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Fish beads provide
By Bethany Waldrop Keiper . "The morns are meeker than they were, the nuts are getting brown; The berry's cheek is plumper, the rose is out of town." -- Emily Dickinson, Indian Summer It's not quite here yet, but it's getting oh-so-close. It's the fall season, one of the prettiest times of year. Autumn "officially" begins at the Fall Equinox, on September 22 for this year. There really isn't a good way to predict when or even if Indian summer -- that late autumn time of mild temperatures and clear skies -- will occur. Neither autumn nor Indian summer is a time when the first beads that come to mind are fishy in nature, but, these beads are a great way to bring large splashes of brilliant fall color into your designs. Their wide, flat shape is eye-catching. Fancy fish beads also incorporate beautiful swirling bands of adventurine, that luscious stuff that gives wedding cake beads their verve. Adventurine, also called goldstone, has a distinct coppery glow to it, and copper is one of fall's great colors. Copper looks to be popular this autumn, fashion-wise, in some collections. Designer Helmut Lang's runway shows have featured full-on copper-colored leather jackets, shining like a new penny in supple fabric. Copper-colored beads make pretty accents with fancy fish beads. Try using a copper charm as a dangling accent to a finished bracelet, or look for copper metal rounds to use as spacers between beads in a design. Copper painted wooden beads can add color and space between pretty amethyst fancy fish.
Amethyst lampworked rounds with cool copper swirls and glass dots add extra shape and interest. This copper heart dangle will add charm and a little extra weight to the clasp.
Other fall fashion forecasts predict a mixed garden of colors for autumn. Popular shades will include dark earth tones and rich colors borrowing from Mother Nature's own palette -- bark, plum, dandelion and pumpkin. Dried grapevine wreaths dotted with fall flowers are popular for autumn decor, so make your own pretty 'bead wreath' strung on gold flexible wire.
A bit of ribbon always makes a pretty, feminine statement. If you make bead wreaths to sell, you might perhaps include a few different pieces of ribbon to match the different colors of the fish beads, so that the wearer can decide which color best suits her on different occasions. When you aren't wearing your ‘wreath' bracelet, retie its bow, hang it in a sunny area and watch the fish beads glow like jewels. What a catch! Ribbon in a matching shade also provides a decorative necklace cord for a pretty yellow fish charm. A fish charm need not end with a tail. Turn a loop under the tail, and add an accent dangle of a firepolished bead in the same color or in a complementary color.
To quote an ancient Chinese proverb, "don't stand by the water and long for fish; go home and weave a net." So, don't just sit there, go out and find some fish beads! More fall fish designs to come in November's design column. Next month, Halloween design tricks will be a treat! Yellow saucer beads, citrine firepolished beads, and all fancy fish lampworked beads courtesy of the Bead Peddler.
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