Soleil et Lune Studio & Gallery

New Ceramic Pendants

2007-10-04T16:21:00.001-04:00

We just got in some great ceramic pendants in many beautiful colors. From spirals to dragonflies, they'll be a beautiful addition to any necklace.

We just got in many new beads, tools and supplies, so stay tuned for more great items in our shop in Salem.

Keeping a Design Journal/Notebook

2007-09-28T16:41:00.000-04:00

I keep a design journal for ideas for jewelry. I take it with me everywhere (to work, to our studio, on vacation and even when I go to my parents' house for dinner). I'm constantly adding things to it. I draw out designs that I think of, tape pictures of jewelry from magazines in it, write out the steps to new projects (what size wire worked, what didn't, how it oxidized, etc.), tips that I've picked up online, lists of items I need for my next project, and lists of interesting websites that I've run across and want to revisit. So many times, I've done a project and then forgotten what size wire I used or where I bought the beads from. So now, when I do a new project, I keep track of that stuff in my journal. And as everyone knows, my true desire is to do something jewelry related full time, and until then, I get to work my corporate job during the day with endless meetings. So I'm constantly doodling in meetings and drawing out interesting wire designs. I always make sure to keep those little scraps and tape them into my design journal later.

My journal is actually an artist's sketchbook. But a 3-ring binder works great too. There is a fellow beader at my local monthly seed bead meetings that keeps a binder with all of the seed bead directions in it and a sample of each new technique she tries. That way, when she goes back to do the design later, she has a sample to go by and her notes. I don't know if she does this, but it would be a great place for her to also stick in her original designs or keep track of colors that work well together or where she buys certain seed beads. I, of course, started one just for seed bead projects as soon as I saw hers.

I've tried to get Chad to keep one. He creates such incredible glass beads and pendants and I'll ask him to recreate one he's done previously. Sometimes he can figure out the colors and sometimes he can't remember what he's used. But he will never write down what he's used....grrrr.... Maybe one day I'll nag him enough that he'll do it - if not for himself, at least for me when I want him to recreate one of his beautiful beads. ha ha ha

So who out there keeps a design journal? I'd love to hear about yours... If you don't keep one, I highly recommend it. When you actually have the spare time to make jewelry but can't come up with a design, it's an instant resource for ideas!!!

By the way, Chad and I are going to FINALLY keep the blog going regularly. So be sure to check back often for updates on the store, new merchandise, sale items, project ideas and tips and tricks. And we'd LOVE to hear from you!!!! Feel free to post your responses on the blog.

-Amanda

Chad's Article in Glass Line Magazine

2007-09-19T19:08:00.000-04:00

I have to brag for a moment. Chad has an article in the Aug./Sept. 07 issue of Glass Line magazine. He wrote about his experience at the Marble Flame-Off at the Carlisle School of Glass Art in NJ. The article has pictures of all the winning marbles (including Chad's) and pictures of some of the marble artists in action.

This is our first printed submission to a national publication. Yay!!!!!

Olde Salem Days

2007-09-07T10:21:00.000-04:00

We're back from Beadfest. We had an awesome time - met so many cool people, took great classes, and had great students in our classes.

And now it's already time for Olde Salem Days. (Saturday, Sept. 8, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm) If you're not familiar with it, basically the whole town of Salem, VA shuts down for the day and there is a car show and about 400 crafters up and down and around Main St. Thousands of people come through and it's one of our favorite events of the year.

We will be there with Chad's glass pendants, my domino pendants and much more. We are on North Market Street so if you plan on attending, please stop by and say hi.

Our class list will be updated very soon. We are rearranging some of the classes and adding a whole bunch more to the list. If you have any requests, just let us know.

Beadfest Philadelphia

2007-06-26T11:41:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows us knows how much we love Beadfest!!!! It's coming up again in August in King of Prussia, PA (right outside of Philly). It's an awesome event with tons of classes, vendors and crazy jewelry and bead makers all over the place (which includes us - ha ha). Chad will be teaching 2 glass classes and 2 chainmaille classes up there. (I will, of course, be the very important teacher's assistant.) Go to www.beadfest.com to check out the event. Let us know if you are going to be heading up there.

Marble Flame-Off

2007-06-26T11:36:00.000-04:00

Okay, I have to brag on Chad a little bit. The Carlisle School of Glass Art (NJ) held a marble flame-off competition this past weekend. This was Chad's first competition and he competed against marble makers across the country. He won first place in the vortex marble category!!!! He won a great prize, but I think he's just more excited to have won. :) You can see pictures from the competition on his web site www.cosmoglassworks.com.

His marbles have been selling like crazy and he is currently making more for sale on his site (which will be in the store, of course). Come check them out!!!

New things going on at Soleil Et Lune!

2007-06-12T16:39:00.000-04:00

We've been busy...but I feel like we always say that. ha ha

We've been remodeling our store over the last couple of weeks. Our bead business has been growing so we had to remodel to make more room for beads. We're planning a remodeling party for the end of the month, so stay tuned...

Speaking of beads, we have lots of new beads in stock. We have many styles of wooden beads that are great for summer and have just added some really cool imitation cinnabar beads. Our Swarovski crystal selection is growing and we just added the new Deep Coral color to our stock. In addition to our ever expanding selection of seed beads, we have a lot of seed bead supplies including over 15 colors of Nymo D and several colors of S-Lon. We've also started carrying beading tools and supplies (including Soft Flex wire, Sunshine Polishing cloths, Beadstoppers and more!).

As always we have a wide selection of glass rods and tools. We are in the process of switching over to new torches, so we have a couple of used ones in the shop at a great, discounted price.

We just updated our class list for the next couple of months including PMC, chainmaille, wire rings, lots of glass classes and that wire bangle everyone asks about. Be sure to check out our class listings and make sure you sign up early. Don't see a class that you'd like to take? Make sure you ask us about it. If we don't know how to teach it, we'll find someone great who does.

Our store is growing and we're making every effort to get what you want in stock. If you don't see beads, glass, tools or classes that you want, let us know and we'll do our best to offer it.

Thank you to all of our customers. We couldn't do it without your support and constant encouragement.

Hope to see you soon!!!!

What's new...

2007-04-30T20:21:00.000-04:00

We're back from the Hot Glass Festival in Staunton. Chad went both days and I got to go on Sunday. We had a great time and met some wonderful glassmakers from around the country. I even got some cool broccoli beads that I'm making into earrings. I'm such a die hard vegan. ha ha Next year's show promises to be even bigger, so mark your calendar for next April!!!!

Even though we sold a lot of them, we have some new pendants left from the show. From small frit implosions to turtles, we have them all. And they are gorgeous!!!! (I didn't make them myself - Chad did, so I can brag.) They will soon be listed at www.cosmoglassworks.com (Chad's spinoff glass company), but of course we'll have them in the store too.

We have some great classes coming up in May, including a glass pendant class and a marbles class. Sign up early!!! I am still working on designs for summer classes, but we plan to do PMC, wire bangles, polymer clay, wire rings and some cool knotted necklaces and micro-macrame jewelry. Chad will be doing some amazing glass classes as well, so keep tuned to our classes page for more info soon.

We have lots of new beads in the store. I have some bright, fun resin beads in stock as well as some new wooden and Buri nut bead strands. These are great materials for summer jewelry. Tax time was good to Chad and me, so we will be getting lots of tools, stringing wire, glass, books and more beads in the next month. If you have any requests, we'd love to know.

And don't forget about our great finished jewelry gallery. We have beautiful jewelry and glass beads from local artists that would make excellent gifts for Mother's Day - hint, hint.

Keep checking back with us. I promise we'll keep this updated better.

New Glass Colors in Stock

2007-02-15T20:05:00.000-05:00

We just got a bunch of new glass colors in stock!

104 COE:

Gelly Sty Pink (Made by Creation is Messy, this is a gorgeous, new, bright pink that doesn't burn out or boil. It actually stays pink! It's a little more expensive than Moretti, but it's worth it.)
Moroccan Swirl (By ASK104, this is a cream color that gets light and dark brown streaks.)
Silver Cinnamon (By ASK104, you can get many different colors depending on how you work it in the flame.)
Pink Lady's Slipper (By ASK104, this is a bright pink that looks like pink dyed jade.)
Petal Pink (By ASK104, this is a lighter pink version.)

33 COE:

Clear in many different sizes
10+ colors (crayon colors, striking colors and metallic)

Want to try them all out? We sell by the rod, so you can try whatever colors you like without having to buy a whole pound.

Closed on Wednesday, Feb. 7 and Earlier Opening on Fridays

2007-02-01T15:13:00.000-05:00

Just want to let you know we will be closed on Wed., Feb. 7. We are going to the John Mayer concert that night!!!! We hope it won't be an inconvenience to anyone.

On a bright note, we will be opening earlier on Fridays now. Our hours will now be:

Monday and Wednesday: 5pm - 9pm
Friday: 3pm - 9pm
Saturday: 10am - 7pm
Sunday: 12 noon - 7pm

Once we make our millions, we'll quit our day jobs and open during the weekdays. :)

Beads, beads and more beads

2007-02-01T14:59:00.000-05:00

We have added beads to the store. Although the bead area looks small, it is packed with gemstones, glass beads, wood beads and metal beads and findings. Due to popular demand, we have gotten a wonderful selection of copper findings (shiny copper and antiqued copper).

Next week, we will have seed beads (delicas, Czech size 11/0, size 8/0, size 6/0, fringe beads and square beads), seed bead supplies (needles, needle cases, Nymo), Swarovski crystals (4mm and 6mm bicones) and big holed beads (for working with big gauges of wire). This is just our starting shipment of these items, so we will be adding more as we go along. And we will always take requests for specific colors and sizes.

I've also been making some fun mixed bead bags. Thanks to my cat, Fiona, who knocked over two cases of neatly organized beads, I have decided to create some fun mixtures of beads instead of trying to sort them all out. At $3.50 a bag, they are a great way to pick a variety of beads for your next project. The bags include mixtures of lampwork, glass, gemstone chips, wood and seed beads.

Hope to see you soon!!!

We're open...

2007-01-12T23:16:00.000-05:00

Our grand opening went great! Thank you to everyone who stopped by.

We have a great variety of finished jewelry and glass art from many talented artists. Come check it out!

We are also offering torch time for practicing lampwork. Click on our Studio link for more information.

And finally, we are adding beads to our shop. In addition to glass tools and supplies, you can now shop for beads. We will be expanding our selection in the coming months so keep checking back with us.

Hope to see you soon!

The store/studio is coming along...

2006-12-27T11:07:00.000-05:00

We have been hard at work on the store. We just picked up our display cases yesterday and have built shelves and work tables with the help of my dad.

We can't wait to get open on the first, although I'm sure we'll have a few sleepless nights between now and then. ;)
Look for classes to be posted this week!

We hope to see you there on Jan. 1 and look for our ad in City Magazine.

Our new studio and gallery

2006-11-27T22:57:00.000-05:00

Our new studio and gallery is opening January 1, 2007. We are moving things in and getting everything ready for the next few weeks. Be sure to check back soon for a list of classes and workshops for the upcoming months. In addition to selling lampworking, PMC, and wire working supplies and tools, we will have a gallery of finished jewelry hand-crafted by local and regional artisans.

Everyone is invited to our Grand Opening party on January 1, 2007. The time of the party will be announced soon. Check back for more updates!

The address for our store is 213 East 4th Street, Salem, VA, 24153. We'll have a new phone number soon. Our web site address isn't going to change.

A busy month

2006-11-27T22:51:00.000-05:00

November was a busy month for us. In addition to keeping up with our online store, we did a three day lampworking demonstration for the Jewelry Arts Guild at Radford University. In three days, we worked with over 100 students.

Then, we went to A Touch of Glass in Asheville, NC to do a demonstration with Jo Hoffacker of Dogmaw Glass for the Carolina Fire Fiends at their ISGB chapter meeting.

Latest creation

2006-10-26T20:34:00.000-04:00

I finished this over the weekend. The directions came from Sharilyn Miller's book, Bead on a Wire. It's made of 16 gauge sterling silver that has been antiqued in liver of sulfur.

Back from Beadfest

2006-10-24T21:34:00.000-04:00

We've been back two weeks and finally had time to sit down and write about Beadfest. We had such a great time. My coworkers always laugh at me when I tell them I'm taking vacation time to go to Beadfest, but if you are a jewelry-maker, you'd understand. This year, they moved Beadfest to Reading, PA. I took a class with Louise McClure on etching metals, image transfers and aging surfaces of glass and wood. I love the whole mixed media look, so this class was perfect for me.

Chad taught a borosilicate pendant class on the last day of Beadfest. He had a full class, and I was the official teacher's assistant. His students had a great time and made some beautiful pendants.

One of the best things about Beadfest is meeting jewelry and glass artists from around the country. Some of the top glass artists were there demonstrating their amazing techniques (Sharon Peters, John Winter, Chris Roesinger, James Yaun, Margaret Zinzer, Travis Medak, Andrew Brown, Harold Cooney, Lewis Wilson). Glass artists are some of the most friendly, fun people you'll every meet and they are always glad to share their techniques. We also got to see Barbara McGuire (polymer clay artist and author), Nikki Thornberg (glass artist recently published in Bead Unique) and Lisa Niven Kelly (cool wire artist).

Then, of course, there is the exhibition hall with hundreds of vendors. Chad and I really had to control our spending!!!!

Here are photos of what we bought:

First, we finally got to own a Sharon Peters bead. This one just begged us to take it home with us, so we obliged...

Other beads/pendants we bought. Top left is by Nikki Thornburg. Dragon in center is from Lewis Wilson. Skull is by Michele Goldstein.

A really cool glass ring made by Harold Cooney

A polymer clay pendant by Barbara McGuire

A marble by James Yaun

BIG CHANGE

2006-09-28T21:40:00.000-04:00

We want everyone to know that we are going in a different direction now. We will no longer be opening a studio with Beads Indeed due to circumstances beyond our control. So now we are going to open our own studio. We're very excited!!! We're currently researching a few different locations and still have some work to do. We'll keep you updated as it goes along, so please be patient with us through this transition. We have some exciting ideas and are already lining up some recognized instructors to teach in our new studio. Stay tuned...

In the meantime, we will be teaching private classes and will be teaching at some other bead stores in VA. Feel free to contact us for more information!

And if you go through Staunton, VA, be sure to stop by Sunspots Studios. Not only is it a really cool "hot shop" (furnace glass makers) but they are also carrying some of Chad's beautiful marbles.

Exciting things to come...

2006-09-12T20:11:00.000-04:00

Well, we finally decided to start using the blog more often. Stay tuned for upcoming posts about shows, classes, new jewelry and techniques. We're going to be posting much more often.

We are also updating the website to include more tutorials and resources, lots of links, more items in the store and lots of jewelry!!!!

Chad will be teaching at Beadfest in October. His glass pendant class is already sold out, so we're really excited. I feel pretty special because I am the official teacher's assistant. Chad taught a preview of the class two weekends ago and we had a lot of fun and learned so much. If you're at Beadfest, be sure to stop by and say hi.

Be sure to check back soon...

Jewelry Arts Expo 2006

2006-04-24T14:36:00.001-04:00

Just got back from the Jewelry Arts Expo in Philadelphia. We had a great time. We got to meet some of our internet friends that we had previously only "talked" to online. Got to get together Friday night and hang out for a while.

We also taught our first classes on a national level, which went really well. We can't wait to do it again!

Just a little bragging...

2005-11-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

Hope this isn't too self-involved for anyone, but we wanted to let everyone know about some really exciting happenings...

First, some of Chad's beads are going to be featured in a screen saver put out by Arrow Springs. They will be in volume 2 of the screen saver. More information on their web site: www.arrowsprings.com. It's not out yet, but should be available for download in a few days.

Also, Chad is going to have his own Glass Art Collector Card. The newest edition - the last for 2005 - will be out soon, and will feature some of Chad's beads. More information is at http://www.r4glassstudio.com/gacc.html.

We may have some more exciting news soon, but we'll have to keep quiet about that for now...

>Amanda and Chad

And then there was blog...

2005-10-21T12:25:00.000-04:00

We've heard over and over about "blogging". Well, it looks like it's here to stay, so we figured we'd better get in on it.

Let's start by telling you a little about us. We are Chad and Amanda, and we are the co-owners of Soleil et Lune Designs (www.soleiletlune.com). We make and sell jewelry, and teach classes on making jewelry. This whole thing got started around Mother's Day 2004. Neither of us had any money to get Mother's Day presents, so we decided to make some jewelry for our mothers out of some beads Amanda had sitting around. Well, it just took off from there.

Fast forward to October, 2005. Now, we have our own business, a web site, and we teach jewelry making classes most every weekend.

There will be more to come soon, but that's all for now. Here are some photos of our work...