uses For Beads

You might be seeing a lot of purples, golds, and greens today thanks to Mardi Gras, and that includes the celebration's infamous beads.

You might be seeing a lot of purples, golds, and greens today thanks to Mardi Gras, and that includes the celebration's infamous beads. Whether you collect the beads straight from the source in New Orleans or have some from party decorations, don't throw them out once Fat Tuesday is over. Here are some environmentally friendly, creative ways to upcycle them.

Jewelry: Sure, Mardi Gras necklaces are technically jewelry, but turn them into something more wearable on an everyday basis. String them together on a sophisticated chain, or add other charms to accessorize. Plus, all those purples and golds are sure to pop.

Pushpins: Ah, the power of super glue. Fasten the beads together to create pushpins for your desk or home office corkboards.


Source: Etsy user nolabeadart

Bookmarks: Even if you don't make the bookmark yourself, you can attach a bead or two to the end of a bookmark string for a touch of fun. Plus, it will help you find your page more easily.

Read on for more upcycling ideas.

Guess Who

Guess What This Chandelier Is Made From?

This pretty chandelier features beads carved from a tropical fruit.
This pretty chandelier features beads carved from a tropical fruit. Can you name the fruit?

Guess What This Chandelier Is Made From?

Shopping

Fab Finding Follow-Up: Road Trip, New Mex

How fun would a road trip across New Mexico be?
Forever 21 at ShopStyle

How fun would a road trip across New Mexico be? I imagine I'd admire sunsets and warm desert all along the way. And the heat would allow me to wear all sorts of summery pieces. How would you dress me for said road trip? I asked for something Navajo-inspired but modern. Did you deliver? You sure did.

I started you off with this Forever 21 Beaded Bangle ($6) because I wanted to be bold and colorful.

Look #1, created by fashionista0914, is bold but understated. Love the fringe sandals.

To see the rest, read more

Shopping

Come Fab Finding With Me: Road Trip, New Mex

How fun would a road trip across New Mexico be?
Forever 21 at ShopStyle

How fun would a road trip across New Mexico be? I imagine I'd admire sunsets and warm desert all along the way. And the heat would allow me to wear all sorts of summery pieces. How would you dress me for said road trip? Something Navajo-inspired but modern would be fabulous.


I'll start you off with this Forever 21 Beaded Bangle ($6) because I want to be bold and colorful.

Let's go Fab Finding. Be sure to come back and tell me your Fab Finds are up, or just tag your Fab Finds with New Mexico Road Trip. Now, you can build outfits by creating a list of clothing items. We have everything you need to build outfits, and you can use your Fab Find bookmarks, too. This is an even better way to put together an entire outfit when completing your Fab Finding missions. Learn what a Fab Find is and how to make one. And here is a more detailed explanation of bookmarks from geeksugar.

To see some of my favorite online stores, read more

Beads

Cool Idea: Baubled Wire Vase

This one-of-a-kind vase, owned by a relative of mine, was wrapped with basic copper wire and strung with a melange of vintage beads and buttons.

This one-of-a-kind vase, owned by a relative of mine, was wrapped with basic copper wire and strung with a melange of vintage beads and buttons. The glass vase itself is a basic cylinder shape — the kind a florist would use — but the adornment gives it remarkable flair that I find quite chic. Recreating this vase wouldn't be difficult, even for a novice beader, but amassing such an extraordinary collection of baubles would be a feat in itself. Furthermore, I love how it's been used here to hold serving utensils in the kitchen window, so that it can be enjoyed daily!

Trend Alert

Trend Alert: Long and Lovely Beads

A subtle way to wear a bohemian rhapsody is by trailing some long and lovely beads around your neck.

A subtle way to wear a bohemian rhapsody is by trailing some long and lovely beads around your neck. SJP has been advocating statement necklaces all year, here, she lightened things up with some bronze double stranded pearls. Pearls are a fine option, and there's so much more to play dress up with. Play away . . .


Source

Trend Alert

Trend Alert: Navajo Beads

One Halloween I was Red Mountain Warrior (yes, totally made up).

One Halloween I was Red Mountain Warrior (yes, totally made up). I had always wanted to do a Native American costume because of my love for Navajo beads. The costume was killer and I whipped out all my rainbow beaded baubles. Looks like I can bring them out again and maybe add to my collection with these Free People Kingston Bangles ($28) or graduate to a fun handbag. All this also reminds me of Mexico . . . sigh.

Jewelry

Glitterati: Bead Boutique Jewelry

Pamela Moses and Francesca Weisberg opened Bead Boutique back in November 2002 in order to sell affordable specialty beads to hip and young women such as themselves.

Pamela Moses and Francesca Weisberg opened Bead Boutique back in November 2002 in order to sell affordable specialty beads to hip and young women such as themselves. The business, which has a storefront on the trendy 3rd Street in Los Angeles, started as samples and inspiration pieces to help sell beads and it slowly turned into the jewelry line it is today. Prices range from $48 to $135.

Bead Boutique has since acquired celeb followings such as Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Lindsay Lohan, Courteney Cox-Arquette and Gina Gershon.

If you're ever in the LA area, check them out in person. If not, start shopping here!



To see more of Bead Boutique's collection, read more