http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html en-us Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:48:59 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=28
Don't miss another sale, and stay on top of what's happening at The Bead Shop!
]]> Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:48:59 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=26 Name that Color



I found this nifty little tool a few weeks ago, and I absolutely adore it! It's open source, so I'll try to add a version to our site soon.



There are lots of features in this tool. The first thing to do is slide around the circle on the outside to select a general area of the color wheel. As you move the selector, you are presented with the name of the color, and well as its RGB composition and HEX code. Once you're happy with the general tone, you can refine the color selected by moving around the square on the inside.



The names are chosen from a number of sources, so while this may not appeal those who are stuck on Pantone's naming scheme, this is very handy for getting inspiration and color codes for websites. The last few weeks I've been working on adding jewelry to The Bead Shop website, and after coming up with the first few names, sounding original starts to seem impossible. Once I found this tool, I moved around until I located a color that seem to capture the overall pallet, and used the color name to inspire a new name for the jewelry. Colors like "Irish Coffee" and "Blue Bayoux" lend themselves easily to this task.



So designers, play with this and tell me if you loved it as much as I do!



Elena Adams

Web Manager

The Bead Shop]]> Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:07:09 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=25
We know she'll be a success no matter what she does, and we'll all miss her a lot.

Good luck from The Bead Shop team!

]]> Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:01:27 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=24


And so, we are bringing our jewelry to the world. Most of what you see right now was created as samples for classes over the years. In the coming months we will be adding more to the collection with a focus on current staff and their accomplishments.



Every piece of jewelry is unique and only one of each design will ever be available. Please see http://www.beadshopboutique.com/jewelry.html for the complete range.



Please note, no returns will be accepted on these pieces. No exceptions. Sorry, individual components and beads are not necessarily available.]]> Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:50:48 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=23
We also rent out tables and host parties. For more information call 650 383 3413.

]]> Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:34:40 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=22 pdf handouts or make a date to visit us in Palo Alto, CA and sign up for our All Day Retreats. If you're new to jewelry making, but are eager to leap in, you love our All About Stringing and Wire Wrapping retreats. Start our Novice and end up advanced as Karey shows you all the ins and outs of these fundamental techniques. Sign up here!
See the full schedule here.]]> Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:53:58 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=21
So, congratulations Denise. We know you'll do a wonderful job!
]]> Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:01:21 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=20
Sapphire is said to eliminate frustration and open the mind to beauty and intuition. It is a stunning stone which can work with anything.

We have sapphires is briolettes and strands. See the collection under our beads section.]]> Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:55:20 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=19


See the range here
]]> Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:32:03 GMT http://site.beadshopboutique.com/beadblog/beadblog.html?p=18


Firstly, Vicky, the product buyer and store manager, meets with each instructor to see their work, talk to them about what they'd like to teach, and give suggestions based on feedback from the previous sessions. Remeber those feedback forms you fill out at each class? This is where they are really important! Once she and the instructors agree on their classes, each instructor produces a sample for us, usually along some color or theme guidelines given by Vicky to keep our look fresh and up to date.



Once we have the samples, Vicky puts together a finalized schedule and works with each instructor on materials lists and prerequisites. She sends all the final calendar details and samples over to the web team, where Elena and Denise pick out props or backgrounds that suit the look and start photographing every piece. We make sure to get multiple angles and close ups, and then start cleaning and preparing the photos. This is the really fun part of the class schedule preparation, where we get to play around with new ideas for photographing, and work out how to make each artwork pop! This semester, for example, we wanted to try a really classic look that has been popping up in boutique catalogs lately. Textured papers in layers and different combinations did the trick, and we're really happy with the way they turned out.



With the photos ready, we start designing a post card to send to people in our database. Keep an eye out for it, since there's usually a coupon on it if you bring it to the store. You can join the mailing list by asking a representative in store or you can get our email reminders by signing up for our newsletter linked from every page of the website.



The web team then starts creating database codes and web pages for each class, and Elena writes up the descriptions and details of each one with feedback from the instructors.



Next we create our calendar pages, adding thumbnails and scheduling informations, linking up the class pages, and finally setting the colors so that the class levels are evident.



Now we're down to the final stages. From here all the pages are checked and double checked by multiple staff members and sent to the instructors for approval, and to make sure things like kit fees are accurate. Once they're happy, we create some big cover images like at the top of each level's category page, along with some front page layouts for the website.



All that's left is to create and email newsletter to annouce the arrival, finalize the sign-up date, make everything live, and take a very deep breath!



Well, there are all the steps. We hope you're as excited about the new schedule. Sign ups begin September 14th, 10am in store and online.

]]> Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:00:38 GMT