New Beads & Last Chance for Etsy Sale!

Darn you Lima Beads! :shaking fists at sky:

They got in some new designer Czech glass, and honestly, who amongst us can resist it? At least Lima's kind enough to let us order half strands :D And I truly did need one of the ones I got to go with a new Golem Studios pendant I bought last week from Artbeads.com's Christmas in July sale. :shakes fists again:

So here's what I got.

That little purple thing in the bottom right corner was just to fill up space in the collage :)

Also, I wanted to remind everyone that July's ending and with that so is my 15% off etsy sale! (the code is FINALLY), so you have through Sunday if there's anything you've had your eye on. And as always, free shipping to the US!

And a little P.S. my friend Heather is shipping my next big box o' vintage jewelry today! I can't even wait to tear it open and see what she found!

Wish List Monday 7-25

Click the images to go to their etsy pages. Apparently I'm wishing for a lot today! And click the starfish at the bottom to visit Copper Diem's wish list for today.

Oh how I want cartbeforethehorse's "Zoee Bug" doll ♥

tinatarnoff's paper cuts are so cute!

I'm not a cab user, but this one from Beadwyfe might make me start!

BeadsStory's bracelet is so simple, but I love it!

Marysgranddaughter makes the cutest embroidered art.

"Ursul" by Almaspottery kinda creeps me out, but I'm so drawn to it!

Is it weird that I want to eat these Chalcedony briolettes by neatothings?

Sister Hair Day & More

Every couple of months, one of my sisters and I make our hair appointments together and make a big day of it with lunch and shopping or whatever other hanging out. I've mentioned it on here before. Well today was one of those days. I was in such desperate need for a cut, she took about 5 or 6 inches off! It comes just to the top of my shoulders. I didn't take pics, 'cos it was rainy and humid all day, so as soon as I left the salon, I was stuck with way more puff than is desirable. Maybe tomorrow.

So while at the salon for the first time since the end of May or so, I replenished my jewelry stock. I'd taken it all away back then, and I gave her all new stuff today with my new packaging. I think it looks a lot better. 7 necklaces and 21 pairs of earrings. I haven't made any new bracelets because no one ever buys them! Plus I have the majority of them listed on etsy. I thought for sure I took a picture of this beautiful agate, quartz and copper necklace I'd made. But apparently I hadn't. I'm so upset, 'cos I like to have pictures of everything I make -- at least the really nice things. Well, maybe if it doesn't sell in a couple of months, I'll take it back and put it on etsy.

Anyway, here's something I did remember to take pictures of. I'm really in love with it -- it features a Lynn Davis  pewter Fauxtique connector, freshwater pearls, a vintage rhinestone ball, a piece of aquamarine, and antiqued silver craftwire plus a pewter clasp. Part of me hopes no one buys it so I can steal it from myself. I know I'm not the only one who does that, right?

 

 (Click to enlarge!)

Another exciting piece of news is that my friend Charlotte started a blog today! She wants to participate in the upcoming Bead Soup Blog Party, and she's been meaning to do a blog anyway. She hasn't posted any photos of her jewelry yet, but believe me - it's fantastic. I'll let you know when she's got something to look at, but click on over and read what she had to say in her first blog anyway. She cracks me up.

AND! As if that's not good enough news, my friend Heather informed me she's got another Big Box of Jewelry/Stuff almost ready to send! Remember that last big box she sent in March? I can't even wait to dig through it and see what kind of goodies are in there. She's teasing me with, "deco era Czech glass, art glass, &  half a Victorian enamel buckle" !!?!?!?!!

Also, just a reminder -- my etsy coupon code (FINALLY) is still good for 15% off through the end of July, and there's no shipping! So if you've had your eye on anything, now would be a good time...

Wish List Monday

Amy from Copper Diem started something new last week: Wish List Monday. She had some lovely picks today. I'm going to play along this week, and you should too. Click the blue starfish at the bottom to visit Amy's page.

I want pretty much everything in Elukka's shop!

I ♥ Cori's art! I already have two, but I want them all!

I adore Vaivanat's felt work. Maybe I'll treat myself to this for my birthday?

An Italian Greyhound. Hatz4brats uses hers for models, and makes the silliest, sweetest pet accessories.

Give Away Winners!

I went to random.org, and the winners are:

First Place: Amy of Copper Diem!
Second Place: Christine of Sweet Girl Design!

Congratulations ladies! Here's the link back to the blog. Amy gets first choice, and Christine gets the ones left over. Please send me your addresses and I'll get the earrings out in the mail to you this week.

Thanks for playing along everyone! And don't forget my etsy coupon code (FINALLY) is good for 15% off through the end of July.

Have a good week :)

I Can't Be Stopped!

First, a reminder that the drawing for my give away is tomorrow! So if you haven't commented or blogged / tweeted / Facebooked about it - time's almost up! However, my etsy coupon code (find it by viewing the give away blog, linked above) is still good for the rest of July. I've added quite a few items this week too.

Now, on to some of my new stuff. I've been wishing for some of those drilled river rocks for quite some time now, and I finally got some a couple of weeks ago. I can't wait to keep experimenting with them. Here's my first piece.

River rock, fine silver leaf, cultured pearls, labradorite, wood, apatite & antique silver wire & findings. (Click to enlarge)

And here are a couple of pairs of new earrings made mostly with the things I got at the gem & bead show last week.

Brushed silver plated cones, dyed jade beads.

Carved bone flowers, agate, Czech glass, copper wire and dangles I antiqued.

New Arrivals + Give Away Reminder

I ordered these last week, and they arrived yesterday. They're all much bigger in person than I was imagining even though the seller gave the dimensions and I got out my ruler. I have a really hard time with that. They are all between 6 - 6.5 cm. Still, I'm excited about using them, and I've got some ideas percolating. It might be ages before I get to them though.

New Stuff with My New Stuff

After I procrastinated for a really long time by sorting all my new beads and deciding it was time for some copper to be Liver-of-Sulfured, and of course I had to tidy up my work area -- I finally stopped being a coward and sat down and started on a simple necklace. It's hard when faced with so many possibilities to settle on just one.

 Chalcedony, quartz, vintage gold-plated chain & clasp, brass wire

Pleased with the result, I was ready to tackle something more complicated. A few weeks ago, I got some new pendants from Jessi of EcclecticTrinkets, and I'd been dying to use one. This and this also came from her. Realizing how great her Raku Buddha would look with my new carved jade beads, I set to work and created this.

Carved jade, carved bone, lava, Czech glass, carnelian, antique brass, Raku Buddha pendant

I'm not listing these on etsy just yet (unless anyone has to have one of them, let me know and I'll make a special listing for you). I need to have some new things to take to the hair salon. I haven't had a single thing for sale there since the beginning of June!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget about my earring give away and etsy coupon code from yesterday's blog. 

Hope you all have a good week :)

Finally! A Give Away!

Oh me, oh my. Yesterday I went to our quarterly bead and gem show. Having missed the past two, I went absolutely hog wild and spent twice my budget! Whoops! But there were SO. MANY. GORGEOUS. STONES. I even broke down and splurged on a few more expensive items. But, that will just inspire me to get busy, which is something I've really been trying to do lately. There's been so much going on, and this darn oppressive heat just saps the life out of me. The ideas have been coming to me though, so after I'm done with this, I will get started! I'll post pics of my new loot at the bottom after all the other important info.

Now for the give away part!!!

After having an etsy shop for ages, I finally managed to list a bunch of items! So in honor of the occasion, I'm doing this give away AND a coupon code for my shop! The code is: FINALLY and that gets you 15% off. US Shipping is always free (unless you want tracking/insurance), and International is only $3 (unless you want tracking/insurance). The code will be good through the end of July. Just type it in when you're placing your order and etsy will do the rest for you.

The winner will get to choose which pair of earrings she (or he) wants. But wait! The runner up will get the other pair! So we have TWO WINNERS! That's pretty exciting. Right? The winners will be announced next Sunday, July 17th.

Both pairs feature bead caps / dangles made by me from decorative tins.

And you all know the drill right?

1: Follow my blog (people who already follow - just comment, you'll be entered!)

2: Mention my give away / etsy shop on your Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Leave separate comments for each, and you'll be entered for each act of social media kindness :) 

Thank you all in advance for playing along. I could really use a few etsy sales to take some of the sting out of my gem & bead show binge!!!!