Blog for Beaders

In 1840, Queen Victoria’s lavish white lace wedding dress sparked a lasting trend for white bridal wear. Prior to the Queen’s lasting fashion statement, blue had been the color of choice since the Middle Ages and had symbolized purity, eventually lending to the phrase “something blue.” Although white continues to dominate the wedding dress scene, splashes of color are sprouting up with increasing frequency.

Of course all eyes are going to be on the bride regardless, but a colorful wedding dress will definitely achieve that wow factor result that is the aim of all of us brides. Many brides are moving to the opposite end of the color spectrum and choosing a black gown. This trend took Parisian fashion runways by storm in 2008 and has been gaining stride ever since. A black wedding dress oozes glamour and elegance, and is a flattering choice for all skin tones (and definitely requires less tanning!).

Black Wedding Dress
Photo Source: Bridella

For the fashion forward bride, red makes a dramatic statement and, if this is even possible, adds even more romance to the special day. Other popular wedding dress colors include navy, purple and pink but brides can get creative with their color choice.

Red Wedding Dress
Photo Source: Truly Wedding Blog

For those who don’t wish to abandon the white dress altogether, it’s also trendy to add an accent of color around the bodice or waist with a sash or embellishment. Brides can coordinate the color with their bridesmaid’s dresses or choose a unique hue that reflects their personality.

White Wedding Dress with Sash
Photo Source: Latter Day Bride

So to all you trendy brides out there feel free to push the fashion envelop and express your personal style through your (colorful) wedding dress!
-Sarah

[Read more →]

Choosing The Dress is no doubt one of the most exciting aspects of wedding planning but, with the limitless options out there, may prove to be nearly as difficult a quest (ok maybe difficult is the wrong word, how about crucial, important?) as choosing The One. This is pretty much the only time, for the average person at least, it’s socially acceptable to wear yards and yards of flowing white fabric or even a fake bird on your head (you know, Carrie Bradshaw-style).

Sarah Jessica Parker Wearing a Vivienne Westwood Gown with Bird Hairpiece
Photo source: Beautiful Bridal

2011 wedding dresses will be classically romantic, featuring a blend of vintage elegance and ultra-feminine 1950′s style. The fabrics this year will move away from shiny materials such as satin and silk taffeta in favor of soft, whimsical textiles such as tulle and lace, lots of lace. Gowns with lace overlays in delicate floral patterns will be at the forefront of bridal fashion and will exhibit mermaid-style silhouettes with graceful trains.

Lace Wedding Dress with Mermaid Silhouette
Photo Source: My Bridal Dress

Short, cocktail-style dresses are increasing in popularity, becoming more and more frequent in bridal runway shows. The benefits to this style include a considerably less expensive price tag and the opportunity to wear the dress for other occasions.

Cocktail-Style Wedding Dresses
Photo Source: The Beauty Bridal

Many brides are choosing to “go green” by refurbishing a used wedding dress from a thrift-store or family member. In a few simple steps, transform a strapless dress into a trendy one-shouldered design or revamp a plain gown with a layer of tulle and rhinestone accents. Check out the Wedding and Bridal Ideas section of the Learning Center for some great DIY ideas!

-Sarah

[Read more →]

Each year, gemstone connoisseurs and jewelry enthusiasts make a pilgrimage to Arizona to attend the highly esteemed Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. This year’s event will span over two weeks, from January 29th through February 13th, and host over 40 different shows, hundreds of vendors and several special exhibits. With a matchless ability to sparkle and shine, Swarovski is always a commanding presence at this event.

For the first time ever, Swarovski will host a series of Sparkling Make and Take projects for the 2011 show and Artbeads.com is proud to be a sponsor of this exciting debut! These Make and Takes consist of several 45 minute classes taught by esteemed Swarovski Ambassadors. Each class showcases a different jewelry design containing brilliant SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. True to their namesake, the Make and Take projects are designed to be completed within the 45 minute time frame so participants get to leave the class wearing the sparkling piece of jewelry they created. How fun is that?! These classes cost just $10, which covers all of the components and tools needed to create your design, and the proceeds from the classes are donated to the YWCA of Tucson, it’s a win-win!

Our designers have developed two dazzling jewelry designs for Swarovski’s Make and Takes and we are honored to have Kristal Wick, the highly regarded editor of Beading Daily, teach the classes for our designs!

The first design is called “Parisian Garden Necklace,” a stunning design which blends modern asymmetry with classic romance. This eclectic look will complement both casual and formal attire and features SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Wild Heart Pendants.

Parisian Garden Necklace

The second design is called “Ardennes Bracelet,” which showcases earth-toned SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Pendants among an array of dainty silver leaves for a dazzling result reminiscent of rich autumn foliage.

Ardennes Bracelet

If you are heading to Tucson for the 2011 Gem and Mineral Show be sure to register for one of our classes! For more information on the Make and Takes visit the Create Your Style in Tucson 2011 homepage.

[Read more →]

The average wedding in the United States includes about 150 guests and costs approximately $25,000. Granted I am new to the wedding scene but if I were to have guessed I would put the average wedding around $15,000! I’m an avid bargain shopper so I am optimistic, for my own wedding, that I can find ways to cut costs without sacrificing class. Today we launched two brand new ideas in our Learning Center idea that will significantly lighten the load on your bridal budget.

Inspired by this year’s vintage trends, our designers developed a wonderful DIY idea for a wedding gown called Timeless Bride. This fashionable gown proves you don’t need to blow your budget on a pricey designer dress to command the spotlight on your big day. Featuring a soft, flowing silhouette this dress receives a glamorous makeover with sparkling SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystals and a handmade brooch. The estimated cost for this design is under $54.00, considerably less than the average cost of a wedding gown, $1,300!

Timeless Bride

To match the vintage style of the gown, we also launched a fantastic bridal footwear idea called Simply Nouveau. These shoes are embellished with antique brass and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystal to produce an elegant look that will have people thinking you dropped some serious cash on them. No one needs to know the actual cost to create this look is less than $27.00!

Simply Nouveau

-Sarah

[Read more →]

We’ve discussed some bridal necklace trends for 2011 but there are situations where a bold necklace might do more harm than good to your overall look. While it may be tempting to seize this opportunity to go all out with your jewelry, it’s important to keep in mind that there is a fine line between glamorous and gaudy. If your dress has a lot of embellishments or a high neckline it’s probably best to forgo a necklace altogether in favor of earrings and/or a bracelet.

Since earrings reside in the prime real estate surrounding your face, they can really influence your overall look. The trendy bridal earrings for 2011 exude vintage elegance in an array of pearls, crystals and jewels. Elaborate stud earrings are in fashion and complement a variety of wedding gown styles. Tiered dangling earrings in jewel-tones are also popular and look great with simple gowns with high necklines and up-do hairstyles.

Elaborate Stud Earrings
Photo Courtesty of Glitzy n Glamorous

Bracelets are one of those finicky accessories that fade in and out of fashion but don’t worry, this year they are definitely in. 2011 bridal bracelets are all about multiple strands. Designs with twisted strands of crystals and pearls are popular accented by touches of rich jewel-tones. Check out this gorgeous Memory Wire Bridal Bracelet design from our Learning Center for instructions to create your own multi-stranded pearl bracelet.

Memory Wire Bracelet

One of the biggest jewelry trends for 2011 is custom made jewelry. One-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry are so appropriate for such a special day. If you’d like to design and create your own bridal jewelry, we’ve compiled an entire section of bridal jewelry components and learning center ideas to get you on your way to creating a beautiful custom bridal jewelry set. Click here to check them out!

-Sarah

[Read more →]

We recently held the drawing for the Apple iPad Giveaway and are pleased to announce our winner, Patricia D.! Here’s what Patricia had to say about her big win:

“I Still cannot believe that I won this great prize. I never thought I would win. I am so excited and Happy, I cannot think of anything else today. Artbeads has always been my #1 choice for my beading supplies. The Learning Center is my favorite. There is always something there to inspire my own designs. I love Beading. I love the response I receive from my family and friends when I make something for them. Making others Happy makes me Happy…
I want to ‘Thank everyone at Artbeads for the opportunity to enter and WIN this wonderful Apple iPad”.
- Patricia D.

Be sure to check back often for more exciting Giveaways including a trip for two to the 2012 Tucson Bead Show!

[Read more →]

Rather than the traditional strand of pearls or demure diamond stud earrings, this year’s bridal jewelry will be more than just a sedate side note. In keeping with the rich projected color palettes, bridal jewelry will be majestic and charming with decidedly vintage undertones. Strapless dresses are back in a huge way (but did they ever leave?) leaving brides with lots of open real estate for dramatic jewelry.

To complement those swooping necklines, necklaces will be bold and elaborate while maintaining the historic quality of an heirloom. Pearls will remain a major component but will be incorporated into complex layered necklaces and ornate bib designs. Many bridal jewelry designers are substituting black pearls for their white counterparts, giving their designs a glamorous edge and eye-catching appeal.

ADAM Bib Necklace
Photo courtesty of Net-A-Porter

Cascading lariat necklaces that are designed to be worn down the back will also be prominent and are the perfect accessory for gowns with low backs.

Pearl and Silver Lariat Necklace
Photo courtesy of Kiwi Jewels

Jewel-toned accents in necklaces will also be in high demand. Richly hued gemstones, such as garnets and amethysts, will take center stage surrounded by delicate antique brass chain or freshwater pearls. Check out this Regal Necklace design in the Learning Center to see step-by-step instructions for creating this simple, yet stunning, jewel-toned bridal necklace.

Regal Necklace

-Sarah

[Read more →]

After spending some time browsing through engagement rings for yesterday’s post, I came across a few famous engagement rings that are worth noting. It’s apparent that no expense was spared with these gemstone giants.

In 1955 Prince Rainer proposed to actress Grace Kelly with an impressive 12 carat emerald-cut diamond ring. If this ring was purchased today it would probably cost over $2 million!

During their first marriage together, Richard Burton presented Elizabeth Taylor with a 69 carat pear-shaped diamond ring. Ok, so this one isn’t an engagement ring but it is so enormous I had to include it. The diamond was too big to wear as a ring so Elizabeth Taylor had it refashioned into a necklace.

Nick Cannon presented pop star Mariah Carey with a striking ring containing a rare 17 carat pink diamond, encased by two half-moon diamonds and surrounded by smaller intense pink diamonds. This ring cost an estimated $2.5 million.

In 1953 Senator John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier with a gorgeous ring consisting of a 2.88 carat diamond alongside a 2.84 carat emerald, surrounded by decorative baguettes.

Sarah

[Read more →]

The marriage proposal is definitely one of the most exhilarating, romantic and emotional moments in a girl’s life. The added delight of receiving a sparkling ring heightens these emotions even further and gives us something to remember this amazing moment by because we probably lost our heads in excitement! Engagement rings in 2011 are all about vintage glamour and timeless elegance.

Intricate vintage-style engagement rings are very popular this year. Square or rectangular shaped diamonds such as the asher-cut and the cushion-cut (my personal favorite) are in fashion. You’ll find these stones on split shank or twisted bands embellished with an array of tiny pavé diamonds.

Another popular trend is framing the focal diamond of the ring with a row of tiny diamonds. This gives the illusion of a larger stone and adds incredible brilliance to the ring. This style looks lovely on all shapes of diamonds.

Perhaps due to the media craze surrounded the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton, colored stones, such as Kate’s stunning 18 carat sapphire and diamond ring, are increasing in popularity this year. Popular choices for gemstone engagement rings include rubies, emeralds, sapphire and colored diamonds. Colored stones look incredible when accented or framed by small white diamonds.

Sarah

[Read more →]

One of the (many) reasons I’m happy to be getting married this year is the timeless appeal of the 2011 color palettes! The projected wedding colors for 2011 will display vintage undertones, starting off with soft, whimsical hues in the spring and ripening into rich, majestic tones for the fall and winter months. Even the lighter colors will have a rich, almost rustic, quality. Big colors for the spring gain inspiration from blossoming foliage and include lilac, mint-green, sky blue, apple green, emerald, dandelion-yellow, and pink. The summer months will highlight brighter hues such as coral, red, orange, yellow, violet, emerald, pink, bright blue and lavender. Fall wedding colors will develop into rich, antique shades and sun-washed earth tones. Samples of this rich palette include chocolate-brown, burnt-orange, olive-green, royal purple, dark crimson, mauve, gold, blue-gray, sepia, emerald, marigold, fuchsia, navy and plum. Another big color trend throughout the entire year will employ cool, natural tones as accents. These colors are reminiscent of natural stone and include varying shades of gray and brown such as slate-gray, charcoal, blue-gray, silver, mocha and dark brown. These versatile shades will complement a wide range of colors while adding eye-catching contrast to your overall look. Try contrasting cool, dark tones with bright warm hues by pairing colors such as coral with gray or pink with dark emerald.
Photo Courtesy of Wedding Paper Divas	Although we haven’t set a date yet (I’m waiting until we find the venue), my fiancé and I are aiming for a late summer/early fall wedding. If I was to pick my colors right now, and I realize I do need to make a final decision soon, I think I’d go with a mauve-taupe/cream/fuchsia color palette. I might sub the cream for a different color but I’m just not sure what would look the best; I don’t have the most artistic eye so I would love any feedback from all you designers out there.
I like the richness of the mauve color palette in this photo and am definitely loving the idea of a vintage-style wedding!
Sarah

[Read more →]