How lucky I am to still be beading and sharing my results with my beadbriends! 

In the winter-month downtime, I had a chance to work on a bunch of new bracelets.  Many of them are in my favorite blue/turquoise palette because I tend to buy those shades automatically.  I also had fun creating with gemstones:  amethyst, amazonite, jasper, obsidian, mother of pearl.  I made two new children's bracelets in the popular purple and blue colors.  Because my 2023 acrylic Christmas bracelet was so successful, I designed a fun St. Patrick's bracelet in shades of green.  And I didn't neglect my fans of sparkly beads.  I have four new designs in frosty blue, lime, burgundy, and champagne.  

Thanks to my husband's photographic skills (and patience), I continue to post a new bracelet every few days on my Beadfriended FaceBook page.  I am so very grateful for the reactions I've received there from my beadfriends!  You all keep me motivated to return to my beading table with yet another new idea. 

We are also about to start our 2024 craft show season this week.  If you click on the "Schedule" tab, you can see that we are hoping to do at least six shows between August and December.  We are SO excited to reconnect with familiar faces and look forward to meeting some new ones.  Hope to see you soon! 

You can see why I count my blessings every day!

Mary Jo Astrachan
Beadfriended

I've been busy these past few months at my bead table, creating over 30 new bracelet designs.  Some are reinterpretations of old favorites, and some feature new beads from my collection.  I've continued my HUGE project from 2022 of restringing all my Swarovski bracelets, changing them from one and a half coils to two full coils, a look I really prefer.

I also have some fun new earrings, especially some color-changing pairs.  Like the mood rings from the past, the beads in these earrings will change color, depending on lighting and temperature. 

My husband also has some new photos in stock.  He has some cool new birds as well as some dramatic sunrises and sunsets. 

We can't wait to share our new products as well as our bestsellers with attendees at upcoming shows.  The best part of every event is reconnecting with previous customers and meeting new ones!  Hope to see you soon!

Mary Jo & Howard

It has been over a year and a half since our last craft show in December 2019.  Almost all of our shows were canceled in 2020, and my husband and I didn't feel comfortable enough to do the one show that did run.  Boy, have I missed seeing my customers and hearing how you have been doing!

First of all, I pray that you and your families are all well and surviving the pandemic.  The past year has certainly given us all a chance to reevaluate what is truly important in our lives.  My husband and I have been "good hermits" and have tried to be careful about our activities.  When we were finally able to be vaccinated and see our family again, there were joyful reunions, including a small celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary.

If you know me, you have probably figured out that I haven't paused my beading during Covid.  As a matter of fact, I have over 90! new bracelet designs, as you can see from the photos attached.  I had such fun digging deeply into my bead bins and "playing" with cool beads I hadn't had the time to work with before: gemstones, sparkly glass, polymer clay, seedbeads, and, of course, Swarovski crystal and crystal pearls. 

And with the help of my daughter, I now have a Beadfriended Facebook page.  Since last October, I have been posting a different bracelet every few days.  (So far I've done 60.)  My talented photographer husband has been faithfully taking pictures of the bracelets and sometimes earrings, learning all abut how to deal with problems like faceted beads that reflect too much light. 

I try to highlight my most recent bracelet designs as well as seasonal favorites and classics.  I hope you'll consider liking and following my Beadfriended page.  I would love for you to see what I've been up to!

I will be anxiously looking forward to seeing everyone in person at craft shows.  (You can see our 2021 schedule on this website.)  Until then, please stay safe.  If you ever need some cheer, please consider checking out those Facebook posts.

Your beadfriend,
Mary Jo

Greetings, beadfriends!  Most importantly in this pandemic year, I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well.  I look forward to the time when we can see each other again safely.

Even though we have no craft shows in 2020, I have not stopped making bracelets.  My hobby has given me great comfort when I’ve been staying close to home instead of volunteering, traveling, working out at the Y, and seeing family and friends in non-Zoom situations.  So far I’ve made 58 new designs, with no end in sight.

Since I’ve had the luxury of time, I’ve been able to dig deep into my bead bins and have fun with some really cool beads I hadn’t had the time for in ordinary years:  Millefiori (“thousand flowers”), rudraksha (large seed beads used in the Hindu culture), a full rainbow of sparkly crystals, and new gemstones to add to the Beadfriended line.  Several jaspers (Kambaba, leopardskin, zebra, Noreena) and many agates (tree, blue crackle, blue/bronze, matte blue, snakeskin, brown banded, fancy green) have kept me busy.

I also found some very nice quality gemstones in the chakra colors (red garnet, carnelian, citrine, green aventurine, blue apatite, lapis lazuli, amethyst, and crystal quartz) and made two designs using small and medium sized beads.  Plus bracelets featuring feldspar pebbles, blackstone, blue/tan tigereye and many more surprises to come over the next months.

I am also blessed to have my photographer husband with free time to take some pictures of my new stock.  Stay tuned for that. . .

If anything new captures your attention or you have questions about any items you’ve previously seen in our booth, please don’t hesitate to get in touch through this website or our home phone (315-363-6340).  I’ve even wondered if any of my beadfriends would want to do a Zoom chat, where I could tell you more about my newest projects.  You know how I love to talk about my beads!

Till we meet again in person, please take good care—and don’t forget to put on your bracelets and earrings, even just to cheer yourself up a little.  I miss you all!

Your beadfriend,
Mary Jo

Hello again, beadfriends!  I just finished new bracelet design #46 in my 2019 line, and I can’t wait to show you all what I’ve been working on since we last saw each other.
All the “regulars” are there among my new bracelets:

• Fun “little lady” treats (glow-in-the-dark, sunshine yellow)
• Unique glass beads (charcoal fiber optic, pale pink stripe, light sapphire spiral. . . )
• Sparkly treasures (light gray, emerald, rainbow, pink/purple mix. . . )
• Intriguing gemstones (labradorite, sodalite with lapis lazuli, black tigereye. . . )

Two of my absolute favorites resulted from good sales I found from my suppliers.  I purchased beautiful amber beads, which I combined with Swarovski crystal and pearls in a three-coil design that I hope will please my fans of this honey-colored gemstone.  I also found some faceted turquoise beads, which I complimented with jet crystal in another three-coil creation to highlight these “natural beauties.”
And, of course, I’m always experimenting with unique colors and shapes in my earring line, which now exceeds 140 designs.
I’m looking forward to reconnecting with you all at our upcoming shows in the 2019 season.  I’ll have lots of new things “up my sleeve”!
Your beadfriend,
Mary Jo

Hi again, beadfriends!

I've been busy getting ready for the 2018 crafting season since shows ended last year.  It seems like I'm always thinking about a new design or some exciting beads I've just acquired.

I really focused on the gemstones again in a rainbow of colors:  red tiger iron, yellow agate and jasper, olive green/coral unakite, minty amazonite, pale blue lace and mist agates, deep blue chalcedony, rich amethyst, gray jasper, black silk stone, picture and artistic jaspers in neutral earth tones, etc.  Even mother-of-pearl in both gray and sky blue.

I also have fun new designs featuring glass beads in so many hues:  tangerine, iridescent green/purple, salmon, light fuchsia, swirly pink ribbon, lavender opal lilac, textured black, silver aurora borealis, etc.

And, yes, there is always sparkle  This time I played with deep red, purple smoky, delicate green, and even neon orange.  There are matching earrings for most of the sparkly additions.

For little ladies I created a red/white/blue lead-free bracelet, along with one in pretty pastels and another in bright pink/purple with color-changing beads.

I've added to my earring line with the Swarovski butterfies I'm addicted to along with other surprises.

I can't wait to show you all what I've been up to since 2017, trying to "stay out of trouble" at my bead-table!  I'm looking forward to reconnecting with my beadfriends and maybe even making some new ones.

I hope to see you soon at our 2018 shows!

Mary Jo

 Hi again, beadfriends.

I can't wait for you to check out my new stock!  I had a wonderfully productive winter, creating 50 (!) new bracelet designs.  I had the time to dig deep into my bead collection and to work with the gemstones, crystals and glass beads I'd been saving until I had the right inspiration and components.

I have vintage beads. . . unique cloisonne shapes. . . fun shell beads. . . three new Swarovski designs, featuring  new colors--scarabaeus green, yellow opal, and pearlescent white. . . rich gemstones:  blue tigereye, pink quartz, Kamsaba jasper, and others. . . natural wooden cubes and rounds. . . rose-goldish copper. . . and, of course,  sparkle in pastels, vibrant shades and classic black.

Best of all, the craft show season is nearly upon us.  Soon I'll get to catch up with my beadfriends from previous years and even make some new converts. Please stop by the Astrachan Artistry booth whenever you're at one of the shows listed on our 2017 schedule.

I have so much to show you!

Your beadfriend,
Mary Jo

 

  Hi, beadfriends!

I’m so excited to show you all what I’ve been working on since last year’s shows!  I have 38 (and counting) new bracelet designs to share with you:

I have lots of gemstones:  citrine, howlite, malachite, serpentine, amethyst, snowflake obsidian, dalmatiner.  Always popular for me, these natural beads make a “casually elegant” statement all their own.

Then there are the sparkly beads we gals all love—I have new bling in pink, lime/emerald, topaz, mixed blues, amethyst, red/white/blue, and purple iridescent.

I also have some “goes with everything” versatile/neutral bracelets:  natural mother of pearl, tan/black agate cubes, mixed gemstones.   

And just for fun:  ladybugs; millefiori (“a thousand flowers”) in Capri blue; and in several colors, brand-new pellet beads that make up into dense, interlocking designs.

I even have two additions to my little girls’ line:  a “Frozen”-inspired bracelet and one featuring beads that change color in sunshine.

As you can see, I’m still a beadaholic.  I hope you’ll soon enjoy the fruits of my addiction!

I can’t wait to reconnect—please check our schedule to see when we’ll be at a show near you.

Mary Jo