Design Tip Achives:
 Wedding Cake Beads, Rainbow of Colors, Focal Beads, Leaf Beads Part 1, Leaf Beads Part 2, Earth Tones, Beaded Tree Ornaments, Heart Designs, The Meaning of Colors, Mix and Match Beads, Oval Beads, Flower Designs Part 1, Flower Designs Part 2, Cane Glass, Mobiles and Home Decor, Fish Beads Provide Fall Color, Bright Halloween Colored Beads, Colorful Fall Beads, Holiday Beads, Jewelry for Moms To Be, Spring Pastels, Sexy Bead Styles, Bumpy Beads, Patriotic Designs,  Summer Designs, Shells, Basic Black,  Not so Basic Black, Dichroics, Traditional Christmas Designs, Prayer, Purple

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Use dazzling color trio for fresh spring designs

By Bethany Waldrop Keiper

"You create your own decoration. You choose your color, you choose your mood." -- Philippe Starck, designer

With Valentine's day and Mardi Gras behind us, it seems that everyone is already in the mood for spring. This lovely and all-too-brief time of year seems to pass more quickly than any of the other seasons.

As I stepped into a clothing store recently, I was overwhelmed by the dazzling colors blooming from the racks, signaling the fashion segue from the winter months to the spring season. Most prominently displayed were a trio of colors: bold coral, soft apple green, and bright aqua. Many of the garments in these shades were adorned with silver metallic thread or beading and paired white for a very bright, clean look.

Silver and white always look crisp and clean when they are mixed, and the two of them were perfect combined with the trendy trio of fresh colors.

When too many accessories are combined with sparkling necklines -- whether the sparkle comes from embroidery with metallic thread, beads, or sequins -- you can end up with a messy, overdone look. To prevent this, and avoid "over-blinging," keep your designs uncomplicated. Simple earrings, skinny necklaces worn choker length, or slim accent bracelets will be some of your best design bets.

Facetted, firepolished aqua and clear AB crystals mixed with clear, luster aqua and white encased beads make a cool creation. This design has sparkle and style while remaining simple. Beadalon Elasticity allows you to create this bracelet so that it is easy to wear and beautiful from any angle.

Another study in delicacy and simplicity is a woven seed bead "daisy" strand with the color trio of melon, green and aqua showcased between opaque white beads. In a choker length, this combination of colors is understated enough to wear with even a decorated low neckline. It also makes a lovely bracelet.

Shall I incorrectly apply an idiom? Oh, sure I shall. "As sure as God made little green apples," this design is a perfect study in simplicity.

Soft green rose-shaped beads and opaque glass cubes blend with silver for a soft shine in a dainty setting. Letting all of the sparkle emit from the silver accents rather than the glass beads themselves is a great way to showcase matte favorites.

This opaque melon cube finds its match in a matte peach bead with melon-colored stripes. Silver accents are the perfect finishing touch. Using a cube bead in an earring can avoid a clash with a busy, embroidered neckline. The bottom of the cube visually cuts off the design at the end of the earring, which helps keep it from being too much with a sparkling neckline. Once again the shine of the neckline will showcase the matte of the beads, and vice versa. 

For a longer earring that is the epitome of fresh, cool color, combine a swirled white and aqua oval bead with a white fiber-optic bead and simple silver accents. The mix of colors in this design will take you through the spring and summer months, and would also look charming with a winter cardigan in matching shades.

Facetted, firepolished AB beads and Beadalon products are available from the Bead Peddler.

 

 

 

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