Metallic Silver Focals

A few new focal beads.  They were made with awesome silver glass, raku stringer and some have silver mesh.  The last one was one of my favorite styles.  I made 3 of them, thinking they were so cool.  They all CRACKED.  Must have a compatibility issue with the encasing.  So sad...  If anyone wants one for their personal collection, I will sell them cheap.  The crack is just on one side.

I also want to say "thanks" to all who have emailed and commented on my post about my store idea.  I want to add a couple details about it.  Justin has a building here in town that he purchased with his father and another guy that used to be a lumber yard.  They have storage units in the back for boats, campers and such.  The front of the building is vacant, so that is what we are thinking about fixing up.  I would have store hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday only.  I can afford to do that because the rent will be so low (at first anyway)  It would be so handy for me here because I could leave if I need to run home, pick up kids from school, etc.  My future goal is to open a store in Iowa City, but thought this would be a trial run to see if 1.) I like and enjoy it and 2.) if it goes well, before I would invest so much money for a store in Iowa City.  

I have been at home for over 8 years.  I have enjoyed every minute of it and feel very blessed I was able to.  I am getting to a point were I want to get out a little and thought this would be a fun opportunity to have "the best of both worlds"  I could stay at home the majority of the week, but also get out a little and share what I have to offer.

Thoughts on that????

TGIF

Such a dreary day today.  The temp is nice, but it is so stormy and rainy.  The girls were suppose to have their first tee-ball game tonight, but I am sure it will be canceled tonight.  They were suppose to have one Tuesday night, but that was canceled also.  I am so anxious to see them play.

I have something that I have been thinking and praying about for a long time to finally mention to you.  I have been trying to decide if I want to open a retail store here in Wellman.  I would feature my lampwork beads, a few other beads to compliment my beads, my jewelry and a party room for little girl parties or adult "girls night out" parties.  It is kind of a scary thing for me to think about if I could make it work or not, but when I think about the possibilities it makes me excited.  I am asking for a little feedback on what you think.  Would you local people, and by local I even mean people from surrounding states, support me?  I have had people drive 2 hours or more to come to my little shop in my house, so that gives me encouragement that people are interested in what I have to offer.  There is a bead store closing in Des Moines, so last Saturday Justin and I drove there and got a bunch of semi precious beads, czech glass beads and some display cases.  I think I have a good start for a store. Please let me know what you think...

A new necklace...

Finally a few new pictures.  Made a new colorful focal bead, and one for myself.  I used green seed beads to pull out the color, but any color could be used.  I also have a few new sets with some "silver" glass encased in clear.  

I have another necklace to show, but need to save something for tomorrow.

I subbed all day yesterday for Jayla's class, so today I need to get caught up on boring house chores.

Seems like Monday

Don't have any bead pictures to show you, so I thought I would show a couple kiddo pictures.  Lukin in his Mickey glasses and Jayla and her prized catch of a moth.  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  I hope to get some new bead sets up in the store towards the end of the week.  Till then....

So sorry...

Some of you emailed me about the new sets, fearing you missed them.  I got interrupted last night and didn't get them added to the web site.  I just added them.

Thanks so much!

Ready for the weekend

Well, I made it through all my subbing this week and am ready for the long weekend.  Wanted to show you a few sets that I am adding to the store.  All the sets except for the blue crystals have been etched and it gives them such an awesome feel and look.  The cool thing about the first set is the base is etched, but the colorful glass frit didn't etch.  The second set it a great neutral set.  The 3rd set is a new glass color that I just love.  It's one of those sets that are hard to capture how neat they are in a picture.  The last set is a transparent grayish color over white, etched and wrapped with fine silver wire.

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! 

Tuesday

A new necklace I have been working on for a couple days.  I fused the chain together using fine silver wire.  I added some boro beads and various other beads.  It's a long necklace that you just throw over your head.  I love all the possibilities fusing might lead to.  Also added a couple new boro sets.  I am subbing for the next 3 days, so probably not much going to be happening on the blog and web site.  Today is the LAST day for the ADDBORO special in which you can add any boro set to your order and get 15% off.  

Happy Monday

A couple new bead sets to add to the "Under $25" section.  These beads would work for the necklace that is featured in Beadstyle's  new special edition titled "Under $25" Has anyone got the magazine?  This first set is a pale green and the second set would look great with some carnelian beads.

Another day or so for the boro special so make sure to take advantage of that discount.

Quick Post

I sent this out on my newsletter and thought I would post it here as well.  If you are not signed up for the newsletter, please make sure you do to receive these special offers.

I have added so many new boro sets and have several more sets to add, but need to sell some first.  I am going to offer you 15% off your invoice, but ONLY if you order a boro set.  It can be any boro set, but in order to get the 15% off the order you need to include at least ONE set of the boro beads.  The coupon code is "addboro"

It said a little more then that, but that was the main important part.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Off for weekend

Once I start working with boro glass, I just can't stop.  Here are 3 more sets I just added to the website, with 3 more sets still in the kiln from yesterday.

Today is going to be a beautiful day.  The sun is shining and the temp going to get up to 72. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Be back at noon (or so)

I forgot that I am subbing in the morning, so I will see where the auction is when I get back around noon.  I am going to say a minimum bid of $30 needs to be placed.  I can't let all these beads go for less than that.  If you would like them for $30 (or more) ~ they are yours.  

Winner is...

The girls choose number 1, so Janet I will be sending you some boro beads.  Thanks for all the comments.  Another fun game today.  I have been making so many boro beads lately, that I have a few extras.  Ones that didn't make it into sets, although most of them have pairs. I will have an auction right here on the blog.  In the comments post what you would pay for these boro beads.  If the bidding goes above $50 (there are 23 beads) I will throw some more boro beads in.  My boro bead orphan bowl is overflowing.  The top bidder tomorrow morning will get the beads.  Click on the picture to see it bigger.  Start the bidding...

Boro and a game

Here are a few new sets to get started.  I made some more yesterday that I can't wait to get cleaned and photographed.  I purchased some new boro frit and glass and LOVE the colors I am getting. (I added them all, but I am off to make some more!)

I'm going to do something fun today.  Everyone who posts a comment today will be entered to win some of the new boro beads.  All you need to do it leave a comment about anything, and I will have my daughters choose a number of  a post.  That will be the winner and I will send you some of the new boro beads (probably 5 or so)

 I'll be back later today...

Here are a few pictures from Jayla's dance recital Saturday night.  All the little girls looked so adorable and did such a fantastic job.  We had a good time.  I had to include the pictures of Lukin dancing.  Typical boy while I am trying to get some pictures of all the kids together, he is off in his own world dancing.

I have some boro sets to add soon, so make sure to check back.  Hope you had a great weekend and a refreshing Mother's Day!

Under $25

My exciting news...

I think I might have mentioned it briefly before, but I have some beads published in a magazine again.  In February an editor from BeadStyle magazine bought some beads from me for a piece she was working on.  I was so, so, so, so, excited.  They are in the special issue of "Under $25" that just came out.  They will be in most stores the 13th of May, but I know a few bead stores already have them such as Bead Haven in Cedar Rapids.  In the issue are pieces of jewelry you can make for under $25.  For some of the pieces is a little box titled "splurge" in which you can add or change something to the piece for a little more money (or a lot).  Lindsay made a necklace with my beads and it turned out wonderful. 

I added a special section to my website for sets that can be used for the necklace.  It uses 5, 18mm lentil beads and for the earrings 2, 15mm beads.

Beading Daily

Did any of you enter the contest put on by Beading Daily called "Bead Star"?  The deadline was yesterday, but thought it would be fun to enter something at the last minute.  The prizes are amazing if you won (can't remember right now what they are) so I thought "Why not?"  I kind of threw this together on Monday.  They had different categories such as plastics, seed beads, wire, glass, etc and your piece had to be 75% of the item.  I, of course, entered in the glass category.  It actually looks really nice on.

Exciting news tomorrow!

New Necklaces

A couple new necklaces I made over the weekend.  The bottom one features a PMC piece by Cristina Leonard.  That's one thing I love about doing shows, is meeting other artists and trading work.  I traded some beads for this wonderful toggle clasp.  I added some pearls and brass chain, and featured the toggle in the front.  

New Design

Wanted to show another example of what you could do with the  lentil focals.  I have showed you how I put them on leather with silver pendant 625 (sold on my web site)  This is another necklace I made that I just love.  I used some silver chain, seed beads (or small czech beads) and a "S" shape silver link (that I can make for you).  So many possibilities with this design.