Intro & AD

Goody, goody. I already have some of your beads. And I do need Swarovskis.

Shall I e-mail you if there are other colors I'd like (so that if many people want them, you could add them. If I asked you for a different color, what size order would you need to add that color? I don't think you had one of my favourites. Lt montana topaz in satin.

Tina

Welcome!!! We know you - your brother Kevin taunts us with your glorious work from time to time. You do wonderful work! Glad to have you here!

Tina,

I think you mean light *colorado* topaz satin and not light *montana* topaz satin as to the best of my knowledge there is not a light montana topaz bead, satin finish or not. Light colorado topaz is a brown color, montana is a blue color. Swarovski rarely combines two colors in one bead (fire opal being the only one I can think of at the moment), it's usually one color per bead and then one finish per bead (except for the matte abs).

FYI - we are soon to have a new color - Cantalope - to join the newly back-in-production Rosaline and Ceylon Topaz.

Deborah

I've seen it called both, but I will assume you are correct. This is really great to have two people to chose from. I really like to work with the satins. The Light Colorado Topaz Satin comes across as a light neutral blond. Anyway, the odd colors usually show up only a few on any given site.

New colors! when can we get a look at them?

Tina

Hi Tina:

Thanks for your note. I did a double take when I saw your name in the recent postings ... hello again:-).

Yes, by all means do e-mail me with a wish list of colors. This type of info is extremely useful to me. I've canvassed the local population which is in large part comprised of friends, business associates, and current/former students. Now it's time to broaden the "market research" -- what fun!!! And don't worry about the quantities that I will bring in. As long as there is a demand, I will be happy to fill it.

I've done a bit of research and I am not coming up with Lt. Montana Topaz Satin. However, I love the satin finishes and so, if you let me know it's name, I will be sure to bring it in. My current two favorite colors are Sapphire Satin and Jonquil Satin ... and of course, the Crystal Champagne is very distinctive.

One other thing that I would love to poll all of you on is rounds versus cubes ... which do you use more of... in what sizes ... and favorite colors.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for the warm welcome.

Michelle

Thanks Kandice. YOUR work is just beautiful. One of your sets that was posted a week or so ago was just breathtaking. Your website is really amazing. I was looking at the stats of my site and saw traffic coming in from yours. I went over to take a look and my oh my ... I don't think I got to bed until 3 AM. So much pertinent information. The collaboration between you and Sooz is such a service to this sector. I've been telling my students about it.

Well, I'd better close here. I am going to gain (and earn) a reputation for being long winded. Just wanted to acknowledge you and the contributions you are making.

Michelle

I too love Jonquil satin. What a very unlikely color. I find that for boro beads with their less bright colors, the satins are wonderful. Also some of the sneaky colors like Erinite and Indicolite. And Olivine, and aqua satin.

ETC, etc, etc. Are there any that are not lovely?

Glad to see you here.

Tina

Wow - thanks!

That's because Swarovski doesn't make all colors all the time, it's kind of a catch them when you can thing for the special colors, blink once and they are out of stock. Also, some finishes are not produced by Swarovski but by an authorized importer, the champagne finish falls into this category for example. So unless your vendor is purchasing from that particular distributor, they won't be able to stock that color even if they do purchase direct from Swarovski. I think most of us try to purchase from Swarovski and at least two other distributors just to be able to offer the special colors.

Rosaline is already available some places as a bicone, usually next to come out are rounds and then the cubes are usually last so I expect these will be phased in over spring. I thought I saw some ceylon topaz out but it must have been vintage because the order sheets are showing availability for ceylon topaz and cantaloupe to be 12 weeks. I thought they were meant to be spring colors but it sounds like these might hit the US market closer to the summer months for fall designs. The cantaloupe should be an *interesting* color. I haven't seen it in person although I have a pic of it (and will post it as soon as I figure out how to ftp to my website). It's going to be a little like alexandrite in that it is meant to change colors under different light conditions. It's been described as being able to change from a soft melon orange to a pastel honeydew green and thence to a shadowy crystal. Next week Swarovski will announce two new pearl colors (I am really hoping for a purple and a teal) and two new bead colors (although I am wondering if they already covered this with the ceylon topaz and cantelope). I would expect these to-be-announced colors to be available in late summer/early fall.

The canteloup sounds gorgeous. And thanks for answering about availability. Is the rosaline that pale orangy pink? I have never seen a warm pink from them, except maybe champagne rose.

Tina

Mauve (almost Violet) and Copper.

Pacific Opal and Violet Opal Ceylon Topaz is an old color they brought back because a large design house requested it. Cantelope is a color that Joan Rivers commissioned from Swarovski for her jewelry line about 2 years ago.

Both the pearls and the new colors are available for shipment as of March 1st. Pacific Opal will be available in 5301, 5000, 5601, 5040 and some pointbacks. Violet Opal will only be available in the beads at this time. Not all sizes and shapes will be available for shipment on March 1st. Both colors are stunningly gorgeous!

Swarovski has also launched 5600, a corner-drilled cube. It will be available in 4, 6 & 8mm in a limited amount of colors. It is actually not a 5601 drilled corner to corner but another cube they make. The edges are not as beveled. I don't like the 8mm version. Because of the lack of facets, it just doesn't look Swarovski enough for me.

Beki...who is jonesing for the Pacific Opal to arrive...I already have an entire piece designed in my head. =o)

So much for their big announcements in LA and NYC this week, just ask Beki LOL. Copper and mauve are okay though I really need a darker purple such as lilac, and a teal that works with night blue and black, sigh.

The opals sound wonderful and a big sigh of relief we didn't get yet another alabaster or topaz shade. I am not too excited about the cantaloupe color, wish they had reintroduced the alexandrite instead.

Me too! I have asked 3 times now...lol

They are, the Pacific Opal is stunning...greenish, blueish opaly glowing thing. My head will not stop designing with it.

Amen to that! I am about done with the topaz shades. And the only thing to date that I have found alabaster works for is to graduate from it, into white opal and then into your color scheme...other than that? It looks like chalk...yuck!

Beki

Thank you, Michelle. I always want to spread the word, to help everyone in their pilgrimage to Beadland.....:-D

~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

:-O ! ! ! !

~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

Beki, could you and Letrinka please announce it here when you have any new Swarovski bead colors in stock? Please! ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links