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Marilyn's
 Newsletter

Information and Ideas

From Marilyn Gardiner's Studio
November 2011

My Big News

There's a NEW Marilyn Gardiner Design website. You'll have to go and check it out! As part of my move to a new host and upgrading security measures, I've also transitioned to using WordPress for the website. (Thanks to G.Borland Design Studio.)

Things To Look For
* The pages have a top banner that changes every few seconds, showing images of a few of my designs.
* There's a complete list of all of the kits with French translations.
* There is the beginning of a Blog -- and if I get my act together, there will be links from this newsletter to more information there.
* A "Make Jewellery" section that will feature special offers, free tutorials, helpful articles, videos and charts, event photos and useful links.
* My lists of Shows & Classes. It's now up-to-date for the winter, and I'm working on the spring classes
* A Gallery! More about this later... (Lots more to do here.)
* A comprehensive FAQ page.
* Under "About" see the Gardiner Team for a peek at all the super people who help make this business a success.
 
Our Summer & Fall in Review

We've had a busy summer and fall: a July show in Halifax followed by a couple of family days in PEI and an August show in Montreal, followed by a visit to Bead Fest in Philadelphia to take some classes and meet vendors. Then some local events in September: the Heart & Hand Festival in Kitchener and a trunk show at Crafter's Cupboard in Guelph. October & November is time for the major shows: the Grand River Bead Society Show in Guelph, the CreativFestival and the Toronto Bead Society Show in Toronto, and the Ottawa Glass Bead Makers Show in Ottawa. It's been a blast! We have a wonderful team!


Marilyn

 

PS
I now have a Business Page on Facebook. Please go to "Marilyn Gardiner Design" and click on the Like button. Watch for Blog entries and interesting bits of information about what's happening, coming events, and special offers.
 
Persian GSG Braclet
Persian GSG Bracelet
Silver Filled Jump Rings

You may have noticed that we recently added silver filled rings to the online
store. The silver filled wire with the highest silver content we could find is 1/10 by weight. When buying silver filled rings be aware that lesser amounts of silver - 1/20 or even 1/40 are on the market.


Christmas Project Christmas Project
Caribbean Green Mobius Bracelet Kit
The snow is coming and you'll have time to settle in and create this stunning bracelet.
Includes FREE
* tube of GS Hypo Bead Tip Cement (to glue in the Rivoli crystals)
* Bead mat
New Kits Now Available Online

Here is a small sample of the new kits that you will find in my online store. You can find them all under the NEW tab.
Victorian Lace Bracelet
Victorian Lace Bracelet
Roundmaille Bangle
Roundmaille Bangle

Turkish Spring Necklace
Turkish Spring Necklace

Top 5 Earring Projects for Beginners 

 

I am often asked, "I want to try chain mail, what would be a good project to start with?" Another variation is, "I just made the xyz bracelet, so what would be a good kit to try next?"

 

The easy answer is to say, "Look for kits with a skill level of Beginner and choose one." But I think I can give a better answer to this question. There are certain chain mail weaves that are not difficult, but also have the flexibility and potential to be used in many ways. Once learned, these weaves form a foundation for future experimentation and exploration in the world of jewellery making.

Read more of this blog entry...

 

Tips & Techniques

How to Clean Tarnish from Copper or Jeweller's Bronze Jewellery

The best and easiest way is with a vibratory or rotary tumbler. However, if you don't have a tumbler, head for your fridge and pull out a bottle of lemon juice concentrate. Read more...

Cleaning Jewellery
Cleaning copper and jeweller's bronze

Work in Progress: A Studio Peek

I purchased these lampwork beads from Maureen Ross at the recent OGBA show in Ottawa. I've just ordered some black Niobium jump rings that I think will be amazing with them. Maybe Turkish Round?
Maureen Ross lampwork

I want to revise the Foxtail Bracelet kits in sterling and in copper. Here are the focal beads by Kirsty Naray that I want to try with the silver, and some black lava beads that should be amazing with the copper. We'll see...

I have a very lovely necklace in the Butterfly weave, and I want to make one in silver filled (to help make it affordable as a kit). I'm looking for the right pendant but haven't found it yet. Any ideas anyone?
Butterfly Necklace

In This Issue
Featured Products


Highlights  
 
Silver Filled Jump Rings

Special Christmas Project

New Kits

5 Top Earring Kits  

Tips & Techniques

Studio Peek

Coming Events 
   

Quick Links

Upcoming Events - 2012

Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO) Waterloo Marketplace,  December 4, 2011
New Dundee Community Centre
1028 Queen Street, New Dundee, Ontario, Canada
Sale of finished jewellery.

To Bead True Blue, and The Tucson Bead Show, February 1-5
Tucson Doubletree Reid Park
445 S Alvernon Way, Tucson AZ U.S.A.
Daily chain mail classes-click for details.

Toronto Reference Library
Appel Salon, 2nd Floor
789 Yonge Street (North of Bloor at Yonge)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Class information to be announced.

Frontier Airlines Center
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue,
Milwaukee WI, U.S.A.

Suggestions?

Thank you for choosing to be part of my mailing list. I welcome any comments or suggestions about what you'd like to see in these newsletters. They are a "work-in-progress."

 

Contact Information

Gardiner Design
Marilyn Gardiner:  mg@marilyngardiner.com