Foxy Findings Bellazano Beads 04.23.08

Gemstone of the Week

Agatized Fossil Coral

Contrary to common perception, Agatized Fossil Coral is collected from pits and trenches dug in the jungle and along streambeds, not from the sea where beautiful live coral thrives. In most jungles the underlying coralline limestone has been weathered away leaving only the hard agate replaced upper crust of the ancient reef as cobbles and boulders in soil. The fossilized coral appears as small “flowers” and designs on the stone. A porous layer is normally cut away and the well agatized fossil portion is sawed producing high quality, high yield lapidary slabs for export. Small slabs are set aside for custom bead and cabochon orders. Some fossil coral can be heated to enhance the color and contrast in the fossil pattern. Fossilized coral can be found in brown, gray, black, white, yellow and red. Success in heating is dependent on mineral content, oven temperature and luck!

No luck is needed in the heating and baking of Fimo clay! Fimo is the most well renowned polymer clay on the market. It is fun and easy to work with, as it is pliable and easily malleable. It is used for making m any things including beads, jewelery, and accessories. This polymer clay is fun to work with for everyone, as it can be baked in a standard or toaster oven on 110 degree Celsius to harden it. Once baked, it can be painted, sanded, drilled and sliced. A wide array of beads are available on the market, as well as the materials to make them. We at foxy Findings, acquired beautiful handmade Fimo and Semi-precious stone focal beads. Hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

Spotlight On: Your Customer Service Team

With thousands of new items added weekly, and ITEMS ENDING RIGHT NOW, there is no time like the present to vist Foxy Findings!

Meet one of your Foxy Direct Customer Service Represenatives, Stephanie Clark.

Stephanie is the proud single mother of Karyn, who is 11. She is a part time student, and artist. She is fasinated by our wide selection of quality beads, and loves searching through them to find the perfect one to send a customer.

Stephanie was born in Arizona and has lived here her whole life. She comes from a long line of beaders and loves helping others, so working on our customer service team was a natural choice for her.

From the Desk of Stephanie Clark

Hello fellow beaders!

My name is Stephanie, and I am pleased to be a part of the Foxy Findings Customer Service team! Not only do I love beading, but I enjoy chatting with all of you, and love to help!

My mother was a beader, as was her mother, and I am thrilled to be now passing the same passions on to my daughter. In the age of instant messages and constant distractions, it is very satisfing to sit down and enjoy a family bonding activity like beading.

Feel free to drop me a line anytime you have a question or need help with something, and happy beading!

You Will Need: Step By Step Studio: Earth Week Necklace
1 1x2” Handmade Artisan Fimo – Peach Aventurine – Rutilized Quartz Pendant
32 10mm Agatized Fossil Coral
6 14mm Coin shaped Graphic Feldspar
6 12mm Wavy Rondelle Rust Aventurine
4 7x29mm Faceted Rondelle Carnelian
1 Silvertone Bali Style S Clasp
2 Crimp Beads 30” Strand of Filament String
Fimo – Fossilized Coral, Feldspar, Carnelian and Aventurine Necklace

Begin by Stringing Clasp loop attached to S clasp onto filament

Now string a Fossil coral bead

Follow with a crimp bead

Take Beginning end of string and loop around clasp

String through Fossil Bead

String through Crimp Bead

Flatten crimp bead

Now:

1) String 1 Feldspar Coin Bead

2) String 3 Fossil Coral Beads

3) 1 Wavy Rondelle Aventurine Bead

4) String 3 Fossil Coral Beads

5) String 1 Feldspar Coin Bead

6) String 3 Fossil Coral Beads

7) String 1 Wavy Rondelle Aventurine Bead

8) String 1 Faceted Rondelle Carnelian Bead

9) String 1 Wavy Rondelle Aventurine Bead

10) String 3 Fossil Coral Beads

11) String 1 Feldspar Coin Bead

12) String 3 Fossil Coral Beads

13) String 1 Faceted Rondelle Carnelian Bead

14) String 1 Fimo Focal Bead

15) Repeat Step 13 backwards to Step 1

16) Follow with a crimp bead

17) Follow with a Fossil Coral Bead

18) End with the 2nd jump ring attached to S clasp

Take end of string and loop around clasp

String through Fossil Bead

String through Crimp Bead Flatten Crimp Bead

Tip of the week: Start the necklace by attaching the clasp! If you have laid out your design, you will be able to keep it from slipping!