Showing posts with label beading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beading. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Featured Artist Update: Karen Troeh of CourtlyCharm


Here's an exciting update from one of our recent featured artists. Remember Karen Troeh's spectacular handmade crowns? Well her work was recently featured on the television show Reign! You can see a picture of the crown on Reign and read about the costume designer's vision here.


If you love the show or just the crown, don't forget you can have one of your very own. Be sure to check out Karen's shop CourtlyCharm and snag a crown for your majestic self or for that royal someone in your life. We're so happy for Karen and we hope to see more of her adornments on screen in the future. Congratulations Karen, on this truly crowning achievement!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Unique Vintage Finds at Bumbershoot Supplies: A Brief History of Banana Bob


Years ago, Bumbershoot Supplies purchased a large amount of vintage rhinestone and metal components originally made for the Banana Bob company. We are now making these very limited components available as Unique Vintage Finds on our website and in the unique finds section in our Etsy store. There are different items in both places, so be sure to check both out. 


 It's always fun  to see how vintage jewelry components were originally used. With that in mind, we thought we'd share a few Banana Bob pieces from our collection, plus a bit about Banana Bob in general. You will find some of the components in these pieces available on our websites, if they have not already sold. 


Made in the 1980s and 1990s, designed by former figure skater Annie Venditti, Banana Bob jewelry is famous for the intricate components and detailed layered designs. All of the jewelry was handmade, including gluing and setting rhinestones, hand enamelling and soldering metal layers, and as you can imagine it was very time intensive. The company no longer is in operation, due partly to the enormous amount of time to create the pieces which cut steeply into profits. But the jewelry remains and is still very popular among collectors and fans. If you click on the photos, you will get a larger version in which you will be able to see the components in more detail.

  

 With Banana Bob, jewelry designs are often themed and elaborate. Designs are often asymmetrical as well. Banana Bob jewelry was made from very fine elements such as Swarovski crystal rhinestones and US made brass findings. Banana Bob jewelry is definitely for people who wish to stand out in a crowd! 


Many of the components were created specifically for use in the Banana Bob designs. You can often find layers of filigrees bent and soldered into unique components or set rhinestones soldered onto connectors. We have quite a few Banana Bob components in stock at Bumbershoot Supplies. You can find them in special sections in our Etsy shop as well as on our website. These special items are limited, so get them while you can!


Saturday, June 29, 2013

New on Pinterest: Keep Calm and Craft On

Pinterest is a really great resource for finding and organizing all of those craft ideas and projects we happen to stumble across on our trips through the internet. We've been pulling together some of our favorite projects onto our new Pinterest board "Keep Calm and Craft On". Whether you are looking to get a jump on the holidays with Christmas in July, or wondering what to do with those vintage beads in your stash, or just looking for creative inspiration, check out some of our favorite projects: