At the Bead & Button Show, I was lucky to get a sneak peek of some new US made pewter components. I have come home to find that they are already available at Art Beads!Included in the new products are some great tab shaped spiral imprinted scroll beads in round, square, heart, rectangle and teardrop shapes. I think these shapes would make a perfect compliment to the tab and lentil shaped lamp worked beads that are so popular lately, like Lori Greenberg‘s beads. The low profiled shapes feel great flat against the body for a bracelet or necklace.
There are also some great new link designs in the collection, all with a scrolling, sort of art nouveau feel to them, which is beautiful and versatile. But probably the most exciting new component is the briolette bail. This is a small bail with two small prongs hidden inside, so you can squeeze it onto a briolette shaped stone or crystal bead. This is exciting, because while I find briolettes and top drilled beads beautiful, they are often difficult to work with. And this pewter design is a lovely alternative to the other bails on the market.
I am looking forward to ordering a few more of these components to see what I can do with them!
