Out with the old...

2009 has been an interesting year to say the least! I've done a lot with my business, including rebranding it and creating a whole new image for myself. I've gotten myself so much more organized than I have ever been in the past, and that feels wonderful! My first publication is under my belt, and the confidence is now there for me to submit more. I've got a great handle on who I am as a designer and the direction I'd like to go in. I want to continue to be inspired and challenged, in addition to being an inspiration to others.

My New Years WISH is for my children. I wish that they would continue to thrive and grow into the beautiful little people that I already know that they are. I wish for them to be happy, and healthy and maintain their good values. I wish for their creative juices to keep flowing, they are all so artistic and that just fills my heart with joy! I wish for them to continue to make new friends and to savor the friendships that they've already forged. I truly admire all of my childhood friends that I am still in touch with and I am so happy that I'm able to have them as part of my life. As well as all of the new friends that I've made. You are all so special to me and I thank you for your friendship!

My New Years RESOLUTION is to try to make more time for myself. Life is busy, and I have to learn to stop sometimes...just to smell the roses. Each day is a precious gift and I'm going to make it a point to stop and just take it all in. I'm going to let my surroundings inspire me.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday and I welcome you all back in 2010! There are a lot of great things in store for me, so it's out with the old and in with the new!

I'm good at keeping Secrets!

No one can say that I'm not a good secret keeper!

In late July I made my first attempt at submitting to Bead Trends Magazine.

I thought I might just give it a try, the worst that they could say is no, right?

I submitted my favorite bracelet.

And waited...patiently.... for a reply.

Guess what?!?!

I made the January 2010 Bead Trends Issue!

I couldn't wait to tell everyone! But I had to keep it a secret! I wanted to surprise my parents, my biggest fans, with the magazine for Christmas.

This is the hardest secret that I've ever had to keep. And I couldn't wait to share it any longer so I scanned in the cover image from the magazine to post here.

When I found out that it was accepted I had to remove it from all online galleries, and since I had just painstakingly chosen it for my banner and avatar image, I had to change it quickly. But it's back now!

I had met a very dear friend of mine at Barnes and Noble on Wednesday for coffee. We haven't seen each other in 25 years! So when I asked if we could just go check and see if the magazine was out, she was more than willing! I almost squealed with delight when I saw it there on the shelf! Gwynne, it was so awesome to be able to share that with you, one of my oldest friends!

You can find my "Black Bean and Avocado" Bracelet in the Color Trends Section, page 24-25!

Can you tell I'm excited!!

Best Christmas present ever!

You have to look at this magazine! I'm in the company of some wonderful friends and designers in this issue!

Mellisa, Erin and Marie, it's an honor to share this with you as well! And of course Carey, the artist who made the fabulous glass beads that went into my design!

And the even better news... I have a piece in the upcoming May 2010 issue as well!

I know this is routine for some, but for me, it's just the beginning of a whole new realm of things for me! Congrats to everyone in the issue, it really is beautiful!

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day with Family and Friends!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Ann's Christmas Present...A little early

Unfortunately, we had a little bad news this morning. My best friend had her car broken into last night and the very selfish person who did it stole her GPS, her IPod and some cash, and totally ransacked the car. She was so sad, and I was so sad for her.

The police said that it's very common at this time of the year for these things to happen, but really that doesn't help make her feel better. It's just awful to have this happen to you, and I know how she feels. It's happened to me before and I'll say it...it sucks.

I sat last night and made her a bracelet for Christmas... and being the good friend that I am, I gave it to her early to cheer her up!

Here's the front and back view... I just LOVE these bracelets!

Ann's is made with light blue Swarovski pearls, Light Sapphire and Black Diamond 2AB Swarovski Crystals, blue seed beads, and a Bali Toggle. Can you tell what her favorite color is?

Merry Christmas Ann, I hope that all the sparkles in your new bracelet make you smile just a little bit in light of all the bad things that went on today!

Awesome Treasury!

My awesome friend Jen of Glass Addictions picked my Sea Breeze necklace for this beautiful blue treasury with no name! LOL!

I'm getting spoiled rotten!

Thank you Jen!

I'm Number ONE!

I was featured in Tim Adam's Etsy Top 10 last week!

Not number 10...but NUMBER 1!

Thanks so much Tim, it's truly an honor!

Click the photo to see the rest of the chosen 10 for last week. Lot's of great items!

Worth every minute...

My mom was unsure what to get me this year for my birthday. So I told her to pay for a class for me at the Bead Shop. I very rarely ever take a class but when this one was offered I jumped on it! I don't know how to do a lot with needles and thread and beads but I was eager to learn. Here's the result:

I love it! Made with Platinum colored Swarovski Pearls, Mocca and Light Colorado Topaz Swarovski Crystals, and a boat load of seed beads. The class was 5 hours long and I am so thrilled with the result!

Here's a close up view of all the detail. I chose neutral colors, go figure... but some of the other ladies had these vibrant colorful bracelets. They were all so pretty! I have already purchased the materials to make more. Blue is next (for Ann) because she always says "Where's Mine?" whenever I make something new! LOL! I also got some brown pearls and Rose Champagne crystals to make a brown and pink combo. Oh and Black and White too... stay tuned for those!

This is a view from the back side. Not bad! It's even pretty from this angle. It was funny during each phase of creating this beautiful piece, we were all saying how cool it looked without going any further! But the end result was So worth every minute that I put into it!
Thanks Mom and Dad for this awesome Birthday present!

It's COLD!! Brrr....

I don't have much to report today, it's just FREEZING cold. But this video brought a smile to my face and made me laugh out loud. I hope you enjoy it! Only 7 shopping day's left!

Happy week before Christmas everyone!

Happy Birthday to ME!

I've been so super slacking about updating my Etsy shop. I know I really need to get on it. I had a great show on Friday night and my husband is healing from knee surgery so it's been busy here. I'm hoping to get the new pieces up and listed in the next few days.

It's my birthday today, and I'm going to go out to dinner with the family later!

I hope you all have a great day!

Getting ready for the show!

It's been a very busy week here getting ready for my show on Friday. I've been creating and tagging lots of new things. Here's what I made on Monday...

Aren't these the best? Cup O' Joe earrings with ceramic charms made by Mellisa at Chinook Jewelry. I have these in green also but the photo didn't come out as I had planned it to. I had my hand behind it because it was windy here today and it just didn't look nice with my hand in it!

Mr. Snowman key fob, cell phone charm, purse pull, etc. I had enough parts to make one more of these as I had made earring pairs for the girls at the salon to thank them for letting me display jewelry there for the holidays. Isn't he cute?

Here are a couple of beautiful key rings that I made with these awesome glass hearts that I've had for god only knows how long. They are so pretty, and I just didn't know what to do with them, so this is where they have made their new homes!

Here is one in blue... love this one!

And last but not least is this bracelet with Deb's beads. I'm bummed because I have to redo it. I love how it came out, and it will look very similar when I restring it, with the exception of the one broken bead I found while photographing it. Not sure what happened there, but it has to be perfect if it is to be for sale so I'll remove it and make it pretty again!

Here is the boo boo bead. So sad, because it's gorgeous! But it happens and that aside I think the redesign will be just as beautiful!

We're expecting snow tomorrow. My car is tucked away safe and warm in the garage and I hope that it's enough to cancel school. Not that I'm wishing for snow, mind you... but if we're going to get it, I don't want a school delay... I want a CANCELLATION!

Have a great night all!

The past two days have been a bust for me at the computer, but that just means that I was busy creating! Here's a few photo's of what I've been up to!

 

Here's a piece made with some diamond shape beads I got from Yee at the Glass Turtle a LONG time ago!

I was hoarding them... ;) I asked her to make me some beads to match my favorite Very Bradley pattern, and she made my own special blend for her version of Java Blue!

Here are some SFD mini organics that I strung together with some black and sparkly clear!

Oasis...

And here are a couple of beautiful focals that I got from Catherine Howard. The colors and designs are just spectacular!

 

 

 

All of this designing time has kept me off the computer. But I promise today to try to get some of these listed on Etsy! I have a show coming up on December 11th so the store will be taken offline at that point. Don't let your favorite get away!

Be back tomorrow with more!

Hustle...ing and Bustle...ing!

I don't even think that those are real words but that's what I am doing! Very busy trying to pull myself together for so many things. I have earrings to make and ship to several different places in the next week and I'm feeling overwhelmed! Ann is coming over today to sit with me. It keeps me on task, and motivated! Here are a few of the new things I've been working on...

These are my new favorites! On Sunday I was feeling very uninspired. So I helped my husband clean the garage, the shed and the backyard in preparation of the winter snow. I worked so hard and got everything clean enough to where I could get my car in the garage again! When I came inside, I took a nice hot shower and just let my thoughts wander. Then I sat down and made these! They are handwrapped with Smoky Quartz and Tourmaline gemstones. They are a good weight too. Not too heavy or light. Feels great in the ears!

I'm currently taking custom orders for these now, and will be able to make a few pairs with the supplies that I have left. If you're interested let me know. I can customize these with other materials as well, which is what I'll be doing today so look for more variety tomorrow!

I made a couple pairs of these very simple but VERY sparkly little earrings! Great for the holiday's!

This pair features some pretty green and pink lampwork beads from Melissa of Sea of Glass. I made some circle charms to hang below the cluster of Swarovski Crystals and Cat's eye!

These are much prettier in person. The sun is hard to work with in the winter months, very bright and casts a lot of shadows. There are actually purple cats eye donuts in these along with glass flowers and Amethyst Swarovski Crystals.

And here is "Autumn's Last Look"...

I am trying to get away from the Autumn colors and into more winter (and dare I say Spring) colors. Here's a beautiful Chinook Pendant accented by Smoky Quartz briolletes and roundells, some czech glass pieces, and silver spacers. There are silver leaves dangling near the pendant and it's finished with a gorgeous silver leaf toggle clasp.

 

Back to work today on getting more earrings made! Check back for more photo's to come tomorrow! Enjoy your Tuesday!