“The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind and another his mother called him "WILD THING!" and Max said "I'LL EAT YOU UP!" so he was sent to bed without eating anything..."

There are some things in life that no matter how many times you experience it, it never becomes tiring, grows old, stale, boring. Maurice Sendak’s classic picture book Where The Wild Things Are is one such everlasting joy. From the first read to the 50th, it never loses its exuberance. Since its publication in 1963, WTWTA has been a story passed on through generations, touching new readers with it wondrous tale about a boy named Max who’s mischief making gets him sent to bed without dinner. Donned in his befitting wolf costume, Max slips into a state between dreams and reality where his bedroom becomes a forest that leads to a wild, magical land of beasts. The creatures he encounters are illustrated with equal beauty and terror. Without spoiling too much, it’s safe to say that Max has an adventure, a journey, one that changes him as well as the readers who come along for the ride. This book is a must read for those who have not experienced it. But if you prefer to see this tale adapted into live motion, there’s a lovely new movie out in theaters. It’s a feast for the eyes and most certainly inspiring.

Goody Beads has turned into a “wild rumpus” of sorts. We’ve assembled a collection of beads, charms and jewelry components inspired by WTWTA. From moss jasper gemstone beads to hand carved bone beads, these jewelry components will help you unleash your inner wild child.

Beads and Jewelry Components Inspired by Where The Wild Things Are

Happy Beading!
*Miss Pearl*

I Heart Italian Resin Beads.
It’s official. I’m going to leave my husband and run off with these fantastic plastic jewelry components. You’ve most certainly come in contact with acrylic before. It’s derivative of the most widely used man-made substance on the planet: plastic. Acrylic and its resin cousins are quite simply plastic compounds. Plastic, unfortunately, tends to get a bad wrap for being cheap, which is such an unforgiving word. Plastic is affordable, yes, but it’s a material that can also be beautiful. Beauty is priceless in the eye of the beholder. With every material, there’s always a breakthrough in innovation and Italian resin happened to be one of those bursts of creativity. Italian resin is just as lightweight and durable as other acrylics/resins but it’s the finish that sets it apart. Italian resin takes on a mother-of-pearl sheen that plays with light. It has a richness and depth to it that makes it a great alternative to pearls and crystals. The beauty of resin is that it can be cast in any shape, and manufactured in a rainbow of colors.

I urge you to give acrylic/resin a chance with these new Italian resin beads. Choose from 27 styles, and 4 color designs, each with 3-4 shapes to choose from. They’re a great way to make a bold statement without spending a lot of money. If being “cheap” is wrong. I don’t want to be right.

Discover NEW Italian Resin Beads!

What fun designs and colors! Reminds me of the artist Keith Haring.  The illustration of the heart, above, is his artwork.

The 12 and 14mm rounds remind me of gumballs.  Yum!

Super chic.  This design is like a boutique hotel, packed into a compact bead.  Love it!

Laffy Taffy anyone?  This design is sweet like candy. Those flower-shaped beads are great for every girly girl.

Happy Beading!
*Miss Pearl*

To us beaders, a charm is a delightful little ornament, worn on a necklace or bracelet. But this time of year, my vocabulary is reminded that to some, charms are an object, act, or saying believed to have magical power. (Cue the eerie music.) If I were a green-skinned witch, plucked from the pages of the Wizard of Oz, I’d cast a spell to make every idol hand, one that would constantly bead, bead, and bead some more. Wicked? Depends on whom you ask. Whether you’re making jewelry with charms, or crafting charms of the fantastic kind, you’ll love these new silver pewter Halloween charms from Goody Beads. These fun Halloween charms are delightful little ornaments indeed. Choose from a spooky spider, scary scarecrow, a laughing witch who’s jolly is not exactly on the lines of St. Nick, and several spellbinding others. It’s not too late to get in on the Halloween fun, and if you’re (mummy) wrapped for the season, pick some up for next year’s haunting.

New Pewter Halloween Charms!

Happy Beading!
*The Ghost of Miss Pearl*

Hey there blog readers!

The holidays are right around the corner. Now is the time to stock up for the season and SAVE 10% on everything! Looking for a quick and easy gift idea? Try our exclusive collection of Add-A-Bead kits.

Choose from stylish wine stoppers, beautiful bead pens, and our very special holiday earring jewelry kits, featuring a snowman, Christmas tree, or angel. Don’t miss your chance to save 10% on these fab kits, and everything else at Goody Beads.

Enter coupon code: FALLTEN during your checkout, and your savings will be applied. And remember, any purchase over $35 automatically qualifies you for FREE priority shipping in the U.S.A.**

Hurry! You only have three days to save. Sale ends October 10th. Shop now!

*Offer valid 10/8/09 - 10/10/09. Offer valid on purchases when you enter coupon code ‘FALLTEN’. Offer not valid in conjunction with any other offer, certificate, discount, or with Goody Beads Bucks.
**Free shipping applies to orders shipped within the U.S.A only and must be selected at time of checkout.

Happy Beading!
*Miss Pearl*

You say potato. I say pa-tah-toe.
You say Opal. I say Pink Tourmaline.
No need to fight. We’re both right.

Some months are represented by two birthstones. October is one of them. The more traditional stone for the month is the Opal, but the official birthstone is Pink Tourmaline. I can’t say that I prefer one gemstone over the other, as both are lovely and come in several colors to fit your needs.

You might have heard the word “Opalescence” used at one time or another. Perhaps when someone was trying to describe how an object radiates a spectrum of color. Opals are known for their spectral displays. This effect is the result of many layers of gelatinous moisture built up in the stone. Milky white Opals are most popular, but there’s also the yellow-hued fire Opal, and the mysterious and rare black Opal to name a few. Like all natural gemstones, Opals have mystical properties that are said to facilitate good dreams and positive change.

Tourmaline may not get the adoration of the Opal, but it is a gorgeous stone everyone should get to know. The name Tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word turamali, an ancient name for ‘gems’ in Sri Lanka, although, today, Tourmaline can be found all over the world. October boasts the pink hued Tourmaline. (Which is also referred to as Rubellite.) The mystical properties of this pretty pink stone centers around healing and renewal. Pink Tourmaline aids in ridding our soul of emotional baggage and healing our bodies from trauma or crisis. Whether you believe that or not, it’s fascinating how there’s always more to crystals and gemstones than meets the eye.

Goody Beads has a variety of Opal beads and charms, plus plenty of Pink Tourmaline-hued products. Shop now!

Happy Beading!
*Miss Pearl*

October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and here at Goody Beads, we’re proud to be one of the largest resources online for awareness jewelry components. We offer a great selection of unique and exclusive pink ribbon beads and charms, plus all the supplies you need to make beautiful awareness jewelry.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was started 25 years ago to shed light on the disease, promote prevention, support research efforts for a cure, and instill hope in those who are affected by this disease. The ribbon icon is associated with a variety of causes, but the color pink is most attributed to breast cancer. As beaders, we can use our innate talents to craft objects that deliver a message to those all around. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, heart disease, autism, and many others, no matter your cause, Goody Beads has the components you need to show your support or to help others show their support as well.

Click here to visit our Resources Section for pink ribbon jewelry design ideas.
For more information on Breast Cancer, and to find a wealth of resources, visit the Susan G. Komen foundation’s website, or Cancer.org.

Miss Pearl’s Pink Ribbon Picks

 *Rosie The Breast Cancer Riveter By Photographer: Tiffany Israel

Happy Beading!
*Miss Pearl*