Featured Artist: Gesine of GesineArt - The Purple Bumblebee on Artfire

 

Our latest featured artist is the multi-talented Gesine of GesineArt-The Purple Bumblebee!

 

Gesine's designs caught my eye because of their interesting use of layers of filigrees, rhinestones, cabochons and beads.

A lot of Gesine's jewelry is inspired by Victorian motifs and old European royalty. Gesine says she creates "Unique pieces reminiscent of the Renaissance and Victorian times, with a playful twist of fairytales, fables, heraldry and nature themes".

This demi-parure is inspired by a necklace worn by Queen Anne of Austria.

This necklace is inspired by Victorian poet Lord Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shalott". Just look at the layers!

 

"Four gray walls, and four gray towers,

Overlook a space of flowers,

And the silent isle imbowers

The Lady of Shalott."

 

Not only is Gesine a talented jewelry maker, she also creates gorgeous hand painted ornaments.

This ornament has beautiful bleeding hearts, a favorite flower of ours that is currently blooming here in the Pacific Northwest.

 

We hope you'll enjoy a visit over to Gesine's Artfire Store, to be inspired by Gesine's designs and their unique stories. Gesine only makes 2 of each of her designs, so perhaps you may find a unique holiday gift or a treasure for yourself!

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Liberace Extravaganza!

Our latest addition to our bookshelf came about when we purchased thousands of vintage rhinestones from long time Las Vegas costumer Jan Jewett. She and Connie Furr Soloman wrote this book, Liberace Extravaganza! and Jan was kind enough to provide us with a signed copy.
 

Authorized by the Liberace Foundation, this book explores not only Liberace's life story, but the people and clothes that helped him craft his signature image. In fact, you might want to skip to the back of the book when you first get your hands on it. It is there you will find spectacular full page close ups of his costumes, organized by the decade during which the costume was created and worn. Thousands and thousands of rhinestones, sequins, glass and acrylic pearls, seed beads, mirrored cabochons, and crystal beads adorn everything from boots to lace cuffs.
 

Once you're done oohing and aahing, be sure to go back to the beginning of the book and read about the lives of the people who made it all happen.
 

Similar to when we visited Mary Wilson's Supremes costume exhibit, it is exciting to see some of the beautiful items we stock at Bumbershoot Supplies in action in these outlandishly marvelous clothes. This book is a phenomenal inspiration for anyone who loves costuming or beading or who just loves rhinestones, glitter and glam.

Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies October 2013 Special for Newsletter Subscribers

Autumn leaves OR jack-o-lanterns and Halloween bats, free with purchase!
 

This October we couldn't decide which vintage cabochons to give our newsletter subscribers, so we're giving them their choice! If you can't wait for Halloween, then you might choose the vintage foil backed smilin' jack-o-lanterns and fanged bats. Or perhaps you love how autumn turns the leaves into shades like our vintage ruby and topaz cabochons.

Our newsletter subscribers can choose one of these samplers, free with any purchase at Bumbershoot Supplies or Bumbershoot Designs.  See your October 1 and October 15 newsletters for details and the coupon code.

Also, don't forget your 1-time free shipping offer that you received when you signed up for our newsletter.

And YES, you can combine specials. So you can have the vintage cabochons of your choice, plus the free shipping code you received upon signing up for the newsletter in the same order!

Not yet a newsletter subscriber? You can read past issues and you can sign up right here and get your free shipping and vintage cabochon sampler at your next purchase!

October's Birthstone: Opal

Vintage Fire Opal Harlequin Round Cabochons. 

October's birthstone is the opal.

The gemstone opal comes in many different hues, including warmly colored "fire opals" as well as striking blues. Vintage glass also displays a rich variety of hues made to mimic the various types of gemstone opal. We have a large collection of faux opal glass at Bumbershoot Supplies and Bumbershoot Designs. Typical among this style of glass are those that have a colored base, speckled with different colors of glass and foil, often with a layer of clear glass on top to provide a magnifying effect.

Vintage Ruby Red Fire Opal Pear Cabochons.

Vintage Blue Green Opal Cabochon.

Common gemstone opals, with their distinctive milky opacity also have inspired glass makers, resulting in a type of glass that is translucent with a golden glowing and sometimes fiery presentation. This type of glass is sometimes referred to as opaline, and the degree of fire varies from subtle to flashing.

Vintage Japanese Cherry Brand Opaline Glass Beads.

Vintage Opaline Leaf Cabochons.

You will also sometimes find these two types of glass worked together, a milky glass layer applied over a foil studded and speckled base.

Vintage Opal Glass Teardrop Rhinestones.

Opals have been the source of much folklore and superstition over the years.  Sometimes said to provide good luck and clarity to the wearers, they also have been associated with bad luck and death. 
 

Vintage Fire Opal Gold Filigree Cocktail Ring.

In 1870 Tiffany & Co. published a birthstone poem in one of their pamphlets. The poem for October goes: 

"October's child is born for woe,
And life's vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,

And hope will lull those woes to rest."

For hopeful inspiration, we invite you to browse our vintage faux opal collections!

Opals at Bumbershoot Supplies

Opals at Bumbershoot Designs

Featured Artist: Maud Traon

It's not very often that we have a customer invite us to view her work on exhibition in Paris. However, that is exactly what happened with our newest featured artist, Maud Traon. 

Maud creates pieces of wearable art, abundant with color and texture. 

 

Her jewelry combines many different materials into fantastical creations.  Look closely and you will see our vintage rhinestones in some of these fabulous pieces. 

Maud's work is currently being shown at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, just across the street from the Louvre.

 

Maud's designs are being exhibited as part of a larger jewelry event called Circuits Bijoux, featuring the work of many contemporary artists housed all around Paris. Completing the tour would be an unusual and exciting way to experience Paris. 

 

If you're in Paris between now and March 2, 2014, go and check out Maud's amazing creations! And if you can't go to Paris, head on over to Maud's website.

 

New at Bumbershoot Supplies: Cheery Cherry Brand Vintage Japanese Beads

Here at Bumbershoot Supplies, we've been 'oohing and ahhing' over a new shipment of gorgeous vintage Cherry Brand beads. With bright cherry reds, vintage turquoise and creamy pastels the bead colors look like they've been picked while standing in front of a candy counter. (Please don't try to lick them though!) Cherry Brand beads were handcrafted in Osaka during the late 1940s -- you can read more about their history in our blog post here.

In addition to regular round beads we also have 'baroque' beads. Unevenly formed with lots of interesting texture to the surface, these beads will truly enhance any design. 

We're drawing out the last days of summer with these bright beads. Guaranteed to brighten anyone's day! 

Shop our Cherry Brand Collection at Bumbershoot Supplies.

September's Birthstone: Sapphire



Sapphire Vintage Glass Octagon Rhinestones 

September's birthstone is the sapphire.
The gemstone sapphire comes in many different hues, including shades of blue, pink, green, and yellow. While they might not be actual gemstones, we do have a large collection of sapphires at Bumbershoot Supplies and Bumbershoot Designs. Vintage sapphire beads and rhinestones come in special vintage shades of blue, such as light sapphire, indian sapphire and montana sapphire, as well as the more traditional deep cobalt blue.
 

Light Sapphire Vintage Glass Deco Fan Cabochons

Indian Sapphire Vintage Swarovski Teardrop Rhinestones

 

Montana Sapphire Vintage Glass Teardrop Cabochons

The word sapphire is said to mean "sacred to Saturn", and the stone and color have been associated with heavenly meanings. 
 

Sapphire Dragonfly Vintage Rhinestone Necklace

Sapphire Vintage Gold Filigree Flower Ring 

In 1870 Tiffany & Co. published a birthstone poem in one of their pamphlets. The poem for September goes: 
 

"A maiden born when September leaves

Are rustling in September's breeze,

A sapphire on her brow should bind

`Twill cure diseases of the mind."

For heavenly inspiration, we invite you to browse our sapphire collections!

Sapphires at Bumbershoot Supplies

Sapphires at Bumbershoot Designs

 

A Giveaway from a Featured Artist!

 

Our friend--and one of our featured artists--Anne Toprak from PlumCreek22 Studio on Etsy is giving away some lovely gift sets!

 

The sets include some of her marvelous hair pins made with vintage cabochons, elegant greeting cards, and some gorgeous bohemian paper stars. See all of the information over at Anne's blog! For a chance at these lovelies, leave a comment, and note that you can get an extra entry by following her blog.

If you'd like to learn a little more about Anne you can read our featured artist blog post and be sure to check out her Etsy shop.

Bumbershoot Designs Supplies September 2013 Special for Newsletter Subscribers

Vintage Swarovski Rhinestone Earring Kit, free with purchase!
 

September's birthstone is the sapphire. Our treat for September is a new earring kit featuring lovely vintage Swarovski crystal rhinestones in one of our favorite colors, Montana sapphire, with findings from our line of US-made antiqued brass. During September, we will send to our newsletter subscribers all necessary components to make the earrings shown in the photo above, with any purchase at Bumbershoot Supplies or Bumbershoot Designs.  See your September 1 and September 15 newsletters for details and the coupon code.

Also, don't forget your 1-time free shipping offer that you received when you signed up for our newsletter.

And YES, you can combine specials. So you can have the earring kit and the free shipping code you received upon signing up for the newsletter in the same order!

Not yet a newsletter subscriber? You can read past issues and you can sign up right here and get your free shipping and earring kit at your next purchase!