Of All The Beads
Newsletter
June 2009
Hazel Brutsché
Upcoming Events
First Friday, June 5th, Broken Tokens and Trunk Show (Tomorrow): Bring your broken jewelry to Stifel & Capra for repair estimates, shop the trunk show, tour the artist studios, and sip wine and nibbles. At Stifel & Capra, 260 West Broad Street in Falls Church City, across from the Post Office. Click here for directions.
Reston Festival: For 2 days in July, Reston becomes a haven for crafts, entertainment and more. Join me there on July 11th and 12th as Reston celebrates its 45th anniversary. Click here for directions.
In Search Of The Perfect Clasp
Often when I'm designing a
necklace or bracelet, I spend just as much time designing as I do
looking for the perfect clasp. To me, a clasp is more than a utility;
it's an integral part of the piece, whether or not it's in view. The
clasp should complement the design, rather than just end it, which is
why I go out of my way to find interesting ones.
There are a number of places I go
to find unusual clasps. Some I find at trade shows, and others at
online stores. And I love discovering things in little bead shops
whenever I'm on vacation. (See New Finds, opposite, for more on that).
Many of these clasps are made from
vintage parts, such as glass, buttons, or enamel. Some are box clasps,
and others are toggles. A number of them have stones, such as a rough-cut ruby, garnet, citrine, peridot, glass,
and other beauties. A large number of them are magnetic, which many
customers have told me they prefer. In addition to being easy to use,
they're often nicely embellished and are made to be seen. I often like
to turn my necklace around so the clasp is on the side.
These clasps often come in limited
quantities (especially the ones made with vintage parts), so you may
only see a few of them in my work. And as many of you know, I'm willing
to shop around until I find just the right one.
Sometimes the clasp matches perfectly, and other times it provides a contrast. And once in a while, it becomes the focal point, as in this fabulous Karl Lagerfeld signature clasp.
Here's a sampling of clasps I have
in store for future designs. Note the bird near the lower left corner,
which is made of fabric, and the detail on the square toggle clasp
below it. The little round clasp on the right is made of vintage
Japanese enamel, and the clasp above it is made of 2 interlocking
snails. Click on the image for a close-up:
These Scrabble tile clasps are a particular favorite:
Here's a beautiful clasp I bought (and used) years ago:
If you're wondering why I go to such lengths to find the perfect clasp, the answer is simple: I couldn't do it any other way.
It's clear to see what I've been working on, since it's mostly clear quartz. The necklace has triangles of clear and smoky quartz accented with clear quartz beads and smoky topaz spacers. The earrings repeat the quartz and topaz design. The bracelet contrasts tear drops of clear quartz with black onyx and glass.
New Finds
Something with lots of sparkle caught my eye at
the gem show. It turned out to be solar quartz, which is cut from
stalactites. The green comes from deep within the stone and each one
has a unique form. Click on the image for a spectacular close-up!
And these picture jasper pendants look like rich, desert landscapes (click for a close-up):
On a very recent trip to San Francisco, I
stopped in a bead shop in San Rafael. There I found this lovely banded
agate, which was dyed purple. Click the image to view the close-up.
In the close-up, you may be able to see that a
number of these beads are triangular, with holes drilled in the middle
of each bead. This really appealed to me!
Look for these stones on the website soon, and in the next edition of this newsletter.
Make an appointment to have jewelry made just for you -- whatever the occasion!
Shop Of All The Beads by appointment at 502 Great Falls Street, Falls Church VA 22046.
Call 703-901-3738 or email me to schedule an appointment.
Of All The Beads » Hazel Brutsché